Yay!!!

My blog was nominated by Sandy L. Rowland, an amazing author and friend for the Reality Award!
This award comes with a list of rules:

Visit the blog of the person who nominated you, thank them, and acknowledge them on your blog.

Answer the questions below and nominate up to 20 bloggers whom you feel are awesome and deserving of notice. Visit their blog and let them know.

Cut and paste the award to your wall.

The questions:
If you could change one thing, what would you change?

I would definitely like to be a more patient person.
 
If you could repeat any age, what would that be?

Absolutely none, because I've already lived those years and have no desire to revisit them. Each year brought lessons and I look forward to the coming ones.

What is the one thing that really scares you?

Taking life too seriously and putting emphasis on things that don't really matter.

If you could be someone else for the day, who would it be?
I would be myself twenty years from now. Hopefully I would be wiser yet still possess all my faculties and good health.

And my nominations are:
Tristi Pinkston
Teri Rodeman
Mary Walling

Heather B. Moore's Newest Book

Thought for Today
Tell the readers a story! Because without a story, you are merely using words to prove you can string them together in logical sentences.
- Anne McCaffrey

Suggested Reading

I've always been a fan of Heather  Moore's writing and her newest book, Heart of the Ocean has added another notch in favorites tally:-)

About the book
A dark secret . . . a grieving ghost . . . a handsome stranger . . . What more could Eliza Robinson want? Except for maybe her life.

In Heather B. Moore’s enthralling 1840’s historical romance, Heart of the Ocean, Eliza Robinson has turned down the very pretentious Mr. Thomas Beesley’s marriage proposal. As a business partner of Eliza’s father, Thomas quickly discredits the family and brings disgrace to the Robinson name.

While her father scrambles to restore his good name in New York City, Eliza flees to the remote Puritan town of Maybrook to stay with her Aunt Maeve. Although relieved to be away from all- things-male and unforgiving gossip columns, odd things start to happen to Eliza, and she is plagued by a ghostly voice. Her aunt’s explanation? That Eliza is being haunted by a woman who died of a broken heart twenty years ago.

After Aunt Maeve is tragically killed, Eliza's life is put in danger as she tries to uncover the mystery of her aunt's death. She encounters Jonathan Porter in Maybrook, whose presence in the town seems suspicious, yet she finds herself drawn to him. When she discovers that Jonathan’s dark secrets may be the link between the dead woman who haunts her and her aunt’s murderer, Eliza realizes that Jonathan is the one man she should never trust.

This book has it all - romance, mystery and paranormal. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and found myself pressing a hand to my heart a few times, feeling a gamut of emotions for Eliza and constantly hoping for her resolutions and happily ever after with Jon. And I really loved that guy:-)
I have read a few historical novels here and there and usually enjoy them, but Heather's stories are always so well-written and the story lines so good, it usually isn't long before I read them again:-)
Order your copy of Heart of the Ocean from http://www.amazon.com/Heart-of-the-Ocean-ebook/dp/B00AVMIK8Q/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1360990440&sr=1-3&keywords=heather+moore

Something New This Way Comes!

Coming Soon!!!

To Love the Beast

Diana and Vincent's Story

To Love the Beast is based on the 1987 television series, Beauty and the Beast. For the complete back story, watch the show that garnered a cult following and became one of television's most popular series.

Series created by Ron Koslow

Half man, half beast, Vincent is the recipient of unconditional love in his underground home–a Utopian society of outcasts living in a network of tunnels that were once part of an old subway system–yet he had never truly known the love of a woman. Walking through Central Park one night, he stumbled across a woman who had been brutally attacked and left for dead.

Breaking an underground rule and risking the exposure of the home of those who depended on him most, Vincent carried the woman there, and with the help of Father–the leader of the society below–nursed her back to health. He learned her name was Catherine. With her face being covered in bandages because of being slashed, she couldn't see the face of her caretaker. After the initial shock of Vincent's appearance, the two formed a bond stronger than love, and Vincent became not only her protector, but the love of her life.

Then, three years later, Catherine was kidnapped and killed after giving birth to Vincent's child, a beautiful and perfect son. Vincent was crushed by her loss and vowed to find her killer.

Diana Bennett, a detective for the police department, took the case, and together, they found the killer and Vincent was reunited with his infant son. A friendship formed between Vincent and Diana, and the people below welcomed her, entrusting her with the knowledge of their secret world, knowing she would never expose them.

