When things don't go as planned... 💌
And f-r-e-e Christian ebooks, and cat pics!
Hello, lovely reader!
I hope you and those you love are happy, safe, and well. I'm praying for God's peace and love to rest on the world, and on you, too, especially in these troubled times.
Well, this week, hubby and I have had to come to terms with making some changes to our travel intentions due to several complicating factors. We’d hoped that now the kittens are older and spending a lot more time outdoors, we might be able to get a few days together in the UK while our neighbours fed the Bulgarian cats. But they’re very happy being indoor/outdoor cats and don’t want to change that status. And it seems we’ve added a new role now. Our house is not just a kitten nursery but a cat hospice too.
We hadn’t seen the older semi-feral ginger tom we called Bagpuss for some time. He was always a lovely gentleman with the mother cats and the kittens, but nowhere near tame with us. I’ve only managed to touch him maybe four times in the three years we’ve known this cat. We knew another neighbour was feeding cats and that he went there, but guessed he probably wasn’t doing well since losing his position as top cat of our little colony to a much younger and very aggressive tom earlier in the year. We’d been concerned for him and when I didn’t see him at all on my last trip, assumed chances were he’d died.
Well, no. He turned up at our house over the weekend in very bad condition, emaciated and with a serious facial injury. Hubby said it was so horrible he wouldn’t upset me by sending a photo that showed it. The surprise was, Bagpuss didn’t just try to eat what little he could manage with that awful injury and then move on. He ate, walked into the house for the first time ever, clambered up on my bed, and went to sleep! But he was in such a bad way, hubby expected he would die during the night.
Here he is, painfully thin, the first day he returned.
But five days on, far from dying, Baggy is improving! He’s one tough old cat. Amazing hubby, he’s now eating well and is coming and going as he chooses but spending a lot of time sleeping on my bed. Between good food, a safe place to sleep, antibiotic treatment, and plenty of prayer, his facial wound is showing signs of healing, and he’s much stronger in himself. He won’t go on forever, of course, but if there’s a chance we have a new long-term house guest, our travel intentions need to change so we’re available to care for him as long as he needs it.
And it’s complicated! Between having to already change my travel dates because hubby remembered he had a hospital appointment in the UK, my promise to the singing group that I’d be there for the next big concert in August, and the fact we both have limited time left available for us on our visas to legally remain in Bulgaria, working out some way to make sure one of us is always there is turning into a big fat headache!
I have an appointment to apply for my long-stay visa at the Bulgarian Embassy in London on the next available date, not till September 1. Then it’s at least a six week wait to find out it it was approved, and that’s not guaranteed for the type of visa I’m applying for.
Next task on my list is praying for guidance and then sitting down with two visa calculators, a calendar, and some highlighters to work out how we can manage this. Your prayers for our travels, for Bagpuss, and for my visa application will be very appreciated! Also that the village vet finally opens his clinic, so we can start getting the boys neutered and reduce the frequency of fight injuries.
And on to the book news! A quieter week again, no new releases or sales from my or my author besties this week.
This week’s f-r-e-e recommendations!
Here are the new f-r-e-e additions for my to-be-read library this week! No-cost this morning on Amazon but prices do change so be sure to check before hitting the buy button! All should be clean and faith-friendly, I try to recommend books by authors I know where possible and only suggest books I’d read for myself. But as I don’t know all these authors and haven’t read any of these stories yet, I hope I haven’t missed anything I wouldn’t normally choose to share!
Running to You by Robin Patchen is Christian romantic suspense, with amnesia and a secret baby;
What If I Stay by Rachel Hauck and Mandy Boerma is a clean second chance romance of first loves reunited;
Not Until You by Valerie Bodden is a small town Christian romance of redemption and healing;
Stealthy Steps by Vikki Kestell is a Christian thriller, and Vikki alao has another f-r-e-ebie, Murder by Accident, a prequel to her Miss Finch series of mysteries;
A Match for Maude by Donna K. Weaver is a clean historical western romance;
Chop, Chop by LN Cronk is emotional Christian fiction that readers have recommended to me (may be no-cost in the US only, it’s 99p in the UK).
If you do download any of these books or have already read them, let me know how you enjoyed them!
This week’s group book promo!
This group promo features a selection of sweet and clean romances, including my “taster” four-ebook Christmas set Together for Christmas (always 99c, but will be f-r-e-e later in the month!); and That Sunflower Summer, a set of linked romances with a family saga theme. Though the organiser specified that all books should be clean her definition allows “closed door” scenes, so please choose carefully!
Pet news
Meanwhile, in other cat news, the kittens continue to be spoiled, but still “technically” aren’t on the kitchen table! I love how sisters Squeak and Maxie are mirroring each other in their window seat on the kitchen window sill.
And here’s my beautiful ginger cat in the UK, Henry Marmalade Podge. He’s a little brain damaged and has a crooked leg from the car accident that orphaned him as a tiny kitten, but he’s a sweet affectionate boy who loves cuddles.
This week's randomly chosen ebook winners are Lynette, Linda, Anita, Kim, Sharilyn. If your first name or the name in your email address matches (or is a spelling variant of) one of the winners' names in the list above, reply letting me know which of my solo ebooks (sorry, sets are not included) you'd like as a free Bookfunnel download. You can see them all here. His Tender Mercy and Heart in Hiding aren't yet released, so if you opt for one of these, you'll be added to a wait list and get a copy when your choice is finally reader-ready.
This week's give.away — five subscribers who click any link in this email by Sunday, July 19, 2026 will be randomly chosen to win their choice of my ebooks and will be named in next week's newsletter.
Next week’s newsletter will arrive a day earlier, Wednesday not Thursday, as I’ll be travelling again on Thursday plus I have a special 1 day sale I want to make sure you know about!
Until then, I'm praying you and those you love are happy and healthy, with many precious moments of peace and joy to brighten your days.
Blessings, and happy reading,
Let the Lord be your guide into the future. Trust in Him and He will help you. Psalm 37:5 EASY
Dear Lord, please help me and all of us to trust in Your wisdom, Your guidance, and Your leading. I do believe that all will be well as I walk with You and follow You. Thank You for Your help, support, and care for me as I do. Thank You for everything!
Prayers, Autumn. Also I wanted to tell you that I love Valerie Bodden's books. I have read all of them. I have read Not Until You and it is great!
God moves mountains. I will pray He moves your mountain in His time.