Book Review, THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SANTA CLAUS

No snow for us--just cold!

Here in North Central Texas, we’re prepared for what the weather forecaster says is an “arctic blast.” Brrr! Folks around here call it, “Nothing between us and the North Pole but a barbed wire fence.” Strong north winds chill as if coming off the frozen North Pole. How do people in Siberia stand living there? Ah, well, that’s a problem for another day. Today's weather makes Christmas seem nearer. Heavens, it’s careening toward us like the fictional train, the Polar Express. How will I get everything done in time? I’ll either be late with some things for this year—or maybe I’ll be very early for next year. LOL

Because I love this time of year, I thought I’d give you a review of THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SANTA CLAUS, by (as told to) Jeff Guinn. This is not a new book, but came out in 2003. In fact, Jeff Guinn now has three follow-up books available. I read the first of the series several years ago. Don’t worry, this review does not contain spoilers.


I was relieved to learn the Santa Claus/Saint Nicholas tradition was not merely a marketing ploy concocted by Madison Avenue, or whatever its predecessor was. There really was a Saint Nicholas in the fourth century, and he really did go about giving gifts! He was a Bishop of the church in Myra and traveled around his area of Lycia in Asia Minor. His feast day in the Roman Catholic Church is December 6th, and he is also acknowledged by other churches. Okay, he didn’t crawl down chimneys. Back then, homes didn’t have actual chimneys as we know them. Many just had a hole in the roof. They also didn't have glass on the windows. Not too cozy in bad weather.

Saint Nicholas’ first known gifts were to the daughters of a very poor man. The girls couldn’t marry without a dowry, but their father had none to offer. Taking pity on the girls, Saint Nicholas either (1) tossed bags of gold through the window or (2) each sister had only one pair of stockings, so she washed them each night and hung them near the fire. Saint Nicholas put the coins in the stockings the girls left drying by the fire. Thus, the girls were able to marry (and, hopefully, each got a second pair of stockings).

I prefer the second version because it explains why we hang stockings by the fire for Santa to fill. When I was a child, my brother and I used our dad's heavy winter socks to hang. Since we didn't have a fireplace, we hung them on a nail in the window frame. Not idyllic, but it worked. It never occurred to us that on very cold days our dad had to wear socks with a hole in them. Oops, I digressed again.

Modern Santa Claus

The point of Jeff Guinn's book is that Saint Nicholas was an actual person, a Bishop of the church, who went around giving to the poor and helping all those he could. In other words, he did not only what is expected of any priest, but what we’re all supposed to do every day. As was the custom of the time and place, he was married. There was a Mrs. Claus.

Remarkable that Saint Nicholas showed such compassion in a time when the poor were looked down upon or ignored. Remarkable that doing good created so much notoriety and controversy and gave him a permanent place in history. Remarkable that we continue his legacy by giving to those we love and, hopefully, to those in need. Whether you call him Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, or Father Christmas, thanks for continuing his legacy.

I do believe in Santa Claus. I do!

Buy link for my books is www.thewildrosepress.com/caroline-clemmons-m-638.html

The REAL Texas Rangers! by Tracy Garrett

Tracy Garrett at a booksigning

For as long as she can remember, Tracy Garrett has loved to disappear into the worlds created within the pages of a book. An accomplished musician, Tracy merged her need for creativity, her love of history, and her passion for reading when she began writing historical romance. An active member of Romance Writers of America and Dallas Area Romance Authors, Tracy lives in Missouri with her husband of twenty-six years. Her western historicals, TOUCH OF TEXAS and TOUCHED BY LOVE, are available from bookstores everywhere.



      THE REAL TEXAS RANGERS

Clayton Moore as the Lone Ranger,
accompanied by his horse, Silver

Ever since the masked man in the white hat rode across the silver screen upholding the law and saving damsels in distress, I’ve been a fan of the Texas Rangers. From a few carefully chosen men protecting the Texas frontier to the elite of modern law enforcement, the history of the Texas Rangers is as colorful as the land and people they protect.


Hollywood has been enamored with this badge-wearing hero since 1910, when the first movie featuring a Ranger was released. But who are the real Texas Rangers?

In 1823 the Empresario of Mexico, Stephen F. Austin, created two companies of men to act as “rangers for the common defense.” These men had to be strong leaders and fighters, and needed some specialized skills:


>marksmanship with rifle and pistol;
>horsemanship;
>mastery of the outdoor life; and
>knowledge of the foe.


They also had to have their own horse and weapons, since the government provided only powder, lead, and a few provisions. After that, they had to fend for themselves.

The Texas Rangers have been formed and disbanded many times in their history. In 1835, the provisional Texas government authorized recruiting 25 Rangers. That number grew to 3 companies of 56 men each, who all mustered out in 1846 and joined the Army as scouts and guerilla fighters, and became sensations in the eastern newspapers. That’s where the legend of the Texas Rangers began.

