All Entangled Eve Blog Hop

Visit all the authors in this hop to see what they have to say and enter their giveaways!

Halloween is supposed to be all about the scary, but really, for most of us, isn't it all about the candy? :)

When I was a kid, we used to haul in our bags and dump them out on the floor to see what we had. We'd swap what we didn't like with each other (it was often my brother and/or my cousins and/or a friend or two). We'd eat a bunch just because we could. And then we'd hoard it. Fights often ensued when I found out my brother had snuck a full-size Kit-Kat out of the bag in my room when I wasn't there.

Some of my favorite trick-or-treat candy was stuff I didn't normally buy the rest of the year. Bit-o-Honey. Charleston Chew. Now and Laters. Sugar Babies. Yeah, all the stuff that stuck to your teeth!

My tastes as an adult are much more refined. I prefer dark chocolate, especially containing bits of something: toffee, salted caramel and almonds, peppermint bits. That's not trick-or-treat kind of stuff. The stuff I buy to hand out is usually Dove or Whoppers or Peppermint Patties. LOVE the years we don't get a lot of kids!

In recent years, candy companies have been coming out with holiday-specific flavors, like candy corn M&Ms. There's a bag of those on my table right now. Which limited editions are your favorites?

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Lucky 13 Trick-or-Treat Blog Hop

From today (October 13) to the 26th, you can visit any/all of the blogs participating in the Lucky 13 Trick-or-Treat Blog Hop and enter to win a great grand prize! Read our thoughts on trick-or-treating, Halloween recipes, our stories, and more! Individual authors are also doing their own giveaways, so there will be many chances to win!

Read all the way through for my giveaway, the Hop links to all the other authors' posts and giveaways, and the overall hop giveaway at the end! The prizes include a Kindle Paperwhite!

October is my favorite month of the year. Crisp, clear air and lots of sunshine. Wood smoke. Football. And usually, for some reason, a lower level of stress. :) And then, of course, there's Halloween.

I like Halloween. I like the way a neighborhood feels with everyone out and about, exclaiming over the kids' costumes, and I like the candy. I don't like that here in central Pennsylvania, they think it's too dangerous to have trick-or-treating ON the actual holiday, so with rare exceptions (like this year), it's on the Thursday before. Which means last year, I was done with the holiday a whole week before the rest of the world.

But when I was a kid, it was different. We started when it got dark and kept going until we'd exhausted every street in every accessible neighborhood. And I was WAY more into costume planning than I am now.

I remember the year I was a punk rocker with my best friend. My mother teased my hair about a foot and a half off my head and sprayed it with all kinds of glittery spray paint/hair spray. I don't remember what my clothes looked like. There's got to be a photo somewhere...

Another year I was a gypsy. My brother's was better that year, though. He'd broken his foot so he wore jammies and a robe and put a bandage around his head so he could be a complete accident victim. I think he was missing a tooth, too.

We often went with my cousins. One year, my Pink-Panther-obsessed cousin insisted on a PP costume. It was, of course, cheap plastic, and it split up the legs. She was so upset it pretty much ruined the whole night for her. :( But every year that we did this with my cousins or with friends, we came home to warm our hands on hot cocoa and talk about what we'd seen.

And then we'd inventory our candy so our annoying, sneaky little brothers couldn't steal any.

What were your Halloweens like as a kid?

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The Road So Far (aka, My Thoughts on Fall TV Premieres)

Regular readers of this blog (for some value of "regular" that equates to my haphazard posting schedule, of course) know I'm a pretty rabid TV fan these days. It's my vital relaxation/revitalization time, but I'm also seeking good writing and good characterization to feed the evolving author in me. And I'm always full of opinions! So let me offer some on the shows so far:

Revenge
This is the show I watch with my boss. I mean, we both watch on our own, and eagerly go to work the next day to discuss. So far, it's hitting me at the same level the first two seasons did. I thought they did a masterful job sweeping away loose ends from last season. In just a few sentences, we have Nolan out of jail, the Initiative gone, and justice served. We also have Charlotte no longer pregnant and alone, though she's pretty lost.

Nolan is still my favorite character. Emily is really pushing the bounds of likability, though they managed to pull her back just in time (barely, and almost). I don't really want the return to season one that they promised, though. It feels redundant and stale to go backwards. I want her to evolve. How about Emily decides the best revenge is helping people at the expense of those she hates, rather than tearing down people who are actually trying to atone for their sins? And maybe building some relationships of her own, instead of destroying them as fledglings.

