Well, today didn't go as expected.  I woke up with a sore chest. At first I thought I must have slept very funny. Then I coughed and I realized after months of bronchial spasms (irritated cough) thanks to allergy seasons back to back - my chest is just revolting! 

So - I'm taking cough syrup, and ibuprofin.  Hopefully it will go away soon because it makes me feel like not doing a blessed thing. sigh. 

Then, my uncle and mom stopped by unexpectedly- yeah that took three hours out of my afternoon - now, don't get me wrong - the fact that my mom has improved enough to interact with all of us and not be totally annoying, though she has forgotten Erica is pregnant (mom has dementia) once we reminded her, she remembered for the entire three hour visit. It's just when you are not feeling your best, and have a packed day, stopping for three hours to entertain can be a challenge. 

So the blog is late, my words aren't written, but I spent time with my mom-- in the long run, that's more important.  I just wish I felt better. 

Obviously, there hasn't been too much happening in only a week, but I got Sweet Tomorrows to the proof readers, and I Sweet Redemption is at with the editor so YAY! AND - the beginning of the next Sweet book has started - I'm not sure what the title will be yet. We're leaning toward Sweet Rescue. 

This is a seriously super rough draft of Josh and the Sweets, you'll meet him in Sweet Redemption, but y'all seem to like those so here it goes: 

