Natural Born Charmer

Once upon a time, I read several books a week. Now, I'm lucky to read one book in a few months. One of my favorite authors is Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and except for her two or three earliest books, I've read them all, at least once.

SEP books are an incentive for me to get things done. No matter what it is, her newest book always becomes a reward for finishing something, making the reading of them even more special.

I was introduced to SEP by my best friend of over forty years, who has always been a voracious reader, and although our reading tastes don't always match (she doesn't read category), they often do, and we share our favorites. I still remember the phone call when she read the opening of Kiss An Angel to me, describing the hero as the Marlboro Man. It was a great book and a very different story, and I've always felt it's one of the darker of SEP's. The next introduction my friend gave me was the opening of my all-time favorite SEP book, It Had to Be You. I adore Phoebe Sommerville and have read my many copies of it countless times. Phoebe is perfectly imperfect.


After reading Ain't She Sweet? for the third time, it comes in as my second favorite. After that, I'm at a loss as to what's next. Or was, until I read Natural Born Charmer. It really is a charmer. SEP is a master at great openings, and NBC has a terrific one. I really liked the flawed hero and heroine. Stubborn, secretive, but both full of sass and humor. The verbal sparring between the two of them is fabulous. It's a story that's both fun and thought provoking. A definite will-read-again for me.

What's up next? I haven't decided. I may take a trip to buy some new books this weekend. Not that I don't have any, but I like to have a nice, tall stack of TBRs to keep things interesting.

Harlequin American Romance - July

The July Harlequin American Romance books are available now!

Don't forget to visit the HAR Author Blog and get to know the authors.

Movie Mania--Debut!

For the past 10 days I've been dealing with an asthma attack. I don't normally have a problem with asthma. In fact, there's only been one other time I've been "attacked" by it, and that was 9 years ago! But something triggered it again, and even knowing that it could be controlled only by going to the doctor, I put it off again. Luckily this time it wasn't so bad that I couldn't even drive. I saw the doctor this morning, and by noon was on meds and feeling much, much better.

The reason for the above is because it explains a new topic, aka a label. (Look at the bottom of each post, and you'll see a label describing what topic the post falls under.) Because I found I couldn't do much of anything while trying to breathe under this new attack, I dove into my movie collection and watched a few.

I love movies. Old movies, new movies, action/adventure movies, romantic comedy movies, musical movies... Yes, the list is endless. I've been watching movies since I could sit down in front of a screen (TV in most cases) and not fall asleep. And because I love movies so much, it's impossible to pick one favorite. I have groups of favorites.

I started collecting movies during the advent of the VCR. I never counted how many movies we bought during that time, but there were bunches. And bunches. I've now moved on to DVD, although I can't say I was among the first to do so. I tend to drag my feet when it comes to new technology. That could be why I never had a Beta VCR or movies on laser disks, so maybe "caution" is a good thing after all.

Last count, we (my youngest daughter and I) have 266 movies on DVD, and that isn't a completely accurate count. The 7 seasons of Buffy that belong to my daughter are not among those 266 (and not really "movies"), and there may be one or two others that are missing, not to mention that most of the kidlets movies are not listed either. We now keep a database of movies, and I've lost count of how many times I've had to call home to ask if we have this movie or that movie so I don't buy something I already have.

My birthday present to myself this year was to splurge on movies. I bought 16 within a little over a week. I did find some great bargains, though. And because I have so many and lots of people love movies as much as I do, I decided to share some of my thoughts on the movies I now own. No, not all 266, but the best (and maybe worst, in my opinion) of the lot. It's also an excellent way to make myself WATCH some of the movies I haven't even opened yet!

Here's the list of those newest ones, but I'll decide later which 2 or 3 to post about next week.
TWISTER (Because Gavin, the oldest of my two grandsons, begged to see it.)
THE MIRACLE WORKER (The original with Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke, of course.)
FANTASTIC FOUR
FANTASTIC FOUR - Rise of the Silver Bullet (Both of these because I liked them and thought Gavin would, too.)
INHERIT THE WIND (One can't go wrong with this excellent classic, and I've seen it on stage)
INDEPENDENCE DAY (I have it on tape, but it was a must-have on DVD)
JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG (A classic must-have that I've only seen once on the late, late show.)
DAREDEVIL (Well, gee, I have ELEKTRA, and who can resist Ben Affleck! yum, yum)
PARENTHOOD (I cry at the end of this because it's a happy ending and Steve Martin does such a great job as the dad...and more reasons later.)
12 ANGRY MEN (I read the play before I saw the movie. Another great classic.)
ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN (Hey, I missed it on TV too many times, so had to have it.)
BLAZING SADDLES (The first Mel Brooks movie I remember seeing.)
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (More Mel and company and requested by my daughter. We have 3 others.)
AND THE BAND PLAYED ON (Already owned on tape, but this couldn't be passed up.)
JFK (Another owned on tape and one of the few Kevin Costner movies I like. please don't boo me. :) )
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST

Eclectic mix, isn't it? Next week, movie mania (and this movie maniac) will begin in earnest.

