WHAT WOULD YOU SACRIFICE?

My guest is debut author, Cherie Colyer, and she's written an intriguing thriller about a young woman faced with too many changes. Does she embrace those changes or run away?  

As a writer, thoughts of What if? are always popping into my head.

What if a girl could embrace magical powers? 

What if she could conjure up a little help around the house? 

What if wishes could be granted? 

What if that wish came with a price?

That type of thinking led to this post. I’d like to thank Sia for having me here today.

We’re all faced with difficult decisions. When we are in school we have to decide how much of our free time to give up for our studies. Those of us with jobs have to decide just what we are willing to sacrifice to get ahead in our career. Parents sacrifice their time and often some of their interests for their children. Siblings protect each other from outside ridicule. But just how much would you give for the people and things that are important to you?

I think about this a lot when I’m writing. Madison Riley, my sixteen-year-old protagonist in the Embrace Series, finds herself faced with difficult decisions all the time. And since the job of a writer is to make things difficult for their characters, she isn't given time to weigh the pros and cons of her choices. Instead, she’s thrown into a situation and forced to react.

I had to get their attention. I had to make them hear me.

“Stop it!” I screamed as I ran between them, my arms out to my side, one hand on each of their chests.

When a life-threatening situation presents itself we often react first and think about what we've done later.  Madison’s quick reaction to a fight between her friends almost costs her life. Luckily for us, she survives or there wouldn't be a book two.

I admire Madison’s courage not only in that scene, but also throughout the books. She risks her life to save the people she loves without hesitation. I’d like to think I’d be just as brave, and yet I’m thankful that I've never been put in a position where I’d have to find out.

Hard choices, putting characters into situations that make them have to give up something big, is one way to up tension, but it also mimics real life. Every day we are faced with choices.  As I wrote Hold Tight I started to wonder just how much would a person give up for something they wanted.

Would you give up your dream job for love?

• Happiness for money?
• Your life for another’s?

Just how far would you go to save the people you love?

Some of the answers to the questions above are easy for me. If I loved someone, then I think I would give up my dream job for him. Fortunately my honey wouldn't ask that of me, and I can write just about anywhere I can plug in my laptop. No, I wouldn't give up happiness for money, because what good is all the money in the world if you’re miserable? The hard one is how far I’d go to save the people I love. I do know I’d give just about anything to save my family.

• How about you? How would you answer the questions above?

                                                                                                                                                                                    

BUY: AMAZON AND B&N

How far would you go to save the people you love?

Madison is familiar enough with change, and she hates everything about it. Change took her long-term boyfriend away from her. It caused one of her friends to suddenly hate her. It’s responsible for the death of a local along with a host of other mysterious happenings. But when Madison meets a hot new guy, she thinks her luck is about to improve.

Madison is instantly drawn to the handsome and intriguing Isaac Addington. She quickly realizes he’s a guy harboring a secret, but she’s willing to risk the unknown to be with him.

Her world really spins out of control, however, when her best friend becomes delusional, seeing things that aren’t there and desperately trying to escape their evil. When the doctors can’t find the answers, Madison seeks her own.

Nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover.
Dangerous, intoxicating, and darkly romantic, Embrace is a thriller that will leave you spellbound.

                                                                                                   

Cherie Colyer is the author of  YA paranormal thriller/romance, EMBRACE (available now), and HOLD TIGHT (August 2013), from Omnific Publishing. Check out her website and blog for news on her books and bonus material. Follow Cherie on Twitter and/or Facebook for updates on writing, book and special offers. 

                                                                                     

COMING SOON:

HOLD TIGHT

You can read the synopsis here

MEET QUINCY MAC--A MAID IN LA

My guest is Holly Jacobs who has written a fun story in new series she has decided to self-publish. Holly tells some heartwarming stories and usually employing a good sense of humor. I haven’t read one of her stories I haven’t enjoyed. This one, though, with a reoccurring central character who finds all sorts of trouble and mysteries to solve, well, I’m really going to enjoy reading this series.

I have written for a lot of publisher and a lot of lines, but all my books have had one commonality...they were romances. Some were comedies, some just humorous, and some very serious. But they all centered on two characters meeting, falling in love and overcoming obstacles in order to be together.

