My new love!

Come on over to Pistols and Petticoats today (Friday)to see about my new love! Win a signed book from my backlist and this metal art bookmark from Arizona!

The Cure for Spring Fever !

This from Eharlequin this week.

I'm pleased to see Taming the Texan included!

Top 10 Books That Cure Spring Fever

1. Taming the Texan by Charlene Sands

2. The Blackmail Baby by Penny Jordan

3. The Sheikh's Convenient Virgin by Trish Morey

4. A Risky Affair by Maureen Smith

5. Naughty Paris by Jina Bacarr

6. The Spanish Aristocrat's Woman by Katherine Garbera

7. Dark Seduction by Kathleen Korbel

8. The Italian's Seduction by Karen Van Der Zee

9. Operation: Rescue by Anne Woodard

10. Sealed with a Kiss by Carly Phillips

Buy any 6 featured books and get 2 additional titles FREE with our Spring Fever offer!

Midnight Bride

Here's my friend Tanya's book. I hope you get a chance to read this story, it's great! She's also giving a chance at a free copy.

Read on:

Broke and alone, Carrie Smith vows to hold on to her ramshackle West Texas ranch. Once she locates her late granddaddy’s will, she’s sure to find a way out of the predicament his gambling debts have thrust on her.

She sure doesn’t expect a handsome stranger showing up in Sweetcream, bearing legal documents forcing their marriage by midnight tonight. Carrie must take on cowboy Jed Jones—and his full pocketbook—or lose her ranch.

All Jed wants is the land rightfully due him. And to find out if his beautiful bride’s father killed his own.

Coffee Time Romance calls Midnight Bride a four-cup “Outstanding Great Read.”

Midnight Bride is available now at http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/midnightbride.htm

To win a free copy in your choice of formats, enter “Carrie’s Crypto Contest.” Details at http://www.tanyahanson.net/ Deadline March 31

Visit Tanya at her website, blog or MySpace.

http://www.tanyahanson.net/
www.myspace.com/tanyahansonbooks
http://tanyahanson.blogspot.com

Humor For Lexophiles ... that's lovers of words.

From my friend Mary who knows I'm a lover of words!


I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.



Police were called to a day care where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.



Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now.



The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference.



The butcher backed up into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.



To write with a broken pencil is pointless.



When fish are in schools they sometimes take debate.



The short fortune teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.



A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.



A thief fell and broke his leg in wet cement. He became a hardened criminal.



Thieves who steal corn from a garden could be charged with stalking.



We'll never run out of math teachers because they always multiply



When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, U.C.L.A. (how true!)



The math professor went crazy with the blackboard. He did a number on it.



The professor discovered that her theory of earthquakes was on shaky ground.



The dead batteries were given out free of charge. (clever)



If you take a laptop computer for a run you could jog your memory.



A dentist and a manicurist fought tooth and nail. (corny!)



A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.



A will is a dead giveaway.



Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.



A backward poet writes inverse.



In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your Count that votes.



A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.



If you don't pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.



With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.



Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft and I'll show you A-flat miner. (when would you ever see that?)



He had a photographic memory which was never developed



When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall



Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.



Acupuncture: a jab well done.

MyTop Ten Favorite Shows this Season

When I'm pooped and a little burned out from writing, reading, researching and promoting, these are the television shows that entertain me. These are the shows I watch when I need to vegge out. These are the shows that I DVR when I'm not home.

See how many of these you enjoy.
I'm rating them in order of importance to me.

1. Lost ( I don't miss an episode and haven't since the beginning)

2. American Idol ( I will admit to fast forwarding thru Paula's comments at times)

3. The Biggest Loser ( I like Alison Sweeney from Days and tuned in just to see her, but wound up being a big fan of the show. Very informative health tips and work outs. I'm learning a lot. I do love the weigh-ins.)

