Lilly Gayle's Blog, page 6

From Books to Movies-The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Some people prefer reading over watching a movie. Others prefer movies. My husband's motto is, "I'll wait until it comes out on DVD." Me? I love both. I love to watch a movie after I've read the book. I like comparing the two. Most of time, the movie isn't nearly as good as the book, mainly because it's difficult to portray inner emotions and turmoil on film. But in some cases, the movie version of a good book sucks.
One of my favorite Dean Koontz's books is Watchers. In the novel, a top secret government laboratory creates two genetically altered life forms. One is a golden retriever with the IQ of a human.  The other is a vicious, hideous monster who hates humans for creating him and the dog, Einstein because his creators loved him.  The book combines a man, a woman, and a dog with action, suspense, horror and romance. What could be better than that?

In the first movie version, the man is a sixteen year old boy and Nora is his mother. There is no romance, precious little suspense or action, and cheesy horror. So, Hollywood created Watchers II , a second version loosely based on Koontz's novel. The second movie more closely resembles the first. There's a man, a woman, and a dog but the horror isn't scary, the suspense is poorly written, and the action is over-acted.  Still, better than the first movie version.

Hollywood did a pretty good job with the movie version of John Grisham's A Time to Kill.   Although in the book, I don't remember the lawyer's law student getting so much "face time." Then again, Sandra Bullock plaid the part so I guess that's why the movie version gave her a stronger role than the character in the book had. Still, the movie was well done and IMHO, more closely followed the book than just about any I've ever seen.

The movie Cujo , based on Stephen King's horror novel was good, but not nearly as good as the book. In the book, King gets into the dog's head. That seems a bit hard to do on film, and the director of the movie didn't even attempt it. But if you like horror movies, this one is a lot better than Pet Cemetery and no cute little children die and become blood thirsty zombies.   

Jeffery Deaver's The Bone Collector was an awesome book. In the movie, Denzel Washington portrays the paralyzed former detective, Lincoln Rhyme. In one scene, the killer comes into Rhyme's home. Rhyme's is lying in bed, paralyzed except for one twitching finger. Washington did such a good job portraying Rhyme's character that for a moment, I actually believed Washington was paralyzed.  IMHO, he deserved an Oscar for that role. And yet, he wins an Oscar for his role in Training Day.

Washington did a fine job portraying a dirty cop, but other actors have played similar roles just as well.  And Denzel Washington has had much stronger performances in much better movies.  In Malcolm X , Denzel Washington seemed to become his character. And his actin in A Man on Fire was phenomenal. That movie had me biting my nails and balling like a baby at the end.

Ken Follett's Eye of the Needle made a pretty good movie. In my opinion, it was one of Donald Southerland's best performances.

The movie version of Somewhere in Time , based on Richard Matheson's novel was enjoyable as well. Then again, I love Jane Seymour and thought she was nicely paired with Christopher Reeve—may he rest in peace.

And I can't compare books to movies without comparing Gone with the Wind. Both the book and the movie are classics. In the movie, however, Scarlet O'Hara has only one child and if I remember correctly, she had four or five in the book. I remember liking this movie when I watched it way back in the 70's. I tried to watch again years later when my daughters were younger. They were bored and laughed at the special effects. I cringed at the bad accents and horrible acting. In my opinion, Clark Gable and Butterfly McQueen (who played Prissy,) were the only actors in that film who didn't over act or do a horrible job faking a Southern accent.

Debbie Macomber's This Matter of Marriage made a pretty good Lifetime movie. So have several of Nora Robert's books.  I didn't like the ending of the book or the movie Message in a Bottle. I loved the movie version of The Notebook. The end was sad, but satisfying. I heard the book ends differently. I haven't read it. My favorite Nicholas Sparks' books are The Choice and The Guardian .  Both end happily. So, I bet they're never made into a movie.

The coast guard movie, The Guardian , is one of my favorite Kevin Costner movies. It was not based on Spark's book.

Since my reading tastes run toward romance, thrillers, and suspense, there are many more books that have been made into movies that I haven't seen.  I've seen many movies based on books but haven't read the book so I can't really compare them. And I've read countless books that will never be made into a movie.

I enjoyed the movie Sense and Sensibility but I can't for the life of me remember if I've read the book or Austen's Pride and Prejudice .  There are some books I've heard so much about, I can't remember if I've actually read them or not.

