Be Jolly by Golly Blogfest!

Madly in Love Monday post is postponed this week so that I can participate in the Be Jolly By Golly Blogfest, hosted by Jen at Unedited and Melissa at Through the Looking Glass. So sit back and enjoy a sneak peek into my Christmas celebration! We're spending the holiday at my parents' house and I've been helping her decorate so most of the pictures are taken there.

Here is the tree (decorated by yours truly):

 And as a tradition, my family always does stockings on Christmas Eve. We had to get new stockings since my brother got engaged in September (so exciting!) and they're spending the holiday with our family this year. So I went online and picked these out. I think they're just adorable. We hung them on the back of everyone's chair at the dinning table.

I've already shared my favorite cookies on the blog HERE, so i thought I'd share my second favorite. They're called Peanut Blossom Kisses and they are delish!

1.75 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 T. milk

1 tsp. Vanilla

1 egg

48 candy kisses (hersheys) unwrapped

Combine all ingredients except kisses in large bowl. Mix at low speed until dough forms.

Shape dough into balls, placing one unwrapped kiss in center. Roll balls in additional sugar.

Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes (light brown).

Alternatively you can leave the kisses out and place them on top immediately after they come out of the oven.

I made them both ways, heres how they came out:

And...because I never pass up the opportunity to show off my babies (my dogs). The other day we had a guest bring over some doggie santa outfits. My older dog (oddly enough the smaller of the two) HATES costumes, so we only kept it on her for a second. You can see how much she hates it in the first picture. The baby of the family, seemed to like his, so I put it on him this morning and marched him out in front of my tree display.

So that's a peek at my Christmas. What's one tradition you're looking forward to this holiday?

Five Fun Reading Challenges

It's that time of year again. The end of all the 2010 reading challenges and the beginning of new challenges. But deciding which challenges to participate in can be a little overwhelming. Even though many books fall into multiple categories, chances are you wont be able to complete every challenge you come across. This yeah I think I'm sticking to one or two. But before you decide, I wanted to share with you some of the ones I've run across around the web.

1. The Paranormal Romance Challenge. Hosted by Bitten By Paranormal Romance. This is a challenge to read 20 paranormal romance books between Jan 1st through Dec 31st. You can pick any adult paranormal romance book as you go, new release or old release it doesn't matter. But remember this is only for paranormal romance. No urban fantasy, YA or paranormal erotica. Head over to the blog for more details or to sign up.

2. The 2011 E-Book Challenge. Hosted by The Ladybug Reads. If you all are like me, and love reading on your kindle, nook, kobo, or other reading devices, than this challenge is perfect for you. There are a few different tiers to shoot for, from curious (requiring only 3 e-books) to Obsessed (which is 20 e-books). My only question is, what comes after obsessed?

3. This one I think is such a smart reading challenge. It's called the 2011 Show Me the Free Challenge and it's hosted by Missy at The Unread Reader. How many of you download free kindle or B&N books and then they sit in your archive or in your reading list for months (I have a couple that are at least a year old). Well this reading challenge is to read one of your free books a month. The book doesn't have to currently be free, as long as it was free at the time you downloaded it. Personally, I can't wait to participate in this challenge and weed out my kindle a bit. :)

4. The 2011 Historical Romance Challenge. Hosted by Danielle at Romance Book Junkies.This challenge is to read 12 historical romance books from Jan 1st to Dec 31st. And this challenge comes with a little added incentive. Danielle is offering a monthly giveaway to all the participants provided they write a review and post it on her linky list. For more details or to sign up, head over to her site.

5. Now, personally, this challenge seems a bit...intense, but I also think it sounds really cool to any really ambitious readers out there. The 2011 50 states reading challenge. Hosted by Tasha at Book Obsessed. The goal of this challenge is to read books that are set in each of the 50 states, any genre. So if anyone is ready to take on the challenge, more power to you!

So those are the ones I wanted to mention but there are thousand reading challenges out there. So if none of these strike your fancy, I'm sure you can find one that fits your exact tastes perfectly. Ah the wonders of google. And if you're hosting any, be sure to share so we can all check them out!

What reading challenges are you participating in next year?

My Favorite Cookie

A couple weeks ago I mentioned finally getting my favorite cookie recipe from my mom. She hasn't made the cookies in a couple years because they require a bit more work than your average Christmas cookie. But in my personal opinion....it's totally worth it. These cookies are absolutely delicious and will definitely impress your friends and family. So, I finally got around to baking them and decided to share the recipe (and the results) with you all!

The cookies are called "Hungarian Coffee Crescents". They don't have any coffee in them so I can only deduce that the name is because these cookies would be perfect with coffee. If you plan on making the recipe, please note that the dough needs to be made the night before.

Hungarian Coffee Crescents:

Pastry:
3 cups all purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) well-chilled unsalted butter
2 egg yolks, beaten
2 envelopes dry yeast or 2 cakes fresh yeast dissolved in 1/2 cup lukewarm milk
1.5 teaspoons vanilla (that's one and a half)

Filling
3 egg whites, room temperature
1 cup + 8 teaspoons sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup ground walnuts or pecans (I use walnuts and it's delicious)
1 egg beaten with 2 teaspoons water
powdered sugar (optional garnish) (I highly recommend it for the perfect snowy look)

For pastry: Combine dry ingredients in processor or bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add yolks, yeast mixture and vanilla and blend until combined. Wrap tightly in plastic and refrigerate overnight.