4. Celebrity Apprentice ( I'm not a Donald fan, but like the show, mainly because of Trace Atkins and the others who have diverse dynamics)

5. Desperate Housewives ( A fan from inception and miss it terribly)

6. Men In Trees ( There's something about that show, great characters)

7. One Tree Hill (family ties here and a very good show)

8. Numbers ( very underrated show, great characters and plots)

9. Deal or No Deal ( I like game shows and Howie makes me laugh)

10. Martha Stewart ( love cooking and craft shows )

I'm also blogging today at Petticoats and Pistols.

Stop by for a visit!

And now for the commercial...

If you want added savings to all of your purchases at Eharlequin from now until March 12, use this code.

Maybe, you'll even pick up Taming the Texan as one of your sale items. Click here to my site and click on Eharlequin under the hunky Texan's cover if you'd like the additonal discount. Simply use the code 3DAYSALE when you check out.

I'm always in the mood for a bargain, aren't you?

Happy Reading!

KEEPING HEALTHY - DISPELLING MYTHS

Everyone is very health conscious these days but often we don't know what to believe. What's true and what's not true?

Here's a list of the Top Health Myths that might help us all decide.

Myth 1: Potatoes and bread are fattening.

Actually: It's just the opposite. Starchy vegetables and bread (whole-grain bread, that is) are quality carbs needed to fuel every part of you, from your brain to your muscles. Where you can get into trouble is how you eat them: Smear butter on a slice of whole wheat bread or deep-fry potatoes and you can double, triple, or quadruple their calories.

Myth 2: Drinking a glass of water before a meal curbs appetite.

Actually: Yes and no. Water tames appetite if it's incorporated into food, such as soup or a thick drink (think V8 juice). Apparently, when water is bound to food, digestion is slower, explains Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of 10 Habits That Mess Up a Woman's Diet. That's why in one study women found chicken-rice soup more satisfying than chicken-rice casserole and a glass of water--even though the soup had 27% fewer calories! One exception to this rule: Because it's easy to confuse hunger and thirst, if you find yourself craving something--but what?--drink a big glass of water and wait a few minutes. You may find that's what you really wanted.

Myth 3: Shellfish is high in cholesterol.

Actually: On one hand it's true, just three ounces of shrimp deliver more than a third of your daily cholesterol, but there's a surprising flip side to this story: Shrimp are low in saturated fat--the kind that becomes artery-clogging bad cholesterol--and they have a smidgeon of heart-healthy omega-3s. In fact, University of Southern California researchers discovered eating shellfish, such as shrimp, every week reduced heart attack risk by 59%!

Myth 4: The occasional burger and fries won't kill you.

Actually: If "occasional" means every Friday night, then no. But if it means every few months, and you're fit, and you've got good "numbers" (weight, waist size, cholesterol, blood pressure) AND you're chowing down on vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and other nutritious fare most other days, hey, you'll live. But few of us are that perfect. If you do occasionally indulge? Offset the effects of a fat fiesta with a brisk, 90-minute walk afterward.

Myth 5: Women naturally gain weight after menopause.

Actually: While you can blame a lot of things on hormones (from acne to PMS), in this case slowing down physically is far more likely at fault. Study after study has found that older women who exercise regularly and vigorously maintain their girlish figures. What about those charts that say as you get older, you need to eat fewer calories to simply maintain your weight? Same story. The research doesn't show that age (instead of inactivity) accounts for the drop.

Myth 6: Diet soda is worse than the real thing.
Actually: Soft drinks now outrank coffee as America's favorite beverage, but we all would be better off switching to water, diluted juice, and green tea than drinking either diet or regular soda. Both increase kidney and heart disease risk, plus they contain acids that erode tooth enamel, inviting cavities.

Final fact (this one's no myth): Maintaining your weight and body mass index at a desirable level can make your RealAge as much as 6 years younger.

Happy Leap Day!

It's February 29th and here's a bit of news. Back in the day, women had a
chance to choose their mate on leap day. Once every four years, it was considered appropriate for a woman to issue a marriage proposal on February 29th.

Wishing you all a happy Leap Day! I'm blogging today about proposals and weddings so LEAP on over to Petticoats and Pistols.
I'd love to see you there!

American Idle - The girls stalled the show last night.

American Idol- Yes, I do know how to really spell it!

