Monday, December 31, 2012

Music Monday for Making Love in the Rain!

  By now all of my readers should know I'm a huge sucker for anything love related. That is probably why I'm such a huge fan of Asian dramas, which tend to be remakes of girl's manga books and romantic comedy type stories.

  I've shared songs in Japanese and Korean, so here is a new one for you. This song is by one of my favorite Taiwanese Actresses Rainie Yang and is part of the OST (official sound track) for her drama Hi My Sweetheart. It is a romantic comedy that is both sweet and slightly overboard comedy wise. You'll go from laughing out right to groaning at absurdity of it.

  I've watched her dramas since the beginning of my love affair with Asian dramas and she has remained a favorite. I've gone back and re-watched her dramas Devil Beside You and Why Why Love countless times. I thought of her the other day when I caught a new movie she had made last year called Heartbeat Love. 

  She is not only a fantastic actress, but also has a lovely voice I wanted to share one of her beautiful love songs. It amazes me how quickly she grew from such a cute teen to a beautiful woman. Obviously I love her and hope you do too.

Yu Ai (Rainie Love) By: Rainie Yang

Yu Ai (Rainie Love) With English Subs


 

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Sweet story to take to heart.

I saw this on yahoo earlier today and had to share it.

Dying Boy Closer to World Record

You can read the story here on Yahoo to see pictures. I'll copy and paste the story below. To help this sweet little baby I pulled out my old Christmas cards and found him four different designs. I have already signed and sealed them to go in the mail tomorrow, so he will be sure to get them in time. And I know I'm not just sending Christmas cards, but a bit of much needed fighting spirit.  Happy Holidays and may everyone be touched by this child's story.

 

Dying Boy Closer to World Record


   Under the Christmas tree was everything 9-year-old Dalton Dingus had hoped for -- an iPad and an iPhone, a big red toolbox filled with real tools just like his grandpa's, and a stack of Christmas cards nearly as tall he, each with the same wish: that he live to break a Guinness record, and for a long, long time after that.

  For a month now, cards by the hundreds of thousands have come from all over the world -- well wishes and Christmas greetings from cities and countries the Kentucky boy had never before even heard of.
The cards have come from Germany and Ukraine, from South Carolina and South Korea. They're written in languages Dalton cannot speak, but they all deliver the same message, a wish that the little boy set a Guinness record for receiving most Christmas cards before he succumbs to a disease that has already made it virtually impossible for him to breathe.

  As far as his mother, Jessica Dingus, is concerned, "It's a Christmas miracle."

  At first, the cards came in slowly. A family friend had posted an appeal for well-wishes on Facebook. Dalton's mother would display them on the mantel and in his room beside his bed. Most came from neighbors and friends, a few from friends of friends. 

That first post on Facebook went viral, spreading across the Internet, getting picked up by a local newspaper and other media.

  Miss Kentucky showed up at Dalton's house in Salyersville, Ky., carrying some cards. So did a unit of Kentucky State Troopers and the star of Animal Planet's "Call of the Wildman."

  By Wednesday, his mother estimated the boy had received 504,269 cards.

  On Christmas Eve alone, the postal service delivered 30,000 individual letters, plus 1,972 packages, some of which were filled with cards and 55 express packages, said David Walton, a spokesman for the US Postal Service.

  UPS and FedEx delivered hundreds more. Dalton has stage four cystic fibrosis. In October, his mother said, "Doctors had given up on him."

  "We left the hospital to come home. They gave him two to eight days to live," Jessica Dingus told ABCNews.com

  Dalton takes 18 different medicines every day, including "lots of pills and antibiotics," his mother said.

  He goes through 12 liters of oxygen a day and wears a face mask to help him breathe, making him look like a miniature fighter pilot with an interest in coloring and playing with Lego blocks.

  For weeks since the cards started coming, Jessica Dingus said, Dalton's health has improved.

  "He's doing pretty good now," she said. "It's just been the best Christmas ever.

  "He's excited for the first time in a long time," she said. "He's smiling more. He's laughing more, he's beginning to become how he was two years ago. 