Then there are the books/movies on my TBR (to be read) list and TBW (to be watched) list. I own a copy of The Secret Life of Bees . I've yet to read it or see the movie. Nor, have I read or watched The Help.   I seldom go out to the movies anymore and my reading time is severely limited by everything else on my TDL (to do list.)

I can't end this post without mentioning one of my favorite books: Alexander Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo. The book ends with Dante' finding a new life and love with Haydee, but I always wished Dumas' had ended it differently. In the 2002 movie version, I got my wish.  Dante' and Mercedes live happily ever after, which is my favorite kind of ending and the main reason that in this instance, I prefer the movie to the book.

Love Lines

February is the month of lovers, and tomorrow is Valentines Day. Are you feeling romantic? If not, maybe some of these romantic lines will get you in the mood. 
So sit back, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy some great love lines from some great books. Maybe one will strike your fancy and you'll want to read the whole book. Don't worry.  Buy links are included with every line.   From Lilly Gayle's 2011 release Wholesale Husband:
"Aye, Clarissa," he said, his face now serious,"you can do whatever you want, have as manychildren as you want, be anything you want, just aslong as you love me."
Wholesale Husband is available from http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=176_135&products_id=4631 and http://www.amazon.com/Wholesale-Husband-Lilly-Gayle/dp/1601549768/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325870062&sr=8-1

 
From Bianca Swan's Celestial Sin:
Cam-ael stroked her cheek, shook his head. "As I told Heaven's General, the choice was mine. No regrets, my love, none at all." An angel's soft lips caressed hers. "How beautiful you are. I'd risk anything to be with you. I love you."
Celestial Sin available from: http://www.wilderroses.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=87&products_id=826



 From Katherine Grey's 2011 release Impetuous:

Mateo took her in his arms. "Your heart is a priceless treasure
second to none." A brilliant smile curved his lips.
"And I would know. After all, I am a thief like no other."

Impetuous is available from http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=905 and http://www.amazon.com/Impetuous-ebook/dp/B005J7K52M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1325970919&sr=1-1

  From Brenda Whiteside's 2011 Release 
 HONEY ON WHITE BREAD
"You know what honey does to plain white bread?" He kissed my cheek softly, his lips like the touch of a butterfly wing. "You dribble it on, slow…and…thick. The bread soaks the honey in and changes." His lips caressed my earlobe. "Well, I'm white bread to your honey."
Hone On White Bread available from: http://www.melange-books.com/authors/brendawhiteside/honey.html




From Lilly Gayle's Slightly Tarnished:
 "You make meforget there was anyone before you."
Available from: http://www.amazon.com/Slightly-Tarnished-Lilly-Gayle/dp/1601549237/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325879639&sr=8-1 and http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=176_138&products_id=4516



 
From Mimi Barbour's 2011 release: My Cheeky Angel
Tyler grinned. "I know you're the cutest thing I've seen today, and I just walked past the puppies in the pet store window."
My Cheeky Angel available from:
http://amzn.to/sItpZJ





  From Brenda Whiteside's 2010 release SLEEPING WITH THE LIGHTS ON
He leaned across the table to rub the back of my hand with his. "What I said is exactly what I meant." He lowered his voice, and I lost my peripheral vision to the point that we were the only two people in the restaurant. "Sandra, when a gal's figure fills in the spaces to make it a woman's body, a man can lose all common sense just lookin'." Sleeping with the Lights On available from: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/brenda-whiteside-m-726.html?zenid=df2623a0f03265ec26b02f245944e12a
From Leigh D'Ansey's 2011 release: The Duke's Blackmailed Bride:
'She had not even reached the gates when she brought a gloved hand shakily to her mouth and pressed it against lips that still savored the taste of Northbridge.'
The Dukes Blackmailed Bride available from: http://tinyurl.com/6nxch9y





From  Darcy Lundeen's Find You Again:
"You responded to me. You were afraid to, but you finally let yourself go. That's one of the nicest things you could have done for me."
Finding You Again available from:    Wild Rose Press Page: http://bit.ly/yTRLZR  Amazon: http://amzn.to/Am85si Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/vZKcF3 
And, we have two great lines from A.Y Stratton's Buried Heart:1- 1-   "I want you to reach for my hair at least once a day and tell me what a slob I am. I want to hear your thoughts. I want to share mine with you. I even want you to correct my grammar." &
    "You're amazing. Before I met you I never knew that word."Buried Heart is available from: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=A.Y.+Stratton+&x=23&y=12 &
    http://www.amazon.com/Buried-Heart-Y-Stratton/dp/160154572X/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329100781&sr=8-1-fkmr0

Unexpected Journey

Earlier this month, I made an unexpected trip to Germany to visit my daughter. She was having some minor surgery and needed her mom. So, off to Europe I went.

