Marie Sullivan Force

Dear Diary: One Word—OUCH

2012-01-27T08:23:00.000-05:00

The new mattress is here. They told us it would take some getting used to. We aren't sure we'll survive the "getting used to" phase. Dan suggested we both might need a sick day to recover from the first night. In the store it was soft and squishy and lovely. In our house, it's made of concrete. The good news is that Brandy had no complaints and slept like a baby. And of course that's really all that matters because the new bed is for her. Ahem.... We can return the mattress within 60 days if it's not working for us. They suggested we give it two weeks before we decide anything. I wonder if we'll make it that long. Dan moved to the sofa at 3 a.m. Not a good sign! On the plus side, the new bedding looks AWESOME with the paint. You gotta love when that happens. :-)

I got some good writing done yesterday on Hoping for Love, and we're up to about 45,000 words. I hope to bang out a big chunk this weekend to keep things moving. I'm also thinking a lot about Fatal Attack and hoping to get deeper into that one very soon. I was talking to my writing friend Jessica yesterday, and she was mentioning about how she is thinking a lot about her new book but not getting much chance to write. That gave me the chance to share one of my writing philosophies with her: thinking IS writing. It counts. If you are thinking about your book, mulling over where you want to go, getting to know your characters, or plotting as you drive, shower or cook, you ARE working on your book. Writers often fail to give themselves credit for the time it takes to puzzle out a story. If we aren't putting words on a page then we feel like we're wasting time. It all counts.

It's pouring rain here in RI, my favorite kind of writing day. I'm heading to the gym and then my Realtor friend Dawn and I are going to an open house at the house former Congressman Patrick Kennedy is selling in my town. Naturally, we have to grab lunch, too, so let's hope I can get my work count in this afternoon! Speaking of that, I used to think it was funny when authors would Tweet or FB about not making their daily word count or the various challenges to meeting the daily goal. I'd think how I'd hate to be beholden to a daily goal. Shudder. That was when I had a full-time job on top of my writing and couldn't set unmanageable goals for myself. I don't believe in setting myself up for failure. Now that I can do whatever I want during the day, I'm seeing the point of the daily word count goal. It keeps us from being total slackers! These days, I'm setting myself up for failure by NOT having a daily word count goal. Food for thought as I move forward with new life, month two!

I want to add a daily mention here of what I'm reading for fun. My reader friends at Marie Force Book Talk were gabbing about Lisa Kleypas (one of my all-time favorite authors) this week, and a few titles were mentioned that I hadn't read. Here I thought I'd read all her books, but alas that was not the case. Even though I'm supposed to be reading/judging books for the RWA RITA contest, here I am reading Then Came You (which I loved) and Dreaming of You (just started). How am I supposed to read RITA books when there are unread LK books demanding my attention? What are you reading? What's the latest book you just couldn't put down?

Last night I attended my daughter's swim meet (they won!) and she swam the 500, which is 20 lengths of the pool. Watching her cut through the water, it occurred to me that at no time in my life could I have done that. Neither of my kids are what you would call "natural" athletes like their father (they got just enough of my genes to ruin them!). Rather, they are "scrappers." They get out there and give it their all. They'll never be the best one on the team, but they bring plenty of heart to the game, which makes us very proud of them. Since it was a girls-only meet, I was surrounded in the stands by a group of high school boys cheering on the girls. That was the perfect time to receive an email from a 17-year-old boy in New Zealand who has been reading my books and "learning a lot" about women and relationships and sex and what is expected of men in these situations. The very sweet note from a lovely boy halfway across the world got me to wondering if reading romance novels shouldn't be mandatory for all teenage boys. Maybe if they better understood women and how to be half of a successful relationship, there'd be a lot fewer divorces. What do you think?

Have a great Friday!

Dear Diary: This is Why I Read Romance

2012-01-26T10:07:00.000-05:00

Another crazy day in house renovation land. Have I mentioned that I'll be glad when this is all over? Yes, I thought so! I need to compliment the speedy customer service of the furniture company, which set my mind at easy that they can send us a new drawer to replace the damaged one. As a result, we were able to complete the furniture set up and get the old stuff ready for pick up by the Salvation Army today. It pains me to get rid of a bed and dresser that belong to my grandmother, but you can't keep everything. If I had a bigger house, I'd stash it away, but I know it would stay stashed for many years to come, so why do that when someone can be using it? Sigh... The new mattress will be delivered later today, allowing us to move back upstairs to our regular bedroom. Last on the renovation list is new doors for all the rooms. The guy came to measure them yesterday. I think of the doors as the "final frontier" before we're back to normal around here.

The upside of the "some-assembly-required" bed was that while Dan was putting it together last night, I did Jake's basketball practice drop off and pick-up (normally handled by Dad), which is how I managed to be standing five feet from him when he sank a perfect three-pointer in a scrimmage game. The basket was so perfect, it didn't even touch the rim and went through the basket with an audible "swish." He doesn't score many baskets, so his entire team (along with his friends on the other team) went crazy congratulating him on the perfect shot. His grin spread from ear to ear. I was very glad I got to witness such a great moment for him, and it was all because of the house project from hell. There's always an upside, right?

Yesterday was a day of nonstop interruptions. After the gym, one thing after another kept me from writing. By about 3 p.m. I realized it just wasn't going to happen with so much chaos going on around me, so I put up the white flag and surrendered. I decided to read the first chapter of "Fairy Tale Interrupted," by RoseMarie Terenzio, who was JFK Jr.'s assistant for the last five years of his life. Of course, one chapter turned into the whole book, which I finished at 1:30 a.m., feeling unbearably sad at the terrible grief described by the author upon the loss of her boss and good friend, as well as his wife, who had also become her close friend. I liked this book a lot because it felt like a love letter to John and Carolyn, and not at all like the self-promotional stuff some of their inner circle has done since their deaths.

RoseMarie said in People magazine that it took her 10 years to even be able to talk about it let alone write about it. She gave them her whole life for five years, and when they were gone she was left literally with nothing. She couldn't even get a job. As she put it, when you've been the assistant to the most famous man in the world, where do you go from there? I was awake for a long time thinking about the book, about the terrible waste of three young lives, and wondering about what might've been for JFK Jr. had he lived. Would he be president today instead of Obama? They would be roughly the same age, so it's very possible he may have turned his attention to elected office in the next decade of his life. I so vividly remember the details of that awful weekend in July of 1999. Having grown up in Kennedy country, I've always been interested in their family. That weekend, we held our collective breath waiting to hear the unimaginable. It was the weekend of Emily's fourth birthday, and I recall forcing merriment for her sake in the midst of terrible sorrow. I also remember the poignant words spoken at John's funeral by his Uncle Ted: "Like his father before him, John had every gift but length of life."

This is the first non-romance I've read in ages. As I sobbed my way through the retelling of the accident that took the lives of John, Carolyn and her sister Lauren, I was yearning for the happily ever after that wasn't to be for them.

What was the last non-romance you read? Did you feel the same way afterward?

Thanks to all the new members of Marie Force Book Talk who've joined after reading about our merry group here on the blog. It's great to have you! Off to write! Have a great day!

Dear Diary: Best Laid Plans

2012-01-25T09:26:00.001-05:00

The furniture I ordered on the Internet arrived yesterday in five boxes so heavy we couldn't budge them when they were placed in our dining room. We had put Brandy on the back deck for the delivery since she would've been totally underfoot greeting the delivery men if we'd let her run free. So now we have five stupendously heavy boxes blocking the sliding door. Dog is trapped, quickly figures that out and begins to panic! Thirteen-year-old son to the rescue! Jake devised a plan to bring her in through one of the windows that face the back porch. Success! Brandy was none to keen about being hauled through a window, however. The Brandy rescue was the good news. The bad news was that the dresser and part of the bed arrived damaged. Of course we discovered this just as the California-based retailer was closing for the evening. Hoping to get resolution—quickly—today since Dan and I are cellar-dwellers until our new bedroom furniture is set up. Jake said last night that he's tired of all this house stuff. I'm with you there, buddy! This is what happens when you put it off for years and then decide to do it all at once!

I totally forgot to mention that I hit the gym on Monday. Now why is this a big deal, you ask? Well, let me tell you... It's the first time I've gone on my own without a date with the trainer. I see her on Wednesdays and Fridays. Adding the third day on my own has been the goal, so this week I started adding that extra day. Of course after lugging furniture around last night, I'm sore as hell, but I'm still going today. Damn it. LOL

Yesterday I mentioned the very fun groups we've formed on Facebook and membership exploded, especially in Marie Force Book Talk. It's great to have so many new members hanging out over there, and I hope more of you will come join the fun! We're also having some great chats on the Falling for Love group about important topics, such as whether David Lawrence, who cheated on Janey McCarthy in Fool for Love and does something downright heroic in Falling for Love, deserves a HEA in a future book. Hmm, what do you think?

The writing of Hoping for Love continues to go well with the word count almost to 43,000. I can "see" the finish line in my mind, and I'm looking forward to writing the last half of the book. I'm having fun, as always, with the Gansett Island crew! I also want to say thank you to everyone who gave Falling for Love such a terrific launch week. I've been so excited by the reader response to book 4. Thank you all so much!

In other news from yesterday, I've agreed to be the President-Elect of the Romance Writers of America's (RWA) Published Author Special Interest Chapter. Gulp. This is my first leadership position within RWA, and it's something I felt I could take on now that I no longer have the day job to contend with. I'm looking forward to getting more involved with PASIC!

So what are you up to this week? Anything fun or crazy?

Dear Diary: Reader Mail

2012-01-24T11:28:00.004-05:00

Before I get into today's post, I have an update from yesterday. We broke the news to Brandy that her under-the-bed office is shutting down, since our new bed will have drawers and not provide access to her favorite hideout. Later in the evening, I went into my room and noticed Brandy had barfed on the bed, which has never happened before in the two years she's lived with us. And they say animals don't understand English? Mine does! I've always thought so, and now I have proof. She's pissed, and she's letting us know it!

Yesterday was a really good writing day that took me up to 41,000 words on Hoping for Love. Things are heating up between Grace and Evan, but he's about to do something he'll regret for some time to come. Can't wait to dive back into their story! I mentioned this yesterday to some of my readers, but I thought it would be fun to bring it up here too: I hate writing love scenes. In fact, I hate writing them so much that it takes me a day or two to "recover" before I can go back and re-read what I wrote. My readers tell me they like my love scenes, which I really appreciate, but they do give me grief! What's funny is, like the act itself, when it's going well, I can tell. Everything is firing on all cylinders (literally—LOL) and it's "coming together" the way it's supposed to. Okay, enough with the puns. You get the picture!

Today I wanted to talk a little bit about my readers. I've been blessed to encounter the nicest, friendliest, most supportive group of readers. We are having BIG FUN over at Marie Force Book Talk where we now have 95 members, and we're growing every day. I really enjoy being able to hang out with my reader friends on a daily basis. Our Falling for Love Readers Group is now up to 75 members, and you're welcome to join us after you've read the book since there are spoilers galore in the individual book groups. We have groups for each of my books as well as the McCarthys of Gansett Island Series and the Fatal Series. Anyone is welcome to join, so come on down! For a full listing of all the reader groups, visit my Facebook page. They are listed under "Info."

In addition to all the fun we have on the groups, I receive such lovely email from readers after each new release. Here is a sampling of what readers are saying about Falling for Love:

Naomi wrote:

This book had so much going on that it kept me so excited the whole time. And I loved it when you left so much possibility for at least 2 or 3 more books! I can't wait to find out about Owen/Laura. I loved the banter between Grant and Stephanie. Gals with attitude are always great! And love scenes were very steamy, yet really tasteful. I enjoyed reading it.

Anyway, I enjoyed every word. There is so much hope for more stories! I love it! I can't wait to read Evan's story, as well as Adam, Owen and maybe Doctor David?!?! Now, I'm getting myself ready for another Fatal series! I've already pre-ordered it. So while I wait, I'm reading Love at First Flight once again! Thanks for all the books you write. You make me laugh/cry and make my day a lot more enjoyable!

Anna wrote:

Just finished Falling For Love, and it was sooooo good!! I loved it!! I am so glad that there is more to come. You are amazing, and you have such a gift for writing. You blow me away every time with your books, and I am always left wanting more. Thank you for all your hard work in writing such excellent books!!!!!

Jill wrote:

I have just finished reading Falling for Love which I only found online yesterday...don't know how I missed it and as usual absolutely loved it. I am pleased to hear that you are now writing full time as this means not only more books but more often as well....A win win situation....Can't wait. Best wishes for a long and happy career.

Rhonda wrote:

You've done it again!!!! I couldn't put this book down! It killed me to have to work today and not sit at home to read!!! You're writing really makes me feel like I'm right there in the story with them. You truly have a amazing gift! And I loved the first glimpse of Evan's book.

Karen wrote:

I then decided to try your McCarthy series and have been consuming them like a crazy woman. I read Maid for Love and Fool for love within two days and I'm hooked. I just started Luke & Sydney's story and was so happy to see that I have Falling for Love waiting for me once I finish Ready for Love. I cannot wait to hear more about my favorite couples, Maddie & Mac, Janey & Joe and the rest of the family. I just read your blog and found out that you're now a full time author. Congrats! I promise to keep you in business and will look forward to reading more of your books.

Alyson wrote:

Picked up the McCarthy series & I swear to you, a marching band could have gone thru my bedroom & i'd have been none the wiser. My mom RAVES about the Fatal series, but I'm going to have to wait till the last one comes out so that I can have a marathon. Write faster! You're fabulous. :)

Now you see why I love my readers. Thanks to every one of you for making my new life as a full-time author possible. If you keep reading, I'll keep writing. Deal?

Dear Diary: What Weekend?

2012-01-23T08:36:00.000-05:00

Another weekend has flown by in the blink of an eye leaving me to wonder what happened to the last two days. We spent some time on a snowy Saturday getting ready for the next phase of our home renovation project. Our new king-sized bed arrives tomorrow. I ordered it online and "some assembly required" has Dan up in arms about just how much assembly may be required. We went with a storage bed with drawers underneath since we have a small room and can use all the storage space we can get. Brandy the dog will be bummed to lose her under-the-bed "office" hideout, but it's her fault we needed the bigger bed. She insists on sleeping with us and is a huge bed hog! We're also sacrificing bedside tables for a bookshelf headboard. Can't wait to see it all put together, but tonight we get to move everything out of our room. Our current bed is going to the guest room downstairs, so that's where we'll be sleeping until the new bed is put together. Good times! More upheaval! Can't wait to be done! My goal was to have it mostly done by the end of January. We may make that goal. We'll see!

Yesterday, I spent a big chunk of the day on the odious task of paperwork. Where does it all COME FROM? It piles up in my kitchen until it starts to avalanche and I have no choice but to deal with it. There's personal stuff and business stuff and kid stuff galore. I caught up my business checking account and tax deduction spreadsheet that I let go for a staggering amount of time and then I am left to piece my recent life back together so it makes sense to the accountant. When the check register says "PayPal," something else has to go with that transaction. Thus a trip through the PayPal history is required. Are you seeing why this process always gives me a headache? New Year's Resolution (it's not too late to make them, is it?): Keep track of expenses and deductions AS THEY HAPPEN rather than weeks later. If that actually happens, I'll be shocked. But I will try...

Also yesterday, I got to see my son score a point in hockey and then get into a scuffle with another player that involved the use of their hockey sticks in an unauthorized manner (AKA stick to body). Dan and I were shocked that Jake took a swing at another kid with his stick, because that is soooooo not like him. He says he was provoked. We say if he does it again he won't play anymore. Sheesh! This isn't the NHL, boys!

Watching the New England Patriots earn another visit to the Super Bowl was a highlight of the weekend. The game was sooooo stressful! Can you tell me why I care so much? I'm not much of a fan until things get interesting at the end (sort of the same way I am about the Bachelor—talk to me the last three weeks. Before that, who cares?). However, I'm ALWAYS a fan of Tom Brady who is just too cute for words. He's not only the best quarterback of his generation, but he's a gentleman and not afraid to say he played terribly in a playoff game in which he didn't throw for a single touchdown. I like that about him. He takes the blame when it's his fault. There's not a prima dona bone in his body, at least not that he shows us. We're hoping for a different outcome than we got in the 2007 Super Bowl face off with the Giants, a win for NY that my son still calls "cheap." (One of his favorite words.)

Over the course of this weekend, I also did a re-read of what I've written in Hoping for Love so far (good news, I don't hate it) and laid out the print version of True North while I watched the game. That will be coming soon to Amazon! I'm trying not to put pressure on myself to write on the weekends, but I'm certainly using that time for other business-related matters. Here's another New Year's Resolution (I really hope it isn't too late): Take a day off every now and then. What must that be like? I can't remember!

Have a good Monday!

Dear Diary: It's Finally Snowing!