   "I think just knowing people really do care for him, that the cards let him know people love him, it has all helped," she said.

  The cards can longer fit in Dalton's home. The letter carrier can't fit them all in her truck anymore, and a local television reporter has taken to filling a trailer to bring all the cards to Dalton's grandfather's church.
There, at the Bethlehem to Cavalry Apostolic Church, dozens of volunteers, 50 of them on Christmas Eve alone, sorted the mail fire-brigade style, forming lines and handing off the letters to empty the trailer.

  The volunteers count the cards and open and read each of them, flagging special ones to be brought to Dalton for him to read.

  "We're looking for those special cards we think Dalton would like to read. One little girl said she wished he was her boyfriend," said Debra Williams, a volunteer at the church.

  "The big majority of the town has sent cards or is helping out. Everyone just wants to do what we can. We're all just praying and hoping," she said.

  Despite some reports that Dalton had already broken the record for receiving the most Christmas cards, spokeswoman Jamie Panas said Guinness "currently does not monitor a category for this."

  However, Guinness does have an old record on the books. As of 1992, the last official time Guinness allowed for a Christmas card category, Canadian Jarrod Booth had collected 205,120.

  Jessica Dingus told ABCNews.com that she has since registered Dalton in the hopes the record keepers will open a category for him. 

  There are some reports that Dalton has only until Dec. 31 to break the record, but Panas said that was not true.
 
  To send Dalton a Christmas card, address it to: Dalton Dingus HC 62 Box 1249 Salyersville, KY 41465.

Thoughtful Thursday With Another Visitor on the Way.

  If you are reading this, you must have survived Christmas, though New Years is just around the corner and the holiday season might still get you. If you have plans this year and have to go out, be careful and stay safe. For me I'm already thinking about the new year. On January 10th, 2013, I have a guest already lined up for a visit. That visitor is fellow author Raebeth McGee and she has been busily expecting the new year. For all of January she has set up a blog tour for her book Silenced.


 You can see the full blog tour schedule here- The Writing World- Raebeth McGee's Writing Blog Spot
She also hosts a second blog, which can be found at- http://raebethsblog.blogspot.com/

Monday, December 24, 2012

Music Monday for Christmas.

   Since this week's Monday falls on Christmas Eve, I have to share my favorite Christmas song. The Christmas I was working on writing Past Regrets, I was curled upon the couch next to the Christmas tree listening to this song. It made me happy and I sat writing a fantastic scene that just flowed out so beautifully.  To me Christmas means family, so while I was writing I thought about the Hardigan family and what they were missing. That is how I came up with the idea to find twenty scientist who had been kidnapped and cloned by the bad guys and a huge family surprise for the Hardigans.

  From me to you and all your family, this is my favorite song that always makes me think of my grandmother. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and may you all stay safe this holiday season, preferably snuggled down with a great book.

Rockin Around the Christmas Tree By: Brenda Lee

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Purrrfectly Giftastic Christmas Blog Hop Winner!

  The winner I chose for my Purrrfectly Giftastic Christmas Blog Hop was Ashley Applebee. Not only is she a great new follower, she answered my question with a comment that left me smiling. Thanks for everyone who stopped by and a special thanks to everyone who commented over the week. 

   Don't forget to come back for more posts each week and two more blog hops I'm already signed up for. I love hearing everyone's comments. Some days it feels like I'm talking to myself, so hearing from the readers really makes my day.




 

Monday, December 17, 2012

Music Monday for Those Who Needs a Break!

Purrrfectly Giftastic Blog Hop link here!

  There is still time to enter the blog hop for a chance to win a copy of my book His Kiss. Just click on the link above, be a follower of my blog (if you don't already follow you can sign up), then leave me a comment with your e-mail address.

  Now, on to Music Monday.

  Throughout our lives, everyone has experienced heart break and felt like you just need to take some time for yourself. When you reach the point where you can't deal with any more drama and heart ache, wouldn't it be nice to know that your next great love will be a kinder, more caring love? Here is a great love song about how different it is to go from being heart broken, to having a loving relationship that actually gives that aching heart a break.