1874 brought the creation of six companies of 75 “young men, in good physical condition, without families, who owned good horses.” The state was to furnish arms and ammunition at cost, the amount to be deducted from the first pay of each soldier. Because the state only provided .45 caliber ammunition, the Rangers began using what is arguably the best-known weapon of the West:

The New Model Army Metallic Cartridge Revolving Pistol, aka
     THE PEACEMAKER

A FEW MILESTONES FOR THE TEXAS RANGERS:


1877 Salt War in El Paso
1877 Outlaw John Wesley Hardin shot in Pensacola, Florida
1878 Notorious outlaw Sam Bass captured near Round Rock, Texas
1880 Company “C” sent to the Panhandle to explore, making expanded settlement possible
1883 Free Range War - sent to stop fence cutting and enforce peace
1900 Galveston Hurricane - maintain the peace and uphold the law
1901 Law enforcement around the oil boom
1915 Pancho Villa & the border raids
1920s Enforced Prohibition laws



Captain Frank Hamer

 In 1939, Captain Frank Hamer and 49 retired Texas Rangers offered their services to the King of England to defend their shores against Nazi invasion. That sent rumors flying through Hitler’s Reich that the Texas Rangers planned to infiltrate Nazi Germany. The rumors were based on tales of U.S. Army Ranger commandos, but by then the Texas Rangers were so famous that the Gestapo and Ministry of Propaganda assumed they would be facing the Texas Rangers.

By the way, Texas Rangers Frank Hamer and Manny Gilbert were the law enforcement officers responsible for stopping Bonnie and Clyde.

The Texas Rangers didn’t become a permanent force until 1987. Today, the Rangers are made up of 116 officers, organized in Six Companies – the same six companies that were first put together in 1874.

Current Texas Ranger Badge

When we think of a Texas Ranger, we don’t usually picture a woman, but women have been a part of the Rangers since the 1920s. Women Rangers were “commissioned as Special Rangers in the 1920s – 1940s, with one even commissioned to serve as a Mansion Guard at the governor’s mansion, a task often performed by Regular Rangers at that time.” Currently, we have two female officers serving in the active Ranger force, in Company “D” in San Antonio and Company “F” in Waco. Today’s Texas Rangers are considered to be one of the most effective investigative law enforcement agencies in the world.

And Hollywood still loves them. To date, Texas Rangers have appeared as characters in more than 230 films, television shows and made-for-tv movies.


If you have never visited the Texas Ranger Museum in Waco, Texas, put it on your must-see list. It is a fascinating glimpse of the men and women who make up this amazing law enforcement agency--and an excellent research tool. http://www.texasranger.org/index.htm

Tracy
www.tracygarrett.com




Tracy, thanks for that well-written history of the Texas Rangers! An ancestor was a Texas Ranger for a brief time, a field appointment which lasted only a few months when he lived near Denison, Texas. Even though he served only a short time, I am proud of that association with these deserving men. Today, promotion to a Texas Ranger is a very coveted and prestigious position. People in our area were pleased when one of our local State Troopers was promoted a few years ago. "One fight, one ranger" is still a familiar phrase in Texas.

And, Tracy, we really miss you in Texas. Please come back!

Author Lisbeth Eng takes us to World War II Italy



Lisbeth Eng, Author

 Please Welcome author Lisbeth Eng to the blog today. Lisbeth is a genuine native New Yorker whose love of literature, history and romance led her on the rewarding path to romance writing. An English major in college, Lisbeth has also studied Italian, German and French. Besides writing, world travel is her passion, and trips to Italy and Germany have lent authenticity to her European-set World War II romance novel. Lisbeth currently lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, a stone’s throw from Central Park and Lincoln Center, and loves the fascinating pace of life in the Big Apple.


Caroline: It sounds as if you lead the ideal life, Lisbeth. Please tell us about growing up. Siblings? Were you the shy kid or the tomboy?



Lisbeth: I have lived all of my life in New York City in four of the five boroughs. Born in Queens, I moved to Brooklyn around the age of two, then to Staten Island when I was nine. I lived in Staten Island most of my life, until about five years ago when I moved to Manhattan after my husband died. I love living here on the Upper West Side near Central Park. I have a half-sister Stephanie who is 18 years my senior. She’s from my father’s first marriage and although we didn’t grow up together we are close. She now lives in Virginia. My brother Jonathan is closer to me in age (he’s two years older) and despite the inevitable sibling rivalry of growing up together, we have much in common. He now lives in Ohio. I’m the only one left in New York, except for members of my late husband’s family. I was on the shy side growing up, not particularly popular with my peers and a bit of a “teacher’s pet.” My parents instilled the importance of education and I didn’t dare come home with poor grades!


Caroline: Sounds familiar. I don’t know what I thought would happen, but I also didn’t dare come home with poor grades. Who are your favorite authors and favorite genres?

Lisbeth: I read everything from romance to non-fiction to memoirs. Kurt Vonnegut is one of my favorite fiction authors. I love his dry wit and use of irony. I enjoy the books of romance/women’s fiction authors Deanna Raybourn, Hope Tarr and Leanna Renee Hieber, among others. When I choose a romance novel to read, it’s usually historical, though I’ve read some good contemporaries, too.

Caroline: How many books do you read a month? What are you reading now?

From The Wild Rose Press

Lisbeth: That’s a very tough question because the past couple of years, I’ve been so busy revising, submitting, editing and now promoting my debut novel, IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY, that I hardly have the time or energy to read someone else’s book! But I keep buying them and they are piling up in my apartment. A few years ago, when I took a break from writing, I probably read about two or three books per month. I’m a slow reader and tend to savor ever word. The last book I was able to squeeze into my very busy schedule was Hope Tarr’s MY LORD JACK, a romance set in 18th century Scotland. Next on my to-be-read list is something totally different, BLACK EDELWEISS – A MEMOIR OF COMBAT AND CONSCIENCE BY A SOLDIER OF THE WAFFEN SS by Johann Voss. I will be giving a talk at Deutsches Haus at NYU in February on how the World War II German soldier is portrayed in romance novels. Reading this book is part of my preparation. But the main thing that keeps me extremely busy (and unable to read as much as I would like) is my full-time job in the finance industry.