Last week I thought the girls outshined the boys in overall talent. But this week, two performances stood out and they were male vocalists.

I'm calling them the Dueling Davids.

David Hernandez wowed me. I really like his tone and style. I think he's got natural talent that isn't forced. Simon thought he was better than he'd expected, high praise coming from the Kritic King.

But I do agree with Simon, this week the one that topped the charts -- I mean really outsung every one of the contestants, was David Archuleta.

He sang John Lennon's Imagine, and gave me goose bumps! This 17 year old has a truly honest, pure and natural voice that comes across nearly flawlessly. There's a difference between singing the music and feeling the music. David feels the music.

Both Davids site Stevie Wonder as their inspiration.

Simon has it right this time. David Archuleta is the one to beat.

Who's going tonight is anyone's guess.

Gotta watch!

Only Great Minds Can Read This!

I loved this. See if you can do it! and let me know! There are no typos in this. It's how it's supposed to look.

This is weird, but interesting!

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too Cna yuo raed tihs?

Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg.The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch atCmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in awrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer bein the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raedit whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed erveylteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and Iawlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wishing you all a very Happy Valentine's Day, the most romantic day of the year! This morning I woke up to find a lovely note from my husband along with handcut roses from our garden placed in a pretty glass bowl, the rose tops floating on water. It was a lovely surprise and his note, just about made my heart flutter.

It's the little things in life that matter most. It's the love and consideration and kindness we share with our loved ones that make the world go around.

Hug a friend today. Tell someone you love them.

If you have a chance, stop by our Valentine's Day blog at Petticoats and Pistols today for some fun facts, recipes and chat.

I'll be chatting tomorrow all day at Petticoats about Romance In the Movies. Post a comment on Friday and you're entered to win an autographed book.

Have a SWEET Day, my friends!

HUMP DAY FUNNIES

Something to get us over the Wednesday hump! I thought these were very clever.

Philosophies of the Famous

Sometimes, when I look at my children, I say to myself ~~"Lillian, you should have remained a virgin." -- Lillian Carter (mother of Jimmy Carter)

I had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalog: "No good in a bed, but fine against a wall." -- Eleanor Roosevelt

Last week, I stated this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever seen. I have since been visited by her sister, and now wish to withdraw that statement. -- Mark Twain

The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible. -- George Burns

Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year. - - Victor Borge

Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint. -- Mark Twain

By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher. -- Socrates

I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury -- Groucho Marx

Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. Alex Levine

I don't feel old. I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's time for my nap. -- Bob Hope

I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it. -- W.C. Fields

We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work its way through Congress. -- Will Rogers

Don't worry about avoiding temptation as you grow older, it will avoid you -- Winston Churchill

Maybe it's true that life begins at fifty, but everything else starts to wear out, fall out, or spread out. -- Phyllis Diller

By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old to go anywhere. -- Billy Crystal

The cardiologist's diet: If it tastes good, spit it out.

Making Pancakes

Six-year-old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter,opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling iton the floor.He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in mostof a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a flour trail on the floorwhich by now had a few tracks left by the kitten.

Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad.He didn't know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove and he didn't know how the stove worked! Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas whiteand sticky.And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon 's eyes .

All he'd wanted to do was something good, but he'd made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking, but his father just watched him.Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process!That's how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend, or we can't stand our job, or our health goes sour.

Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him.But just because we might mess up, we can't stop trying to "make pancakes" for God or for others. Sooner or later we'll get it right, and then they'll be glad we tried...I was thinking and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that need rekindling or three words needing to be said.Sometimes, "I love you" can heal & bless!

Remind every one of your friends that you love them. Even if you think they don't love you back, you would be amazed at what those three little words, a smile, and a reminder like this can do. Just in case I haven't told you lately... I LOVE YA!!! Please pass some of this love on to others. Suppose one morning you were called to God; do all your friends know you love them?

I hope everyone keeps on making pancakes.

BRADY VS. MANNING

Everyone believed it would be the other Manning in the Superbowl on Sunday! But Eli Manning proved his worth and brought his team to the biggest game of the year!

