Carly Phillips's Blog: Carly's Web Blogs, page 93

December 15, 2011

It's Personal!

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There are more kinds than I care to think about. Hard, medium, soft. Thick or thin. King or Queen or Standard size. What am I talking about? Get your mind out of the gutter! :biggrin: I'm talking pillows, people!


I don't think we've ever had this conversation before. It's personal. It's private. Some of us are so loyal we travel with ours. There are side sleepers, front sleepers, back sleepers. People who sleep up high. People who sleep flat. For me, because of a variety of issues (yeah, I know, nobody's surprised) I need to be raised up (reflux) high but not too high. I can't sleep flat or I end up with a migraine which is worse if I wake up flat on my back. In a perfect world, I sleep on my side, usually right, curled around the top pillow. The bottom two are King size pillows. I usually don't use the bottom one unless I'm sitting up in bed reading. When I go to sleep, I take the middle pillow as the bottom, and then a flat wafer like pillow to curl under me. But I've been going to the chiropractor for head and neck problems and in my gut I knew my soft, wafer pillow wasn't helping.


Two days ago he got a new pillow in. It's called the Chiroflow Water Pillow. You adjust whether it's soft, medium or hard by how much water you put inside. Yes, water. The instructions are very specific. It's not like sleeping on a water balloon, either. In a word, it's PERFECT. I'M IN LOVE. :heart:


So what's your sleep M.O.? Back, side, front? Pillow choice? How many? What kind? Hard, soft? Nosey people want to know!

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Published on December 15, 2011 02:00

December 8, 2011

We Become our Mothers

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Sad but true. Scary too. Especially since we tell ourselves, "I'll never do X to my child." Or my mom annoys the living daylights out of me when she X. I'll never be like that when I'm older. (And really this is a combo of the person who raised you and genetics, not just genetics – IMO). We're so sure, too. So how does it happen? Slowly but surely, the things you swore you'd never do become part of who you are.


What do I mean? Well let's see. In your twenties and thirties, you find yourself complimenting your parent. "Oh, mom, I realize now you were RIGHT when you told me … XXXX." You name it. You find comfort in discovering you're more like your parent than you realized, but you are still determined to carve your own way. For example, my parents were very strict about how we dressed/looked in public. I swore I'd never do that to my kids – and gave them much more leeway as they grew older. I was so proud. But then they became teens and they'd ask for things my parents didn't let me do either – and I suddenly UNDERSTOOD why my parents reacted as they had. So I say no to my children but I tell myself, "I still let them do XYZ and my parents would never have done that!"


But then a funny thing happens and it's called AGE. Traits we own in mild form become more prominent, more cemented as we get older. Is your mom so stubborn you can't stand it? Is she always right? In your … oh early 40′s you might find your family commenting about your own stubbornness once or twice. You laugh it off. They tell you certain things you do remind them of your mother – and if it's a trait in your own parent that you don't like … you cringe. In your later 40′s, they aren't as nice about it … and you come to realize they're right. YOU'VE BECOME YOUR MOTHER. You're not happy. It's not a good thing, you think. You ask your family to remind you (nicely next time) and you'll do better, you think.


But over time, something weird happens. YOU EMBRACE this new you. (OK not all of it and there are certain things my kids say I do that's just what I don't like in my own mom and it absolutely angers me beyond belief. But I figure since it's such a trigger, they must be right. SHHH!) But then there are things I didn't understand about my parents, that frustrated me. Had me feeling hurt, upset, and calling them out on it. Suddenly, I'M DOING THOSE SAME THINGS AND FINDING THEM OK.


So what do I do? I call my mom and I apologize for giving her a hard time when … because now I understand. And what does the mom who I fought with, made crazy, yelled at do? She laughs – and says I'm glad you're just like me. :)


I'm lucky my mom's around to be able to do this … but I'd like to think that for those who aren't as fortunate, yours know – and they're smiling too, thinking, "of course you are."


