Week in Review

Well, another week has come and gone and February is almost done. I, for one, am not sorry to see it go. It's been a cold and snowy month with little sunshine. Lots of days spent inside staring out at the small mountains of white stuff piling up all around.

This past week was a busy one. I finished the rough draft of my latest WIP and have started on rewrites. What? You didn't think it all came out perfect the first time around, did you? *g*

I also had a new print book released from Ellora's Cave. I love the new cover for Jackson's Jewel! (Thank you, Syneca!) It's awesome. I can't wait to get my author copies in the mail.

I received the cover for my upcoming Legacy book--Legacy Found, which will be releasing from Samhain Publishing on May 3rd. It's absolutely gorgeous. Thank you Scott Carpenter!

I did FLEs (Final Line Edits) for the next book in my Spells, Secrets and Seductions series. Tentative release date for Dreams of Seduction is August 2011.

Beyond that I did the ususal stuff--emails, blogs, Facebook, Yahoo groups, etc... Not to mention housework.

My newsletter comes out in a couple of days so I must start nagging hubby for his monthly column. *g* A writer's work is never done. :)

Hope you're all having a fabulous Sunday!

BTW...













It's also International Polar Bear Day. Click on the link to read more.

Legacy Found has a Cover!

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Check out my fabulous new cover for Legacy Found, which is releasing from Samhain Publishing on May 3rd!

Blurb:

She outran her memories. She couldn’t outrun her past.

Legacy, Book 3

Shelley is a killer. Never mind that her “crime” freed her from thirty-five years of brutal captivity—the bounty hunters on her trail don’t care. For the first time in her life, she is on her own, free to put the past behind her and explore what it means to be a werewolf.

James Riley is dead tired. After a week untangling legal and financial affairs his brother’s death left behind, he’s feeling every ounce of his new responsibility as Wolf Creek pack alpha. He’s not too tired, though, to notice his sexy waitress is a werewolf—one that strangely doesn’t recognize him as one of her own kind.

After his questions rattle her composure and get her fired, Shelley figures the least James can do is drive her to the next town, but he wants more. He wants to take her home. And despite her fear, something inside her is irresistibly drawn to his commanding yet gentle presence.

James is willing to give Shelley all the time she needs to embrace her heritage, her sexuality, and eventually his love. But her past will not be denied...and her secrets demand a price paid in blood.

Product Warnings:
This book contains a hunky werewolf, a woman with a secret past, a lost family found, nasty bounty hunters, and lots of steamy hot sex!

Heroes, Villains and In-Between!

Heroes, Villains and In-Between. That's the subject over at Selena Illyria's Blog this month. My blog post "Anyone Want a Slightly Damaged Hero?" looks at the anti-hero, the guy who is a hero in spite of himself.

Check out my post and the many other fascinating ones by other authors. :)

Monday, Monday

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I work from home so every day is a work day and every day is potentially a day off. So why is it that I tend to conform to the standard Monday to Friday work week and take the weekends (or at least Saturday) off?

It's a strange habit and one I can't seem to break.

Something to ponder this snowy Monday.

Jackson's Jewel in PRINT!

I just disovered that Jackson's Jewel is now available from Ellora's Cave in PRINT!

Check out the gorgeous new cover!

BLURB:

The last thing Jackson Connors wants is a housekeeper. He likes his life just as it is—solitary and uncomplicated.

Emerald Jewel is a New York designer with a stalker on her trail. She needs a place to hide out and Jackson’s farm is the perfect solution to her problem. The last thing she wants is to be attracted to her sexy new boss.

Neither of them is prepared for the explosion of passion that flares between them. They try to resist, but the desire will not be denied. Jackson knows Emerald’s life is in New York and his is on the farm. He’ll eventually have to let her go, but he’s not about to let her face this threat on her own.

But the stalker is getting closer to finding Emerald and will stop at nothing to possess her. As the threat around her escalates, she must face leaving Jackson to draw the danger away from the man she’s coming to love.

Read an Excerpt

Buy the Book

New Contract

What a lovely way to start the weekend!

I just signed a new contract with Ellora's Cave for MacNamara's Lady, the next book in the Awakening Desires series. Some of you may remember T.S. MacNamara from the book Craving Candy. I always knew I'd have to write a book for him. You'll probably recognize the heroine too if you've been following the series. But that's all I have to say about her for now. *g*

In the weeks ahead, hopefully I'll have more details for you.

In the meantime, welcome to Friday!

It's National Gumdrop Day!

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Today is National Gumdrop Day, an unofficial holiday celebrating that candy we all know and love--the gumdrop.

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What exactly are gumdrops?

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Gumdrops are brightly colored fruit and spice candies made from a mixture of pectin or gelatin, water, sugar, flavoring and coloring.

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All I care is they taste wonderful. Happy Gumdrop Day!

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Read more here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

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HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

I hope you're all feeling the love today!

Looking for a romantic read for Valentine's Day? Check out my Ellora's Cave Quickie, Anastasia's Style. It's a Valentine's Day romance with lots of love and plenty of HEAT!


BLURB:

Anastasia Style, owner of Hassle-free Holidays, is having anything but a hassle-free Valentine's Day. Her normally reliable car has a flat and she has a delivery to make for a last minute, lucrative client. And if that wasn't enough to make a woman crazy, she still has to make it to her lawyer's office in time to sign her divorce papers.

She just has to set the stage for her client's romantic evening and then she's off to her lawyer's office to officially end her marriage to Mason Style. Except her client has other ideas about how Anastasia will be spending her evening, and he has no intention of ever letting her go.

Read an Excerpt

Buy the Book

Sunday Song!

I recently discovered Adele. I absolutely love her voice!