I flew out of RDU in Raleigh, NC the last Friday in January for a week-long vist. It was 70 degrees that day, which is unusual, even for North Carolina. But we've been having a mild winter. It's not uncommon to have wild temperature swings in February and March. During those months, it can be sunny and 70 one week and below freezing and snowing the next. But I've never gone from 70 to 17 degrees in less than twenty-four hours before. I did that day.

My connecting flight was in Philadelphia where I expected it to be much colder than in NC. Apparently, Philly is having a mild winter this year too. I arrived at the airport in the City of Brotherly Love late in the afternoon and the temp was still hovering around 58 degrees. Not bad. I had on a sweater so I didn't even put on my coat when I stepped off the plane and rushed through the airport to make my connecting flight to Munich. But when I arrived in Germany nine hours later, I was in for a real surprise. It was snowing.

As we circled the runway, the pilot announced the current time and weather. The time was 8:00 a.m. and the temperature outside was 17 degrees Fahrenheit with snow flurries. Flying over Munich Munich Airport

Flurries? I could see the snow covered fields from the sky.
I about froze the moment I stepped off the plane.

 Luckily, my daughter had warned me about the bitter cold so I was prepared. And my son-in-law's car has heated seats.

It's 193 kilometers or approximately 120 miles from Munich to Weiden, where my daughter was recovering from surgery at the hospital there. But thanks to the autobahn and no speed limits in sections, my son-in-law made the trip in just under two hours, despite the snow. Than again, the snow plows and brine trucks had started clearing the snow the moment it started falling. Despite the somewhat scary speed at which we traveled, I was able to enjoy the beauty of the Bavarian countryside. 

(Left)Hops field covered in snow.Windmill in background.(Right) German Village outside Munich.
I've been to Germany twice before but this trip was different. It wasn't a vacation, and I hadn't planned for it. I'd gone to be with my daughter after her surgery, which turned out to be less invasive than originally expected and with a much better outcome. While I was there, I got to visit a German hospital which isn't something I'd normally do on a visit to another country. But it was educational.
In the US, I work in a hospital, but it's nothing like the one I visited in Weiden. For starters, US hospitals don't sell beer in the hospital cafeteria. The hospital in Weiden did!  The rooms look similar, but the beds looked more like glorified stretchers. Some of the equipment looked the same as in the States but in the US, most hospitals use IV bags. My daughter's IV was in a plastic bottle the hospital recycles. 

Thank God, my daughter's hospital visit was brief and she recovered quickly--more quickly than anticipated. So, what started out as a visit to take care of her turned into something fun. We got to spend quality time together without her having to stay in bed.

near my daughter's neighborhood. View of Rauher Kulm from Eschenbach By the middle of the week, we were able to get out and take a walk through her neighborhood and town.
Downtown Eschenbach We ate at a nice Chinese restaurant where I enjoyed a nice, dark Dunkelweizen. We visited some of my daughter's friends, went to a German deli, and on the last day of my visit, we went shopping in Weiden.
Although this wasn't my first trip to Germany, it was the first time I'd every traveled alone. I was a bit intimidated at first, but on my international flight to Munich, I slept with a handsome 31 year old man. Just kidding!

My "seat mate" on the plane was a cutie from Texas and we did sleep a bit on the plane. He was traveling to Munich on business. He'd previously spent two years in Germany while working for the same management firm. The woman who'd taken his place when his work Visa expired was taking some time off for maternity leave and my handsome seat mate was going back to Germany to fill in for her.

Although we never exchanged names, he was a nice young man. He was also quite handsome. Standing well over six feet tall, he reminded me of Matthew Perry from the Friends TV series. We had a nice chat and I thought of several ideas for a possible romance novel that could start on a plane. Imagine falling in love on an international flight and getting separated in the airport only to realize you'd never exchanged names or information to help you find that person again.

