Polar Bear Attack!!

Lately, I've heard of vampire attacks and werewolf attacks, but this is really scary!!

Merry Christmas!!

From our house to yours!!

Are you ready for Christmas?

I've been shopping and wrapping, shopping and wrapping and I'm happy to say it's all done now!

So what about you? Are you a last minute shopper. Do you fight the crowds and traffic or do you plan ahead?

Some of my friends buy Christmas presents all during the year, so come December, they have all the gifts ready. I'm not that good and I only like to shop when I know what I'm looking for. Are you like that too? Or do you like to wander and browse?

I get many of my gifts online these days too. The best thing is when there's Free Shipping and No Tax. Usually the gifts arrive at my door in a week's time. It's fingertip shopping at its best!

We've made charitable donations and hopefully many around the world can enjoy the holiday without too much sacrifice. Our favorite charities are Operation Gratitude, Make a Wish Foundation, The American Cancer Society and local food banks. One Christmas we vow to have a Gift-Free holiday and use that extra to contribute even more.

***

I'm excited that my new website should be up and running by the new year. Look for my special Housewarming Contest! I'll be sending out newsletters to remind you to visit and enter! And I'll have a new Blog page - Let's talk Heroes and Hunks! You won't want to miss that!

Twilight

My friend stopped by on Wednesday to drop off the book Twilight and I've been reading it ever since. Even though we had a large family gathering for Thanksgiving and I spent the better part of Wednesday and Thursday cleaning, baking, cooking and then cleaning again, I managed to finish the book.

I have to admit, I've never read a Young Adult book before and I'm also not into paranormal books, but THIS story is compelling and spellbinding.

I always love to read the book before I see the movie and this weekend I plan to see Twilight, then I'll read the second book before I see New Moon. I can't wait!!

Have you read Twilight? What are your impressions of it? And what about the movie? I hear it's worth the $11 to see it!!

New Website Coming Soon!!

I'm excited that my brand new website is coming along nicely.

I'll be posting a New Contest soon, so keep checking back and I'll let you know when the makeover "LOOK" is born! We'll have some new pages for your enjoyment and lots of fun stuff!

In the meantime, I'm wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving! Hope the turkey is delicious and the company loving and lively!

Holiday Traditions

Come visit me at the Desire Blog today! I'll be sharing traditions and giving thanks as well as 2 of my Texan's Wedding-Night Wager romances!! It's easy, just post a comment and say hello and you're entered in the drawing!

COWBOY UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE CONTEST!

Who wouldn't want this cowboy under their holiday tree?

He'll be delivering grand prizes from all the authors at Wildflower Junction! Your holiday gift includes signed Christmas books, Special Edition Young Guns DVD, homemade earrings, Holiday napkins, Christmas ornaments, Lenox candle,glitzy baubles and much more!

Contest Ends December 6th

Go to http://www.petticoatsandpistols.com to enter!!

My Two New Grandchildren

Until I get the real thing, Echo and Gizmo are serving as our new grandchildren. They were recently adopted by my son and his fiance and we already love them to pieces.

Notice how their tails cross over each other as they eat! Aren't they just so smart and cute!!

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING?

Here's some trivia facts that might deem completely useless ....

The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as substitute for blood plasma.

No piece of paper can be folded in half more than 7 times.

Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes.

You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.

Oak trees do not produce acorns until they are fifty years of age or older.

The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley's gum.

The king of hearts is the only king without a mustache.

American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating 1 olive from each salad served in first-class.

Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.

Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.

Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin.

The first owner of the Marlboro Company died of lung cancer.
So did the first 'Marlboro Man'.

Walt Disney was afraid of mice.

Pearls melt in vinegar.

The three most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca Cola and Budweiser, in that order.

It is possible to lead a cow upstairs...but not downstairs.

A duck's quack doesn't echo and no one knows why.

Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least 6 feet
away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the
flush. (I keep my toothbrush in the living room now.)

Richard Millhouse Nixon was the first US president whose name contains all the letters from the word "criminal."
The second?
William Jefferson Clinton.

And the best for last.....

Turtles can breathe through their butts.

Now you know everything there is to know.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL YOU ROMANTICS OUT THERE!!

A Monday Morning Funny - sorry I couldn't resist!!

Confucius say....


If you can't find the book

you want.........

You're probably shopping

at the........

Two Blogs Today!!