Josh Coleman tightened the chin strap on his tactical helmet and checked his vest seals. Sweat slid down his spine, but his focus stayed locked on the six-vehicle convoy lined up for inspection.
"Transport three's thermal reading is climbing faster than the others," he reported, clipping the handheld scanner to his tactical vest. Responsible for convoy security, these routine checks had become second nature during his years of service.
Kade Sweet, his longtime friend and the Military Working Dog handler assigned to their team, approached with Rambo, the Belgian Malinois, trotting attentively at his side. Fitted to his muscular frame, the dog's tactical vest matched their own. “All set?”
“Right about now, I’d kill for some of your mother’s strawberry lemonade.”
“Tell me about it.” Kade chuckled. No doubt his buddy’s thoughts were taking a detour to the Sweet family ranch, quiet evenings, soft breezes, and his mother’s lemonade. A quick blink and he was all business again. "Rambo already cleared the first two vehicles. No alerts for explosives. What's the issue with transport three?"
"Coolant leak, looks like." Josh gestured toward the heavy truck carrying fuel reserves for the joint training exercise. "I'm not taking chances with that much combustible material on board."
As convoy security commander for this mission, Josh had final say on safety protocols. The chain of command was clear—he made the decisions, his team executed them, and everyone got home safe. The straightforward nature of this assignment should have made it routine: escort training ordnance and fuel supplies to the far range where a joint exercise was scheduled to begin tomorrow morning. Simple enough on paper.
The transport driver approached, wiping sweat from his brow. "Problem, Staff Sergeant?"
"Need to check your engine compartment." Josh's tone was professional but left no room for debate. "Pop the hood."
The driver complied, releasing the hood latch with a metallic click. Josh leaned in carefully, avoiding the scorching metal components. His training had taught him to trust his instincts, and something about this situation felt off. A small puddle of green liquid had formed beneath the radiator, and the coolant reservoir showed a hairline crack along one side.
"Losing coolant fast," Josh stepped back. "This vehicle isn't going anywhere until it's replaced." He turned to Specialist Boglioli, his communications operator. "Radio base. We need a replacement transport before we continue the mission."
"But we're already behind schedule," the driver protested. "Can't we just add more coolant and keep an eye on it?"
Josh fixed the driver with a steady gaze. "Not with what you're hauling. One spark near a fuel leak and this whole convoy lights up like the Fourth of July."
Moving closer, Kade kept Rambo on a short lead. "Listen to the man," his easy Texas drawl masked the authority in his voice. "Staff Sergeant Coleman's been running convoy security since before you could shave."
The driver's shoulders stiffened under the rebuke. "Yes, Staff Sergeant."
Josh nodded to Kade as the driver walked away. "Thanks for the backup."
"No problem." Kade crouched to check Rambo's tactical vest, adjusting a strap that had loosened. "Dog's been acting antsy since we stopped. He’s flagging something. Not heat.”
Scanning the sparse landscape around them, Josh frowned. Training grounds stretched for miles in every direction, mostly scrubby terrain broken by the occasional patch of mesquite trees and dirt roads. Nothing but heat waves shimmered on the horizon. "Think the heat getting to Rambo?"
Kade shook his head. "He's desert-trained. This is nothing for him."
Kade gave a quick hand signal toward the front of the line. “I’ll finish clearing the lead trucks,” he called over his shoulder, Rambo trotting beside him. Josh waved acknowledgment, turning his attention back to the idling transports.
They hadn’t gone ten yards when Rambo suddenly stopped mid-stride, muscles going rigid, his head snapping back toward the rear of the convoy. A low growl rumbled from deep in his chest, sharp and warning.
Kade froze, hand hovering near his sidearm. “What is it, boy?” He followed the dog’s focus toward the fuel trucks behind them.
Josh’s pulse spiked. Rambo wasn’t one to false-alert—something back there wasn’t right.
The radio on Josh's shoulder crackled to life. "Base confirms replacement transport ETA forty minutes, Staff Sergeant," Boglioli reported.
"Roger that," Josh’s attention was now fixed on Rambo's behavior. Military working dogs had saved their lives more than once during previous deployments by detecting threats before human senses could. Josh would trust a well-trained K9 before humans any day of the week. Something sharp and chemical tainted the air—too faint for his nose, but dogs didn’t false-flag.
"Check the rear vehicles again. Full inspection."
"On it," Kade nodded, already moving with Rambo toward the back of the convoy.
Josh followed, signaling for two more team members to join them. If Rambo sensed something wrong, there was a reason. Whatever was wrong up front wasn’t what had Rambo spooked. Different truck, different threat.
They approached the rear transport—another fuel truck—where Rambo's behavior intensified. The dog strained against his lead, hackles raised, growling more loudly now.
"Something's definitely got him worked up," Kade’s voice dropped to a near whisper as he maintained control of his partner.
Josh gestured for the driver to step away from the vehicle. "When's the last time you checked your engine temperature?"
"Just before we left base, Staff Sergeant. Everything was normal."
About to take a reading, Josh reached for his scanner when a sharp metallic crack echoed from somewhere beneath the truck. The sound wasn't loud—barely audible over the idling engines—but Josh's combat-honed instincts registered it instantly. It wasn’t a mechanical pop; that hollow metallic snap had the signature of something man-made under tension, about to give.
Adrenaline shot through his system. "Clear the area!" Moving at full speed, he waved his arms, directing his team to a safe distance. "Everybody back now!"
Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Josh sprinted toward the front of the convoy, shouting orders as he moved. "Boglioli! Get the lead vehicles moving!”
Having just finished checking the forward vehicles, Kade and Rambo were at the front of the convoy. Josh could see him turning at the commotion.
"Possible detonation! Clear out!" Josh bellowed, urging nearby soldiers to move faster. Two men were still too close to the suspect vehicle, frozen in momentary confusion. Damn it. He changed direction, rushing toward them. “Move!” Josh shoved the nearest soldier forward.
The blast hit before he cleared the path, followed instantly by another detonation. The shockwave caught Josh and the two soldiers in the open, lifting them off their feet. Josh felt himself hurled through the air, a blinding flash searing his vision as the pounding force crushed against his chest, slamming him to the ground. Beside him one soldier wasn't moving, the other lay several feet away, unnaturally still. His chest burned, his side screamed.
Through the ringing in his ears, he caught a flash of Kade dragging Rambo behind the lead truck—both safe. Relief flickered, even as darkness closed in.
His only clear thought—what an unholy mess.
And - rereading it as I posted - I found a slew of continuity errors - SO - thank y'all for helping! 

Now, I'm going back to work - let me know what you think?