I was intrigued by the concept of writing such a story. But I write historical and paranormal romance. Perhaps I could change the plane to a coach. Or, my handsome Matthew Perry look-a-like could be a werewolf returning to Germany in search of a cure. Since the first recorded Werewolf sighting was around the countryside of German town Colonge and Bedbur in 1591, I could incorporate some of the sites I've seen in Germany. Or, maybe I'll have to try my hand at writing romantic suspense.

What do you think?

Politics-Ug!

In John F. Kennedy's 1961 presidential inaugural speech, he said, "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."
Today's politicians seem more interested in using America—or the American media—to propagate political smear campaigns against their opponents. In the last several elections, I've learned very little about what each candidate thinks he/she can do for the country. I haven't heard a lot about the candidate's credentials or political views. Instead, each candidate seems more focused on defending themselves against attack or slinging mud at the other candidates. These campaigns have been so effective, many candidates are defeated before we learn much about them.
Herman Cain seemed to be a fine candidate for president. He's a pro-business family man who had a lot to offer to the Republican campaign—until rumors of infidelity and sexual harassment surfaced, and the media went on the attack. 
Television, radio, and more recently, the internet, have increased the speed at which political rumors fly. If a candidate steps out of a cab at midnight in New York with lipstick on his collar and his fly open, there'll be a video on You Tube before dawn and a news broadcast at noon. 
The term "living in a fishbowl" has never been more true than in today's media hungry society.
But political smear campaigns are nothing new. The mid eighteen hundreds was a time of anti-Catholic sentiment in the America. During Abraham Lincoln's political campaign, his opponents spread rumors that he was a Catholic. 
And in 1884, Grover Cleveland's political opponents insisted the presidential candidate had an illegitimate child. Their rally cry became: "Ma, ma, where's my pa? Off to the White House, ha ha ha!"
Woodrow Wilson was a brilliant student, teacher, and statesman. He led the nation through the First World War. And yet, he wasn't  immune to nasty political rumors. First Lady, Ellen Axon Wilson died just one year after her husband was elected president. When Wilson remarried a year later, rumor mongers claimed he murdered his first wife so he could marry his true love. 
The rumors didn't stop him from getting re-elected. 
Rumors that President Obama is a Muslim and not a US citizen didn't prevent him from getting elected either. 
Now it's election time again. The old rumors are resurfacing and the President has the added burden of defending his presidency.   But he's not alone in the political hot seat. 
Newt Gingrich's ex-wife accused him of asking for an open marriage while he was already engaged in an affair with his current wife. And according to some other political rumors, Mitch Romney is Mexican.
So, what's fact and what's fiction? Is there a single candidate running for office who doesn't have a ghost in his/her closet? 
This election, Americans will have to vote for the candidate whose "ghosts" are least likely to affect his/her ability to lead a nation. Either that, or flip a coin.

Happy New Year!

New Year's Day—January 1—is a time to forget the past and make a clean start. For many in the south, the year begins with a traditional meal of black-eyed peas with stewed tomatoes and greens. According to Southern folklore, the first food to be eaten on New Year's Day for luck and prosperity throughout the year is black-eyed peas with stewed tomatoes. According to Southern tradition, eating black-eyed peas and stewed tomatoes on New Year's Day brings good luck for the coming year. And eating cooked greens like cabbage, collards, and spinach represents money. In the south, the more greens consumed on the first day of the year, the greater the increase in wealth.
  And it's not just a southern tradition in the south either. The Danish eat stewed kale sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon and the Germans consume sauerkraut.
When my grandmother was alive, I ate black-eyed peas with stewed tomatoes. I'm not fond of collards, so I never ate those. I guess that's why I've never amassed a great fortune. But now that my grandmother has passed, I no longer eat those traditional foods. In fact, I spent New Year's at the beach. My husband and I ate supper at Texas Steak House and ate leftovers for lunch.
Sadly, there were no greens. So, I don't suppose I'll be winning the lottery. I also failed to follow any of the other typical, New Year's Day traditions.
Although, I did wear new clothes…