BLOGGING TODAY ON PETTICOATS AND PISTOLS AND ON THE DESIRE BLOG.

It's all about smiling and where I get my margaritas! Hope to see you there!

Guilty Pleasures Sweepstakes at Eharlequin!

I posted this on Facebook too! It's a fun thing to do. Play the Shuffle Game while you are there. You might win something!! Go to:

http://harlequin.promo.eprize.com/guiltypleasures/

Read More About the Book Fair at the LA Times!

Here's a link to the LA Times Article about the Book Fair on Sunday, October 18. A free event to all lovers of books to come and meet your favorite romance authors!

Books on a Budget - economy buster!

Harlequin is posting their Top Ten Books on a Budget!
And guess who's book is listed? That's right with a 40% savings to you.
Here's a list of the books and authors you might like to read.

Top 10 Books on a Budget
1. Lexy's Little Matchmaker by Lynda Sandoval
2. The Phantom of Black's Cove by Jan Hambright
3. Savas' Defiant Mistress by Anne McAllister
4. Spaniard's Seduction by Tessa Radley
5. Risking Her Heart by Wendy Etherington and Liz Allison
6. Caitlyn's Prize by Linda Warren
7. Seducing Miss Lockwood by Helen Dickson
8. Reserved for the Tycoon by Charlene Sands
9. Capelli's Captive Virgin by Sarah Morgan
10. Royal Protocol by Dana Marton


And speaking of savings - if you're in the Los Angeles area, I'll be doing a booksigning at the Los Angeles Romance Writer's Book Fair on Sunday, October 18 from 12 to 2 PM at the Barnes and Noble in Encino. Cross streets are Hayvenhurst and Ventura Blvd.

AND if you buy a book from me, you'll get another FREE! It's my way of economy-busting!

Twelve local authors and lot's of goodies to give out! Hope to see you there!!

Winner of the Texan's Wedding-Night Wager Contest!

Thanks everyone for entering my contest. We'll have another contest on my site soon, for the holidays!

Please help me congratulate Ruth Chestnut! She's won an Amazon Gift Card and a beautiful Brighton bracelet!!

Ruth, your prizes are on the way!

Enjoy!

Remember too, it's Freebie Friday at eharlequin ... so order those books and a get a free one too!!

Come See Me!

Hi Friends,

I'll be signing my latest book and giving away one from my backlist with each purchase. Come see me on OCT 18th and meet a whole bunch of great authors!! I hope to see you there!

LARA's Annual Book Fair is Sunday, October 18

Location: Barnes & Noble, Encino at 16461 Ventura Blvd. Encino, CA 91436

Time: 12pm (after the Los Angeles Romance Authors General Meeting)

We will have FIFTEEN authors signing!! You'll find all kinds of wonderful romances: Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Pirate/Adventure, Mystery, Western, Erotic, and anthologies of short stories.

Come and support your friends and fellow authors or meet a new favorite. Authors participating in the event include:

Trish Albright, Julie Amante, Leigh Court, Sabrina Darby, Dayle Dermatis, Aileen Fish, Tanya Hanson, Jennifer Haymore, Dorothy Howell, Linda O. Johnston, Christine London, Charlene Sands, Joanne Sundell, Trish Silver, and Kate Willoughby.

A portion of the proceeds from any books bought during the signing will be donated to LARA. This also includes other books you might purchase when you come. We will have slips at the event which you can take to the register.

For those of you attending the General Meeting at 10:30am, Jennifer Haymore will be the speaker. The book signing is free. The General Meeting is $4 for LARA members, $8 for non-members, and the first meeting is free!!

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN THIS TIRED??

AND THE VERY BEST ONE OF ALL ....

The Freedom Trail

I'm blogging today at Petticoats and Pistols. Come and see my pictures of Boston! This is Trinity Church in Copley Square. Have you been to Boston and seen the historic sites?

Fresh Fiction Review!!

Thanks all for making Texan's Wedding-Night Wager #2 bestseller at Borders/Waldenbooks for two weeks in a row!!!

Here's the latest review from Fresh Fiction.