Caroline: A paycheck is important, isn’t it? And I loved MY LORD JACK. When you’re not writing, what’s your favorite way to relax and recharge? Hobbies?

Lisbeth: Gee…I used to have hobbies! :) Besides writing, I like doing crafts, but haven’t had the time in ages. I repainted and stenciled a couple of old pieces of furniture a few years ago and they came out beautifully (if I may say so myself). I can also draw a little but haven’t in many years. I love to walk and am fortunate to live close to Central Park. On a nice day, a long walk in the park can be both invigorating and relaxing. I also love taking a long, hot bubble bath to relax.

Caroline: Ooooh, I love long baths, but usually settle for a quick shower to save time. Describe yourself in three or four words.

Lisbeth: Honest, loyal, detail-oriented (we’ll count that as one word) and generous.


Caroline: Would you like to share any guilty pleasures that feed your muse?

Lisbeth: I can’t think of any pleasures I feel guilty about. I’m very conscious of eating healthfully but will occasionally indulge in chocolate, ice cream, pizza or the like. But I don’t do it often enough to feel guilty about, and I don’t think it has anything to do with my muse!


Caroline: I refuse to admit chocolate doesn’t help my muse! LOL How long have you been writing?

Lisbeth: My first attempts at creative writing were in high school but I didn’t get serious about writing until about nine years ago. Though I was an English major in college, my entire career has been in the finance industry. IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY started out as a fluke, you might say. I was fooling around at the computer one day and the words just started coming out, unplanned.

Caroline: Don’t you love when that happens? Where do you prefer to write? Do you need quiet, music, solitude? PC or laptop?

Lisbeth: I write at my full-sized desk at home on a full-size Mac with a full-sized keyboard. I even bought a special keyboard for my Mac because the one that came with the computer was too “flat.” I need to feel the keys beneath my fingers. I also have a pull-out drawer for the keyboard so I can type in a proper typing position, with my elbows at my sides. Otherwise, my shoulders hurt. I can’t imagine typing an entire novel on a laptop. And I prefer complete silence when I write. If I play music, I find that my mind drifts and I become unfocused.


Caroline: I also prefer writing at my desk although I listen to classical music while I write. Are you a plotter or a panzer?

Lisbeth: I am definitely a panzer. I write whatever scene pops into my head and figure out how it will fit into the book, if at all, later. With IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY, I knew how it would begin and end but it took months to figure out the middle, as I was writing it. I’ve written scenes that were never used, though I may recycle them for another book. :)

Caroline: Do you use real events or persons in your stories or as an inspiration for stories?

Lisbeth: IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY deals with the Italian Resistance to German occupation of northern Italy from 1943 to 1945. I was inspired by one of my Italian professors in college (I minored in Italian Studies and spent the summer between my sophomore and junior years in Italy). Professor Azzi told us stories of the Resistance (he was in Italy during the war) and it planted a seed, which grew into my Italian-set World War II romance novel twenty years later.


Caroline: He sounds fascinating. Do you do your research before you begin a new project, or as you go along?

Lisbeth: With IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY, I did research along the way. As I said, I didn’t start out with a plan to write a novel, I was just fooling around at the computer. But as it began to take shape, I realized that if I were going to seriously pursue this as a complete work, I would need to learn a lot about World War II. So the fiction writing and research (which involved reading books about the war, as well as watching WWII movies and TV documentaries – I became a fan of the History Channel – and surfing the internet) went hand in hand. If my next novel involves a different historic period (I’ve ideas for a few) I think I will approach it the same way, though I may do more research at the “front end.”

Caroline: Tell us about your writing schedule. Do you set goals? Do you write daily?

Lisbeth: Since I work full time (actually, I sometimes work up to 12 hours a day at my regular job) I write mostly on weekends and some evenings, if I’m not too burned out from my day job. No, I don’t set writing goals. Now that my debut novel is out, I will write the next one at my own pace and not set any time limits. My day job comes first, but I also need balance in my life, which means time for socializing and relaxing, and I even do some volunteer work. A full night’s sleep is also essential for physical and mental health. So right now, writing has to be less of a priority.

Caroline: I don’t know how you’ve found time to complete your book. Obviously you are excellent at time management! Tell us about your day job.


Lisbeth: I am a registered representative for a brokerage firm. I have my broker’s license but have never had my own clients. I work primarily as a sales assistant to four portfolio managers, which involves both client relations and entering trades. A few months ago, I was asked to help out in another department, which was short of staff. So I’m really doing a job and a half, which is why it’s more than an eight-hour workday, much of the time. I’ve been with the same firm my entire career. I am grateful for the opportunities they’ve given me and dedicated to doing the best job I can. The past couple of years have been difficult in our industry (and in the economy in general) and I work very hard to keep the job I have. It pays the rent and everything else – until I win the lottery or sell the movie rights to my book!

Caroline: Wouldn’t either winning the lottery or selling movie rights be terrific? Of course, I never remember to buy a lottery ticket, so there's no chance I'll win. Actually, I think with my luck there's about as much chance as if I bought a ticket. LOL What do you hope your writing brings to readers?

