The Writers of the Future contest has been helping new writers and illustrators publish their stories and illustrations in the annual anthology that was founded by the late author L. Ron Hubbard. Galaxy Press sent me an advanced copy of Volume XXIX, which contains of thirteen stories from the 2012 quarterly contests along with illustrations for each story, free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

This volume has an introduction by Dave Wolverton, a writing essay by Nnedi Okorafor, an essay on illustrating by Larry Elmore, and an essay titled "The Manuscript Factory" by L. Ron Hubbard.

The thirteen stories are:

Anybody who knows me knows I'm an animal lover, especially for cats as I have two of them. I instantly signed up to review The Cat That God Sent and The Cat That Talked To God by Jim Kraus, which I received free of charge from Liftfuse Publicity Group and Abingdon Press in exchange for my honest review.

In The Cat That God Sent, Jake Wilkerson packed up his little belonging into his pickup truck and traveled to Coudersport, Pennsylvania, where he took the job as the pastor of the small rural church. As soon as he arrived at the church, which he'll also be living there, he is welcomed by as a sliver and black cat that came out-of-nowhere. Jake has a soft spot for animals and takes the cat in. The cat has a thorn stuck in its paw, therefore, Jake tracks down the local veterinarian, Emma Grainger, who removes the thorn and names the cat Petey.

Petey is not the typical cat as he likes to ride with Jake in the truck and listen to Jake's sermons. What Jake doesn't know is that Petey has been sent on a mission from God. The cat is not the only new addiction to Jake's life as a young runaway, Tassy, enters his life.

With the help of Petey, Jake must overcome his fears, so he can help the residents of Coudersport.

Yes, I slept in late today, but, no, I didn't forget about this post. I originally intended to write this post earlier today, but I got sidetrack by a book I'm reading. Plus, I've been watching the 1960's series Gidget on DVD. I'll be writing a review on it soon.

There was snow on the ground here in the mid-west at the end of last week, though all of it has now melted. This is first time in my life that it has snowed during the month of May. Does that mean there is going to be some wacky weather during the summer? The snow didn't do any harm to the grass, as I'll probably be mowing the yard tomorrow.

Branded Outlaw
By L. Ron Hubbard
Director: Jim Meskimen
Voice Cast: David O'Donnell, Bob Caso, R.F. Daley, Jim Meskimen, and Tamra Meskimen
Studio: Galaxy Press
Release Date: September 8, 2008
ISBN: 978-1592123490
Run Time: 103 minutes
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

It seems the western genre in films, television (except for Hell on Wheels), and books is a dying breed. I'm a western fan, which is difficult for my generation due to the lack of anything western. Though, I do buy each Rawhide season that is released.

I recently reviewed the audiobook Branded Outlaw by L. Ron Hubbard, which I received free of charge from Galaxy Press in exchange for my honest review. Hubbard wrote hundreds of short stories during the Golden Age in which he published this western tale in the 1938 issue of Five-Novels Monthly.

Branded Outlaw has the young gunslinger Lee Weston retuning to his family's ranch in Pecos, Mexico, only to learn his father has been murdered! To make matters worse, the family ranch has burned to the ground. He suspects his father's old enemy, Harvey Dodge, is responsible for the crimes. Harvey had recently purchased land in Pecos, so Lee is positive that he is the killer.

The House that Love Built
By Beth Wiseman
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pub. Date: April 2, 2013
ISBN: 978-1595548894
ASIN: B00A0VPB1W
Pages: 352
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/jA4tU
Blog Tour Link: http://litfusegroup.com/author/bwiseman

Review:

I have read several Amish titles by Beth Wiseman, so I became intrigued when I learned about her newest book had a contemporary setting. I eagerly signed up to review The House that Love Built, which I received free of charge from Litfuse Publicity Group and Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest review.

Brooke Holloway has been raising her two children, ten-year-old Spencer and six-year-old Meghan, by herself in Smithville, Texas ever since her husband, Travis, died two years ago. Life has been tough for her and the kids. Her mother briefly moved in to help out after Travis's death, but now she lives at the Oaks Retirement Villa. Despite her mother's advice to start dating, Brooke doesn't want to fall in love as Travis was the love of her life.

After Owen Saunder's bitter divorce, he buys the old Hadley mansion and plans on restoring it, which was his cheating wife's dream and out of spite, it is now his dream. There is a rumor of a hidden bunker somewhere in the house or on the property and the mystery intrigues him. Falling in love was the last thing on his mind that is until he meets Brooke Holloway.