Is it Spring Yet?

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Snow, snow everywhere and not a sidewalk in sight. Spring seems far away at this point. I'm looking forward to being lazy this weekend. I'll probably watch some hockey on television and the Grammy Awards on Sunday night. I know I'm a wild and crazy gal. *g*

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Have a great weekend!

Love is in the Air...

Love is in the Air at The Romance Studio Blue Blog. I'm talking about love, romance and Valentine's Day. Stop by and check it out!

A Book for Valentine's Day

Looking for a romantic read? Check out my Ellora's Cave Quickie, Anastasia's Style. It's a Valentine's Day romance with lots of love and plenty of HEAT!


BLURB:

Anastasia Style, owner of Hassle-free Holidays, is having anything but a hassle-free Valentine's Day. Her normally reliable car has a flat and she has a delivery to make for a last minute, lucrative client. And if that wasn't enough to make a woman crazy, she still has to make it to her lawyer's office in time to sign her divorce papers.

She just has to set the stage for her client's romantic evening and then she's off to her lawyer's office to officially end her marriage to Mason Style. Except her client has other ideas about how Anastasia will be spending her evening, and he has no intention of ever letting her go.

Read an Excerpt

Buy the Book

Featured Author

I'm one of the Featured Authors over at The Romance Studio Blue Pages this month. I'm talking about my latest Ellora's Cave release, Tracking Talia. I'm also answering questions about writing and books.

Check it out at The Romance Studio Blue Pages.

Two New Contracts

I recently signed two new contracts with Samhain Publishing for the next two books in my Spells, Secrets and Seductions trilogy--Dreams of Seduction and Love in Flames. I'll actually be working on edits for book two--Dreams of Seduction--today.


Book One--A Touch of Magick--is available from Samhain Publishing.

BLURB:

Spells, Secrets and Seductions, Book 1

Rhiannon Sparks admits she’s not a very good witch—she can’t even light a candle without a match—but she keeps trying. At least her talent for business has made her magick shop a huge success. Now if only there was even the faintest flicker in her nonexistent love life.

During a night of eating and drinking, she and her girlfriends cast a candle-magick spell for hot sex. All in good fun, of course. Except Rhiannon accidentally mixes up the words. Instead of a lover, she asks for true love.

Deputy Ryland Stone’s past keeps him firmly rooted in reality. Then he meets Rhiannon and sparks literally fly. One date leads to another, and then they’re practically setting the bedroom on fire…until she reveals the deal breaker.

Though love and magick have found Rhiannon at last, getting a handle on her newly unleashed power is the least of her problems. Unless Ryland accepts that magick exists, he will never accept her for who and what she is.


Product Warnings
This book contains a simple candle-magick spell, which you use at your own risk, a disastrous date, phone sex, and enough sizzle to practically set the sheets on fire.

Sunday Song

Marianne Faithfull - Ballad of Lucy Jordan

Anyone else remember this song?

Mini Apple Pies

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Here is a recipe I got from author Ariana Hart back in 2006. I've copied it exactly as she wrote it. I didn't have refrigerated pie crust so I simply made my own. Either way, it's quick and easy and fun!

Because it was a snow day last Thursday, I got in the mood to make them. Please note the recipe makes five and one was already missing by the time I took this photo. :)

Best of all it's YUMMY!

Ari’s Mini Apple Pies


Ingredients

2 medium tart baking apples (I used three)

¼ cup sugar

2 tsp flour

¾ tsp cinnamon

1 sheet refrigerated pie crust


Pre-heat oven to 425

Peel and chop apples

Combine with flour, cinnamon, and sugar


Cut pie crust into 5, 4 inch wide circles (I use a glass, but you can use a
biscuit cutter or whatnot) save the scraps

Put the 5 mini crusts into a muffin tin


Pour apple mixture into mini pies

Cut the scraps of pie crust into strips and lay across apple mixture


Fill the remaining, empty muffin cup about ¼ of the way with water.


Bake until bubbling, 18-20 minutes or so. Let the pies cool in the muffin
tins or you can’t get them out in one piece.


If I’m having company over, I put the little pie on a plate with a scoop of
ice cream or a wedge of cheddar cheese. If I’m making them for the family,
we usually just scarf them down as soon as they get out of the oven,
hahahaha

They work well with company because you don’t have to fight with the pie
trying to scoop it out without making a mess and you can make them up ahead
of time and then just pop them in the warm oven to heat them up nicely.


Enjoy!

Lissa Matthew's Birthday Bash

Author Lissa Matthew's is celebrating her 40th birthday all month long and some of her friends are helping her celebrate. We're sharing birthday memories and more. I also heard that Lissa will be giving away prizes, including books, gift cards and even a Kindle.

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Check out details on how to win the prizes HERE
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Check out my post today at Lissa Matthew's Blog.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Today, February 3rd, marks the Chinese New Year and the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit.

Read more here

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I was born in the Year of the Dragon and the forecast for 2011 The Chinese Year of the Rabbit says it will be a more balanced and secure year than 2010 for all Dragons. That's good news for me.

Check out what the Year of the Rabbit has in store for you.

Groundhog Day

Today is Groundhog Day, and those of us in the United States and Canada watch carefully every year on this day to see what the groundhog will do. According to folklore, if the groundhog emerges from its burrow, that means winter will soon end. If the groundhog sees its shadow and goes back to its burrow we will have six more weeks of winter.

Some famous groundhogs who have helped predict our fate over the years are Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil, Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam and Alberta's Balzac Billy.

Personally, with all the bad weather hitting us I don't think it matters what the groundhog has to say this year. Winter is here and it isn't going anywhere for a while yet.

Happy Groundhog Day!