tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50836333252090120242024-03-18T21:24:34.691-04:00Happily Ever After ThoughtsLexi Posthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04124921637508804346noreply@blogger.comBlogger1779125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-36457050925536934782024-03-13T07:30:00.001-04:002024-03-13T07:30:00.139-04:00Rent Yourself An Elf by Savannah Scott<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">Not too late for a great Christmas story. Don't forget Easter is just around the corner and the holidays are related! For whatever reason, I was in the mood to read this.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It's a delightful rom-com, and Noelle has a problem with Christmas. It's not that she doesn't like it, but rather it was always centered around her grandmother who has passed and left her home for Noelle as an inheritance.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The house is old and needs a few minor repairs. As a grade school teacher, Noelle has little time to do much more than plan to teach and teach. She squeezes in a few dinners with her best friends.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">They surprise her with an elf because she needs entertainment other than just work. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://th.bing.com/th?id=OPHS.EKqAjxxPuiJVxA474C474&w=108&h=108&c=17&o=5&dpr=1.3&pid=21.1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="140" height="320" src="https://th.bing.com/th?id=OPHS.EKqAjxxPuiJVxA474C474&w=108&h=108&c=17&o=5&dpr=1.3&pid=21.1" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-size: medium;">His name is Liam.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Liam is a handyman f</span><span style="font-size: large;">or hire, wearing a Santa hat for the occasion, and appears at Noelle's door to do handywork for two days. He's too busy and consumed with his trade to think about women. </span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Noelle isn't perfect like her sister. Yet, Liam notices everything good about her immediately. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The kindling is set for the fire.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When she gets herself in a pickle over needing a date for a family event, let's see if Liam can fill the ticket. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The match is lit and will the fire burn?!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> It's a feel-good read and can be enjoyed even without decorations and snow for the holiday!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Happy reading,</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Dawn</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>dawn kundahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08711522113550387081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-61172521277423547902024-03-06T06:00:00.002-05:002024-03-06T06:00:00.280-05:00A Woman to Admire<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span><span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCKGmQGFdxdI_KtdckDMZnAoAHnfqZToQwixhQyGt9RDzIBSjDyKEmEvNve0kgfoYK3KZf45a49Rt8ReSYqW7Q52lcgI6w68oUlvI7KiaLzmwqKTlOlQlCvQAoLeB32ICFG-E1hPUiPLe95_kHafe-UCX8o58uY1oH5jcHVXkUSgJio0aF4P_1eEDIMQ/s173/Woman%20in%20robe%20drinking%20coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="173" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCKGmQGFdxdI_KtdckDMZnAoAHnfqZToQwixhQyGt9RDzIBSjDyKEmEvNve0kgfoYK3KZf45a49Rt8ReSYqW7Q52lcgI6w68oUlvI7KiaLzmwqKTlOlQlCvQAoLeB32ICFG-E1hPUiPLe95_kHafe-UCX8o58uY1oH5jcHVXkUSgJio0aF4P_1eEDIMQ/s1600/Woman%20in%20robe%20drinking%20coffee.jpg" width="173" /></a></div><br /> <span> </span></span>Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well
and staying safe!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span><span> </span>Yesterday, my DH and I attended a birthday
celebration for a dear friend. She’s 98. Yes, you read that right. 98! But one
would never know that to look at her or talk to her. She doesn’t look 98. Not
at all. She doesn’t act it either.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">She is young at heart and she is stunning. Beyond
beautiful. When we saw her yesterday, her hair and makeup were perfect and she
was dressed to the nines and that wasn’t because it was her birthday. She dresses like this every day. She has a collection of hats that she wears whenever she
goes out…and not just any hats…these are the wide-brimmed fashionable hats of a
bygone era when women wore gloves and didn’t dare step out of their homes without
looking their absolute best.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The woman has boundless energy, too. Her own personal
fountain of youth, it would seem, hidden somewhere inside. I get tired just
watching her! At this age, she is still very active in her community, attending chamber of commerce meetings to help small businesses grow (she was a small business owner at one
time), traveling to visit her children and grandchildren (and yes, great
grandchildren), posts twice a day (at least) on Facebook (always uplifting,
inspirational messages—she calls her Facebook friends ‘her peeps’, which is adorable.
</span><i style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">She’s</i><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> adorable!), reaches out to those who need help, and volunteers
with hospice and one of the local mental health agencies here.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">This is a woman who has lived and lived well.
That’s not to say she didn’t have hard times because everyone does, but no one
would ever know that in speaking with her. Every hard time was a lesson to be
kinder and that’s how she looked at it. She learned that lesson well because she is kindness itself. </span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">And love. She exudes love…there’s no other way to say
it. And I do love this woman. She is no relation. Like I said, a friend, but
she has never treated me as anything other than another daughter and my DH as a son.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Did I mention she gives the best hugs? I was happy to receive several of her famous hugs yesterday!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">As I watched her greet her guests, moving through
the crowd with infinite grace and uncommon style (there were a lot of guests—she
is well loved), I thought…not only is this woman someone to admire, but also
someone to emulate. She is the grand dame, the matriarch, the queen, and I am so fortunate
to be part of her world. Happy birthday, my friend!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread
kindness wherever you go!</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Marie<o:p></o:p></span></p>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18328966473242925851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-70565033361817769922024-03-01T03:00:00.010-05:002024-03-01T03:00:00.171-05:00FLETCHER'S FLAME by Lexi Post only 99¢ for a limited time!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojfT9YgBZLcZ74beR-p5kRSLNTAuWwN7DXUbV0hVaQJ1CbKFoaHkXsi4j7DF8EKZl9ojTWYjMSxWxi1aPBp48j374DC4tmbf8uia5UfwqxAmi1JQ9tm6vm3Uyv99QfCENkL3eeQRvMgjYfcpt4zuz0HF6QUdnIbyn46XvvYvY8DMkw7VGypPpz5zWB_cM/s900/Fletchers_Flame_Final600x900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojfT9YgBZLcZ74beR-p5kRSLNTAuWwN7DXUbV0hVaQJ1CbKFoaHkXsi4j7DF8EKZl9ojTWYjMSxWxi1aPBp48j374DC4tmbf8uia5UfwqxAmi1JQ9tm6vm3Uyv99QfCENkL3eeQRvMgjYfcpt4zuz0HF6QUdnIbyn46XvvYvY8DMkw7VGypPpz5zWB_cM/w266-h400/Fletchers_Flame_Final600x900.jpg" width="266" /></b></a></div><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Fletcher's Flame </b></i></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>(Last Chance Book 3)</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>by Lexi Post</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">is now on sale for only <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>99</b></span><span class="textexposedshow" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>¢</b>, but only for a limited time.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 13.5pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Can
he get her to see her own worth before they both go up in flames…literally?</b></i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2LmR2wG" target="_blank"><b>Amazon</b></a> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fletchers-flame-lexi-post/1129134593?ean=2940161726563" target="_blank"><b>Barnes & Noble</b></a><strong> | </strong><a href="https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/fletchers-flame/id1415238258?mt=11"><b>AppleBooks</b> </a><strong>|
</strong><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/fletcher-s-flame" target="_blank"><b>Kobo</b></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b> |</b> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fletchers-Flame-Last-Chance-Book-ebook/dp/B07FP3VY13" target="_blank"><b>Amazon UK</b></a><strong> | </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Fletchers-Flame-Last-Chance-Book-ebook/dp/B07FP3VY13" target="_blank"><b>Amazon AU</b></a><strong> | </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Fletchers-Flame-Last-Chance-Book-ebook/dp/B07FP3VY13" target="_blank"><b>Amazon CA</b></a><strong> </strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: xx-large; text-indent: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; text-indent: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dana
Wilson has one mission in life – to save animals. Thanks to her life’s calling,
she’s developed a distrust of men in authority. So when Bo Fletcher, a cowboy
firefighter, decides to appoint himself her bodyguard, her hackles rise.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; text-indent: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Bo’s
physical attraction to Dana Wilson has him digging deeper into her personality,
a need to understand her burning in his gut. Unfortunately, that’s not the only
thing burning. An arsonist appears to be nipping at Dana’s heels and Bo is
determined to protect her.</span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; text-indent: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">As
sparks fly between them, the fires come closer and closer to claiming Dana. Can
Bo protect her or will his own words be her demise?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOy8QzRCS4EUTgicWeanZqWZF2b0N_WCiyFAVcRwJh8Bbt24whme39BRHVqwSinTKAjsLSJZGQ-rFuO0H2K9eg08SEBstXKpF_AqDgcyd4VPYvV4C8hLPGaeQXfKMg71SBdGBRoXU_M2gZvKJe4Bvolbptg9VVz4hw7rdEd47E2ds-kbGaDoF80My5Mef/s1200/FF%20Ad%20after%20release%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1200" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOy8QzRCS4EUTgicWeanZqWZF2b0N_WCiyFAVcRwJh8Bbt24whme39BRHVqwSinTKAjsLSJZGQ-rFuO0H2K9eg08SEBstXKpF_AqDgcyd4VPYvV4C8hLPGaeQXfKMg71SBdGBRoXU_M2gZvKJe4Bvolbptg9VVz4hw7rdEd47E2ds-kbGaDoF80My5Mef/w640-h382/FF%20Ad%20after%20release%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><u style="font-size: x-large;">About Lexi:</u><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lexi Post is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of romance
inspired by the classics. She spent years in higher education taking and
teaching courses about the classical literature she loved. From Edgar Allan
Poe's short story “The Masque of the Red Death” to Tolstoy’s <i>War and Peace</i>, she's read, studied, and
taught wonderful classics.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But Lexi's first love is romance novels so she married her two first loves, romance
and the classics. Whether it’s sizzling cowboys, dashing dukes, hot immortals,
or hunks from out of this world, Lexi provides a sensuous experience with a
“whole lotta story.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lexi is living her own happily ever after with her husband and her two cats
in Florida. She makes her own ice cream every weekend, loves bright colors, and
you’ll never see her without a hat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><a href="http://www.lexipostbooks.com/"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #c00000; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41z-_dtY4u0Y9Vsx4xAcr5w8ECT9MwQHrzmQ58e5lbYI3gTGyCh7lQjJjR6TcHezlhm38AeYm-2MQ74sWXyVBH6kdIHhdyzFoQD15jTYGjzSQZ_sjSkej-Gs3LM1upHAJk_akcmAs6YOKrEM4ck-pNOaKw_n3TeV3HpIwM2WLCaUrkspY7EtiRFN1Lk4Q/s2600/Lexi%202023%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2600" data-original-width="2400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41z-_dtY4u0Y9Vsx4xAcr5w8ECT9MwQHrzmQ58e5lbYI3gTGyCh7lQjJjR6TcHezlhm38AeYm-2MQ74sWXyVBH6kdIHhdyzFoQD15jTYGjzSQZ_sjSkej-Gs3LM1upHAJk_akcmAs6YOKrEM4ck-pNOaKw_n3TeV3HpIwM2WLCaUrkspY7EtiRFN1Lk4Q/w184-h200/Lexi%202023%202.jpg" width="184" /></a></span></i></div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="color: #c00000;">Website<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/c1w1g3"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;">Lexi Post Updates</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/lexipostbooks"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;">Facebook</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://twitter.com/LexiPost"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;">Twitter</span></i></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lexipostbooks/"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;">Instagram</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1IEL2cc"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;">Amazon
Author Page</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lexi-post"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;">BookBub</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://books2read.com/author/lexi-post/subscribe/1/16171/"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;">D2D</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomLexiPost"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;">Goodreads</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lexipostbooks/"><i><span style="color: #c00000;">Instagram</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="http://www.happilyeverafterthoughts.com/"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #c00000;">Blog
</span><span style="color: #c00000; text-decoration-line: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/lexipost77/"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;">Pinterest</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="mailto:lexi@lexipostbooks.com"><span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Email</span><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span>Lexi Posthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04124921637508804346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-301374988605153192024-02-28T07:30:00.001-05:002024-02-28T07:30:00.256-05:00The Do Over by Sharon Peterson<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> My last review was beautiful and serious, so now it's time for a lot of fun. A kettle full of laughs is necessary to get through the dingy, brown days of late winter.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Perci is a people-pleaser, starting with her mom, and then her boyfriend, Brent, and all others. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Apparently, </span><span style="font-size: large;">Brent is too hard to please. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.bing.com/th?id=OIP.anEstgDWGwd7MDY2PLP1iwHaHa&w=175&h=185&c=8&rs=1&qlt=90&o=6&dpr=1.3&pid=3.1&rm=2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="227" height="240" src="https://www.bing.com/th?id=OIP.anEstgDWGwd7MDY2PLP1iwHaHa&w=175&h=185&c=8&rs=1&qlt=90&o=6&dpr=1.3&pid=3.1&rm=2" width="227" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I want to tell you, as a reader, how Brent broke-up with Perci, but I can't. I had to put the book down and wipe the tears of laughter from my eyes. For Perci, I want to smack him, but I can't deny the humor. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She has a change in her romantic relationship, changes her job because she works with Brent, and the other life changes are all done by keeping a sense of humor in life. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Perci, in her late twenties, is my kind of woman. She loves her forget-the-rules grandma, loves chocolate, and is working on the idea of loving herself.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Hot-Man-Next-Door, Nate, gets involved. And a good thing he does. He's accidentally what Perci needs and wants and should have.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> With all the sudden changes in her life and happenings in the family, Nate pulls Perci through with the best of kisses and tulips (two-lips). Those are kind of the same, but not really:)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Laugh and love,</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Dawn</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>dawn kundahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08711522113550387081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-54343645547295712472024-02-23T17:43:00.001-05:002024-02-23T17:43:44.400-05:00YA JUST GOTTA WONDER.<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Hey gang, hi ya, how are ya?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Good, I hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, I’ve been MIA
because I’ve been working hard, but wanted to stick my head in with a quick,
little story that will make you go, “HUH?"</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">It did me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>LOL</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-weight: normal;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dsc4z4XAWfRO3tDq1wOLUA62yeaCG_g4QEv6_KQ9uSlGEvgRzZRIEGMT71_wveIL5R8cqPwoUAEaugnOnh8IYfzks2oigvz1DS6c2GAOO02hkpx58-gXfXCZWETagBpMSYoa6umYg-WWswmYW4GsDa6M0k0_5_2GqRcl1GsiesXHABgknaP1uWE-Eu_u/s999/Depositphotos_61475951_S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="999" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dsc4z4XAWfRO3tDq1wOLUA62yeaCG_g4QEv6_KQ9uSlGEvgRzZRIEGMT71_wveIL5R8cqPwoUAEaugnOnh8IYfzks2oigvz1DS6c2GAOO02hkpx58-gXfXCZWETagBpMSYoa6umYg-WWswmYW4GsDa6M0k0_5_2GqRcl1GsiesXHABgknaP1uWE-Eu_u/s320/Depositphotos_61475951_S.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">I went to the lab the other day for the yearly, much-dreaded, mammogram... and yes, that's the way I look at the machine too...like it's my arch nemesis. Anyway, I’ve done these for many years—probably have not had hundreds of them, but
certainly dozens—and they never get any better.