Lisbeth: In my European-set World War II romance novel, I portray people on both sides of the battle lines as human beings. There are no “good guys” or “bad guys.” I intentionally avoid the stereotypes one sometimes finds in fiction. Most World War II romances I’ve read depict Germans in a two-dimensional way. I’d like my readers to see that people of all nationalities can have a mix of positive and negative qualities, just like real folks. I want to break through preconceived notions and bias. And of course, I want my readers to enjoy the book and care about the hero and heroine (though you may not identify who the hero is right away).

Caroline: Portraying a human Nazi without embracing his cause must have been extremely difficult. You chose a really tough period to write! What advice would you give to authors waiting for publication?


Lisbeth: There are many things I could say but perhaps the most important is to believe in your work and to have perseverance. It took me years to find a publisher who would offer me a contract. I also advise attention to detail and care with grammar and usage. I’ve been in several critique groups and notice that many aspiring authors have less than a satisfactory grasp of grammar and punctuation.

Caroline: The cover for IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY is very well done. Tell us about your latest release.

Lisbeth: Here’s a blurb for IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY:

Isabella Ricci has pledged her life for the cause – to free Italy from Nazi oppression. Her mission for the Resistance, to seduce a German officer into revealing military secrets, could be deadly. Can she complete her assignment before losing her heart…or her life?

Massimo Baricelli, commander in the Resistance, and Isabella’s ambitious lover, charges her to uncover intelligence that the Allies need to vanquish the Nazis. But can he hold onto his woman while sending her into the arms of another man?


Günter Schumann is handsome, chivalrous, romantic…and a captain in the Army of the Third Reich. When he meets Isabella, he falls for her instantly, never imagining that she is a spy and he her unwitting target. What will he do when forced to choose between love and duty?


How much must be sacrificed for the cause of freedom? Will love survive the cruelest betrayal?


Caroline: All right, Lisbeth, you’ve hooked me. Please give readers an excerpt.


Lisbeth: Although my book is sensual, here’s a PG excerpt:

Before she could make sense of what was happening, the men were there inside the room. She wanted to scream, to flee, but she knew the slightest movement could be her undoing. She shook and her eyes filled with tears. But she discovered that if she concentrated on each breath, her lips tightly sealed, no sounds would escape. Crouched beneath the desk, she pressed her hands and feet against the floor to keep them from knocking against anything.
 The two men spoke casually to each other, almost lightheartedly, in contrast to the deadly terror she felt. Though she struggled to comprehend what they were saying, she couldn’t decipher all the words. She thought about reaching for the dictionary that lay by her side, but that was too risky.

Every second was agony, as if death might come at any moment. But she admitted to herself that a swift demise would be easy compared to her fate if discovered. She would face humiliation, torture, and then finally, mercifully, death. The thought made her throat constrict painfully, as if a noose were being tightened around it. Was this what Marco felt when he died? Fear evolved into despondency. Just breathe...slowly, deeply...focus only on that—don’t think about anything else. Concentrate only on breathing.

Caroline: Wow! That excerpt was intense! IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY sounds like a real page-turner with great characterization. I want to read more. Where can readers find your books?


Lisbeth: They can buy my book as a paperback or as an e-book at The Wild Rose Press http://www.thewildrosepress.com/lisbeth-eng-m-748.html and also at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and other online booksellers. It is not in “brick and mortar” bookstores.

Caroline: How can readers learn more about you?


Lisbeth: They can visit my website at http://www.lisbetheng.com/ and contact me from there if they wish. I love to hear from readers!


Caroline: Thank you so much for joining us today, Lisbeth. Best of luck with book sales for IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY—and in selling to the movies and winning the lottery. LOL

Me posing for my newsletter
Sure, that's how I really
look, why do you ask?

Readers, if you haven't already done so, please sign up for my Mostly Monthly Newsletter in the space on the sidebar. Time is near for the next issue with an exclusive FREE short story, recipes, news, and more. Don't miss out on this issue.

Come back on the 12th to hear from my friend, Tracy Garrett.

In the meantime, don't forget books make great gifts! Mine are at www.thewildrosepress.com/caroline-clemmons-m-638.html

Christmas Blog Tour Continues with Rae Summers

Rae Summers
Author

The Christmas Blog Tour continues and our guest is the energetic Rae Summers. Rae lives in South Africa where she works in television advertising, a line of work that is not always as glamorous as it seems. When she isn’t working or being mom to two young daughters, Rae can be found with her nose in a book.


Rae’s first grade teacher was so seriously concerned by her day dreaming that she called her parents in for a conference. Fortunately, her parents staunchly defended Rae’s right to daydream and these days she’s able to prove their faith right by turning those day dreams into stories. She hopes her stories bring as much pleasure to her readers as they bring to her. Rae, I’ll turn the blog over to you.



Thanks for hosting me here today, Caroline. Today’s blog tour theme is our favourite Christmas movie or story.

Please don’t shoot me, but I’m going to make a confession. I’m not really big on Christmas-themed books or movies. I find most either lean towards being silly (like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation) or overly sentimental (like It’s a Wonderful Life) or moralising (like Dickens’ Christmas Carol).

But there’s one Christmas film that stands out for me, and which I could happily watch every year: the 1947 version of Miracle on 34th Street. This movie starred Maureen O’Hara and John Payne, with 9-year old Natalie Wood as the child whose innocent belief changes the lives of all those around her.

I think what I liked best about this movie is its innocence. Unlike the 1994 version (starring the very gorgeous Dylan McDermott, alongside Elizabeth Perkins and Richard Attenborough) this one doesn’t ‘pour on the treacle’. It’s a fairy tale that doesn’t take itself too seriously.