Remove dough from refrigerator (and let thaw) and divide into 6 equal pieces (if you split it in half the night before and roll into two log it's easy to divide each log into three pieces).

For filling: Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form (I couldn't get the stiff peaks to form and my cookies still turned out okay. Just make sure you beat it thoroughly). Gradually beat in 2/3 cup sugar. Combine remaining sugar with cinnamon and nuts.

Grease baking sheet(s) or use heavy duty foil. Roll out 1 piece of dough into very thin round (like a pizza) on a lightly floured surface. (I had difficulties with this step until my mom told me I needed to roll the dough into a ball before I started to make it into a circle.) Brush with egg white and then sprinkle with some of the nut, cinnamon mixture. Using sharp knife (or pizza cutter), cut into 8 equal wedges. Starting at large end, roll wedges up, shaping gently into crescent. Transfer to prepared sheet(s) or foil, spacing about 2 inches apart. Repeat with remaining dough. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes to rise (or an hour if your house is particularly cold).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly brush each crescent with beaten egg. Bake until crisp and pale gold, about 20 minutes (I only cooked them for about 16 minutes). Let cool on wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar (while still hot).

You can also bake these cookies ahead of time and freeze them. They're just as good once defrosted and warmed up :)

Here's how mine came out!

Enjoy!

What's your favorite holiday treat?

Madly in Love Monday 12/13

Happy Monday everyone! As you've all probably noticed, my blogging has fallen a bit to the wayside the past couple weeks. It should pick up after the holidays. I'm just having a hard time keeping up with everything at the moment. I will have a fantastic Christmas cookie post coming on Wednesday with my absolute favorite cookie recipe (Hungarian Coffee Crescents). They're amazing so be sure you come and check it out.

But, today is Monday and that means it's time for another "Madly in Love Monday". Each Monday, I pick one book from my keep shelf that I am so Madly in Love with I just have to share it with you all so you can read it as well. Today's pick is by the author that started me on my love of romance, Nora Roberts.

When trying to pick a Nora Roberts books to feature, a few different ones immediately popped into my head. I loved her "Irish Hearts" anthology and I'm a big fan of the Stanislaski series. I absolutely fell in love with the book "The Reef". But the one that I decided to pick today is the first book in her Three Sister Island Trilogy, "Dance Upon the Air".

Just like it's story, this book is just enchanting. Nell is the heroine we all hope to write someday, with the perfect balance of vulnerability, charm, and quirkiness. The paranormal flows perfectly and most importantly believably throughout the story without overwhelming the romance or being overwhelmed. If you are a fan of Nora Roberts and have not read this series, I recommend trying it out.

On a side note, I just this morning decided to pick up with Fever series again in anticipation of the fifth book coming out in January. See my post on Darkfever HERE. You'll also get a little background into the origins of Madly in Love Monday.

Now it's your turn. What's your Madly in Love Monday pick?

Madly in Love Monday

It's that time again. Time for another Madly in Love Monday! If you're new to the blog, Monday is the day I choose one book from my keeper shelf, a book that I've fallen so Madly in Love with I just have to share it with all of you.

Most Mondays I choose a romance, but today I've decided to break form completely and choose something very different. My absolutely favorite book of all time.

"Watchers" by Dean Koontz. This is not you traditional horror story. Within it's pages is my favorite character of all time. And believe it or not, the character is a dog.

If you are a dog person, you absolutely need to read this book. Never has a character been as likable, as endearing, as the golden retriever, Einstein. And the love between him and his owner (if he can really be called that) Travis makes for some very powerful reading.

Dean Koontz is truly a master storyteller and it comes through in this novel. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and then you'll do it again. And if you're like me and you read the book more than once (I've read it at least five or six times) than you'll do it even more. And that's why this book is my madly in love pick for today.

What's your Madly in Love pick?

Social Networks

Well, I have been a busy beaver the past few days. I am now officially part of the social network scene! I made myself a facebook fanpage and just this morning started a twitter account, although I still have no idea what to write. I've followed, liked, friended, and whatever those of you I knew about (mostly people who posted on the twitter post). Anyone else make sure to list your info below so I can follow you too!

Check me out!

Facebook: Sondrae Bennett

Twitter: @sondraebennett

Is it December already?

Wow, the holiday's hit and I lost all sense of time or control over my time. This morning I woke up to the site of the first snowfall. It's still coming down and I'm hoping it creates a thin layer before stopping. Right now I can still see patches of green grass poking through the white.

And did anyone else know how much time goes into decorating a Christmas tree? It seem I forget every year until I'm sitting on the floor, surrounded by a pile of ornaments, trying to decide which goes where. But now the house is decorated and all I have to  worry about is Christmas gifts, oh and cookies (but truth be told I'm looking forward to both!). I even got the recipe for one of my favorite childhood Christmas cookies from my mom. She hasn't made them in years because they're a bit complicated but I just couldn't resist. They're these creamy crescent cookies with a nutty Cinnamon inside. I figured I have to wait at least another week before I can start making them. That way I wont be eating them all month and gain a whole bunch of weight, lol. When I do end up making them, I'll post the recipe as well as some pictures of the finished product in case any of you wanna give them a try. I love this holiday!

I hope everyone else had a great Thanksgiving (if you celebrate) and if you don't celebrate a great end of November. Next week WILL see the return of "Madly in Love Monday" and I have a review or two to post as well so definitely stay tuned!