What's next? I'm waiting patiently (don't want to rush time) for my kids to wake up and realize OMG THE HORROR! I'm becoming my mother. And that will be the best revenge. Even if it is decades away. :happy:


How/have you found yourself sounding or acting like your mother? And is it good or bad or both!?

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Published on December 08, 2011 03:04

December 1, 2011

Welcome Theresa Meyers!

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I'm off to Florida today – meeting up with Julie for the weekend :applause: and b/c my dad's in the hospital there :boohoo: but I have a great visitor for you while I'm gone. If you don't know, author Theresa Meyers is also the publicist who helped me get on Kelly Ripa's Bookclub with The Bachelor and who held my hand all the way through! Theresa is now a published author and I'm thrilled to introduce her to you here on Plotmonkeys! So please give her a warm jungle welcome!


Minimizing Holiday Stress

by Theresa Meyers


Thanks for letting me visit! The Plotmonkeys are some of my favorite people. Today I'd thought we'd tackle something we're all looking at this time of year: Minimizing Holiday Stress (Or why you can't be all things to all people).

I have a love/hate relationship with the holidays. You know what I'm talking about. You love the festive feel. You hate the hauling out all the decorations, then having to take them all down again. You love the big family meals filled with tradition and foods you remember. You hate the shopping, cooking and dishes. You have school activities, social engagements, work deadlines and family matters to cope with. So why do we put ourselves through all of this every year?

Because we want the memories. We want the warm, fuzzy feelings that somehow make us feel more alive. What we don't want, or need, is the stress.

So what can you do? I've got five tips for you!

1. Hire Yourself An Elf

Who says you have to be the one to do EVERYTHING? Make a list of everything you think you need to do. Mark the items it's possible could be done by someone else. Hire one of the neighborhood teens to string up lights for you outside, shovel snow, wrap packages in your living room, hand address envelopes with holiday cards or hire your own teens to make that run to the grocery store with the last-minute list. They'll be thrilled with the income, since they'd like to shop for the holidays, and you'll have a few more hours to get what you need to done.

2. Set Aside Silent Nights

During the holidays it can often seem like we're simply running from one event to the next. After all, there are only a few weekends in the month and it seems like work, school, our writing groups, our friends, our social groups and family all try to set up their parties on the same days. The result is we get way overscheduled. Do yourself and your family a favor. Set aside at least three days during the month (better if it's one day a week), where you don't make social calls or take them. A silent night, where you can all just snuggle in, play games together or watch movies. A time just to be your little family and enjoy one another.

3. Change Up Tradition

Just because you've ALWAYS done it that way, doesn't mean you have to continue doing it that way. Take a realistic look at the activities you have as tradition in your family. Do you really need to be up until 3 am making bonbons by hand just because people know you do every year? Do you absolutely have to send out holiday cards? Pick whatever thing stresses you out most about the holiday traditions and see what you can do to either modify it or drop it completely. Often by changing up that one thing, you'll relieve a lot of your stress load.

4. Shift Your Focus

Nothing changes your stress level like a new perspective. Instead of a mountain of gifts for the kidlets, consider giving them only a few and then having them pick out things for a giving tree for others, or spending one night at a food bank, children's hospital or women's shelter with them helping out. You'll be making more of an impression on them as a life-lesson than you'll ever know about how the season is about giving, as well as giving them a new perspective of how much they already have. Remember showing is way more effective than telling!

5. Make Work a Party

For some reason we often think we have to do it all. We don't. For big tasks, like wrapping all the presents or making cookies or treats for the holiday festivities, why not do with friends? Everyone can bring their own wrapping and you can share, or bring one of the main ingredients, or make so many sets of cookies for a cookie exchange so you all can enjoy lots of different cookies. Set aside one day or evening when you can all get together and share the load. By working as a group you'll get way more done, have more fun and find it finishes faster. Besides, really, having a fun evening with your friends is just plain fun.


