Carly Phillips's Blog: Carly's Web Blogs, page 67

Polar WHAT?!

Don’t you wonder when you watch the news and they give you a new term, like “Polar Vortex” and you scratch your head and think, I’m XX years old.  How have I never heard of that? I grew up in NY about 40 minutes from where I live now.  I vividly remember the shopping centers with the mounds of snow pushed up against the tall lamps in the parking lots for weeks at a time.  These days, that rarely happens.  We have snow for a day, next day is sunny … eventually it melts or it builds up again but never like when I was a kid.  They said Global Warming I think.  So this year, we’re getting slammed with snow and cold.  Every part of the country is behaving weirdly weather-wise. 

And suddenly they’re using this term, “Polar Vortex.”  Seriously.  Why have I never heard of it before? Don’t ask me why I find it weird but I do.

Brady’s Turn

Okay I let Bailey have her say last week.  Did you really think Brady wouldn’t demand to speak too?

Hi! I’m the good boy! I’m the one who snuggles in mom’s lap, next to mom, touching mom.  I’m the one she likes best. Okay probably not.  She loves us both the same and gives us equal time.  But I have how to get my time down to a science.  I’ll chew on a bone and give off the don’t come near me vibe to Bailey.  Then she goes to get some mommy time.  I leave my bone and sneak in between them.  Before I can blink, she walks away and heads for the toy I had last.  Bingo.  Mom time for me.

Mom calls me a Bully.  Not sure that’s such a nice word.  So big deal if I walk over to Bailey, who is usually laying quietly by herself, not bothering anyone, and stare.  If she ignores me, I step closer.  I keep staring.  I’ll just hover over her until she concedes either she plays with me or I’m going to start pulling on her ear so she’ll wrestle with me on the bed.

But I make up for being a “bully” by bathing her.  Mom thinks its gross.  I’ll lick inside her ear for awhile.  I think the weird girl likes it.  I have other gross habits but mom absolutely forbid me from mentioning them here.  I will say she keeps breath spray upstairs and leave it at that.

Brady would also like to tell you that DARE TO DESIRE is now up for PREORDER at iBOOKS and AMAZON and he’d be really happy if you checked it out! The iBooks link is NEW!

Carly’s back – I’ve had 4 dogs in my lifetime.  A male Maltese who got jealous of my daughter after she was born and ended up biting, gave him to a woman who accepted him as is and loved him till the end; a male wheaten – Buddy – the light of my life and the sweetest boy ever born who we lost at 12 and a half … a male Havanese (Brady) who is also sweet but I see the little dog tendencies in him – the growling at Bailey at the steps and near the bed … and Bailey my wheaten girl who is my neurotic. 

I was wondering if you animal lovers/owners find a difference in male/female dogs … or if it’s just an individual pup’s personality?

Happiest Place on Earth?

YES! Even in the rain and freezing cold (for Orlando, Florida, anyway!).  As some of you know from FB, we went to Disney last weekend for my daughter’s National Cheerleading competition.  The girls didn’t final but they ROCKED and they were so amazing.  I’m really a proud mama!  I also took a ton of pics and really did have a blast in the parks.  I guess it’s true, you’re never too old for Mickey Mouse!  Or Pooh and Friends. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I promised to give Carly’s List of Things to Remember while in Disney:

1. Check the bottom of your shoes for toilet paper when you leave a restroom.

2. The hubby says bring a flask to the Magic Kingdom which is alcohol free and insanity inducing after 3 hours in the rain. (KIDDING!)

3. WEAR SNEAKERS. For once I did this right. No sandals for me and no sore feet when it was over.

4. Be Silly.  Where else do you get the chance to wear Mouse ears and nobody looks at you funny?

5. Smile.  You’re at the Happiest Place on Earth.  They call it that for a reason! I mean we were greeted by Mickey Mouse on our beds!