I don’t think the technique has improved one iota since my very first
one.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Now, to be fair, I’m certain the technology and accuracy has improved,
but not the technique as experienced from my end. Hence, my firm belief that it
is all men behind the development of this method—which I am certain would be
significantly improved (fast) if men had to use the same methodology on their “equipment”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could someone propose that at the next user
meeting…please!</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Okay, I digress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the
process has not improved one stupid millimeter, I’m not going to go into detail
here—we all get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if you want to
see a blog I wrote a few years ago about my mammo, here is a link to that
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-font-family: Milonga; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Milonga; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Enjoy…then come back here and read about the head-scratching moment I
encountered at this year’s appointment.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="https://www.happilyeverafterthoughts.com/2015/05/who-thought-up-squished-boobs-anyway.html " target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Link to Old Blog Post</span></a><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Now, as I was saying, I had a WTF moment at this year’s mammo
appointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All went as it always has—compassionate
woman administered the test, reminded me to remove the BB’s, and all was good.
But on my way OUT of the clinic, I encountered a handwritten sign in all
capital letters, using red ink, taped to the inside of the door that read as
follows:</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Milonga;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>THIS DOOR EXIT ONLY!</b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Now, I have to surmise that there was a big problem with this door
being used as an entrance instead of an exit—hence, the handwritten sign that someone felt needed
to be posted (and with emphasis).</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">But I’m not sure the solution, as implemented, truly yields a lot of
improvement.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Wouldn’t you think you would stop more “entering” violators by posting this
sign on the outside of the door?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
actually checked outside and there were no signs anywhere…only on the inside.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">HUH!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ha7FjSVxPu5Nxy_ruycRH3QeZu3I9R0ehGS2AFg0DscCxsD8SHU5Sx6olH0-55hD_y3zUr5N94TV3oer9Il8MughT87xuW63pv9T-o6hQVE1t9MtExHihxXQSH4iLbmkQC9lNfBpxDg7zJCoh78JWlU_GztqDQXQvWbnBh-IryeWVBMTsWthBBLNE1tD/s425/iStock_000010133245XSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="425" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ha7FjSVxPu5Nxy_ruycRH3QeZu3I9R0ehGS2AFg0DscCxsD8SHU5Sx6olH0-55hD_y3zUr5N94TV3oer9Il8MughT87xuW63pv9T-o6hQVE1t9MtExHihxXQSH4iLbmkQC9lNfBpxDg7zJCoh78JWlU_GztqDQXQvWbnBh-IryeWVBMTsWthBBLNE1tD/w640-h424/iStock_000010133245XSmall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">I sure hope the person who posted this sign isn’t responsible for
anything truly important...like testing or reading results. Perhaps there is a special position for Coordinator of Handwritten Door Warnings.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">One can only hope.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Well, that’s my story, confused and confounding<span style="background: white;">, and I’m stickin’ to it. Hang on tight now ‘cuz we’re
gonna go real, real fast!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Love ya, </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslwzL8Rl3d94KYmIhhm4cGfplq0xG6EVLMPcKSYxC9pfL-ZjmIDITzPjpFSdfPKSWS1xCt8csGCMxZNCrLc8W6dlVKWyG4AB_FdQNh9cZABbNN4eZ50ahboxzqqr8Q-wxiLNM938mbzBwhxILE9YL7CE23eTCfedW-kCwiAcH59ppMvFScU47v0k_dHZc/s658/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="658" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslwzL8Rl3d94KYmIhhm4cGfplq0xG6EVLMPcKSYxC9pfL-ZjmIDITzPjpFSdfPKSWS1xCt8csGCMxZNCrLc8W6dlVKWyG4AB_FdQNh9cZABbNN4eZ50ahboxzqqr8Q-wxiLNM938mbzBwhxILE9YL7CE23eTCfedW-kCwiAcH59ppMvFScU47v0k_dHZc/w200-h142/Untitled-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Be sure to sign up for Kayce’s
newsletter and get a couple of free ebooks at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 283.2pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://subscribepage.io/wnOodI"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">https://subscribepage.io/wnOodI</span></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 283.2pt;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you already have the free books, sign up
anyway so you don’t miss any shenanigans—and be sure to forward the link to all
your friends who might want to join us.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Kayce Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690736058383684566noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-86839694046906240162024-02-21T06:00:00.001-05:002024-02-21T06:00:00.216-05:00Shopping On-line<p> </p><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AvKuiI5XgN5t3NThMMVsFTjGjOybxnKFdnxebjcWZ6eqSsKykcA9cEXZ_ibsb0tC1__hdtQPAP5fqkBc09QvfXAbSsMpgB5e-kLw1PI8iwCi-10uJhpNZUmj_Wk0yxRJDt2HPG4E_POVuHgsIk8cAFrUgoY_lMFpx_63tfhSwLuGS5gFWO5J6lp02NI/s173/Woman%20in%20robe%20drinking%20coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="173" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AvKuiI5XgN5t3NThMMVsFTjGjOybxnKFdnxebjcWZ6eqSsKykcA9cEXZ_ibsb0tC1__hdtQPAP5fqkBc09QvfXAbSsMpgB5e-kLw1PI8iwCi-10uJhpNZUmj_Wk0yxRJDt2HPG4E_POVuHgsIk8cAFrUgoY_lMFpx_63tfhSwLuGS5gFWO5J6lp02NI/s1600/Woman%20in%20robe%20drinking%20coffee.jpg" width="173" /></a></div><br /><span> </span><span> </span>Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well
and staying safe!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">My apologies in advance. This post will contain some ranting and raving.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I’m not sure how you all feel about it, but I
absolutely hate ordering things online! I understand the convenience factor of ‘letting
your fingers’ do the walking (hahahaha, how many of you remember that
advertisement for the Yellow Pages, which I don’t believe are in existence anymore),
but I still dislike it. Doesn’t feel so convenient to me (the gentleman at
Whole Foods, where they have an Amazon return booth, and I are becoming quite
close as I’ve been there many, many times over the past couple weeks...he sees me coming and just grins).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMKtnRJ__yscVPexocg7u9Ou9OcZTXahXDTZ_SJ_eNZc_KN0Xa1iQ3lJFjoZO-WKEa0ER63z5ZPyMH-V864aQRSBKjM8q5WYe3_GB3xmZlrngTKzCy5ZL0dbEYsrbCC8qKRDgrfnccf5bKjQLrRQV56NRWHfHNt7HxPHqwp5Gt7iDCLyZlBZKnvTbnW5w" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="290" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMKtnRJ__yscVPexocg7u9Ou9OcZTXahXDTZ_SJ_eNZc_KN0Xa1iQ3lJFjoZO-WKEa0ER63z5ZPyMH-V864aQRSBKjM8q5WYe3_GB3xmZlrngTKzCy5ZL0dbEYsrbCC8qKRDgrfnccf5bKjQLrRQV56NRWHfHNt7HxPHqwp5Gt7iDCLyZlBZKnvTbnW5w=w200-h120" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I need to try things on before I purchase, you
know? I like going to clothing stores (my favorite clothing stores are now
closed, courtesy of the pandemic but there are other that are still around) and
feeling the fabric between my fingers…is it soft? Or crinkly and stiff? Looks soft
in the picture…looks can be deceiving, as I’m coming to learn. No, it isn’t
perfect, standing in front of those dressing room mirrors (which lie…can’t convince
me otherwise), but if something doesn’t fit right or look right, I don’t have
to buy it to find out.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Also, the models are much taller (and thinner)
than I. What looks lovely on a long-legged, wasp-waisted woman doesn’t look so
lovely on me. I am short (and yes, I sometimes forget that) not coming anywhere
near those five-foot ten-inch beauties (I do look for petite size dresses if
they are available). Also, there is no way to stretch the imagination to say I
have a wasp waist. No, ma’am. Not sure there is a corset strong enough to give
me one, either!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">So not having a good time buying things online
only to have them delivered, not fit, and have to return them (thank goodness
for free returns…I’d spend a fortune sending things back otherwise).</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Hmmm, the only things I do not have a problem
ordering on line are books. They always ‘fit’ perfectly. And the dogs’ Cosequin.