Superstition dictates that people should wear new clothes on New Year's Day. Wearing new clothes will ensure new garments and prosperity for the coming year.
Crying is a bad idea on New Years as it could indicate a continued pattern of sadness for the coming year. Lucky for me, I didn't cry.
One should also avoid letting money leave the house on the first day of the year. I'm not sure what that means. I didn't know it was possible to go an entire day without spending money. And since we went to the coast for New Year's, we had to spend money on gas. Good thing I didn't buy lunch. We at left overs.
But I didn't pay any bills today, which is good. It's bad luck to pay bills or lend things to anyone on the first day of the year. Some folks extend this superstition to not taking out the garbage or dusting their carpets on this day to ensure that nothing goes out of home during the year. If you must take something out of the house, let someone come inside the home first.

Another superstition? Open all the doors and windows at midnight to allow the old year to escape unimpeded. I wonder if a person would want to do this if the old year was awesome? If I had a really awesome, prosperous year, I don't think I'd want it to escape.

It is also believed that cupboards stockpiled with food and wallets filled with money on the first day of the year will bring prosperity throughout the New Year while empty pockets or empty cupboards on New Years Eve are portent of poverty for the coming year.
My cupboards were semi-stocked and my wallet contained more money than usual. Then again, I rely heavily on my ATM card and don't normally carry much cash. So, I'm not sure how to interpret that one!

In some cultures, washing dishes and doing laundry on New Year's day will lead to a death in the family during the year. Some people don't even wash their hair on New Years day.
I didn't wash clothes but I had to wash my hair and the dishes. My head was itchy and we were at our camper at the beach. I wasn't about to leave unwashed dishes until the next chance we got to go to the coast.

Doing a small amount of work New Year's Day is said to ensure advancement in career, but beginning serious work project is unlucky—I hope washing dishes counts as work!
Making noise on New Years will scare away evil. That's why some religions ring the church bells at midnight. I sat by a firebox with my husband at midnight, watching fireworks over the inter-coastal waterway. I didn't make much noise at all, but maybe the fireworks scared those evil spirits away.

It's also a good idea to pay off loans and debts before New Years Eve, but I have car loans and a mortgage, not to mention a credit card. Guess I'll be in debt forever!
It is also believed that a kiss midnight will ensure affections and ties will continue throughout the New Year. I think I'm good here. ;-)
To dance in the open air, especially round a tree, on New Year's Day ensures love, prosperity and health. I didn't dance this year. But I did ride a bicycle with my husband so my feet were moving.
And lastly, by draining the last dregs from a bottle of drink on New Years Eve, you ensure good fortune. Hubby and I had a couple of beers sitting by the fire pit. I hope that means we'll have good fortune in 2012.
I hope you all have good luck, great love, and good fortune in the year to come.
Now, if someone could just tell me what it means to see a woodpecker on New Years…
Happy New Year!

Changing Traditions

The tree is up, the gifts are wrapped, and I'm finally ready for Christmas. Now, I sit here reflecting and thinking of past Christmases when traditions seemed so important.

When I was a child, my dad always cut down a fresh tree and we decorated a week before Christmas. When I got older, my younger sister and I trudged into the woods with him to help pick out a tree. Nowadays, I have an artificial tree and I decorate the Friday after Thanksgiving. Decorating is a lot of work and I put up quite a few. I'm just lazy enough to want to leave them up as long as possible before I have to go to all the trouble of un-decorating.

My artificial tree used to be fat and tall, like the trees from my childhood. Nowadays, my tree is still tall, but not so fat. I got a pencil tree so it'd take up less room--and I needed to make a space for all the presents. Now that Santa doesn't visit my house any more, everything gets wrapped and shoved under the tree--another tradition bites the dust.

We used to go to my grandparent's house for Christmas Eve supper too. My dad's entire family would be there: Uncles, aunts, cousins, even some great aunts and uncles and cousins. The next morning, we'd go back for brunch. As my cousins married and started families of their own, fewer and fewer cousins were able to make it to my grandparent's house. After my younger sister and I got married and had children of our own, we started having Christmas Eve supper at my parents' house and going to my grandparent's the next morning. Even that changed as my children got older. Then my grandparents died, and the family stopped gathering.

Grandparents have a way of holding a family together for the holidays--until the grandchildren start having children of their own. Then a new generation of grandparents begin new traditions. Or so it seems in my family. I don't have grandchildren yet, but my oldest daughter lives in Germany.

