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


 

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

By RUSSELL GOLDMAN | Good Morning America 

   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/

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

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.

 

 

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

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.

Purrrfectly Giftastic Blog Hop Hosted By The Blog Hop Spot.

 

To hop to the next site in the hop, go to The Blog Hop Spot chick here. 

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!

 Can't wait to win? Grab your copy of His Kiss here!

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.

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.

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
 

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

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!

Hump Day Hunk Worth Fighting to Protect- (Explicit Content)

    From Talkers-

   A few feet from the entrance a fan reached out and grabbed Ritter, jerking him hard against the metal barricade. Shayle’s left hand was squashed violently between Ritter’s body and the silver metal barricade. Instinctively, Shayle turned and grabbed the fan’s arm in her right hand. She thought the fan was a girl, but couldn’t be sure. It’s face was a cross between a stone statue and a horse with blue tented skin.

  There was a pink bow in her short spiky sandy brown hair and a tennis skirt on her bulky body. And was that makeup? Whatever it/he/she was, it had its hands on Ritter. Leaning over the barrier, Shayle put her face right in the fan’s so they were nose to snout and squeezed the fan’s arm hard.

  “If you don’t take your hand off of him right now, I’ll break your fucking arm.” Shayle growled at the girl though gritted teeth.

  Truthfully, she had no idea if the fan could understand her language, but the glare, the gritted teeth and her tone, got her meaning across efficiently. The girl let go of Ritter and shrank away from the barrier.

  There was a pause, while they got their group situated again. Only then could Shayle pull her hand out from where it was being crushed. No other fan dared reach toward Ritter after Shayle’s outburst, thankfully letting them make it to the door without another problem.

Grab your copy of Talkers here!

Music Monday For the Only One

  To write a good love story there has to be plot, conflict, a past, the present and a hope for the future. But, the most important part of a love story is finding that one special person for your character, then no matter what help them get through the issues and find their HEA.

  Here is a perfect song to explain how they must feel inside, whether they admit it or not. This is a newer release from Boa, another one of SM Entertainment's highly talented artists.

Only One By: Boa (English Version)

  This song actually comes in three different versions, so I thought I'd share all three for those who are really interested.

  Only One By: Boa (Drama Version with English subtitles)

  And the last version, because girl can dance like no one's business!

Only One By: Boa (Dance Version)

Hump Day and Turkey Too

  My post is a bit late today, thanks to dealing with a half a day of school and a tired crabby kid. Tomorrow is Turkey Day again. How in the world did Halloween get here and Thanksgiving sneak up on me? I'm still confounded that the year is flying by so fast. It seems like just yesterday I released my seventh book Talkers, but in all actuality it was back in March nine months ago.

  Many sites are posting what they are thankful for. I thought I would add something a little silly instead of the traditional family, friends, ect. A number of crazy fan girls will agree with me on this. This year I am thankful that Korea doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving on the same day as us. Their Thanksgiving is called Chuseok and was back on September 30th this year. You can read about it- Here-

   But, wait... why would I be thankful for that? Back in 2006, Korea had a hit drama called Full House with Singer/Actor Rain in it. (Some of you might know Rain from the Hollywood movie Ninja Assassin!) You can click on the picture to watch Full House with English subtitles. Correction: Full House actually came out in 2004.

 

  What I am so happy about is that after all these years they finally came out with a second season- Full House Take Two. With new actors and a new storyline it is different from the first, but honestly I'm completely addicted. Unlike most shows that air two days a week, Full House 2 airs Monday-Thursday. So, episode 4 this week will still be aired even if it is Thanksgiving.

  

  You can click on the second picture to watch the second season and be thankful with me! Another thing to be thankful for is blog hops. If you haven't noticed on my right sidebar -> I've signed up for three more upcoming blog hops.

        Don't miss out on the chance to participate and win lots of books and great prizes. Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends and happy reading to all.

Music Monday With The Truth in Relationships-

  When people think about true love, they see the bright blushing beginning, those lovely shy moments as the couple gets to know each other. From, there, all you can see is the bigger picture, the HEA waiting at the end for you. Nothing can be further from the truth.

  In real life, in real love, nothing can stay perfect. To have a believable character with a believable relationship you have to have the deep dirty details, the problems from day to day. He dropped something in the floor and gets made when you ask him to pick it up. Having a difference in opinion, you think the two of you should go do this, while he thinks differently. Who forgot to buy ketchup? Someone forgets plans or makes new ones. Or worse someone's pride seems to be more important than your love. That's real life.

  My character Ginger, a regular in my Zogone saga and the heroine of Past Regrets, she knows all about the real problems in love. Her love life goes from nothing to a chaotic array of emotions slamming in to her scarily. When she finally excepts that she is in love with Sam, he turns around a leaves her, thinking he has no right to be loved and he has to make up for all the wrongs his father committed.

