TREATS FOR VALENTINES

Happy Valentine’s Day! What are your plans for today? I hope you find chocolate, flowers, jewelry, a good book, a dinner invitation--and/or whatever suits you--from your significant other. Emphasis on the good book, of course! You can understand why I'm partial to books given as gifts. Wouldn't any writer be?

Do you remember the first Valentine you received? The first Valentine's gift? I have a couple of Valentines Hero received in grade school that his mom had saved. I don't remember my first Valentine, but I do remember the first box of candy. What a surprise when I discovered a boy had slipped a heart-shaped box of candy into my school locker in seventh or eighth grade! I hadn't even realized he thought I was special, but I think I still have the box saved somewhere. Yes, I'm a pack rat. LOL Now that I think about it, I think the box contains some old Valentines I'd received.

Do you have Valentines you made your parents or that your children made for you? Yes to both for me. I have several my mom had saved that I discovered after she died and we were going through her mementos. My efforts showed a devotion to way too much glue, but my mom lovingly saved the result. Thank heavens my children are more talented than I am.

Vintage Valentine

We treasure those things given with love, don't we? No matter how poorly the gift looked, the love behind it stays with us. 

That's what romance is about. Not the cost of a gift, or how elaborate it is. We value the fact that a person we love returns the love and gives a tangible symbol of that love in return. 

My Hero has a special gift I'm not supposed to know about hidden in his office, plus he’s already announced he's taking me to dinner. When we became engaged, he warned me that he usually forgot special days and that I shouldn’t be upset if he forgot my birthday, our anniversaries, and other special occasions. Hey, he’s a true Hero, and he has never disappointed me by forgetting anything important. 
 

Since I’m a writer, you understand why I have to emphasize that there is no better gift than a book instead of candy or flowers. After all, books are not fattening and they won’t wilt. And what better book to give for Valentine’s Day than a romance? Romance offers hope that each of us can overcome obstacles to achieve our happily ever after just like the characters in our favorite novels. Art imitates life; sometimes life imitates art. 

Bold hint: If you wish to purchase my new books, the historical THE TEXAN’S IRISH BRIDE, contemporary time travel OUT OF THE BLUE, and my novella in the Civil War anthology NORTHERN ROSES AND SOUTHERN BELLES, you can do so at The Wild Rose Press at www.thewildrosepress.com/caroline-clemmons-m-638.html.

My backlist books of contemporary SNOWFIRES, contemporary BE MY GUEST, and the linked historicals THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE and THE MOST UNSUITABLE HUSBAND are available at Smashwords at http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/CarolineClemmons. My Kindle books are at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D154606011&field-keywords=Caroline+Clemmons. Why not give a tree-friendly gift to someone you love?

How do you plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day?


To see my post on the history of St. Valentine's Day, check Anna Kathryn Lanier's blog today at http://annakathrynlanier.blogspot.com/
Please come back on Wednesday, February 16th when A. J. Nuest will be my guest as the third part of the Roses Valentine Blog Tour with more prizes to offer. Be sure to comment so you will be entered in the drawing for our prizes!

 Have a great Valentine's Day!

WHAT IS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE?

Mary Ricksen, author

Mary Ricksen was born in Vermont, but it's cold sooo long, she wants to settle for scenic North Carolina. Mary enjoys the change of seasons. Spring, summer, winter, and fall all have such a unique flavor in North Carolina. However, she moved to Florida in 1980, and in West Palm Beach seasons are just too subtle. Mary moved a lot when she was young, from Canada to New York, and from Texas, to Florida. She met all kinds of people, and truly believes that the more rural the setting is, the more friendly people are. She says she’s been married so long it's like her husband's her left hip, but she'll keep him--he can fix anything!

Her dog Junior is a
 character in her current book

She has a beautiful secret garden, with everything from Plumeria to Penta. Wow, as I sit here freezing in North Central Texas, I wonder what could be better than sitting in a Florida garden with a good book and seeing the palms and ferns wave in the breezes. Winter must be the ideal time to be in Florida. (Wait! I lived in Florida for three years and remember the myriad of snakes in those gardens. On second thought, home is where the heart is, and mine's in Texas.) 

Mary's first book in her Time Can Heal Your Heart series  takes place on Lake Champlain in Vermont--her always home. She says the only thing like the Green Mountains are the Great Smokey's, and a little town called Bryson City, North Carolina that she calls, “My next home, hopefully!”