I don't buy that Aiden is fully on Victoria's side. All he'd have to do is tell her, oh, everything. He went looking for the box, so why hasn't he just SAID that she's really Amanda?

And then there's Jack. Guh. He did and said the only thing he could do in that moment, but I call BS that he doesn't feel anything for Emily. He's right up there with Nolan as my favorite character.

How I Met Your Mother
So far, so good on the season-long one-weekend concept. Not much to say about this show. It's enjoyable, and I'm glad it's finishing up.

Castle
I've seen pictures of Nathan Fillion on set, and while he's already looking great on screen, I think he's going to be looking even better. But let's not be superficial or anything. :) The show's been hit or miss so far. The serious stuff has been great, but the attempts to make Castle be Castle and have some fun with the crime-of-the-week have been, well, weak. I won't say the storyline has failed, because the relationship stuff has also been great, but I just really want the gang back together.

I'm behind on Bones, but can I just say puh-LEEZE put the Pelant crap to rest? And if they make such a huge deal of Cam's identity theft and then just drop it, I'll be very annoyed.

Sleepy Hollow
I had a few reservations before the season started, but I'm really liking this show. Someone posted somewhere about getting Crane some new clothes. NO THANK YOU. I LOVE LOVE LOVE his period clothing. It's washable, geez! There is a high level of creepiness here, but they've definitely put the right focus on the characters and relationships. Irving is very intriguing to me. He's not the skeptical, hard-assed obstacle typically put in that role. So of course I'm suspicious about his motives.

Supernatural
We've only had one episode so far, but my feelings are mostly good. Mostly. I mean, how many times do we have to visit the "lying for your own good" and "carrying secrets as burdens" territory? That said, I thought they motivated it well. Dean isn't choosing to keep this secret, he has compelling reasons for being forced to. I would like to see a storyline for him, which we haven't had to a strong enough degree since he was the first seal. But I thought Jared did a nice job channeling Tamoh, and he seemed excited to have the opportunity to do that.

I can't wait to see what they do with Crowley, and Misha always does fantastic with whatever they give him, good or bad. I liked to think Cas's pleasure drinking the water was Misha's pleasure getting rid of the damned trench coat. :)

S.H.I.E.L.D.
Because my expectations here were so high, they were also pretty low. So far, I'm enjoying the show. I like all the characters/actors and the storylines have been fine so far. Clark Gregg's tweeting adds an extra dimension, though, that might be influencing me. :) There's definitely room for improvement, of course, as the chemistry develops and everyone settles in, and the writers can get deeper into things now that they're past the initial intros and have familiarized us with the world.

Trophy Wife
I would like to like this better. Characters are all fine, acting fine, love the littlest kid. I just think that putting Kate in a helpless, eager position destined to lead to her failure is going to get very old, very fast. I hope they don't make it the focus of the show.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine
I added this to my DVR because it had big buzz and the concept appealed even if some of the actors didn't. It made me laugh some, and I didn't hate anything about it. But it doesn't stick in my brain much. On the bubble for me.

New Girl, Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, Glee, Hawaii 5-0
These are pretty much status quo for me, with Modern Family leading the bunch.

Revolution
Way behind on this one. Only watched the first episode. Whoa at how dark it's gotten, enough to make me laugh at how everyone wondered if they'd have to lighten it up for the 8:00 time slot. The actors don't seem to have missed a beat over the hiatus.

Arrow
I like the new direction here, and the maturing of all the characters. Felicity is probably my favorite female character on TV right now.

The Tomorrow People
I didn't know much about this show except Robbie Amell's relationship to Stephen and that the kids have powers and Lucifer (aka Mark Pellegrino) is the bad guy. It had more nuance than I expected. I'm sufficiently intrigued.

The Michael J. Fox Show and The Crazy Ones
I freely admit I'm watching both of these for the lead. Nostalgia plays a role, as does missing both Michael J. Fox and Robin Williams on TV. The vehicles give them both a chance to do what they do best. Fox has a better chance, IMO, because it has heart and balances the schmaltz with a bit of edge. Williams is the best part of his show, but the established dynamic might be too grating and I just don't like SMG enough.

How are you feeling about your favorite shows this season? Which new ones do you like best?

October Ignites Cover Reveals

Next month, the cover of MY Entangled Ignite, A Kiss of Revenge, will be up here! But today, I'm participating in the global cover reveal for the October Ignites. And Entangled is doing a giveaway! Help share the covers and buy links (below) for the September Ignite releases, and you'll be entered to win a $15 gift card.