Holiday stress is often a result of feeling we have too much to do, or have contact with people who truly push our buttons. We forget that we truly can't be all things to all people. Trust me, I understand. I've got two books out right now, writing on three more before April, with kids in dance team and band, with concerts, fundraisers and more to take care of all during the holidays. It can be overwhelming but these tips help.


So pick out what truly matters. Focus on that. Simplify the rest. And for goodness sake, don't forget to give yourself a gift! Give yourself one day where you can do whatever it is you wish. Let everyone know in advance that is your day off for the month. Indulge yourself in a hot bubble bath, a pedicure or a good book. Let them eat mac n' cheese or takeout pizza. The world won't collapse without you for a day. I promise.


Bonus! Shadowlander is up right now on sale for only 99 cents for both Kindle and Nook.

Here's a little bit about SHADOWLANDER:

Four sisters, three rules to live by, one big problem.

O'Connell Family Rule #1: Don't let the Fae know you see them.

O'Connell Family Rule #2: Don't talk to the Fae.

O'Connell Family Rule #3: Never, ever follow them.

Most people only believe what they can see. Gifted with the ability to see the deep, dark fae of Shadowland, Catherine Rowan Mary O'Connell would prefer not to. When the fae abduct her friend Maya, Cate breaks the sacred O'Connell Family Rules and sets a trap for the handsome fae who haunts her every step.


Rook, High Court Advisor to the Shadow King, has been following Cate since she was sixteen. When Cate reveals herself as one of the fabled "Seers", Rook is stunned—she is one of the few that can permanently open the gates between their worlds. If he turns her over to the Shadow King, his court will rule the human realm.


Cate knows she has precious little time to find Maya. By midnight, the glamour of Mid-Summer's Eve will fade, leaving her trapped forever in the Shadowland, but Maya's abductor won't give up the woman he's mesmerized easily.

The midnight hour is almost at hand. Cate must choose: her freedom or her destiny.


BUY LINKS:

Excerpt

Amazon

Barnes and Noble


Website: www.theresameyers.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Theresa_Meyers

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheresaMeyersAuthor


Two lucky commenters will win a book…one copy of THE HUNTER and one copy of SHADOWLANDER are up for grabs!

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Published on December 01, 2011 02:00

November 26, 2011

What are you Reading?

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OK we know some of you are out shopping … and other are home cuddling and reading! I recently read Jasmine Haynes newest What Happens After Dark – and the depth of the character development and their pain – so well done but … well I'm still processing this read that's how much it stayed with me! Warning … :hothot: How about you? What are you reading?



Note – Miss Carly's More Than Words in stores? Author Heidi Betts is giving away a copy – stories by Carly, Donna Hill and Jill Shalvis! Click HERE!


Black Friday is over but we all love good prices on goodies!

Reminder


Carly's KISMET – .99 BUY links HERE!


Janelle's NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, finally available for digital purchase, BUY links HERE!


Leslie's IT HAPPENED ONE CHRISTMAS, brand new for this holiday season! BUY links HERE!


And Julie …don't forget to sign up for my newsletter and you'll be eligible to win a brand new Kindle…and in a few weeks, learn how you could win a chance at a Kindle Fire! And if you missed the books before, remember that DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS is on sale with a new, revamped cover! BUT links HERE!

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Published on November 26, 2011 02:00

November 22, 2011

Maya Banks ARC and $25 Amazon GC Winner!

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I got out of bed last night to post the winner. I sign on this morning to find it's still blank. Gremlins ate my winner. Trying again!


And finally the winner of Maya Banks' ARC of Whispers in the Dark and the $25 Gift card is:


:snoopy: # 268 Linora DSouza :snoopy:


Please contact me at: carly phillips @ mac . com and I'll arrange for your prize!


Thanks for the tremendous response, I think we set a record! Don't forget to head over to Maya's Blog to find out who won the Carly Phillips ARC of DESTINY and the $25 Gift Card! Click HERE!