2012-01-21T13:35:00.000-05:00

Our snow-free winter is no longer, which is good news in one way: It forces my husband to take a day off from talking about global warming. He's been "on fire" on that subject during our unusually warm fall and winter. As one who grew up in Rhode Island, I've tried to tell him it's always been this way. Some winters we're hit by one snow storm after another and others are relatively snow-free. I blame the lack of snow up to this point on him. After nine winters of shoveling our long driveway, he finally bought a tractor with a plow last fall. That all but guarantees several snow-free winters, right? The used tractor sounds like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, with the emphasis on BANG BANG. It backfires. Loudly. After which he is usually heard to say, "Oh, shit!" The kids and I listen for the bang and laugh at his reaction. We also make sure the windows are closed to keep Chitty's fumes from overtaking us, which nearly happened last fall! The bad news about the snow is that I have to drive in it, which I hate.

So back to business! Yesterday was a productive day in the writer land. I got quite a bit done on Hoping for Love, had a good talk with my agent, Kevan Lyon, about the Fatal Series and some other things that I hope will come to fruition soon. A lot of people ask me why I still need an agent when I'm doing pretty well as an independent author. Well, for one thing Kevan represents me on the ongoing Fatal Series and has been very helpful in dealing with a number of things on that front. She keeps her eye out for potential opportunities for me and helps to decipher the always-perplexing royalty statements I receive from two different publishers. We've been together for three-and-a-half years and have always had a great relationship. Is our partnership different now than it was before last year? Yes, it is. However, I have to say that from the day I first told her I planned to self-publish some of my unsold books Kevan has never been anything but supportive of my endeavors. She sees the big picture. Any progress I make on my own will be beneficial to the books I have with her, too. She "gets it," which is why I'm glad she's still my agent.

I made it to the gym yesterday for the first time all week, and today I can barely move. Next week, I aim to go three times so I can get back into a regular routine. We'll see how that goes. Hubby's company holiday party is tonight. They always do it in January, which is actually nice. December is way too busy, so we're glad to not have to add another obligation to the schedule. We're just wondering if the party will be snowed out! We'll see!

Hope you're having a great Saturday!

Dear Diary: How Did I Ever Fit a Job Into This Life?

2012-01-20T08:50:00.002-05:00

(Note the addition of Fatal Flaw to the banner above...)

Back in the day, TGIF used to be one of my favorite sayings. I was always thanking God for Friday. These days, every day is Friday because the next day, I get to do what I most want to do: WRITE! Happy dancing all around! As the third week of "new life" comes to an end, I'm already wondering how I ever managed to fit a day job into my hectic schedule. Here's how yesterday went...

7 a.m. Wake up and see off the kids and hubby, snuggle with Brandy, take care of some e-mail, write a blog, do some Facebooking and tweeting.

8 a.m. Plug in the backup hard drive I bought last week to fully back up my hard drive for the very first time. As 1.3 million items made their way onto this tiny device, I gave some considerable thought to producing a TV show for computer horders. For surely I must be one with 1.3 MILLION items on my laptop.

9 a.m. Talk to my dad, who is in Florida for two months, for half an hour. As my self-appointed director of productivity, he wants daily reports on what we're up to in the office. At the moment he called, Brandy and I were having our second snuggle of the day. Shhhh, don't tell him! He'll be so jealous. Brandy is the one he misses most when he's away.

9:30 am Open HOPING FOR LOVE and get to work. Wrote 2,500 words over the course of the day that came rather easily, which is always nice. Things are heating up between Evan and Grace!

10:30 am Admitted the carpet guy, who was back for a third day to do the upstairs. Had a freakout when I saw the carpet going in because, as feared, it's way too light for the high-traffic area. Reminded myself that it's really a very small area we carpeted (hallway and dining room), so if it doesn't work, we'll live with it for a while and then redo it. Why sweat the small stuff, right?

Moved downstairs with Brandy and her food for the rest of the day. The new carpet smell from the recently installed basement carpet gave me a headache, but I kept working as the hard drive kept moving 1.3 MILLION files. The laptop got kinda hot during the big transfer, which made me hot as I toiled away in the COLD basement.

11 am Call from a close friend who just realized HER boat is on the cover of my book READY FOR LOVE. Now how crazy is that? Seriously....

Noon Got a text from a friend that led to a 90-minute catch-up lunch with many laughs. We sat in the sun at lunch so I would get some photosynthesis. You gotta kill two birds whenever you can.

2 pm Rushed home to be here when the high school girl got home since there was a guy working in the house. Now I've got a dog and a teenager in the room with me while I'm trying to work. She buried herself in the iPad for a while, so that was great until the carpet guy started on the basement stairs, quickly driving us out of the room with the banging. Upstairs we go with computers, backup hard drives, backpacks, dog bowls. Are you getting the picture? We were refugees in our own house! Yet I still wrote 2,500 words. (Just needed to get that in there again in case you were thinking TOTAL SLACKER at this point...)

3 pm Wondering where the boy is. No bus, no call from him that he is staying after school for something. At 3:10 I call the school to see if he stayed after. They haven't seen him. The heart begins to do that funny little pounding thing it does whenever something isn't right with one of my kids. I wait on hold while the school pages him to see if he is in the school, never realizing that the WHOLE TIME I AM ON THE PHONE I AM LOOKING AT HIS BACKPACK sitting on my kitchen table with the ballcap he wears every day resting on top of it. Being the good boy he is, he scooted around the carpet guy, into his room and out of the way. He missed the, "Hey, Mom, I'm home" part of the program. He was in his room the whole time I was organizing a search party. Mother of the Year nominee, at your service! Apparently, he called downstairs to tell me he was home RIGHT at the exact moment his sister and I were walking around the house to come in the front door. You gotta laugh. After you find the kid, that is...

4 pm Phone call from an old friend, lots of laughs.

5 pm Hubby is home, time to move all the dining room furniture back to where it belongs. Sweat, grunt, sweat, argue a little...

6 pm Get everyone fed. Decided the carpet doesn't suck after all. Phew. Carpet guy tells me he handles a customer freakout at least once a week. Apparently, buyer's remorse is common in the carpet business. Who knew?

7 pm Leave for daughter's swim meet one town over. Pools are insanely loud, hot and smelly during swim meets. Bleachers make you back and butt scream for mercy. Seeing your kid whipping down that lane, graceful and smooth through the water: Priceless.

10 pm Return home from swim meet, watch American Idol, Grey's Anatomy (the scene between Richard and Adele was one of the most moving things I've ever seen on that show) and go to bed to read How the Marquess Was Won by Julie Anne Long, which I am absolutely LOVING.

11:30 pm Lights out.

How did I fit a job into this life? Can you tell me that? The morale of the story is this: MORE writing. LESS of everything else.

I forgot to mention one other really cool thing that happened earlier this week. Years ago, when I was first writing books, I started referring to my writing journey as the "House That Jack Built." You've probably read the story on my website (if not, here it is). I always said that if I ever incorporated a business around my writing, it would be HTJB, Inc. Well, this week, HTJB, Inc. is becoming a reality at the advice of my accountant and attorney. While it may seem like a big pile of paperwork, which it is, underneath it all it's another bit of the dream coming true, and it needs to be celebrated as such. So, here's to HTJB, Inc. You've been a long time coming!

Dear Diary

2012-01-19T08:48:00.001-05:00

So much for my big plan to post every day. I totally blew off day 2! That's an auspicious start! Yesterday was a productive day with another 2,000 words in the bank on Hoping for Love, more promo work on Falling for Love and (shocker) MORE work on the website from hell. I also registered for the Romance Writers of America Conference in Anaheim, CA. I'm really looking forward to the three conferences I have coming up:

PASIC (Published Author Special Interest Chapter) in New York City on March 8-10 (I'm on a self-pub panel)
New England Chapter Conference in Salem, MA, April 27-28. I'm the Saturday luncheon speaker (gulp)
RWA in Anaheim from July 25-28 (I'm organizing a reader dinner on July 25 after the literacy signing if anyone is interested in joining us.)

I'd love to connect with nearby readers at any of these events, so let me know if you are interested in getting together.

Today I'm hoping to get a lot of writing done, but the carpet and tile guy is back for another two-day engagement that has my house turned upside down AGAIN. So I'll do what I can!

Oh and this AM I was invited on a local TV show, the Rhode Show, which is Rhode Island's equivalent of the Today show. I have to be in Providence at 8:30 a.m. for this engagement. I predict getting up at 4 a.m. to make myself presentable!

Finally, I'm celebrating the very good showing Falling for Love has had on Barnes & Noble, where it was ranked no. 71 overall this morning. That is very exciting! It's doing well on Amazon, too, with a good placement on the contemporary romance bestseller's list. Thank you to my lovely readers for making this possible!

Off to write! Have a great day!
xoxo

Transition

2012-01-17T23:29:00.001-05:00

Today is not only launch day for Falling for Love. It also begins the third week of what I'm calling the "new life," or life as a full-time author with no day job, and I've got a few observations from the trenches. First, even though I've worked from home for thirteen years on the day job, I'm not doing the same job, so it's different. I didn't expect anything to be different, but when you think about it, of course it's different. For one thing, I don't have 27 coworkers to interact with anymore, which cuts the daily email total WAY down, from 300 to about 100 a day. I don't have any of those 27 coworkers or the thousands of members we worked for checking in, asking for help with various things, deadlines, publications to produce or a quarterly magazine requiring my attention. Rather, I have a website and books and readers and Facebook and Twitter and this blog to manage, and none of those things are as demanding as the job was. Each of those things is FUN! And this is WORK??? Pinch me, please!

I've talked to a few people about this odd transition stage I find myself in, and every one of them has said and done the same thing. First, they laugh at me, and then they remind me it's only day 17 since the "big change." I've decided I'm in "adjustment mode," and eventually I'll get used to my new routine. Even though I "work" all day, I'm doing something I love so much it never, ever feels like work. During these transition weeks, we've been having some work done on our house. Paint that requires everything off the walls and carpet that requires everything out of rooms, all of which equals chaos around me for weeks now, which is NOT conducive to creativity. This is stuff we've needed to do for a while now, but I just didn't have the mental capacity to manage home projects on top of two full-time jobs and two teenagers.

I've also been aiming to get to the gym more often, and at times other than lunchtime, which is when I went when I was "working"—for someone else, that is. Finally, I've been dealing with some business matters that require my full attention. Is it any wonder that I don't feel like I'm writing enough? LOL!

Without the big busy job framing my days, I've decided I need some sort of accountability system to prove that I'm actually getting stuff done and started keeping a log of what went on in a given day. The more I thought about that, the more I realized it would be fun to share the log here on the blog (that rhymes!) So here is what I've got so far. I'll share the future updates here as we go forward into "new life."

Jan. 8
Fun book club meeting at the home of Karen Medeiros, a reader friend I've gotten to know through email and Facebook. When I got home, after being gone five hours (including driving time), I asked my husband if I was allowed to take a half day that week since I "worked" on Sunday. Did I mention how much FUN the book club meeting was and how GREAT Karen, her friends and family were? Sure, this is work. Uh huh! They read Georgia on My Mind and really seemed to love it. What I loved about the group was that most of the 15 or so women there said Georgia was their first romance novel. A couple of them said they were now hooked and would never read anything else again. LOVED that I flipped them! :-)

Jan. 9
Today would've been my mom's 75th birthday and my 16th anniversary at the day job. I always thought it was cool that my work anniversary was my mom's birthday, especially after she died in 2004. I like to think she'd be proud of me and what I'm doing now. She fostered my love of reading, and I have no doubt that she's the reason why I became a romance writer since she was the first to put a Danielle Steel novel in my hand when I was a teenager. I was hooked. I did another book club meeting via Skype today, with reader friend Karen Lawson and her friends in Ohio. They read Love at First Flight for their meeting.

Jan. 10–11
Interviewed a couple of candidates to figure out who will be my new editor for the Fatal Series at Carina Press. It was fun to talk about the series and my plans for Sam, Nick and the gang and try to get a handle on who would be the best editor to help me take the series forward. I made a choice I feel good about, and I'm looking forward to working with my new editor when I hand in book 5, Fatal Attack, later this year.
Wrote 2,100 words on Fatal Attack
Wrote 2,000 words on Hoping for Love
Formatted Falling for Love and reposted the new cover
Went to the gym

Jan. 12

The basement carpet wasinstalled today, so the house is still upside down, which makes productivitydifficult. However, it was a dark, stormy, rainy day—my favorite kind ofwriting day. Wrote 2,000 words on Hoping for Love.

Jan. 13

Wrote 1,300 words on Hoping for Love

Promoted The Fall as a freebie

Went to the gym

Went to Apple store in Providence to return defective laptop cord,buy a backup hard drive and get my daughter's iPhone fixed. Shocker—the phone can't be fixed and had to be replaced. While we were there, the guy waiting on us tried to convince us that Apple screens aren't fragile. Um, okay. WHATEVER! Why does everyone I know have a broken screen on one of their Apple devices? Despite the screen issue, I'm a huge fan of all things Apple.

Went to dinner for the last time at my favorite restaurant in Newport, which shut down Saturday night after 60 years in business. Sadness.

Jan. 14

Worked on the website

Wrote 2,000 words on Hoping for Love

Drove the boy to hockey, went to his basketball game and hosted a small party to watch the New England Patriot's game. Tom Brandy was UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE against the Broncos. Tim who? :-)

Jan. 15

Worked on the website all damned day. Every time I thought I was done, I discovered another disaster that needed to be attended to. It's like a sink hole! Watched the Golden Globes, which I thought were unusually dull this year. Watching George Clooney ham it up all night was a highlight. He is so damned dreamy!

Jan. 16

Continued to work on the sink hole website. Wrote some more on Hoping for Love, but didn't count the words. Enjoying Evan and Grace's story so far! Did some story brainstorming with my friend Ronlyn who had some great ideas for ways that I can torture poor Evan. LOL!

Jan. 17

Launch day for Falling for Love! Lots of Facebooking, Tweeting and interacting with readers. SO much fun and such a great first day for the latest McCarthy story! Wrote a couple thousand on Hoping for Love, the next McCarthy book, bringing the word count to 30,000 as of today. I usually aim for 65-70K on the McCarthy books, so that brings us to about the halfway point. I hope to finish it before the end of January. We'll see! Had lunch with my Aunt Betty and her friend Alice, who is learning all about the Kindle and was so excited to start e-reading on her new toy. I love that my books have helped to bring me closer to my aunt, who is one of my biggest fans. She is always so cute introducing me as her niece the AUTHOR when we are out to lunch together. After lunch, I went to my son's science fair and let him show off the great projects he and his friends had done. As I was getting ready to leave, he said there were 20 minutes left in the period and would I stay to keep him company? Since I'm now self-employed and can do whatever the heck I want, I took off my coat, sat down and spent 20 more minutes with my son. We had a nice chat with the mom of one of his friends, and I was glad I stayed. I think he was glad, too, even though it's not cool for a 7th grade boy to act like he LIKES his mom! God forbid! Hubby and I picked out a new mattress tonight, which is a truly ridiculous process since you have to make this huge decision based on 15 whole minutes of lying on a mattress in a store. I think we found one that will work, but I guess we'll see. Good news is we can return it within 60 days if it's not working for us. Much speculation tonight about what happens to the "gently used" mattresses after they are returned. Decided we don't want to know!

In conclusion, random thoughts by Marie Force:

The images from the cruise ship disaster in Italy continue to horrify me. HOW in the world, in 2012 with all the technology at their disposal, could this possibly happen?
I'm totally addicted to Adele's voice. "Someone Like You" haunts me. I may, for the first time ever, download an entire album onto my iPod: 21. I really hope Adele's recovery from throat surgery is progressing. The world needs more of her incredible voice.
I'm totally bored by this season of The Bachelor. Ben seems like a perfectly nice guy, but he's too nice to be The Bachelor and far too nice for the crazy women they've paired him with.
Totally psyched for the new season of American Idol! Thrilled that JLo and Steven Tyler are back for another season.
I remain addicted to the show Parenthood. One of the best shows I've ever watched. Ever.
I can't believe my oldest kid is taking mid-terms in her JUNIOR YEAR of high school. I can't believe she'll be driving at the end of next month. I'm so not ready for all of this.

More to come!

Falling for Love, Available TODAY!

2012-01-17T08:02:00.001-05:00

Since he won the Academy Award for best original screenplay a few years ago, Grant McCarthy's personal and professional lives have fallen apart. Abby, the woman he was supposed to marry, is engaged to someone else, and Grant is back at home on Gansett Island helping to run the family marina business while his father recovers from a serious injury. While all Grant's focus should be on winning back the love of his life, pesky Stephanie, who runs the marina restaurant, is working her way under his skin and into his bed. As Tropical Storm Hailey cuts off Gansett Island from the mainland, Grant suspects Stephanie is hiding something big from her past. When he finds out what it is, what will be more important to him? Winning Abby back or helping Stephanie to right a terrible wrong?

After you've read the book, join the Falling for Love Readers Group to dish about the Gansett Island gang!