For me, things changed when I met Quincy Mac.  She is a divorced, thirty-eight year old mother of three teens.  She moved from Erie, PA (come on, if you've read my books, you knew I had to tie Erie into it) to LA, hoping to become the next big star.  Instead…she became a maid.

It might not be what she expected, but Quincy's built a wonderful life.    Until... (come on, you know there had to be an until!) the day she accidentally cleans a murder scene and a particularly hunky cop questions her.  Now, most people, even if they accidentally cleaned not only the murder scene, but also the murder weapon, would sit back and let the cops figure out who the real murderer is.  But not Quincy Mac. You see, she has an uncle who was wrongly accused of a crime and spent two years in jail before the cops figured out he was innocent.  Quincy can't go to jail.  She has three boys to raise. She's going to be maid-of-honor in her best friend's wedding. And she's absolutely sure she's not someone who's meant to have a tattoo.    So, she sets out to find the real killer.  As she does, she finds a potential romance with the cop who’s trying to send her to death row…talk about obstacles that need to be overcome!

Right now, Quincy’s story only available for Kindle.  (I hope to have it on other platforms sometime in the future.  And there are two more Maid in LA Mysteries…Dusted, which should be out this fall.  (This time Quincy’s not solving a mystery to keep herself out of jail, but to save her business’s reputation!) and Spruced Up (a Christmas novella—Quincy heads home to Erie, PA for Christmas and finds another mystery to solve!). 

 PS. Here are a few unbiased reviews:

“Hey, at least it’s not a romance.” ~Holly’s son.  

 
“Dear God, not another cop character.  Any police procedural inaccuracies are all Holly’s.  They are not the fault of her personal police models.  Of course, the fact that she portrays cops as hunks is totally accurate.” ~Holly’s husband and two brothers (aka...the cops)  

 *“Holly is a fantastic writing talent…not that I’m biased.”   ~Holly’s favorite daughter* 

 *“Holly Jacobs is an auto-buy for me.  Not that I buy her books…she gives them to me.”  ~Holly’s favorite daughter* 

 *“Holly makes me laugh…so do her books.”  ~Holly’s favorite daughter*  

 *DISCLAIMER: Holly has three daughters…she has no favorites.

                                                                                                                                                                                        

BUY; AMAZON

STEAMED-A Maid in LA Mystery

Cleaning is Murder on the Manicure

Quincy Mac went to Hollywood with stars in her eyes.  Twenty years later, she's not a star, but she's built a good life.  She's got friends, three boys she loves and a thriving cleaning business. That's right, she's a co-owner of Mac'Cleaners, LA's premiere maid service.

Her ex and his newest wife take the boys on summer vacation and Quincy's imagining a quiet night with ice cream and a chick flick.  She just has one last cleaning job to finish first.  But there's a problem...a dead body in the bedroom.

Turns out, she's steamed and cleaned a murder scene.  Quincy's a suspect.  She sets out to find the real killer before she ends up in prison for a murder she didn't commit. Excerpt 

                                                                                                                                            

MONDAY MUSINGS: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO TAKING CARE OF CITIZENS FIRST?

I’m not usually political and rarely get controversial and endless arguing of pros and cons of politics is an anathema to me. That doesn't mean I don’t have opinions, only that I don’t always choose to air them. 

I will say this whole debacle of balancing the budget ticks me off. The Joint Committee of the Office of Management and Budget seriously ticks me off, as does congress.

I am not a financial expert. Common sense says to balance any budge you have to first control and reduce the spending while still paying off debt and looking for ways to invest or increase income. It means taking a hard look at needs versus wants. It also means putting away your credit line sources and not touching them and certainly not using them to make up the difference lost income (aka robbing Peter to pay Paul).

When you take a hard look at income versus expenditures aren't you reducing your charitable donations and taking a firm look at finances before loaning money to anyone? It’s not that a matter of not caring about others but a matter of first priorities, which should be the immediate needs and health of your family (or on a governmental level the needs of your citizens). The bottom line is if I’m spending more than I’m earning I’m going to go bankrupt. And so is this government if it doesn't smarten up.

The last time the United States had a balanced budget and reported a surplus was in 2001. The country has been running in the red since and it’s jumped dramatically under this administration. From 1970-1997 this country’s budget ran red. A new president was elected and in 1998 came a balanced budget and a reported surplus and not just one year but 1999, 2000, and 2001. A democratic president and republican controlled congress and yet not only was the budget balanced, but there was a surplus. 