I admit I’m a convert! Again. Haven’t been there since my almost adult kids were very young! I hope you get the chance to visit Disney.  I can’t believe how expensive it is, but well worth saving for.  The Geek in me loved the technology.  I can’t help thinking Steve Jobs would have loved it there too. LOL!

So have you had the chance to experience Disney World or Land? Love it? Like it? Tolerate it and once was enough? I hope not! I think it’s a little like labor pains.  By the time it’s over you’re exhausted and never want to do it again.  Then you conveniently forget and when you experience it all over again, it’s well worth it!

 

Insights Into My Work

Today I thought I’d give you insight into a few stories, some old, some new:

MIDNIGHT ANGEL

 

Fun Fact: This story is my ode to the romantic comedy/movie Win a Date with Tad Hamilton with the luscious Josh Duhamel. In a nutshell, Midnight Angel is about a Hollywood hunk who returns for the one who got away.  Can his unexpected return reignite their love  … or does happily ever after only happen in the movies?

 

Kindle   Nook    iBooks    Kobo    Amazon Print     BN print

THE RIGHT CHOICE

Fun Fact: The heroine in this story’s name is Carly.  I wrote this book before I ever sold my first book to Harlequin and took the pen name, Carly Phillips. When I sold this story originally, the publisher thought it was awkard to have the name Carly for the heroine even though I was publishing it under my “real” name, Karen Drogin.  (see original cover!)  When I got the rights back and republished, I gave the heroine back her real name, Carly Wexler.  This is an unexpected love triangle between brothers!  Advice columnist Carly Wexler is convinced she can map out her path to happiness and that includes marrying her best friend.  No sexual sparks? No problem, or so she thinks.  Until Mike Novak, her fiance’s brother arrives for the wedding.  Carly has never experienced desire like Mike ignites inside her and it shakes everything she’s ever believed in.  Add Mike’s determination to stop this wedding of mismatched opposites and Carly is forced to reevaluate her best-laid plans.  Can she accept that her unexpected love for Mike is the right choice for her after all?

Kindle     Nook    iBooks     Kobo     Amazon Print     BN Print

I’ll save a few for another time, but I should also mention that my current book, DARE TO LOVE, has BUY LINKS on the right side of the page … and if you like stories HOT, Ian Dare is for you.  Fun Fact: Ian and Dare to Love come from my reading habits of erotic romance! 

How sizzling is Alex in DARE TO DESIRE, the next in the series?  Scorching!  Just ask the heroine, Madison.  And DARE TO DESIRE is up for PREORDER at Amazon, also on the right side of this page, and iBooks PREORDER coming soon.  On April 10, 2014, you can buy Dare to Desire in ALL formats, eBook and print everywhere!

What’s your favorite OLDER book of mine? Curious minds want to know!

GIVEAWAY MISUNDERSTANDING

My apologies. This morning, I had preset the blog, but hadn’t yet chosen a winner.  Everyone who signed up for the blog emails received an email announcing the winner with XX in place of the name.  For some reason, many of you interpreted this as you being the winner.  I’m sorry! There is only ONE winner who was announced earlier today (after that original blank post).

Once again -

The lucky winner of the eBook copy of DARE TO LOVE and the Carly Phillips Tote Bag is: #201 Cyndi Flores

CONGRATULATIONS! Please contact me via my website to claim your prize! Click HERE!

I’ll need to know:

1. format for eBook (kindle/nook etc.)

2. email address where to send eBook (yours or friend’s)

3. snail mail address to send tote!

Thank you and HAPPY SUNDAY!

Winner of e-Dare to Love & CP Tote!

Sorry, all! I preset the post but was traveling from Disney and couldn’t add the winner until this AM!

The lucky winner of the eBook copy of DARE TO LOVE and the Carly Phillips Tote Bag is: #201 Cyndi Flores

CONGRATULATIONS! Please contact me via my website to claim your prize! Click HERE!

I’ll need to know:

1. format for eBook (kindle/nook etc.)

2. email address where to send eBook (yours or friend’s)

3. snail mail address to send tote!