Available from
The Wild Rose Press

Mary is secretary of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA. Her brand, "Know that love is truly timeless," strikes a chord with me. Her dog Junior appears in her first novel, TRIPPING THROUGH TIME, and there will be more pets in the next book. You Gotta Read Reviews gave her a great review: "Absolutely wonderful! An excellent first novel. Rated:You Gotta Read!" Woohoo, way to go, Mary!


In addition to writing, Mary is famous among romance writers as one of the co-hostesses of the well known Friday blog, Author Roast and Toast, along with Sharon Donovan and Hywela Lyn (and Sharon's butler, Oliver) at http://authorroastandtoast.blogspot.com/. That blog has given many authors a virtual party and an opportunity to publicize the release of their books. Mary's personal blog is http://maryricksen.blogspot.com/ and her website is http://www.maryricksen.com/ And now, Mary, take it away with your post for today:


        What Is Unconditional Love?

We all want it, we all need it. But, do we all find it? Have you ever felt that anyone loved you unconditionally?

Who doesn't
want love?

Who doesn’t want that handsome, sweet talking, sexy guy, to love you with his whole heart? Poets write about it, crooners sing about it, authors pen it, but it’s elusive. We write, and our stories end in happily ever after, because our characters love one another unconditionally.

Does your partner love you unconditionally? It’s about so much more then sex! It’s what makes your lover your best friend. When you know that person will be there for you no matter what. You know that person will tolerate your bad moods. Believe me those power surges of menopause can make you a tad moody.

Woman with a "headache"
reading a book in bed

The pain of that monthly curse can put you into a frenzy. You don’t always want to jump into bed. You might have, say--a headache. Or you might be pe-oed that he left the seat up. You forget to wash off the makeup and wake up looking like a ghoul. But you know that your partner will be there even when you look or act your worst. Or maybe when you start a fight because you feel like yelling. Of course, I never do anything like that. (Mary smiles. She never starts the fights, but she finishes them).

We crave love

The point is, that we crave it. Love fills us up and touches that special part of us. The place inside that makes us romantic. Those of us who write romance try to tell readers how our hero or heroine finds love. The more the conflict the better our tales are when our characters realize they finally sense it.


Unconditional love makes us happy, no matter where it comes from, or who feels it for us. The best example I can think of is my grandmother. At the time I was no more then six years old.

Statue of Liberty
view from ships

My grandmother was an immigrant that came over, “on the boat.” She remembered when she saw the Statue of Liberty. After a long tortuous trip, all the future Americans looked at it in awe. She told me that at that moment she was thinking how special our country really is. Especially after what her family had suffered. She used to say things to me in Polish that I don’t remember. She’d be mortified to know that the only Polish words I know now besides "I love you (Kocham cie)," are curse words. I worked with a girl from Poland, and it sure made my day to be able to say what I thought of my boss to his face, and he had no clue!

Grandma Mongiello

Well anyways… I visited my grandmother often; I was her namesake. To this day I use my middle initial so that up there somewhere, she knows I am still Mary Catherine Mongiello, just like her. Crippled with rheumatoid arthritis, my Gram could not walk without help. Whenever I stayed there I slept with her. She’d hug me all night long.

Gwumkies

One day after a meal of stuffed cabbage, called gwumkies, we went to bed early. All night long I had terrible gas. Cabbage will do that to a body. I mean every ten seconds I’d pass gas. It was awful, and I remember thinking she was sleeping so she’d never know. Well, the next morning she laughed as she told me she was awake most of the night.

I gulped and apologized for my gas bombs.
And she looked at me, totally serious, with the glow of love in her eyes and said, “But I love your farts!”

Now that, my friends, is unconditional love!

Thank you, Mary, a grandmother's love is unconditional. Thanks for sharing with us--the story, not the bombs. LOL

My Grandmother
Reynolds

My own grandmother also demonstrated unconditional love for her each of her children and grandchildren. Her maiden name was Frances Josephine Gamble, and she outlived two husbands: my grandfather John Witt Phifer and Henry Alonzo Reynolds. She was an especially sweet, shy but strong lady who practiced both her mottos, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything," and "Better to keep silent and have people think you're stupid than to open your mouth and convince them you are." If she thought I was being bratty, she'd say, "Pretty is as pretty does." Oh, not that it ever happened, mind you. But if I had been a brat, that's what she'd have said. Yeah, sure, that's what I meant.

