BLOGGING WITH BEVERLEY: Check out Tempered Hearts and Pamela S. Thibodeaux

Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.” Sign up to receive Pam’s newsletter and get a FREE short story!

2018 Character Interview from Tempered Hearts

Beverley: What’s your name?
Tamera: Tamera Collins
Beverley: Where did you grow up?
Tamera: Greenville, MS
Beverley: During what time period does your story take place?
Tamera: Depending on who you’re talking to the 70’s are either contemporary or Historical LOL!
Beverley: What’s your story/back story? Why would someone come up with a story about you?
Tamera: I grew up an only child with a passion for horses. As a young teen I decided I wanted to be a Veterinarian and specialize in caring for these beautiful creatures. Since I went to private school, it was easy to take extra classes and college courses and to finish my degree in Veterinary Medicine by the time I was twenty-four. I’m not sure why Pamela chose to write my and Craig’s story, but I’m glad she did.
Beverley: What’s your goal in this story?
Tamera: To be healed of my grief and to find a way to cope with my parents’ and fiancé’s deaths and to simply do my job as summer Vet on the Rockin’ H ranch to the best of my ability. I didn’t expect to fall in love….
Beverley: What conflicts are you facing?
Tamera: Working for an arrogant jerk cowboy! At least that is my initial opinion of Craig Harris, heir to the Rockin’ H ranch in Bandera, TX and indirectly my boss. His grandfather is the one who actually hired me. He’s pretty jaded and chauvinistic when we first meet, but Craig and I learn to get along.
Beverley: Do you have a plan for resolving them?
Tamera: I’ve found that God and time have a way of resolving things much better than we can on our own and that we’d do well to just keep moving forward, do the best we can and trust that all things work together for good.
Beverley: Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you?
Tamera: Not necessarily just me but women in general….no matter how strong we are, how talented or smart, we still need tender care, nurturing and a strong man to be our helpmate in life. Ladies, if you find one, don’t let him get away! And gentlemen, if you find a strong woman, be her equal, not her opposite. You’ll both be better off lifting one another up instead of tearing each other down.

Blurb for Tempered Hearts:

Rancher Craig Harris and veterinarian Tamera Collins clash from the moment they meet. Innocence is pitted against arrogance as tempers rise and passions ignite to form a love as pure as the finest gold, fresh from the crucible and as strong as steel. Thrown together amid tragedy and unsated passion, Tamera and Craig share a strong attraction that neither accepts as the first stages of love. Torn between desire and dislike, they must make peace with their pasts and God in order to open up to the love blossoming between them. It is a love that nothing can destroy when they come to understand that only when hearts are tempered, minds are opened and wills are softened can man discern the will of God for his life.

Excerpt from Tempered Hearts:

“Leave the girl alone, Craig,” his grandfather warned as Craig took an ominous step toward her. His gray eyes flashed furiously. “She has the right to a day off. Tell her what happened so she can check on Rocky.”
Anger, desire, jealousy, and frustration were more than Craig could take. “I run a ranch here, and a ranch runs twenty-four seven. There’s no such thing as a day off. And as for you…”
He turned on his grandfather. “It’s a shame all it takes is a pretty face to turn you into a traitor.”
Tamera ground her teeth. She stepped toward him and her eyes dared him to say more as fury overrode her common sense. “Don’t you dare talk to him like that!”
Craig’s eyes narrowed and jaw muscle twitched as he forcefully refrained from putting his hands on her. “He’s my grandfather; I’ll talk to him any way I please!”
“Not around me you won’t.”
“Tamera, you’re pushing it,” he warned. “You better back off before something happens that I’ll regret.”
Tamera glared at him for a moment, turned on her heel. “God forbid you should ever say or do something you’d regret.”
Craig grabbed her arm, twirling her around to face him. “The last thing I need right now is your smart mouth.”
Her reaction was instinctive, fueled by fury, as her palm connected with his cheek. “I told you once before not to manhandle me. I won’t tell you again.”
Wheeling his chair closer, Gramps tried again to diffuse the situation. Craig ignored his soft command, pulled Tamera firmly against his chest and forcefully restrained from beating her.
His hands bit into the soft flesh of her arms, his eyes narrowed into dangerous slits of steel. His jaw muscle throbbed furiously. Tamera’s chin lifted another notch. They glared at each other, neither willing to back down; both waiting for the other to continue or end the fight.
“Enough.” Gramps insisted when she continued to hold her ground despite the tear that rolled down her cheek.
Craig ground his teeth and pushed her away, releasing her from his punishing grip. Pride warred with the pain and anger in her eyes but Tamera made no attempt to rub her arms or brush the tear away. Head held high, fists clenched, she turned and stalked up the stairs. The door slammed behind her with a resounding thud.

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