Texas Men Always Come with a Charm...What is it about that Country Drawl?"
Reviewed by Tonya Callihan
Posted September 21, 2009


Oh, boy! This is one of those stories you will be sorry if you don't read. I cannot believe what I read! It's fantastic. I love country men...especially Texas men. They just come off as so strong and handsome. They'll make your heart sigh with there sizziling charm and your toes curl with their passionate lovemaking. Seperation is a hard thing and it's even harder when it's something you really don't want, but you feel the other person does. Cara nor Kevin really knew how the other felt. Cara just wanted the divorce to be final so she could move on, Kevin only wanted revenge because he still wanted Cara. In the last week they spend together, emotions are toyed with, feelings are hurt, passion stirs, and both realize how much they truly love one another and how devoted they are to make this marriage work. Chralene Sands has done an amazing job taking a storyline and making it an emotional rollercoaster ride that ends with one of the best happily-ever-afters a girl could only dream of. It's a book you'll want to read over and over again. And Chralene Sands is an author you will want to read more from.

Texan's Wedding-Night Wager by Charlene Sands
Summary
No one walked away from this Texas mogul…especially not his wife! So when Cara chose to leave rather than play second fiddle to his company, Kevin plotted his revenge. Four years later, she returned, intent on finalizing their divorce. But Cara had no clue that Kevin had constructed the perfect payback plan. It’s a wager she can’t refuse. The divorce would be official...if she agreed to one last week of playing house. And nothing would be off-limits.

FREEDOM FOR WILD HORSES

FREEDOM FOR WILD HORSES



If you love horses and like to shop, here's a way you can help save a horse. It's a beautiful site you should all see, the music is lovely too.

Carol is my cousin and she's passionate about horses. A portion of all proceeds go to an amazing organization that saves wild horses.

Here's a little bit about their site:


Two friends, Carol, and Cristi decided to start a new business together that would somehow benefit America's Wild Horses. We chose a custom apparel line named FREEDOM FOR WILD HORSES.

Over the years, the two of us have had the pleasure of riding our own horses amongst the Wild Horse Herds in the canyons of Nevada. It is truly an amazing experience, but through government roundups, the Wild Horses and Burros are diminishing at rapid rates. At one time more than 2 million horses roamed wild. Now, fewer than 30,000 remain.

Carol has had the pleasure of having a Wild Mustang as a friend and companion for many years. With "Casper's" passing, we decided to start our business in his honor. Giving back to the Wild Horses is a small way of repaying him for the friendship and knowledge he gave all of us. We have chosen Return to Freedom American Wild Horse Sanctuary to benefit from our efforts. Neda DeMayo is the founder of Return to Freedom and is dedicated to giving the Wild Horses back a life of freedom that would otherwise be lost.

FREEDOM FOR WILD HORSES will donate 10% of the net proceeds from the sales of our products (excluding leather) to Return to Freedom Sanctuary. To learn more about the Sanctuary, visit them at www.returntofreedom.org.

We hope that far into the future this wonderful part of our western history will still be here for everyone to enjoy.

You can wear our clothing with pride in knowing that you have helped America's Wild Horses, and we THANK YOU for helping us help them.

Sincerely,
Carol and Cristi

Who Reads Romance?

Well, if you're reading my blog today, you probably read romance novels! Right?
You are not alone. Take a look at some of the stats for romances taken straight from the Romance Writers of America website. You'll have to agree it's pretty impressive and you're in good company if you love romance!

Popularity of Romance Fiction

(source: Business of Consumer Book Publishing 2009)
Romance fiction generated $1.37 billion in sales in 2008.
7,311 new romance titles were released in 2008.
In 2008, romance was the top performing category on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly best-seller lists.
Romance fiction sales are estimated at $1.36 billion for 2009.
74.8 million people read at least one romance novel in 2008. (source: RWA Reader Survey)

Market Share of Romance Fiction
(source: Business of Consumer Book Publishing 2009)

Romance fiction was the largest share of the consumer market in 2008 at 13.5 percent.

Romance Market Share Compared to Other Genres
(source: Simba Information estimates)

Romance fiction: $1.37 billion in estimated revenue for 2008
Religion/inspirational: $800 million
Mystery: $668 million
Science fiction/fantasy: $551 million
Classic literary fiction: $446 million

About the Romance Genre
Romance fiction is smart, fresh and diverse. Whether you enjoy contemporary dialogue, historical settings, mystery, thrillers or any number of other themes, there's a romance novel waiting for you!

Two basic elements comprise every romance novel: a central love story and an emotionally-satisfying and optimistic ending.

