Don't Cry For Me by Sharon Sala

I had the pleasure of meeting the wonderful author, Sharon Sala, at the Ancient City Romance Authors' conference last weekend.  I got to be a fan and tell her how much I enjoy her work.  Her novel, Don't Cry For Me, took first place in the Romantic Suspense Category of the 2013 Heart of Excellence Readers' Choice Awards.  In my opinion it was well deserved.

Don't Cry For Me is the story of Mariah Conrad, a veteran released from active duty in Afghanistan.  She comes home physically and emotionally wounded.  She is surprised when Quinn Walker, who served with her, comes to pick her up on the day of her release.  He takes her to his home in the remote forests of Appalachia.  There she begins the arduous process of healing both her body and her mind.

Quinn and Mariah grow closer as they both heal from their wartime duty.  Their safety and very lives are threatened by outsiders come to use the rural mountains for illegal purposes.  Also there is a renegade bear rampaging in the area. As danger comes close to them, they grow closer still, more comfortable with each other.  They grow to hope they have a future together.

They are adopted by a foundling hound pup who turns out to be a great friend, indeed.

This one is a real page-turner.  Danger beckons while love blossoms.  It's got something for everyone.

Don't Cry For Me is a must-read for fans of suspense, contemporary stories about veterans and their families, and wonderful, realistic love stories.  It is the next novel in Ms. Sala's successful Rebel Ridge Series.

Pick it up.  You'll be very glad you did.

Blurb:

Mariah Conrad has come home.  Badly wounded on active duty in Afghanistan and finally released stateside, she has no family to call on and nowhere to go - until Quinn Walker arrives at her bedside.
Quinn - her brother-in-arms, ex-lover, and now maybe her future.

Quinn brings Mariah to his log cabin in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky to rest and recuperate both physically and emotionally.  While she's incredibly grateful, Mariah is also confused and frustrated.  She's always stood on her own two feet, but now even that can be torture.  She's having flashbacks and blackouts, hearing helicopter noises in the night.  She wants to push Quinn away and hold him closer than ever.

But will she get the chance?  Those helicopters are more than post-traumatic stress, they are real and dangerous. Bad things are happening on the mountain.  Suddenly there's a battle to be fought on the home front and no guarantee of survival.

Link for purchase:

Amazon

Beautiful Imperfection by Kathryn J. Bain

Beautiful Imperfection, the fourth novel by Kathryn J. Bain, follows the tradition of wonderful writing she established with her first novel.

Honestly, she is one of my favorite authors.  Her writing style is clean, concise, with plenty of action to keep the reader's interest.  One of the best things about her books is that she understands the use of "the hook" to grab the reader at the beginning.

In Beautiful Imperfection, we are introduced to Teddy Federline, a woman who had a recent mastectomy and has been pronounced cancer free.  At the insistence of friends, she is meeting a man for drinks in a local restaurant.  We see her apprehension in having this date as well as her insecurities due to the recent surgery.  It is a brief but wonderful introduction to this character.  The reader just starts having empathy for Teddy, when a gunman walks into the place and begins killing people at random.  Boom!  And there's the well-placed hook.

Teddy watches as someone she knows is killed, as well as others in the room.  Given her recent illness, she is determined to survive and takes action she never would have before in her life.  She helps take down the gunman so he can be disarmed.

That act of bravery makes her the target of the serial killer who shot the people in the restaurant.  One by one, the witnesses start dying, even though he sits securely behind bars.

In walks Sloan Michaels, her boyfriend from years ago, now a detective with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.  Teddy does not want to trust him because he deserted her when they were young.
He has feelings of his own and secrets he has never revealed.  He is determined to protect her, even at the cost of his own life.

Thus begins an intricate story that moves quickly and keeps you reading until the satisfying conclusion.

Ms. Bain has filled her story with well-drawn characters with whom we can empathize.  She also researched the healing process for women with breast cancer.  Teddy's battle, both physical and psychological is real.  In my old days in the field of social work, I worked with women like Teddy who were trying to cope in the aftermath of treatment from this disease.  I recognize Teddy's behavior as well as her physical symptoms.

The author will donate a portion of her net earnings for 2013 to Breast Cancer Research.

This is a terrific story of healing and redemption and not just for Teddy.  Filled with sensitivity and suspense, it is a good read that will stay with you.

I hope you will read this book and discover the talented Kathryn J. Bain. 