Researching this blog post I also found out a few interesting bits of trivia about the original film that I thought I’d share with you:


 Studio bosses at 20th Century Fox weren’t particularly keen on this film, but they made it anyway so they could coerce director George Seaton into making his next film for them.

Maureen O'Hara hugging
Natalie Wood

 The film was released in June, not at Christmas, because the studio figured more people watch movies in summer, so it would earn more. They kept the Christmas aspect out of the original poster, and the trailer showed a studio executive talking to people on the film lot about the movie, rather than clips from the film itself.


 Parts of the film were shot in Macy’s department store, and the parade is the real Macy’s parade. By the 1990s this iconic store was replaced by a generic no-name brand version. A sad sign of our times.

Edmund Gwen (who still
epitomizes Santa for me)
and Natalie Wood

 This film spawned three remakes (1959, 1973 and 1994) and a Broadway musical. The most recent version might be beautifully filmed, but for me it’s the original that holds my heart.

What is your favourite Christmas movie?

Caroline: And now let's learn about Rae's book LET'S MISBEHAVE.

Let's Misbehave now available

Let’s Misbehave Blurb:



Gabrielle is the quintessential Flapper, a wild child who turns her back on home and a resentful and unloving mother to become a nightclub singer. She wants nothing more from life than freedom and pleasure.


Sebastian is a dutiful son, following in his father’s footsteps and on the verge of marrying a suitable bride. But as the Twenties roar to their conclusion, he finds himself torn between duty and the urge to indulge his adventurous streak.


From the moment Gabrielle and Sebastian meet, the tension between them simmers. When he rescues her from a boorish suitor, Gabrielle discovers a kindred spirit beneath Sebastian’s serious demeanour, and she sets out to seduce him into one last passionate fling before he settles for a loveless marriage.


But the fire that burns between them threatens to consume her. Will Gabrielle survive falling in love with the one man she cannot have?


Buy Links
TWRP: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/lets-misbehave-p-4119.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lets-Misbehave-ebook/dp/B003V4B6AK/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&m=A7B2F8DUJ88VZ&s=digital-text&qid=1279057490&sr=8-7

All Romance Ebooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-letsmisbehave-443785-158.html


* * *
Rae's running a contest over on her blog at http://raesummers.wordpress.com/ where two winners will each win traditional Christmas tree ornaments. In order to enter you need to become a follower of her blog or her fan page, or re-tweet her posts. And you’ll need to leave her a comment letting her know you’ve entered!


Rae, thanks so much for sharing all the tidbits about "Miracle on 34th Street," which happens to be one of my three favorite Christmas movies. Like you, I don't like the goofy or saccherine movies. This one is perfect, and I loved the musical, too. This time of year I'm humming "That Man Over There Is Santa Claus" from the stage show.
 
Today, I'm over at P.L. Parker's blog talking about the same subject. What other two movies did I choose? Check out the answer at http://plparker.blogspot.com/
 
For more on the Christmas Blog Tour, check out the site http://rosestour.blogspot.com/

Life of the Toureio Equestre and Rejoneo by Bianca Swan

Spanish Rojoneo and horse in Capriole

The art of bullfighting on horseback, as currently practiced in Portugal where it is called toureio equestre, and in Spain and Mexico where it is called rejoneo, claims a direct origin to the Iberian Peninsula, having developed from Middle Ages war exercises, particularly the cavalry.

Coridas mixtas are also popular, where a rejoneador and two matadores (or a rejoneador, matador and novillero - the last of which is an apprentice matador) perform.

During a performance, rejoneadores often ride several horses. Bullfighting horses are highly trained to swerve instantly, yet remain calm when charged by a fierce, angry bull. They must possess an extreme bravura, agility, and obedience. The rejoneador often rides with his reins bound at the horse’s neck, working completely off his seat and legs.

A rejoneador's usual costume consists of a dark waistcoat (usually brown or grey), brown leather chaps and a broad, straight-brimmed hat.



Available Now
The Wild Rose Press
Wilder Catalog

   In Hot Spanish Nights, the hero is a famous dressage rider and a rejoneador, the mounted bullfighter. Damian is the son and heir to a sherry empire as well, and the Xeres are well-known for their fine Andalusian horses. Besides being talented for high school dressage, the Andalusian is renowned as the bullfighting horse of Spain.


Erica DeLongpre ventures to Spain in search of the perfect Andalusian stallion—and finds a two-legged stud much to her liking. In Damian’s arms, Erica finds her own sexuality and redefines herself—a self she thought she’d never meet.

Blurb:  Southern vixen Erica DeLongpre journeys to Spain to find the horse of her dreams, never expecting to find a man capable of stirring her sexual awareness. Damián Xeres, a renowned bullfighter is deliciously skilled on a horse–and in bed. But a woman from Damian’s past rattles Erica’s confidence and threatens the very essence of her trip. With Lucia waiting for the slightest chink in her armor, Erica can’t help wonder what lies ahead in those HOT SPANISH NIGHTS.


PG Excerpt:

Erica DeLongpre was living her fantasy.
At last, she was in Spain, in Andalusia.
And in lust.

She and tall, dark and handsome Damián Xérès rode the magnificent gray stallion bareback. This enticing man smelled of horses and leather, and he was all man, from the top of his head to the tips of his shiny riding boots—an enchanting journey of about six feet-two-inches. The horse’s silvery mane whipped in the breeze. Flowers spilled their scent into the morning. The sun on the white sand of the riding arena was blinding, like a dream.