  In Past Regrets, Sam comes back to win Ginger back after realizing what a fool he was to ever leave. Their relationship is one nasty fight after another from the time they meet until he makes her his for real. So, here is a song that not only explains them, but all love relationships from one time or another.

  Battlefield By: Jordin Sparks    

Fantastic Friday with Men & Women of the Military Hop Winner!

  I would like to congratulate my chosen Autumn Harvest Hop winner and follower, Kaci Verdun. Her love of the Navy Seals is right with my own love of a man in uniform. Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by and left me a comment. I have had so much fun reading everyone's' comments that I'll be sure to participate in more Blog Hops in the future, so watch for your chance to win copies of my books. 

  I've already gotten more invites to join two more blog hops, so keep coming back for more chances to win. And keep up with the progress of the many projects I'm working on. I also have special guests from time to time either from my friends at the SF/R Brigade or special guests making a stop along their blog tours sponsored by The Masquerade Crew. http://masqueradecrew.blogspot.com/?m=0

  If you are an author interested in joining one of these tours, check out their site or leave me a comment. They are a huge supporter for the indie and small press writer.

Hump Day Hunks With an Autumn Harvest Hop Winner-

 Men & Women of the Military Giveaway/Blog Hop Link Here!

 First, I would like to congratulate my chosen Autumn Harvest Hop winner and new follower, Isabelle Werneck. Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by and left me a comment. I have had so much fun reading everyones' comments that I'll be sure to participate in more Blog Hops in the future, so watch for your chance to win copies of my books.

  And don't forget there is still another day of the Men & Women of the Military Giveaway/ Blog Hop. There is still time for followers to leave me a comment with their e-mail address for a chance to win a copy of Ancient Enemies.
                                 *****
  Now, on to my Hump Day Hunk of the week. I've been talking a lot about the YA SF/R I'm working on. I've shared a picture of the model for my hero, a young man whose own planet was invaded when he was a very young child.

Model of my hero

  But he isn't the only hunk planned for this book. He is able to meet my heroine, because he runs into her coming to find his older brother's squadron. This week I'm writing the scene where my heroine and a group of survivors from her town run into the older brother and a small group of his soldiers. Of course since they look like normal humans, her group has no idea that they are another set of aliens, who have just come to Earth to help fight off the bad guys.

  Older brother's group and her group join forces to get out of the city, then later work together as a resistance to take back Earth. He takes an instant interest in her as a young friend, a disciple to protect and train, because of her own little brother. When his planet was attacked he was even younger than her and his parents were among the first to be killed. So, like her he was left to raise a baby brother on his own.

Model of older brother

  Already just from notes and plans to start his first scene, I feel for this character. Losing his family, his freedom and life as he knew it at barely fifteen was bad enough, add on to it having to step up and become a man to protect the only family he had left.

  But then, even losing their home planet was too much to ask of anyone. So he had no chose, but to become a warrior, follow the invaders and try to stop them at all costs. I think he is going to have to have a book of his own in the future. What do you think?

Music Monday With a Fighting Spirit-

Men & Women of the Military Hop
Autumn Harvest Giveaway/ Hop

 
  Over the last few weeks I've been putting a lot of work into the YA SF/R I started over the summer. Have you ever thought about what an all-out apocalypse would do to an ordinary person? That is the main question I've been working on in this book. My main character is a normal, slightly privileged 17-year-old girl.

  But when the invasion happens life as she knows it is over. Now she must be the responsible one. She has to keep not only herself safe, but also step up and become the guardian, the protector for her 4-year-old baby brother. I think this song would explain how she feels in a nutshell, like drowning, though she knows she has to fight her way back to the surface.   

Going Under By: Evanescence

Autumn's Harvest Blog Hop

Link to Men & Women of the Military Giveaway/ Blog Hop Here!

What do you love about Autumn and Fall? What does it remind you of? What about reading? Do you think it's a good subject to read? Tell us your favorite Autumn stories! Well, we authors are ready to share our favorite Autumn stories and why we love snuggling in the cold.  *wink* Starting on Friday and ending on Oct 22nd, over 200 Authors and Bloggers will share their favorite things about those sexy men we know and love.

And while we do that, we are EACH doing a giveaway. Yep. There will be over 200 giveaways on each blog hosted by that Author or Blogger.

But that's not all....

We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!

Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains 10+ paperbacks, e-books, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

Blog Hop creator and main host -Carrie Ann Ryan
http://www.carrieannryan.com/
http://carrieannbloghops.blogspot.com/

 My favorite thing about Autumn is remembering what it felt like as a child to build that perfect pile of leaves and launch myself into the very middle of it sending leaves flying everywhere. Then you start all over again rake and launch, until mom or dad comes out to yell about the mess.

