MY LAST YEAR

MY LAST YEAR is ready for your vote on AllAuthor’s Cover of the Month Contest!

My best friend, Nounous, is working hard to reach his 15th birthday on January 10th. This past year has been difficult for him with his many medical issues. I hope and pray this year won’t be his last.

https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/16931/

Book Review-My Last Year-Susanne Leist

   Thank you for the awesome review on Miki’s Hope blog. 

Book Review-My Last Year-Susanne Leist

THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 2023

Anyone who has or has had a beloved pet will be able to relate to this story of a dog’s last year. It was written by his Mom but spoken in his words. Animals seem to know when their time on this earth is coming to an end. They cling to their beloved Mom and Dad. You can see worry in their eyes–what will happen once I’m gone? They really try to keep up and do all that they used to do when younger–but can’t anymore. It is heartbreaking for both the pet and the owner.

I found myself with tears in my eyes-both for Nounous and his Mom–and remembering all my babies who have gone over the Rainbow bridge.

About the Book: (from Amazon)

Nounous is a fourteen-year-old Maltese dog who loves people but loves his mother most. As he takes his last steps, he reminisces on life and worries about leaving his Mommy alone.

His mother, Susanne Leist, is a paranormal suspense author and former financial analyst. When she isn’t writing her books, Susanne spends precious time with Nounous, her best friend and muse.

Read a Chapter or Two Here

Purchase the Book Here

About the Author: (from Amazon)

Hi, I am an author of paranormal suspense. In my first series, The Dead Game Series, the dead walk the night & into the day, leading our heroines on a dangerous adventure from Florida to Quebec.

The Blue Harbor Series offers a new set of heroines who fight to save their town from an Indian curse. The first book, Meet Me In Maine, uncovers the perpetrator of the curse and the plight of the Penobscot culture at the hands of the white man.

Meet Me In Maine’s new edition contains two bonus chapters with Scarlett’s and Elizabeth’s stories, revealing why they chose to settle in Blue Harbor. I also have a special treat for you, My Last Year, written by my Maltese Nounous.

Please sit back, put up your feet, and let me bring mystery and romance to your lives.

Author’s Website
Facebook
Twitter
Bookbub
Goodreads

All opinions expressed are my own honest opinions. For more information please check my Disclosure Statement. Our giveaways are in no way sponsored or promoted by Facebook or Google.

My Last Year

Today is the release of the short story, My Last Year, in the voice of Nounous.

Nounous is a fourteen-year-old Maltese dog who loves people but loves his mother most. As he takes his last steps, he reminisces on life and worries about leaving his Mommy alone.

His mother fears the day she must say goodbye to her best friend and muse.

My Last Year by Nounous

https://amazon.com/dp/B0CCT2S9LQ/

WE OPEN AT SUNSET

mienar

“we open at sunset.”

The sun lowers its head in the darkening sky.

A young man pedals his bicycle.

He parks beneath the striped awning,

rushing to his wilting plants.

He brings them into the store.

I cross the street and peek into the window.

The man tends to the leaves with a mister.

He arranges them on a table beneath the window.

The plants straighten their stems.

Their leaves spread wide to hold each other’s hands.

The man steps back with a grin on his face.

Our eyes meet through the glass.

He holds my gaze before turning away.

He’s seen me.

The handsome man moves closer to the door.

His eyes seek mine.

I hold my breath.

A slow smile crosses his face,

dimpling his cheeks beneath sculpted cheekbones.

He waves for me to enter.

I open the glass door as the bell chimes.

The fragrant scent of flowers rises to my nose.

I stand beside the tall man.

Together, we watch the plants as they stretch their stems

toward the rays streaming through the window.

I whisper, “Why do you wait a whole day to water them?”

He faces me. 

“This is the way,” he says.

I scrunch my nose. “What way?”

He smiles.

His dimples reappear. 

“The way of the prior owner

who told me to water them at sunset.”

“What would happen if you forgot?” I ask.

He stares through the window.

“These are special plants that must be watered,”

he replies,

“the same time every day or else they die.”

“Amazing,” I murmur.

The plants glisten in the orange glow

from the sun before it retreats to bed.

The plants drop their hands.

“What happens now?” I ask.

He smiles. 

“They go to sleep.”

“Sweet.”

His dark blue gaze falls on me. 

“Would you like to accompany me to dinner this evening?”

My heart pounds. 

“Will you tell me about the plants?” I ask.

His dimples deepen. 

“Of course. And we can even share our names.”

I giggle. 

“That’s right. I don’t know yours.”

“But I know yours, Amy.”

“How?”

He takes my hand,

placing it in the crook of his arm. 

“All will be explained.”

To be continued 

WE OPEN AT SUNSET

mienar

“we open at sunset.”

Why open at sunset?

Why wait until your flowers are dried out 

from being in the sun all day?

Is the store an after work hobby?

In my mind’s eye, I can see the owner.

The sun is low in the deepening blue sky.

The young man pedals quickly on his bicycle

and parks below the red and white striped awning.

The dark-haired man rushes to his plants 

who lie before him wilting.

He grabs them and brings them inside.

I cross the street and peek into the window.

The man tends to the leaves with a fine mister,

then soaks their dirt with a yellow watering can.

He lines them up on the table beneath the window,

rearranging them by size from smallest to tallest.

Before my shocked eyes, the plants stand straighter.

The leaves spread out to hold each other’s hands.

The man steps back with a happy expression on his face.

Our eyes meet through the glass.

He holds my gaze before turning away.

He’s seen me.

His eyes seek mine.

I hold my breath.

A slow smile wings across his face,

dimpling his plump cheeks.

His hand waves for me to enter.

I pull open the glass door as the bell chimes.

The fragrant scent of flowers wafts to my nose

from the shelves of plants around the small room.

I stand beside the tall and handsome man.

Together we watch the plants as they stretch their stems

to the sun streaming through the window.

I whisper, “Why did you wait a whole day to water them?”

He faces me. “That is the way.”

I scrunch my nose as I glance up. “What way?”

He smiles, and his dimples reappear. “The way of the prior owner who told

me to water them only at sunset, and that I should never forget.”

I shrugged. “What would happen if you forgot?”

His stare takes on a faraway look. “These are special plants that must be

watered the same time every day or else they will die.”

“Amazing,” I murmur.

The setting sun lights the plants with an orange glow.

The sun retreats to its bed for the night.

The plants follow suit and drop hands, their leaves standing up straight.

“What happens now?” I ask.

He smiles. “They go to sleep.”

“Sweet.”

His dark blue gaze falls on me. “Would you like to accompany me 

to dinner this evening?”

My head pops up. “Will you explain more about the plants?”

His dimples deepen. “Of course. And we can share our names.”

I giggled. “That’s right. I don’t know yours.”

“But I know yours, Amy.”

“How–?”

He takes my arm and places it in the crook of his. “All will be explained.”


To be continued