Read an excerpt.

Get it at:
Kindle/Amazon
Nook/Barnes & Noble
iPad/Apple
Kobo
Smashwords
All Romance eBooks
Google Books

FALLING FOR LOVE, Coming Jan. 17

2012-01-09T21:59:00.000-05:00

Fans of the McCarthys of Gansett Island Series will be glad to hear that FALLING FOR LOVE, featuring Grant McCarthy, is coming next week! When we left off with Grant in READY FOR LOVE, he was in shock over the fact that his longtime girlfriend had meant it when she told him it was over between them the summer before. Now he's back on Gansett determined to win back Abby while another woman has slipped under his skin. Here's the full description:

Since he won theAcademy Award for best original screenplay a few years ago, Grant McCarthy'spersonal and professional lives have fallen apart. Abby, the woman he wassupposed to marry, is engaged to someone else, and Grant is back at home onGansett Island helping to run the family marina business while his fatherrecovers from a serious injury. While all Grant's focus should be on winningback the love of his life, pesky Stephanie, who runs the marina restaurant, isworking her way under his skin and into his bed. As Tropical Storm Hailey cutsoff Gansett Island from the mainland, Grant suspects Stephanie is hidingsomething big from her past. When he finds out what it is, what will be moreimportant to him? Winning Abby back or helping Stephanie to right a terriblewrong?

Watch for FALLING FOR LOVE, everywhere ebooks are sold, on Jan. 17! Read an excerpt.

True North FREE for Five Days on Kindle

2011-12-25T08:44:00.001-05:00

Get the book that started my indie author career for free on Kindle for the next five days!

The first time Travis North lays eyes on Liana McDermott, she’s wearing the most hideous bridesmaid dress he’s ever seen. He doesn't immediately recognize the world-famous super model who is attending her cousin Enid's wedding at the country club he owns. Thanks to Enid's shameless matchmaking, Travis and Liana become acquainted and later embark on a two-week fling intended to be free of emotion and entanglement. As Liana's return to work gets closer, however, Travis wonders how he'll ever let her go when the time comes while Liana considers whether he might be her true north. Two high-powered careers, two amazing weeks and a love that comes along just once in a lifetime. Is she ready to give up her career for a different kind of life? Does he want the same things she does? After insisting on an emotionless affair, she can't very well ask him. Or can she?

http://amzn.to/tuun1t

My Favorite Books of 2011

2011-12-20T09:10:00.002-05:00

I was asked to do this for a blog posting, so I figured I'd post my list here, too. You all know that I keep a running tab of my books on the blog. Last year I read 112 books. This year, I'll be lucky to hit 100. I expect I will exceed both totals next year when I'm "only" working as a mother and author with hopefully more time to read! So here is my top 10 (okay a few more than 10) for the year, in no particular order:

1. Seven Secrets of Seduction by Anne Mallory was the first book I read in 2011, and I absolutely adored it because it had all the elements of a great historical romance, was extremely well written and just plain old good fun. In fact I may have to re-read it to end the year!

2. All They Need, One Good Reason, Her Best Friend, The Last Goodbye: Why? Sarah Mayberry. Enough said! If you're not reading her books, why not?

3. What I Did for a Duke & To Love a Thief. Julie Anne Long was a big discovery for me this year, and I loved her Pennyroyal Green Series. Some of the best historical romances I've ever read.

4. After the Fire, On the Line, Nothing More to Lose: Kathryn Shay's firefighting series was spectacular. I loved all three books.

5. Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard, an oldie that I had never read until the R&O Book Club brought it to my attention. Spine-tingling suspense, heart-pounding romance and signature Linda Howard humor all in one "perfect" story. If you haven't read this one, you're missing a classic!

6. Breaking Point by Pamela Clare (brilliant)

7. The Search by Nora Roberts (the best Nora book in years)

8. Treachery in Death and NY to Dallas by J.D. Robb (love me some Eve and Roarke)

9. Summer of Two Wishes by Julia London (beautiful story)

10. The Many Sins of Lord Cameron and Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage by Jennifer Ashley (fantastic series).

I also reallllllllly enjoyed my friend Bella Andre's Sullivan Family series, and not just because I'm a Sullivan! :-) I'm also really enjoying In Bed With a Highlander by Maya Banks, which I'm reading now. Looking forward to the other two books in that trilogy, and I LOVE her KGI books.

Okay must stop now. Could go on and on....

Tell me what's on your top 10 list for 2011! What books are you most anticipating in 2012?

STARTING OVER, Now on Sale!

2011-12-18T17:20:00.002-05:00

Starting Over, AVAILABLE NOW!

BOOK 3 in the Treading Water Trilogy

In a drunken stupor, Brandon O'Malley frightens his brother Aidan's girlfriend, enraging his brother and the rest of his family. Aidan offers Brandon the choice of rehab or jail, and Brandon reluctantly enters treatment. While in rehab, he confronts the lifetime of secrets and resentments that fueled his spiral into alcoholism, and these revelations have a major effect on his entire family. When he returns home expecting to resume his supervisory role in the family’s construction business, Brandon learns his father has retired and put his younger brothe, Colin,r in charge. Brandon is unhappy to be given the job of renovating an apartment building where he loses his heart to an adorable five-year-old tenant named “Mike.” After he falls hard for Michaela, Brandon becomes involved with her mother Daphne, who is running from a past that will later test his sobriety and his mettle as a man.

Read an excerpt of Starting Over

Read Starting Over in PRINT

Get Starting Over in ebook format:

Isn’t This Glamorous? Leading the Life of a Romance Writer

2011-12-13T03:00:00.000-05:00

By Stephanie Queen

If I’m leading the glamorous life of a romance writer, thenwhat is glamour anyway? It’s every gal’s dream come true, isn’t it? Forinstance, at a book-signing, having every Fabio-like guy in the room standingin line for an autograph… or a photograph with you. There’s something about theflash of a camera in a buzzing crowd-filled room that screams out “GLAMOUR!”(at least that’s what I thought I heard).

Don’t look now, but in this photo taken at my recentbook-signing, this random fan (I use the term *fan* loosely—but he was definitelyrandom) topped the male portion of the audience. Not exactly Fabio-like (so who really likes Fabio anyhow? He’s so 80scliché.) but we weren’t exactly in Hollywood. (We were at an undisclosedlocation which I can’t disclose due to my super-notoriety and wanting tomaintain some privacy—the downside to the glamorous life.) (yeah, right.Boo-hoo.)

Back to figuringout what glamorous means. According to Webster, glamorous means : full of glamour (no kidding): excitinglyattractive, such as a glamorous life. As if Merriam knew. Had they eveninvented cameras in his day?

Favorite Synonym: romantic. Yes, even Merriam is enticed by theconnotations of romance. Although I’ll bet he never wrote a romance novel.Outlandish was my second favorite synonym. I can testify to outlandish. I’vebeen to a romance writers convention.

Least Favorite Synonym:Bizarro. Hmmm.

Favorite Antonym: plain Jane, closely followed by the uncreative antonym,unromantic.

And my favorite unrelated feature in Websters: “RhymesWith” GLAMOROUS: amorous and clamorous. They definitely gowith the glamorous territory. I could write a poem (but don’t worry, I won’t)(see bizarro).

So in summary, the answer to thequestion “Isn’t this glamorous?” is of course it is! If my life as a romancewriter wasn’t excitingly attractive, why else would I do it? Isn’t glamoureverything? Plain Jane is out. Bizarro? Well that’s another story for anotherday.

What do you picture asthe ultimate glamorous moment of a romance writer’s life?

We'll give a copy of The Throwbacks to one commenter today. Here's the scoop on the book:

Tosalvage his career, exiled Scotland Yard "Flying Squad"detective, the not-so-young David Young, joins the Boston PoliceDepartment. But thisrogue detective can’t resist an unlikely romance with his young and vivaciousdecorator, Grace Rogers, even when she becomes a key witness in his high-stakescase—and like Kryptonite to his career and well-being.

StephanieQueen writes romance novels while running from thepaparazzi who constantly haunt her excitingly attractive life. Her most recentrelease is The Throwbacks, the first in the Scotland Yard ExchangeProgram series of romantic comedy suspense novels. Visit her atwww.StephanieQueen.com for all the latest in her glamorous romance-writinglife.

Welcome to My Friend Cynthia Eden with a Giveaway!

2011-12-06T03:00:00.000-05:00

I'm very excited to welcome my writing pal, Cynthia Eden, over for a visit today! She writes wonderful suspense and paranormal romances. It's a thrill to have her here, so show her a good time while I am slaving away at the day job! :-) Now, here's Cynthia!

An Angel’s Wings…

Hi, everyone! And a big thank you to the lovely Marie forhaving me over today. ;)

It’s the holiday season! Folks are happy…and feeling alittle frantic. It’s the time of the year to snuggle up by a fire and watch aChristmas special. At my house, I always enjoy both the funny shows (Scrooged, National Lampoon’s ChristmasVacation) and the shows that make me tear up (It’s a Wonderful Life).

In It’s a Wonderfullife, I love it when the little girl tells her dad, “Teacher says…everytime a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” During the holidays, my son now listens for bells, hoping that meansthat somewhere, someplace, an angel is getting wings.

An angel with wings—well, that can sure be one great thing.

Pity I’m taking those wings away. Ahem…

Because I’ve got a new series out now—a dark paranormalseries about angels who fall. And, when they fall, their lovely wings getburned away. But it’s actually when theyfall, well, it’s then that life truly begins for my angels. They start to experiencehuman emotions and needs. They want. They crave. They lust.

They love.

And isn’t love one of the best things about theholidays?

So fall with my angels. Get tempted this holiday. Enjoy yourself. Even sin a little.

Have yourself a merryold holiday time.

I’d love to give one commenter ANGEL OF DARKNESS. To enterthe giveaway, just tell me the holiday movie you love to watch at this time ofthe year. The winner will be randomly selected from all the comments that Ireceive. Good luck!

Happy Holidays.

Cynthia Eden

www.cynthiaeden.com

ANGEL OF DARKNESS—Available now from Kensington Brava

When an angel falls for a vampire, all hell breaks loose…

MARKING TIME is Now ON SALE!

2011-11-28T11:48:00.001-05:00

“Marking Time” continues the story begun in “Treading Water” as Clare Harrington begins a new life. She’s considered a miracle, but everything that’s happened since she recovered from a three-year coma has been something less than miraculous. Now left to grapple with the aftermath of a selfless decision, she is home from the hospital and trying to figure out what the next chapter in her miraculous recovery has in store for her. Meanwhile, her eighteen-year-old daughter Kate, a talented singer and songwriter, sets out to pursue her musical dreams in Nashville. Her parents have agreed to allow Kate to spend a year there, but they couldn't have anticipated Kate falling in love with a much older man. Her newly divorced parents are forced back together to confront their wayward daughter. Spanning from Newport, Rhode Island, to Nashville, Tennessee, to Stowe, Vermont, "Marking Time" is the story of new beginnings and new loves.

Read an excerpt of Marking Time.

Get Marking Time:
Amazon
B&N
Apple
Smashwords

Other retailers coming soon!

Giving Thanks

2011-11-23T14:20:00.001-05:00

Tis the season in the U.S. of A. when we take a day to honor the turkey, gather with our families and, in most cases, spend most of the day eating and watching football. In my family, we also try to take a moment to offer up our thanks for all the blessings we've received in the past year, so I thought I'd share the Top 10 things I'm thankful for as 2011 comes to a close.

1. My children. They are teenagers, so they often drive me crazy, but I wouldn't trade them for any other crazy teenagers, unless, of course, the circus came a'calling and offered the right price. Seriously, I'm abundantly grateful for their good health, good (and often inappropriate) humor, relatively good grades and positive outlook on life. They are a joy to live with and a constant source of amusement with a healthy dose of consternation thrown in to keep things real. I repeat: they are teenagers, so they can't help it. And even though the teenage years are rife with challenges, I much prefer them to the baby years. I genuinely like my kids and the people they are becoming.

2. My husband. Yes, I call him The Turnip for a variety of well-earned reasons, but he showed his true stripes this year, handling my health crisis with equal parts humor and determination to get us all through it. I appreciate that he's always where he says he's going to be and never gives me a reason to wonder what he's up to. He's true blue all the way, and I am lucky to have him. (Just don't tell him I said any of that or he will be unlivable.)

3. My dad. At 77, he is going strong, enjoying good health and keeping me entertained. He is one of my best "girlfriends," and I'm very thankful to have him here to laugh at me as I navigate the teenage years with my kids. I'm also thankful for his lovely boat, which is one of my summer happy places. He enjoys every minute he spends with my kids, and they appreciate the time they have with their only remaining grandparent. He is very much their "third" parent. I'm also grateful that he will be over later to take care of getting the turkey ready. Since the process gives me the dry heaves, I am appreciative of his assistance (which is largely self-serving because he is VERY fond of turkey).

4. My health. You all know I had some health challenges this year that led to surgery, which fixed the problem once and for all. I'm feeling a thousand times better than I have in a LONG time, and I'm grateful it wasn't something more serious. It was treatable and fixable, and the entire ordeal made me thankful for the good health we often take for granted.

5. My dog. My dear sweet Brandy brings me joy every single day as my steadfast work-at-home companion. Whether we are chasing her down to retrieve a pair of socks or trying to coax her off the beach by pretending we're going to leave without her, there is never a dull moment with the Brandana around. I'm grateful that this year she realized we like to READ the newspaper, so it's better if she doesn't shred it for us every day. She sleeps right smack between us every night, and we wouldn't have it any other way. I also love how much joy she brings my dad, who is her biggest fan. Tomorrow they will carve the turkey "together." My favorite Brandy moment of 2011 was when my boss and his wife were here for dinner and he made the mistake of lowering his hand when he was holding a potato chip. GONE. "That," he said with typical good humor, "was unexpected." We still giggle about that months later!

6. My extended family. My brother, my niece, my nephew, my aunts, uncles and the gaggle of cousins who are more like siblings than cousins, I'm grateful for every one of you. We recently celebrated my aunt and uncle's 50th anniversary and had most of the large family in attendance. Many of them will be at my house tomorrow night, since we still spend holidays together even in our late 30s and 40s. I wouldn't have it any other way.

7. My friends. Whether you are near or far, whether I've met you in person or online, you know who you are and you know what you mean to me. I found out how many friends I have when I was sick, and each of you means the world to me.

8. My readers. I am one extremely lucky author to have such a loyal, dedicated group of readers. I've had an incredible year with my books, and I'm thankful to everyone who bought one or more of my books. The lovely reviews, emails and postings make me smile, and I treasure every one of them. As long as you all keep reading, I will keep writing!

9. My characters. Sam, Nick, Mac, Maddie, Joe, Janey, Luke, Sydney, Jack, Andi: thank you all for appearing in my imagination, becoming real people to me and real people to my readers. I don't know where this stuff comes from, but I'm not asking any questions. I'd appreciate it if the characters and stories could keep on coming so I can keep on doing what I most love to do. In 2012, we'll be hearing from Grant, Evan, Adam, Tiffany, and of course, more from Sam, Nick and the gang!

10. The Kindle, Nook, iPad, Kobo, etc. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the brilliant people who invented these life-changing devices and to Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Apple and all the retailers who've made it possible for authors to take their stories direct to readers. I'm eternally grateful for the opportunities I've been afforded this year, and look forward to growing my business further in 2012 when I will become a full-time writer.

Bonus: Oreos. Need I explain?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Now tell me what you are most thankful for this year!
xoxo
Marie

Treading Water Winner

2011-11-18T10:00:00.001-05:00

Thanks to everyone who came out this week to join in our conversation about some of the tough issues covered in Treading Water. I think we decided there really are no easy answers to some questions in life. I promise you that Clare gets her happy ending in Marking Time, so I will look forward to another chat after you've had a chance to read that one!

If you didn't get the word about the new reading group that was born as the result of this discussion, find us on Facebook under my main profile Marie Force (Author). The name of the group is Marie Force Book Talk. The group is open to anyone who has enjoyed my books and wants some reading buddies for future books. Thanks to Amanda for suggesting the group. We're already having fun over there!

Now, for the winner of the advance copies of Marking Time and Starting Over: JOY! Contact me at marie@marieforce.com and I will send your copies a few days ahead of the launch dates for each book. Thanks again, everyone. It was a great thrill to see readers debating the finer points of the book of my heart.

UPDATE: Whoa, I totally forgot to say yet another thank you to Jennifer Marriott and Kellie Harker who got the ball rolling on this week's fun and were wonderful hostesses! Thanks ladies!

And Now for My Take...

2011-11-17T08:28:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Jennifer and Kellie posted some great questions about Treading Water, and we had a spirited conversation about the book. Before I invited them to come on the blog, I answered some questions for them. So I will post our Q&A here and look forward to hearing what readers have to say.