Who, me?

The only thing I disliked about her was sleeping with her when she stayed with us while my uncle was in the hospital for six weeks. I was a teen, about junior high or early high school age. She was a snuggler, and would scooch me off the bed. About halfway through the night, I'd have to go around to the other side of the bed. She'd start snuggling again, but just before I rolled off the bed, it would be time to get up and get ready for school. As I said, she was a special lady, and I loved her tremendously even if, as an insular teenager, I didn't want to share my bed with her. Grandmothers put up with a lot, don't they?

What's your idea of unconditional love?

WHERE DO IDEAS COME FROM?



Author Maeve Greyson

 Maeve Greyson is my guest today on The Wild Roses Valentine’s Blog Tour. Maeve writes paranormal romances from her cozy little home in western Kentucky. Tucked away in the middle of nowhere, her stories spark with magic and love, where anything might happen to get to that happily ever after.


Her writing partner, Jasper –the rat terrier/Chihuahua mix, critiques all her work. Under his sharp eye and the endless support of her husband of over thirty-one years, she snuggles back in their secluded wood and pours her daydreams into the keyboard.

Her debut novel, BEYOND A HIGHLAND WHISPER, releases from The Wild Rose Press on February 18, 2011. She hopes you enjoy reading the tale as much as she enjoyed writing it. Today, she’ll tell us where she gets story ideas.


                WHERE IDEAS COME FROM


It could be something as simple as a few lyrics of a song or a picture of a weather-beaten castle. A scrap of a conversation picked up while walking through the mall or the sight of an unhappy woman sitting alone on a bench. I never know what’s going to trigger my muse and start her chattering in my ear.


All I know is that I become a prisoner to my muse when it happens. Heaven help me when something nudges her into gear. I’ve been known to drive past exits when she grabs an idea and takes over all controls. I’ll see or hear something that perks her interest and dialogue starts streaming through my head.



Available February 18th
from The Wild Rose Press

 My debut novel with The Wild Rose Press, BEYOND A HIGHLAND WHISPER evolved from a recurring dream. Another work (the ink’s not dried on the contract yet – so it’s still a bit of a secret) sprang to life while reading a book about Celtic gods and goddesses.


ETERNITY’S MARK climbed out of the creative soup between my ears while I enjoyed the movie, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. Yes. I know it’s a cartoon. But I LOVE IT and still cry when Toothless has so much trouble flying.


What about you? What gets your creativity flowing? Remember your comment enters you in this week's drawing for prizes.

Maeve isn’t finished sharing with us yet! Here’s a blurb from BEYOND A HIGHLAND WHISPER:


A beguiling Scot from the 1400’s, Latharn Mackay is cursed into a crystal orb when a seductive witch rages against his withheld love. But there’s hope. The woman destined for him can break the curse by whispering her love aloud. There’s just a few minor problems to overcome. Nessa is six hundred years in the future and Latharn can only visit her dreams with a silent presence. If he speaks, the curse will shatter his soul into bits. And then there’s still the matter of the sorceress. You know an enraged woman is going to have the final say…unless love proves more powerful.


The last time Latharn MacKay walked among his kinsman was in Scotland of 1410. Sensuous and charismatic, all the women wanted him, but none could capture his heart. Latharn's charm became his curse when a dark sorceress didn’t take rejection well. She snared his soul into a crystal globe until the one woman destined to be his love whispered his release. Now all Latharn has to do is find her and guide her to him without speaking a word.

One of the youngest archeologists in St Louis of 2010, Nessa credits one thing for this achievement: the recurring dream of a heart-stopping Highlander since the summer she turned eighteen years old. Little does she know, he's not some fantasy cooked up by her subconscious. He’s a trapped soul determined for Nessa to end his six centuries in hell. Can love prevail over the dark magic of a woman scorned?

Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it? Here’s her excerpt to further whet your appetite:

Latharn stared across the room, flattening his hands against the frigid walls of his prison. It was her. She had arrived at last. His Nessa stood in Scotland, sharing the same room as the accursed globe. She was beautiful. The sight of her stole the breath from his lungs. He clawed his fingers against the glass, itching to touch the silk of her hair. He yearned to caress her, to take her into his arms. She was so close. She was almost within his reach.


“Nessa,” he whispered.