The news reports are calling it the Playboy vs. The Home Boy. (not in urban terms) Are you a fan? I must admit when the stakes are so high, I become an avid fan and go to a Superbowl Party every year. But I'll admit that I look forward to the commercials just as much!!

I'm blogging tomorrow (Friday) on Petticoats and Pistols. Be sure to stop by and say hello! I'd love to talk with you!

Sneak Peek

THE COWBOY AND THE VIRTUOUS WIDOW

Clint Hayworth had returned to the Double H to find his father's too-young-attractive widow in charge. The woman had to be a gold digger - so why couldn't Clint stop thinking about her?

Tess Morgan-Hayworth couldn't sit by and watch the ranch be destroyed. It was the only place she'd ever felt safe. So she would have to face up to this stubborn, hardheaded, gorgeous Texan, and tame him...

But Tess wasn't sure she could hold out against the sexy cowboy for long!

Well, what do you think of the cover? The cowboy's not half bad, but the Double H in the background is the wealthiest ranch in the state! I wondered about that shack, but far beyond the cover, I hope readers like the story that deals not only with a strong passionate romance and lots of sizzling sexual tension but powerful issues that females had to - and still- face every single day.

Available on Eharlequin in February and in bookstores in March!

And if you liked Bodine's Bounty, it's up for the Cataromance Best Category Romance of 2007. It's coming in a close second. Please take a moment to cast your votes HERE. Thanks!!

Happy Monday everyone!

Come Say Hello

I'm visiting my good friend Cheryl St. John's Blog today and talking about Hunky Heroes X Five.

Hope you can join in and see her beautiful site.

Don't you just love this cover?

She's also posted our wonderful contest prizes for Petticoats and Pistols there. See what you can win!!

Come vist me on Friday at Petticoats and Pistols. I'll be blogging about my contemporary western Desires and how I sneak the cowboys in.

Also going to give away a hard to find 2003 Desire,

The Heart of a Cowboy. Stop by and say hello!

Cataromance Award

It's been a very good week for me. I can't say how pleased I am to announce that my 2007 June Silhouette Desire, Between the CEO'S Sheets has won the 2007 Cataromance Reviewer's Choice Award in its category.

A Perfect 10 from Romance Reviews Today AND an unexpected award - that's enough to make my day!

The brand new SPRING INTO THE WEST CONTEST is starting. Be sure to enter on my contest page!!

A PERFECT 10 !

I don't usually post my reviews on my blog, but today is special. Today, The Corporate Raiders Revenge, received an honor by being Romance Reviews Today Perfect 10. Needless to say I'm thrilled, not only for garnering my first Perfect 10, but because it means that the extra effort I take to make my stories memorable, is being recognized. I'm thankful that RRT enjoyed the story so much. To see all their reviews go to
Romance Reviews Today Blog
The Best and The Brightest Reviews on the Web
Monday, January 14, 2008

A Perfect Ten: The Corporate Raider's Revenge

THE CORPORATE RAIDER’S REVENGE – Charlene SandsA Perfect 10Silhouette Desire #1848ISBN (13): 978-0-373-76848-6ISBN (10): 0-373-76848-6January 2008Short Series RomanceMaui, Hawaii and Los Angeles, California ~

Present Day -Elena Royal is in Hawaii licking her wounds from nearly marrying a man who was only after her money. Suddenly one day, she spies a sexy, gorgeous man, Ty, who’s soon wooing her into his bed. She doesn’t tell him who she is -- the only child of a hotel magnate -- and Elena knows when her vacation is over she’ll walk away. But, can she?A hotel magnate himself, Evan Tyler knew not long after spotting Elena who she was…the daughter of his hated rival. What better way to exact revenge than to bed her, then throw the affair into his rival’s face later. However, Evan didn’t bank on ending up caring for Elena.

Once back in Los Angeles, two things cause changes in Evan and Elena’s lives: her father dies suddenly, leaving her at the helm, and an unexpected little dividend from their affair suddenly ties the couple together.Charlene Sands has created two likeable, sympathetic characters in Elena and Evan. Though Elena has the money and the status of being an only child, she is in no way spoiled. Working alongside her father isn’t her dream job, but his unexpected death leaves her reeling, and she’ll do what it takes to keep the company going. She can’t forget, however, the man she had a brief affair with in Hawaii, so when he walks into her office one day, and she learns he is really Evan Tyler, it’s a shocking blow.