Question 1 from Jennifer and Kellie: Was Andi Jack's "true love?" I know you touched upon it when Jack himself asked Jamie his opinion of what Jamie thought would've happened had Jack met Andi while married to a healthy Clare. I mean he was going to meet her anyway...the project was in the works, etc regardless of the accident happening to Clare, right? I feel like Jack would still have been torn about his relationship with Clare. I guess what I'm leading up to is WHAT IF the roles were reversed and it was Andi he was married to and ended up in a coma and Jack had met Clare...would he have had the same pull he did with Andi? I don't think so. I think his bond to Andi was stronger than it was to Clare? He even admitted to it when he told Andi that she knew him better than ANYONE ever had.

Question 2 from Jennifer and Kellie: Clare - There's a part of me that feels like she gave up on Jack too soon. I would've preferred if Clare and Jack lived together for a bit in the same home after her hospital stint and then Jack would be then be the one to approach Clare that it just wasn't going to work although he had given it his darndest to make it work. Andi would already have the twins and in her own way moving on with her life....although heartbroken. There's a part of me that thinks that if I was Andi I would still wonder if Jack was really over Clare so it would've felt better for ME had he lived with Clare and realized it was really done.

Marie on Questions 1 and 2: The thing I like best about TW and Jack's dilemma is that it's one of those things where you can't possibly know what you'd do unless you are IN the situation. I'm with Jamie: Jack might've looked, he might've been attracted to Andi, but before Clare was injured, he wasn't in a place where he'd be OPEN to what might be possible with Andi, which made all the difference. That said, in the end, I do think Andi was Jack's true love. He and Clare had a great run, but by the time she rejoined the land of the living their time had come and gone. It took great courage on her part to be able to recognize that and not belabor the point by trying to get back what was already gone. Remember, she had a couple of months to watch and observe and by the time she made her decision she knew he was hopelessly in love with someone else. What else COULD she do?

From the author's standpoint, I needed to get Jack out of the marriage "cleanly" so he could end up with Andi. Readers were committed to their relationship by then, and there was no other possible ending but for them to end up together. When I was writing the first (of many) drafts, Clare had woken up and I was like, well, this is a fine mess. Now how do you propose we get him out of this? LOL! And please rest assured, Clare gets her happily ever after in Marking Time with a guy I love almost as much as Jack!

Another thing I want to say is that Andi never had any reason to doubt that Jack truly loved her. Look at what they went through to be together. He had proven himself to her. I don't think she relished the idea of him "choosing" her over Clare. Then she'd have to live with the fallout of that. I think, especially knowing what happens in book 2, it was better for Clare to be the one to pull the plug on the marriage. In the opening chapters of Marking Time, she is grappling with the reality of that decision and she is quite heartbroken over it when she gets home to the house he built for her and it really sinks in that she will have to live the rest of her life without him. Sigh....

Question 3 from Jennifer and Kellie: The Ending - Thank You for a Happy Ending. You had me worried there. The ending made me love Clare. In the end, we were both so impressed with Clare's strength and dignity. She did the RIGHT thing although it would've killed ME to do what she did.

Eric - Adorable and so touching how Jack adopted him and changed Eric's last name to Harrington. Perfect.

Marie: I'm glad you approve of the ending. I love the way the whole thing came together in the end and that Jack managed to make it all work out the way it was supposed to. I loved writing Jack and Eric's relationship. The scene where Eric tells Jack he loves him gets me every time.

My turn to ask a question: What would you do in Jack's situation? Your spouse is in a coma, you are told he or she will never recover and you have a second chance at love. Would you take that chance?

Just a reminder that I'm giving away copies of Marking Time and Starting Over (copies will be provided the week of their respective releases) to two commenters this week. Comment on yesterday's blog or today's to be entered into tomorrow's drawing.

Jennifer and Kellie Take Over to Talk About Treading Water

2011-11-16T03:30:00.000-05:00

By: Jennifer Marriott and Kellie Harker

Type faster Jennifer, before Marie comes back...

Hi, we’re Jennifer and Kellie and we’ve taken over Marie’s blog. Well…..“takenover” might not be completely accurate. She did give us permission and all, butwe are so excited to be here we can’t stop giggling like school girls. Marieasked us to share “our” story with you.

K - So last March, it was March right Jennifer?

J - Yep, March!

K - Ok, last March I finished Marie’s book The Falland was left with lots of questions and emotions. I wrote a blog post aboutthis being the first book I read that made me feel so much all at once.

J - Marie is a master at emotionally “messy” books.

K - Messy is exactly right, Jennifer! Feeling entirelytoo brave, I sent a link to Marie with a link to my blog, www.mommywishdom.com, andwent back to bed. When I woke up hours later I realized Marie had posted a linkto my blog on her twitter and Facebook page! Marie, HERSELF had come and commented and slowly other people startedcommenting as well.

J - Including me! That’s where I came in. In Kellie’spost she admitted she had read 120 books in the last year and I knew we’d befriends. I finally “met” someone who read as much as I did. We commented backand forth and got to ask Marie a lot of questions about her books and she tookthe time to answer each one. It was just awesome!

K - We can be honest, we were totally star struck.

J - SQUEE!!! We couldn’t believe she took the time toanswer our questions. A few weeks later Kellie and I started emailing eachother about this book or that book and at some point we decided to read a booktogether and then meet online to talk about it. We would start a book on aMonday and have an online discussion just between the two of us aroundThursday. It was a virtual book club….with two very cool chicks as members.

K - Oh we should mention. We’ve never met. Jenniferlives in New Jersey and I live in Arizona. If we had met through a classifiedad it would have read something like “Enjoys devouring romance novels, timealone with our Kindles and looking for someone to have long chats on theinternet with about books” We both would have answered that ad..

J - So true! It was SO fun. Our friendship grewquickly from that point. We could no longer wait to finish a book before westarted commenting. We were e-mailing and then soon we were texting every day. Itstarted with texts about the characters, story lines and soon followed with ourown personal lives, discussions about our children and families and all thatfun stuff. Recently, we finished Treading Water and the text messages goingback and forth were classic. When we finished the book we of course sent Marieour questions. Here is just sample of our texts to each other about TreadingWater:

J - I’m at 57%. I swear at this point I would dumpJack.
K - What??? Dump jack? R U ill?

J - Are you reading? I don’t think I can move on.

K - Tell me when you get to the beginning of Part 3and tell me what you’re thinking!

J - I think I’m about to cry. Poor Andi
K - My heart is absolutely broken for her. Can you imagine?

K - We tried to keep out any comments that would givethe ending away for the few of you out there who may not have read it yet.Hurry though because the next book is coming out soon and you'll want to keepup. Marie didn’t pay us to say that either.

J - When Marie wrote back and graciously answered allour questions again she asked if we'd be willing to write a blog post about"Our Story" and share how we met, meet online to talk about the booksand share the questions Marie gets after we finish her books.

K- I think we’re stillstar struck.

J – Ya think?!? Totally!!

Here are a few of the questions we posted to Marie about TreadingWater. What do you think? Thanks for letting us stop in and tell a little aboutus. We met through Marie's books, quickly became close friends and share anabsolute love for romance novels. Doesn't get much better than that! Come leaveyour comments and let us know what you think about the questions we wererattled with after reading Treading Water.

1. Was Andi Jack's "true love?"

2. Do you think Clare gave up on Jack too easily?

3. If Clare had not made the choice she had, what do youthink would have happened between Jack and Andi?

Marie: Thanks so much to Jennifer and Kellie for sharing their totally cool story of how they met through my books. I LOVE that, of course! So, weigh in on their three questions and tomorrow I'll post my answers as well as a few other questions we talked about as we planned these blogs. On Friday, I'll give away copies of all three books in the Treading Water Trilogy, so make sure you comment today and tomorrow to be entered into the drawing.

Fun Three-Day Event This Week!

2011-11-13T22:17:00.001-05:00

Very exciting three-day event coming up on the blog this week! Two of my favorite readers, Jennifer Yao Marriott and Kellie Zondlo Harker became friends through my books. What a kick, huh? They'll be sharing how they bonded over The Fall and their thoughts and questions on Treading Water, beginning Wednesday, Nov. 16, with other readers welcome to weigh in on their questions (and they ask some GOOD ones!).

On Thursday, Nov. 17, we'll post my answers to their questions. And Friday, Nov. 18, we'll give away copies of all three books in the Treading Water trilogy (winners will receive Marking Time and Starting Over just before they launch on Nov. 29 and Dec. 27). Make sure you've read Treading Water before you come by the blog as the girls will be spilling some spoilers. :-)

Konichiwa!

2011-11-10T15:40:00.001-05:00

Love at First Flight hit the shelves in Japan this week!

What a Fun Fun FUN Launch Week!

2011-10-28T19:07:00.000-04:00

The first sign of good news for Treading Water came early yesterday. I woke to a flurry of emails from readers and friends who told me they'd gotten a notice from Amazon letting them know my new book was on sale.

I had a feeling it was going to be a very good day, and I wasn't wrong. By the end of the day, the book was at no. 17 for ALL of Kindle, which makes it a Kindle bestseller! Commence happy dancing in an Elaine-from-Seinfeld kind of way, since I'm still recovering from surgery after all!

Treading Water began climbing the charts. I wonder if Nicholas Sparks was feeling the heat from the new kid in town...

The news got even better as the day went on...

And better still...

And then today I found myself in some very good company with two of my all-time favorite authors. Pinch me please!

Of all the books of mine that could be in this position, this is the one I would've chosen. It's my all-time favorite, the book of my heart, the first book I ever wrote. Thank you to everyone who has given me this thrill ride of a lifetime.

Book Club: Flat Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy

2011-10-27T03:00:00.000-04:00

By: Kris Gilson

First off, I must divulge that I had never read any car racing-themedbook. I just wasn’t interested. Nuh-uh…no way. Then came Flat Out Sexy and….OH. MY.GOD. I was totally hooked. This book centers around Tamara Briggs, awidow with two children whose husband died in a crash at Talladega. She is just getting back into the datingscene when she meets Elec Monroe at a cocktail party. She’s with a dud of a date when theyaccidentally collide. Elec is smokin’hot, the attraction is instantaneous. Tamara dumps the dud, and they unexpectedly share a scorching nighttogether (he was trying to be gentlemanly…didn’t work out so much!).

There are two things wrong with thisscenario…Elec is a race car driver and he’s seven years younger. Tamara really tries to keep it light andcasual and wants to do right by her children and she obviously has fears overElec’s occupation. Beyond the age andoccupation, she has a few body image issues, but they make her more likeableand don’t detract from the story. Elecis an all-around great guy; he’s nice to her kids and he falls for herimmediately. At Elec’s age and with hisoccupation and having women fall all over him all the time, you’d think he’d atleast be tempted a little. But he onlyhas eyes for Tamara. It makes you love hischaracter even more and the chemistry between the two sizzles right off thecharts.

This book is fast paced andfunny, but there is also emotion and depth to the story. The kids in the story are great, neverannoying, and they are not used as props, they’re integral to the story. I liked how Tamara wasn’t willing to justdump her kids in order to be with Elec; they had to figure out how to make timeinto their routines. The secondary charactersare funny and charming, adding to an all-around awesome story (oh, how I lovedSuzanne and Ryder and couldn’t wait for their story!). The racing scenes and information areinteresting and not overpowering and written so well that it made me want tobecome a racing fan.

FlatOut Sexy is the first in a series and I highly recommend reading them all….inorder!

I actually found this recipe on awebsite called “Talladega Superspeedway Recipes and Menu Ideas”:

Apricot Honey Grilled Chicken

Makes 4 servings

Prep Time: 10 min.
Grilling Time: 15 min

Ingredients

Glaze Ingredients

1 - Tablespoon butter
1/4 - cup chopped onion
1/3 - cup apricot spreadable fruit
2 - Tablespoons honey
1 - teaspoon freshly grated lemon peel

Chicken Ingredients

1/2 - teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/4 - teaspoon salt
1/4 - teaspoon pepper
4 - boneless skinless (4-ounce) chicken breast halves

Directions

Preheat gas grill on medium orcharcoal grill until coals are ash white.

While grill is heating, in a 1-quart saucepan, you want to melt butter in until sizzling and add onion.
Sauté over medium heat for 1 minute or until onion is softened.
Stir in fruit, honey and lemon peel. Set aside.
In a small bowl, you will combine oregano, salt and pepper.
Rub on both sides of chicken breasts and place chicken onto grill.
Grill, turning once, for 15 to 20 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear when pierced with a fork.
Brush chicken with glaze during last 5 minutes of grilling. Cook remaining glaze in 1-quart saucepan over medium heat until it comes to a boil, stirring constantly. Serve warm glaze over chicken.

A Note About Book Club

After a year of meetings and books and authors and giveaways, we've decided to close the door on what has become a really fun weekly event for all of us. However, it takes more time than we've got to give right now and since we can't do it weekly, we've decided to do it once in a while. We'll still hold occasional meetings to talk about books we love, authors we love and of course, Oreos. Thanks for making the Romance and Oreos Book Club such a fun place to hang out this last year! Thanks so much to Aly Hackett and Ronlyn Howe, who helped out behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly. And to the authors who participated in the meetings and offered giveaways, thank you!

Next Up On Book Club: Flat-Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy

2011-10-21T06:00:00.000-04:00

Independent single mother Tamara Briggs wanted to find a new, sexy, no-strings-attached man-just not one as young as NASCAR driver Elec Monroe. But he sure does get her heart racing. And after she’s tricked into a blind date with him, Tamara gives in to her passion. Things screech to a halt, though, when he asks to meet her children. Whatever happened to wham-bam-thank-you ma’am? Suddenly Tamara has to decide how much risk she’s willing to take to experience the power of true love.

Join us and author Erin McCarthy for our discussion of Flat-Out Sexy on Thursday, October 27th

Book Club: After The Fire by Kathryn Shay

2011-10-20T06:00:00.000-04:00

By: Aly Hackett --- with some help from Kara and Ronlyn

I started reading Kathyrn Shay’s Super Romance firefighter series back in 2000. I immediately fell in love with her characters and knew that when she came out with After The Fire, that I would feel the same way. She did not disappoint!

The Malvaso family siblings – Mitch, Jenn and Zach – have had their share of issues in life. When a major fire happens, it makes all of them take a look at where they are in life and decide to make some changes. Mitch wants to work harder at making his family work, Jenny wants a baby and wants her best friend Grady to “father” it and Zach wants to make up for all his past errors.

Mitch realizes that making his family work is going to be difficult for 2 reasons – 1. His wife is a mean, spiteful bitch and 2. His attraction to Megan Hale. I really appreciated watching the relationship between Mitch and Megan grow. Despite that everyone knows how horrible Mitch’s wife is and would understand if he had an affair with Megan, I give him – and Shay – credit for not going in that direction. Although, yes, Mitch and Megan were emotionally connecting, they did their best to stay away from each other and keep things professional.

Jenn and Grady were pretty fabulous as well. They embark on a journey that has so many possible pitfalls. And of course poor tortured Zach! He has done so much wrong but you know he wants to make it all right!

Shay writes characters in a way that draws you into them. The family dynamic and the relationship between the siblings is wonderful. I also think that the “family” nature of the members of the fire department just adds strength to the book.

I asked Kara and Ronlyn to share some quick thoughts on After the Fire and this is what they had to say…

Kara : I loved that this was not your typical romance. There wasn't really a main couple who followed a romance formula to happiness. I loved the fact that 'family' seemed to be the main character, both the Malvaso's and the family of smoke eaters. None of the members were perfect to be sure!
There was raw emotion, which brought tears to my eyes more than once, as well as lighter moments that made me smile. I couldn't nail down a favorite character, although I'm VERY confident it wasn't Cynthia.

Ronlyn: I LOVED when Megan went to the record store and chatted with Mitch's son re: his music and her reaction and support of his dream. Such a small thing for her, but so huge for both Mitch and his son

His psycho ex wife...well, I'm none too fond of psycho exes at the moment. ;-) But when his brother came clean about what happened and the whole misunderstanding re: that. Very emotional.

And Megan's memories of her times at the camp with her father.

I laugh that Kara and I had the same reaction to the family element. And in a way, so did Ronlyn by her reaction to Megan’s interaction with Mitch’s son, Bobby. Kathryn Shay does such a marvelous job with these characters that you are invested and drawn in and you MUST know what happens next.

If you haven’t read After the Fire yet, you really must. And then you need to grab On the Line and Nothing More to Lose.

Kathryn is at a conference but is going to try her best to pop in and say hi!