“Excuse me. I was wondering if you could give us some directions? I must’ve gotten an out-of-date map at the airport.”

A flustered redhead stood tapping her fingers on the counter where she’d already spread out a several-times refolded map. Her face was dark as a storm cloud; it was obvious she and her companion had been having a heated discussion. The elfin brunette stood just behind her. The brunette was not happy. She leaned against the counter glaring at the redhead. A disgruntled look upon her face, she rested her head on her hand as though she’d rather be anywhere but standing beside the redhead.


Latharn tore his eyes away from Nessa long enough to sneak a glance at Brodie. “God’s teeth, Brodie.” The man’s cock stood at full attention making a pup tent of the front his kilt. If they were outside, Latharn would call up an icy rainstorm to help the man bring things under control. Scrubbing his face, Latharn chuckled to himself and leaned against the crystal wall. Well, the lad was on his own, he’d just have to keep his randy arse behind the counter.


Brodie coughed and adjusted the front of his kilt as he edged closer behind the waist-high counter. His voice a bit strained, he cleared his throat and smiled at the two young women.

“Where might ye be headed? I’ve not seen ye here in town before. And from your accent, I don’t believe ye’re from anywhere near Balnakiel.”


The tiny brunette grinned, her face lighting up with a victorious smirk as she nudged the redhead in the shoulder. “I told you we overshot Durness an hour ago and you should’ve turned right at the last burial cairn!”


“That’s my girl,” Latharn purred. He loved it when Nessa showed her fire. She looked tired. What he wouldn’t give to massage all the aches and pains from her body. She worked too hard. Well, that would soon be over. When he was free of the globe, she would work no more. He would take care of her. She wouldn’t have a care in the world. Her life and her happiness would be in his hands. He would take care of her every need.


“Don’t start with me, Nessa,” the redhead hissed in irritation. “We always end up where we’re headed.” Her voice softened as she turned to face the politely smiling MacKays. With a nod toward the map, she added with a tight-lipped smile, “We just sometimes take the scenic route. Besides. I didn’t realize this was a race.”


“Hmm…that one there is going to be the undoing of some poor man,” Latharn noted with a grin. He had been watching Trish’s friendship with Nessa for years. Latharn missed the camaraderie he’d once had with his clan whenever he watched the two women together. It reminded him of just how isolated he was. He swallowed hard as he pushed the memories of his clan aside. Enough of this senseless bickering. It was time to put on a little show.

To learn more about Maeve and her writing, check these links:
Website: http://www.maevegreyson.com/
Blog: http://maevegreyson.blogspot.com//
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/maeve.greyson OR http://www.facebook.com/maeve.greyson#!/maeve.greyson.page
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/maevegreyson
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2816642
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/maevegreyson
The Wild Rose Press: http://thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=maeve+greyson

And now for the news of our tour. Marci was the first week’s winner a $15 TWRP gift card from Kat Duncan + $5 Samhain gift card from Lynne Roberts totaling $20.00.


For today's portion of the tour, please check these sites:
Meet contemporary and paranormal romance author Jill James at http://amielouellen.wordpress.com/

Meet romantic suspense author Kat Duncan at http://authorjenniferjakes.blogspot.com/

Meet contemporary YA an adult romance author Linda Kage at http://www.ajbooks.blogspot.com/


Meet paranormal, and historical romance author Caroline Clemmons at http://lynneroberts.blogspot.com/ PLEASE DON'T FORGET ME!!


Meet historical and paranormal romance writer Lilly Gayle at http://maevegreyson.blogspot.com/


Meet Amie Louellen, author of fun and whimsical contemporary romance at http://amycorwin.blogspot.com/


Meet erotic western historical author Jennifer Jakes at http://www.jilljameswrites.com/


Meet author AJ Nuest at http://www.katduncan.net/writeabout


Meet author Lynne Roberts at http://lindakage.blogspot.com/


Meet paranormal romance author Maeve Greyson at http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/


Meet author Amy Corwin at http://www.lillygayleromance.blogspot.com/

As the ads on TV shout, “But wait! There’s more!” There are still three opportunities to win and here’s a refresher of the prize breakdown:


Week 2 (this post) - $15 TWRP gift card (from Amie Louellen) + $10 TWRP gift card (from Lilly Gayle) = $25.00


Week 3 - $15 TWRP gift card (from Caroline Clemmons) + $15 TWRP gift card (from Jennifer Jakes) = $30.00


Week 4 - $15 TWRP gift card (from Linda Kage) + $20 TWRP gift card (from Amy Corwin) = $35.00


Grand Prize - $15 TWRP gift card (from Maeve Greyson) + $25 TWRP gift card (from Jill James) + Bath Set (from AJ Nuest) = $40.00 + bath set

Whew, that made ny head hurt! Anything involving math always has that effect. LOL

Please join me Friday, February 11, when author Mary Ricksen will be my guest.

