I am SUCH a bad blogger! At least I come bearing good news, despite this long lull.
On the way is a new book that I'm hoping to finish in the next few weeks. I know, I know--bad timing, with the holidays here. Just want to see if I can get something sweet & juicy into readers' hands before Christmas, so you can relax after all the holiday cooking and cleaning with a yummy Alpha male and his naughty heroine. As you can see from the little progress bar in the sidebar, I'm on my way, even if I've got a bit.
More news to come. Good to be back!
Friday, November 21, 2014
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Special Thanks
Special thanks to all the authors and bloggers for the success that was the Spanking A to Z Challenge! (No thanks to me, LOL! I got sidetracked, unfortunately.) For me, I especially enjoyed visiting other bloggers and having them come to my little neck of the woods here. It also taught me to look out for great blogging ideas. Sooooooooo...do it again next year? Sooner? Hope so. It was fun!
Sunday, June 29, 2014
My Current TBR List
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| Patty Devlin is new-to-me, and I've been itching to check out her works. This one, especially, event though I have a feeling I'm going to devour it. |
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| Love Maren Smith. This one has such a fun premise that it's a must-check-out! |
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| Another Maren, because you just can't have one... |
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| Another Patty Devlin, too, one that's been on my TBR list and about to go onto my Currently Reading List. |
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| Patricia Green with another book I just know won't last long in my grubby little hands. |
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| REALLY intrigued to read this book and anything by this author! |
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| Love the storyline, new author to me, too. Have you read any of these? Please do share! |
Saturday, June 28, 2014
THE RANCHER & THE BAD GIRL--Excerpt
He pressed up against the railing and patted the animal’s forehead down to just about his snout. He was expecting her to do likewise, to show affection for the horse rather than fear. Melanie mustered enough courage to pat his neck but withdrew her hand when he snorted.
He was recently broken. And Reeve had believed her when she’d said she knew what she was doing on the back of a horse.
He’s going to throw me. He’s going to injure me and I’ll die or be bedridden for the rest of my life.
Crazy talk. Or maybe not. How did she wriggle herself out of that mess?
“Would you like to saddle him yourself?” he asked.
Melanie forced a laugh.
“Well, I expect there’ll be time for that. I’ll do it for you—”
“Reeve, wait!”
Her heart beat madly. He was going to be angry. Could she blame him? She’d lied to him.
Stopping, he turned. “You don’t like him.”
He looked so disappointed. “No, no, Reeve, I do—”
“I’ve got lots of other horses. I just thought you’d love this one.”
“Oh, Reeve, he’s beautiful. And I do appreciate you being so sweet and giving him to me. But I don’t…I don’t ride as well I told you I did.”
Back on the train. He was going to lose his temper. Then he would send her back to Maryland.
His eyes narrowed at her and he drew closer.
“How often do you ride?” he drawled.
“I’m sure nowhere near as you have.”
“And nowhere near as much as you told me you did.” He regarded her sternly but not with anger. “Not riding at all is not an option. You, Miss, are going to learn.”
Was that it? Was she getting off that easily?
Not easily at all, she realized. He was ordering her to learn, telling her she had to get over her fear and master riding and handling a horse to some extent. Better, certainly, than she was capable of now.
“Yes. You have my word that I’ll learn.”
“‘Your word.’ Hmmmph.” So he was angry. His hands fastened to his waist and he sighed impatiently. “Why did you say you rode before you could walk? Which I know isn’t true, but you exaggerated your skills.”
“Because I wanted to be your bride. I thought you wouldn’t want to marry me if you knew I—I’m a little scared of horses. And I usually walk or ride a wagon.” Seeing the fire in his eyes, she added, “But I can learn. And I will learn.”
“Oh, you will.” Giving a hard shake of his head, he asked, “What else did you lie about?”
She straightened up, afraid he could see right through her. “Nothing. That’s the only thing I lied about.”
“I was truthful with you. I told you this isn’t that easy life you led back in the city, Melanie.”
“And I just wanted to impress you—”
“How impressive would it have been if I’d let you on this horse and he hurt you badly enough? Or killed you? I’d have to live with that. And I do believe we talked about this. About lying.”
Her eyes grew larger. “You’re not going to spank me. That’s not a big lie. I just wanted to impress you. So you wouldn’t think I couldn’t—”
“I don’t want to hear your excuses, Melanie. And I don’t want any more lies. And, yes, I am going to spank you. You get your pretty little behind in that house and wait for me in the parlor.”