Because of the six-hour time difference we now exchange gifts on Christmas Eve morning via SKYPE. After the gift exchange, my daughter runs off with her boyfriend to spend time with his family. My husband and I go to my cousin's house, where I once again see those aunts, uncles and cousins. And we go to my parents' house after lunch on Christmas Day. These days, I work a lot of Christmas mornings for half a day to allow those with children to be home for Santa Claus.

For years now, we've celebrated Christmas with my husband's family the week before Christmas in an effort to eliminate the stress of so many families trying to divide Christmas day into rushed visits. But now that my sister in law lives in Utah, we seldom see her any more.

As I grow older, I find my life changing and those Christmas traditions I cherished as a child must change as well or the meaning of the holiday will get lost. My tree is no longer real, but I have the same ornaments. From the two turtle doves, now slightly mangled by a troublesome cat, to the first ornament I bought as a married woman and my daughters' "My First Christmas" ornaments, the tree still holds some traditions. And while we we no longer rise at the crack of dawn to see what Santa brought, I still get up early on Christmas morning to go to work. And we still go to my parents' house on Christmas Day. But these days, we have our traditional oyster stew for a late lunch or early supper rather than at brunch.

Life changes and it's sometimes stressful. But Christmas isn't about the gifts or the dinners. It's about family and finding time to be with them and remember why we celebrate. So, no matter if your Christmas involves following time-honored traditions, creating new traditions of your own, or just trying to fit as many people into your plans as possible, take time to remember the reason we celebrate.

I have fellow HCRW and TWRP author Laura Browning with me...

I have fellow HCRW and TWRP author Laura Browning with me today. Welcome to my blog, Laura and congrats on your new release, Santa's Helper.

Thanks.


In the midst of edits on an upcoming release, trying to finish another WIP and promoting Santa's Helper, catching the Christmas spirit has been a challenge this year.
It really wasn't until last night that it dawned on me why decorating the tree is one of my favorite activities. My teenager, for whom high-tech is a watchword, looked at the tree and said, "Why do you keep all of these old ornaments? Why don't you get some new ones?" 
To which I replied, "Each one of those ornaments holds a memory."
Sure, I have the requisite number of store-bought decorative balls, the ones that come in the packs of six or twelve, but along with that is the stuffed elf that's nestled amidst the branches because its hanger has long since disappeared—the very first ornament I received at the age of five. In another spot is a small black horse with a "real" mane and tail. I purchased that during a trip to a botanical garden and zoo when I was six. There are ornaments to commemorate pets, and ornaments that my son made in elementary school. There is an angel my father-in-law gave me that has a tag proclaiming "Class of 1937." Each year when I put it in a prominent spot near the top of the tree, I remember the man who would slip me "a spot of money, just in case you want to make a pie and need to buy some apples."
I still smile when I think about that.
My tree might not look like an interior decorator designed it. It certainly doesn't have any "theme" to it—unless you count the memories of loved ones past and present—and I wouldn't have it any other way.
So last year, when I decided to write a Christmas story, I wanted to touch on themes that matter to me. In this case, a man raising money for charity for all the wrong reasons, and a woman scrambling for money for all the right reasons. That's how Santa's Helper, my holiday release from The Wild Rose Press, evolved.
Jack and Merry meet while he's ringing the bell outside a mall after losing a bet, and she's rushing in to a part-time job as a Santa's elf, trying to provide some kind of Christmas for her young son.
Here's an excerpt from Santa's Helper:
 Merry sipped her coffee and angled her head at him. "You know, the first night I saw you, you didn't look like the bell ringer type. And even though you've changed out of the fancy clothes, you still don't look the type. How did you end up doing it…and doing it every night?"
Jack laughed. "I lost a bet with my employees and had to take over all their shifts."
He watched in fascination as color stained her creamy cheeks. "Well, I'm glad. I've liked being able to bring you coffee and getting to know you."
"I have another week, Merry."
Her eyes widened. Was that hope he saw there? Gladness? "You do?"
He nodded before touching the delicate skin inside her wrist. "I want to kiss you. Will you let me?"He watched her hesitate, and then she nodded. He smiled and scooped the last bit of brownie and icecream. "Here. It's yours." Her eyes held his as she slid the sweet from the spoon. Jack dropped the spoon into the bowl. "Let's go," he growled.
Santa's Helper is available from The Wild Rose Press. You can also find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
I'd love to hear some of your holiday memories. Leave a comment. You can also check out my website: www.laurabrowningbooks.com for a look at some of my other releases. Most of all – I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.