Harry Potter

As I'm sure all of you know, today at midnight Harry Potter 7 (part one) gets released on the world...or at least the United States. Many bloggers have dedicated the entire week in celebration, which in turn has inspired my post today.

If anyone has not read the books, you should. Yes, they are children's books, but they are so much more than that. Very few books have captured the hearts of so many people of all ages and united them in their love for reading. After all, what other book do you know that has it's own theme park. I have not been but will as soon as I'm able. My story today is not about the seventh book but is probably my best reading HP story.

I remember when Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (BK 5) first came out. I was working as a horse back ridding instructor for a summer camp at the time and my days were filled with children and horses. Finally, on my night off, I rushed to town and bought the book.

The whole summer rumors had been flying that there was a major death at the end of the book and speculation ran through the campers and staff about who it would be. I couldn't wait to get home and start reading.

Unfortunately, the job took up most of my time (If you've ever been a camp counselor you know what I mean). I snuck a chapter here and a chapter there, staying up late into the night just to finish an extra chapter a day. The other staff members were reading right along beside me.

I remember the night very clearly when I got to the end, and the death that devastated me. I won't give it away on the off chance that some reader is planning on reading it (although really, where have you been). It was late, later than the other staff members were up but I sensed that the story was heading somewhere important so I curled into my bunk in the staff room with a flashlight and plowed ahead. When the character died, one of my all time favorites in the series, I bawled. Buckets. So loud that I woke up the other two counselors in the bunk next to mine and still to this day I remember their responses. Both were also currently reading the book. One woman, Fiona, asked me if I was okay, while the other woman, Carolyn, yelled down in a frantic whisper, "Don't tell me! I'm not there yet!" and covered her ears with her hands. Although other people I know feel differently, that death was worse for me than the one at the end of "Half Blood Prince". Although there were a few in the seventh book that devastated me equally or more.

Needless to say, I will be there midnight with my popcorn and soda (or coffee) anxious to see the new movie. Are you going to see the movie? Do you have any fun HP stories?

Twitter

I've been thinking lately about starting a twitter account but I must admit I'm a bit intimidated. I know I need to bite the bullet and get to it. And everyone tells me how easy it is, but for some reason I've been holding off. I'm not sure I'll have that much to say to be honest. It seems like people "tweet" once or twice an hour and that alone seems daunting. Not to mention...who will read them?

Then again, I said the same thing last spring when I started this blog. At first, I didn't know what to write or have any friends/followers. Now I love my blog and I love reading other blogs. So I guess it's one of those things you just have to do.

So, anyone have any twitter advice to share with a newbie like me?

Yay for Pre-Orders

I love when I pre-order a book on Amazon and then forget about it. It's such a nice surprise when I open up my kindle or email and see the notification that the book has been delivered.

I recently ordered "My Demon Saint" by R.G. Alexander after reading (and loving) the first book in the series, "My Shifter Showmance". There's really no other way to describe these books as fun. Just a short sweet story that kept my interest throughout.

Now my only concern is finishing my current read before diving into this one! I better get reading...

Madly in Love Monday - Nov. 15th

 Happy Monday Everyone! Hope you all had fantastic weekends. This weekend I finished the book "Captive Spirit" by Liz Fichera. It was very different than my normal read but utterly captivating. The imagery made everything very real. Just last night I picked up "Second Chances" by Lauren Dane. Ms. Dane is often hit and miss with me but so far this book looks promising. I'll let you know what I think once I'm done.

In the meantime, it's time for another Madly in Love Monday. Every Monday I choose a book from my keeper shelf I fell so "Madly in Love" with that I just had to share it with all of you. There were a couple books I was debating this morning but I find my mood often affects my selection. I was in the mood for a historical this week so I went with one of my favorites.

Laura Lee Guhrke's "Guilty Pleasures". This book is the classic make-over read but with some new twists. I was captivated every moment of this story and found myself utterly charmed by both the intelligent and awkward Daphne Wade and the dashing Anthony Courtland.

blurb:

One of Daphne Wade's guilty pleasures is to watch the Duke of Tremore as he works, shirtless, on the excavation site of his ducal estate. Anthony Courtland is by far the most exciting and handsome man she has ever known, and she dreams of one day being able to speak with him without getting tongue tied.

Anthony, meanwhile, only sees Daphne as a hard worker on his excavation team. He considers her a plain young lady and says so in a careless remark to a friend, unaware that Daphne is outside the library door, her heart shattering to pieces. So Daphne decides she will not be so silly any longer. She begins to be tutored in the social graces, forcing Anthony to see the beauty who has been right in front of his eyes.

If you're in the mood for a historical romance or even just a great make-over story, "Guilty Pleasures" is the book for you.

What's your "Madly in Love" Monday pick?

A Haunting

So, as I know I've mentioned once or twice, I have a terrible memory. Because of this, I usually write down things I want to remember. But occassionally I don't and then they come back to haunt me. Right now, I'm being haunted.

I was on someone's blog a couple weeks ago and they had a blurb up about one of their upcoming releases. And I remember thinking, how cool, I'll have to remember that and look into it when it comes out. Now, what I should have done was write down, really anything. But what I actually did, was nothing. As a result, I don't know the site I was on, what the title of the book is, or who wrote it. But I'm hoping the author is one of you lovely people who read my blog since I do remember the basic details.

The heroine of the book was a dryad, something I found fascinating since I've been playing around with the idea of writing a book with dryads (my favorite creature since reading the Belgariad). The hero was a vampire. I think the vampire was cursed to be vegetarian. Or something along those lines.