Can’t go wrong there.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Okay, done ranting!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">In other news, work on Wife By Surprise is…going
fairly well. I had wanted the story to be finished by Christmas, then January,
then February, but my characters had other ideas. I also wanted the story to
come in at 85K words…again, my characters thought differently so we’re going
with what my characters want and frankly, it’s better that way.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">And that’s about all that’s going on here. Stay
well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Marie<o:p></o:p></span></p>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18328966473242925851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-72803432509445282092024-02-16T07:00:00.051-05:002024-02-16T07:00:00.133-05:00It's your chance to win 25 historical romances and a new eReader!<p> </p><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.booksweeps.com/giveaway/historical-romance/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGdT_lggeg0bG34AJd6jQNyUeFipa6q5G6ByE1GIBny8qJf4ALOs6ZmUttB9HcfZVXcQjMg7bnVs_ezELoxRajM2RYkS54pSWEYYwh00zWW6tuh9O9O1l6TrwG25Q6xDTiLGf7z4x3YUJdPw-8SmDtRqgXS-Z5LxTreD2wQrJZk47dZmST5OlWWUJwvSc/w640-h640/Booksweeps%20%20Valentines.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Don't miss your chance to win 25 Historical Romances and a new eReader. Contest ends on February 21st so don't wait! Yes, you may recognize one of these. Just saying </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">😊</span></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://www.booksweeps.com/giveaway/historical-romance/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.booksweeps.com/giveaway/historical-romance/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhseI9VqgPaQUt1HxglUx74W0NEb54o_hC3J7U3BnGz5DAz1VKFmhfE5P5t0VnTikbCxuAmHSNg62hIizTA5poCsGMS4tcYcj0lDm3xmwQK4fHO1TrGl1Nd5TzrrmXVfeCYSFWsN2KNviHukXzeQhrQOoHUkn_KlBPYN6KKhee1Djz4w_ypTSthCRuleqQ/w640-h334/Book%20sweepsFebruary-24-HistoricalRomExtravaganza-Group-LARGE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Lexi Posthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04124921637508804346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-54567603243413665912024-02-14T07:30:00.001-05:002024-02-14T07:30:00.183-05:00A Single Rose by Muriel Barbery<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rose, A Japanese woman in the middle of her mundane life and living in America, receives the announcement of her father's death. She doesn't know her father as she was brought up by her mother and grandmother. An invitation to her father's reading of the will is reluctantly accepted.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The catch to going to Kyoto, Japan for the finality of her father's wishes is she must be accompanied by her father's assistant, Paul. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://th.bing.com/th?id=OSK.6507f498e271039226e9953039c5f723&w=124&h=168&c=7&o=6&dpr=1.3&pid=SANGAM" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="161" height="218" src="https://th.bing.com/th?id=OSK.6507f498e271039226e9953039c5f723&w=124&h=168&c=7&o=6&dpr=1.3&pid=SANGAM" width="161" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Paul is finishing his service to Rose's father as a guide for her in the Japanese culture. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The scenery and habits in Kyoto are a deep breath of beauty and thinking about what is really around a person. The descriptions of gardens, restaurants, and historical monuments bring the reader into the story. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Paul has a sensitivity to the beauty around him, which gradually creates a closeness between him and his client's daughter. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This calm read is perfect for Valentine's Day. Appreciate the grandness around you of simple things. Anything small can become an influence on the peace and love available to all.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Love what you read,</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Dawn</i></span></p>dawn kundahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08711522113550387081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-12702660130095585112024-02-07T06:00:00.000-05:002024-02-07T06:00:00.218-05:00An Update<p> </p><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFK3IHKb_Mvt-EjPD_6w3gwEoRXrvtX5ke11aeRRpq5cf1caRqIlkYlOwVwUXb4hTn9ugyC1ucmsTuMJ0UaHCC-ucVYaExBJjmcDQFM9r9A_wnzaZvQxYDJsGxi_6UGADSpZ9_bRn-xqcbE7cpCraRBy_RXKCk94BM3Nf4k4bUOP2wgTqn3DAZQID0Ek/s173/Woman%20in%20robe%20drinking%20coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="173" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFK3IHKb_Mvt-EjPD_6w3gwEoRXrvtX5ke11aeRRpq5cf1caRqIlkYlOwVwUXb4hTn9ugyC1ucmsTuMJ0UaHCC-ucVYaExBJjmcDQFM9r9A_wnzaZvQxYDJsGxi_6UGADSpZ9_bRn-xqcbE7cpCraRBy_RXKCk94BM3Nf4k4bUOP2wgTqn3DAZQID0Ek/s1600/Woman%20in%20robe%20drinking%20coffee.jpg" width="173" /></a></div><br /><span> </span><span> </span>Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well
and staying safe!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">An update on my girl, Pepper. I have been
doing what the vet said and giving her vegetables in place of some of her food
and this is what I’ve learned…she likes carrots (frozen, canned or fresh, as
long as they’re kinda mushy). She does not like string beans. No, sir! She very
carefully removes them from her dish and places them around the bowl, kinda
like what I did as a kid when my mother served liver. She thinks I don’t see
this, but she can’t fool me. She’s okay with broccoli but doesn’t like peas.
Most confounding to me is that she likes canned mixed vegetables.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Lacey, Pepper’s sister, doesn’t seem to have a
problem with any of the vegetables—yes, I give her some, too, so she doesn’t
feel left out.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">But…</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">It seems to be working, along with her
medication, which she’s really good at taking…well, she really doesn’t have
much choice—I’m not one to hide pills in cheese or peanut butter. I’ve noticed
a little bit of a change in her…DH has noticed, too! She’s more active and seems
to move more easily—not as stiff as she was. This makes me happy. She’s only
five and a half and I know (from experience) that big dogs have a shorter life
span than say, a chihuahua, but I’d like to keep her around for quite some
time.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">On other news fronts, DH is healing nicely
from his broken rib. Coughing and sneezing still hurt, but it’s getting better.
Now, if we can control the pain in his back, we’ll be good.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">So…what else is going on? Well, I’m on the
hunt for shoes and a dress. Our son is getting married in April—in Texas—where
one doesn’t know what the weather will be like from one day to next. I have
tried on several dresses and I must confess that I absolutely hate dressing
room mirrors—either they are lying to me or they’re telling me the truth…both
of which are possibilities and not good. I’ve ordered a few things from Amazon,
which is hit or miss, but I am determined to find what I want!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Oh, I finally finished the love scene in </span><i style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Wife
By Surprise</i><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">. Whew! It was…a challenge, to say the least, but it’s done and
I can move on. Yay!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">And that’s about all that’s going on here. Stay
well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Marie<o:p></o:p></span></p>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18328966473242925851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-51138073673764728252024-01-31T07:30:00.002-05:002024-01-31T07:30:00.141-05:00The Midwife and the Orc by Finley Fenn<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">Sex, Sex, Sex! That's what happens on Orc Mountain.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Part of many things, but that's probably the most fun part.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The lord's daughter, Gwyn Garret, certainly isn't innocent. She's been betrothed to Roy for years and wants to dump him. He's a scoundrel. She wants to move to the home she inherited from her aunt right at the foot of Orc Mountain. She's a midwife, a botanist, and just wants a free life.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.bing.com/th?id=OIP.UgWBu3tVi2cWAIJsgp5ROAAAAA&w=124&h=185&c=8&rs=1&qlt=90&o=6&dpr=1.3&pid=3.1&rm=2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="161" height="240" src="https://www.bing.com/th?id=OIP.UgWBu3tVi2cWAIJsgp5ROAAAAA&w=124&h=185&c=8&rs=1&qlt=90&o=6&dpr=1.3&pid=3.1&rm=2" width="161" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Joarr is a threat to her move. He's part of Orc Mountain, a creature/man who can make any woman want him. His aggressive moves and best sex, whether on a table, in a tree, or while being hunted, will make Gwyn's resolution to say <i>no</i> fail. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The lord father has made a law against Orc men and the woman copulating. When Gwyn discovers what Joaar can do with his sex and the rest of his body, she understands resisting is impossible. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Not only that, but Joaar has a reason to use her. It's only fair to mention that Gwyn is using him, too. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So what's the problem? Joaar is hunted by the lord and his village, Gwyn is hunted by Roy and the Orcs, and they both have hidden agendas. It's all fair if they excuse one betrayal for another along with finding a tender moment between all the hot and heavy sex.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A tantalizing story from a series, so sit by the fire and enjoy!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <i>Dawn</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>dawn kundahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08711522113550387081noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-82642704514710104672024-01-29T07:00:00.001-05:002024-01-29T07:00:00.211-05:00FREE sexy historical romances and a fun Historical Romance Facebook Party!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.dragonbladepublishing.com/divisions-flame/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1700" data-original-width="1700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8R450O74dU2UezxSgOVn30tVk_AKNopRvfI9lz5CKCGJ32QTUMaQKQ838qcU8HtMu1Q1x4qy1AZlF_4doF3NO6fZPuyUco3IAB8t8zChSTVoRGR6DwQIVJKovDvwDdgjK6YM2Ktr42-idCvXbBmvCRBzefvY72fgItIqt-_o9CoVpg69nWtu-33teMo4/w400-h400/DB-TooHotToHandleSale-Square.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>2 Online Events </b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>You Don't </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Want to Miss!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Dragonblade Publishing has their Flame Line on sale through January 30th. These sexy historical romances are FREE and 99<span class="textexposedshow">¢! That includes <a href="https://amzn.to/3khxDjZ " target="_blank"><b><i>Stealing the Duke </i></b><i>(Marrying a Mabry: Book 1)</i></a>. Just sayin' 😊 </span>Click <b><a href="https://www.dragonbladepublishing.com/divisions-flame/" target="_blank">HERE </a></b>to grab these up now!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/520438361649029" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr89DXfFs4mKDqWjKO5Gg9VU-7vyepawzIEcXOH9RQiqXrGhLQEzy7boAdsyqN949gplpuhXzukKGdLsK6Mhw4sjj47vCwCBLe1ipOyYseNp9nasogKMqaehFUSPSHqaUsE46Z9l2xpvY45iOgbhywprAFD-vGaAoDldh_20Z0-GxsWlSupGtnruG00h5Q/w400-h225/Cozy%20Socks%20FB%20party.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Then on January 31st be sure to come to the <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/520438361649029" target="_blank">Cozy Socks and Cocoa Party</a></b> at the Historical Romance Lovers Group on Facebook. Just click <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/520438361649029" target="_blank">HERE </a></b>to join. There will be over 50 authors to party with!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3khxDjZ " imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurJmfJbtrAcuU4UjWacorqJxSH48V93QAtTc5KoIzFnILeIN1W6Q4Z3VqRlio4U9vq7z79sqqn20kAYmW8e1QoVOz06HHNckKIyBKU4Npnzo-CZ6Qo3L8VHTT21DAepH5IqGL9BOfTDXlb8JYSvMmMh34D4hn1kFxIx5HsYvnWAmdjve3apNpaR0cIhcL/s320/LexiPost-StealingTheDuke-Tropes.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />And if you need to keep warm in the meantime, feel free to pick up this <a href="https://amzn.to/3khxDjZ " target="_blank">sexy historical romance for only </a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3khxDjZ " target="_blank">99</a></span><span class="textexposedshow" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3khxDjZ " target="_blank">¢</a>. I think it's a great read, but then again, I may be biased 😁</span><p></p><p><span class="textexposedshow" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Always, Lexi</i></span></p><p><br /></p>Lexi Posthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04124921637508804346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-46261470617755008182024-01-24T06:00:00.001-05:002024-01-24T06:00:00.144-05:00I'm Back!!!<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9XW63OH5cFlhF9bXA5W7FI8uaTHcJqgw3Cz48cSqu96Q1b7W6ajKqUvuK0uXDxRMx-hkW364OMOTqG8cG6tdMMzts4IL7C9-qlFtoG6njPlRHkJEjy-4Dy2fOQ5bl9q-jDIDUtmpYzurNVzSmQoKOcT4VLm239BY9WKLviwT7eFRzygiqkPed5IFrSI/s173/Woman%20in%20robe%20drinking%20coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="173" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9XW63OH5cFlhF9bXA5W7FI8uaTHcJqgw3Cz48cSqu96Q1b7W6ajKqUvuK0uXDxRMx-hkW364OMOTqG8cG6tdMMzts4IL7C9-qlFtoG6njPlRHkJEjy-4Dy2fOQ5bl9q-jDIDUtmpYzurNVzSmQoKOcT4VLm239BY9WKLviwT7eFRzygiqkPed5IFrSI/s1600/Woman%20in%20robe%20drinking%20coffee.jpg" width="173" /></a></div><br /> </span><span> </span>Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well
and staying safe!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span><span> </span>Did you miss me? I missed you guys!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">So, where have I been and what have I been
doing? Well, let me tell you!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The day job has been…busy (and yes, that’s an
understatement!). I’ve been using the phrase ‘Embrace the Chaos’ because…well…that’s
what it is.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The DH caught a cold over the holidays. No big
deal, right? Except, it was. I was worried about pneumonia or bronchitis but it
turned out, they were the least of the issues. He fell, not once or twice, but
three times, while he was having a coughing fit. The last fall was the worst….he
broke a couple ribs (lower back, darned close to where he had his laminectomy) so
we’ve been dealing with that. He is recuperating, thank God, but it’s going to
take a while.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Brought the dog (my ‘little’ girl, Pepper) to
the vet twice. First off, let me tell you that when I say ‘little’, I do
mean it as she’s smaller (kind of) than her sister, Lacey. Anyway, she has
arthritis in her hips, which we knew and are treating, but then, she got an
infection so…</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Now, I should probably explain that with the
arthritis in her hips, she does not have the wherewithal to jump into the car.