I’m not saying all of this was result of the Clinton Administration because it certainly wasn't. Much of this was set up and in place during the prior Administration. Clinton was just smart enough to go along with what had already been set in motion. Each president inherits the good and bad from the prior administration. And there was some good problem solving by people who actually used the principles learned in school and applied it to the financial mess of the government. It wasn't perfect but at least it was positive forward movement. There was some pretty fancy dancing around turning deficits to surpluses with substantial cutting of taxes (including capital gains) and discretionary spending of the government as well as revamping of the welfare system (and other government funded programs) and thus promoting an economic boom, which led to a surplus. But these people were smart and looked for ways to make the cuts in discretionary spending of government programs by setting other financial resources in place to help defray those cuts and minimize the hardships on the citizens impacted.

This administration has decided the answer is raising taxes, including capital gains (from 15% to 20%). Thus insuring those businesses and people with realized profits that could spend it here, at home, generating jobs will be spend or invest elsewhere.

When the Joint Committee of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) couldn't agree and balance the National budget the Budget Control Act came into play and forced cuts impartially, without thought to the needs of citizens, across the board. According to Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, this is how it works: 

“The Budget Control Act spells out the steps that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) must take because of the Joint Committee’s inability to agree…the law calls for $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction through 2021… Those cuts themselves are divided equally between the “national defense” budget function and all other budget functions: $54.7 billion per year in defense and $54.7 billion per year in non-defense programs.”  

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what brought about the harebrained sequester cuts. There are over 2.1 million federal workers and more than half will be forced into a mandatory furlough one day a week with without pay and they cannot recoup that loss by using their earned vacation pay or sick leave. If you want to know how that impacts a family? Do the math. Take 20% off your weekly income and see what you’d be losing. The sequester cuts will also force lay-offs of more than 8,000 (that figure is just the Department of the Army and who knows what the total figures are from all 4 branches of the military) people who are contract or temporary workers for the government or military. Oh, and your unemployment benefits? You had better hope you can find another job within 6 months. 3.8 million people are unemployed and now more with sequester cuts, and they will see a reduction of benefits as much as 9.4% if jobless beyond 6 months.

The Budget Control Act cuts effect more than you think. It will impact on defense, Homeland Security, food safety, health care (such as Medicare reimbursement and Veteran services), transportation, National Parks, Nuclear Security, tax collection, low-income housing and education. Education is a biggie. To put it in perspective, 70,000 enrolled students in Head Start programs could be cut and 14,000 teachers. Special needs children will lose about 7,200 teachers and aides. Grants used to fund college tuition and work-study programs for students will also be affected.

I understand and agree with the need for cuts in government programs and discretionary spending but not like this.

What really burns my bacon? 

This Administration is cutting paychecks of United States citizens and laying off thousands of others, allegedly to save the government money, and yet this President is giving over $300 million in humanitarian aid to Syria and surrounding countries? 

WTF??

How about spending some of those funds on the needs of American citizens, Mr. President?    

MONDAY MUSINGS: LIFE IS GOOD

I've been enjoying my work-cation. Much of the Manana list has been whittled down to a few things which will have to wait. But that's okay. We'll get there. I've also taken plenty of time to putter and relax. It's been a good month and I've needed guilt free time off.

We've had lots of rain and believe me I am not complaining after last summer's drought like conditions. Here it is at the end of July and everything is still lush and green. I still have lots of water in my ranch ponds instead of a dusty bottom with a 3 foot wide puddle of water. Granted, it is a puddle fed by a slow trickle spring, for which I'm very thankful as are many of the critters that drink there. But both ponds are full.

Thunderstorms or rainstorms have swung through almost daily. It's kinda cool when we have a heavy rain and then the sun comes out while the rain is still falling. We call them sun fluffies. Usually happens in the afternoon. The sun shines from the west and it's made for some bright and beautiful rainbows. We frequently get rainbows and quite a few double rainbows. 

You can click on anyone of the pictures to enlarge it.

The sun is shining from the west. The horses are under the community chat tree because it's still raining, although lightly. I love the texture and color contrast of the sky.

Looking in the opposite direction, with my back to the rainbows:

You can see the haze of falling rain. I loved seeing this. Lots of green and this angle of the sun just makes everything look beautiful and clean. It gives the feeling of peace.