She closed her eyes, pictured the man behind her. His brilliant white shirt, open at the neck, showed a sprinkling of dark hair on his chest. She leaned back pretending the strong arm lightly circling her waist hugged her tight against that muscled chest. As she rocked with the cadence of the horse’s canter, she imagined Damián’s firm, hot shaft pressed to her butt. When she visualized how his erection would look in the tight riding breeches, a pleasant shiver glided over her.

Mustn’t let my imagination run away like this.

“Sit deep,” he said, and her fantasy became a reality as he slid closer.

His long legs molded to hers, stroked ever so slightly to the three-beat thud of hooves. Sweat broke on her brow. Her heart pounded in her ears, reverberating in her core. She should inch away from the hard pressure on her ass, but he felt too damned good. Images of turning around and doing him on the horse scrolled through her mind. She lost the rhythm of the stallion’s smooth gait and slid to the side.

Damián’s arm closed around her waist, steadying her. “We must work on your seat, Erica. You look beautiful on a horse, but you must become one with him.”

Thinking of becoming one with him—the man not the horse—caused the problem.


To view Biana's video trailer, please click on the small arrow on the lower left corner of the video screen below. Warning, the video is PG18:

Buy Link: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/wilderroses/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=792&zenid=62fc11896c2d64b70489c2f61027e3f7

4 Cup Review from Coffee Time Romance:Bianca Swan gives her readers a feverishly fierce erotic romance. Damián is a strong and skilled hero who stole my heart with his dedication to his family and his animals. When he confesses his scholarly delectation, I believe he became the perfect man. … I highly recommend it (HOT SPANISH NIGHTS) to heat up a cold winter night.

Blog: http://biancaswanblog.wordpress.com/


Thank you, Bianca, for sharing your book and the research you dove into. That horse in the Capriole photo you provided is gorgeous. Congratulations on your 4 Cups Coffee Time Review, and best of luck with sales.

Review of STOLEN by Vivian Zabel

Vivian Gilbert Zabel

The tragedy of child abduction is the subject of Vivian Gilbert Zabel’s fiction novel STOLEN. But Vivian knows the personal heartache of her grandchildren’s abduction by their father. Only through her persistent efforts were her grandchildren discovered and returned from England where there father had hidden them. Vivian never gave up hope. She not only blogged, but she encouraged friends to help her. One day, her grandson Googled his name and discovered the blog references, each of which included Vivian’s contact information. He emailed her and her personal tragedy had a happy ending. Of sorts, at least. How does one recover the lost years? How does one undo the damage done by a vengeful parent?

Available Now From 4RV Publishing

In STOLEN, Tori Adamson learns of her cheating husband’s duplicitous life and takes her children from Dallas, Texas to Oklahoma to stay with her grandparents in their bed and breakfast, The Lighthouse. Through tragedy and happiness, she is surrounded with love and hope for a secure and happy future with a loving man, Jason. Until the terrible day when her children disappear. Who took them? Imagine the terror in a mother’s heart when she learns her children are missing. The diminishing hope as each day passes. As a mother, I can think of nothing worse! To learn about the search and whether or not there is a happy ending, read STOLEN, available now through the 4RV Publishing bookstore: http://4rvpublishingllc.com/Novels.html In two weeks, STOLEN will also be available on Amazon.


NOTE: Anyone not hosting a blog stop but who promotes the novel will have a chance to win an ARC. (ARC means Advance Reader Copy). Let Vivian know you've promoted at the email address below. Winners of hard copy ARCs must have a U.S. address. Two of the people who send Vivian by email a possible ending to the novel will win an ARC. Anyone outside the U.S. who wins will receive a PDF ARC. Email Vivian at vivian@viviangilbertzabel.com

STOLEN website – http://stolen.yolasite.com/
Vivian's blog tour continues tomorrow at Karen Coiffi-Ventrice's blog at http://karenandrobyn.blogspot.com/
 

Welcome Amber Polo, Author

Amber Polo, Author

Readers, please help me welcome Amber Polo today. A love of books drew Amber into a career as a librarian. A greater love turned her into a writer. Yoga teaching led her to the spiritual world. And the mystical side of Sedona, Arizona became the paranormal setting for her first novel, ROMANCING REBECCA. After living in seven states, she happily calls a small town in Arizona home.



Caroline: Amber, please tell us a little about yourself.

Amber: I spent most of my life as a librarian. (I think I helped in my grade school library.) Does that say it all? I worked in many types of libraries in a lot of states. Now I use all those places as settings in my stories. I like to say being a librarian (and an English major) held me back from writing my own fiction because I didn’t think I could compete with all those books already published. So I wrote bibliographies and computer manuals.


Caroline: Who are your favorite authors and favorite genres?


Amber: I like any author whose books grabs me. I read a lot of fantasy and mainstream fiction but romance that makes me laugh and I enjoy a scientific or anthropological plot. I love a good twist that holds me to the page.

Caroline: How many books do you read a month and what are you reading now?

Amber: I read/listen to about 2 audiobooks a week and maybe one in print. In audio I just finished THE PARTICULAR SADNESS OF LEMON CAKE by Amee Bender and THE JUNGLE by Upton Sinclair (Never read it in any of my Midwestern schools.) In print I’m into LINGER by Maggie Stiefvater and GRAB by Elise Blackwell (a great comic novel about writers and publishing).


Caroline: When you’re not writing, what’s your favorite way to relax and recharge?