In honor of the Italian Malvaso's, here is a recipe :)

Calzones
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon dry milk powder
1 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
3/4 cup pizza sauce
4 ounces pepperoni sausage, chopped
1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions
Place water, salt, bread flour, dry milk, sugar, and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order suggested by the manufacturer. Select Dough cycle.
After cycle ends, roll out dough on a lightly floured surface; shape into a 16 x 10 inch rectangle. Transfer to a lightly greased cookie sheet. In a small bowl, mix together chopped pepperoni and mozzarella. Spoon pizza sauce in a stripe down the center of dough lengthwise; add sausage and cheese filling. Make diagonal cuts 1 1/2 inches apart down each side, cutting within a 1/2 inch of the filling. Criss cross strips over filling, sealing with water. Brush top with melted butter.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 to 45 minutes.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/calzone/detail.aspx

Next Up On Book Club: After The Fire by Kathryn Shay

2011-10-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

The Malvaso family has more than its share of firefighters, and when three of them--Jenn, Mitch, and Zach--almost lose their lives in a disastrous inferno, they change their views of the universe and their places in it. Jenn, a single woman living a platonic existence with Grady, her fellow firefighter and best friend, decides to have a baby. Mitch tries to make a go of his failing marriage and be a better father. Zach, too, has to get past a ruined relationship and fight many demons of his own. This powerful, emotionally realistic book is the first of Shay's new trilogy about the men and women who put their lives on the line every day and how that dedication and commitment affect all those around them.

Join us to discuss After the Fire on Thursday October 20th.

Book Club: You Belong To Me by Karen Rose

2011-10-13T06:00:00.000-04:00

by Ronlyn Howe

YOU BELONG TO ME is the first in a new series by Karen Rose, and I know I speak for a ton of her fans when I say I can’t wait to read the next installment from the Baltimore based saga.

In YOU BELONG TO ME we meet forensic pathologist, Lucy Trask, who is fiercely private in protecting her private life. Unfortunately for Lucy she stumbles onto a mutilated body (who she first thinks is her elderly neighbor) in her neighborhood park which starts a chain of events that threatens to reveal every secret she’s ever kept, and a few she didn’t even realize she had been keeping for years.

JD Fitzpatrick is the homicide detective who first responds to the mysterious body in the park and he quickly realizes that Lucy is more than she appears to be.

She stood with her arms crossed over her chest, her expression unreadable. But there was a fragility to her, a palpable tension, as if she was barely hanging on.

It becomes obvious from the moment they identify the first body, not as Lucy’s elderly neighbor but as a man who Lucy had dated briefly, that this was not a random attack. There was an I burned into the man’s back and his heart was later discovered in Lucy’s car. JD is forced to push aside his own burgeoning feelings for Lucy, which could threaten his career, to protect her at any cost while trying to figure out who is targeting her. Pushing aside their attraction is easier said than done though.

Fitzpatrick was back, standing mere inches behind her and a hard shiver prickled her skin. The man was so warm and she had been so cold, all day. She had to hold her shoulders stiff to keep from leaving into him and all that delicious heat. Wouldn’t be safe. Wouldn’t be right. Don’t do it, Lucy.

Even though YOU BELONG TO ME is a new series, we do see a familiar face in Clay Maynard, who we first met in NOTHING TO FEAR as Ethan Buchanan’s PI partner. Clay has a new partner who has gone missing and a client who has missed his check ins. Fearing the worst, Clay starts searching and winds up right in the middle of Fitzpatrick’s investigation.

As more and more mutilated and tortured bodies of people from Lucy’s past find their way into the morgue she realizes that the only way to survive is to trust JD and the police to protect her while she becomes bait for a madman. And that also means letting JD into her heart.

She turned her gaze out the window, pondering her next statement carefully. Below them was nothing but miles of water. They’d reached the midpoint on the Bay Bridge, which seemed too symbolic to ignore. “You could just stay,” she said and felt him tense beside her.

As a bodyguard or…” He exhaled. “Do you want me to stay because you want me?”

There was a carefulness to his phrasing. “Yes, JD. That’s why I asked. Well?”

“I’d like to stay,” he said simply.

YOU BELONG TO ME is classic Karen Rose, with a completely vile villain and a compelling “who done it” that keeps you guessing to the end. The characters are so detailed that I loved some as passionately as I despised others with no middle ground. If you haven’t read Karen Rose before this is a great book to start with, and then you’ll have the bonus of being able to run out and grab Karen’s back list. I really cannot say enough about this book (and it’s been difficult to write this write up without giving away all the secrets of the story with my gushing) and this author. There are only two authors that could write the phone book and I’d buy it: Karen Rose is one of them.

Karen is off being a mover and shaker today, but will be doing her best to stop in and answer questions while travelling, so please join me with welcoming her and asking any questions you may think of. She’s also offering a copy of NOTHING TO FEAR to one lucky commenter.

Crab Cakes:

Ingredients

· 1 pound crabmeat, picked free of shells

· 1/3 cup crushed crackers (recommended: Ritz)

· 3 green onions (green and white parts), finely chopped

· 1/2 cup finely chopped bell pepper

· 1/4 cup mayonnaise

· 1 egg

· 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

· 1 teaspoon dry mustard

· 1/2 lemon, juiced

· 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

· 1 teaspoon salt

· Dash cayenne pepper

· Flour, for dusting

· 1/2 cup peanut oil

· Favorite dipping sauce, for serving

Directions

In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients, except for the flour and peanut oil. Shape into patties and dust with flour.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When oil is hot, carefully place crab cakes, in batches, in pan and fry until browned, about 4 to 5 minutes. Carefully flip crab cakes and fry on other side until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Serve warm with preferred sauce.

Next Up On Book Club: You Belong To Me by Karen Rose

2011-10-07T06:00:00.000-04:00

Years ago, a young girl was beaten and raped while onlookers did nothing. Now those witnesses are becoming victims themselves…

Baltimore city Homicide Detective JD Fitzpatrick has seen a lot of horrific violence, both as a cop and during his deployment in Afghanistan, but nothing like the trail of tortured bodies that are turning up throughout the city. He’s up against a brutal killer with a very personal vendetta. And now JD is beginning to suspect that his medical examiner may be shielding some crucial evidence linked to the case.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Lucy Trask is intrigued by JD’s compassion, but she isn’t about to mix work with pleasure. Not while there’s a ruthless killer on the loose. And definitely not while she’s keeping a dark secret that could connect her to these vicious killings—and put her next on the killer’s hit list…

Join us on Thursday, October 13th for our discussion of You Belong To Me.

Book Club: Sweet Justice by Christy Reece

2011-10-06T06:00:00.000-04:00

By Crystal Scott

HonorStone is a young, idealistic FBI agent when her path collides with SethCavanaugh. For a girl who has never walked on the wild side, the dark anddangerous Seth is a temptation she can’t refuse. But then Seth walks out thedoor and out of her life. Five years later, Honor is an operative with theelite Last Chance Rescue organization and Seth is a desperate ex-cop searchingfor his missing niece—one of many young women who have mysteriously vanishedfrom college campuses. Going undercover, Honor will attract the maniacal cultleader behind the kidnappings and find a way to work with Seth—while steeringclear of the passion and need that’s just one touch away from explosion. Sethknows he had all the right reasons for the wrong he did five years ago. Andfrom the moment he sees her—and takes her in his arms again—this formerundercover man will risk everything for one more chance with Honor.

Anyonewho knows me knows that I am a huge fan of Christy Reece and her LAST CHANCERESCUE series. It is Romantic Suspense at it's best. Her characters come soalive, the readers feel as if they know them... unfortunately (in a good way)the villains are the same. She can create some of the vilest creeps imaginablethey are all too real. In her latest book SWEET JUSTICE the villian Alden Pikewas beyond creepy and he had a God complex which made him worse. I will admitthat he made it hard to fall asleep at nights. Then along comes Seth and Honorand they tear his world down. The book is a page turner from the firstsentence..

"Seth Cavanaugh,your under arrest for the murder of Montgomery Jenkins. You have theright to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney..."

Fromthat moment until you close the book it is addictive. I stayed up allnight reading it because I couldn't bear to put it down without knowing how itended.

Thereare so many things that I loved about this book. The chemistry between Seth andHonor was felt right away. The whole time your reading you just want to shout"Come on you two love each other! Get on with it already before the pagesbegin to smoke." We met Honor before but Seth was an unknown in theLCR series, but have no fear he fits right in with the LCR men...arrogant,sexy, dangerous, and of course hero material. Here are a few of my favoritelines in the book.

Thefirst one is Honor's thought as she watched Seth walking across her apartment.She knew she was supposed to be mad at him but she couldn't seem to get thisthought out of her mind.....

Seth was alreadybeyond sexy. Add dangerous to the mix and he was a walking sexual fantasy.

Thenext line is from when Seth first caught sight of Honor. They both happen to beat the same party. He was captivated at first sight...

He had been standing,talking to some of Clemmons's business associates, when she'd walked into theroom. Seth had quite literally lost his breath. Job forgotten, his reason forbeing there no longer important. Mesmerized, he'd walked away in the middle ofthe conversation, without explanation.

Thenof course Honor's reaction to the strange man that stood speechless in front ofher.

She'd held outher hand and given him a small, simple smile. That's all it had taken for him tofall in love with her.

Fastforward 5 years.... The last they saw of each other hearts were broken and bothlives forever changed. Their chemistry was always off the charts. Seth had justheard that Honor was recently almost killed. So he demands to see the scar. AsHonor pulls the material away, she titled her head back. Callused fingertipsgently caressed the scar.....

Honor shivered asevery erogenous zone in her body stood to attention, ready to shouthallelujah.

Sethgot Honor all hot and bothered one night and he left her hanging. There weresome hostile words exchanged and a long restless night for both of them. Thenext morning Seth knew without a doubt he was on thin ice.. This line says itall...

"Honor"

She turned around.With that blank, polite mask firmly in place, her brow slightly arched, she silently waited.

"I'm aprick."

Thisnext line had me laughing out loud. At 2:00 am I was laughing so hardI was shaking the bed. My husband rolled over asked what in the world waswrong. Noticed I was reading and grumbled something under his breath and rolledback over and went back to sleep. By this point in the book the sexualfrustration could be felt bouncing off the page...

Seth grabbed his key cardand growled a thank-you to the sweet-looking lady behind the counter. Shelooked a bit startled that he'd gone from pleasant to caveman in a matter ofseconds.

PoorSeth is in misery, but finally Honor is giving somewhat of a green light andSeth is beyond excited.....

"Holy hell,Honor. Don't touch me if you don't want this. I'm about to go off like arocket."

(Thesenext two are my favorite)

Oneof Seth's biggest issues was always trying to protect Honor. He knew she wastough, but he could never get past the fact that if something happened to herhe would be devastated. This line was oh so sigh worthy!

To the rest of theworld, Honor might be a tough, hard-nosed, no-nonsense woman with a gun. ToSeth, she was simply his heart.

Thislast line, Honor made the mistake of trying to put some "space"between her and Seth. She decided to put him on a separate team. He wasn't muchfor the idea..... Another laugh out loud moment.

You've got twochoices, babe. Make the reassignment or I'm going to do something that theseLCR operatives will be talking about for years to come."

Her temper making hereyes gleam like green diamonds, she snapped, "You wouldn't dare."

"Try me."

Theseare just a few, but I couldn't quote the whole book which is what it would looklike if I posted all my favorite lines. I can't say enough about Sweet Justice. If you haven't read ityet push it to the top of your TBR pile. Although it is a part of a series andI HIGHLY recommend reading them all in order, this book could be read as a standalone.I don't believe anyone would feel lost.

Christy is going to be joining us and giving away some books so make sure to join us and ask your questions!

Iam feeling a little pressure with the recipes since Seth is this amazingcook... So I am going to go with the KISS method. (keep it simple stupid lol)

Fora simple dinner one of my family's favorites is:

CHEESEBURGER PIE:

Ingredients:

2-3lbs hamburger

3cups shredded cheddar cheese

2cans of crescent rolls

Imake two different pans one for me one for my husband. He only likes the topingredients. Sometimes I crumble cooked bacon to add to his also. Now if youlike mushrooms (which I don't) you can add them.

Iadd to mine:

1can of diced tomatoes

choppedonion

Fryhamburger until it is done (I like mine very crumbly not big chunks) drain thegrease off of it. Mix your mushrooms, bacon, onions and tomatoes in with thehamburger. In a 13X9 cake pan cover the bottom with crescent rolls. Ithink approximately half of one can. Pour the hamburger mixture in the pan.Cover the top with your shredded cheese. I like to put velveeta cheese on topof mine to make it creamier. You can use more or less however much cheese yourfamily likes, mine unfortunately loves cheese. After all the ingredients are inthe pan cover the top with crescent rolls. Bake according to the directionon the crescent roll can.

Iusually fry some potatoes (or have mashed potatoes) with a side of corn and asalad to complete the meal.

Nowfor the best part... desert.

I'mnot sure exactly what the name of this cake is, but I've heard it called Betterthan Sex cake.. sounds good to me. :)

Bakea German Chocolate cake according to the directions on the box. Once cake isbaked take a straw (the ones from sonic are great because they are bigger) pokeholes all over the top. Take one can of sweetened condensed milk and pour overthe whole cake, then take one jar of caramel (the kind you buy for ice creamtoppings) pour the whole jar over the cake. Place the cake inthe refrigerator until cold. Once the cake is cold cover the top withwhipped cream. It is amazing!

Next Up On Book Club: Sweet Justice by Christy Reece

2011-09-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

LIVE FOR HONOR. DIE FOR LOVE.

Honor Stone is a young, idealistic FBI agent when her path collides with Seth Cavanaugh. For a girl who has never walked on the wild side, the dark and dangerous Seth is a temptation she can’t refuse. But then Seth walks out the door and out of her life. Five years later, Honor is an operative with the elite Last Chance Rescue organization and Seth is a desperate ex-cop searching for his missing niece—one of many young women who have mysteriously vanished from college campuses. Going undercover, Honor will attract the maniacal cult leader behind the kidnappings and find a way to work with Seth—while steering clear of the passion and need that’s just one touch away from explosion. Seth knows he had all the right reasons for the wrong he did five years ago. And from the moment he sees her—and takes her in his arms again—this former undercover man will risk everything for one more chance with Honor.

Join us and author Christy Reece to discuss Sweet Justice on Thursday, October 6th.

Book Club: Edge of Sight by Roxanne St. Claire

2011-09-29T06:00:00.000-04:00

By Mary Grzesik

The first time a Roxanne St. Claire book crossed my path, it was Hunt Her Down facing out in Chapters. I was curious but she was an unknown (I know, where have I been LOL). Fast forward to the end of 2010. Edge Of Sight (EOS) appears on the shelves & I finally decide to check out this author’s web-site. I found Taken to the Edge, the free prequel to EOS.

This intro to Samantha & Zach was so incredible. Sam, a law student, and Vivi are friends & neighbors. One night, Vivi convinces Sam to party at her place. Sam almost begs off but Vivi won’t take no for an answer. Vivi’s twin brother Zach, an Army Ranger on leave from Kuwait, ushers Sam into the party and that was it for both of them. The chemistry between them was palpable and their banter was so fun & refreshing. No one but Zach could get away with being so alpha, irreverent and charming at the same time.

Zach to the men at the party: “Put your tongues away. She’s taken.” When Sam calls him on it, Zach says with a smile, “You heard me.” It was like they were screaming the word at each other, so loud everything in the room silenced while they connected with one simple thought. Sex.

Vivi admitted to Zach that she knew they would spark. Sam & Zach spent three idyllic weeks together, getting to know each other in & out of bed, both of them counting down the days until Zach shipped out again. During their last few hours together, Zach is awake watching the clock count down to his departure time. He dreads letting go of Sam’s hand that he’s holding to his chest. At this point, I’m in meltdown. It’s so poignant and romantic at the same time. While starting his shower, Zach hears Sam crying and admitting her love for him. He doesn’t want to return the words to her in case he doesn’t come home and pretends he doesn’t hear her. To tell her that he loves her is a “contract” and he doesn’t want her to be lonely. Zach thinks to himself that he will make it right when he gets back. If he gets back.

I know I’m using up some of my post for the prequel. While Edge of Sight will stand on its own, the prequel adds such a rich layer to the book.

EOS picks up 3 years later. Zach did not keep in touch with Sam. Sam is bound for Harvard Law School. At her waitressing job, she witnesses a murder in the wine cellar & goes on the run. She hits her place for her laptop, phone and a wig. Though they grew apart after Zach left, Sam texts Vivi for help. Vivi texts back, telling Sam to go to her place. Zach shows up in the dark to meet her instead. Zach comes up behind her and says, “I’d recognize that ass anywhere.” Sam says, “I guess this means you’re not dead.” Just like that they slip into the banter again.

Sam turns to look at Zach and is surprised by his scarred cheek & eye patch. She assumes that’s the reason he didn’t keep in touch. Zach & Vivi, who is starting her own security company, protect Sam until the murderer is caught. Their days on the run are harrowing. I know this is a romantic suspense book and Roxanne writes suspense so well but what got to me was the bond between Zach & Sam.

CHAPTER 15 really shows this. I realized that even if you took away the great sex, I loved what they said & what they felt. Here are a few passages that illustrate this. You’ll have to read the book for the “good” stuff.

