She crouches then pounces upon the enticing mouse like her cousin the bobcat. His tail swishes as he stares and then stalks the feather on the floor like his larger brother the tiger. Domestic cats, like their wild relatives, enjoy the hunt and chase. They entertain their human companions, bringing smiles and laughter. Their purrs soothe stress, and their company delights days.
June is Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month, and in my recently-released book, Finding Love at Compassion Ranch, my main character, Erin, adopts two cats. This clean, contemporary romance is a second-chance story, for the human couple and for the animals featured in the book. Here’s an taste:
That afternoon, as Erin played with the cats, she focused again on the two yellow tabby brothers, Ricky and Rocket. The more she engaged with them, the more certain she was that her daughter would enjoy these kitties. She watched Rocket refocus his attention on a sunbeam dancing across the nearby wall. She laughed as the tabby leaped, as if trying to catch the light. Another sunray on the floor captured his interest, and the cat began zooming around the room. With her cell phone, Erin snapped several pictures of Ricky playing with a catnip mouse and others of Rocket pouncing on rays of sunlight. A few moments later she texted the photos to Brittany along with this message: “I think I’ve found the purr-fect cats for you! Two brothers, about two years old. Playful, fun, and friendly. We already know they get along, they are healthy, and they like people. What do you think? Want me to adopt them for you?”
As she waved a feather toy in front of the tabbies’ faces, Brittany responded with a text: “YES! I already love them. Do they get along with Winston?”
Erin responded, “I’ll plan a sleep-over to find out. Potential adopters can do that here, just like at Best Friends Animal Society.”
“Super!” came Brittany’s response. “Let me know how everyone does.”
Two cats share my house. I adopted them when they were 10 weeks old; they will be 15 years old in August. Murphy and Bailey are sisters, although to look at them you couldn’t think so. Murphy is a long-haired black and white (often called ‘tuxedo’), and Bailey is a short-haired tortoiseshell (black, orange, and white). Their mother was a medium-haired, cream-colored Persian-looking cat. Only two of the six in the litter looked alike, and they were black and gray tabby cats. I’ve been a cat person since I was a child. My first was a calico who followed me home after school when I was nine years old. I named her Precious and she was my companion for more than 10 years.
Buy links:
Amazon ebook
Amazon print
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
I weave pet rescue and adoption into my romance stories because that topic is something I’m passionate about. The second book in the series, Finding Love at Compassion Ranch, sees my main character, Erin, volunteering at Compassion Ranch, a sanctuary for former research animals. The fictional sanctuary is based on a real facility called Kindness Ranch. In the book, Erin reconnects with a man she knew in high school when she shows up to volunteer. Both she and Mike, my primary male character, have lost their spouses. Sparks ignite, especially after Erin helps Mike save the life of an ewe and her lamb. However, Erin wonders if she gives her heart to Mike, will she be betraying her late husband and her two grown children?
Pick up your copy of Finding Love at Compassion Ranch, available as an e-book through Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Amazon, and available in print format through Amazon. You can also obtain my first book in this Pet Rescue Romance series, Rescue Road, in which the character of Erin is introduced, through the same outlets.
I encourage you to support your local animal shelter, humane society, or pet rescue organization. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), each year nearly 3.2 million cats and kittens enter animal shelters and humane societies across the United States. Sadly,
more than 850,000 are euthanized due to illness, owners not claiming their lost/stray animals, and overcrowding due to lack of adoptions and reclaims. Whether through adoption, fostering, donations of supplies or money, or volunteering, these groups need our help to help the animals they serve.
When people purchase my books, I donate a percentage of sales to pet rescue organizations. I also volunteer for a few groups. In fact, the two cats in my story, Ricky and Rocket, are based on two cats I met at a rescue. Their picture is above.
Happy reading!
Blurb:
A ranch like no other …
Erin Christiansen is still adjusting to life as a widow. She seeks additional healing by volunteering at Compassion Ranch, a sanctuary for former research animals. Upon arrival at the majestic and unique northwestern Wyoming ranch, she meets Mike, a man she knew in high school, whose compassion for animals and people might be the balm Erin needs.
Retired veterinarian Mike Jacobs is no stranger to loss. Five years after the accidental death of his wife, he now serves as ranch manager of Compassion Ranch. He not only fixes fence and provides tours, but he applies his veterinary skills and his heart for animals to his work. Upon recognizing Erin from high school, he can barely believe his first love will spend a few weeks at the sanctuary.
Can Erin and Mike span the years since they have seen each other or do they, like many of the rescued animals, have wounds that run too deep to trust and love again?
Excerpt:
That evening before sunset, Mike secured wire to a wooden post a few feet from the barn. More fencing to his left helped create a new corral, the project he’d been working on all day. He didn’t hear Erin walk up until she called out, “Hi, there, busy guy!”
He stopped his work and looked at her. Her large smile brought one to his face.
“Hi, yourself.”
Mike noticed Winston beside her. He squatted down and said, “Hey there, fella. How are you and those cats doing?”
Winston, his tail wagging, sauntered up to Mike, and the ranch manager patted the little dog’s head.
“They’ve done very well,” Erin responded as she walked closer. “A few hisses and growls by the cats at first, but with Winston’s gentle, sweet personality, the Ricky and Rocket adjusted pretty quickly. Winston learned about cats while at Rhiann’s sanctuary, so he knows not to push the limit.
They all took about a thirty-minute nap on the couch before supper. I think Brittany’s going to be quite happy with the boys.”
As Mike drew to his full six-foot-one height, he noticed Erin held a cloth bag in her hand.
“You don’t have the cats in there, do you?” he asked in a teasing voice as he pointed to the sack.
She laughed slightly and held up the bag. “I think you’d hear a lot of fussing. No, silly. I brought your supper. I’ve been hearing the pounding of nails all afternoon and saw you putting those posts in the ground earlier. I figured you could use a break.”
She opened the container, which held two sandwiches, a small bag of potato chips, and a covered glass pitcher of lemonade. Her kindness startled him. Not that Erin wasn’t thoughtful, but in the midst of her own busy day, settling in two cats, the thought that she would notice he hadn’t taken a break in several hours touched his heart.
“Thank you, Erin. I appreciate your thoughtfulness,” he said in a sincere voice.
She smiled and handed Mike the bag. He reached for the lemonade first and poured a cup from the small thermos. After consuming the tart liquid, he said, “Ah! That hits the spot.” He smiled. “I knew you were a good woman, Erin, I just didn’t realize how much of an angel until now.”
Author Bio:
Gayle M. Irwin is an award-winning author and freelance writer, being recognized by Wyoming Writers, Inc., and the Wyoming Press Association for several of her works. She is a contributor to seven Chicken Soup for the Soul books and the author of many inspirational pet books and stories for both children and adults. Her first novel, a clean, contemporary pet rescue romance titled Rescue Road, released November 8, 2019; the second book in that series she calls Pet Rescue Romance is titled Finding Love at Compassion Ranch – the book released in May 2020. Gayle subtly weaves important life lessons within the lines and pages of her stories, including the importance of pet rescue and adoption. An animal advocate, she volunteers for various dog rescue and humane society organizations and donates a percentage of all book sales to such groups. Gayle resides in Wyoming with her husband and their adopted animals. Learn more about the author, her writing endeavors, including a weekly blog, and her pets, and receive free stories and resources by visiting her website: www.gaylemirwinauthor.com.
Gayle, thanks for being with us today!
The photos of those beautiful cats are enough to pull us in to your book. We need many, many more Compassion Ranches.