She just puts her front paws up on the seat then turns her head to look at me
like ‘aren’t you going to help me?’. Well, of course, I am. What kind of a dog
mom would I be if I didn’t? Gotta tell you, lifting her into the back seat is
no easy task. She’s a big girl, even though she’s my ‘little’ girl. She’s a
German Shepherd (and rather spoiled, I admit). She and her sister are the biggest shepherd’s I’ve ever had
and I’ve been raising shepherds for over 45 years.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Get to the vet and open the back door for her, at which point she gives me that
look again so I have to lift her out of the car. If anyone had seen me and
recorded this, I’d be famous and rich from the video being seen on ‘America’s
Funniest Videos’. To say I’m a bit uncoordinated would be an understatement and
she didn’t help at all, which made me even more uncoordinated!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The vet examines her, agrees that she does
indeed have an infection. He prescribed antibiotics (the same ones my DH was on
a couple weeks ago) and then, the vet gets serious. We have to talk about her
weight, he says. I tell him that she’s already on weight management dog food (although
sometimes, she steals from her sister’s bowl—I didn’t tell him that) and then I
defended her. Pepper is just ‘chonky’, I said. He’s a nice man, the vet, but he
wasn’t having any of that. He looked me straight in the eye and said, “She is
not ‘chonky’. She’s fat and she needs to lose weight (she weighs 141
pounds!!!!). Well, I couldn’t argue with that. I knew, but I was in denial…except,
I know she has trouble getting out of the doggy door, not only because of her
arthritis but because she is ‘fat’. She barely makes it through. It’s not her
fault. Part of it is mine because when she looks at me in that way (you know
what I’m talking about), she gets a cookie. Dog cookie, but still…</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">A blood draw reveals she has thyroid issues. A
low functioning thyroid just like me. Ordered medication through Chewy as that’s
what the vet told me to do…would you believe, she’s on the same medication as I
am?!?!?! And I’m supposed to replace one cup of her dog food (at each feeding)
with carrots or string beans. Hmmmm, if that works for her, will it work for
me?</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Have I been writing through all this upheaval
(I don’t like upheaval or drama. I like things on an even keel but it hasn’t
been that way since the holidays)? Yes. Sorta. Kinda. I know where I need to go
in my current work in progress. I know where I’ve been, but for some reason,
the words are not there to bring me to that point. I tried what I always do,
which is jump ahead and puzzle it in later, but even that didn’t help, but I’ll
get there. Tomorrow is another day and I will give it my best shot.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Oh, gotta go…Pepper is trying to get through
the doggy door and needs some help…</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread
kindness wherever you go!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Marie</span>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18328966473242925851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-74980042790127512112024-01-17T07:30:00.001-05:002024-01-17T07:30:00.133-05:00Things We Hide From the Light by Lucy Score<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">When everyone figures out that working in teams can result in a lot more answers and happiness, we'll find a much more loving world.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Nash Morgan, Chief of police of Knockemout, VA, is the leader of a team. He has a hard time communicating since he was shot and can't remember what happened. That must be terrible. He feels he can't do his job, shutting his mind away from others, and a woman isn't in the cards. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81+GjWnxwOL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81+GjWnxwOL._SY466_.jpg" width="214" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Studly-Do-Right is what Lina calls him. Good looking and a pain in her ass. Especially since she is kindly offered to rent the room next to Nash's. Her purpose for being in town is strictly work, related to the work Nash has at hand. She can't let him know. She likes to love 'em and leave 'em, so it's not her style to be sentimental and honest with men. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Something is different in Knockemout right now. An attempted murder on the chief of police, a missing and insured classic sports car, and Nash and Lina both after the same guy.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">They can't avoid each other forever. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Each run-in creates heat. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If the fire ignites, they can share investigative evidence.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If the fire ignites, they can share each other. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Unlikely. Nash and Lina are both against the tingles of sensation that bounce between each other. Sometimes a weakness can make a strong alliance. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a scorcher of a romantic suspense. The search for the criminals, and the love and romance have one problem after another. As long as all, or at least most, of the problems are resolved, Nash and Lina can make a truce to allow themselves happiness.</span></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Enjoy your read,</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Dawn</span></i></p>dawn kundahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08711522113550387081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-45263065697001440962024-01-12T14:41:00.000-05:002024-01-12T14:41:00.633-05:00A NEW YEAR, SO MANY NEW CHANCES.<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;">Hey, gang, how the hell are ya?</span><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;">Doing good here, just busier than a one-armed
paper hanger in a windstorm with jock itch.</span><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;">
</span><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;">And let me tell you…that is busy!</span><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5xUCTwukJi7n5tgKn0c1vRAvDzlj8mObJhX7IMzAuxwTPgOvh2bshS11la3FcfFftFCcA6T7vWUEvZV1um5RxklDwOA6i9Kyr-1Db-H_7gS8OKjOjFy81zI1yxr_ZhsqK0eKlml0OtfSf0Dex7aSGP6MYHf31ZIdWeKhyphenhyphen3TiWKzl0UhJUUtBdTX5lU8p/s1900/Depositphotos_643942252_nEW%20yEAR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1900" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5xUCTwukJi7n5tgKn0c1vRAvDzlj8mObJhX7IMzAuxwTPgOvh2bshS11la3FcfFftFCcA6T7vWUEvZV1um5RxklDwOA6i9Kyr-1Db-H_7gS8OKjOjFy81zI1yxr_ZhsqK0eKlml0OtfSf0Dex7aSGP6MYHf31ZIdWeKhyphenhyphen3TiWKzl0UhJUUtBdTX5lU8p/w640-h336/Depositphotos_643942252_nEW%20yEAR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">So, in case you missed it, we’ve
moved into a new year…365 new chances to get it right. Oh wait…today is the 12<sup>th</sup>, so I
guess that means there are only 354 chances left. Guess I better get on it.<span style="font-family: Lora; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: Lora;">Spoiler Alert:</span></b><span style="font-family: Lora;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i>(In 354 days, the option renews for us lucky enough to make it that
far. YAY!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alright, it’s a date then…we
all meet back here same time next year to see how well we used those
chances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>K?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span><span style="font-family: Lora; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">What have I been doing, you ask?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well…I’m working on a new story. I am
elbows-deep in the newest Dallas Bradshaws book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s it about?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uh…hot cowboys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DUH!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Shhh…don’t tell anyone, but I’m writing it for the next BMG Kickstarter
campaign that will kick off later this year. <i>Squeee!!!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I repeat…shhh…it’s a secret, so DO NOT tell
anyone yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s gonna be <i>suhweet!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(More information to follow…stay tuned.)</i></span><i style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Lora;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><i style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dsNVXsgdf2aC7ydYD-A7onK3edH-vH95JhRVDquRAH1xC2UEIC5S9-6gpcW6YzFNiMGzNLtl1B_yO3NJlhTK32QDz6NeX9mI7-gFTQ7HU62TLEPWZ1-3WIswj5eW8Wxosi-kkJT_04B8OA8PeJ3CWHoAr9bUY13r5zTYp_OSGqwoEuAtqzemjREuP6vW/s2096/20240104_122035-zOE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1670" data-original-width="2096" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dsNVXsgdf2aC7ydYD-A7onK3edH-vH95JhRVDquRAH1xC2UEIC5S9-6gpcW6YzFNiMGzNLtl1B_yO3NJlhTK32QDz6NeX9mI7-gFTQ7HU62TLEPWZ1-3WIswj5eW8Wxosi-kkJT_04B8OA8PeJ3CWHoAr9bUY13r5zTYp_OSGqwoEuAtqzemjREuP6vW/w200-h159/20240104_122035-zOE.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another thing I did about a week ago
was babysit for my granddogs Zeus and Zoe. Zoe is just the sweetest thing ever and she basically found the biggest pillow and the warmest blanket she could find, and then she snuggled in to watch TV with me. Zeus...not so much. Yep, Zeus is the guy who only likes the lady in the bedroom, and that
trend continues. Although he did screw up once and jumped into my lap to hang
out with me while I was in the living room chair. When he later realized his
error, he again donned his <i>terrified face</i> and went back to hiding behind
the rocker. But I was clever and texted my grandson to sneak out to the living
room quietly because I needed a witness. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVocW5-Lf2z7xBQfmJzIVpnPNOMx755rLKvfxemVPTVbptY5XNMHDXVaEtzUyZl157DJQkdUUqXiAjhihF79rODe8x9LY_nYAQZxLMNrHqyGvLGMLZc1WnX7KhWfK2M4n9AL5ih5qOwNtbyk-DxkvxyDqBJpVltMMmxRdqvrYRFXtMF3pj_97aOQiLQXH/s2628/20240105_092400-ZEUS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1758" data-original-width="2628" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVocW5-Lf2z7xBQfmJzIVpnPNOMx755rLKvfxemVPTVbptY5XNMHDXVaEtzUyZl157DJQkdUUqXiAjhihF79rODe8x9LY_nYAQZxLMNrHqyGvLGMLZc1WnX7KhWfK2M4n9AL5ih5qOwNtbyk-DxkvxyDqBJpVltMMmxRdqvrYRFXtMF3pj_97aOQiLQXH/w200-h134/20240105_092400-ZEUS.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt;">And, as you can see to the right, I also have a picture to prove his duplicitous nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, Zeus is now going to have a lot of trouble selling the idea that he’s
really terrified of the woman in the living room. I know…one mistake and you
pay for that forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, I remind
you—he is not right.</span><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt;">What else? Hmmm…let’s see…I went with
my sis and some of her partners in crime to Medieval Times last week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OMG, how much fun was that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gorgeous, well-trained horses, birds of prey,
and sizzling hot Knights with swords and axes. Be still, my freaking heart!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is totally my brand of F-U-N all rolled
up with H-O-T…and the wine wasn’t bad either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A good time was had by all…and no, contrary to what you may have heard, we
did not take any of their knights hostage.</span><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4e43wqXpAevowhJJ1-UaMjLJWt3ioqfViWOOmxHt4UsgZQX-rKeS6Elvxe-G7bSaDuZCwtcIzH8VCgH7DYgDKH19CZ3u7N1SbMkj1p001rGpBducVA9zlU_4xR6NA74km45DRbflc1QiybHghZJRSDrG7jVKA29H_tNLtXpgYIii7fgY3EdNwcnncZ12c/s2000/Depositphotos_209423530_L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4e43wqXpAevowhJJ1-UaMjLJWt3ioqfViWOOmxHt4UsgZQX-rKeS6Elvxe-G7bSaDuZCwtcIzH8VCgH7DYgDKH19CZ3u7N1SbMkj1p001rGpBducVA9zlU_4xR6NA74km45DRbflc1QiybHghZJRSDrG7jVKA29H_tNLtXpgYIii7fgY3EdNwcnncZ12c/w640-h426/Depositphotos_209423530_L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt;">It’s my story, I’m tellin’ it my way</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt;">.</span></b><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Lora; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Lora; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt;">Okay, back to the new year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to ask…what are you going to do with
all those new chances you’ve been given to get things right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you going to be kinder, be stronger, take
some ass-kicking classes, work harder, play like a rock star, read faster, learn
how to sleep in a hammock, laugh more, practice laughing until you cry, save
more, spend it like you got it, travel more, stay home and lock the doors,
visit family more, host dinners for friends, sell the welcome mat, exercise
more <i>(uh…no)</i>, relax more, lose weight <i>(yes, please)</i>, drink less
alcohol <i>(say it ain’t so!)</i>, eat more veggies, find an excellent place to
hide your hoarded twinkies, get more organized, let it all hang out, spend
less, blow the wad, buy an aardvark, sell a giraffe, cook more, eat out more, sleep
more, stay awake until the cows come home, fall in love, dump the arse, get
pregnant, pray you’re not pregnant, clean your house, hire a maid, mow the lawn
more often, hire a gardener, eat less junk food, stock up on twinkies in
preparation for the Zombie Apocalypse?</span><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>So, what’s your poison? </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>What are you