By the way, her cover art just took first place for the Inspirational category in the Sunshine State Romance Authors "Show Me Your Cover" contest.  It is a gorgeous cover, indicative of the sensitivity of the story inside.

Brava, Ms. Bain for another beautifully written novel!

Blurb:

When witnesses to a mass murder start dying, breast cancer survivor Teddy Federline must push aside her anger and trust an ex-boyfriend to ensure she lives long enough to testify against the killer.

Detective Sloan Michaels still has deep feelings for Teddy but realizes that after the way he left her years ago, he has a lot of making up to do. Now, he must keep his focus on the case and off the woman he loves. If Sloan doesn't keep Teddy safe, he'll never get a second chance.

Where to purchase: 

Amazon.com

One Lucky Vampire by Lynsay Sands

Lynsay Sands' most recent Argeneau novel, One Lucky Vampire, has been published.  It is the story of Stephano Notte, who goes by the name of Jake Colson.  Stephano, or Jake, doesn't want to be a vampire.  In fact, he's estranged from most of his family.  He's asked to do a favor for Marguerite, the charming and infamous matchmaker of the Argeneau clan.  There is a young lady of her acquaintance who is being threatened by an unknown stalker.  She is in need of a bodyguard, but will not accept the fact that someone is after her.

So Marguerite presents Jake to the young lady as a cook/housekeeper of the live-in variety.  The fact that Jake can't really cook doesn't seem to matter.  With cookbook in hand, he accepts the job and moves in with the soon to be divorced artist, Nicole Phillips.  There are several apparent attempts made on her life.  Plus there is a dangerous attraction between Jake and Nicole.  He fights the attraction, but the signs are all in place.

How does Marguerite always know?

This novel is hot, hot, HOT!!  Also, it is laced with Ms. Sands' characteristic humor.  The vivid characters bring life to the tale.  It is a warm and passionate love story played out among elements of danger, everything a reader could want in an enjoyable novel.

You'll read it in one sitting, because you won't want to put it down.  Vampire novels are common in the romance world.  But nobody writes them like Lynsay Sands.  Each story is a gem on its own, never a formula followed.  One Lucky Vampire is no exception. 

Wonderful job, Ms. Sands!  You keep writing and we'll keep reading.

Blurb

Luck be a vampire tonight . . .

When Nicole Phillips agreed to hire a housekeeper, she pictured someone a little frumpy and almost certainly female. Instead, she gets gorgeous, unmistakably male Jake Colson. The man is proving indispensable in the kitchen—and everywhere else. Except Jake might not be a mortal man at all.

. . . and every night

Who wouldn't want to be a tall, dark, powerful vampire? Jake, for one. He's barely had time to adjust to his new state before he's roped into a family favor. Still, secretly playing bodyguard to sweet, sexy Nicole is turning out to be the wildest ride of his life. First he'll put a stop to whoever's targeting her. Then he'll prove that this kind of love, and luck, happens only once in an eternity.

 

Links for purchase: 

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_10?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=one%20lucky%20vampire&sprefix=One+Lucky+%2Caps%2C497


Barnes&Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/one-lucky-vampire?keyword=one+lucky+vampire&store=ebook

 

Carly's Rule by Vickie King

I just finished reading Carly's Rule, a wonderful first novel from talented author Vickie King.

Carly's Rule is the story of Carly Braddock who owns a bakery called Sugar Plums in her home town.  Carly's life hasn't always been easy.  In fact, she has known grief and loss in her young life.  She finally comes back home and opens her bakery.  She has a large family and spends time with her nieces and nephews when she isn't baking.  Life has taught her not to risk her heart.  She has one hard and fast rule about relationships.

Enter a man from her past - Luke Donovan.  Though intellectually, Carly knows he is dangerous to her heart, she is still attracted.  Will he be the one to finally break Carly's rule?

This is a warm, engaging tale, filled with realistic characters who face problems in their lives.  The players and the situations pull the reader into the story.  It is an engrossing read from beginning to end, filled with the colorful inhabitants of a West Virginia town.  All of the characters are well written and memorable.  They live on the page and in the readers' memory.  You will remember these folks and wonder about them when you close the book.

I give Carly's Rule four and a half stars, only because I wasn't ready for it to end!

This is the first book in a series. The second book due to be published in 2014 is the story of one of Carly's brothers and is entitled Dusty's Fate.

I will have my copy reserved.  I can't wait to read more about the Braddock family.