HOW TO TURN YOUR KIDS INTO READERS BY KELLIi

Library Lovers
Month

Among other things, February is Library Lovers Month. Surely all readers love libraries, but I hear a lot of people complain that their children won't read. That's sad, because reading and literacy is the key to success in any field. I asked Kelli from 3 Boys and a Dog to let us know how she taught her boys to love reading. Not only is Kelli an impressive blogger, you learn from her blog that she is a devoted mom, wife, and pet owner. She does all the things I wish I'd known to do when our daughters were growing up. (Needless to say, I have 20/20 hindsight. LOL) But I'll let Kelli speak for herself:

Kelli, Mom to 3 boys
and rescued dog

I am an avid reader and enjoy all things crafty like: scrapbooking, jewelry making, knitting, cross-stitching, baking, cooking, and dollhouse miniatures. I have always been a writer, so blogging just comes naturally to me. I post an average of 2 posts a day and typically have several giveaways running. Ok, I admit it… I am addicted to the internet. I have a list of over 100 sites (blogs, forums, & groups) that I visit randomly. I also frequent Stumble, Technorati, Twitter, and FaceBook.


My family has many varied interests that keep us busy at all times. We spend tons of time in the outdoors, but have to come in when it rains. In the summer, you can find us in our pool during the hottest times of the day. We also visit parks, beaches, and family regularly.

I love doing reviews and my family really likes trying new things. So far, I don’t really have a “favorite thing to review.” I have a varied audience of moms, homeschoolers, single women, and organizers and I try to review items that work for all of those groups.


And now to let Kelli tell us . . .


How to Turn Your Kids into Readers

When I was approached about writing this guest post, I was ecstatic! Well, for a total of about one day. Then, as I sat down in front of my computer, I realized that I honestly have no clue why my kids read. I can’t write a post about all the things you should or should not be doing to turn your kids into readers because my kids are already readers! All three always have been and I didn’t force it on them.


Then, I took a step back and really analyzed what I know about getting kids to read and decided that the best way to help YOU is to simply tell you how things work in my world.


1. I am a Reader!

I love to read and always have at least one book open - of course now that I have my fabulous Kindle, I can just use it. I read in the car while waiting in line somewhere, I read at the doctor’s office, I read when other people watch TV, and I even read in the bathtub.  If you want your kids to be readers, then you have to set that example.


2. I Don’t Care What They Read!

Boy reading

This is probably the biggest mistake people make when trying to get kids to read. Who cares if it is a magazine or a 5,000 word Classic book? Who cares if it is about saving the world or Betty and Veronica? I certainly don’t. Even comics and magazines are words on paper forming educational enlightenment. Find out what they like and provide it to them. Don’t force the kids to read something boring or reading will always be boring to them, which leads me to the next point.


3. I Have Never Forced It!

I have never, ever forced my kids to read. Until just recently, they didn’t have televisions or toys in their rooms. My oldest boy now does, but he still continues to read each evening.  Anyway, back on track here – since they didn’t have toys or TVs in their rooms, they didn’t have anything to do at quiet time and each of the three picked up books and read them… or looked at pictures before they were able to read.


4. I Treat it as a Privilege, Not a Punishment!

Seriously! My kids are still fairly young, but I want them to be readers for the rest of their lives. So, I have never used a book as punishment. So many parents do this. Why would someone love to read if they have only had to do it when they get in trouble? I go a step beyond and when my boys get in trouble, they lose their books!


Don’t stress and make it enjoyable. Also remember, they aren’t going to change over-night.

Kelli @ 3 Boys and a Dog is a top blogger in the mom blogging industry. She has worked with hundreds of brands and most recently has been voted number 8 at Picket Fence Lifestyle blogs. With her blog at a page rank of 4, over 5,000 Twitter followers, and many other social media achievements, Kelli is a top voice among product review bloggers. Find her at http://3boysandadog.com/

 

Reading at bedtime,
even Christmas Eve


Kelli, thanks so much for your post. You must have 48-hour days at your house to get so much done! So glad you value reading even though I don't know how you fit it into your hectic and productive life. Like you, my husband and I are avid readers and read to our children long after they were able to read their own books.