Amber: I walk and as a yoga teacher, love to yoga. I live on an airpark in Arizona (the setting for my FLYING FREE) so watching the mountains and clouds works magic. I also work at transplanting cactus without mortal injuries.


Caroline: Mmm, seeing mountains is soothing. Would you like to share any guilty pleasures that feed your muse?

Amber: I bet I’m not the only author to answer chocolate. Really good chocolate! And don’t get me started about fruitcake. I even wrote a magic fruitcake in CHRISTMAS ON WHEREVER ISLAND so I could bake lots (as samples).

Caroline: I live fairly near the Collin Street Bakery, famous for their fruitcakes. You'd love their bakery. Describe yourself in three words.

Amber: Content, Smart, Flexible.

Caroline: How long have you been writing?


Amber: I fell into the fiction addiction about ten years ago.


Caroline: Where do you prefer to write?


Amber: I built the perfect office with a computer, quiet space, and a yoga mat. Plus I couldn’t write without my little Alphasmart.

Caroline: I love my office, too. Are you a plotter or a panzer?

Amber: Mostly a panzer trying to be a better plotter. Usually my scenes sort of flow from my brain to my fingers to my Alphasmart. It’s part of the magic, then comes the editing.

Caroline: Oh, yes, editing and editing and editing. Do you use real events or persons in your stories?

Amber: FLYING FREE “borrows” characteristics of some of my airpark neighbors. (Just promise not to tell them!)

Caroline: Your secret is safe. LOL Do you do your research before you begin a new project, or as you go along?


Amber: Both. I love research but it, too, can get addictive.


Caroline: Tell us about your writing schedule.

Amber: I try to set flexible goals. I work hard but take breaks in between projects unless I have deadlines.

Caroline: Do you write full time or do you have a day job.


Amber: Writing is now my job, plus I use my writing and computer skills to help with publicity and organization for non-profits in town. I also write press releases for my small town library (since I speak their language).

Caroline: How nice of you to share your talent! What do you hope your writing brings to readers?


Amber: Most important I like to make readers smile. Then I hope they painlessly learn something about a new place or a new way of looking at life.

Caroline: What advice would you give to pre-published authors?


Amber: Keep writing because you love it. Keep learning more about the craft. Don’t tie yourself to one genre. And never stop reading.


Caroline: Good advice. Tell us about your latest release.

Amber: I wrote FLYING FREE (Treble Heart Books) because I realized I lived in a very unusual neighborhood where most of my senior citizen neighbors flew airplanes out of hangers attached to their homes.


http://www.trebleheartbooks.com,%20contemporary/RomanceContemporary
Print and ebook


Caroline: Sounds interesting. Can you give us a blurb?

Amber: Here it is:


Can a meat eating Texas advertising woman find love with a vegetarian Buddhist and get her pilot's license despite interference from her wacky Arizona airpark neighbors?

Lia Bedford thinks she’s going to get her pilot’s license, sell her father’s Arizona airpark house, go back to helping beef producers sell meat, and probably find a guy just like the cheating husband who bankrupted her.

Seth Hartman thinks he’s come to Arizona to build a spiritual center, escape the community and wife that betrayed him, and create a new beginning much like the contemplative, vegetarian life he left.


While Lia tries to hide and Seth tries to fit in, their attraction, with a little help from their wacky senior citizen neighbors, pulls them together. All they have to do is conquer the fear of flying and their fear of love.

Caroline: That sounds like a fun book to read. I can’t wait to dig into it! Do you have other works out?


Amber: Yes, CHRISTMAS ON WHEREVER ISLAND (The Wild Rose Press) It's a paranormal contemporary with a sensual rating and is 67 pages long.

Link: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/christmas-on-wherever-island-p-1049.html?zenid=e6b6a05a6c40f90b6a65710a88807877

Caroline: I love Christmas books. Please give us a blurb for that one.

Amber: Of course, happy to.


A Magic Santa brings Caribbean Christmas Joy! Marti Bell is facing the prospect of a very unmerry Christmas. Reluctantly, leaving her married lover she travels toward ice, snow, and judgmental family until a magic Santa sends her to a surprise destination in the warm waters of the Caribbean.

Wherever Island would be a winter paradise except the only place to stay is the beachside cottage of romantic globetrotting photographer Cliff Holmes. Cliff wants to unwind and treat Marti to a little romantic Caribbean Christmas fun but she’s determined to stay in the warm ocean and out of hot water.

Caroline: Remind readers where they can find your books.


Amber: From my publishers The Wild Rose Press (for my paranormals – CHRISTMAS ON WHEREVER ISLAND and ROMANCING REBECCA) and Treble Heart (FLYING FREE), as well as Fictionwise, and Amazon.


Caroline: Each of your books sounds intriguing. Looks as if my TBR stack just grew. Where can readers learn more about you?

Amber: My website http://www.amberpolo.com/index.html
and WordShaping Blog http://amberpolo.blogspot.com/


Thank you so much for sharing with us today, Amber. While readers are at The Wild Rose Press, please remember to download the FREE Christmas recipe book there. And if you’re still looking for Christmas gifts for readers on your list, try Amber’s books at the above links and mine at http://www.thewildrosepress.com/caroline-clemmons-m-638.html

LILLY GAYLE SHARES A FAMILY HOLIDAY RECIPE

Lilly Gayle, Author

Please welcome my new friend and fellow The Wild Rose Press author, Lilly Gayle, lives in North Carolina with her husband of thirty years, her youngest daughter who's still in college, a dog, a cat, and various critters both dead and alive that the cat occasionally drags through the doggie door. When not writing or working as a mammogapher, she spends time with her husband at the beach. OUT OF THE DARKNESS, a paranormal romance is her first published novel. A historical, SLIGHTLY TARNISHED, should be released sometime next year. Lilly’s going to share part of her holiday tradition, including a family recipe.



