Back to the quizzes... I enjoy the silly ones - but I also enjoy some of the more practical ones, like quizzes that match us up with what kind of pet best fits out lifestyle/family. (Thus the photos on this page. :-) I adore my pets - all Humane Society rescues. In fact, I also foster puppies for my local Humane Society. (Pupppies can't be adopted out until they're 8 weeks old and prior to that they have very little immunity against things like parvo and kennel cough, so they need to be in a home rather than with all the other dogs.) I started off fostering puppies as an adventure for my kids as well as fun for my other dogs, and found I totally love it! There's something vastly rewarding about nurturing and socializing these precious puppies to give them their best chance at a forever home. I think a lot about the different breeds (as best you can tell what they are, sometimes. ;-) And as I think about the breed and their individual personality, I think about what type of home they'll flourish in most. (Back to those quizes again!)

Anyhow, the photos here are of some of the puppies I've fostered over the past few months. I'm pleased to say that so far, every puppy I've ever fostered has been adopted. I don't have any puppies around right now, though. Can you tell how much I'm missing having them around? I'll keep you posted when the next litter arrives!

Meanwhile, in keeping with the theme of pets and how much I enjoy hokey on-line quizzes, here's a quiz for finding out what sort of breed we would be in the doggie world! Enjoy! http://www.quizmeme.com/dogbreed/quiz.php

To see more photos of my foster puppies and our other pets, check out my photos page!

Cheers!
Cathy
PS  I have two books landing on shelves tomorrow, May 5, 2009!
HOSTHOT (Berkley Sensation)
PROPOSITIONED INTO A FORGEIGN AFFAIR (Silhouette Desire)
http://catherinemann.com

My husband is a rare gem in that he always remembers my birthday, our anniversary, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, etc., even when the Air Force may have sent him thousands of miles away.....

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I do so enjoy when the delivery guy shows up with a surprise bouquet of wildflowers or my flyboy hubby struts in the door with a box of Godivas.  But the longer we're married, the more I realize his best gifts can be less pricey and surprisingly unusual.  My favorite ever gift from my husband?....

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Chicken wire.....

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Yes, you read that right.  I should probably backtrack a bit to explain.  ......

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Last year, I got a puppy, an adorable Boston Terrier/pug/beagle/mystery breed pound rescue named Sadie.  We had a general idea of her adult size based on the vet’s guess, and we knew she would be on the small side.  However, we never counted on her being so little and lean she could bolt right through the pickets on our pool fence.....

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Yipes!  She quickly found every porch in the neighborhood with pet food.  (Hey, did I mention she’s brilliant as well as adorable?!)....

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I increased walks with Sadie to drain her energy, while waiting for her to grow big enough to enjoy our large yard without escaping.  After 6 months I feared it would never happen.....

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Replacing the fence was out of the question.  The fence is big and pricey.  My husband fretted over options.  He really, really prides himself on having a pristine yard.  One of our neighbors suggested weaving chicken wire through the pickets.....

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My husband visibly paled.....

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We waited another month for her to grow.  No luck.  I continued to walk my feet off in cold, rainy weather with Sadie (while feeding her very frequently and praying “Grow, puppy, grow!”)....

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A few days later, I readied Sadie for her walk – HUGE storm clouds looming.  I stepped outside and found my husband.  On his knees.  Weaving chicken wire through the white pool fence.....

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Bless his big heart, he worked in the rain to finish before he had to leave that afternoon for a two week trip.  And yes, the chicken wire worked.  Our fence has been Sadie proofed with - as my husband calls it - poultry fencing!....

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What a gift!  What a guy!....

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How about you?  I would love to hear your stories about unique/unusual/surprising romantic gifts or gestures.....

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I also have a new page on my website devoted to precious fur babies with photos of my pets as well as pictures of some of my favorite authors with their pets (including Lori Foster, Suzanne Brockmann and more.)  http://www.catherinemann.com/fun_stuff/index.htm  I also have pet photos over in my MySpace pics.....

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Do you have pets?  A cute or moving pet story to share?....

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I look forward to hearing from you!....

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Hugs,....

Cathy ;-)....

http://catherinemann.com....

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Hi there!  I'm thrilled to announce that the flyboys have landed!!  Yes, April 7 is finally here and so is my new "Dark Ops" series from Berkley Sensation!  DEFENDER is on shelves now!  Here's the scoop.

*!*!*!*!*DEFENDER on shelves now*!*!*!*!*

When a USO boat goes down in flames, test pilot Jimmy Gage pulls a scantily clad Chloe Nelson out of the shark-filled Mediterranean...  Although she is grateful, and he’s as hot as the fire that took the boat down, the last thing Chloe needs is a jet-jock to be her bodyguard—until she inadvertently finds herself closer to Gage than she ever expected, and side by side in a dangerous mission.

Gage is desperate to find a fellow airman, missing and reportedly held captive. A pub in Istanbul, controlled by a notorious and sadistic female adversary, may hold the key.  Now, moving in toward untold dangers, Gage can’t afford to let his growing attraction to Chloe distract him for a second—or it may cost the lives of his crew, the prisoner they must rescue, and the woman he’s unable to resist.

*!*!*!*DEFENDER reviews*!*!*!*!*

The reviews are in and they're rocking awesome!