I know that's not a lot to go by but the book sounded really good. So if you wrote it or you know what it could be, please help me dispell my ghost of memory lost.

Madly in Love Mondays - Nov. 8th

Well, it's the start of another week. Usually, I'm tired on Mondays, but I find myself with a surplus of energy today. I spent the majority of my weekend visiting family, and I always find myself anxious to get back into my routine after being away (even for so short a time). So Happy Monday Everyone!

As many of you may know, every Monday I look through my keeper shelf (or my kindle archives) and pick out one book I've fallen so "Madly in Love" with that I wanted to share.

Today, I've chosen something I actually downloaded as a free kindle book from Amazon. Since purchasing the book (and I use that term lightly), I've revisited it over and over and looked at other books from the same author. I wish I could say it was still free but unfortunately it's gone back up to it's list price (although definitely still a great buy). The book I've chosen is:

'Compromising Positions' by Jenna Bayley-Burke. Not only is the premise of this book fun, the characters are easy to like. The heroine is confident without being snooty with just the right dash of quirkiness and uniqueness that make her stand out. If you're looking for something fun and light, this is the right book for you!

blurb:

Falling in love is the last thing on his busy agenda…but compromising positions can lead just about anywhere.

David Strong knows how to do a lot of things—run an international fitness company, finesse stock portfolios and stay out of emotional entanglements. That is, until he gets tangled up with Sophie Delfino and her Sensational Sex workout. He’s supposed to help her demonstrate Kama Sutra positions for her couples’ yoga class. The rigorous postures require more than just physical control. And his co-instructor unexpectedly tests his control to the limit.

Sophie’s been fantasizing about David since her teens, but she never dreamed she’d actually be expected to run through her intimate desires—with an audience! The class is very professional, tame even—or it would be, if she’d been in any of the positions before. But she hasn’t—except in her wildest fantasies about David. Sophie knows she wants David in every way, and she’s flexible enough to use whatever she has to get him.

David can’t afford any unexpected distractions. Besides the sensual positions he has to endure without embarrassing himself in public, there’s an embezzler stealing from his company. And then there’s Sophie—who is well on her way to stealing his well-guarded heart.

What's your "Madly in Love Mondays" pick?

Author Interview with Nichelle Gregory

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Friday already?

Is it really already Friday? This week has absolutely flown by! My current WIP dug it's claws into me and it's been a bit of a whirlwind as I head toward the end.

Hopefully, you all have had good weeks. I'm sorry I haven't been around as much but hopefully once the story runs it's course, I think sometime later today, I'll be able to get around to blogging a bit more. In the meantime, I wanted to remind you all that erotic romance author Nichelle Gregory is going to be on my blog this Sunday (the 7th). I know a couple of you have electronic blackouts on Sundays so I'm going to post the interview on Saturday evening. Hope to see you all there!

Madly in Love Monday

Every Monday, I go through my keeper shelf and share one of my favorites with you. These are the rare book gems that I've fallen so "Madly in Love" with, I had to share them. Typically, I choose romance books, although other genres do pop up occasionally.

So, Happy Monday everyone!. Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy today's madly in love selection.

Today's choice:

"If You Deceive" by Kresley Cole. Most people are familiar with Ms. Cole from her Immortals After Dark series. What some might not know is she also has written a historical romance trilogy. "If You Deceive" is the third book in the series, and while the other two ("If You Desire" and "If You Dare") are both very good, it's this one that cinched Kresley Cole as one of my favorite authors.

Maddy, the heroine, is one of my all time favorites. She's got the strength to overcome the hard times, yet the vulnerability that allows our hero, Ethan, to put away his vengeance and open his heart to her.

The story has everything, revenge, deceit, a dashing rescue, and most important a happily ever after. If you like historical romance, this is one not to be missed.

What's your Madly in Love Monday pick?

Sing-Along Sunday! The Halloween edition

Happy Halloween!! Welcome to a special edition of Sing-Along Sunday. It's special because unlike other weeks, there's a theme attached to this one! At least I think this is special. Who knows what will develop in the future. Anyway, if any of you haven't guessed already, today's theme is all about Halloween. The creepy, the spooky, and the downright scary.

In deference to the holiday, I've chosen three songs that (more or less) evoke the spirit of this holiday. I say more or less because in reality only one of these songs is a true Halloween song. The other two can fit into other categories as well but have a spooky enough vibe to be included in the celebration.

1. The first on my list, and by far my favorite song for this holiday is "Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett. Vampires, ghouls, zombies, and even the wolf man and Dracula himself did the monster mash. And although it was kind of a one hit wonder, it was certainly a 'graveyard smash'.

2. You can't have a favorite Halloween song list and not include Michael Jackson's "Thriller". You just can't do it and I refuse to be the first. My only hope is that while you're reading this, you're thinking of the dance moves since I think the dance might just be the best part.

3. The last song on my list is probably the furthest from a Halloween song of the three. But it is about a crazed serial killer and since that's kind of what this holiday is about (not the actual act but the dressing up as one) I decided to stretch the rules a bit. "Mack the Knife" by Bobby Darin. This song is jarring the first time you hear it because of it's deceiving upbeat tune. No, he's not singing about love or happiness. He's singing about a serial killer.

So, those are my top three spooky songs. What are yours?