Somewhere--Beth Trissel

Beth Trissel, cyber friend and fellow Wild Rose Press author lives in the mountains of Virgina where she pens amazing stories of love rich in history. Her time travel romance, Somewhere My Love earned it's place on my keeper shelf.
So, please help me welcome Beth as she shares a bit about her latest book in the Somewhere series...
My fascination with the past and those who have gone before me is the ongoing inspiration behind my historical and light paranormal, time travel romances.  I've done a great deal of research into family genealogy and come from well-documented English/Scots-Irish folk with a smidgen of French in the meld, a Norman knight who sailed with William the Conqueror.  One family line goes directly back to Geoffrey Chaucer.  And there's a puritan line with involvement in the Salem Witch Trials—my apologies to Susannah Martin's descendants--but that's another story.  In my recent light paranormal release, Somewhere the Bells Ring , I more deeply explored my Virginia roots.
Somewhere the Bells Ring is book three in my Somewhere' series (not necessary to read these in order) with a Christmas theme.   Set in the old family homeplace where my father was born and raised, a beautiful plantation home from the early 19th century, the story opens in 1968 during the tumultuous age of hippies, Vietnam, and some of the best darn rock music ever written.  From that nostalgic year, the story flashes back to an earlier era, 1918 and the end of World War One.  Having a Marine Corps Captain Grandfather who distinguished himself in France in the thick of the fighting during The Great War and then tragically died when my father was only three definitely influenced this story.  
If you enjoy an intriguing mystery set in vintage America with Gothic overtones and heart-tugging romance then Somewhere the Bells Ring is for you.  And did I mention the ghost?
Blurb: Caught with pot in her dorm room, Bailey Randolph is exiled to a relative's ancestral home in Virginia to straighten herself out. Banishment to Maple Hill is dismal, until a ghost appears requesting her help. Bailey is frightened but intrigued. Then her girlhood crush, Eric Burke, arrives and suddenly Maple Hill isn't so bad.
To Eric, wounded in Vietnam, his military career shattered, this homecoming feels no less like exile. But when he finds Bailey at Maple Hill, her fairy-like beauty gives him reason to hope--until she tells him about the ghost haunting the house. Then he wonders if her one experiment with pot has made her crazy.
As Bailey and Eric draw closer, he agrees to help her find a long-forgotten Christmas gift the ghost wants. But will the magic of Christmas be enough to make Eric believe--in Bailey and the ghost--before the Christmas bells ring?~
Excerpt:"Bailey." He spoke softly, so as not to startle her.
She turned toward him. In her long, white nightgown, hair tumbled down around her, wearing that lost look, she bore an unnerving resemblance to the mysterious woman in Wilkie Collins' classic mystery, The Woman in White. Eric fervently hoped the similarity ended there. As he recalled from the novel, that unfortunate lady had been unhinged.
Leaving the door ajar, he stepped inside. "We missed you at breakfast."She answered distractedly. "I wasn't hungry."
He limped to where she stood, the hitch in his leg a little less pronounced today. Maybe he was getting stronger. "Why are you here, looking for ghosts?"
"Or a door to the past."
He tried to coax a smile to her trembling lips. "Did you check inside the wardrobe?"
"Eric, I'm being serious."
"That's what worries me." Leaning on his cane with one arm, he closed his other around her shoulders and drew her against him. Such a natural act, and she accepted his embrace without pulling back. She smelled of flowers from her perfume and wood smoke. "Mercy, child," he said in his best imitation of Ella, "it's as cold as a tomb in here."
"It wasn't last night."~
***Available in various eBook formats from The Wild Rose Press, Amazon Kindle, All Romance Ebooks, Barnes & Noble's Nookbook and other online booksellers.

When did Thanksgiving become a National Holiday?

The first Thanksgiving occurred in 1621 when the Pilgrims and Indians broke bread together to give thanks to the creator for a successful harvest. Most Americans are taught that this incident was the first Thanksgiving celebration. In reality, that one meal didn't lead to a traditional holiday. It wasn't a national celebration either because the colonies were still part of England at the time. No offense to our English ancestors, but most Brits didn't much care what happened in the colonies.