This is the other side of the rainbow and part of my front side yard. Alas, no pots of gold were discovered. Damn those sneaky leprechauns.

A few other pretty things which made me smile from the past weeks. I found a gorgeous Lunar Moth in my Crape Myrtle tree. It was bigger than my hand.                                                      

There was another moth I found, one evening on my patio, that was a deep green with black crosshatch lines. I tried but the pictures just came out wrong. The light was off and I had the wrong camera to do it justice. But the Lunar was such a wonderful poser for me. I loved the play of sunlight and shadow. The markings were gorgeous.

I couldn't resist taking a shot of these sunshine yellow flowers with bees and other insects just sipping away at the flowers.

I have a very good sized shrub off my patio that is a favorite with my cats. It's as tall as my house and we work hard at keeping it trimmed.

At any given time you will find one or more either playing in the branches or snoozing. The only way you can really see them is coming up and under the boughs. Here is Mr. Bodie in the tree. He's looking down at Callie sitting below the tree. About two minutes after I shot these he decided to *drop* in on her, lol!

And so another day ends. The evening shadows crawl across the land and in the distance the fog rises in the fields. I again, didn't have the right camera with me to get a better shot but still, this give you a glimpse of it all. Now imagine the sounds of the night birds and Cicadas singing the sun down and away from the porch spotlights the lightning bugs are rising and twinkling.

For me, observing scenes like these puts things into perspective. Troubles don't seem as big. You can't help but soak in the beauty and the peace. I imagine this was one of the reasons such things were created. To touch our senses with beauty and contentment. I, for one, give thanks for that.

Life is good.

MONDAY MUSINGS: HAPPY WATERMELON MONTH

I’m a pretty traditional gal. Oh, I have my adventurous moments but for the most part I’m pretty tried and true.

This past week I had a hankering for watermelon. Tis the season you know. J In fact, July is National Watermelon month. So, here I am in the produce section of my local store and I wheeled my cart right on up to the nice display of melons. Thumped and smelled and chose a couple of cantaloupes and a nice watermelon. I’m the major consumer of melons in my house so the watermelon was a smaller one and so pretty.

I found a nice place for it in the refrigerator. Friday was the day. Got my watermelon out and sliced. My jaw drops. WTF? What happened to my watermelon?

It was yellow.

Yellow?? Peaches are yellow, mangoes and pineapple are yellow. Watermelons are bright red or deep pink. Not yellow. I sniff. Smells like a watermelon. I sliced a little piece and cautiously take a taste…okay, it tastes like a watermelon. Sort of. But, but…it’s YELLOW.

I say sort of, because there is a difference. Texture of the fruit is a bit lighter and finer and the taste is sweeter. Almost like a touch of honey to it. It a bit sweeter than I like, but it’s good and this would be nice change in a summer fruit salad, watermelon berry salad, or watermelon cucumber salad (which is very good, by the way). I prefer the flesh of the red fruit.

Tonight, I’m in my office and I hear the refrigerator door open.

“What the hell…?! Mom, what is this?” 

 “Its a watermelon, son.” 

 “It’s yellow. Is it spoiled?” 

 “Nope. Just a different color.” 

 “Huh. It looks weird. When did they start making watermelon yellow? Is it any good?” 

 I roll my eyes. “Why don’t you taste it and see what you think?” I figure the kitchen would be better place to have this conversation, so I walk in to find my son poking the watermelon like it was a dangerous alien. He bends his head and sniffs. 

 “It smells like a watermelon. Have you had any of it?” 

 “Obviously so, since half of it is gone, I’m still breathing, too.” He squares his shoulders and lifts the watermelon. 

 I grab the watermelon just before teeth meets yellow. “Oh no you don’t, buddy. Here’s a spoon. Scoop out a piece.” 

 “Wow. It’s really sweet.” Scoops out another bite for testing purposes you understand.

I recognize the look on his face and rescued my watermelon again and cut off a slice for him to eat.  It’s the same look mothers of grazing teen males understand. It’s the same look he gets when he’s looking in the fridge for something to eat but grabs the gallon of milk to guzzle and fortify him before choosing something to eat.

So, watermelon isn't just red anymore. Who would have thunk it? 