“You deserve better.” And that, he knew, was the real reason he couldn’t write that fucking post card. Even when he was whole.

“Zach.” She cupped his face like she had in her apartment, her warm, dry palm closing over his scar. “I don’t want better.”

He just looked at her.

“I want you,” she said. “Just like you are. You.” She grazed the scar, threatening to slide her finger under the patch. He tried not to flinch. “I want that man who left me crying. The man who talked all night and made me laugh and drove me crazy. I want that man, no matter how he looks. Because that man, that man you used to be and that man I know you still are, that man looks…” She lifted the patch, inched it over his forehead, slid it off his head. “Exactly the way he’s supposed to look.”

AND:

She looked up at him, the playfulness in her eyes gone . “I haven’t been with anyone since you left.”

His fingers stilled. “No one?”

She shook her head.

“What were you waiting for?”

“I was waiting for you. Even though you didn't want me to, I waited and worried and wondered.”

AND:

He kissed her as gently as he could, trying to use his mouth against hers to say all the words she deserved to hear. Appreciation. Adoration. Affection. Love.

AND:

He fell on her, strangled for air, dripping with sweat, helpless and shameless and lost.

His face smashed against hers, his scars pressed against her creamy complexion, their joining skin soaked.

There are only a handful of books that stay in my head, my heart and still on my desk (because I can't bear to put them away). Edge of Sight is one of them. Roxanne will be visiting with us today and giving away a full set of the Guardian Angelinos trilogy - Edge of Sight, Shiver of Fear and Face of Danger.

Here is one of Roxanne’s fave recipes:

Uncle Nino’s Comforting Chicken Cacciatore

“It’ll cure a heartache.”

- Vivi Angelino, FACE OF DANGER, p. 372

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour for coating

1 (4 pound) chicken, cut into 8 pieces

3 or 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 Spanish onion, chopped

3-4 cloves garlic, minced

1 large green bell pepper, chopped

14 oz can of Italian peeled tomatoes or equivalent amount of fresh ripe Roma tomatoes.

4 or 5 Fresh Thyme sprigs with leaves stripped off

Pinch of dried oregano

3/4 cup dry white wine

2 cups fresh white or Crimini mushrooms, thickly sliced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

Cut chicken into 8 pieces. Salt and pepper chicken pieces and dredge in flour and sauté in well heated olive oil. (Nino says dredge immediately before sautéing... one piece at a time)

When chicken is well browned remove from pan and set aside.

Add onions (sprinkle of salt) and a couple of minutes later add the garlic.

Sauté for a few minutes, then add pepper, tomatoes and chicken pieces, wine, thyme leaves, and oregano and salt and pepper to taste.

Simmer on medium-low for about 30 minutes and add mushrooms. Cook another 10 minutes or so and serve over pasta or with crusty bread.

New Book and a Giveaway: GEORGIA ON MY MIND

2011-09-25T12:55:00.000-04:00

Since Georgie Quinn’s mother died after a brief illness, the highlight of Georgie's life has become “jogger stalking” every morning with her roommates Tess and Cat. Stuck running the senior center her mother founded in Newport, RI, until a replacement director is found, Georgie dreams of returning to her glamorous life in Atlanta. As that life begins to unravel, she discovers a whole new one in Newport where the jogger turns out to be sexy detective and tree hugger Nathan Caldwell. Determined to get her mind off her many problems—including a possible threat to her own health—Georgie indulges in what she intends to be a no-holds-barred one-night stand with Nathan. Unfortunately, Nathan has other ideas and sets out to have a relationship with her. Tess, on the run from an abusive husband, and Cat, who raised her younger brother and sister, hook up with Nathan’s brothers, Ben, an injured Iraqi war veteran, and Ian, a single-father and talented musician. Add a zany cast of seniors who seem determined to drive Georgie slowly mad with their never-ending needs and comparisons to her sainted mother, and you’ve got the ingredients for a fast-paced, often comical, emotional journey that leads Georgie straight to the home of her heart.

Read an excerpt from GEORGIA ON MY MIND.

Where to find GEORGIA ON MY MIND:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
iBooks
All Romance Ebooks

I've got two copies to give away for the best story of how your life went in a direction you didn't plan, but it turned out to be the exact right thing for you! Bring it on!

Next Up On Book Club: Edge of Sight by Roxanne St. Claire

2011-09-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

The killer she can't escape . . .

The heartbreak she can't forget . . .

The one man who can stop them both.

When Samantha Fairchild witnesses a murder in the wine cellar of the restaurant where she works, the Harvard-bound law student becomes the next target of a professional assassin. Desperate for protection the authorities won't provide, Sam seeks help from Vivi Angelino, an investigative reporter who recruits her brother, Zach, to protect Samantha. A Special Forces vet with the scars to prove he's equally fearless and flawed, Zach takes the job, despite the fact that he and Sam once shared a lusty interlude that ended when he left for war and disappeared from her life. Now, as they crack a conspiracy that leads to Boston's darkest corners, Sam and Zach must face their fears, desires, and doubts, before a hired killer gets a second shot...

Join us on Thursday, September 29 for our discussion of Edge of Sight. Author Roxanne St. Claire will be joining us to answer questions and giving away a copy of Edge of Sight!

Book Club: Summer of Two Wishes by Julia London

2011-09-22T06:00:00.000-04:00

By Aly Hackett

Whose wife was she?

Macy Lockhart's life shattered in a moment with the news that her husband, Finn--serving in the military overseas--has been killed in the line of duty. Their ardent and devoted marriage is over, leaving Macy alone and directionless. But while she tries to sustain herself with memories of Finn, the quiet, strong man who made her and their small Texas ranch the center of his life, it is wealthy Wyatt Clark who slowly brings joy back into her life. Her love for Wyatt may be less romantic than the breathless passion she'd once shared with Finn, but she vows to cherish him, and their marriage is happy and solid as a rock. Until the day that Finn, miraculously spared from death, returns home to claim his bride...

How can a woman choose between the two men she loves? And how will she make the right choice--for herself and everyone involved?

Macy Lockhart has been heartbroken since the day two men from the Army came to tell her that her husband, Finn, was killed in action. In that moment Macy could never imagine moving on with her life. But as time passes, Macy starts to heal and opens herself up. Two years after losing Finn she marries Wyatt Clark, starts to build a foundation and is planning on starting a family. Macy certainly hasn't forgotten her first husband - and one true love - but she has survived her grief and realizes that she still has plenty of life to live.

And then the absolutely unthinkable happens. Two men from the Army once again approach Macy but this time it is to tell her that her husband is in fact alive. This is not only a shock to Macy and all those that love Finn but it creates a conflict like none other.

Macy now must make a devastating decision: decide to divorce Finn to make her marriage to Wyatt legal or request her marriage to Wyatt be declared void and stay married to Finn. How is she going to choose between her first love and the man that brought her back to life by loving her? That is the question which torments Macy for a good part of the book and tests her in a way nothing else could.

She loved two men. She loved them differently, but she loved them both nonetheless, and it left her incapable of making a decision. Or eating or sleeping, for that matter. She was paralyzed.

On one hand there is Finn. Finn kept himself alive while in captivity by remembering his life with Macy and imagining what things will be like when he gets free. Never did he imagine that when he did finally manage to escape, his wife would no longer be his wife, or his at all. So not only did Finn have to readjust after being held prisoner and learn how to cope with PTSD but the one thing he thought he could depend on - his life with Macy - is gone. His emotions are all over the place, as anyone could imagine and he's so angry at Macy for moving on without him that his pain takes on a life of its own.

Finn Lockhart, as he remembered himself, thought of himself, had ceased to exist, and now he was the guy everyone kept calling a hero. He wasn’t a hero. He was the farthest thing from a hero.

On the other hand, there's Wyatt. Wyatt, in my opinion, is in the absolute worst position of the three. There were definitely parts of this book where I wanted to smack him but who could blame him? He has the woman he wants, the woman he loves and is getting ready to start a family with her. Business is going well, life is everything he could ever want...and them WHAM!! His life is turned completely upside down.

How did a man go about handling that sort of news? He was a newlywed; he was building their life. He was embarking on a very large deal to build a destination resort and spa that would make them wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. He didn’t need this. He needed Macy, and now he didn’t even know what to expect when she came back from D.C.

I will be very honest and say I went into this book a bit skeptical because I wasn't sure that I would be happy with the ending. I am so glad that I got past my skepticism because not only am I happy with how it ended but with the book as a whole.

But aside from the absolutely heart wrenching story line this book is made with its characters. At some point during the story I loathed almost every single character! LOL! No, really, I did! This is a very tough situation for everyone involved and they all make some choices that are emotional rather than rational. And despite my loathing, Julia London makes me understand why every single one of them behaves in the manner in which they do and makes me love them again :)

In the end, Summer of Two Wishes is an emotional story that has some fabulous characters and definitely makes you want to see what is going to happen next in Cedar Springs.

Thanks to Julia for stopping in today to visit with us! We are thrilled to have you here!

By now we all know that I am not a cook! Bake, yes. Cook, HELL NO :) But here is a crock pot recipe that my kids love!

Slow Cooker Pork Chops
From allrecipes.com (http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/pork-chops-for-the-slow-cooker/Detail.aspx)

Ingredients

6 boneless pork chops

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup ketchup

2 cloves garlic, crushed

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Place pork chops in slow cooker. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over pork chops.

Cook on Low setting for 6 hours, until internal temperature of pork has reached 160 degrees F

And for something a little more *me*

Apple Orchard Cake

From Mommy's Kitchen (http://www.mommyskitchen.net/2008/09/apple-orchard-snack-cake.html)

1 cup sugar

3 eggs

2 apples – peeled and diced

½ cup butter, melted

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

¾ cups walnuts (optional)

Mix sugar, margarine and eggs in bowl. Stir in graham cracker crumbs, apples and nuts until blended. Spread batter into greased 8x8 pan. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes.

Next Up On Book Club: Summer of Two Wishes by Julia London

2011-09-16T04:00:00.000-04:00

Whose wife was she?

How can a woman choose between the two men she loves? And how will she make the right choice--for herself and everyone involved?

Join us on Thursday, September 22 for our discussion of Summer of Two Wishes. Author Julia London will be joining us to answer questions!

Book Club: With No Remorse by Cindy Gerard

2011-09-15T06:00:00.000-04:00

By: Brooke Hren

Black Ops, Inc. operative Luke – Doc Holliday – Colter istaking some much needed down-time, making his way across the Peruvian Andes viarail, when banditos attack the moving train in the midnight hours. Itsoon becomes apparent that robbery is not their intent but the abduction ofsuper model Valentina, who is traveling incognito while recovering from apublic scandal involving her ex-husband, high profile US Senator, MarcusChamberlin. Luke whisks Valentina off the train in a daring escape butthe two of them become the targets of a relentless manhunt. Enlisting theaid of Luke's BOI teammates, they soon discover that Val’s intended abductionis linked to a plot put in play by an international gun smugglingalliance. The BOI team led by Luke, with Val along as a necessarypawn, must race halfway around the world to thwart a ruthless attack that wouldnot only result in a devastating loss of life but destroy a tenuous peace theUS and her allies have established in a vastly unstable part of the world.

This was my first book I'd read in the Black Ops Series andI admit to downloading the rest to my Nook by the end of the day.

“Luke Colter’s number one rule of self preservation: Don’tignore the itch.”

With No Remorse starts with a bang and keeps on going. It begins with both characters on a traintraveling thru the Andes Mountains of Peru. Luke is returningfrom vacation when his train is stopped and group of heavily armed men stormthe train. It looks like a robbery but Luke quickly realizes it's anattempted abduction and Luke flees with the young boy the bad guys are after. Oh, but the young boy turns out to be Luke's adolescent crush,Valentina. Valentina, or Val, is also on her way back to the states aftertaking some time off to escape the media circus that her life had become.

I have to admit that I've had a long time crush on HarrisonFord and to have Luke referred to as "Indy" and the mention of thefedora, *swoon*. I really liked Luke. Not having read any of theprevious books it was my first time getting to know him. I'd like to gushover Luke like he was gushing over Val. He's my ideal military hero; he'sstrong, funny, and a little tortured by his past, but a good woman helps himthrough it.

I also liked Val- most of the time. But I understandwhere she's coming from. She's a woman who wants to stand on her own feetafter feeling like she's had no control over her life for a long time. And having her marriage end the way it had didn't help her either. She did pull herself up when Luke needed her and followed his directives. I did want to go "Why?!" when she called her ex-husband forhelp when Luke stepped out.

I was thrilled when the rest of the Black Ops team showed upas well. I was drawn right into their tight family and didn't feel likeanyone was a stranger. Their joking back and forth made me laugh out loudseveral times. Val summed it up best when she thought,

Good Lord. Doesn’t Luke have any ugly friends?

The sub-plot weaved in very nicely and didn't overshadow thegrowing relationship of Luke and Val; it enhanced it. There were timesthat the hesitation between Luke and Val drove me crazy. Theyeach had their own hangups but Luke's strong but gentle personality was justwhat Val needed. His knowledge of her from entertainment magazines workedfor me and brought tension relief at times. The Epilogue brought everything together for me and it was niceto see Luke and Val in a everyday setting. After all, they "hadme at potato."

Overall it was a wonderful book and Iwill definitely be checking out the rest of the Black Ops series. Cindy Gerard grabs you right from the beginning and holds you until thevery end.

Thanks to Cindy for joining us today and don't forget to comment! Cindy will be giving away 2 copies of With No Remorse!!

*RECIPE*

Potato Soup

(my grandmothers recipe)

Val and Luke spend some quality time with potatoes so Ithought this was appropriate.

Ingredients

10 whole Potatoes

1 whole Onion, Diced

8 ounces, weight Cream Cheese

1 can Cream Of Celery Soup (10 Ounce Can)

1 can Cream Of Mushroom Soup (10 Ounce Can)

1 teaspoon Garlic Powder

1 teaspoon Salt

½ teaspoons Pepper

Milk (optional, For Desired Thickness)

1 bunch Green Onions (diced, For Garnish, If Desired)

1 cup Cheddar Cheese (shredded, For Garnish, IfDesired)

Preparation Instructions

Peel and dice Russet potatoes into 1-inch cubes and placeinto a Dutch oven or a large saucepan. Cover with water and boil potatoes andonions til fork-tender. Add cubes of cream cheese to the mixture and stir untilthe cheese melts. To this mixture, add creamy soups and mix. Add garlic powder,salt, pepper, and milk (if desired). Serve up the bowls, and garnish withcheddar cheese and green onion.

Book to Give Away: Signed Copy of SNAPPED by Laura Griffin

2011-09-09T06:30:00.000-04:00

My friend Laura Griffin sent me a signed copy of her latest release, SNAPPED, to give away to one lucky commenter today.

Here's a brief summary of the book:

SOPHIE BARRETT THINKS SHE’S LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. SHE MAY BE DEAD WRONG.
On a sweltering summer afternoon, Sophie Barrett walks into a nightmare. A sniper has opened fire on a college campus. When the carnage is over, three people—plus the shooter—are dead and dozens more are injured. Sophie escapes virtually unscathed. Yet as details emerge from the investigation, she becomes convinced that this wasn’t the random, senseless act it appeared to be. No one wants to believe her—not the cops, not her colleagues at the Delphi Center crime lab, and definitely not Jonah Macon, the homicide detective who’s already saved her life once.

Jonah has all kinds of reasons for hoping Sophie is mistaken. Involving himself with a key witness could derail an already messy investigation, not to mention jeopardize his career. But Sophie is as determined and fearless as she is sexy. If he can’t resist her, he can at least swear to protect her. Because if Sophie is right, she’s made herself the target of a killer without a conscience. And the real terror is only just beginning. . . .

To be entered into today's drawing, tell me what makes your heart beat fast when reading suspense. Drawing is open until noon EDT on Saturday, Sept. 10.

Next Up on Book Club: With No Remorse by Cindy Gerard

2011-09-09T04:00:00.000-04:00

His quiet vacation in the Peruvian Andes turns deadly when a Black Ops, Inc. operative rescues a stunning stranger from a mysterious train robbery and discovers she’s the target of a vengeful manhunt.

A DANGEROUS MAN
For Luke Colter, down time is an illusion. He should know better than to ever leave his gun behind. Especially since he risks his life to save world-famous supermodel Valentina.

A REBELLIOUS WOMAN
Val thought traveling incognito through the mountains would be the perfect cure for her bruised heart . . . until someone tries to kill her. Without knowing who is after her—and why—does she dare trust her irresistible protector?

A PERILOUS MISSION THAT COULD SEAL THEIR FATE
Luke’s elite military training offers little defense against his feelings for Val. When his BOI team links her ruthless enemy to the cutthroat global weapons trade—and to a man from her troubled past—he’ll do anything to save her. So when Val offers herself as bait, will he make the right call . . . or surrender to the hold she has on his heart?