A Central Love Story: The main plot centers around two individuals falling in love and struggling to make the relationship work. A writer can include as many subplots as he/she wants as long as the love story is the main focus of the novel.

An Emotionally-Satisfying and Optimistic Ending: In a romance, the lovers who risk and struggle for each other and their relationship are rewarded with emotional justice and unconditional love.

Romance novels may have any tone or style, be set in any place or time, and have varying levels of sensuality, ranging from sweet to extremely hot. These settings and distinctions of plot create specific subgenres within romance fiction. Click here to better understand the subgenres within romance.

Romance Novel Formats
There are two formats for romance fiction:

(THIS IS ME) Series or "category" romances: books issued under a common imprint/series name that are usually numbered sequentially and released at regular intervals, usually monthly, with the same number of releases each time. These books are most commonly published by Harlequin/Silhouette.

Single-title romances: longer romances released individually and not as part of a numbered series. Single-title romances may be released in hard cover, trade paperback, or mass-market paperback sizes.

Does that clarify things? Romance often takes a beating with jabs and jokes about the content, but LOVE makes the world go around and these stats prove that. When times are bad, people want to be uplifted with Happily Ever Afters and Feel Good books!

That's my job!

Viewer Warning - This Could be Dangerous to your Waistline!

FIVE MINUTE CHOCOLATE CAKE!

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug(MicroSafe)

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT ! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?

Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

America's Got Talent?

Wow! I think I was blown completely away with Barbara Padilla last night on America's Got Talent. Did you see her? Not only did she look stunning in a Grecian blue gown, but her voice hit every note with clarity and beauty. That's the only way I can describe it. For a show that often showcases acts that would clearly fit in a three ring circus or a carnival, every once in a while they come through with someone who is absolutely amazing.

Judging by her performance last night, she should win it all!

Singing Cowboys, Country Music and Elvis

is the topic of my blog at Petticoats and Pistols this Friday. Stop by and say hello.


You might win a nice prize!

Time Traveler's Wife

My hubby took me to see Time Traveler's Wife this weekend. I insisted it wasn't a chick flick, though I will admit I usually do like to read the book before I see the movie. In this case, it wasn't possible, my reading of late has slacked off as I'm too busy trying to make my deadlines! And my dh said he liked it afterall, so not a true chick flick, in case you were wondering.

With Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams in the lead roles, it wasn't hard to watch. These two had chemistry on screen and I've just recently became a fan of Bana's. I've been a fan of Rachel's since The Notebook.

The movie's premise was intriquing and kept me entertained and also kept me guessing. Perhaps the biggest flaw in the movie, was that we never understood why Eric Bana time traveled. It might have been more clear in the book, but the movie never really addressed that. There seemed to be no purpose to it, or why he showed up in his new time period, naked. Not that I'm complaining... it's nice to see some male nudity once in a while on screen for a change. And he fit the bill quite nicely. Watching him fade away from view slowly, leaving just a pile of clothes behind was effective to say the least, but again ...WHY? As a writer, I know I couldn't get away from that... every occurence needs motivation. That's the main thing that bothered me.

This story was reminicient of the TV show from a few years back called The Journeyman. It entertained the same principles but the Journeyman, did have a purpose and that was to solve crimes or make something right in the past.

It was great way to spend an afternoon and I did enjoy the story. It's not a tear-jerker, but

I wouldn't expect a classic HEA either. I enjoyed the way the writer brought Henry back and forth through time to meet his family, his wife and child both in the past and in the future.

On the other hand, we saw Funny People a few weeks back and I wouldn't advise it. It's not funny unless you're a adolescent boy bent on hearing unamusing jokes about the male anatomy until your ears are ready to split.

Okay, enough of the reviews from me. Just thought I'd share.

All in all, I have to say I'm glad I went to see Time Traveler's Wife. Have you seen it or read the book? How would you compare the two?

It's Freebie Fridays at Eharlequin

Happens every week. If you buy 2 books today at Eharlequin you get a third book free!

Texan's Wedding Night Wager is #7 today and has been in the Top Ten Bestsellers for Eharlequin all month long. Have you picked up your copy today?
Today is the day to do it!! And if spend just $10.00 at Eharlequin you get FREE SHIPPING! Look at the side bar on the Eharlequin Site for all the Freebies!

Today's Freebie Book is Carol Marinelli's Italian Boss, Ruthless Revenge.