If you will excuse me, I'm going to go eat my purple, yellow, and orange tomato salad with purple cauliflower bits and crumbled feta cheese and contemplate some yellow watermelon for dessert. Who knows, maybe next time I'll add the yellow watermelon to the salad mix.

• Have you had any of the yellow watermelon? Did you know it was yellow flesh when you bought it or were you as surprised as I was when you cut into it?

MONDAY MUSINGS--Sweating The Mañana List

I'm mostly on  vacation this month. You may have noticed I haven't visited as much or even posted. The truth is I've barely been on the computer or online. I will be getting back to all that but July will be hit and miss.

I'd love to tell you it was for writing but, no. It's a working vacation. 

We've had projects pending around the ranch for sometime and July has been earmarked as the month to get them done. I've been working outside daily since the first of July. I don't mind telling you I'm sore and tired. But, it feels good to see progress made. Things need repairing and there are areas that have been in dire need of cutting and clearing, fences worked on, and accumulated clutter sorted and gone. 

A lot of stuff has accumulated over the past 3 years and with my being so very ill and and unable to do much of anything but hobble from bed to the recliner, the doctor, or brief times at the computer. Hubs works full time. Then last year, when I was in remission, and feeling much better, I went to work so we could knock out bills from that time. So these things got moved to the Mañana list (as in En el día del mañana or sometime in the future). 

So July is devoted to clearing as much of the Mañana list as possible. After the tornado the down trees were cut and loaded on trucks and sent to the mill. The remaining brush piles of unwanted limbs, fence posts, and old wood and roofing of the barns and sheds were piled in various areas around the property. They're out of the way but need to be disposed of.

We (that would be hubs since he's working only 4 days a week until October, kid, and I) have made a lot of progress on the immediate yard as well. It actually looks good again. The jungle in the Dane's pens (and these aren't little pens, they're 200' wide and 300' long) have been cleared and it almost looks pretty and that was last week's project. Still need to go over all the pens with the weed-eater. There is still several boundary areas of the yard that need brush cleared around fences and some of the trees--I have a miniature forest growing under several oak trees. That's this weeks project. 

Even though July has remained relatively cool, compared to last year, that sun is still hot. So this child is up very early in the morning and outside until about lunch and then back out about 4-ish. Still hot and sweaty work and the AC is godsend on these days when I'm done.  I slither into a wobbly pile of goo and rest. I am pacing myself and taking lots of small breaks and drinking tons of water. I've resorted to wearing a name tag because I'm usually too tired to recall my name or the day. I have mush brain. Ice packs and muscle ointments and I are really, really good friends. By 8 p.m. I'm usually crawling into bed.

I'll be back to normal blogging, erm, mañana.

LIFE IS A JOURNEY—WITHOUT A ROAD MAP!

It's my pleasure to welcome back romance author, Diana Duncan. It's been a while since I've had the pleasure of her company here. I will admit she was one of my early facebook buddies that gave me so much support when I first started my blog four years ago. I have her to thank for my hunk file—I have it on the best authority that all romance writers must have one for inspiration. Needless to say, I am very inspired.  J 

Diana's topic is on conquering fear when life throws you a major detour and appreciating the small things in life.

I confess, I’m terribly directionally challenged. I’ve been shopping at the same grocery store for over 20 years, but turn me around in there, and I can still get lost!

I’m not very good at decoding maps, either. They read like ancient hieroglyphics to my backwards brain. And the snotty GPS lady and I had an hostile parting of the ways after I followed her command to turn onto a one-way street going the wrong direction! I need specific, explicit instructions, and don’t tell me any of that bewildering north, south, east, west stuff…I need to know: “Turn left just past McDonald’s, go until you see Burger King, then make a right. If you get to Dairy Queen, you’ve gone too far. My house is the 3^rd one on the block on the left-hand side and it’s green with white trim.”

Then maybe, maybe, I can find my destination. At least within 2 tries. J

So when life diverts me onto an unexpected detour, I’m lost and confused.

And wow, last summer, I not only got diverted onto a detour, I got totally run off the road!

I’d been feeling tired and having a lot of heartburn for some time, several years in fact, but had attributed many of my symptoms to getting older, hormone changes, etc.—all the usual denial tactics we use to avoid believing we’re really sick. I was popping over-the-counter antacids like M&M’s and “coping.” Until without warning, I suddenly ended up at the doctor’s office unable to keep any food down and so exhausted, Hubby had to help me walk.