Warning! Ms. King does such a good job describing the delectable treats baked in the bakery, you may well be tempted to wolf down some carbs!

I hope you're listening, Hallmark Channel. You've got the makings of a great movie in this book.

What a lovely job, Ms. King!  Carly's Rule is a must read for fans of contemporary romance.

BLURB

Pastry Chef Carly Braddock only ever loved one man, Luke Donovan, who disappeared from her life years ago, breaking her heart and leaving her to wonder what happened to him. When he walks into Sugar Plums, her West Virginia bakery/cafe, and back into her life after all this time, she isn’t in a forgiving mood. Though he doesn’t know it, her experience with him shaped the other relationships in her life and led her to create a rule to protect her heart. What neither counts on is that the chemistry between them is still as fierce and tangible as it was all those years ago, and Carly doesn’t know until her heart is completely involved once again that Luke has kept an important part of his life from her. When she finds out what it is, she knows she must let him go, and this time for good. Not only did he keep something from her, but he broke the one thing she created to protect her heart . . . Carly’s Rule.

 

Available at Amazon.com

 

http://www.amazon.com/Carlys-Rule-1-Braddocks-ebook/dp/B00FAWKJ18/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380495640&sr=8-1&keywords=carly%27s+rule

Update - BBC's Broadchurch

In my previous review of this incredible series on BBC America's "Dramaville", I was mistaken in how many episodes there were.  Actually, it aired its final episode this last Wednesday.

This is an amazing series, a mystery with many clues like strands of fog on the British coastline.  The story is haunting.  The production is evocative and unforgettable.

The cast makes a wonderful ensemble with excellent performances all around.  The directing is seamless.  The production values (sets, music, lighting, locations, etc) all play a part in bringing this poignant story to life.

There is a surprise ending that will stun you.  It did me. 

I recorded the episode on Wednesday and watched it again this morning just to see if it was as good as I remembered.  Yep, it was...I may even appreciate it more knowing that even a repeat of something I'd seen could keep me engrossed in the hour.

If you haven't seen it and get BBC America, please see if it's available On Demand on your system.  If not, rent it when it comes out.  You won't regret it.

BRAVO, BBC America for another exquisite series.

I am looking forward to their upcoming production of "Burton and Taylor" which stars Helena Bonham Carter in what looks like a dead-on portrayal of Elizabeth Taylor.  That premiers on October 16th.

Enjoy our incredible pop culture, where there truly is something for every taste.

Peace.

Ode To The Dearly Departed Thunder Thighs

Remember I once said I studied ballet as a child and wanted more than anything to be a dancer?  Well, that's true and even though I took classes and practiced all week, I still had big thighs.  They were muscular, but they were also big.  I inherited them from my mom.  In high school, not only did I take dance classes and practice, I was also on the drill team.  My thunder thighs stayed firmly in place...

Our best and most requested routine for the drill team ended on a spectacular contagion of movement beginning at one end of the line and progressing through the girls to the opposite end.  Those of us short enough to be at the end where the contagion started did 64 high kicks in a row.  My thunder still rolled.  (Talk about a cardio workout!)

And let's not even talk about the splits we had to do.  My worst memory of high school is performing at a game where the temp was below 50 and the field was wet.  I had the misfortune to be located on one of the yard lines when split time came.  My majorette boots dug trenches in the yard line as I performed my perfect split.  I got up with mud and yard line paint striping my legs...YECH!

My life is pretty stressful right now, with health issues for my loved ones, two leggeds and four leggeds.  So, it's understandable why I miss some things these days.

Earlier this week, I put on a new pair of pants only slightly less fitted than leggings.  That's when I realized...my THUNDER THIGHS ARE GONE!!!

Wha??? Where'd they go?  I hadn't been hearing the telltale whoosh-whoosh when I walked, but it didn't register on my conscious mind.  Besides, it's too early in the season for corduroy.

Granted I have been a dedicated dieter and carb counter for the last year or so.  I also started an exercise program back in the spring, which I do 6 to 7 days each week.  But who knew at this age, my old thighs would depart?  I mean they never did before...though I worked at it and wished they'd go away.

After an adult lifetime of walking like a thunder lizard, shaking the ground whenever I moved, it is very strange to tread so lightly now. (And so much faster!)

