Two mysteries. One fight
for survival. And danger closing in from both sides of the sea.
Gabby Heart travels to a remote Scottish castle with her best friend,
Abe—a bestselling children’s author—expecting misty views, historic charm, and
quiet time to plan their next book series. But Brantmar Castle holds more than
ghosts of the past. When the women are taken hostage, Gabby must rely on her
instincts, her resilience, and the help of men who may not deserve her trust to
survive. Meanwhile, on Dost Island, young residents are vanishing without a
trace. As those left behind scramble for answers, unsettling clues
emerge—leading to a dark motive no one could have predicted. From the
storm-swept highlands of Scotland to the rocky shores of New England, Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle blends
mystery, emotional grit, simmering romance, and humor, in a story where secrets
run deep... and time is running out.
Purchase a copy of Captive Heart at Brantmar
Castle
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Captive-Heart-Brantmar-Castle-Mysteries/dp/B0FNNF1N9L
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/captive-heart-at-brantmar-castle-celeste-fenton/1148429830
Books-a-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Captive-Heart-Brantmar-Castle/Celeste-Fenton/9798292238829
You can also add this to your GoodReads reading
list
Creativity Has Gone to the Dogs
(How Daily Dog Walks Spark Creativity)
Some
writers have muses. I have a dog. Her name is Gemma—my Cavalier King Charles
Spaniel, my constant companion, and the furry little dictator who keeps me from
becoming a statue fused to my red leather sofa. When I’m in writing mode, time
stops existing. Hours pass. I haven’t eaten. I haven’t blinked. My legs have
forgotten what circulation feels like. I’m deep in a scene with Gabby and Abe
when suddenly—thud! A small, insistent head bumps my elbow.
Gemma’s
saying, “Hey! Pay attention to me! I’m here! Also, I have a bladder.” I sigh.
I’m at the good part. But those brown eyes are impossible to ignore, so I obey
her royal command. Sometimes I grumble. Even when I grumble, tell her she has
the worst timing, Gemma just wags her tail and trots toward the door, certain
that the world—and my sanity—await us outside. And as soon as we step out, I
know she’s right.
The
air hits me like a reset button. I hear the birds singing, see the cranes
stepping gracefully across the road, the squirrels squawking like gossiping
neighbors. Gemma’s nose hits the ground—she’s already on the trail of a lizard.
My shoulders loosen. My breathing slows. The tension I didn’t even realize I
was holding starts to melt away. We wander past the lake. A log floats lazily
near the bank—but wait… the log blinks. Alligator. Florida life: never dull.
Some
days, the sun is so hot my skin feels as if it might sizzle like bacon. Gemma
pants, her little pink tongue hanging out, but she’s determined to finish the
route. We make it to the shade of an old oak, its branches sprawling like a
green umbrella over the street. The azaleas are blooming—lavender and pink
against the sunny yellow of the Mexican petunias. Suddenly, I remember why I
love this ritual. Because this is where the thinking happens. The untangling.
As
we walk, the next plot twist slips quietly into place. A line of dialogue I’ve
been struggling with finally lands. Sometimes I run into neighbors. We talk. I
gather bits of gossip that might (purely coincidentally, of course) find their
way into a future chapter. I comfort a neighbor who hasn’t been feeling well,
and it feels good to focus on someone other than myself—or Gabby, Lola, or
Lavanda—and my endless list of plot holes.
Gemma
visits with her dog friends—tails wagging, noses bumping, butts sniffing, the
pups ecstatic about simply being. Their joy is contagious. By the time
we circle back home, I feel lighter. Clearer. Refreshed. Writing can trap us
inside our heads, looping through words and worries. Gemma drags me—sometimes
literally—back into the real world. She reminds me that life isn’t meant to be
lived in front of a glowing screen. It’s meant to be walked through, sniffed,
observed, laughed at, and sometimes, dodged (especially if it’s the skunk that
lives in the woods around the corner). These walks are more than exercise.
They’re breathing space for the soul—and the imagination. When I come back, I
don’t just feel better physically; I write better. My mind feels cleansed. The
rhythm of walking somehow shakes loose the next scene, the next spark, the next
solution.
So
yes, my creativity has gone to the dogs—and I’m grateful for it.
Because
every day, Gemma reminds me to step away from my corner of the couch where my
laptop and I live, to breathe, to look, to live. She makes sure I find balance
between the deadlines and the daydreams, the hustle and the heart.
And
as any writer (or dog) will tell you—sometimes the best ideas don’t come from
sitting still. They come from putting one paw, or one foot, in front of the
other. So now it’s your turn. Do you have a furry or feathered friend that
keeps you grounded? I’d love for you to share in the comments—maybe a picture
too. Or contact me at https://celestefenton.com/contact or on social media.
About the Author, Celeste Fenton
Celeste Fenton holds an
M.Ed. and Ph.D. in education and has over thirty years’ experience in higher
education. Her writing is fueled by a lifelong love of mystery, a fascination
with the complexities of the human heart, and just enough real-world experience
to keep things interesting. A widow, mother of adult twin sons, proud
grandmother, dog lover, and semi-retired professor living in Florida, she
weaves imagination with insight to create stories that are both emotionally
rich and laced with suspense.
When she’s not writing,
reading, or plotting her next twist, she’s often off exploring small towns
across America—setting out solo for month-long adventures, much to the awe (and
occasional alarm) of friends and family. Her latest obsessions include escape
rooms, mastering the perfect miter cut for a DIY bathroom remodel, and making
the impossible decision of where to travel next.
You can follow the author at:
Website: https://celestefenton.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Celeste-Fenton-Mysteries-of-a-Heart
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