Lauri Robinson's Blog, page 15

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cake

Isn’t it adorable? Our daughter-in-law made it for our granddaughter’s birthday party yesterday.  If you like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, you’d love this cake! It tasted just like one, except a bit sweeter maybe. There was also a large chocolate cake, complete with candles, so party goers had their choice. (I had one of each—small ones—I had to try this one!)
Our granddaughter loved the baby dolls we bought her, and the stroller. She plunked one of the babies in it and made Papa take several walks up and down the block, her pushing the stroller, him following. 
Next weekend is our neighbor’s birthday. It’s a huge pot luck party that includes several rounds of skeet shooting and we all look forward to it all summer.  Oh, and speaking of neighbors, my other neighbor brought over some of her amazing dill pickles. They are so delicious! 
On the writing side—Here’s the cover art for Unclaimed Bride. Lovely.
Monday brought me some fabulous news. Harlequin offered me two contracts of three books each. One is for three Undones to be released in 2013 and one for three full length Harlequin Historicals. The first of those will be released in July, which means I need to have it turned in to my editor by mid-September.  A challenge for sure, but my wonderful editor brainstormed with me until we came up with a wonderful synopsis and then I hit the keyboard. I already love this story. It’s set in 1884. He’s a Pinkerton agent looking for train robbers. She owns a mercantile in the Dakota Territory, and is unwed and pregnant—which no one knows about. Yet.
If you have a chance, stop over at www.cowboykisses.blogspot.com this week, I’m interviewing two more authors from the Honky Tonk Hearts series. 
Smile, and spend some time simply enjoying the wonderful summer we’ve been blessed with this year.   

County Fair

Last weekend we spent time at the county fair both Saturday and Sunday. It’s one of those events that evokes childhood memories, and of course creates many more. We had the granddaughter’s over every evening this week, which was also memorable. 
I had my writer’s group meeting yesterday and once again feel regenerated. We had a lovely discussion on POV as well as several other topics. Upon my return home I received this four cup review from Coffee Time Reviewsfor Sing to Me, Cowboy.  
Currently, I’m doing the final read through of my internet dating story and will be sending it off to my editor this week. I was also informed my gold mine story set in Colorado will be titled Inheriting a Bride and will be released in March of 2013! 
Next out will be the re-release of Sheriff McBride the end of August. 
This coming weekend we will be celebrating our granddaughter’s second birthday. Papa and I went shopping yesterday. One of the things we bought her is a little doll that blows kisses and laughs. It’s motion activated and is adorable. It was in the backseat and the sun shining through the window was enough to set her off and she laughed all the way home, which in turn had Papa and me giggling.
Enjoy your last few days of July, and embrace August as you flip the page of the calendar.

Breaking Records

Heat records that is, here in Minnesota. It’s been hot, that’s for sure. I hosted my niece’s bridal shower on Sunday. Here’s the bride to be and her matron of honor. They’ve been best friends since they could walk. There were too many guests to fit in my living room, and way too hot to be outside, so we held it in hubby’s air conditioned garage. We had a wonderful time and I’m always amazed at how creative some people are when it comes to gift giving. (I’m a cash person. All I have to do is drive through the bank and buy a card. Lazy some may call it, but that’s okay.) One gift she received was a ‘meal’ in a box. A new baking dish and serving utensils, a box of pasta and jar of sauce, and new pot-holders to take the new dish out of the oven, all wrapped up together in a beautifully decorated box.
This weekend we are having company, an old high school buddy of my husband’s, so that too promises to be lots of fun. 
I learned today that my gold mining story has been officially titled Inheriting a Bride and will be released by Harlequin in March 2013.  Sing to Me, Cowboy is still making the blog rounds. An interview with Heather, the heroine, is up at Kat Doran’s Blog and I received this wonderful review on the story from Miss Condit and Friend’s Reads Books. 
The revisions are going well on my internet dating book and I’ve started another Undone. They are just so fun to write. 
Stay cool, but enjoy the summer, Christmas is only five months away.