"Relentless suspense, heroes to fall in love with right from page one--this must be another military romance by the fabulous Catherine Mann!" --NY Times bestseller Suzanne Brockmann

"Fans of Suzanne Brockmann will find that this book with its powerful storylines and realistic backgrounds is a roller-coaster ride bursting at the seams with one electrifying moment after another - 5 Cups!" --Coffee Times Romance Reviews

"Great military 'feel'; wonderful characters; plenty of action – 5 Stars!" --Errant Dreams Reviews

"This exciting first Darks Ops military thriller hooks the audience from the opening suspense laden scene and never loosens the tension until the end - 5 Stars!" --Genre Go Round Reviews

"Dynamically appealing characters plus an intriguing plot packed with perilous danger make DEFENDER not only spellbinding but totally satisfying - 5 Stars!" --Cataromance

*!*!*!*!*!*Excerpts Posted*!*!*!*!*!*

My website has been updated, complete with new covers and excerpts for DEFENDER and other upcoming releases.  Check them out at catherinemann.com

*!*!*!*!*!*Spring Cleaning! Free Books*!*!*!*!*!*

I'm in the midst of spring cleaning and have found I have a number of extra author copies of books on hand.  To celebrate the release of DEFENDER and the upcoming May release of HOTSHOT, I’m running a contest.  Winner's choice of one book from my backlist books between 2005-2008!  Twenty-five winners will be chosen at random.  Yes, that's TWENTY-FIVE winner!  (Winners will be asked to list a first and second choice in case I run out of some of the books.  More about the books can be found on the books page of my website.  catherinemann.com )  Rules for entering are posted on the message board on my website.  You do NOT need to post or log in.  The instructions are open to the public for viewing!  Check it out at catherinemann.com - Good luck and happy reading!

*!*!*!*!*Message Board*!*!*!*!*
As I noted above, you don’t have to post on the message board in order to enter the contest, however I sure do enjoy hearing from readers.  If you would like to discuss DEFENDER or any other books, I will be around and checking in frequently on the message board this month.

*!*!*!*!*!Bookmarks*!*!*!*!*

I have hot new bookmarks to share with readers and booksellers.  If you would like a bookmark, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to
Catherine Mann

P.O. Box 6065

Navarre, FL 32566

Please note if you need extra bookmarks (and how many) to share with other romance reader friends!  I’ll send them out for as long as supplies last.

Endless thanks for all your letters, enthusiasm and generous help in spreading the word about my books!!

As always, feel free to share this newsletter with anyone, anywhere, anytime!

Love,

Cathy

Catherine Mann, RITA Award Winner

Current and Upcoming Releases

DEFENDER, "Dark Ops," Berkley Sensation 4/09

HOTSHOT, "Dark Ops," Berkley Sensation 5/09

PROPOSITIONED INTO A FOREIGN AFFAIR, Silhouette Desire 5/09

MILLIONAIRE IN COMMAND, Silhouette Desire 10/09

RENENGADE, "Dark Ops," Berkley Sensation 1/10

BOSS MAN'S BABY SCANDAL, Silhouette Desire 1/10

What an awesome Christmas present for me!  My December release, THE EXECUTIVE'S SURPRISE BABY, has been on the Waldenbooks Series Bestseller Top 10 list for three weeks running.  It even nabbed a 1 spot!  Many, many thanks to all of you who helped place it there!!  And if you haven't yet picked up a copy, here's the scoop:

THE EXECUTIVE'S SURPRISE BABY

By: Catherine Mann

Silhouette Desire, December 2007

A Scandalous Pregnancy.... 

Telling her high-society family she was about to be an unwed mother had been tough. So how could she possibly inform the Garrison clan that the baby's father was their archenemy? Brooke planned to keep the paternity a secret... then millionaire hotel mogul Jordan Jefferies learned the truth. And he was no about to let her fear of the scandal stop him from claiming his child. Or from making Brooke his wife.

FMI about this and upcoming releases, check out my website at: www.catherinemann.com

Wishing everyone an awesome happy new year....

Cheers~~

Cathy Mann 

Check out your local bookstore for....

HOLIDAY HEROES anthology
By Catherine Mann and Rachel Lee
Silhouette Romantic Suspense
November 2007
ISBN: 0373275579

"Christmas at His Command"
by Catherine Mann
Keeping Senator Ginger Landis safe was General Hank Renshaw's top priority.  He wouldn't let anything put her at risk - including his growing feelings for her.  Danger threw them intimately together, taking them to a passionate point of no return.

"A Soldier for All Seasons"
by Rachel Lee
U.S. Marine Jon Erickson needed to find peace this holiday season.  But attraction sparked when he met park ranger Melinda Hawthorne - a woman also haunted by secrets.  Venturing into a perilous wilderness would test their survival skills and growing desire...
~*~*~*~*~

Happy Holidays
and
Happy Reading!

Cathy :-)
Catherine Mann, RITA Award Winner
HOLIDAY HEROES, Silhouette Romantic Suspense 11/07
THE EXECUTIVE'S SURPRISE BABY, Silhouette Desire 12/07
OUT OF UNIFORM, Silhouette Romantic Suspense 2/08
http://catherinemann.com

My omelet pan broke about two months ago, and I have vowed to invest in a really nice one this time that will last.  So for the past sixty days, I have been in search of the perfect omelet pan.  (Still searching!)  Now even when I choose one I'm not sure where I would put it since my many kitchen cabinets are crammed full of everything from two sets of dishes, 4 crockpots, a waffle iron, a quesadilla maker, a round bundt pan - even a bundt pan shaped like a castle. The list goes on, but I think you get the picture. I enjoy cooking, and I really enjoy all the fun toys that come with cooking!  (Hmmmm.... I wonder if I could make an omelet in the shape of a castle?)

So, what extra things do you find yourself collecting even though your cabinets, drawers and closets are already jam packed full?