When they were young and we were tired, we'd try to skip a few paragraphs in a favorite book, they'd stop whichever of us was reader with, "Oh, no. Go back. You forgot the part about..." They are both still avid readers. Since I have my remarkable Kindle, reading is even easier. How did I survive without it? Oh, yeah, with print books. LOL

I'll leave you with a quote from Horace Mann (1796-1859)
"A house without books is like a room without windows. No man has a right to bring up children without surrounding them with books...Children learn to read being in the presence of books."

NEWS AND OLD NEWS



Belated Happy Chinese New Year!

 Belated Happy Chinese New Year and welcome to the year of the Rabbit! Althought February 2 is the official Chinese celebration, the date varies in other Asian countires.



The Movie

 Also belated Ground Hog Day! Did you rewatch “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray to celebrate the occasion? Love that movie? Don't we all wish we could redo some things until we get them right? I certainly do. Maybe that's the appeal of the movie. 

Now we have those out of the way. Whew, those items are old news and illustrate I’m way behind.




Available March 10
from The Wild Rose Press

 But here’s something for which I’m early. I’m happy to announce that my historical novella, SAVE YOUR HEART FOR ME, will be released on March 10 by The Wild Rose Press. Don’t you think the cover is whimsical but beautiful? Don't the warm colours cheer you in this weather? The heroine helps her mother operate a boarding house. Once again, the setting is Texas, no surprise there.

Here’s the blurb:


After fleeing an abusive husband six years ago, Beth Jeffers wants nothing more than to protect her son Davey and to help her mother operate a boarding house. The women in her family have had no luck with men, and she has no intention of letting any man influence her son. Not even Matt Petrov, no matter how much her lonely heart urges otherwise.

Federal Marshall Matt Petrov, also known as Lone Wolf Peters, fell in love with Beth the first time he saw her. Then she was another man’s wife, so he kept his longing a secret he’s saved his love for her for six horrific years. Now, the lovely widow and he have crossed paths again. This time, he intends to risk all for a chance at happiness. First he must rescue his distant kinsman from an assassin’s clutches. Will Matt succeed before his kin is killed? And will his secrets shatter the love he and Beth share?

Here’s an excerpt:

The tall younger woman kept her head lowered and all he saw was her shapely backside while she tugged at the corner of her navy skirt caught under one leg of the safe.


“Let me.” He tilted the safe to free the fabric, then pushed the unwieldy block of metal into place.


“Oh, finally.” She shook out her skirt and bent to brush at the stain marring the hem. “Thank you—“ When she straightened and looked up at him, she fell silent and paled as if she’d seen a ghost.


Hell, he figured she had. A phantom from her past.


“Beth? Beth Jeffers?” Matt tried to mask the sensations raised by seeing her again—surprise, longing, heartache—but doubted he succeeded.


She, on the other hand, quickly recovered her composure and turned up her nose as if she’d smelled a skunk. “What are you doing here?”


“Honestly, Beth, I’m surprised at you.” Her mother looked from one to the other. “You two know each other?”


Beth pushed a stray golden curl from her face and raised her chin. “We met long ago.”


She wore her blonde hair in a bun, but wisps escaped to frame her face. Time had been good to her. The years had rounded her a bit in the right places and softened her—except for her ice-cold blue eyes.


She gave Matt a measuring glare and balled her fists at her hips as if challenging him. “Whatever you want, you won’t find it here.”


Matt wanted to say something sharp to make her think he cared nothing for what she thought, but his mind went blank. Danged if she wasn’t prettier than when he’d known her six years ago, especially without bruises marring her ivory skin from her sonofabitch late husband’s fist.

Here in North Central Texas we are experiencing record winter temperatures and days of school closings. Nothing to compare to folks in the North and East, true, but we don't have snow plows, snow shovels, honkin' big furnaces, or tire chains. In addition, most school districts have contracts with power companies that when the temperature dips below a certain number, school is called off to free up that fuel for homes. Here are a couple of photos Hero took in our snow and ice.

No, our house isn't on a hill. LOL Just as Hero snapped the photo, our dog Webster tugged on the leash.