hoping to accomplish in the new year?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfKpI3wPW8bfxGG6ilI4-w6iIDugRPbzdmoWAhzGRxRUJk8TqNjPUt0zeFRPDupWFk0eokmeZ5WGNHWXqZGbNx94s8ijQvIjaV_sHHSr2_KhpNn2wnessQHTky8DsxwrqCSdjK0ckPKEiBupTyZKwPqsS-LNag-ScuNKQ6ZEQhJ7a_3xqz9mFL9Mk7YLY/s3000/Depositphotos_689694146_XL-RESOL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1738" data-original-width="3000" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfKpI3wPW8bfxGG6ilI4-w6iIDugRPbzdmoWAhzGRxRUJk8TqNjPUt0zeFRPDupWFk0eokmeZ5WGNHWXqZGbNx94s8ijQvIjaV_sHHSr2_KhpNn2wnessQHTky8DsxwrqCSdjK0ckPKEiBupTyZKwPqsS-LNag-ScuNKQ6ZEQhJ7a_3xqz9mFL9Mk7YLY/w640-h370/Depositphotos_689694146_XL-RESOL.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt;">Me? I’m hoping to lose a little
weight, get a little more organized, do more traveling, have a lot more fun, and
write a lot more books, and maybe even sell that giraffe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess that means I’m going to have to learn
how to write on a plane with a laptop that has two screens, while I drink my low-calorie
alcoholic beverage for lunch. Hmmm…I think I can learn to do that. As for the
giraffe…well, no one meets all their New Year’s resolutions, do they?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt;">Whaddayathink?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can I do it?</span><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzdJ0icyGLWaYSHZs2dk15SKfNWoeiraSuriacpRRTRD172_kewIPROAX3PEq0nHX3DCinsPkdrIqGPPVHTAwc41WzMDuYkrJWKPsly5iTykMdE5Jn2pyfZUWLi1MmL6i7lTE_XMzpqVVpDpfDKoGyEgY32t7lTmRGhId_jhN5c0TpgLNwKcDOs4XAwLU/s1999/Depositphotos_146692515_L-TRANSP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1545" data-original-width="1999" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzdJ0icyGLWaYSHZs2dk15SKfNWoeiraSuriacpRRTRD172_kewIPROAX3PEq0nHX3DCinsPkdrIqGPPVHTAwc41WzMDuYkrJWKPsly5iTykMdE5Jn2pyfZUWLi1MmL6i7lTE_XMzpqVVpDpfDKoGyEgY32t7lTmRGhId_jhN5c0TpgLNwKcDOs4XAwLU/s320/Depositphotos_146692515_L-TRANSP.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Lora;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Whatever your goals are, whatever your plans are, I wish you the best of years. May your enemies be few, your challenges defeated and your dreams realized. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b>HAVE THE BEST YEAR EVER!</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Well, that’s my story, naughty and nonsensical<span style="background: white;">, and I’m stickin’ to it. Hang on tight now ‘cuz we’re gonna go real,
real fast!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Love ya, </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBXwP6aZxB89FXnVe7_qPn4XrtiMLLVQe3_3xFV7kTqynGiO50XZkHK3CgB9XTDJ8pMEWcR9JZs25SYxs0NHYGQqUHVeH-0kq5Cz3BXldm2smtXnYnxnPBskNsmOBGZHi6Gqcmk7eONfSTPgZDyrz0P_kJawyAOOivOQCQbPJEskJ1xGULUlGarj5VSiN/s658/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="658" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBXwP6aZxB89FXnVe7_qPn4XrtiMLLVQe3_3xFV7kTqynGiO50XZkHK3CgB9XTDJ8pMEWcR9JZs25SYxs0NHYGQqUHVeH-0kq5Cz3BXldm2smtXnYnxnPBskNsmOBGZHi6Gqcmk7eONfSTPgZDyrz0P_kJawyAOOivOQCQbPJEskJ1xGULUlGarj5VSiN/w200-h142/Untitled-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Lora; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Be sure to sign up for Kayce’s
newsletter and get a couple of free<br />ebooks at:</span></b><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 283.2pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://subscribepage.io/wnOodI"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">https://subscribepage.io/wnOodI</span></b></a></span><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
already have the free books, sign up anyway so you don’t miss any
shenanigans—and be sure to forward the link to all your friends who might want
to join us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its gonna be a F-U-N year!</span><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Kayce Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690736058383684566noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-53013892425378713872024-01-11T13:33:00.000-05:002024-01-11T13:33:17.969-05:00Win 45 Second Chance Romances and a new eReader!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.booksweeps.com/giveaway/jan24-second-chance-romance/ " imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFw54ywYHUWbkheYuerIGf9lX-aSdPZrTxBBK2rMZhW4QvQqJJs-ZwfBHhhJv6BKjahjxt99IaBD6eNIQzEX7c2SW1pB-0hnGCZ-tq_PQ_Df5rrlengbyIDLrYOU9m4N_Sdq_p4gxv2nHLueiISpqK4NAKL_xNIpY0ka5AszyTTHvpcy5tj7jDKjQ5EWCc/w640-h334/January-24-SecondChanceRomance-Group-LARGE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, you heard that right. You could win 45 Second Chance Romances for your eReader. You could even win a new eReader! It's the newest contest from BookSweeps. Why am I telling you about it? Well, because I know you love romance stories and if you are like me, you can't ever have enough. Also, it just so happens that my book <b><a href="http://amzn.to/1IEKjYy " target="_blank">COWBOY'S MATCH</a></b> is one of the free books you could win. So don't hesitate to enter, especially if you love it when couple get a second chance at love 😊</span></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.booksweeps.com/giveaway/jan24-second-chance-romance/ " target="_blank">Enter here</a></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.booksweeps.com/giveaway/jan24-second-chance-romance/ " imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZVc06MT-VNsBrCCmpr15FBEifVTqZ7YIfRupNZiTn5fEqJUHePMj4oWB2gZI8WnNPW9R7BepdVXo2XfBBUwAR_BkZenrzWDl7KyhaFU7kLAsFApwp07Yh0a4zfs6t3FpqbXS2ATRec9QGSjIeAoNBWLMmPa47Dt7i-EBOeU_emOjev6WtzdpaveBIl6Y/w640-h334/POST-SecondChanceRomance-January-24%20(002).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p>Lexi Posthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04124921637508804346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-48583016859118872112023-12-26T03:00:00.018-05:002023-12-26T03:00:00.137-05:00WHEN LOVE CHIMES by Lexi Post is only 99¢ until Dec 31st!<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2kQTSSssRJ8-TUEYiBkyrOXWpniEMwzxMDAsvOoXxH8J6WlzuDZHgUvTH6lvY0cGpIRIcSdMeB9KDEOPuzZliEfxoOln3hItHk7ExZZ5sfoGYnJUY7zowcmGpsRNG7FKhUxivPH_EVRVpok1_59HwXl7OIZp3ZRjWZklapuah_KN4y65rchZ6ki4f-M/s900/WhenLoveChimes_600x900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2kQTSSssRJ8-TUEYiBkyrOXWpniEMwzxMDAsvOoXxH8J6WlzuDZHgUvTH6lvY0cGpIRIcSdMeB9KDEOPuzZliEfxoOln3hItHk7ExZZ5sfoGYnJUY7zowcmGpsRNG7FKhUxivPH_EVRVpok1_59HwXl7OIZp3ZRjWZklapuah_KN4y65rchZ6ki4f-M/s320/WhenLoveChimes_600x900.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>When Love Chimes </b></i></span><p></p><p><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>(Broken Valor #1)</i> </b></span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">By Lexi Post</span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">On sale for </span><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">99</span><span class="textexposedshow" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">¢</span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><i>He’s the right man at the wrong time with an unwanted Christmas proposal.</i></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">As if cocktail waitress and horse trainer Lynzie Mullins didn’t have enough problems, she discovers she’s pregnant just as her high school crush rides back into town in time for Christmas. He’s a constant reminder of the happily ever after she’d always dreamed of instead of the mess she’s in now.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Cowboy veteran Ryan Crawford reluctantly returns to Lucasville to help his grandfather sell his place. The town has changed and so has Lynzie—from an awkward teenager to an attractive young woman with a caring heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Despite his best efforts, Lynzie’s not interested in leaving Lucasville, so Ryan offers her what she wants—his heart. Unfortunately, that proves not to be enough. Now he has a decision to make. Give up his dream farm or his dream girl. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>BUY LINKS:</b></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 24pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6054771568924990927/7777616062505024781" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Amazon </span></a></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 24pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6054771568924990927/7777616062505024781" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Barnes and Noble</span></a> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 24pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6054771568924990927/7777616062505024781" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">AppleBooks</span></a></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6054771568924990927/7777616062505024781" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-size: 24pt;"><b>Kobo </b></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>EXCERPT</b></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lynzie smiled. “No. You are still the boy I liked in high school, just better.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ryan’s grin was back. “That’s good enough for me. So would you like to come over this weekend and give me a few pointers on Midnight and Toby?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I can come by Sunday. I don’t work Sunday night.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Perfect. You can stay for dinner.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">What was she doing? “Sounds good.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">“It will be. I’m cooking. You don’t want to eat anything Gramps cooks. I found that out the hard way.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">She rarely ran into Ryan’s grandfather, but she’d heard he was forgetting things. “You know how to cook?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">He shrugged. “I’ve picked up a couple tips here and there. My specialty is smoked ribs. Do you like those?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Oh, God could the man get any better? “I love smoked ribs.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">“How about twelve hundred hours? I’d like your opinion on a few things, but I know you work late.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Her opinion? She ignored his use of military time. “Noon is fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">He gazed into her eyes, a smile still on his face. “I’m really glad I came back here.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Before she could react to the thrill that buzzed through her chest, Ryan cupped her neck and kissed her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The second his lips touched hers, her whole body came alive. At first the kiss was just a brush of a touch, but as he lifted away, he hesitated then came back and really kissed her, his tongue seeking entrance to her mouth, which she allowed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">As teenagers, they had been awkward at best in their kissing, but Ryan knew what he was about now as he commandeered her mouth with his tongue. She moaned as she kissed him back, loving his new taste.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Excuse me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">At the sound of the strange voice, she pulled away and looked at the person who wanted to go into the restaurant. She didn’t recognize the man, but still her cheeks heated.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I’m sorry.” Ryan spoke to the man then stepped away from the doorway, taking her with him, his hand at the small of her back, possessive.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbv21clCdpJ7Q0R_KA63LWyCHH0Eye64TvCbzBgLdF-MlrNpxS59mqvXuQGptxc_8TfTkeJBVgvnMaFDIwWcWb7jczDsu0fEdrt3FX-x7dRZ1ZB8IwEUbkOv0WHp76lpJoulm1VG0woVYQIZv34xNeeuz9mm7-gZTbkdrC5kOr4vhi0bKhe7fBZa2iJJ4/s594/WLC%20Teaser%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="594" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbv21clCdpJ7Q0R_KA63LWyCHH0Eye64TvCbzBgLdF-MlrNpxS59mqvXuQGptxc_8TfTkeJBVgvnMaFDIwWcWb7jczDsu0fEdrt3FX-x7dRZ1ZB8IwEUbkOv0WHp76lpJoulm1VG0woVYQIZv34xNeeuz9mm7-gZTbkdrC5kOr4vhi0bKhe7fBZa2iJJ4/s320/WLC%20Teaser%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Once they had walked a few steps away, he turned and faced her. “I know I should apologize for kissing you on the sidewalk in front of everyone, but I can’t because I’m not sorry. I hope you’re not offended.”<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">She shook her head, not quite able to form words yet.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Good.” He looked at his watch. “I better get going. See you Sunday?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">She nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">He tipped his hat and strode off, the hitch in his step not quite as noticeable as it had been.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">She watched him until he turned the corner, unable to take her eyes off him. Lifting her hand to her lips, she relived the kiss. Ryan Crawford had grown into the perfect man, just like the ugly duckling grew into a swan.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">And he had opened her eyes to life’s possibilities in just a few hours. If only—her doctor’s appointment was Friday. Maybe she would get lucky and discover her home pregnancy test had screwed up.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>ABOUT LEXI:</b></u></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xKaqfCz7eKaXsGwoR4T4YKAOumQ700mIb964xKHXfOvlx5dBhu7Rd6ccBY6_MzrorAQvZGbC1DJbR1RGQ-8CTW4XcD403yV7ogmcpWODRnN4WAIqFZaW4bP32cOoCCa6pPNlNTuiMYv72R9TEKgQkXgMt_OcUOMUxCslFkCkIqRarP2IbYORDEZRv7A/s2600/Lexi%202023%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2600" data-original-width="2400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xKaqfCz7eKaXsGwoR4T4YKAOumQ700mIb964xKHXfOvlx5dBhu7Rd6ccBY6_MzrorAQvZGbC1DJbR1RGQ-8CTW4XcD403yV7ogmcpWODRnN4WAIqFZaW4bP32cOoCCa6pPNlNTuiMYv72R9TEKgQkXgMt_OcUOMUxCslFkCkIqRarP2IbYORDEZRv7A/w184-h200/Lexi%202023%202.jpg" width="184" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Lexi Post is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of romance inspired by the classics. She spent years in higher education taking and teaching courses about the classical literature she loved. From Edgar Allan Poe's short story “The Masque of the Red Death” to Tolstoy’s <i>War and Peace</i>, she's read, studied, and taught wonderful classics.