JULIE HERE: Please stop by and say hello over at MURDER SHE WRITES. I'm guest blogging and talking about books that are difficult to label. And giving away a gift card!

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Published on November 22, 2011 02:00

Winner!

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And finally the winner of Maya Banks' ARC of Whispers in the Dark and the $25 Gift card is:


:snoopy: # XX XXXXX :snoopy:


Thanks for the tremendous response! Don't forget to head over to Maya's Blog to find out who won the Carly Phillips ARC of DESTINY and the $25 Gift Card! Click HERE!


JULIE HERE: Please stop by and say hello over at MURDER SHE WRITES. I'm guest blogging and talking about books that are difficult to label. And giving away a gift card!

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Published on November 22, 2011 02:00

November 20, 2011

Sunday

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So … contest winner of Maya Banks ARC and $25 Amazon Gift Card will be announced on TUESDAY!

In the meantime … REMINDERS:


KISMET – Available Now for .99 – Lissa and Trevor's story – a Serendipity novella! – More Info HERE!


DESTINY ARC up for grabs at Maya Banks' Blog along w/a $25 bookstore gift card – Post to enter HERE!


MAYA BANKS' Whispers in the Dark ARC and $25 Amazon gift card - Post to enter HERE!


HAPPY SUNDAY TO YOU ALL!

:partygroup:


***

Out of funnies – feel free to share one below!

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Published on November 20, 2011 04:00

November 19, 2011

What are you Reading?

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So???? I'm reading a new author's upcoming book … more on that another time (too soon now!) I'm also going into planning mode for the new Serendipity series – need titles so if anyone has anything brilliant in mind … please share!


What are you reading today/this week? Or are you too busy with holiday/Thanksgiving plans?


Reminder –


KISMET – Available Now for .99 – Lissa and Trevor's story – a Serendipity novella! – More Info HERE!


DESTINY ARC up for grabs at Maya Banks' Blog along w/a $25 bookstore gift card – Post to enter HERE!


MAYA BANKS' Whispers in the Dark ARC and $25 Amazon gift card - Post to enter HERE!


HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL!

:partygroup:

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Published on November 19, 2011 04:37

November 18, 2011

KISMET Available NOW!

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EBOOK ONLY

KISMET – A Serendipity Novella


SPECIAL HOLIDAY TREAT ONLY .99!

See below for BUY Links!

Long Lost Love and Second Chances


Elisabetta Gardelli thought she'd spend her days serving coffee and writing obits for the town paper until an unexpected opportunity results in her dream job as a journalist. Now, divorced and determined to make it on her own, Lissa is hired to do a series of interviews about entrepreneurs who've made their mark at an impressively young age.


First up? Wall Street mogul Trevor Dane — Lissa's first love. Lissa hasn't seen Trevor since he left the small town of Serendipity to earn his spot on the right side of the tracks. Ten years have passed but neither has really moved from their super-passionate teenage affair – or the heartbreak that followed. This reunion can be their second chance or it can provide much needed closure. It all depends on Trevor. Can he forgive Lissa or will the past continue to stand in their way?


Author's Note (or … Carly says:)

I decided to write this story in between Serendipity (out now) and Destiny (Jan. 3, 2012) and put it up in eBook format. I know that you don't all have eReaders but you CAN download programs to read on the computer. I don't do this to frustrate you but because this is the only way I could write this story and get it into your hands before Destiny comes out in January. Lissa and Trevor's story really grabbed my heart and I hope you will all love it too!


The Book Pushers Interviews Lissa from KISMET – read her interview – click HERE!


BUY LINKS FOR KISMET

Amazon KINDLE

BN.com NOOK

SMASHWORDS – coming soon!

*****

AND MAYA BANKS GIVEAWAY CONTINUES here: Jungle Madness Friday

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Published on November 18, 2011 04:02

November 17, 2011

Special Maya Banks Giveaway!