Lilly: Hi Caroline. Thanks for having me on your blog today and for allowing me to “dish” about my favorite holiday foods and recipes.


I have to say, I eat a lot around the holidays. And I’m also big on tradition, even if it’s the tradition of creating a new tradition. You just can’t have Christmas without my father’s country cured ham, preferably from Virginia. There’s nothing like Virginia ham, aged to perfection and slow cooked. But boy, will it make you thirsty! And it’s probably not real good for your blood pressure either, but hey---It’s the holidays. Right?

I also have a great recipe for a candy my grandmother used to make. When I was little, my dad’s mom always made Frying Pan Balls. I don’t know where the original recipe came from, but she gave it to me when I got married and also published it in her church’s cookbook just before she died.


When my daughters were little, we’d make the Frying Pan Balls together and even my daughter who hates coconut loved them. The one year I forgot to make them, my children got upset. So, never a holiday season passes when I don’t make these sweet treats.

I even contributed the recipe to The Wild Rose Press’s holiday cookbook. And now, I’m going to share it with you and your readers.

    Ruth Winston's Frying Pan Balls


You'll need:


1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup chopped dates
2 eggs
2 cups Rice Krispie cereal™
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup candied cherries or mixed fruit used in
       fruit cakes
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Grated coconut


Cooking instructions:
*Best if cooked in an electric frying pan.*


Cream sugar and eggs together. Set aside.
Heat frying pan to 220 degrees or warm frying pan on top of stove.
Melt butter and dates together, stirring constantly.
Add sugar and egg mixture.
Cook until thick.
Add fruit and nuts.
Blend well.
Remove from heat and let cool.
Add Rice Krispies™.
Butter hands and form into balls.
Roll balls in coconut.
Put in cookie tins or Tupperware™. Keeps for weeks.


Caroline: That gives a new dimension to the Rice Krispie treats, doesn’t it? Sounds yummy and something which children can help prepare. Reminds me of the days when everyone used an electric skillet and I actually cooked. LOL Now let’s move on to Lilly’s latest release, OUT OF THE DARKNESS, a paranormal vampire romance.

Buy link for OUT OF THE DARKNESS: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/out-of-the-darkness-p-4039.html




Available from The Wild Rose Press

 Lilly: Blurb for OUT OF THE DARKNESS:


Her research could cure his dark hunger if a covert government agent doesn't get to her first.

Vincent Maxwell is a vampire with a conscience seeking a cure to his dark hunger. But when a scientist looking to create vampire soldiers captures and kills a fellow vampire, Vincent seeks out Dr. Megan Harper, a research scientist who discovered a link between a genetic light sensitivity disorder and vampirism. Dr. Harper could hold a key to a cure and the answers to Gerard’s death. But getting close to the beautiful scientist could endanger both their lives.

When Megan meets Vincent she believes he suffers from xeroderma pigmentosum, the genetic disease that killed her sister. Sensing a deep loneliness within the handsome man, she offers friendship and access to her research files. But she and Vincent soon become more than friends and Megan learns the horrifying truth. She's entered the dark and unseen world of vampires and Vincent is her only hope of survival.


Caroline: Oooohhh, intriguing. Great premise for a vampire novel. How about an excerpt to chill us more?

Lilly: Certainly, here's an excerpt for OUT OF THE DARKNESS:

Vincent didn’t spare her a second glance as he opened the basement door and stepped down. The sound of his boot heel striking wood echoed up the steps as he disappeared into the darkness.


“But—” Megan switched on the light and hurried after him.


“The first thing you need down here is a table and some chairs,” he said when he saw the stacks of unorganized data and reams of paper scattered across the floor. “Do you mind if I bring the ones down from the kitchen?”


“No.” She turned back toward the stairs. “I’ll help you bring them down.” It would give her something to do while she sorted through the confused thoughts and emotions tumbling around inside her head.


Vincent touched her arm and heat shot straight to her belly, turning her insides all warm and fuzzy.


Warm and fuzzy was not good.


Warm and fuzzy made her think of more than just heated sex. It made her think of cozy evenings snuggled up under a blanket and shared feelings. It made her long for an emotional connection she couldn’t risk. Not with Vincent. Not with a man who could potentially die a slow, lingering death.


“I’ll get it.” He let go of her arm and stepped back. “You start going through those papers and find that report you wrote comparing XP to vampire myths and legends. I’d be interested in
seeing if you still have it.”


He turned to go back up the stairs and Megan shivered. Why had Steve mentioned the vampire report to Vincent? And why was Vincent so interested in seeing it?


Vincent the Vampire.


Caroline: Whoa, Lilly, this sounds like a vampire novel I could love. Give us your other links.

Lilly: My website is www.lillygayle.com and my blog http://lillygayleromance.blogspot.com

Christmas Blog Tour and Prizes!

Caroline: Thank you, Lilly, for sharing with us. Please check our Christmas blog tour for author dates and prizes. After today, the blog dates are December 8 and December 15. Leavc a comment to be entered in the drawing. The list of blogs is at the Christmas blog link above. The more you comment, the greater your chance to win!

Readers, please return on the 3rd to learn about the fascinating Amber Polo.