Thank you and HAPPY SUNDAY!

Book Share Saturday

This past week I read a novella I just LOVED.  It’s BDSM themed but not hard core at all.  And at the heart is a love story and a man who is so hurt but just needs to learn to accept love.  It’s awesome.  Unconditional: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella by Lexi Blake.  I just LOVE this series but this novella is one of my favorites!

Another novella I adored - Kelly Jamieson’s You Really Got Me – Kelly is an auto buy for me but she really outdid herself on this one!

What are YOU reading?!

Dare to Love Giveaway

1. WE’VE GOT ICONS!!!!!!! DID YOU ALL SEE?

2. Ian from DARE TO LOVE says go on an enter … Why? Because he’s worth it!

Head HERE!

ONE lucky winner gets an e-copy of DARE TO LOVE and a Carly Phillips Tote Bag! If you’ve read DARE TO LOVE you can ask me to email it to a friend instead and keep the tote bag for yourself!

Carly on Carly

Did you know I have a place on my website that lists my favorite things? I should update it but I haven’t in awhile.  Still, it’s a good page to get to know about me.  Days like this are another.  I’m more of a girly girl than anything else.  I’m not a tomboy.  I hate outdoor sports if it means I have to play it.  I’m not competitive that way.  I don’t like weather extremes, so I don’t want to be too hot or too cold.  No skiing or warm weather activities for me.  A nice cool house with air conditioning works just fine. Especially in humidity.  Neither me or my hair likes humidity.

I love makeup … buying it that is.  I don’t wear tons of it every day but there are things I don’t like to leave the house without – foundation/concealer and lip gloss.  I can live without eyeliner and mascara unless I’m going out out and then I’ll put myself together.  I used to get Keratin on my big old curly hair but now I use a diffuser and embrace the curls.  I’m sure I could tell you more (about hair color, and other things )but I have to leave mystery for future blogs!)

So how about you? Today let’s just touch on the things I mentioned? Girly or tomboy? Outdoors or indoors? Makeup or as is? What makes you you?

 

 

Bailey Snitches on Carly

Last week, she called me neurotic.  I take issue with that.  So what if I pace and pant and panic if you accidentally leave me wandering the house when you go out? I like my crate and my closed spaces.  You like being home and not out in big crowds or with lots of people, so I don’t see the problem.  We’re alike.  Isn’t that why you love me so much? Because you’re as neurotic and crazy as I am?

Did you know that Carly likes routine?  Yep.  She really doesn’t like to vary.  Her perfect day? Wake up, check email, relax a little in bed, never mind that I’m waiting for her in my crate.  Yes, I love to sleep in my crate.  I get nervous if you mess with MY routine.  I like to see Brady across from me but if the little pain annoys me I just turn myself ass first and don’t look at him.  Carly finds this highly amusing.  Don’t ask me why.  Anyway, she likes to be showered and in her recliner working by 9 AM.  And where am I while she works? Well I already told you I like tight spaces.  I feel safe.  Her chair is catty-cornered in her office, so I just go behind it in the corner, curl up and go to sleep.  Brady, the suck up, hops up on the chair and lays next to her while she works.  He’s smaller so he can do that.  But he’s also a fat boy.  Yeah I find that funny.  Buddy, who I loved, used to just sleep in the middle of the office and let me have the back corner.  Sometimes fat boy tries to come back and play with me but it’s my space and eventually he leaves me alone.  If Carly doesn’t have plans for the day, she’ll break for lunch – every day peanut butter on weight watchers bread – and then come back to work till about one.  Then DAYS OF OUR LIVES comes on.  If she’s really worked and hasn’t played on social media all morning, she’ll move to the bedroom to watch it and then GENERAL HOSPITAL, and I can lay on the bed beside her.

Can’t tell you her afternoons.  There are more blogs to write after all.  Oh and did you know I don’t really call her Carly? She’s my mom and I’m her Baby Girl.