Give Yourr Heart a Break By: Demi Lovato

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday- #sixsunday

Purrrfectly Giftastic Christmas Blog Hop here!


From my Young Adult Sci-fi Romance in progress... At this point in time I still haven't named my heroine who at this point is just refereed to as girl. She is a seventeen-year-old girl, who is now the only family left alive for her four-year-old brother. After coming clean to her group about being an alien too, the hero's big brother Ty has this scene on his mind. Hope you all like it and don't forget to check out the blog hop link above for your chance to win a copy of my Native America Contemporary Romance book, His Kiss.


  Ty turned in his seat to watch girl, curiously, really wanting to hear what she thought about all this. His first meeting with her had left him with the impression that she was a true fighter and he couldn’t help but like her as a friend and a companion he could fight with, but after finding out about her little brother he knew she would be more like family to him.
 

  If he was honest, seeing her hold the young boy against her chest and rock him the way he used to comfort his little brother Lee, did something to his insides. He wanted her badly, but not for himself. No, this girl had to be the one true love Lee had been missing all of his life. If things worked out and they won the fight for this planet, he was hoping she could become his sister and give Lee the life he never had a chance to live before.

Model for Ty who raised my hero by himself after losing their parents. Ty was 15 and Lee was 5 at the time of the invasion on their planet, which took everything from them.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Purrrfectly Giftastic Blog Hop Hosted By The Blog Hop Spot.



Looking for the perfect present for under the tree?
Welcome to the Purrrfectly Giftastic Hop! 140+ authors….TONS of goodies to be won. So put on your santa hats and PJs then visit the following authors blogs to hopefully make you holidays a happy one!

STARTS:

Friday, December 14, 2012

ENDS:

Monday, December 17, 2012 @ midnight.


Each Participant will have this listed beside their name for reference:

[Author/Book Blogger/Publisher]

{Genre: m/f, m/m, or 0ther…}

(Heat Level: SWEET 1-2 flames, SPICY 3-4 flames, EROTIC 4-5 flames )

The Blog Hop Spot does caution that many if not all these sites are meant for adults 18+

The Blog Hop Spot Main Page Link!

 

 For me, the best gift is love, especially when that love was originally a dear friend. So, in the spirit of the holiday I'll be giving away a copy of my book His Kiss, which is all about what happens when you fall in love with your best friend.

Blurb:
What happens when you find yourself falling in lo…lust with your best friend? Amber's best friend Taylor had been cheated on and dumped by Janet, the woman he loved. When Janet comes back Taylor lied and said he had moved on, proving it he kisses Amber changing everything. No matter what she does she can't forget it, but the only man who is even comes close to helping her forget her feelings, turns out to be Taylor's brother.

 

Want to win a copy? Just be a follower of my site and leave me a comment here with your e-mail address telling me what you have on your wish list for Christmas this year. Good luck and Happy Holidays!

My wish list? Music and manga or any romantic tale! 

 

Want to see more from the Blog Hop Spot? Here are a few links to show you the way.

Facebook Group 

Facebook Page 

Yahoo Loop 

The Blog Hop Spot on Twitter 

 

Book Reviewed by Erinne (author) Posted on The Romance Reviews
[ Review Posted: Apr 27, 2012 ] - See all my reviews
Lust between best friends...when does that ever go wrong?

Our hero, Taylor, just had his heart ripped out his chest and stepped on by six-inch stiletto. Not literally, of course! But his girlfriend, Janet, cheated on him and crushed his soft gooey insides. He couldn't erase the pain of her betrayal and falls to his knees. Enter Amber, who, with her big heart, can't stand to see such a gorgeous man crying. She pulls him close and holds him tight. At that moment, they became best friends. But when Janet once again enters Taylor's life, he can see no way to get rid of her except by kissing Amber and that one kiss...one kiss...It lingers on both their lips and forever changes their lives.

We've all been there, folks...falling for our best friend but not wanting to ruin the relationship. I could relate. At times, the story line made me queasy because I had done the same exact thing that Amber had done which made the story come alive. A strong dose of realism kept the romance alive in HIS KISS by Debra A. Soles and I have to applaud the true emotions written.