Weekend at the Lake

We had a wonderful weekend at my brother’s cabin. He and his wife, his kids, and grandkids, me and hubby, our kids and grandkids.  Oh, and our granddog, Bear. Here he is with one of my great nephews. Bear kept the kids well entertained, or the kids kept Bear well entertained, either way, we all had a great time. The weather even cooperated. Hot during the day for lots of water fun and cool at night for fireworks, a campfire and great sleeping.  It was hard to come home. 
This weekend I’m hosting a wedding shower for my niece who is getting married in August, so it’ll be another fun weekend. 
Sing to Me, Cowboy is still making the blog tours for the Honky Tonk Hearts series. Today I was at Katherine Grey’s blog with Brenda Whiteside and Sherri Thomas. Yesterday I hosted Brenda and Stacy Dawn over at CowboyKisses, and next week I’ll be over at Kat HenryDoran’s blog.
Oh, and I received the blurb for What a Cowboy Wants. (It will be released September 1st.)
Central Iowa, 1883
It’s been five years since Brett Richards rode out of Cutter’s Corner, Iowa, and out of Ester Larson’s life. Now he’s back to collect his orphaned siblings, and the very sight of him rekindles desire Ester thought was gone forever. The intensity of his kiss prove Brett hasn’t forgotten her either, and offer her a second chance to follow her heart. But he’s made it clear he’s going back to the dangerous frontier--with or without her…. 
I’m plugging away on my internet dating story. It’s a fun one.
Be good. Be kind. Especially to yourself. 

Happy 4th!

I hope you all have a glorious day celebrating our freedom. We’ll enjoy family, friends, and a few fireworks later on today. A friend from years ago (elementary school) whom I haven’t seen in decades is traveling through Minnesota today and plans on stopping in to say hello. I’m very excited to see her—gotta love how facebook allows us to connect with those from the past. 
I received these two wonderful covers last week. I’m always amazed by the talented people who create such wonderful depictions of the story between the pages. A gift for sure.

Both books are due to be released in September. 
I’ve sent off the query for my next Undone, and will now start on the edits for One Chance, an internet dating story with parts that make me want to laugh aloud. 
I have kabobs to put together and chill for grilling later, and a few other tasty treats to mix up, and best get to it. 
Enjoy the day. Enjoy your freedom. Enjoy your life.

Bits and Pieces

June is almost over. Goodness. 
In May I’d uploaded this picture of one of our granddaughters and a fish she’d caught in the ‘Share Your Catch’ contest with our local news station, and I must admit, had somewhat forgotten about it. Last weekend friends of our son’s told him they’d seen her on TV with her fish! She is now in the running for the grand prize!
Last weekend DH installed new lights in both bathrooms and a new microwave. (He asked me ride with him to Home Depot on Saturday morning. I doubt he’ll do that again for awhile.)
Monday marked one year since my mother passed away and in the mail that day a letter arrived from one of my aunt's with a letter that my mother had written to her in 1953. I can't begin to explain how special that was. 
We have a grad party this weekend and a gathering at my brother’s cabin next weekend. It’ll be wonderful to see everyone.
I finished the re-write/edits of The Major’s Wife, and have almost completed the rough draft of His Runaway Bride. 
Thanks to so many who continue to email and post reviews for Sing to Me, Cowboy. I’m so glad you are enjoying that story. 
Next release will be What a Cowboy Wants on September 1st! 
I hope you all are having a wonderful summer and making many memories!