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But Lexi's first love is romance novels so she married her two first loves, romance and the classics. Whether it’s sizzling cowboys, dashing dukes, hot immortals, or hunks from out of this world, Lexi provides a sensuous experience with a “whole lotta story.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Lexi is living her own happily ever after with her husband and her two cats in Florida. She makes her own ice cream every weekend, loves bright colors, and you’ll never see her </span><span style="font-size: large;">without a hat.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #c00000;"><a href="http://www.lexipostbooks.com/"><span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Website<o:p></o:p></span></span></a></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/c1w1g3"><i><span style="color: #c00000;">Lexi Post Updates</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/lexipostbooks"><i><span style="color: #c00000;">Facebook</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://twitter.com/LexiPost"><i><span style="color: #c00000;">Twitter</span></i></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lexipostbooks/"><i><span style="color: #c00000;">Instagram</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1IEL2cc"><i><span style="color: #c00000;">Amazon Author Page</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lexi-post"><i><span style="color: #c00000;">BookBub</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://books2read.com/author/lexi-post/subscribe/1/16171/"><i><span style="color: #c00000;">D2D</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomLexiPost"><i><span style="color: #c00000;">Goodreads</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lexipostbooks/"><i><span style="color: #c00000;">Instagram</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #c00000;"><a href="http://www.happilyeverafterthoughts.com/"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #c00000;">Blog</span><span style="color: #c00000; text-decoration-line: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/lexipost77/"><i><span style="color: #c00000;">Pinterest</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #c00000;"><a href="mailto:lexi@lexipostbooks.com"><span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Email</span></span></a></span></i></p><p></p>Lexi Posthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04124921637508804346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-16272418927479181882023-12-20T06:00:00.002-05:002023-12-20T06:00:00.347-05:00Holiday Wishes<p> </p><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfSA2dRcqx2ghtDiHNBt7eQNUQPpsTXBdt9rt2s9gw51BOMJQHpLhx9jLY1B6lM2Prr2W5SvHDXWHwvP-XMLYI1C53wUTwTPmvp7AuMxgxpNByfVAtZHmSkCcUkulaXSbbpF_0A2Y0_4Fr1E_5ec6JpTDPTWqg9gMN8eEVoaG7KZHk_hJ0dK2x8Z3MVs/s500/Merry%20Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfSA2dRcqx2ghtDiHNBt7eQNUQPpsTXBdt9rt2s9gw51BOMJQHpLhx9jLY1B6lM2Prr2W5SvHDXWHwvP-XMLYI1C53wUTwTPmvp7AuMxgxpNByfVAtZHmSkCcUkulaXSbbpF_0A2Y0_4Fr1E_5ec6JpTDPTWqg9gMN8eEVoaG7KZHk_hJ0dK2x8Z3MVs/w200-h200/Merry%20Christmas.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br /><span> </span><span> </span>Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well
and staying safe!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Happy Holidays! I can’t believe Christmas is
around the corner! How did that happen?!?!??! Wasn’t it Thanksgiving just a
minute ago? </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I guess what they say is true: the older you
get, the faster time flies! </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Being that Christmas and 2024 is almost here,
I wanted to express my wishes for you for the coming year.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I wish you good health.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I wish you peace. We need it more than ever. </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I wish you joy—in whatever makes you happy—from
seeing a perfect sunrise to picking up that next great book.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Lastly, I wish you love—from family, from
friends, from your four-legged fur-babies (or two legged, if you like birds)—from
whoever or whatever makes your heart sing.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1YUV40Y8Rnl4O32hNqmq3ylV7gp2U0gQdnNfbnL60Vh4i-sDb5cPbZUM5JXGfKIeEUD9kBcmrRKx9h8RzYMay042unx7EZ-0Fkn_D7RqO85lwGf46yvqq8qBGQaJ4xB22nTg2FIa2XxCotKP2IBy1BMTEzmJ75-Dq77SnKPtuEVod7PnGyUPUR_OthI/s500/New%20Year's%20Puppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="500" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1YUV40Y8Rnl4O32hNqmq3ylV7gp2U0gQdnNfbnL60Vh4i-sDb5cPbZUM5JXGfKIeEUD9kBcmrRKx9h8RzYMay042unx7EZ-0Fkn_D7RqO85lwGf46yvqq8qBGQaJ4xB22nTg2FIa2XxCotKP2IBy1BMTEzmJ75-Dq77SnKPtuEVod7PnGyUPUR_OthI/s320/New%20Year's%20Puppy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Have the most wonderful of holidays and Happy
New Year. 2024 is going to rock!</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread
kindness wherever you go!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Marie<o:p></o:p></span></p>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18328966473242925851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-62089728146084004142023-12-15T07:00:00.018-05:002023-12-15T07:00:00.150-05:00 WHO DOESN’T LOVE A HOTEL WITH A WATER FEATURE?<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">Hey Howdy, Gang! I hope everyone is doing absolutely
outstanding, that you are moving fast, getting’ shi… er… stuff done, and are ready
for the upcoming holidays. I can’t wait!
Even though I’m totally not ready. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Milonga;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH85I5tU9sHe-4BackSldOWMjI7jsb9UwSqWeYxMXr-hLA_nzS3igAAhIEvcEAmpnfwbR9WpVW3TBLhU6bYrPPxIEXtzGltzpbRQDuAijq-zTg-OlzC-zmv0H1AKSSMix4Rt5dKIZNCOviI-CMPOxuj4UftnKL0lb3aykOJa-BfITP9k6fzLZDnj8cbwS1/s4000/20231214_180818.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH85I5tU9sHe-4BackSldOWMjI7jsb9UwSqWeYxMXr-hLA_nzS3igAAhIEvcEAmpnfwbR9WpVW3TBLhU6bYrPPxIEXtzGltzpbRQDuAijq-zTg-OlzC-zmv0H1AKSSMix4Rt5dKIZNCOviI-CMPOxuj4UftnKL0lb3aykOJa-BfITP9k6fzLZDnj8cbwS1/w180-h400/20231214_180818.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>Oh
well, it will come whether I’m ready or not.
But I do have my tree up. <span face=""Segoe UI Emoji", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">😊</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> I’m smiling because anyone who
knows me well knows that my tree stays up all year. Why? Because
I ADORE Christmas and because I absolutely detest rework. LOL But
I do see that my sweet angel is leaning just a bit. I’ll have to get a broom and bump her back
into position. </span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">Okay, first let me apologize for being
MIA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been working a big
Kickstarter project for the Butterscotch Martini Girls (as you probably already
know).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I now know why they named the
platform Kickstarter…because it started kicking my you-know-what on Day 1!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when I survived it, one of the first
things I did was grab my buddy Dani Petrone and we headed up to Flagstaff to do
a little resting, eating, drinking, brainstorming…and then more of the same.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">…And this is where things really
went off the rails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We checked into a
hotel I have stayed in many times before, but I haven’t been there since
COVID.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, just like some people I
know, the hotel didn’t fare all that well through the pandemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, our first clue that something might
be amiss was when we pulled into the parking lot and noticed it looked like the
place hadn’t been raked, trimmed, or cleaned up in a couple of months. Not a
good start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sigh.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">Hmmm…maybe they don’t have any
rakes, trimmers, or mowers.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">Lobby seemed fine, as it was decorated
nicely with a warm and welcoming fire in the fireplace. Oh-kay, no reason to
panic. Then we checked in and parked around back to be near the outside
entrance that was closest to our room. Hmmm…back parking lot TOTALLY empty…and
I mean TOTALLY.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never experienced
that at this hotel before.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">I’m starting to itch.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">So, we park close to the entrance,
which happens to be next to the dumpster. Okay, I left a couple of empty spaces
between me and the trash, then we unload a couple of suitcases and head inside.
Clue Number TWO came when we got inside, took the elevator up to the third
floor, exited and rounded the corner to find two refrigerators sitting randomly
in the little lounge area and a mop bucket sitting right in the middle of the
hallway. It was impossible to tell if there was mopping in progress or a leak
in the roof, so we crossed our fingers and continued down the hallway.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">The itching is escalating.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">We find our room easily, unlock
the door and enter through the gates of HELL…and the fires of hell must be
blazing because our room is H.O.T!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like probably 82 degrees and the fan is a crankin’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OMG, I immediately start searching for the
thermostat as I am stripping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course,
again…anyone who knows me knows I live in arctic temperatures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot stand to be hot, and I’m about to
spontaneously combust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hell, even Dani
is hot—so you know it was toasty.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">After much searching on my part,
Dani finally points out to me that the thermostat is right in front of me on
the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, I get a little
discombobulated when I’m hot…my brain starts to overheat at about 75
degrees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I immediately go to work on
the thermostat, I reset the temperature to 67, make sure the fan is set to on,
and I dash out the door to get more suitcases and cool off in the chilly
Flagstaff outdoors.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">Now the itching is turning into
hives <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AND I’m sweating like a whore on
nickel night!</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6dTO9GjxlFKYBgwEVLFNI0VFR7EqxhjmddnGzuKZ-yk4Lu6oveh8kw-Cq58WmYFL2JBjXHrbKG8y7graSXMRZo4gFhyphenhyphenkUWVZOhf9gv4AZCywK99TFSHAfeW5naSRMpUoBIWG55-_HR246oqx9HcuFkHLmFN1-GSztzAHCXoFSjft3mIXcIp3UiBATm9A/s999/Depositphotos_207647752_S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="999" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6dTO9GjxlFKYBgwEVLFNI0VFR7EqxhjmddnGzuKZ-yk4Lu6oveh8kw-Cq58WmYFL2JBjXHrbKG8y7graSXMRZo4gFhyphenhyphenkUWVZOhf9gv4AZCywK99TFSHAfeW5naSRMpUoBIWG55-_HR246oqx9HcuFkHLmFN1-GSztzAHCXoFSjft3mIXcIp3UiBATm9A/w640-h428/Depositphotos_207647752_S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">So, I dodge the bucket, go around
the refrigerators, and exit the building to see a young man headed straight for
my truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spots me step out the door
and immediately changes directions, makes a big loop through the parking lot and
comes back by, after having gone nowhere. He acts like he is going to duck
inside the fence around the dumpsters until he sees me watching him, then he
heads on around the building, back the way he came.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">I resist the urge to bang my head
against the door of my truck.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">Then I grab the last of the bags
and drag them upstairs, around the fridges and the bucket I’m starting to think
of as a water feature. Dropping them in the room, I hustle Dani out so we can
grab some dinner while the damn room cools off. On our way out of the parking
lot, we notice a line of people walking through the parking lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WTH?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We look around and discover that the parking lot is actually a shortcut
between an apartment building and the bus stop which is right in front of the
hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great!</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">We had an absolutely lovely dinner,
then headed back to the room a couple of hours later, full of steak and margaritas,
and fortified with leftovers. It was delicious! Back at the hotel, we decided
to park in the front lot, at the opposite end of the hotel from the bus stop. Less
busy. The fridges are still camped in the lounge, the water feature is still
right where we saw it last, and the room is still hotter than nine kinds of
hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a damn thing has changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So now we try to get the windows open.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">Well, I guess the hotel has a lot
of jumpers (probably shouldn’t have been a surprise) because we can’t get the
windows open. Then I notice the screens on the outside of the windows have big
holes in them, edges of the holes shredded and flapping in the wind. Guess
those jumpers didn’t think to remove the screens before leaping.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">Now I’m hyperventilating.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">I call the front desk, making it
clear to them that it is MUCH too hot in our room and someone needs to fix it.