Her first instinct was to plead with him. To promise she wouldn’t ever do it again.
He was recently broken. And Reeve had believed her when she’d said she knew what she was doing on the back of a horse.
He’s going to throw me. He’s going to injure me and I’ll die or be bedridden for the rest of my life.
Crazy talk. Or maybe not. How did she wriggle herself out of that mess?
“Would you like to saddle him yourself?” he asked.
Melanie forced a laugh.
“Well, I expect there’ll be time for that. I’ll do it for you—”
“Reeve, wait!”
Her heart beat madly. He was going to be angry. Could she blame him? She’d lied to him.
Stopping, he turned. “You don’t like him.”
He looked so disappointed. “No, no, Reeve, I do—”
“I’ve got lots of other horses. I just thought you’d love this one.”
“Oh, Reeve, he’s beautiful. And I do appreciate you being so sweet and giving him to me. But I don’t…I don’t ride as well I told you I did.”
Back on the train. He was going to lose his temper. Then he would send her back to Maryland.
His eyes narrowed at her and he drew closer.
“How often do you ride?” he drawled.
“I’m sure nowhere near as you have.”
“And nowhere near as much as you told me you did.” He regarded her sternly but not with anger. “Not riding at all is not an option. You, Miss, are going to learn.”
Was that it? Was she getting off that easily?
Not easily at all, she realized. He was ordering her to learn, telling her she had to get over her fear and master riding and handling a horse to some extent. Better, certainly, than she was capable of now.
“Yes. You have my word that I’ll learn.”
“‘Your word.’ Hmmmph.” So he was angry. His hands fastened to his waist and he sighed impatiently. “Why did you say you rode before you could walk? Which I know isn’t true, but you exaggerated your skills.”
“Because I wanted to be your bride. I thought you wouldn’t want to marry me if you knew I—I’m a little scared of horses. And I usually walk or ride a wagon.” Seeing the fire in his eyes, she added, “But I can learn. And I will learn.”
“Oh, you will.” Giving a hard shake of his head, he asked, “What else did you lie about?”
She straightened up, afraid he could see right through her. “Nothing. That’s the only thing I lied about.”
“I was truthful with you. I told you this isn’t that easy life you led back in the city, Melanie.”
“And I just wanted to impress you—”
“How impressive would it have been if I’d let you on this horse and he hurt you badly enough? Or killed you? I’d have to live with that. And I do believe we talked about this. About lying.”
Her eyes grew larger. “You’re not going to spank me. That’s not a big lie. I just wanted to impress you. So you wouldn’t think I couldn’t—”
“I don’t want to hear your excuses, Melanie. And I don’t want any more lies. And, yes, I am going to spank you. You get your pretty little behind in that house and wait for me in the parlor.”
Her first instinct was to plead with him. To promise she wouldn’t ever do it again.
But there were other lies. Bigger than that one.
Nevertheless, she tilted her chin up in defiance. Without another word, she walked back into the house.
What an unreasonable, stubborn man! Melanie knew that hardheaded nature probably had been necessary when driving cattle across the states to reach Montana, where Reeve finally decided to settle.
It sounded as if that same rugged determination had gotten him through hard times as a child after his parents had died. Over dinner, he’d informed her he’d been born in New York. At the age of nine he was plucked off the streets, where he’d been living after his father had walked out and his mother had died. He was put on a train with other orphans, then taken to Texas. That was where a farmer and his family had adopted him.
Nevertheless, she tilted her chin up in defiance. Without another word, she walked back into the house.
What an unreasonable, stubborn man! Melanie knew that hardheaded nature probably had been necessary when driving cattle across the states to reach Montana, where Reeve finally decided to settle.
It sounded as if that same rugged determination had gotten him through hard times as a child after his parents had died. Over dinner, he’d informed her he’d been born in New York. At the age of nine he was plucked off the streets, where he’d been living after his father had walked out and his mother had died. He was put on a train with other orphans, then taken to Texas. That was where a farmer and his family had adopted him.
That was all well and good. She did respect him for having not only survived that hard life, but also having the drive and determination to make his own fortune raising cattle.
But did Reeve really have to be so hard on her? They were to be married in two days. He didn’t listen and he surely didn’t compromise on anything, from what she could see.
“So did you like the horse, ma’am?” Arnie asked when he passed by the parlor. “He’s hearty, ain’t he?”