Never allowing herself to to be emotionally involved in a case, Diana's head told her what she felt for Vincent was nothing more than compassion for his loss.

But her heart felt something entirely different.

Catherine's death brought to Vincent a pain so great, he vowed to treasure his love for her forever, never allowing another in.

But that was before Diana.

This is their story.

Stay tuned for launch party and Winterfest details!!!

Safe Haven Is Almost Here!!!

Thought for Today

Suggested Reading
Safe Haven, the newest Nicholas Sparks movie adaptation opens next month, and after reading the book a few weeks ago, I'm excited to see it!

About the Book
When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo's empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

Happy New Year!!!

Thought for Today

"Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go". - Brooks Atkinson

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day". - Edith Lovejoy Pierce

 

Suggested Reading

Book: A Winter Dream

 Author: Richard Paul Evans

 

This is a beautiful story that I read in a day.

About the bookJoseph Jacobson is the twelfth of thirteen siblings, all of whom are employed by their father’s successful Colorado advertising company. But underneath the success runs a poisonous undercurrent of jealousy; Joseph is his father’s favorite and the focus of his brothers’ envy and hatred. When the father seems ready to anoint Joseph as his heir, the brothers make their move, forcing Joseph from the company and his Denver home, severing his ties to his parents and ending his relationship with his soon-to-be fianceé. Alone and lonely, Joseph must start a new life.
Joseph joins a Chicago advertising agency where his creativity helps him advance high up in the company. He also finds hope for a lasting love with April, a kind woman with a secret. However, all secrets hold consequences, and when Joseph learns the truth about April’s past, his world is again turned upside down. Finally, Joseph must confront his own difficult past in order to make his dreams for the future come true.
A Winter Dream is an ingenious modern retelling of the Old Testament story of Joseph and the coat of many colors by the master of the holiday novel.
 

A Most Excellent Read

Thought for Today
Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men.
Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, pray for powers equal to your tasks.
Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle . . . but you should be the miracle.
Phillip Brooks

Suggested Reading

Book: Running Barefoot

Author: Amy Harmon

This is a brilliant and beautifully-written novel that I am sure I will be reading again, as well as Amy Harmon's other works.

About the book
When Josie Jensen, an awkward 13-year-old musical prodigy crashes headlong into new-comer Samuel Yazzie, an 18-year-old Navajo boy full of anger and confusion, an unlikely friendship blooms. Josie teaches Samuel about words, music and friendship, and along the way finds a kindred spirit. Upon graduation, Samuel abandons the sleepy, small town in search of a future and a life, leaving his young mentor behind. Many years go by and Samuel returns, finding his old friend in need of the very things she offered him years before. Their roles reversed, Samuel teaches Josie about life, love, and letting go. Deeply romantic and poignant, Running Barefoot is the story of a small town girl and a Native American boy, the ties that bind them to their homes and families, and the love that gives them wings.

About the Author
Amy Harmon knew at an early age that writing was something she wanted to do, and she divided her time between writing songs and stories as she grew. Having grown up in the middle of wheat fields without a television, with only her books and her siblings to entertain her, she developed a strong sense of what made a good story. Amy Harmon has been a motivational speaker, a grade school teacher, a junior high teacher, a home school mom, and a member of the Grammy Award winning Saints Unified Voices Choir, directed by Gladys Knight. She released a Christian Blues CD in 2007 called "What I Know" - also available on Amazon and wherever digital music is sold. She has written three novels, "Running Barefoot," "Slow Dance in Purgatory," and the brand new sequel, "Prom Night in Purgatory." For updates on upcoming book releases, author posts and more, visit Amy's fan page at www.authoramyharmon.com. 

Something Special Brewing!!!

This past while I have been crazy busy working on multiple projects, including a non-fictional novel based on the tragic and miraculous life of a dear friend, which is pretty much taking precedence over the others. But for fans of Against the Odds and the sequel novelette Still His Woman, the final chapter of the Against the Odds saga is coming in January. Forever will wrap up the story of the McKade family. I know, I know, it is both a happy and sad occasion. I'm sad to say goodbye to the McKades, but I am excited to be able to share  this final book with my fans. Next week I will be posting an excerpt, but until then, here is the cover! This is definitely one of my favorites:-)