They sweetly apologize, but say they can’t do anything because the entire hotel
is switched to heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said, “Then at
least make it go off.”</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">She sweetly repled, “Oh, you can
do that right at the thermostat…just turn it to a cooler setting and it will
shut off.”</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">Uh…no, it won’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I not so sweetly explain that we set the
thermostat to 67 about 3 hours ago and it hasn’t cooled off a one single degree.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">She then sweetly says, “You can
open a window and that should cool it off quickly.”</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">I replied, “We tried. We can’t get
the windows open, and the screens have holes big enough to throw a body through
them. God only knows what will fly in if we ever manage to get them open." (<i>Probably a hungry herd of Pterodactyls</i>.)</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zIv9-VF4atvSmdAXLuWg9sdHyzQK2Y6XUVuHhlUbtU3qG3oAU-K21dZnWke5biqloCOYSmjKi23kESahohLOQzTBZBKZclDSv7U6ZBwr9AwZW7FithfR-1rXjQjl2rnOzsAlWX5AMDTObbvTREFwdbenp7ijiOLJyl1jiwPOqp1xQ5vEdaxW9PwosOlj/s1000/Depositphotos_29657057_S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zIv9-VF4atvSmdAXLuWg9sdHyzQK2Y6XUVuHhlUbtU3qG3oAU-K21dZnWke5biqloCOYSmjKi23kESahohLOQzTBZBKZclDSv7U6ZBwr9AwZW7FithfR-1rXjQjl2rnOzsAlWX5AMDTObbvTREFwdbenp7ijiOLJyl1jiwPOqp1xQ5vEdaxW9PwosOlj/w640-h320/Depositphotos_29657057_S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></p>Silence for a minute as she processes my comment. Then she offers to send maintenance up.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">Excellent!</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">So…the maintenance guy has some
difficulty understanding me because English isn’t his first language and, let’s
be honest, I don’t really speak mainstream English—and certainly not when I’m
itching, sweating, hyperventilating, and generally about to explode.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">But we finally get our point
across, and this sweetheart of a man climbs up into the ceiling and fiddles
with something up there that blessedly shuts the heat off. Then we manage to
crack the windows—which is all we can do because we are on the third floor and…well…jumpers.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">So we change into our jammies and
I sit my happy arse right in front of the cracked window with the flapping
screen, waiting for it to cool enough for me to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither Dani nor I slept well that night
because it remained just too warm. By the next day, it had improved enough that
we no longer considered packing our stuff out to another hotel. By the second
night, it was nice and chilly, and by the next morning, we really didn’t want
to get out of bed because it was cold. But having complained about it being
hot, we didn’t really feel we could now complain that we were cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>LOL<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So,
we closed the window and went down to breakfast.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">The only other issue we had was on
the 2<sup>nd</sup> day, we spotted a large wet spot in the elevator where
someone had spilled something bringing their breakfast back to their room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We told the front desk they needed to have
housekeeping clean the floor in the elevator before someone slipped in the
mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later that day, we saw someone had
put a neon green stickie on the floor next to the mess…probably to help housekeeping
find the big messy spill. That evening when we came back in, we saw that
someone (probably housekeeping) had cleaned up the green stickie.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">But apparently, they don’t have
mops at this hotel either because the spilled mess remained.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">The saving grace was that the hotel
had a happy hour every night and a couple of good bartenders…vacation
saved!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Twice the front desk apologized
to us for the condition of the hotel, indicating they were preparing to undergo
a large renovation. About 5 years too late, if you ask me…but better late than
never. Would I go back to that hotel again?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Probably not until after that “large renovation”…but then there is the
free booze. Hmmm…guess we now know why the bar is right inside the front door
and why the happy hour was free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
want to stop you <b>before</b> you get out the door.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt;">There’s a lot to be said for free
booze!</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlTvbognOTZgVyhb4qSR05vbIzN6W0wHLjduihhs90ZbcFnG2K_XVGgGDQ1cI81KzpTZ8VJjTs4ShQXRyNsnjjLBZednH2YReUqa_jQs-u5Wtz_5cds2XojjHaHBR8uC3ngVU_gYAZsvj2EcVXvOcRIIxXg-OEnvXI5AzzBL8WOTfFW-e_hZAM-w-Hzmh/s1000/Depositphotos_207419054_S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="1000" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlTvbognOTZgVyhb4qSR05vbIzN6W0wHLjduihhs90ZbcFnG2K_XVGgGDQ1cI81KzpTZ8VJjTs4ShQXRyNsnjjLBZednH2YReUqa_jQs-u5Wtz_5cds2XojjHaHBR8uC3ngVU_gYAZsvj2EcVXvOcRIIxXg-OEnvXI5AzzBL8WOTfFW-e_hZAM-w-Hzmh/w640-h456/Depositphotos_207419054_S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Well, that’s my story, torrid and toasty<span style="background: white;">,
and I’m stickin’ to it. Hang on tight now ‘cuz we’re gonna go real, real fast!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Milonga; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Love ya, and I hope each and every one of you has a MERRY CHRISTMAS!<span> Hugs,</span></span></i></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM53YoNPN6VLdPba-feaxH8eXSu8y10eFOYTR9wOH6OwKNnWHPmkT4aF3DJJXeGb3HXWxMzRS6BmpFO4oaKSHK9DC1ybunrDc7GWDNd_u_DucXqK0YhKdBj2z2cdegUF7hXG6TbSh9cD2qcZdPpvhVwfUo_CBWXdJRG8Y-yLnvCVNU6ROEkCCjUczlCOzQ/s658/Untitled-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="658" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM53YoNPN6VLdPba-feaxH8eXSu8y10eFOYTR9wOH6OwKNnWHPmkT4aF3DJJXeGb3HXWxMzRS6BmpFO4oaKSHK9DC1ybunrDc7GWDNd_u_DucXqK0YhKdBj2z2cdegUF7hXG6TbSh9cD2qcZdPpvhVwfUo_CBWXdJRG8Y-yLnvCVNU6ROEkCCjUczlCOzQ/w200-h142/Untitled-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Be sure to sign up for Kayce’s newsletter and get a
couple of free ebooks at:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 283.2pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Milonga; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><a href="https://subscribepage.io/wnOodI"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://subscribepage.io/wnOodI</span></a></span></b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 283.2pt;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Milonga; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
already have the free books, sign up anyway so you don’t miss any
shenanigans—and be sure to forward the link to all your friends who might want
to join us.</span><span style="font-family: Milonga; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Kayce Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690736058383684566noreply@blogger.com2AZ, USA33.2336671 -111.67338544.8586820595285616 -146.8296354 61.608652140471435 -76.5171354tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-42588799896033315572023-12-06T07:30:00.001-05:002023-12-06T07:30:00.151-05:00Madeleine's Ghost by Robert Girardi<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> It may not be Christmas, but if a ghost from your past wants to give you a gift, then take it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Ned Conti needs a part-time gig. He lives in the slums of Brooklyn near a church. His apartment is haunted, he knows this from moving objects, but it takes a while to decipher the unspoken code.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/412dtG3vn9L._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/412dtG3vn9L._SY466_.jpg" width="206" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The nearby church needs Ned to research a stone tomb in the back property. The priest is sure the research will produce the miracles of a dead nun; therefore, a saint will be born. The priest will have fulfilled his mission. This still leaves Ned on a dead-end road.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">He wants to figure his life out, what he should do with it. Under the duress of the house ghost, Ned returns to New Orleans, where the love of his life left him. Maybe he can resolve the questions of his heart, and then he can move forward.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Ned visits his old hang outs and friends. Friends don't have to be talkative, just there when needed. He meets new friends, too. Antoinette is annoying, talkative, and maybe a lot of trouble. Trouble that can be tamed and loved. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Antoinette is like an open book, take it or leave it. Ned thinks taking her to Brooklynn would be an exchange for harboring past life and moving into a new and better future. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Happy reading,</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Dawn</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>dawn kundahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08711522113550387081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-81064657281084907242023-12-01T05:00:00.002-05:002023-12-01T05:00:00.144-05:00ONCE UPON A HAUNTED ROMANCE has released! <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3s36THH" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCCHHulmccFOa6TIm5arQQ44ndBBp9Sq8NG5lDdjO-0erovOYhRhNz4BjuX0j7gPOiOYm6soX-Ci_37HIF5WGBIlg88bh3mYGilrXjXrfpX6hfMMagS2Kmq5YYsR9ot2tPzga4luQ6mKVHorokdPNO6pts3TIE_v-fxzLNmt-OdB0VlmIg4xecItox8dm/w266-h400/91T1ghzpR2L._SL1500_.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3s36THH" target="_blank">Once Upon A Haunted Romance</a> </i>has released!</b></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm absolutely thrilled to be a part of this fun anthology. Myself and nine other authors have packed this with 10 haunted romance novellas.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My story is <b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3s36THH" target="_blank">Once Upon a Haunted Haven</a> </i></b>is the story of Lady Juliet and Noah Kingman. Lady Juliet's husband has died and she's been kicked out to go to the only place she can, a haunted cottage her great aunt left to her. She is not excited. At least not until she meets the caretaker of the cottage, Noah. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Noah helps Lady Juliet adjust to living on her own, though sometimes he almost loses patience. Luckily, there is a ghost in the cottage who helps things along in more ways than one.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The icing on the cake is if you have read my <a href="https://amzn.to/44ZHpZt " target="_blank">Marrying a Mabry</a> series, you will see how this story connects.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I hope you enjoy!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Always , Lexi</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Once Upon a Haunted Romance Buy Links:</u></b></span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3s36THH">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Once-Upon-Haunted-Romance-Historical-ebook/dp/B0CB9CWHHL">Amazon
UK</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Once-Upon-Haunted-Romance-Historical-ebook/dp/B0CB9CWHHL">Amazon
AU</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Once-Upon-Haunted-Romance-Historical-ebook/dp/B0CB9CWHHL">Amazon
CA </a></span></b></span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/44ZHpZt " style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhve4BHbhkxpwMKIWcV2GdgDUzy0_sRRodCSTJXdy20hR7pneq8vsr6pFmyQXoUpegDR243-lvcW1dpTn3tXP2CN3B1UjcJ_nCyu_-Zehe_qsRRpuWWXBXARTpa84KNPKLpsvSLyApm1GWynHhpNIorOvCUtBNlfFXVL0J6E1X2Y1KLIx8WkNm7ZNT19vBR/w640-h431/Marrying%20a%20Mabry%20series.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">About Lexi:<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;">Lexi Post is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of romance
inspired by the classics. She spent years in higher education taking and
teaching courses about the classical literature she loved. From Edgar Allan
Poe's short story “The Masque of the Red Death” to Tolstoy’s <i>War and Peace</i>, she's read, studied, and
taught wonderful classics.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;">But Lexi's first love is romance novels so she married her two first loves, romance
and the classics. Whether it’s sizzling cowboys, dashing dukes, hot immortals,
or hunks from out of this world, Lexi provides a sensuous experience with a
“whole lotta story.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;">Lexi is living her own happily ever after with her husband and her two cats
in Florida. She makes her own ice cream every weekend, loves bright colors, and
you’ll never see her without a hat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><a href="http://www.lexipostbooks.com/"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #c00000; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwhpGM5dF38bROf__X5ZLC0tN5CR0OCVSq_wO4yohjv_4vYjFbIcUwdWLzvDDnBhkYjQmehKYPY2s9byPUp0Nzs1iqZDJRSg45YELcNh898KYCfI5HImBn0DZ6WlH7ZlO_SRAjX2qz940bPbZdL_edSJmBgFYL3scwHP129wLU1DNBiIAGLuk3baVFw0q/s2398/Biopic-greenhat-transparent.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2377" data-original-width="2398" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwhpGM5dF38bROf__X5ZLC0tN5CR0OCVSq_wO4yohjv_4vYjFbIcUwdWLzvDDnBhkYjQmehKYPY2s9byPUp0Nzs1iqZDJRSg45YELcNh898KYCfI5HImBn0DZ6WlH7ZlO_SRAjX2qz940bPbZdL_edSJmBgFYL3scwHP129wLU1DNBiIAGLuk3baVFw0q/w200-h198/Biopic-greenhat-transparent.png" width="200" /></a></span></i></div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="color: #990000;">Website</span><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/c1w1g3"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;">Lexi Post Updates</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/lexipostbooks"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;">Facebook</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://twitter.com/LexiPost"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;">Twitter</span></i></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lexipostbooks/"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;">Instagram</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1IEL2cc"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;">Amazon
Author Page</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lexi-post"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;">BookBub</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://books2read.com/author/lexi-post/subscribe/1/16171/"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;">D2D</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomLexiPost"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;">Goodreads</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lexipostbooks/"><i><span style="color: #c00000;">Instagram</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="http://www.happilyeverafterthoughts.com/"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #c00000;">Blog
</span><span style="color: #c00000; text-decoration-line: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/lexipost77/"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;">Pinterest</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="mailto:lexi@lexipostbooks.com"><span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Email</span><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></i></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Lexi Posthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04124921637508804346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-66836877733579197112023-11-29T06:00:00.002-05:002023-11-29T06:00:00.136-05:00Happy Thanksgiving (Yes, I'm a little late)<p> </p><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7v3rU4GipazBdGAqsh-yIMsdrrJHGhB9kUh2s0Bv1NFbfZPfsHf_epOaOf6XgfY3jVcCW-D5rFA0MLcRJxip2WqytR_Y3mTlKWzmQHiZu0h5Gd4TV3QIr1W_mHvGuy4LJ6L-P8bFkBppyB_qgsrQxjiHhIvq3wBZbBm4pMMv9qAIAivhQ76dUWbzpNS0/s173/Woman%20in%20robe%20drinking%20coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="173" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7v3rU4GipazBdGAqsh-yIMsdrrJHGhB9kUh2s0Bv1NFbfZPfsHf_epOaOf6XgfY3jVcCW-D5rFA0MLcRJxip2WqytR_Y3mTlKWzmQHiZu0h5Gd4TV3QIr1W_mHvGuy4LJ6L-P8bFkBppyB_qgsrQxjiHhIvq3wBZbBm4pMMv9qAIAivhQ76dUWbzpNS0/s1600/Woman%20in%20robe%20drinking%20coffee.jpg" width="173" /></a></div><br /><span> </span><span> </span>Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well
and staying safe!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">It’s a few days after Thanksgiving that I sit
down to write this…and I’m still full!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I make a traditional meal (well, traditional
for my family) – turkey, stuffing (my mother-in-law’s recipe which is fabulous),
mashed potatoes and gravy, veggies and of course, desserts, but this year, it was
a little different. My DH has been having some health issues so I made the
same, just not as much.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Still there are leftovers—lots and lots of
leftovers—my favorite part of the whole meal. There’s something sad about
cooking all day only to have everything you made gone in twenty minutes or less</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">but the leftovers? Love those leftovers! There’s nothing like
staggering out to the kitchen for a midnight snack, bleary eyed, still full,
but kinda hungry, too. My favorite? Turkey sliders made with King’s Hawaiian
rolls. Oh so yummy!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I was fortunate enough to take some PTO from
the day job and I gotta tell you, it was wonderful (if this is what retirement
feels like, I’m ready!)! I did hope to sleep in at least one day, but that didn’t
quite work—I was still up at four-dark-thirty (I guess, after getting up at
that time for years and years, your body just gets used to it so sleeping in is
next to impossible) but it’s all good. I did what I had planned to do, which
was clean out closets (all of them…sheesh, I had no idea I had all that stuff!).