Next week there will NOT be a new sing-along. Instead erotic romance author Nichelle Gregory will be on my blog talking about her latest release Lovin' Leela. I've read the book and it's a very fun, sweet read. Be sure to stop by next Sunday to learn more!

18 & Over Book Blogger Tag Along - Oct. 29th

Today I'm once again participating in the 18 & Over book blogger tag along Friday, hosted by Laurie at Bitten by Paranormal Romance.

For anyone interested in participating, this is a great way to meet other bloggers with adult book content. I met some great people the last time and found some fun new blogs to follow. So head on over to Bitten by Paranormal Romance and join in on the fun! It doesn't matter what you read if its paranormal, suspense, historical, contemporary or mystery, along with erotic with any genre. As long as it is adult then you're in.


So, if you're here for the first time, welcome! Thanks for stopping by. While your here check out some of my other posts.

Unfortunately, it's been a slow week for me book wise but there should be some new stuff next week, including an interview next Sunday (November 7th) with erotic romance author Nichelle Gregory. She'll be talking about her latest release "Lovin' Leela", a great read by the way, so be sure to stop by and see what she has to say.

New This Week:
The Boo-Fest (my real life ghost story)
Working with Weaknesses
Are you Obsessed?
And my new weekly blog event Sing-Along Sunday (come by this Sunday for a spook-tacular edition)

Also, if you missed it last week, check out my Contests Galore! post. Many of the contests are ending soon. Don't miss your chance to win some cool loot!

The Boo-Fest

I was browsing through blogs and came across this very spook-tacular boo-fest. I decided to make a last minute entry because it really is such a fun idea. This blogfest is being held by Quinn at Seeing, Dreaming...Writing. He asks the question:

Have you ever seen a ghost or know anyone who has?

I've always had a strange relationship with ghosts. I grew up doing community theater. Now, if you ever worked in a theater, you know that almost all of them have their own ghost stories. My college theater was haunted by 'The Lady in Red' although I never saw her myself. At the community theater I grew up in, however, it was Oscar.

Rumor had it, Oscar was a janitor who had died in the attic of the theater. I'm almost positive this never happened. But I do believe there was a presence in that theater that wasn't entirely human. It's possible he materialized, much like Freddy Krueger, based on years of belief in him, passed down from one generation of young actors to the next. I remember the older kids holding Seances. In retrospect, I'm sure they "moved" things around themselves, but back then it was Oscar doing it.

Most people are frightened by ghosts, but I grew up with Oscar. Unlike most ghosts, he was friendly and comforting. I used to think Oscar followed me around. That he sensed a kindred soul in me. I even remember starting a new school and being comforted thinking Oscar had left the theater to help me along. Although I don't doubt there was something walking those dark theater aisles, I doubt whatever it was payed much attention to me or followed me to school. But, like most authors, my imagination gets away from me sometimes, especially when I was young.

Whatever it was, whether actual spirit or manifestation of children's beliefs, Oscar was my first run in with the otherworldly and one that surely has influenced my love of the paranormal today.  I sometimes forget about him and it's nice to take a moment and reminisce.

I hope you all enjoyed learning a bit about my haunted upbringings. Thanks to Quinn and Patricia A. Timms for hosting this boo-fest. Be sure to head to Quinn's blog and visit the other entries.

Working with Weaknesses

We all have weaknesses, both in life and in our work. It's a fact of life but sometimes there are simple tricks we can learn to work with our weaknesses.

My biggest problem, from a creating standpoint, is my memory. My memory sucks and no amount of memory games or ginkgo biloba is going to fix it. Improve it, maybe, fix it, no. It's all in the genetics. My mother has the same problem as do my aunts. So how do I keep my facts straight? How do I make sure my heroine doesn't go from a blond to a brunette? Okay, my memory's not quite that bad, but the little details do sometimes get lost. Well, I've come up with a simple trick to keep my stories consistent.

When I first started writing, I remember forgetting the eye color of my main character half way through the story. It took me almost half an hour to locate the earlier passage where I mentioned it. It was then that I came up with the technique I still use today. Next to my computer, I keep a stack of note cards and whenever I introduce a new character, if I suspect we'll see him again, I make a flashcard. On the flashcard I list everything from the way they take their coffee to the color and model of their car and more. This way, instead of having to hunt for answers I have almost anything I need right in front of me.

It's the method I've found to work around my weak memory. It might not work for everyone but it works for me. Everyone has to find their own methods of dealing with their weaknesses, whether it's memory or something else.

Are you blessed with a memory for details? If not, How do you keep your characters straight?

Are You Obsessed?

I'm obsessed.

I'm obsessed with checking my email, something fueled by having an iphone, making my emails available with the press of a button, anytime, anywhere. I constantly refresh, just checking to see if something new came in.

I'm obsessed with washing my hands. Yes, I'll admit it. I'm a bit of a germaphob. There's nothing like clean hands and my obsession has only gotten worse riding the subway every morning. Just the thought of those subway poles makes me want to run to the bathroom and slather my hands with soap. I know, pathetic.

I'm obsessed with coffee. Not as much as I used to be. Back in college I was drinking six cups a day at one point. Now I'm down to one (okay maybe two). But until I have my first sip in the morning, I'm pretty useless.

And lately, I've been obsessed with my blog. Especially the stats feature which shows how many people visit your blog, which pages they viewed, and where they live. So for all of you who visit and read my blog from the U.S. and beyond - Welcome, Bienvenue, Welkom, Wilkommen, 환영 , добро пожаловать , 歓迎 , 欢迎 , Benvenuto. Note: If you don't see your language on here, the mistake was not intentional. I either couldn't find the translation or missed your country on my stats sheet.