After several months and a whole lot of very unpleasant and obscenely expensive tests—and still unable to eat—I was diagnosed with a (scarily common) stomach bacteria that had eventually overrun my system with acid, which had turned the inside of my stomach into raw hamburger and caused 75% of my esophagus to erode. I had to take 2 super strong antibiotics, along with a bagful of other drugs for an extended period of time—all of which had miserable side effects like anxiety and insomnia and fatigue.

By the grace of God, I found an incredible acupuncturist/Chinese herbalist, who weaned me off all the damaging medications and provided me with natural supplements and a diet that would help my stomach and esophagus heal. I also found an online support forum for people with my condition, which encouraged me and made me feel like less of a freak for taking so much time to heal.

It’s been a year now, and I am finally beginning to have more good days than bad, with setbacks here and there in between.

I learned a lot during my illness:

• Planning is futile, because every day brings what it brings, and to survive, you need to roll with the painful punches.
• Biggest lesson I learned was to let go of the constant fear that gnawed at me. It served no purpose, except to hold me back from recovery.
• Trust that I was in God’s hands—His plan would turn out better than mine in the long run.
• Take delight in the smallest of pleasures—being able to eat, snuggling with my dog, watching finches at my birdfeeders.
• Celebrate progress—getting strong enough to walk out into my backyard, being able to read again, getting back to my writing.

I’d started writing my 11^th book before I got sick, titled Big Bad Wolfe, and was a little over halfway through it when I became too ill to write. The hero in the book is emotionally damaged from childhood abuse, and ironically, his story is about his journey toward healing.

Several months ago when I was finally able to begin writing again for short periods, helping Zane complete his journey became a personal mission for me. His faltering progress toward healing—two steps forward, one step back, and one day at a time—was the same as my own. Zane’s struggle mirrored my struggle in so many ways, and he will always hold a special place in my heart.

Just like Zane, I was broken down to the lowest point in my life…and just like him; I learned not to take anything, or anyone, for granted. To keep the faith, believe in hope, and appreciate the joy in tiny, everyday miracles.

My wish for you is that you take nothing for granted…and recognize each blessing in your life, no matter how small, as gifts to enjoy every day.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

BUY: AMAZON AND B&N

FBI Special Agent Zane Wolfe fears nothing...
                    Except fatherhood. 

So suddenly discovering he's the father of a five-year-old son terrifies him.

Jillian Ramsay has had temporary custody of her best friend’s little boy since his mother recently died. As the assistant director of a school for disadvantaged children, she recognizes Zane is a survivor of childhood abuse. While Jillian understands Zane's trepidation, she also sees that behind his protective walls, her Big Bad Wolfe is good-hear ted and caring. She’s in a desperate fight for custody against the child’s vicious uncle…and she needs Zane to face his fears—just long enough to help her win permanent custody of his son.
Zane's ready to turn tail and run for the first time in his life. Until sinister motives behind the death of his son’s mother put both the boy and Jillian in danger. As Zane works with Jillian to secure his son's future, keeping his barricades intact becomes far more difficult than he imagined.

Because while Jillian might not huff and puff, her patience and tenderness are chipping away at his walls.
He’ll do anything to protect his son…including temporarily marrying Jillian. EXCERPT

 The Big Bad Wolfe fears nothing.

                                 Except failing those he loves.

                                                                                                                                             

When her dreams of becoming a ballerina were quashed by early-onset klutziness, Diana Duncan took up the safer vocation of writing. Her first thrilling masterpiece—written in orange crayon—was titled “Perky the Kitten,” and became an instant bestseller with her grandparents.

Di is famous for using seven words when one will do. She wields smart-assery like a samurai sword, and will be the first to volunteer in a catastrophe. Of course, she was probably the one who caused the catastrophe. 

She’s fiercely loyal to her friends and family…but in the event of the upcoming zombie apocalypse, she won’t hesitate to use them as human shields.

She loves her job as an author, and claims writing is the most fun she’s ever had while wearing her sock monkey pajamas. She also enjoys gardening, cooking, and adopting abandoned curbside furniture to refurbish into treasures.

Join her on Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter. Feel free to stop by and ogle her kilted hunks on her website