Along with the low carb diet, I have an elliptical on which I pedal daily.  I am up to eight miles a day, with my goal being ten miles daily.  My little elliptical is portable.  It can be used while you sit in a chair.  So each afternoon, I pull out one of my dining room chairs and pedal away at a fast pace (one-two, one-two, one-two.)  It takes me about 26 minutes most days to pedal eight miles, so I keep a fast pace.  I also use resistance bands for my arms while I pedal.  I am up to 200 reps per day with the bands.

Having problem knees, I couldn't really use a bike when I started.  The elliptical is much easier on the joints.  Besides, I've pedaled over 500 miles so far, not far enough for the Tour De France, but that's an impressive stat for such a dedicated couch potato!

Who knows how far I'll go?  One of these days, I may get a real bicycle and go out into the world.

In the meantime, take heart, for this is my advice and assurance to you. 

If you dream it, you can do it.  I am very serious about this.  We humans have an amazing capacity for manifesting success in our lives.  Go for whatever you want.  You can do it.  I'm living proof.

One of these days I may take my act to the beach!  (In bicycle shorts and a tank top, of course.)

So fare thee well oh thunder thighs of mine.  You kept me warm in the winter, and chafed in the summer (in Texas and Florida!) Now I'll chortle gleefully as I pull on my leggings and walk silently into the sunset...

Live Long and Prosper...*



* Quotation from Mr. Spock

Confessions of Football's Grim Reaper

I tried not to take it personally.  But lately, it's hard to ignore it.  I am the Grim Reaper for football teams.  My support slays any chance they have at successful seasons - bowl games, the playoffs - and forget the biggie - the Super Bowl!!!

Take this last week...who did I want to win?  Everybody who didn't.  They all failed, some spectacularly, some not with a bang but a whimper.

I've loved football most of my life.  It was inevitable.  My dad was the quarterback of the State Championship football team when he was in high school.  We started going to the high school games in the town where we lived when I was about twelve years old.  In Garland, Texas in those days, Friday nights were all about the Garland High School games.  Didn't matter if they played in the rickety all-wooden stadium (where I got some big honking splinters in unmentionable places, especially when I was in the drill team and sat unaware in my little short skirts.) Or if the bulk of the town's residents drove in a winding caravan all over north Texas in heat, wind, rain, whatever.  Nothing was more important than football.  Yep, Friday Night Lights, though it was written about one of our arch-rivals in playoffs, Odessa Permian High School, was real all over the state.  That's the way it was.

In those days, Garland only had one high school.  They got their second when I was a junior.  We had the option to move to the new high school if we wanted, but no way would I do that...I mean, did they think I would give up years of tradition?  No way, no how.  Would I give up being a Dashing Deb to become a Southern Belle?  Bleah...it was totally unthinkable.  Dad thought about sending me to a prestigious private school, but I BEGGED him not to ruin my life!

So is it any wonder that I am a football fan?  In the glory days of Garland, we won the state championship two years in a row, beating Odessa Permian to get to the final game, I should mention.

With that foundation, I have loved football ever since.  My main teams are the Dallas Cowboys and the University of Texas Longhorns.  I also like Texas A&M, if they're not playing the Longhorns, and the Jacksonville Jaguars.  (I mean I live in Jax, after all...)

But this season is not turning out well for the Longhorns, the Cowboys, and especially the Jaguars.  On Saturday, even Johnny Football couldn't pull off a win against Alabama.  I couldn't watch it when they got so far behind, but my dad assured me it was a really good game.  BUT DID THEY WIN?!!!  NO!!!!!  The Cowboys handily beat the Giants in the first game of the real season.  Yesterday, they lost to Kansas City (who had the nerve to sneak in Andy Reid as their new coach...)

Ahem...the Longhorns, well they're not even in the rankings anymore this season...I swear I saw Bevo crying on the sidelines.  Or maybe he was chewing his cud, or the rope that held him in place.  I don't blame him, I'd try to escape the madness, too.  It must be hard to stand before 90,000+ fans in that heat and noise.  It would be much nicer to be munching grass in a field somewhere.

So I have come to the inevitable conclusion, in the "Superstition" mode (thanks, Stevie Wonder).  IT'S MY FAULT!!!  I'M TO BLAME!!!  I must be, otherwise why are all my teams losing?

I have come up with a plan.  I've decided to advertise a special service in which I will cheer for the opponents of my customers' teams.  That way, their teams will win...I haven't worked out the particulars yet, but I will...I can be clever when necessary...

Take care.