Evan only has a tinge of regret in being dishonest with Elena; he just wishes their meeting had been under other circumstances. Evan has been shaped by a tragedy in his youth, and he strives to make money -- lots of it -- as a way to forget what happened. He hasn’t let a woman get close to him, but now he wants Elena and he’ll do anything to get her. However, he will have to break down his own self-imposed barriers, to bare his soul, or he may lose the one woman who’s his best match.

By the end of the first chapter of THE CORPORATE RAIDER’S REVENGE, I’d fallen in love with Elena and Evan. Though he is dishonest at first, even I could sense his heart being won over by sweet Elena. Their lovemaking is sensual, yet sweet, despite its occurring early in the story. As we learn more about Elena and Evan’s backgrounds, watch their interaction in the boardroom and as they fall in love, it only solidifies my first impression: THE CORPORATE RAIDER’S REVENGE deserves RRT’s designation as a Perfect 10.

It’s a book I could not put down and wished it’d been longer. I’m glad to hear Ms. Sands is writing stories about Evan’s brothers, and I am putting them on my list of highly anticipated books. I’m sure you’ll feel the same after reading Evan and Elena’s story.I strongly recommend that you put THE CORPORATE RAIDER’S REVENGE on the top of your book shopping cart. You will care for the characters just as I did and love this engrossing tale.Patti Fischer
Posted by PattiF at 6:55 PM
Labels: A Perfect 10

Romance Reviews Today 2008 Perfect 10's

KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR MY NEW SPRING INTO THE WEST CONTEST

COMING SOON!!

ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A TEN YEAR OLD ... ABOUT MARRIAGE?

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY? (written by kids)

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.-- Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.-- Kristen, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.-- Camille, age 10

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?

You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.-- Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?

Both don't want any more kids.-- Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?

Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough -- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure)

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. -- Martin, age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?

I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.-- Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

When they're rich.-- Pam, age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that. - - Curt, age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. -- Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?

It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.-- Anita, age 9 (bless you child)

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?

There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?-- Kelvin, age 8And the #1 Favorite is.......

HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?

Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck. -- Ricky, age 10

Our Win in Winter Contest is Ending - New Contests coming VERY Soon!

The Win in Winter Contest will be coming to a close this week. There's still time to enter, if you haven't already!

And then immediately, we'll be posting a new contest, so check back often.

Also, our Petticoats and Pistols site will be hosting a major contest starting next week. Be sure to check there for some great prizes!

Thanks to everyone who entered and good luck!!

My Favorite Holiday Movie

Maybe it's the romantic in me, but I found Enchanted, simply enchanting! Could it be, that the small child is still in all of us just waiting to come out?

This is Amy Adams thrust in the real world after living in a fairy tale world all of her life. My girlfriend saw this movie in New York and said, "You have to see it. The actress reminds me of the Little Mermaid." That intrigued me and I coaxed my husband to come with me. It was the holiday season and maybe, even he was up to something more fantasylike, and less "real". After all, for a few hours in time, it's nice to think of life as a fairy tale, isn't it?

This above picture, sort of wraps up my sentiments in a nutshell. There's a sense of wonder and awe, seeing life through Giselle's eyes.

What surprised me most, aside from the great acting, was that the story revolved around a little girl who'd lost her mother. The scenes with the young girl were touching and wonderful and there really was a plot!

We see an evil villainous we can dislike and secondary characters that we can cheer for.

National Treasure - Book of Secrets was just plain fun. You really have to suspend your disbelief in this movie, but if you're looking for an escape into adventure with lots of stunts and inspiring sets, this is a great movie. Though I did have to look at my husband with a hopeless gesture that said, "Oh, come on," a few times, since this plot made breaking into the White House and kidnapping the president, seem effortless - I still enjoyed it. Nicolas Cage can do no wrong. :)

The last movie I saw was Charlie Wilson's War. Give me Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts and I'm a happy camper. Though, I wasn't sure what the movie was really about going in, it sure showed Washington D.C, in a light that isn't pretty, but sadly, is probably true. I did love the history to his story based on true events and the acting was superb. Expect another nomination for Tom Hanks in this one.