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Huge apologies for this going up late – craziness in my house! Sorry!


Fan girl moment first. MAYA BANKS IS HERE! :partygroup: :threecheers


Ahem. OK I've composed myself. Today is a special day here at the blog – Maya Banks and I both have January releases and we decided to do giveaways and EXCLUSIVE excerpts on each other's blogs!!! I've read all of Maya's KGI Series books and if you haven't yet read one, you are truly missing out. So without further interruption by me, here's the scoop! You can read on for info on Maya's book and an exclusive excerpt and at the end, enter to win a copy of an ARC of WHISPERS IN THE DARK and like Maya I'll also give away a $25 Amazon Gift Card so you can get in some early holiday shopping! Then you can head over to her blog and enter there. Info at the end of this post!


WHISPERS IN THE DARK

KGI Series, Book 4

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super elite, top secret, family-run business.



Qualifications: High intelligence, rock hard body, military background.

Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the US government can't…



She came to him when he needed her the most



She came to him at his lowest point. The voice of an angel, a whisper in the dark. She's the only thing that gets Nathan Kelly through his captivity, the endless days of torture and the fear that he'll never return to his family. With her help, he's able to escape. But he isn't truly free, because now she's disappeared and he's left with an all-consuming emptiness as he struggles to pick up the pieces of his life. Did he imagine his angel? Or is she out there, needing his help as he'd once needed hers?


Now he rushes to save her before it's too late


Shea has been on the run from people who will stop at nothing to exploit her unique abilities. She never wanted to drag Nathan, who'd already suffered so much, into danger, but she doesn't have a choice so she reaches out to him for help. Finally face-to-face after having already formed a soul-deep bond in hell, their emotional connection is even more powerful than their telepathic one. Nathan refuses to consider ever letting her go again, but she worries they can never have a life free of the dangers that dog her every step. He'll protect her with his every breath, but can he convince her that they are meant to face these threats together?


*****

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

WHISPERS IN THE DARK


*

*

*

It was pitch black when Nathan landed. The sky was overcast. No stars. No moon. There was a murkiness to the air that left him uneasy and stirred his panic.


He was impatient with the time it took to square away paperwork and make sure the jet was adequately hangared. His cell phone was buzzing his leg off. Missed calls, current calls, texts and voice mails from his family.


He ignored them all but knew he had to tell them something. He picked up his phone as he jogged toward the parking lot, where the rental was supposed to be waiting. He didn't want to get involved in a conversation because there was no way it could end well.


So he sent a text to Joe.


I'm okay. Don't worry. Keep family off my back. I need to do this. Be in touch soon.


As soon as he hit Send, he shut off the phone and tossed his pack into the jeep.


He'd tried to plan for any eventuality in the few minutes he had to gather his wits and hit the road. But his one thought was to get to Shea, however he had to do it.


He took a moment to reach into his pack, retrieve his pistol and make sure his clip was loaded. He pulled out the assault rifle, popped in the magazine and then laid it on the seat. He shoved the Glock into the shoulder harness and did a quick inventory of his supplies.


He had no idea what he was up against, but he was prepared for damn near anything.


Automatically he reached for Shea. They hadn't communicated much during the flight. She needed to rest and regain her strength, but he'd checked in periodically, always afraid that she'd simply be gone.


Shea. I'm here, baby. I'm not far. Where are you?


He felt her stir as though she'd been asleep. He felt her grogginess and then her sudden fear and self-condemnation that she'd allowed herself to drift off. He ached to hold her and to ease her fear, just as she'd once done for him.


I'm in a culvert. She struggled to clear her mind of the cobwebs. There's a drainage ditch just past the sign saying two miles from the city limits. I hid there.


Sit tight. Don't move a muscle until I get there.


Nathan roared down the highway, the headlights bouncing erratically off the landscape. He kept at the speed limit because he couldn't afford to be pulled over with a freaking arsenal in the jeep.