We all have our obsessions, some secret, some not. What are yours?

Sing-Along Sunday

Happy Sunday everyone!

Sing-Along Sunday is a new event. It highlights those songs that make me want to break out karaoke style whenever I hear them, much to the consternation of everyone around me. The songs I just can't help smiling at whenever they're played. I'm not sure quite yet whether this is a one time, or a weekly thing. The fact is I had way too many songs I wanted to feature for just one post, so i just chose three. And yes, I realize I have some very eclectic taste in music.

1. "The Shoop Shoop Song" otherwise known "It's in His Kiss" sung by Betty Everett. True to it's name whenever I hear this song I want to break out in shoop shoop's, complete with the swinging '60s back-up girl moves.

2. "If I Had a Million Dollars" by Barenaked Ladies. Although we've all imagined what we'd do with a million dollars, few of us can claim to be as creative as the Barenaked Ladies. I know when I think of what I'd do, "All the fanciest Dijon Ketchups" doesn't really cross my mind. I think of all the boring stuff, buying a house, investing, getting out of debt. But this song makes us imagine all the silly things possible with that kind of money.

Now before I get into my third choice, let me explain. It's not the dirty undertones (or maybe overtones) to this song that caused me to put it on this list or makes it one of my favorites. Plain and simple, this is just a fun song.

3."I Touch Myself" by The Divinyls has such a fun upbeat tune and some clever lyrics it has the ability to make me smile even when I'm in the blackest of moods. And it's because of this magical ability to break through the moodiest of clouds and bring a little sunshine into my life that I put it on the list.

As mentioned, this is just a taste. Next week, maybe, I'll have three more songs. But until then it's your turn. What song(s) make you smile? Which ones make you sing-along?

Watch where you're flinging that attitude!

Probably one of my biggest pet peeves is rudeness. I see no reason for it. Don't get me wrong, I've had my share of bad days, but taking it out on the waitress serving me or the random person I meet on the street never helps. It doesn't make me feel better or lessen my bad day. In fact, I usually end up feeling guilty for making them feel bad on top of my frustration, making me feel worse than ever.

I'm one of those people who took the "treat others like you want to be treated" mantra they drilled into us in kindergarten to heart. And I've learned that a smile really does go a long way. So I can't stand people who do everything in their power to spread their bad attitude. Rudeness is like a disease. A man coughs his attitude on the woman serving coffee, she catches the disease and coughs it up on everyone after them.

So today, let's do our part to stop the rudeness disease before it becomes an epidemic (hopefully we aren't too late). Make sure to smile at the people you meet. Say 'please' and 'thank you'. But most of all, make sure that if you are in a bad mood, you aren't taking it out on some random person who doesn't deserve it.

Contests Galore!

Happy Tuesday everyone! There are some super contests and giveaways happening around the blogger-verse that I wanted to share with you all. They're all different, some simple, some a bit more complicated. But they're all fun with some very cool prizes. In no particular order:

1. The first on the list is Night Owl Reviews Full Moon Webhunt. Basically this is a scavenger hunt through other authors and publishers websites and blogs. There is an icon you scout for on the sites and there's a different word hidden inside every icon. I did this and although it took me awhile (you have to visit 45 different sites to be eligible for the grand prize) along the way I found some cool new authors and blogs! Click Here for more details. This bloghunt runs until October 31st.

2. In celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Nicole over at The Betrayed Writer is giving away 1 Lenox Crystal Vase, 1 Ty Breast Cancer Beanie Baby, and 1 Breast Cancer Quilt book. She also is going to match the cost of the items purchased for the giveaway plus shipping in a donation to the March of Dimes. This is for a great cause so make sure you support Nicole and the March of Dimes by following her and entering her giveaway. All you have to do is comment on her blog post Here. This giveaway runs until the last week in October.

3. Danielle over at Romantic Book Junkies always has giveaways on her blog. Right now she has four (4) different book giveaways right now. You can check them out Here. She has contests running all the time, so make sure you follow her if you don't already!

4. Since there seem to be a lot of 'Fever' series fans running around blogworld, I thought I'd draw attention to a contest on Karen Marie Moning's website. She is offering a "Fevercon Tote bag". I have no idea what this is, although I'm assuming it's some kind of tote bag (lol). And if you're like me and love the Fever series you can head over to her site and check out the details Here. Plus you can never use too many tote bags. Contest ends October 31st.

5. And last but certainly not least. HP Mallory is having a contest with a very cool prize. Winner will get a written part in Toil and Trouble and future Jolie Wilkins books, as well as some other added benefits. This is a very cool prize. Who hasn't wanted to be a character in a book? Well this is your chance. Click Here for all the details.

I'm sure there are more contests out there. Please let me know of any I missed so I can add them to the list. And be sure to enter all the contests for your chance to win!

Book Blogger Tag Along Friday

Today I'll be participating in the 18 & Over book blogger tag along Friday. This event is hosted by Laurie over at Bitten by Paranormal Romance. For anyone interested in participating, here's the description she has on her blog:

Calling all 18 and over book bloggers, are you looking for more bloggers like yourself? Well please join in so we can tag along with each other. This is for a specific group and your blog needs to primarily have book reviews and post adult book content. In other words, if you read books like erotic and adult romance and have adult pic., then you can play tag along. Sorry YA readers, but if you read both (I know some of you do) you can tag along also. Just make sure you have both YA and adult romance on your blog.