That's all for my holiday movie going! What about you? Any movies you loved or hated this season?

DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!



Can you believe it's 2008 already? It's hard to imagine when I think about all the past hoopla about the millenium. The anticipation and worry and excitement and now 8 years have passed since then.



Well, I for one do have New Years Resolutions. Since I'm a goal-setter, it's easier for me to keep them. In another blog, I'd asked about resolutions and spoke of some ways people can stick to them, but ultimately many people just don't like making them. They feel they are setting themselves up to fail.



You don't think you'll stick to them, so why try?



My own philosphy is that if I don't try, then I can't complain later on. I'd rather just try. Thus, for me, I like to set mental resolutions. This doesn't happen just on January 1st, but during the entire course of the year for me.



Here are a few of mine. More will come later, I'm sure.



1. Keep exercising and try to do it more often. (this is the most popular by far, but a good one)



2. Keep eating healthy. (we do - we aren't fast-food eaters and I'm learning to enjoy making inventive salads)



3. Keep one step ahead of my deadlines. (this requires a lot of dedication and my butt in the computer chair)





4. Try to spend more time away from the computer. (it's 11:47 am and I haven't had breakfast yet - and is in direct contrast with #3)



5. Enjoy every second of planning our daughter's wedding. ( a no-brainer - I'm very excited)



6. Try to spend more time with friends ( they are very important in my life)



7. Play my own version of The Biggest Loser ( try to lose weight each week along with the contestants - for fun and because I'd like to shave off 15 lbs before the wedding!)



I'm hoping to keep all of these thru the year, but if I falter, I'll keep trying.

What about you?

Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!

Thanks to all of you who stopped by my site this year. It made it extra special for me. It's been an up and down year, with winning and being nominated for awards and losing a dear uncle, with working hard and keeping to my deadlines. With trying to share my time equally with family and friends. With always keeping my mother and father, near to my heart.

I thought I'd post some pictures to highlight my favorite things from 2007. Hope you enjoy!

The Family - My Dear Husband Don, My daughter Nikki and son Jason.

Sunset at my cousin's ranch in north Las Vegas.

My closest friends from elementary school. I won't say how

many years we've known each other!

Pam on the left, me, Robin and Mary

The Newly Engaged
Zac and Nikki

Being a part of Petticoats and Pistols has been a blast. Let me say I don't know a better group of authors headed up by Pam Crooks with Cheryl St. John, Geralyn Dawson, Stacey Kayne, Linda Broday, Mary Connealy, Patricia Potter, Karen Kay and Elizabeth Lane. I hope you get a chance to stop by in 2008! The fillies are cooking up lots of fun blogs and contests!

I was thrilled to win the 2006 National Reader's Choice Award this year!

And lastly, working this year with Operation Gratitude to send care packages to American soldiers around the globe. It was a truly rewarding experience.

THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR TIME WITH ME

HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROPEROUS NEW YEAR.

SEE YOU SOON!!

The Way to a Man's Heart Featured on CPQ Magazine and a Chuckle!

My book, The Way to a Man's Heart will have a featured ad in CPQ Magazine, a digital magazine for readers and writers of romance. You can download the FREE December issue of this magazine this week at Cobblestone Press. Check it out!!


And Visit me tomorrow (Friday) at Petticoats and Pistols to find out what I have in common with Ben Affleck!

Thanks to my friend Mary, I received a good chuckle today:

The Husband Store
A brand new store has just opened in New York City that sells Husbands.

When women go to choose a husband, they have to follow the instructions at the entrance: 'you may visit this store ONLY ONCE! There are 6 floors and the value of the products increase as you ascend the flights. You may choose any item from a particular floor, or may choose to go up to the next floor, but you CANNOT go back down except to exit the building!

So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband.