I have several nice piles now to go to Goodwill…maybe someone can make use of
the George Foreman grill that I only used once ten years ago).</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">What else did I do with my time off?</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I was able to work on my latest work in
progress and start two others (yeah, I know, I shouldn’t have started those
other two stories, but when characters and the opening scene comes to me, I
have to write it down…otherwise, it’s lost). I was pretty happy with my word
count. I don’t write as fast as others (I’m a slow and steady kinda person) but
I did some major damage to <i>Wife By Surprise</i>, which pleases me. I just might hit my goal of having it done by the new year. </span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I should go. I hear that slice of leftover cheesecake
calling my name, but before I do, there are a few things I should tell you I’m
grateful for. As always, I’m thankful for family and friends, the roof over my
head, and the food in my belly. I’m fortunate to have a job I love (even though
I’m looking forward to retirement---four years, one month away now), but mostly,
I’m grateful to you, gentle readers, for giving me the opportunity to share my passion
for writing.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread
kindness wherever you go!</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Marie<o:p></o:p></span></p>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18328966473242925851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-44104918425514832172023-11-22T07:30:00.001-05:002023-11-22T07:30:00.159-05:00The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">It doesn't matter who you are, reading is a sanctuary and everyone has a need and purpose to read. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In the Kentucky Appalachians, Cussy Mary Carter is the Book Woman. She travels by donkey with books, magazines, pamphlets, and any other reading material the local library can scrounge up and send to the hill people. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Cussy Mary lives with her dear father. Working in the coal mines, her father is fearful of an early death while he attempts to get a mate for Cussy. Mating season in the hills is noted by placing a burning candle in the window. A lit candle means an available bride. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">With little faith in the candle, she knows her unique blue skin places her status on the lowest rung of humanity. Cussy's job as Book Woman gives her all the freedom she can hope for. She teaches the mountain people to read and surprises them with materials of interest, when available, to keep them excited about knowledge.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1543864778i/40914165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1543864778i/40914165.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">On Cussy's route, Jackson Lovett settled himself in a cabin after traveling the country. He appears to have an eye for Cussy, which she refuses to acknowledge. No man of such wondrous standing would want anything to do with a blue woman. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The local doctor repeatedly requests testing on Cussy's color. Maybe there's hope to change from blue to white. Or is the color of a person a vanity issue while the person remains the same? Another problem for Cussy to encounter.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Jackson is held back from approaching Cussy, but he does show interest in simple ways when she approaches his home with her reading materials. A bouquet of wildflowers confuses her. Yet, does she sense his interest? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Tragedy's are exchanged for hope. Hope in life, reading, and love. With each show of anger, jealousy, and prejudice, a page turns with strengthened friendship and love. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Richardson's </b>story is an intelligent, hopeful, and heartwarming tale. It's easy to get involved with Cussy's life and wish her the best.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Happy reading,</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Dawn</i></span></p>dawn kundahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08711522113550387081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-70077245462092965452023-11-15T06:00:00.001-05:002023-11-15T06:00:00.158-05:00Parts of a Story<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTLGn0gjbci9nPd_-EVGCzl7qUeADBle3E23ifb3-uOUdAtQ6vCQW_Ey9DNWjRyC4mTsGZ0mErwiQOkhrAEmtaXSOCrfx-A8YtmSuoWGhAiDEWb03uqniSWmEDF3vvlhLuIN_em5rFPuUHa_z9MKJSHdJgS1yrljddgHBA9LOgK53kK97Niz2CFygfC0/s173/Woman%20in%20robe%20drinking%20coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="173" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTLGn0gjbci9nPd_-EVGCzl7qUeADBle3E23ifb3-uOUdAtQ6vCQW_Ey9DNWjRyC4mTsGZ0mErwiQOkhrAEmtaXSOCrfx-A8YtmSuoWGhAiDEWb03uqniSWmEDF3vvlhLuIN_em5rFPuUHa_z9MKJSHdJgS1yrljddgHBA9LOgK53kK97Niz2CFygfC0/s1600/Woman%20in%20robe%20drinking%20coffee.jpg" width="173" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well
and staying safe!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">So, today, we’re going to discuss the parts of
a novel—the easy and the not so easy. There’s the beginning, the middle, the end,
the synopsis, the blurb…and the first love scene (if your story has one. Some
don’t.).</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Let me explain.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Starting a new story is wonderful. You’re
excited. You’re happy because it’s something new. You have your basic storyline
and maybe an outline (I do plot points. Others write by the seat of their pants).
You get to introduce your hero and heroine, who they are, what they’re all
about. I love this part. It’s fun getting to name your characters and build their
traits and foibles. You feed in some of their past and where they are now. As I
said, it’s exciting and sets up your story.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Then there’s the sagging middle. I call it
that because the enthusiasm for the beginning has waned a little. It’s usually
at this point that my brain betrays me and thoughts of “this is boring” or “why
did I ever think I could do this” start cascading through my head. It takes
patience and perseverance to get through this part (I’m certain other authors
do not have this problem, but I seem to with every story I write).</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I love writing the end. At a certain point,
you find yourself on that downward slope. There’s no turning back now. You find
yourself (or at least I do), writing faster and faster, rushing (not blindly
though) to reach that happily ever after. You may cry as you write ‘The End’ or
celebrate with a piece of chocolate or two.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Let’s talk a little about your synopsis (or as
I call it ‘the dreaded’ synopsis). If you plan to submit your work to a publisher
or agent, you must have one. Depending on who you are submitting to, the
synopsis needs to be two pages or five pages or anywhere in between. I find it
incredibly difficult to condense my ninety-five-thousand-word story into two or
three or five pages.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Then there is the blurb, the short description
on the back of the book that makes a reader look at it to begin with. It must
be enticing with just enough information to interest the reader. This can be
incredibly difficult for some (re: me), but really easy for others.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">But I want to go back to the love scene, which
is where I am right now in my story. I have read authors who simply blow me
away with how their loves scenes are written and they make it seem so easy.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">It isn’t. In fact, it’s darned hard (unless
you’re lucky enough to have your characters do all the hard work…sometimes that
happens and I love it when it does!). There are so many questions, so many
possibilities for that first time your hero and heroine make love. Should their
coming together be slow and sensual? Hot and urgent? Both? What about clothes?
Are they wearing any or does each character need to be undressed? Who does the
undressing? If the scene is hot and urgent, then they should both be ripping
each other’s clothes off, right? Or is a tantalizing dance as one article of
clothing is removed at a time? Are they talking to each other? What are they
saying?</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">It all needs to be choreographed in such a way
that the reader is there, seeing everything, feeling everything. And it needs
to be satisfying to everyone—the hero, the heroine, the author, but most
especially you, the reader.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">So why do we do it if it’s hard? For me, it’s
a need. I have to write (even if no one ever sees it). Despite the frustration,
despite the tears, I have a story to tell and quite frankly, I am not the same
person when I don’t have a story in progress.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">And that’s all for me. I should go and tackle
that love scene now.</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread
kindness wherever you go!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Marie<o:p></o:p></span></p>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18328966473242925851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-1461245752031346302023-11-08T07:00:00.001-05:002023-11-08T07:00:00.134-05:00Shiver by Karen Robards<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">East St. Louis, Illinois is nothing like its step-sister, St. Louis, Missouri. East St. Louis is where things happen and no one sees. Samantha Jones lives in the shit-hole in Illinois, but she has the love of her life, a young son, and a job as a</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91UCy9l+NKL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="285" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91UCy9l+NKL._SY466_.jpg" width="196" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> night repo-woman. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">That's all she cares about, and she carries a Smith and Wesson to make sure she stays alive to care for her son.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Daniel Panterro is living a nightmare at the same time, only he's bound and bloody in the back of Sam's next repo job. The classy looks of the BMW she drives her cranky repo truck to, holds him in the trunk when she pops the lid. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Sam wants nothing to do with the streets of East St. Louis, and Danny cannot reveal his true identity. Doesn't matter. She's entangled in his troubles whether she saw who put him in the trunk or not. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It's a crazy ride. Danny takes Sam hostage, yet he protects her relative to the situation. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Sam chastises herself for noticing Danny's good looks beneath the dirt and blood. The fact that he doesn't want her dead is a relief, too.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Could it be more than just survival? Could something good and loving come from a frightening hide-and-seek with the thugs after them? Will Sam and Danny live to find out?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Robards </b>delivers another one of her high-octane romantic suspense novels, and I recommend opening the cover! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Happy reading,</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Dawn</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>dawn kundahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08711522113550387081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083633325209012024.post-44116852259973439052023-11-01T07:00:00.001-04:002023-11-01T07:00:00.167-04:00Fear the Blinking Cursor<p> </p><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhp3QWcCE_oGPUY6w3M0T-TfPFgTk7Mm-KphK6R9iiXWrjaetdUwXDXWJEzbVMLHXMESRFNKQuXZ4EgRAg72bJn_MkF7g-40NtPV_j9TrkLgCsVDJaCOAfp9FMqj1yGzm_WfnRSeXqolOoIaWcnsPu7A3mQsuuu2U973BKmGQy-0ZkebTn5UUmNuBW-U/s173/Woman%20in%20robe%20drinking%20coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="173" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhp3QWcCE_oGPUY6w3M0T-TfPFgTk7Mm-KphK6R9iiXWrjaetdUwXDXWJEzbVMLHXMESRFNKQuXZ4EgRAg72bJn_MkF7g-40NtPV_j9TrkLgCsVDJaCOAfp9FMqj1yGzm_WfnRSeXqolOoIaWcnsPu7A3mQsuuu2U973BKmGQy-0ZkebTn5UUmNuBW-U/s1600/Woman%20in%20robe%20drinking%20coffee.jpg" width="173" /></a></div><br /><span> </span><span> </span>Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well
and staying safe!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">So, it’s my turn to post to Happily Ever After
Thoughts and here I am, staring at a blank page in Word and a blinking cursor, having,
once again, no topic. Or maybe, I just don't have the words. This is not unusual. </span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">As a writer, that blank page and blinking cursor
is intimidating and the bane our existence, but it happens more often than I’m
comfortable with. Sometimes, as I already said, there are no words and the cursor just teases
us (or maybe, torments would be a better description). And it doesn’t only
happen when you’re trying to write a blog. It happens other times, too.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sometimes, the characters in your current story
refuse to talk to you, leaving you to figure it out. Sometimes, our muses
simply disappear for a time (Hmmm, I wonder where they go. Are there muse
conventions where all the muses get together and laugh at us mere mortals? Are
there classes where they’re taught how to torture us? My muse must enjoy those
classes quite a bit, as he seems to take particular pleasure in leaving me
hanging while he’s off galivanting). </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">What does one do? I don’t know about other
writers, but for me, physical labor does the trick to break that log jam and
get those words flowing. I’ve come up with some really good ideas while washing
the dishes or scrubbing the floor (I keep a pad of paper handy though writing
notes with wet hands isn’t something I would recommend).</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I have, at times, simply tried working on
another story but then, that can get you in trouble, too, because what if you
like the new thing you’re working on instead of finishing the original thing?
Hahahaha, that probably explains why I have over thirteen unfinished
manuscripts sitting in my computer right now although I always eventually go
back to the thing that was giving me fits in the first place).</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Walking also helps…just putting one foot in
front of the other without any clear destination in mind (Hahahahaha, I’ve
walked miles trying to figure out how to get out of the corner I’ve written
myself into!). The only problem with that is 1) you could get lost, 2) you
could find that you’ve walked too far and now have to go home and frankly, your
feet hurt, or 3) you just can’t remember everything that went through your head
while you were walking. I could use a recorder to get my thoughts down but I
sound like Mickey Mouse (in between the huffing and puffing). It’s rather
embarrassing!</span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Hmmmm, I think I’ll go clean out the fridge…maybe
that’ll get those creative juices flowing! Wish me luck!</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread
kindness wherever you go!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Marie<o:p></o:p></span></p>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18328966473242925851noreply@blogger.com0