Our black Shih Tzu Webster loves taking Hero for a walk. Unlike Hero, Webster loves playing in the snow and sniffing every animal trail. Of course, Webster comes equipped with a fur coat.

Thanks for stopping by. Please come back now, ya hear?

Jill James on the Signifance of a Book's First Line

Welcome to the first day of our month-long Valentine Blog Tour featuring eleven authors from The Wild Rose Press! Yes. we have prizes, and they're explained at the bottom of this post. 

Author Jill James

My guest today is Jill James. Jill has loved to write since she first began putting on puppet shows in her garage for a nickel a person. Her first love was poetry until she picked up her first romance novel, LILY OF THE VALLEY, after that it was all romance. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense and paranormal romance. She is a member of RWA since 2004 and a member of the From the Heart chapter, Black Diamond chapter, Kiss of Death chapter, and ESPAN chapter. She has been writing romance for a few years with a few poetry contest wins and a published short story, Lunch Break. She lives in Northern California with her husband, the inspiration for all her heroes.

Significance of First Lines

"Strip."

That is the first line of Karin Tabke’s SKIN. We don’t know location. We don’t know the gender of the speaker. We don’t know the context of the line. It doesn’t matter. We want to read the next line to find out all those things. Even beginner writers know the importance of the first line in a book. For several years Karin Tabke had a First Line Contest at her blog. It was an intense competition to see who made the cut and got to add another line the next week. Even to the writers and readers who didn’t compete, the exercise showed the utmost importance to the first line of a book.

It used to be important to have a great line at the end of each page, each chapter. With the plethora of formats available in e-Publishing, I don’t see how you could ever know that the last line on a page was still a last line. Still, that last line of a chapter has almost the same significance of the first line of your book. That is the time the reader can put your book down. But, a great first line has them reading more and a great last line of a chapter has them reading to the next chapter to see what happens next.

Available February 16th
at The Wild Rose Press

A first line should draw you into the world the writer has created. Set the tone of the story. A first line should make you want to know what happens next. A first line should have you unable and unwilling to put the book back on the shelf and to try another.

From my upcoming release, TEMPTING ADAM, available Feb. 16th from TWRP:


Impossible-to-believe long legs ended in black, shiny, spiked high heels.


What first line has really drawn you into a book? Was it enough to make you buy the book?

The Wild Rose Press Valentine's
Month Blog Tour

Eleven TWRP authors have tag-teamed up for a blog tour of themes from the heart of writing. Meet some of the authors from TWRP and discover how their personal stories influenced their writing. Leave a comment on any of the blogs to enter to win a weekly prize. One commenter will be chosen from each blog each week. One random winner will be chosen from these 11 for a weekly prize. Weekly chosen commenters who don't win the weekly prize will automatically be entered for a grand prize at the end of the tour. Winners will be posted on all the blogs. The more blogs you comment on, the better your chances of winning because you could be chosen more than once each week!

First week's prize is $20 in gift certificates so the winner may buy the book he or she chooses. Second week's prize is $25 in gift certificates; third week is $30 in gift certificates; fourth week's prize is $35 in gift certificates. The grand prize for the Valentine Tour is $50. in gift certificates plus a bath set. Great prizes, right? Remember to leave your email so we can contact you if you're one of the winners!

Today's Blog Tour Itinerary
Wednesday, February 2nd

Meet contemporary YA an adult romance author Linda Kage at http://amielouellen.wordpress.com/


Meet contemporary, paranormal, and historical romance author Caroline Clemmons at http://authorjenniferjakes.blogspot.com/ Please come comment and don't leave me all alone!


Meet historical and paranormal romance writer Lilly Gayle at http://www.ajbooks.blogspot.com//


Meet Amie Louellen, author of fun and whimsical contemporary romance at http://lynneroberts.blogspot.com//


Meet erotic western historical author Jennifer Jakes at http://maevegreyson.blogspot.com//


Meet author AJ Nuest at http://amycorwin.blogspot.com/


Meet author Lynne Roberts at http://www.jilljameswrites.com/


Meet paranormal romance author Maeve Greyson at http://www.katduncan.net/writeabout


Meet author Amy Corwin at http://lindakage.blogspot.com//


Meet contemporary and paranormal romance author Jill James at http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/


Meet romantic suspense author Kat Duncan at http://www.lillygayleromance.blogspot.com/