And hugs to everyone out there who has to deal with asthma day to day. My heart goes out to you.

Harlequin American Romance - June

Take family, community, love and how to get it, add few quirky, fun-loving characters, and what do you have? Harlequin American Romance!

Do you read HARs? I do! And I love the stories about relationships, not only between the hero and heroine, but within a community of caring people. Kids, babies, moms, dads, aunts, uncles and more, HAR stories deliver the best!

Did you know the Harlequin American Romance authors have a blog? Lots of things going on there, so check it out and keep up with your favorite HAR authors and discover some new ones. You might even win a book or two!

Be sure to check out this month's fabulous line-up of books from Tina Leonard, Lisa Ruff, Victoria Chancellor, and Kara Lennox. You're gonna love 'em!

Time Flies

Yesterday, a very good friend reminded me that there hadn't been anything new on my blog since December. I had no real excuse, except that life gets in the way, and I often forget to do things that should be done, instead of focusing on the things that must be done. Blogging is a "should". Paying bills, fixing meals, taking care of grandkids, and writing, writing, writing, are all "musts" that can't be ignored.

So here I am, almost six months later, giving yet another excuse for not posting that's neither good nor acceptable, but it's all I've got.

So what's happened in that almost six months? The usual. :) Christmas came and went. My daughters have had probably more happen in their lives, but even those things affect me in one way or another. Lyndsay and her family returned to their home after fire destroyed part of it in October. Sabrina's husband left for and returned from a 4-month deployment in the Middle East (Qatar) with the Air Force. Chelsea's work schedule changed from "normal" to second shift, and she actually likes it! And Mallory has discovered that being 18 isn't all that different than 17.

I had the pleasure of receiving a 2-book contract with Harlequin American Romance in March, and found myself writing, not only at night, but during the day, while transporting both granddaughters to and from school. At least that last part is on hold, now that it's summer.

Spring also brought us all closer together when my mother passed away in April. If not for my daughters and their families, it would have been a much more trying time. But I'm comforted in knowing my mom, a wholly independent person for most of her life, always involved in many organizations, is much happier now than being confined to nursing home life because of her health. She's at peace, and so am I.

My plans for the summer? We're already 3 weeks into it, and I don't have any, except to finish the second book, TAMING KATE (w.t.) and hope my editor likes the first, TANNER'S PRIZE (w.t.), and simply to enjoy each day with my 4 grandkids to the fullest. By the way, there are new pictures of all of them (and my step-granddaughter) on my photos page. They've grown!

For those of you who have had weather that's kept you on your toes, keep your eye to the sky and stay safe. We've had our share of bad weather, flooding, and tornadoes here in Kansas over the past few weeks, and I know others have had the same. Hugs to my friend, writer Patricia Davids, on the devastation of her hometown during a tornado two nights ago.

Enjoy your summer, everyone!

As Arnold Schwarzenegger said, I'll be back!

Merry Christmas!

A Visit from St. Nicholas
By Clement Clarke Moore

’T WAS the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that ST. NICHOLAS soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”

'Tis the Season

In spite of the weather many of us are experiencing, I hope this holiday season is proving to be a joyous one for all.

My many friends in Oklahoma experienced an ice storm this week. I know what that's like. In January of '05, we experienced the same thing here. We spent a full week without power and with streets and highways that were beyond challenging. My daughter and her family insisted we come stay with her. Seven days of ten of us sharing their two-bedroom apartment was...interesting. But she had power and HEAT, and we didn't. I'm not sure who was more relieved when our power returned, my daughter and her family or us. But power does get restored and ice does melt. Life does return to whatever normal is, so hang in there, friends!

My upcoming January Harlequin American includes a snowstorm that brings the hero (Nick) and heroine (Becca) closer together. It was also a turning point for the heroine and brought a major change to the way she looked at their relationship.

I loved writing about Nick's family and Becca's three children in Family by Design, and I'm so very pleased that Whitney Kate Sullivan at Romantic Times enjoyed them and the book. Her review is here, so if you're curious, take look.

And I've added an excerpt of the book, so if the season is getting frantic and you need to stop and take a deep breath for a few minutes peace, relax with a glimpse of the story. I hope you enjoy it AND this holiday season!