Father's Day

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and had the opportunity to celebrate and honor all the wonderful fathers we have and know.
I don’t know who originally said “Anyone can be father, but it takes someone special to be a daddy,” but that saying is so true. I see it over and over again every time I look at my sons and see the way their eyes sparkle when they look upon their daughters. Priceless.
My father’s birthday usually always falls on Father’s Day weekend. This year it was Saturday, and though he’s been gone for five years now, I missed him as much as I did back then. He was my first hero.
Life has been busy here, and will continue to be. Grad parties and weddings are the themes this year. Good things for sure.
I focused hard to complete the rewrite of The Major's Wife this weekend—had set a goal to have it done by Father's Day. I did. But while doing the final read through I discovered I really don’t like the ending now, so, in other words, I’m not done. I will be by next weekend though.
I’ve had some amazing emails this week from fans loving both Sing to Me, Cowboy and The Sheriff’s Last Gamble. Thank you. I appreciate hearing from you, and I love the fact people are enjoying these stories as much as I enjoyed writing them.
My to do list is long, so I’m out of here. Enjoy the day. Make it special. And if you didn’t get a chance to talk to your dad yesterday, do it today.

Sing to Me, Cowboy ReviewStorm Goddess Book Reviews and M...

Sing to Me, Cowboy Review
Storm Goddess Book Reviews and More posted a wonderful review for Sing to Me, Cowboy today. 
Reviewer Tabitha said, “If you like stories about sexy cowboys with a good sense of humor you will love this story. The whitty banter between Lance and Heather was so engaging. I was laughing aloud at times. Honestly there is nothing I didn’t like about this story.”   
The full review can be read here: http://stormgoddessbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/06/review-sing-to-me-cowboy.html?zx=29d79f507dac5caband I sincerely thank the reviewer for taking the time to read the book and post the review. There are so many wonderful books out there, I’m always thankful when I see someone has taken the time to read one of mine. 
The graduation and wedding last weekend were wonderful, and Papa and I were lucky enough to have overnight guests. (We both needed a nap Sunday afternoon.) 
This weekend we are watching granddog Simba. He’s a full size collie and I can only imagine how warm all that hair is. 
I’m off to play a game of ‘horse’ basketball with Papa and then spend some time in Oklahoma Territory, 1878,with a certain major and his wife. ;)  Have a wonderful weekend!

So Tiny

I found this tiny guy (or gal, I have no idea) in the woods last weekend. DH and I went up north to decorate the family graves. I’d bought solar lights in 2007 when my Dad died and they are still shining brightly every night. His headstone was the first one to have them, now the cemetery has several sets and makes the peaceful place look even more beautiful at night. 
The property we stay on was original settled by my grandparents, so I’ve been visiting it my entire life, and to my surprise this year I discovered dozens of Yellow Lady Slipper plants. They are so gorgeous, and I can’t believe I’d never noticed them before, other than they only bloom for a short period of time, so I may just never have walked along the right trail at the right time of the year before. 
Our summer is kicking off this weekend with one step-grandson graduating high school on Friday evening and another getting married on Saturday.  
I got back the galley for What the Cowboy Wants, so spent the time driving home from up north reading through that. It’s my next Undone and will be released in September, I believe.  September is also when His Christmas Wish will be released. It’s one story in Harlequin’s Western Christmas Anthology All a Cowboy Wants for Christmas. And in October, Unclaimed Bride will be released. I’ll share covers as soon as I get them.
Right now, I need to get supper on the table and continue with the edits on The Major’s Wife. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, as I know we shall. 
Smile, it looks beautiful on you!

Release Day

Sing to Me, Cowboy is being released today by The Wild Rose Press!
 

Heather Gibson's past catches up with her one dark Texas night.  
Locked in a custody battle with an ex-husband who's looking for any excuse to take her children, Heather doesn't need any more trouble. But when a broken-down car and a dead cell phone leave her stranded at the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk, she comes face-to-face with the one man who could jeopardize everything—including her heart.  
Country-singing sensation Lance Dugan is back in Amarillo for his grandfather's birthday and to take care of a bit of unfinished business—apologize to Heather for leaving ten years ago. Lance has fought hard and won big the last few years, but seeing Heather again makes him wonder if he's been fighting for the right things.
Finding each other again may seem like fate, but one horrible secret, buried deep, could divide them forever.
Happy Reading!