I wanted to do this not only for myself, but for others out there that are looking for more adult book blogs.

It doesn't matter what you read if its paranormal, suspense, historical, contemporary or mystery, along with erotic with any genre. As long as it is adult then your in.

You don't have to have blog to join in on the fun. If you like adult content books, please click on a link and if you like the blog then follow that blog. You can comment on there post that you found them from the tag along.

Rules
1.Make a post for your blog to direct people to this post, you will find a code for the pic on my left sidebar. That way we get more bloggers involved.
2. Place your blogs name in the first box of the Linky
3. Then add your post that you made place that ULR in the second box.
4. When you find a blog that you like to follow please leave comment on the post the blogger made, so they can tag along to your blog.

This is a weekly theme, so make sure you come back next Friday if you can.

Hope you guys have a good Friday!! 

So, if you're here for the first time, welcome! Thanks for stopping by, please take a look around and let me know what you think.  

Magnetic Love

No, I'm not talking about magnetic love between a man and a woman. I'm talking about actual magnets. Yes, like the kind you put on your refrigerator.

We've all seen the magnetic poetry kits and if you haven't, they're basically strips of poetic words and phrases that you can put together to make...well poems, stories, whatever you feel like. If you're like me, you sometimes used these words to make clever naughty phrases. Now, these kits do the dirty work for you (pun intended)!

I was recently at a friends house and happened to look on her fridge. Imagine my surprise to see phrases like 'quivering flesh', 'turgid pleasure rod', 'throbbing loins', 'wand of pleasure', and 'her moist grotto'. It could only mean one thing! That's right folk:

Romance Novel magnetic poetry kit! This little kit is filled with all the gems expected in a bodice ripping romance from the 1980s. And occasionally an unexpected phrase, included I'm sure for an extra laugh. My personal favorites in this category include: 'big dog', 'pirate ship', 'the captain', and best of all 'saber-toothed tiger'. Think of the hours of fun you can have with this kit!
 
In other news, I was googling myself the other night (because you know what else are you going to do at 2am, certainly not sleep). Anyway, I found a link to the lyrical site's coming soon section with all the details for my upcoming novel Arctic Winds! Sure, I've known it was going to be published for more than half a year now, but somehow seeing it on their site just makes it feel so much more, legitimate. As if it's finally real. I don't know how to describe it (I'm sure I'm not making much sense) but needless to say I am incredibly excited! Click Here if you want to check it out! Chasing Paradise is also on their site but doesn't have any details listed yet.
 
Anyway, that's it for now. Thanks for stopping by and hope you all have a marvelous Friday!

Madly in Love on Monday

Madly in Love on Monday was a weekly meme hosted by The Delusional Diaries. They haven't hosted it the past two weeks. I have no idea if they plan to host it today either. My guess is no since they don't have a post about it yet. However, I LOVED the idea so I decided to do it regardless.

According to their site, Madly in love on Monday "shines the spotlight on that rare book gem you have found and fallen so madly in love with that you want to tell everyone about it so they can read it too".

Today I've chosen Karen Marie Moning's "Darkfever". This is not a romance novel, although it is written by a romance author and she has promised there is a romantic finish to the series (the final installment is set to be released in January).  This is the first in a five book series - more like a epic trilogy in five parts than a series in reality.

I'm not sure what to classify them as except maybe dark fantasy. I picked up this book on a whim last year. Before I knew it I had bought all four available books and finished them within a week, I was captured so completely. I almost passed it up at first because it's written in first person, a style I'm not usually a fan of. The only thing I can say is, there's an exception to every rule and it totally worked here.

If you're in the mood for something different, something spooky and fantastical, I highly recommend the 'fever' series. It's also the perfect Halloween-y book to read during October.

Now it's your turn. What's one book you've fallen 'Madly in Love' with?

Do you judge a book by it's cover?

Despite the old adage "don't judge a book by it's cover", I believe the cover of a book is incredibly important. Does this mean every good book has a great cover? Or that there are no bad books hidden behind beautiful cover art? Of course not. But the cover is the first thing a reader sees. Even before they read the blurb, potential readers are drawn (or not) to a book by what they see. If the cover is pleasing, chances are greater that they'll take the time to read the blurb. The cover is the front man for the book, the spokesperson. It is what will make readers either pick up your book or not.

I'll admit, if I'm wavering about a purchase, the first thing I look at is whether or not the cover intrigues me. It might be shallow, especially knowing that writers are usually not the ones creating their art. But a good cover will give insight into the story. Are there half naked people on the cover? Chances are good you're about to read a romance. Is that a shadow creeping in that alley? You're looking at a horror novel or maybe a mystery. And maybe it's just in my own mind, but if a cover is beautiful, it tells me that the publisher took care with the book in other facets of it's life. I find books with great covers are well edited and tend to have a better story than those that look hastily thrown together.

Danielle over at Romance Book Junkies has a weekly post where she chooses a cover and analyzes it with her bloggers. I thought it was a great idea and it inspired this post. So, I've chosen a book cover as well. While looking through my recommendations on Amazon (which lets face it is all about the covers), I came upon this book. I haven't read the book so this is by no means a recommendation or a review of the book itself. Merely of the cover. Or rather, in this case, covers. Lucky for us, the book I chose was previously published and has two different covers to compare.