“Don’t ask.” The admonition, made in a flat tone, had come from Reeve, who had stepped into the house at that moment. “Arnie, you and Eli go outside for now. Miss Melanie and I have something that needs discussing.”
Pursing her lips, she turned and folded her arms across her chest. Something that needed discussing? Ha! With him doing all the talking, I’m sure.
“You’re sulking again,” he told her.
“I am not sulking,” she protested. “I have never been spanked before. And I sure didn’t expect a spanking right before our wedding.”
But did Reeve really have to be so hard on her? They were to be married in two days. He didn’t listen and he surely didn’t compromise on anything, from what she could see.
“So did you like the horse, ma’am?” Arnie asked when he passed by the parlor. “He’s hearty, ain’t he?”
“Don’t ask.” The admonition, made in a flat tone, had come from Reeve, who had stepped into the house at that moment. “Arnie, you and Eli go outside for now. Miss Melanie and I have something that needs discussing.”
Pursing her lips, she turned and folded her arms across her chest. Something that needed discussing? Ha! With him doing all the talking, I’m sure.
“You’re sulking again,” he told her.
“I am not sulking,” she protested. “I have never been spanked before. And I sure didn’t expect a spanking right before our wedding.”
“And I wasn’t expecting to have to spank my bride before our wedding, either. And you keep making up stories instead of being honest with me, I expect you’ll be spending a lot of time over my knee.”
Emphasis on a lot. Maybe the episode would prove more embarrassing than painful.
Then she saw the large wooden brush in his hand. The kind with a long handle and a wide, hard brush.
He was using that thing to spank her behind? Instinctively, she shot a look at the door and wondered if she could save her bottom by making a run for it.
Why bother? When that cowboy could probably walk a lot faster than she could run.
“I’ll have you know,” she huffed as he sat himself down on a chair and pulled her across his lap. “I’m too old for this—this spanking business!”
“Are you, now?” That jovial lilt in his voice only infuriated her more. “Come to think of it, how old are you? Did you lie about that, too?”
Did he know? How could he tell? He laid the brush casually across her rump, making her blush.
“Melanie, I asked you a question.”
She gritted her teeth and stared at the floor. “I’m twenty-six.”
“You’re—Melanie, you said you were twenty-three!”
Yes, I did. I lied. And I’m not a lady, either. I could have been—I was supposed to be. Instead I was living as a prostitute back in Maryland. But you wouldn’t understand that.
“Reeve Larson, I am not the first woman to lie about her age!” she blurted.
She heard him heave a long-suffering sigh. Melanie hastily offered an explanation. “I didn’t think you’d want an old maid of twenty-six. Twenty-three didn’t sound so bad.”
“What I want is an honest woman. And you’ll be glad to know you’re not old at all. Not too old that you can’t get a good tanning.”
He wasn’t happy with her. So much for that kiss they’d shared, for their happy dinner and how thrilled he’d been to give her that horse. Suddenly, Melanie felt him toss her shirts up over her waist, forcing a squeal from her.
“Don’t you dare pull down my underthings!” She hissed.
“Don’t worry, darlin’. There's just too much dress here. I want to make sure you feel this spanking, but I won’t bare your bottom until we’re legally wed.”
“Well, that’s a relief!”
“A word of advice: It’s never a good idea to sass a man while he’s getting ready to blister your bottom.”
Emphasis on a lot. Maybe the episode would prove more embarrassing than painful.
Then she saw the large wooden brush in his hand. The kind with a long handle and a wide, hard brush.
He was using that thing to spank her behind? Instinctively, she shot a look at the door and wondered if she could save her bottom by making a run for it.
Why bother? When that cowboy could probably walk a lot faster than she could run.
“I’ll have you know,” she huffed as he sat himself down on a chair and pulled her across his lap. “I’m too old for this—this spanking business!”
“Are you, now?” That jovial lilt in his voice only infuriated her more. “Come to think of it, how old are you? Did you lie about that, too?”
Did he know? How could he tell? He laid the brush casually across her rump, making her blush.
“Melanie, I asked you a question.”
She gritted her teeth and stared at the floor. “I’m twenty-six.”
“You’re—Melanie, you said you were twenty-three!”
Yes, I did. I lied. And I’m not a lady, either. I could have been—I was supposed to be. Instead I was living as a prostitute back in Maryland. But you wouldn’t understand that.
“Reeve Larson, I am not the first woman to lie about her age!” she blurted.
She heard him heave a long-suffering sigh. Melanie hastily offered an explanation. “I didn’t think you’d want an old maid of twenty-six. Twenty-three didn’t sound so bad.”