As the years passed, however, more people celebrated Thanksgiving and remembered that first meal of Thanks between the Pilgrims and Indians. Still, no one celebrated an official Thanksgiving until America won its independence from England. In 1789, George Washington recommended and assigned Thursday, November 26th as a day to be devoted by the People "to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be…"

Despite the proclamation, Thanksgiving wasn't a national holiday.

Thanksgiving didn't become a national holiday until Abraham Lincoln took office prior to the Civil War. In an effort to pull the country together, in 1863, he declared the last Thursday of November Thanksgiving Day. The country gave thanks to those who gave their lives in the Noble cause. And it gave thanks to those who yet survived the war that threatened to divide America.

Since that day in 1863, every president since Lincoln recognized Thanksgiving. But recognizing a holiday doesn't make it a national holiday.

In 1939, in an effort to extend the Christmas shopping season, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the third Thursday in November as a day to  give thanks.  His declaration was met with controversy. Then in 1941 Congress set the national holiday of Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of every November.  And it has been a holiday ever since.

It is a day celebrated as the kick off to the Christmas season. A day spent in celebration with friends and family. A day to give thanks to God for his many blessings. And a day to thank the men and women serving in our armed forces for their tireless dedication and sacrifice to this great nation.

So…

Thank you God for all the good in my life. Thank you for my family, my life, my health, and my home. Keep my family safe and healthy. And please watch over the men and women of our military. Hold them in your loving arms. Protect them. And keep them safe until they can return to their families.
Amen.

Real Life Heroes Fart

Heroes are basically the same, especially romantic heroes. They may vary in size, coloring and ethnicity, but they are nearly always physically fit and nicely toned. Every woman wants him and every man wants to be him. It's not just the romance hero either. Action heroes exhibit these same characteristics—and more often than not, action and suspense books/movies have a hint of romance. 
In the Bourne Identify, Jason Bourne has Marie St. Jacques. Jack Ryan "Clear and Present Danger" and "Patriot Games" has his wife.
  In the Indiana Jones films, "Indie" successfully pursues an artifact and a woman. There's even a romantic subplot in the Terminator movies.
And while James Bond isn't monogamous, he always gets the girl. Or girls. He even gets married in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." He falls so madly in love with his wife, Tracy, he's willing to give up his career and his free-loving bachelor ways.
Whether our hero is from a romance novel or an action movie, he's going to come out on top no matter the villain or life throws at him. Oh, they may lose a skirmish, but our hero is always the victor.
Heroes are never lazy, and they're never slobs. They may get dirty in the jungle or after a brawl, but they clean up nicely afterwards and they never have morning breath. They don't procrastinate or whine and although they may have an odd quirk, a hero has good manners and is never rude. 
In real life, heroes fart. And morning sex usually requires turned heads or a quick dash to the bathroom for a rinse or a brush—especially if your real life hero ate oysters and drank beer the night before. Otherwise, that sour smell coming from both your mouths could ruin the moment.
Trust me, there's nothing romantic about morning breath. Or farting. I know. Woman pass gas too. But it's not usually a source of amusement for them. Fictional heroes would never fart in the bed just before his lover joins him.
My real life hero not only passes gas in bed, he once had the bright idea to fart beneath the covers and then pull them over my head. OMG! I thought I was going to die. He laughed uncontrollably. I threatened to vomit on his crotch. 
It wasn't his finest moment. But he's still my hero, even after thirty-one years of marriage. My husband with our youngest when she was7He's not rich, powerful, or titled. He doesn't own his own business and he's not a CEO. But he's a dedicated, hardworking, responsible man who puts his family first.

Hubby with oldest when she was

He's a wonderful father and supportive husband.   


He stood by me when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. He never hesitated to lift my handicapped sister from her wheelchair and carry her to the car or the sofa when she still had the muscle control to sit alone. 



He didn't complain when I wanted to take her on a family beach trip either. He even pushed her chair through the sand so she could sit on the beach.
And since I became a published author, he does the laundry more often than I do. He's not the role model for any of my romance heroes, but Devin Flannery from Wholesale Husband reminds me of him.