On the 1st floor the sign on the door reads:
Floor 1 - These men have jobs.

The 2nd floor sign reads:
Floor 2 - These men Have Jobs and Love Kids.

The 3rd floor sign reads:
Floor 3 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids and are extremely good looking."Wow!" she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.

She goes to the 4th floor and the sign reads:
Floor 4 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Good Looking and Help with Housework."Oh, mercy me!" she exclaims, "I can hardly stand it!"

Still, she goes to the 5th floor and sign reads:
Floor 5 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Gorgeous, help with Housework and Have A Strong Romantic Streak.

She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the 6th floor and the sign reads:
Floor 6 - You are visitor 31,456,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store.

To avoid gender bias charges, the store's owner opens a New Wives store just across the street.

The 1st floor has wives that love sex.

The 2nd floor has wives that love sex and have money.

The 3rd through 6th floors have never been visited...

12 Deals of Christmas on Eharlequin! Don't miss this!

Hi everyone,


Seems there's so much happening lately during the Holiday Rush. Working, shopping, decorating, shopping, baking, shopping. If you're looking for an easy way to shop for your favorite authors don't miss the great new deals on Eharlequin!

I wanted to share their 12 Deals of Christmas. We've missed a few, but there's still a week's worth of great shopping on the site for you with incredible deals that include free shipping, free books and extra goodies.

Go to:

http://www.eharlequin.com/store.html?cid=457



And remember Bodine's Bounty and my new January Desire, The Corporate Raider's Revenge, will make a great stocking stuffer for someone you love - including yourself!


Happy Shopping all!!


P.S. Have you voted for Bodine's Bounty at http://redrosesforauthors.blogspot.com/
They're offering a prize for one lucky voter, so hop on over!

Auction and 66 Authors!

My Orange County Chapter of Romance Writers of America is offering a unique opportunity to bid on a T-Shirt signed by many of the greatest of all romance authors. I think you'll agree when you see the list:

Nora Roberts

Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Stella Cameron

Vickie Lewis Thompson

Harlequin Senior Editor - Mary Theresa Hussy

and 60 more authors. You may even find my name on there!

Go on over to http://occrwa.com/online_auction.htm to find out more info and start bidding!

Fans of Bodine's Bounty

Hi All,

I just found out that Bodine's Bounty is nominated for the first Annual Christmas Award at Red Roses for Authors review site. If you're a fan of the story and would like to cast your vote - this is a reader/reviewer award, -- please go to:
Red Roses for Authors

Voting ends on December 15th

Thanks for all of your support!!

Charlene

A Thanksgiving Greeting!

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

It's autumn and we've had a heat wave here in southern CA. The past three days we've hit highs in the 90's. Hardly seems like winter is just around the corner!

It's amazing how quickly time flies. I've been very busy lately working on a new proposal for Desire! And I'm happy to say, there will be a Desire Trilogy coming from me in 2009 titled The Tremaynes. Each story centers around three brothers, three hotels in three very different settings. My cowboy brother will have a story set in Arizona. My corporate brother's story will be set in New Orleans and my playboy brother's story will be set in Hawaii! I'm looking forward to writing the Tremaynes in the upcoming year. Lots of work, but lots of fun too. And I love all those locales - and hope to do "research" trips to Arizona and New Orleans soon. Maybe even Hawaii.

Friday, November 16th, I'll be blogging at Petticoats and Pistols. Please stop and say hello - I'll be revealing my "average" writing day and it's not all bon bons and roses!

I'm so pleased with my covers lately! November's Western shows the great Sierra Nevadas in the background and my January 2008 cover depicts the my hero and heroine perfectly.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving

filled with all your favorite things, including good health, good eating and lots of love!

Happy Reading Everyone!

SNEAK PEEK AND GUEST BLOGGING TODAY!

Come visit me today at Tote Bags and Blogs where I'm Guest Blogging about Alpha and Beta Heroes and everyone in between!

There's a free drawing for a 2-1 Desire if you post a comment there.

And here's a sneak peak of my newest Desire coming out in January 2008!

I really love the cover!