He was traveling in reverse of the way Shea had come in and as a result he passed over the culvert before he realized it. Swearing, he executed a sharp U-turn and spun back around. His headlights flashed over the sign Shea had referenced and he slowed to a crawl until he saw the deep drainage ditch cutting under the road.


His heart nearly stopped as he pulled onto the shoulder. His palms went slick on the steering wheel. His pulse raced so hard he was light-headed.


Just a few feet away was Shea. The woman—the angel—who'd invaded his mind. All his doubts surfaced but all he had to do was open his door and get out. He would have his proof, and until now he'd had no idea how badly he wanted her to be real.


He needed her.


Needed to touch her. Needed to hold her. Needed to keep her safe.


He grabbed his flashlight, his gun, and scrambled out of the jeep. His feet skidded along the gravel and then he headed down the sharp incline.


"Shea?"


It felt weird to be speaking to her aloud. Her name came out hoarse and unsure. His grip tightened around his pistol when he heard a slight sound from within the culvert.


He shone the light inside as he raised the gun. He was met by wide, frightened eyes. His heart damn near exploded out of his chest. She was real. It was her.


"Shea, it's me, Nathan."


She raised her arm to shield her eyes from the light, and he yanked it down so the culvert would be illuminated but she wouldn't be blinded.


She tried to push herself upward, but she fell and bumped her head on the side of the culvert. He shoved the gun back into the holster then crawled inside, ducking low, and when he reached her, he did what he'd been dying to do from the moment she first slipped into his mind.


He grabbed her into his arms and molded her tight against his chest. She let out a small sigh and melted into his embrace, her body so soft and warm against him.


"You came," she whispered. "You came."


"I'd never leave you alone."


He stroked her hair and tried to calm his racing heart. She was real. She was here in his arms. He couldn't even take it all in.


Remembering where they were and that he needed to get her to a safer place, he carefully eased backward, putting enough distance between him that he could take her hand.


"Come on, baby. Let's get you out of here."


She gripped his hand, her fingers digging into his palm. She clung to him like he was her lifeline, but in fact she was his. He eased out of the culvert, one hand holding hers, the other cupped over her head to keep her from hitting it on the way out.


Once outside, she eased upward on unsteady feet. He quickly shone the flashlight beam over her to check for injuries. He frowned when he got to her feet. Her bare, scraped-up, bruised feet.


With a muttered curse, he pocketed the flashlight and then swung her into his arms to carry her up the incline to the jeep.


She didn't make a sound the entire way. She laid her head on his chest and burrowed into his hold. She clutched his shoulder like she was afraid he'd disappear.


He put her down long enough to throw his gear in the back and then he put her into the passenger seat, securing the seat belt around her. For a moment he stood staring down at her, awed by the fact she was in front of him. Real. Tangible. Not in his head.


Her blond hair was bedraggled and laid limply against her head. Her blue eyes were dull with fatigue. She was dirty and disheveled, and he'd never seen a more beautiful woman in his life.


He reached out to softly caress her cheek, unable to resist the opportunity to touch her once more. She closed her eyes and slid her cheek over his palm as if she found as much pleasure in his touch as he did in touching her.


The sound of a distant car dragged him abruptly back to awareness. He slammed her door shut and bolted around to the driver's side. He pulled onto the highway seconds later and directed the jeep into the town of Crescent City.


Maya's Website

Maya's Facebook

Maya's Twitter


*****



Cool, huh? Okay you all know the drill! Comment for a chance to win an ARC of Maya's 4th book in the KGI Series, WHISPERS IN THE DARK and a $25 Amazon Gift Card!


Open to International readers as well! Contest runs through Tuesday November 22 – when winner will be announced!



****

And after you enter here, visit Maya's Blog for an EXCLUSIVE never before seen DESTINY excerpt and a chance to win a Destiny ARC and Maya's $25 gift card!

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Published on November 17, 2011 02:00