Although I would have liked to see more physical contact between Amber and Taylor, the love story remained sweet and kept me interested. I only had one qualm--the ending. I love a happy ending, which Debra Soles provided, but having Janet at the end when the special moment between Amber and Taylor happened, really turned me off.

Regardless of the entrance of Janet at the end, this was a very cute story. One that we have all lived but sometimes, it never worked out for us...Here's to the happy ending and to Debra A. Soles!
   


And for those of you who read this weeks Hump Day Hunks. Here is the picture I managed to sneak in on my son, before his Winter Concert last night (12/12/12). Saw this shirt and tie on Ebay and fell in love with it. It looks great on him too. Still withholding my opinion on dropping band and chorus for hand chimes.



Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Hump Day For One of My Hunks.

  Today is all for my son, who is growing up to be a hunk in his own right. I may be very biased, but he is beautiful. A cute face with dark sandy blond hair a few shades darker than his father's that falls down his nose and past his collar. (And no refuses to cut it.) :-)

  Tonight is once again his Winter Concert at school. But, this year is going to be different. He used to be in band and chorus, but last year he dropped band, tired of toting around first the trumpet, then the heavier baritone. This year he dropped chorus to try something new he was curious about.  Hand chimes! I don't know how I feel about this. We will have to see after tonight's performance how we feel about it.
  
  I'll keep you posted. ;) Maybe I'll  even share a picture, while I'm posting it on Facebook for friends. So, to tiny heroes and hunks in the making. Happy Holidays and may none of us get mowed down in the holiday crowds.

P.S. Don't miss the Puurfect Gifttastic Blog Hop starting Friday.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Music Monday With the Sound Mix that Started it All.

   Those of you that normally read my Music Monday, should know by now that I love songs that fix all sorts of sounds, genres and have something to do with love. I'm pretty sure that my love of such thrilling mixed up sounds actually came from Guns N' Roses. The first song I ever heard that was a sound mixture and sparked my interest was November Rain.

 
  This was probably the most epic song of its time and one of the longest I know of and one of the longest as the video is actually nine minutes and eight seconds long. I have to say I miss the big hair bands of the 80's with their hard rock, heart breaking ballads.

 
  This song in particular is one I can't listen to without tearing up. It was also probably the first video I saw which had both a love story and filled with grief of losing that loved one. For me, it makes a great background song for writing the saddest scenes.

November Rain By: Guns N' Roses
 

Monday, December 3, 2012

Music Monday with Two Wild Native American Indians

  When I was writing my Native American Indian contemporary romance,His Kiss, the one song I listened to the most was Apologize by One Republic. It seemed to fit the story so well.


Blurb:
What happens when you find yourself falling in lo…lust with your best friend? Amber's best friend Taylor had been cheated on and dumped by Janet, the woman he loved. When Janet comes back Taylor lied and said he had moved on, proving it he kisses Amber changing everything. No matter what she does she can't forget it, but the only man who is even comes close to helping her forget her feelings, turns out to be Taylor's brother.


  For Janet, after breaking Taylor's heart, then daring to try to win him back is to much. And as the song says, it's too late to apologize. Especially since, by trying to get rid of Janet, Taylor kisses Amber and opens up a huge can of worms. His kiss makes both him and Amber realize their feelings aren't just those of friends.


Apologize By: One Republic

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday With Preperations- #sixsunday

  From Talkers-
  

Without actually playing they moved about the stage, memorizing where they needed to be standing at certain times. A few times they stopped to gesture back and forth, the brothers even arguing over their difference in opinion, until they were both satisfied with how it would look.

  One of the roadies walked by, one of the few she had begun to recognize by sight. This was the tall, broad shouldered guy with short funky dirty-blond hair who had talked to her and taken her bag at the airport the day before.

  Shayle pointed at the stage. “I’ve never seen anything like this before. What do you think? Is all that arguing good or bad?”

Gran your copy of Talkers here!