  To find some interesting season info. Go here- http://www.cocke.k12.tn.us/seasons.htm

  One of my all time favorite books has a scene like that, but it is so much better than a little kid plying alone. In the book The Face on the Milk Carton By: Caroline B. Cooney.

  To easily find a copy go to Amazon- Link here-


  We have a girl named Janie who was kidnapped from the mall when she was just three years old. The main theme is about her kidnapping, but there is also a love story mixed in. Janie has a crush on her next door neighbor Reid.

With young love comes that first stolen kiss. Being sent out to rack was the last thing Janie wanted to do, but it became a lot more fun when Reid walked over to help. There was more playing and goofing off than actual racking going on. When they fall into the leaves laughing, it happens, that sweet, perfect first kiss.

  That scene was one of the reasons I fell in love with romance stories. If you haven't read it or scene the movie I highly recommend it. I have both the book and DVD. I still use both from time to time when the mood strikes. 
---
  Now that I'm all grown up leaves are more of a nuisances and just really great exercise to clean. Now my favorite thing about Autumn is watching the critters on my morning walk around the lake. Besides the number of birds, ducks and geese that go by, there are also the furry variety.

  I found that this picture with an interesting article at-http://stagandeagle.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/acorns-lore-and-uses/

  We have the beautiful fuzzy fellow the squirrel who stills our bird feed and curses at me in his little squirrel language if I dare shoo him away. There are a number of sets of twins in the neighborhood and I love watching them run and play tag together. Too Cute!

  We also have a number of Chipmunks along the way. I love when they run back and forth with their pouches so full their faces are like little balloons.


The one thing I love the most about them though is how they will climb up on rocks or flower boxes and stuff. They will stand there and watch you until you make a sudden move and scare them away. They are just the most curious and playful things.


  To find interesting info on local Chipmunks in New England area check out. http://www.sharonfoc.org/sightings/chipmunk1.html

  As a matter of fact, we have two who come up on the back porch. They will wait until they see the cat peeping out of the door, then they will run back and forth in front of the cat just to tease him. He is a funny sight to see with his tail flopping back and forth, while he makes the most pitiful tiny meow noises.
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  I don't have a book particularly about Autumn, but when I think of Autumn I think of the reflection of leaves on the water of the lake. So to celebrate the last few warm days I'll share not the lake, but the whole ocean with you.

  My book One Wish is a pirate time-travel romance. To one of my blog followers who leaves me a comment and their e-mail address, I will be giving away a copy of One Wish. So, sign up, leave me a comment any time between November 9th and the 12th and tell we what Autumn read you would recommend.

  Excerpt-

    As she looked quickly from side to side and happened to catch a small glance of Nero swinging his sword wildly, taking out one man. But there was another advancing on him quickly from behind. Knowing he would never hear her over the roar of the battle, she had one of two choices do something or stand here and watch him die. She choose to do something.

  A quick survey around and above her gave her the perfect idea. Near by  she climbed a pole, grabbed one of the many ropes holding up their sail and jumped, propelling her weight through the air. Holding on for dear life, grinning for all she was worth, she thrilled at this new adventure. Well I did dream of being an acrobat as a child. She laughed to herself.

  Something must have alerted the Captain, because he looked up in time to see her fly by him and watched as her shoe landed right in the face of the man only a foot behind him now. Melanie knocked the man over and jumped down.

  Instantly she whorled around and sunk her short sword through the man’s chest, shocked at her own behavior, yet some how extremely ecstatic by doing something totally out of character and so wild. “What the hell do you...” Nero started to yell at her, but she cut him off, by swinging around him and taking out yet another enemy.

  “Pay attention damn it, unless you want to end up dead.” Melanie yelled back.

  “Fine, but we will talk about this later.” He said, swinging his sword in the opposite direction, taking out another man. They stood back to back, for what seemed like hours fighting, but was only mere minutes. They killed one man after another, never stepping more than a few inches away from each other. But no matter how many men they killed, there always seemed to be ten more to replace the one that had just fallen.

  What happened next, Melanie didn’t know, everything just stopped. They were surrounded by at least thirty men, but none attacked them. They just stood there, waiting and watching them. Melanie took a look around, there didn’t seem to be any of their crew left, and finally the truth dawned on her.

  They had lost the battle.

  But why don’t they just kill us and take the ship? What is the hold up? Her heart pounded along with her thoughts, before she could get the nerve to whisper to Nero. “Why didn’t they just kill us?”

  Resigned he sighed and let his sword fall to the deck in front of him, making a loud clanging noise in the total silence, “They want us alive. We are to be a trophy for their Captain.”
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  For your chance to win a copy of One Wish, leave me a comment with your e-mail address and follow my blog. And since I made a little timing error, I am participating in two blog hops right now. Leave a comment on both for a chance to win both a copy of One Wish and Ancient Enemies.

Can't wait to hear from you. Good luck and happy hopping!