Join us on Thursday, September 15 for a discussion on With No Remorse. Author Cindy Gerard will be joining us to answer questions!

Book Club: Welcome to Harmony by Jodi Thomas

2011-09-08T06:00:00.000-04:00

By: Kara Conrad

Welcome to Harmony

Population: LOTS ofunforgettable characters

SYNOPSIS from Jodi Thomas’s website: Sixteen-year-oldrunaway Reagan has always wanted a place to belong. She's never had a real homeof her own, but perhaps she could borrow someone else's. Under an assumed nameand identity, she moves to Harmony, Texas, but keeps her distance from thewelcoming townsfolk. Until prairie fires threaten Harmony-and Reagan learns thetrue meaning of family, friends, and home.

When you first enter the town, you’re sure to see peoplethat remind you of someone you’d like to meet, maybe even someone you’ve knownyour entire life. You will meet young children who can teach us all somethingabout life, teenagers from the local high school, including a rising rodeo star,slightly (maybe slightly more than slightly?) eccentric old folks, some quitecheerful, others down-right cranky. As Alex thinks about Jeremiah, “He’d beenold her whole life.” Don’t we all know someone who fits that bill? And I guessthat’s the thing about Welcome to Harmony; there is an entire cast ofcharacters the reader will recognize. There are people who may appear one wayon the surface, but not too far below that surface have several layers mostnever get to see. Thanks to the brilliant writing of Jodi Thomas, we do.

If you like romance (and of course we all do), then there issomething for you in this book. In fact, there is more than ONE love story foryou. I dare you to read the scene when we first meet Alex and Hank and NOT beintrigued by their relationship. We’ve talked before about those books set insmall towns, and have featured some of them here at the club. This book hasthat too, which adds so much depth to the story. By the time you finish, youwill feel not only like you KNOW these people, but that you can’t wait to learnmore. Lucky for all of us, this book is the first in a series! There’s alsosuspense and a mystery to solve. This book has it all!

I really enjoy at least a bit of comedy in the stories Iread, maybe even a laugh out loud moment or two. How about Jeremiah, the oldman we hope will take Reagan in and give her a real home? One of his many,memorable lines is, “I welcome company about the same as I do black mold.” J But this book alsooffers much more serious, deeper emotional scenes. For instance, on the samepage Jeremiah declares his ‘fondness’ for visitors, Reagan describes what shecalls reverse wishing. At sixteen, she has learned “I don’t wish for goodthings to happen, I just wish the bad things would leave me alone for a while.”That line stuck with me, as I know that to be the truth for many children.

If you’ve read the book already, then you know what I’msaying is true, and I’m looking forward to finding out your favorite charactersand storylines from Harmony. If you haven’t read this book, believe me when Isay, this little write up barely scratches the surface of all you’ll findwithin its pages. And yes, I’m a bitbiased as I’m currently in my third reading of this book, but I’m not alone inmy praise for it. Welcome to Harmony has received many fantastic reviews and isa 2011 RITA winner! The second book in the series is Somewhere Along the Wayand is already out in bookstores. The next book, The Comforts of Home, is dueto be released November 1!

And finally, this is how I know Jodi Thomas is a writer forme (and anyone who knows me will get this): not only is she an amazing storyteller, but right there on page 72 of Welcome to Harmony, Tyler stops by SONIC! Jodi doesn’t mention the drink he orders,but I’m quite certain it is a Coke, extra ice. J

Jodi is scheduled to visit with us today, so ask yourquestions! Also, for my own benefit, let’s talk favorite characters, lines,etc. I will be dropping by as often as I can, but don’t let my absence slow youdown. Step right up, start the party, and WELCOME TO HARMONY!

While I fully recommend a trip to Sonic, a la Tyler (p. 72),it is the tradition of book club to include recipes with our book talks. Sincethey are served up here by yours truly, you know it can’t get any easier thanthis. You cooker ladies keep you laughter to a minimum.

Certain to be hits at the Blue Moon Diner:

Chili Cheese Fries

Ingredients:
1 (32 ounce) package French fries
1 (8 ounce) bag shredded Colby jack cheese
1 (15 ounce) can chili with no beans
2 green onions (sliced)

Step 1: Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees. Heat French fries according topackage directions. Drain on paper towels. In a medium sauce pan overmedium heat the chili until it is heated through.
Step 2: Arrange fries on the bottom of an oven safe dish. Top with chili, thenshredded Colby jack cheese, and finally green onions. Bake for 8-10 minutes oruntil the cheese has melted (can also be done in the microwave on plates).

Blueberry CrumbPie

Yield: 8 servings
1 c Sugar
• 8 oz Commercial sour cream
• 3 tbsp All-purpose flour
• 1/8 tsp Salt
• 4 c Fresh blueberries
• 1 Unbaked 9-inch pastry shell
• 1 tbsp Sugar
• 1/4 c Dried breadcrumbs; fine
• 1 tbsp Sugar
• 1 tbsp Butter or margarine; melted

Combine first 4 ingredients; stir well. Place blueberries in unbaked pastryshell; sprinkle 1 tablespoon sugar over berries. Spread sour cream mixture overberries. Combine breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon sugar, and butter; sprinkle overtop. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes or until center is firm. Yield:one 9-inch pie.

Fatal Wedding Grand Prize Winners!

2011-09-05T14:02:00.003-04:00

Before I announce the grand prize winners, a reminder to the 14-day winners. Some of these prizes are still unclaimed, so if you see your name, drop me an email at marie@marieforce.com. I've tried to notify everyone who gave email addresses, but some winners did not provide emails.

Here they are again:

Day 1: Stacey @ 9:53: $25 Amazon Gift Card

Day 2: Lisa Fillipe: $25 B&N Gift Card

Day 3: Alison Peterson: $25 to 1-800-FLOWERS

Day 4: Monika Michalek: $25 to Abercrombie & Fitch

Day 5: Catherine Bice: $25 to Amazon

Day 6: Anne Woodall: $25 to Zappos

Day 7: Jackie Conlon: Signed copy of Fatal Affair

Day 8: Stephanie JS: $25 to Amazon

Day 9: Lisa B: $25 to B&N

Day 10: Sarah (at 9:54 pm): $25 to Godiva

Day 11: Donna (@ 4:55 pm): $25 to Godiva

Day 12: Fedora: $30 to iTunes

Day 13: Jackie0668: $50 to the charity of her choice

Day 14: Hope Frost: Signed copy of Fatal Affair

And the GRAND PRIZES go to:

Kindle or Nook (or $100 to Amazon or BN if you already have one): Danielle West

Advance Fatal Books for the Life of the Series: Michelle McGinty

THANK YOU all once again for the wonderful show of support for Sam & Nick's wedding. I hope you're all enjoying Fatal Destiny. I apologize to Kindle users for the pricing snafu at Amazon. With everyone at Harlequin off for the holiday, I can't do anything about it today. Hopefully, we can get it resolved tomorrow and everyone will get their dollar back! Sony and Kobo users who've reported they can't find the book, you can get it at AllRomanceEbooks.com or Carina Press. I will also ask Harlequin to check on those two platforms.

Going to the Chapel, and We're Gonna Get Married....

2011-09-05T03:00:00.000-04:00

The big day is finally upon us! The Fatal Series wedding novella, Fatal Destiny, is available for free today, everywhere ebooks are sold! I thought it would be fun to list all the wedding details in one central spot to refresh your memory on what you chose for Sam and Nick.

First, a little about Fatal Destiny:

With the week of their wedding finally upon them, Washington, D.C., Police Lieutenant Sam Holland and her fiancé, Senator Nick Cappuano, are at odds. In the aftermath of a tragic loss, they struggle to reconnect as the big day draws near, but their work keeps pulling them apart. When a new clue into a cold case surfaces, Nick asks Sam not to take any foolish chances before the wedding and to leave it alone for the time being. Sam agrees, but she can't let it go entirely and winds up trapped in an explosive situation. Then an unwelcome visitor from her past threatens her future happiness… With trouble at every turn, will Sam survive long enough to walk down the aisle?

And now for another look at the wedding of the year:

The Church

St. John's, the "Church of the Presidents," in Washington, D.C.

The Reception

The Hay Adams Hotel, Washington, D.C.

Invitations

Bridesmaid Dresses

Flowers

Nick's Suit

Don't be mad at me because I referred to a bowtie in the book. Woops!

Sam's Dress

Sam's Shoes

Sam's Hair

Nick's Ring

Sam's Ring

The Cake

The Groom's Cake

First Dance

Thank You For Loving Me, Bon Jovi
Listen Here.

Wedding Favors
A Donation To:

Honeymoon

Thanks again for making the wedding planning so fun!

Sam and Nick are eternally grateful for your good taste!

Fatal Wedding Big Reveal Day 14: Honeymoon!

2011-09-04T03:00:00.000-04:00

**Make sure to check the sidebar to see if you've won any of the random prizes over the last 14 days!**

Sam and Nick are finally getting a week off together—granted, they had to get married to make it happen! We need to send this special couple to a place where they can recharge, regroup and reconnect after some crazy months. I'll let the photos do the talking... Remember to comment to be entered into the grand prize drawing for one of two prizes: A Kindle or a Nook (or $100 to Amazon or B&N if you already own a device) OR advance Fatal Books for the life of the series. Be the very first to know what's up next for Sam and Nick!

Honeymoon Destination 1

The St. Regis Bora Bora Hotel, Tahiti, French Polynesia

Honeymoon Destination 2

Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort, Pacific Ocean

Honeymoon Destination 3

Paradise Island Resort & Spa, Maldives Islands, Indian Ocean

And the winner is....

Number 1: Bora Bora!

Phew! Well, that does it for the Fatal Wedding planning. I hope you've all had as much fun as I have planning Washington's Wedding of the Year. Sam and Nick asked me to tell you how very much they appreciate your input to their big day and how very much we ALL appreciate your enjoyment of their ongoing story. We'll release the results of your choices TOMORROW in the FREE Fatal wedding novella, Fatal Destiny.

Another very special thank you my dear friends Alyson Hackett and Ronlyn Howe, who came up with all the beautiful choices for Sam and Nick. About five minutes after I had the big idea to involve readers in Sam and Nick's wedding, it dawned on me that it would be an enormous amount of work to put together the variety of choices we've given you over the last 14 days. Aly and Ronlyn LITERALLY saved my life (and saved Sam and Nick's wedding) by stepping up to the plate and hitting a grand slam. Thank you both so much!

Okay, watch for two posts tomorrow. The first will put the whole thing together in one place, with all your winning choices highlighted. The second will reveal the two winners of the grand prizes.

For today's last prize, I'm offering another signed copy of the print version of Fatal Affair, the story that started the series. Comment here on the blog to be entered into the drawing.

Thank you all for making this so much fun! I really hope you enjoy Fatal Destiny!

Fatal Wedding Big Reveal Day 13: Wedding Favors

2011-09-03T03:00:00.000-04:00

Sam and Nick want to thank you for helping to plan their wedding! They've given a lot of thought to a gift they could give their guests to remember their special day. In the course of their work as a police officer and as a U.S. senator, they see a lot of need in their local community. So in lieu of favors, they are going to make a donation in the name of each wedding guest to one of their three favorite charities. Nick left it up to Sam to decide what three charities to offer as choices, and she chose three organizations near and dear to her:

Charitable Organization 1

Washington D.C. Police Foundation

The Washington DC Police Foundation is a group of Washington area business and civic leaders who work with the D.C. Police Chief to promote better public safety across the District of Columbia.

The DC Police Foundation was formed in 2000 by Washington area business and civic leaders under the aegis of the Federal City Council to generate resources to support crime prevention programs and programs for at-risk youth.

The Washington DC Police Foundation works to support key unmet public safety needs identified by the Chief of Police of the Metropolitan Police Department and other public safety leaders in the District of Columbia. We do this by giving support to MPD and by engaging directly on public safety policy initiatives in the city.

The Foundation relies on financial support and in-kind resources from our members who include the business and professional community, retailers, faith-based leaders, civic leaders, philanthropic foundations, and individuals who are interested in improving public safety in our Nation’s Capital.

Charitable Organization 2

Big Brothers Big Sisters National Capital Area

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the National Capital Area is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of children through professionally supported long-term, One-To-One® mentoring relationships with carefully screened, caring and committed adults in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the Washington Region. We are the leader in One-To-One youth mentoring services. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors children ages 6 through 18 in our community.

Charitable Organization 3

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation

The Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy. The Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) offer resources on spinal cord injury, paralysis and mobility related disabilities.

And the winner is...

Number 3!

I was so glad you all chose that one in loving tribute to Sam's paralyzed father. In honor of all of you today, I'll make a $50 donation to the charity of the winner's choice in the winner's name, so go forth and comment on today's Big Reveal!

One more day, and then it all comes to fruition in Fatal Destiny! I posted a new excerpt on my Facebook fan page last night. "Like" the page and click on "Exclusive Fan Zone" for a little taste of what's to come in Destiny!

Fatal Wedding Big Reveal Day 12: The First Dance

2011-09-02T03:00:00.000-04:00

Here's what I said about this one in February: Those of you who've read Fatal Justice may have a "leg up" so to speak when it comes to choosing the first song Sam and Nick will dance to as husband and wife. If you want to know Sam's favorite, hurry up and read Fatal Justice! :-) I love that Ronlyn and Aly included Bless the Broken Road, which is one of my favorites, and they didn't even know that! Which one will I vote for? My favorite or Sam's? Hmmmm....

Here are our choices:

Song 1: At Last, Etta James

Listen Here

Song 2: Thank You For Loving Me, Bon Jovi

Listen Here.

Song 3: Bless the Broken Road, Rascal Flatts

Listen Here

And the winner is (as if there was ever any question):

Number 2!!!!

While I managed to work one of the other songs into the story, I really love the first-dance scene in Fatal Destiny! Can't wait for you guys to read it on MONDAY! In case you missed it yesterday, the novella is now available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the Carina Press site.

Today's drawing is a $30 gift card to i-Tunes, so go forth and comment on Sam & Nick's first dance!

Next Up On Book Club: Welcome to Harmony by Jodi Thomas

2011-09-02T02:30:00.000-04:00

Sixteen-year-old runaway Reagan has always wanted a place to belong. She's never had a real home of her own, but perhaps she could borrow someone else's. Under an assumed name and identity, she moves to Harmony, Texas, but keeps her distance from the welcoming townsfolk. Until prairie fires threaten Harmony-and Reagan learns the true meaning of family, friends, and home.

Join us on Thursday, September 8 for a discussion of Welcome to Harmony. Author Jodi Thomas will be joining us :)

Book Club: Fade to Black by Leslie Parrish

2011-09-01T06:15:00.000-04:00

By: Shelly Estes

Formerly an investigator in the FBI’s violent crimes unit, Special Agent Dean Taggert knows the vicious nature of some people. He is now a member of the Black CATs – a cyber crimes unit headed up by Wyatt Blackstone. The unit has just discovered online video of vicious murders committed by The Reaper, who sells his murders in an online world called Satan’s Playground. One of the victims resembles a missing person case in Hope Valley, Virginia. Dean and Wyatt travel to Hope Valley to meet with the local sheriff, Stacey Rhodes, who took over for her father when he retired. She is still reeling from being a Virginia State Police first responder to the violence of the Virginia Tech killing spree. All she wants is a nice, quiet, non-violent life. Her cozy life is turned upside when she identifies the first Reaper victim as a local girl named Lisa Zimmerman, who has been missing for more than a year. She agrees to help the FBI unit with their investigation. She and Dean also share an instant attraction to each other. Stacey is willing to have a physical relationship with Dean, but doesn’t want to get too involved because it would mean opening up her feelings to pain and sorrow. Dean is willing to try a physical relationship because he has been celibate since his divorce 10 months prior. He was thinking more along the lines of a bar hook-up, but when Stacey proposes that they hookup, he’s all for it!

While Dean & Stacey plan to get together after a day of searching for Lisa’s remains, which Stacey is sure are near town based onthe video, a horrible surprise is left on her front porch. She arrives home to find the body of her dad’s dog on the porch, and the word Bitch written in the dogs blood on her doormat. While she is cleaning up the carnage,Dean arrives for their rendezvous. He takes over the cleanup, and encourages Stacey to go inside and shower. When he’s done and comes inside to check on her, Stacey invites him join her, resulting in one really steamy shower! Later, she overhears Dean having a goodnight talk with his young son, and realizes he is someone she could fall for, even though she doesn’t want to.

While continuing to investigate the Reaper murders,several of the townies are considered suspects, and in the process of elimination they almost accidently stumble on the Reaper and his currentvictim. The Reaper escapes capture by hanging himself for the Satan’s Playground audience. Once the investigation is over, Dean has no reason to stay in Hope Valley, and Stacey must decide if she is willing to risk her heart.

I really liked this book, except for the killing of the dog :o). The attraction between Dean & Stacey was believable and well thought out. There was some humor and lightheartedness, even in the midst of the murder investigation. I love the part where Stacey turned Dean onto Chuckie Cheese for his son – and Dean had the thought that if he never saw that big singing rat again, he’d be happy!!