“What I want is an honest woman. And you’ll be glad to know you’re not old at all. Not too old that you can’t get a good tanning.”
He wasn’t happy with her. So much for that kiss they’d shared, for their happy dinner and how thrilled he’d been to give her that horse. Suddenly, Melanie felt him toss her shirts up over her waist, forcing a squeal from her.
“Don’t you dare pull down my underthings!” She hissed.
“Don’t worry, darlin’. There's just too much dress here. I want to make sure you feel this spanking, but I won’t bare your bottom until we’re legally wed.”
“Well, that’s a relief!”
“A word of advice: It’s never a good idea to sass a man while he’s getting ready to blister your bottom.”
(Want a little more? There's another excerpt over on Goodreads !)
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
THE RANCHER & THE BAD GIRL
I would do "R" is for...but I've fallen way behind my co-bloggers on the Spanking A-Z Challenge! Though I don't consider it a loss, because I "met" some wonderful people during the process, plus got introduced to their blogs. (If I haven't already, I'll be listing them on here.) Loved being a part of it, all the same!
And here's the cover reveal for my Western historical, coming out this week from Blushing Books! An excerpt to follow this week!
And here's the cover reveal for my Western historical, coming out this week from Blushing Books! An excerpt to follow this week!
Thursday, June 12, 2014
"G" is for Garner Falls
So "G" is for Garner Falls...as in, a fictional town in Montana, where THE RANCHER AND THE BAD GIRL, takes place.
This was my first Western historical. Rather, the first one I've written, because I've read and enjoyed a huge bunch of them. In fact, tomorrow, my "H" entry will consist of a few historicals, Western and otherwise, that I have on my TBR list, and maybe you will, too, if you haven't already read them. I enjoyed doing this book and this time period so much that I'm not sure why I didn't go there with my characters sooner. Already I'm planning, getting the groundwork ready for another book set in that same era. What can I say? Cowboys rock.
So like I said...short but sweet! Check back soon for a character interview and also a snippet.
THE RANCHER AND THE BAD GIRL is coming soon from Blushing Books!
Saturday, June 7, 2014
"F" is for "Foolish Little Details"
So "F" is for "Foolish Little Details," though it should really be named "15 Obscure & Quirky Things That Most People Don't Know About Me." Which most people probably don't care about, either, but they ARE foolish, little details, and I need an "F" for my A to Z Challenge. It'll do. So here goes!
1) Under another name, I write vanilla romance and other genres.
2) Even though I really am a Latina, I just *barely* can dance el merengue. However, before I die, I'd love to learn & master salsa dancing. I do listen to lots of salsa, so hopefully that makes up for my ineptitude with Latin dance.
3) Some women love shoes; some love purses; I love both. I mean, really, can you ever have enough purses???
4) In the same vein as No. 3, I love backpacks, especially the funky, teen-style ones. So cute and perfect for carrying your Ipad and notebook.
5) I still do write a lot of first drafts with a pen and a notebook. Quaint, huh? But the techy side of me likes to write on the Werdsmith app on my phone, which I didn't think I'd ever use, but it's easier than I initially thought and comes in quite handy when you're at the doctor's and waiting to be seen.
6) I am fluent in Spanish.
7) My great-grandmother's name was America, like the actress, America Ferrera of Ugly Betty fame.
8) Both of my grandfathers, maternal and paternal, hailed from Spain.
9) While working in Sears at the age of 17, I dated their 18-year-old Santa, who was handsome and skinny under that red suit.
10) My husband and I attended the same Tim Curry (best known for The Rocky Horror Picture Show) concert at New York's Bottom Line about a year before we actually met. Talk about fate! His date was a Tim Curry fan, as were my best friend and another girl who had me tag along with them that same night.
11) I can make a mean Key Lime pie.
12) I love writing and reading spanking romance. It's always fascinated me. That's a whole other entry, but I find it has helped me to grow creatively, because it's truly enjoyable to write.
13) For my grandkids, I try to always keep cookies in the house. My daughter-in-law has given up scolding me for it. Hey, I'm a grandma. That's how we ROLL.
14) I hate elevators, to the point that I actually always try to get a hotel room on the 1st or 2nd floors.
15) Even though I'm in my 50s now, I am planning on someday (soon) getting a belly ring. While taking belly dancing, I noticed a few of my fellow dancers--even the older ones--wore them and just fell in love. I want one!
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