 

So, here are the two covers for the same book, He's the One by Jane Beckenham. These two covers are completely different and yet one draws me to the book and makes me want to read more while the other....well doesn't. Which doesn't mean a different person couldn't feel completely different than me. But personally, the cover on the right feels much more put together and makes me want to learn more. Its the same book (although probably with a few changes as it was re-released). I would be reading the same story no matter which one I picked up. But the fact remains, I would pick up one and probably pass on the other.

What do you think? Are you drawn to one cover over the other? Or do covers not play into your decision making at all?

I'm back!

I didn't actually go anywhere, just haven't had the time to blog in the past week and a half. Between a big project deadline in my "bacon money" job and another round of edits due for 'Arctic Winds' blogging kind of fell to the wayside. But now I'm here and with a bunch of fun stuff! I got my finalized blurb for 'Arctic Winds' the other day. This is the one that will be on all the store sites and I've updated the blurb I had in my coming soon section of the blog (and included it below).

I also have started edits on 'Chasing Paradise' and can't wait to delve deeper into the process! The only downside to working so heavily on edits recently is that I haven't found a lot of time to write and when I do, I have a hard time focusing. I find myself editing the first few chapters instead of writing new ones. I'm hoping once I get the latest round of edits on 'Chasing Paradise' to my fabulous editor, I'll be able to really concentrate on my current story, which so far promises to be different but good.

It's funny but I find when I don't actually have time to write, that's when the most interesting ideas pop out of the woodwork and start begging for attention. Hopefully soon I'll find the time to give them the attention they deserve. Anyway, here's the new blurb!

After her skulk abandoned her four years ago, Samantha knew she would never truly be wanted. When she accidentally stumbles into a wolf town and is asked by their Premier to stay, she believes it's the novelty of an arctic fox motivating him. She knows she'll be on her own again once he tires of her.

Jason finds himself pulled to Samantha from the moment she faints in his arms. His wolf is calling to him, telling him he's found their mate and the heat he feels for Samantha is impossible to resist. But his little fox is loaded down with emotional baggage and doesn't believe she's worthy of love. Can he overcome her fears? Or will pack jealousies and the local foxes convince her she doesn't belong with him before he has a chance?

Oh, and because it's Wednesday (hump day), here's a hunk for your viewing pleasure. Because there's nothing sexier than a man who can cook, except maybe a sexy man...who can cook.

The Endless Circle of Creation

I've just gotten another round of edits for 'Arctic Winds' back from my editor, so I've been hard at work re-phrasing, adding context, and whatnot. It's both exciting and nerve wracking looking through someone's comments on something you worked so hard on. Something you put a piece of your soul into. I constantly find myself cheering at the positive and berating myself for the negative and I have to remind myself this is the process. Ultimately, it's exciting to watch the piece become better than before, more focused.

With each round, the release date looms closer and I get more and more excited. I can't wait for the day I can search the Lyrical store or Amazon and find a book with my name on it!

The Food of Love

Today, I'm participating in the Blogfeast hosted by Jaded Love Junkies. Yes, I said feAst, not fest. Click HERE for more details. The concept was to make a "feast" of blog posts. And what better way to combine food and romance than talking about aphrodisiacs, the food of love.

We all know they exist, but many people don't realize how easy it is to find and use aphrodisiacs in every day life. These foods, taking their name from the Greek God of Love Aphrodite, are not potions found in dimly lit gypsy huts, but things you see and buy at your local grocery store.

There are a few different categories aphrodisiacs fall under. Some of these foods, like garlic, basil, and asparagus are known to increase blood flow and heart rate which generate feelings of excitement and anticipation. Others, such as hot chilies, pomegranates, and vanilla, stimulate nerve endings making every touch feel better. Still others have aromas that encourage arousal in both men and women. Additional common aphrodisiacs include almonds, bananas, honey, red wine, figs, strawberries, oysters (of course), and the king of them all, chocolate. 

Today, I'm going to provide you with the perfect recipe for a romantic (and arousing) evening at home. I'm using a recipe from "Intercourses: an aphrodisiac cookbook" by Martha Hopkins and Randall Lockridge. This cookbook has everything from appetizers to desserts and all their recipes include aphrodisiacs. A must have for anyone looking to spice up their love life and their dinner menu.

I've chosen to share their Spicy Gingered Shrimp:
Ingredients:
Juice and zest of 2 limes plus one lime cut into wedges for garnish
3 hot chili peppers seeded and sliced
1 stalk lemongrass outer leaves discarded and inner stalk thinly sliced
1 piece ginger grated (about 2 tablespoons)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tablespoon cilantro chopped
1 pound jumbo shrimp cleaned

salt and pepper to taste

Combine lime juice, zest, chilies, lemongrass, ginger, garlic, honey, olive oil, and cilantro in a casserole dish large enough to accommodate skewers, mix well. Thread 4 shrimp to a skewer. Add skewers to marinade, turning several times to coat well. You can also marinate loose shrimp ina  large, resealable, plastic bag (I recommend this option). Refrigerate 30 minutes to 1 hour, turning once or twice while marinating. Prepare grill or broiler to medium high heat. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Grill or broil for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until just cooked through. Garnish with extra cilantro and lime wedges.

I hope you enjoy but remember, just because these foods are aphrodisiacs doesn't mean you can rely solely on them to get your engines running. Try combining these foods into foreplay. Sip champagne out of your loved ones belly button, or give them a chocolate massage for dessert and see where the evening takes you...