My office mate gave me the second recipe – when you see the first one you’ll know why!

Pizza

Preheat oven to 400

Open box, place frozen pizza on pizza pan

Bake until golden brown.

Slice and enjoy with your favorite beverage

Pasta Carbonara with Bacon

6 oz uncooked fettuccine or spaghetti

4 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces (1/4 lb)

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 egg

¾ cup milk

¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

4 cups fresh baby spinach leaves

¾ cup chopped plum (Roma) tomato (1 medium)

½ cup thinly sliced green onions (8 medium)

1 container (6 oz) Yoplait® Greek Fat Free plain yogurt

1) Cook and drainfettuccine as directed on package. In 10-inch skillet, cook bacon and garlicuntil crisp. Drain; remove from skillet, and set aside.

2) In small bowl,slightly beat egg. Beat in milk, Parmesan cheese and pepper. Place cookedfettuccine in skillet. Add milk mixture, spinach, tomato and green onions.Cover; cook about 5 minutes over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, untilspinach is tender.

3) Stir in yogurt;cook over low heat just until heated through.

Serve with additional freshly grated Parmesan cheese andfreshly ground black pepper.

Leslie will be dropping in to say hi and answer questions. She will also be giving away the next two books in this series - Pitch Black and Black at Heart.

Fatal Wedding Big Reveal Day 11: Groom's Cake

2011-09-01T06:00:00.001-04:00

In Fatal Consequences, you learned that Nick is a rabid fan of the Boston Red Sox. He grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts, which is just north of fabled Fenway Park. Also in FC, you met Nick's new friend Scotty, who asks Sam about doing something special for Nick at the wedding. This is what they came up with:

Groom's Cake 1:

Groom's Cake 2:

Groom's Cake 3:

And you chose....

NUMBER 2!!

I love the scene where Scotty presents Nick with the cake and their reaction when Shelby hands them a knife to cut it. I'll let you read all about it in Fatal Destiny! Four more days... It's now available for pre-order (even though it says $1, it will be free) on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

I'd love to give away a Red Sox ball cap today, but that would be promoting my own agenda, so we'll go with another $25 gift card to Godiva in celebration of all things chocolate! Remember, you have to comment ON THE BLOG to be entered into the drawing.

Thanks to everyone who has come out to play during the Big Reveal. It's been so much fun reading all your comments!

Fatal Wedding Big Reveal Day 10: The Cake

2011-08-31T06:00:00.000-04:00

Mmmm, I love cake! Of course, I want it to be chocolate with buttercream frosting, but I digress. Here are the choices for Sam & Nick's wedding cake! There is one choice from each of the flower collections you viewed earlier.

Wedding Cake 1: Orchid

Wedding Cake 2: Calla Lilly

Wedding Cake 3: Tulip

And the winner was....

NUMBER 1! Y'all went all orchid all the way!

Comment on the cake to be entered to win a $25 gift card to Godiva Chocolates!

Fatal Wedding Big Reveal Day 9: Sam's Ring

2011-08-30T06:00:00.002-04:00

When Nick proposed to Sam in Fatal Justice he gives her a diamond engagement ring. Of course, Sam being Sam, she is immediately concerned about whether he will understand if she doesn't wear it to work. So when considering Sam's wedding band, we gave you a few choices that we thought would suit Sam's busy life. Nick being Nick, he will want to see that diamond on her finger once in a while, of course! Here were the choices for Sam's ring:

Sam's Ring 1

Sam's Ring 2

Sam's Ring 3

And the winner is....

NUMBER 1!!!

Sam really appreciates that you took her job into consideration in helping Nick to make this decision for her. Comment today to be entered for a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble! Don't forget that all comments are entered for the grand prize drawings: either a Kindle or a Nook (or $100 to Amazon or B&N if you already have a device) OR advance copies of Fatal books for the life of the series. Be the first to read about Sam & Nick's latest adventure. We'll be drawing the grand prize winners on Sept. 5, the day Fatal Destiny becomes available--for free!

Fatal Wedding Big Reveal Day 8: Nick's Ring

2011-08-29T06:00:00.001-04:00

Isn't there something so sexy about a wedding ring on a man's finger? It tells the world he has committed his life and his heart to one special woman. Nick Cappuano can't wait for his Samantha to put a ring on his finger. Sam really appreciated your help in deciding what ring would best suit Nick. The choices were:

Nick's Ring 1:

Nick's Ring 2:

Nick's Ring 3:

And the winner was:

NUMBER 1!!!

I love the scene where Shelby helps Sam pick the perfect ring for Nick, and I hope you will enjoy it, too! Today I'm giving away another $25 gift card to Amazon so make sure you comment here on the blog (only) to be entered into the drawing for today's prize. Reminder that every comment will be entered into the grand prize drawing for a Kindle or a Nook (or a $100 gift card to Amazon or B&N if you already have a device) OR advance copies of Fatal Books for the life of the series. Be the first to read about Sam & Nick's latest adventure!

Good news: Fatal Destiny will be out in ONE WEEK! And it's free!

Fatal Wedding Big Reveal Day 7: Sam's Hair

2011-08-28T06:00:00.002-04:00

What to do with all that hair was the question Sam asked you to help her with! Here were the choices:

Sam's Hairstyle 1

Sam's Hairstyle 2

Sam's Hairstyle 3

And the winner is....

NUMBER 1!

Smooth and up with an orchid tucked in. Sam was very happy with the style you chose for her. After the wedding, it will be Nick's job to pluck that orchid from his new wife's hair...

By the way, since we talked about it the other day, I think I might've thought of a way to keep Shelby in the cast....

Comment on Sam's hair style to be entered into a drawing for a print copy of FATAL AFFAIR, the book that started the Fatal Series!

Up Next On Book Club: Fade to Black by Leslie Parrish

2011-08-27T08:00:00.002-04:00

Dean Taggert, a former street cop turned FBI agent, has accepted a transfer into a new CAT for one reason: he needs to remove the violence from his life in order to get his ex to give him more time with his son. Not easy to do when he's been thrust into the darkest, most violent investigation of his career. A psychopath calling himself the Reaper is auctioning off murder at a deviant cyber club called Satan's Playground, and Dean and his team are forced to helplessly witness the killer's brutal crimes online.

Stacey Rhodes is happy in her quiet, sleepy little town of Hope Valley, Virginia, where she has taken over as Sheriff because of her father's ill health. Nothing much seems to happen here, except for the mysterious disappearance of the town bad girl a year ago. So she is shocked when a sexy, brooding FBI agent intrudes on her world, bringing evidence that the missing local girl was the victim of a serial killer. Even more shocking, that serial killer might be someone she knows.

Maybe even someone she loves....

Join us Thursday, September 1 for a discussion about this suspenseful read!

Fatal Wedding Big Reveal Day 6: Sam's Shoes

2011-08-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

Sam Holland loves her shoes. Just ask her sister, Angela, who keeps stealing Sam's favorite shoes, and just ask Nick, who still can't believe what a "girl" his fearless cop becomes when shoes are mentioned. Thankfully, Sam's groom is 6' 4" tall, so she can bust out some heels for her big day. This was the choice Sam most looked forward to as she planned her big day, and she appreciates your help in deciding which one best suits her. The choices were:

Sam's Shoes 1

Sam's Shoes 2

Sam's Shoes 3

And the winner was....

NUMBER 2! Everyone loved that jazzy buckle.

Comment today to be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card to Zappos so you can buy yourself a jazzy pair of shoes to rival Sam's. Eight more days until Fatal Destiny!

Fatal Wedding Big Reveal Day 5: Sam's Dress

2011-08-26T06:00:00.002-04:00

Sam really appreciates your help in making this decision for her....

Sam's Dress 1

Sam's Dress 2

Sam's Dress 3

And the winner is....

NUMBER 1!

Yippee! The big decision has been made, now Sam has to put up with Tinker Bell and all the damned fittings (and she is none too happy about that, let me tell you!) Can't wait until you can read the conversation Sam and Nick have about her dress. :-) Less than two weeks now until Fatal Destiny!

Today, I'm offering another $25 gift card to Amazon for those who comment--on the blog (sorry Facebook comments don't count) by midnight EDT tonight. Everyone who comments during these two weeks will be entered to win one of two grand prizes: a Kindle or a Nook (or a $100 gift card to Amazon or B&N if you already have a device) OR advance copies of Fatal books for the life of the series.

Book Club: Just The Way You Are by Christina Dodd

2011-08-25T06:30:00.002-04:00

by Brooke Hren

*Summary*

When Hope Prescott’s parents disappeared, her carefree teenage life vanished forever. She and her three siblings were separated and sent to different foster homes around the country. Now, seven years later, Hope is still searching for them. To support herself, she works for an answering service, and cares for her clients as if they were family. When wealthy businessman Zachariah Givens hires Hope’s service, Hope initially mistakes Zack for his butler. Tired of being coddled and flattered because of his money, Zack is charmed by Hope’s candor, not to mention her sexy voice, and keeps up the charade. As their friendship turns into passion, Zack is determined to have her, even if that means the unthinkable – marriage. But when Hope discovers his deception, Zack knows he must solve the mystery that haunts Hope’s past in order to convince her that their futures lie together….

*Review*

Hope Prescott is a minister's daughter and Zach Givens is a corporate raider to the core. She's friendly, charming, and goes out of her way to help people; he is an egomaniac, uncaring, and rude to the point of being mean. The virgin and the bad boy.

The book begins with the moment that shapes young Hope and her siblings lives- she and her siblings are being separated and sent to foster homes/orphanages around the county because their parents were killed in a car accident. Her parents were also accused of embezzling church funds and were on the run when they had their accident.

Seven years later Hope is employed at a answering service and studying for a degree that she thinks will enable her to find a job that pays enough for her to search for her siblings.

"Money's the most important thing in the world. You have some, so you don't realize that without money, you're dirt on the streets. Without money, you depend on compassion, and there's not much in this world."

It's through the answering service that she first "meets" Zach who's company had contracted their services- except Hope thinks that Zach is really his butler Griswald. Zach does nothing to correct Hope because his fondest wish is for someone to like him for himself and not his last name or portfolio. And Hope does treat him like a normal person. Some of the comments that she makes about Zach are not very flattering and not something that I would say about a client to his employee. Imagine his surprise to be on the receiving end of those comments!

At the beginning of the book Hope comes across as a very bright, hard working girl who has been down on her luck for too long and is afraid to have good things happen to her. She spends all of her time working and studying. Zach throws himself into his work and only has relationships that fit his needs at the moment. Even his friend thinks he can't go a day without making someone cry.

There's an interesting tension in their relationship: romance vs. affair.

Hope says, "An affair involves body parts. A romance is of the mind and heart." I felt like Hope was having a romance and Zach was initially only after an affair.

The romance they develop does showcase the intense chemistry they have together though. Hope is consumed with all the new feelings she's experiencing, while Zach seems incredibly demanding in regards to those feelings.The steady stream of thoughts about how to bed Hope made Zach appear cold and calculating. He is so sure that once he has Hope that she will forgive him for deceiving her and it never really occurs to him that she wouldn't. It took me a long time to warm up to him. Their first time together and Hope's first time ever feels a little fast after the circumstances that bring her to his mansion but at the same time happen in a very Zach-like way; he sees an opportunity and takes it. He does wait until she has recovered and is no longer in shock though. You wonder when the big reveal of Zach's identity is going to happen and whether her will have a chance to tell her himself or someone else will.

As the story continues Hope is broadsided by an embezzlement scam that leads to her arrest and abduction by the bad guy who was scammed. It was nice to see all of Hope's clients rally to save her, with Zach's help.

Their reunion was sweet and orchestrated by the wonderful secondary characters of the Givens family. Zach pulled out a wonderful surprise for Hope that showed how far he had come. I adore Zach's fathers advice:

"Crawl, boy." "Women like to see a man crawl."

Ultimately Just the Way You Are was a good read and a intriguing beginning to the Prescott family mystery. It makes me want to read the rest of the series to find out what happened to the parents and see all the siblings reunited. It is a good read for readers who enjoy romance with a little mystery and happy endings.

*Recipe*

Zach promises to make Hope dinner if she returns to his house to let him tutor her in physics. Of course he orders out but his secretary recommended lasagna which is a great first dinner date meal. My favorite recipe is by the Pioneer Woman:

Ingredients

1-1/2 pound Ground Beef

1 pound Hot Breakfast Sausage

2 cloves Garlic, Minced

2 cans (14.5 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes

2 cans (6 Ounce) Tomato Paste

2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley

2 Tablespoons Dried Basil

1 teaspoon Salt

3 cups Lowfat Cottage Cheese

2 whole Beaten Eggs

1/2 cup Grated (not Shredded) Parmesan Cheese

2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley

1 teaspoon Salt

1 pound Sliced Mozzarella Cheese

1 package (10 Ounce) Lasagna Noodles

(add 1/2 Teaspoon Salt And 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil To Pasta Water)

Preparation Instructions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet or saucepan, combine ground beef, sausage, and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat until browned. Drain half the fat; less if you’re feeling naughty. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil and salt. After adding the tomatoes, the sauce mixture should simmer for 45 minutes while you are working on the other steps.

In a medium bowl, mix cottage cheese, beaten eggs, grated Parmesan, 2 more tablespoons parsley, and 1 more teaspoon salt. Stir together well. Set aside. Cook lasagna until “al dente” (not overly cooked).

To assemble:

Arrange 4 cooked lasagna noodles in the bottom of a baking pan, overlapping if necessary. Spoon half the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles. Spread evenly. Cover cottage cheese with a layer of mozzarella cheese. Spoon a little less than half the meat/sauce mixture over the top.

Repeat, ending with meat/sauce mixture. Sprinkle top generously with extra Parmesan.

Either freeze, refrigerate for up to two days, or bake immediately: 350-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until top is hot and bubbly

Fatal Wedding Big Reveal Day 4: Nick's Suit

2011-08-25T06:00:00.003-04:00

In February, I wrote: I think about Nick in a tuxedo, and I just say, "Mmmmm." Whooo... Just took a little mental trip to heaven there for a minute. What can I say? Nick is tall and buff and HOT. Now, do your best to imagine him in one of these fine suits, and then tell me which one you prefer for him.

Nick's Suit 1

Nick's Suit 2

Nick's Suit 3

What did I tell you? H-O-T, right? Mmmmm.... I leave Nick's wedding hotness in your capable hands.

And you chose: NUMBER 2

Whoo hoo! Now, I'm going to have me a little dream about Nick in a tux. In the meantime, because Nick is Mr. Style, I'm offering a $25 gift card to Abercrombie & Fitch today. Just tell me how you think Nick is going to look in the suit we chose for him. Thanks to everyone who has shown up to play so far. Planning a wedding is so much fun, and it's made even more fun by all of you!

Fatal Wedding Reveal, Day 3: Flowers

2011-08-24T06:00:00.000-04:00

Ronlyn and Aly came up with some amazing choices for the flowers. They are so beautiful, I wanted to go back and redo my own wedding! Here were the three different collections you had to choose from:

Collection 1

Groom & Groomsmen

Bridesmaids

Bride

Ceremony

Reception Centerpieces

Collection 2

Groom/Groomsmen

Bridesmaids

Bride

Ceremony

Reception Centerpieces

Collection 3

Groom/Groomsmen

Bridesmaids

Bride

Ceremony

Reception Centerpieces

And the winner was.... NUMBER 2! I'll give away a $25 gift certificate to 1-800-FLOWERS today, so make sure you comment by midnight (EDT) tonight. Those who comment today will also be entered into the drawing for two grand prizes: a Nook or Kindle (or a $100 gift card to either B&N or Amazon if you already have a device) for one winner AND advance copies of Fatal Books for the life of the series for a second winner. Everyone who comments during the two weeks of reveals will be entered for the grand prize drawing on Sept. 5, the day FATAL DESTINY is released.

Fatal Wedding Reveal, Day 2: Bridesmaid Dresses

2011-08-23T06:00:00.001-04:00

Sam's sisters, Tracy and Angela, will share the duties as her matrons of honor. Her nieces, Brooke and Abby, will be her bridesmaids for the AFTERNOON wedding. The choices for their dresses were:

Bridesmaid No. 1:

Bridesmaid 2:

Bridesmaid 3:

And the winner was: NUMBER 2!

Make sure you come by every day leading up to Sept. 5 and comment to be entered into the drawing for TWO grand prizes: your choice of a Kindle or a Nook for one winner (or a $100 gift card to Amazon or B&N if you already have a device) and advance copies of Fatal Books for the life of the series for a second winner. You'll be entered into the grand prize drawing every time you comment, so come every day and comment often! To be entered for the drawing, please include your first and last names as well as your email address WITH your comment. Today's prize is a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble! Comment by midnight to be entered to win. Include your name and email address with your comment!