Click here: a Rafflecopter giveaway to enter the giveaway.

Sizzling Hot September Releases from Ignite:
Secrets and Sins: Malachim by Naima Simone  http://amzn.to/1ag9W db

Sweet Treason by Gail Ranstrom http://amzn.to/16vWeTq

Dangerous Desire by Annie Seaton http://amzn.to/16vWeTq

For Love or Vengeance by Caridad Pineiro http://amzn.to/19yhnJb



And now, without further ado, I introduce:

October Ignites Covers

Welcome to Guest Blogger Felicity Heaton!

It’s wonderful to be here at Natalie’s blog to talk about my latest release, Her Wicked Angel, which is the sixth in my Her Angel romance series.

I’m going to be sharing an excerpt from the book with you today, but I also wanted to let you know that I’m celebrating the release by giving away the first book in the series, Her Dark Angel, for FREE at selected Amazon Kindle, Kobo Books, and Apple iBookstore sites.

FREE EBOOK: You can find all the links for the Her Dark Angel free ebook offer (and two other free paranormal romance ebooks) at: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/paranormal-romance-ebook-offers.php

Here’s more about Her Wicked Angel, including an excerpt from this long angel romance novel.

Her Wicked Angel
Felicity Heaton
The King of Demons and the Devil’s right-hand man, Asmodeus is a dark angel born of evil and created for destruction. When his master orders him to venture into the mortal world and retrieve a female for him, he seizes the chance to leave Hell for the first time, uncaring of what the Devil has planned for her…until he sets eyes on the most beautiful woman he has ever seen—a female who awakens new feelings within his black heart, unleashing passion so intense that it controls him and desire he cannot resist.

He will not let his wretched master have her. She will belong to him.

Liora is a witch with a bad reputation and an obsession with fighting demons. A mission gone wrong sees her sent to Paris to cool off, but when a dark and deadly warrior with a gaze of golden fire lands in her life, she ends up burning hotter than Hell for the wicked angel. Nothing will stand between her and the immense, forbidding male. Not her cousin. Not Asmodeus’s sworn enemy and twin, Apollyon. And certainly not the Devil.

Caught up in a tempest of danger and soul-searing passion, can they survive against the odds and seize their forever after?

Her Wicked Angel is available from Amazon Kindle, Kobo Books, Barnes and Noble Nook, Apple iBooks stores, and many other retailers. Also available in paperback. Find the links to your preferred retailer at: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Her%20Wicked%20Angel

Her Wicked Angel – Excerpt
Liora stared deep into the incredible swirling gold depths of Asmodeus’s eyes. She had countless reasons not to trust him, but she couldn’t bring herself to listen to them or her head where he was concerned.

Cover Reveal for Slow Ride Home by Leah Braemel

Slow Ride Home
by Leah Braemel
Contemporary Western Romance
Release Date: 11/11/13

Losing his father was hard enough, but now Ben Grady must face the fact that he and his brother may not be sole owners of their beloved ranch. To protect his family’s legacy, he’s forced to rely on the legal prowess of the woman who stars in his erotic fantasies: Allie O’Keefe. Ben’s never forgotten the illicit encounter they shared fifteen years ago—or forgiven himself for letting her go.

Allie thought she’d moved beyond the scandal that cost her Ben in the past. But working so closely with the seductive rancher arouses the wild child within the cautious woman she’s become. Though she tries to keep business and pleasure separate, Allie soon gives in to temptation, and discovers Ben’s sensual skills surpass even her X-rated memories…

Allie has every intention of leaving Bull’s Hollow forever after her investigation is complete. But there are a few complications. Not the least of which is that while saving the ranch, Allie’s lost her heart.

Pre-order Links
Amazon US
B&N Nook
AMZN UK
AMZN Canada

EXCERPT

If someone had told Allie O’Keefe fifteen years ago that she’d set even one toe on Bull’s Hollow Ranch again, she’d have cussed them out. After she’d decked them. Which explained why Allie jammed her foot on the brake when she reached the ranch’s wrought-iron gate. Or maybe she stopped because of the man talking to a group of ranch hands in front of the ranch’s trailer office. It wasn’t just his weathered brown Stetson that stood out from the standard baseball caps the others wore. After a casual glance in her direction, he resumed talking.

Read More after the Jump!

Being a Big-Time Author

You know what's cool about staying in a Hilton instead of a cheap chain hotel? When your toilet won't flush because the flapper tore and the chain detached, they actually have someone working in engineering, even at 8:00 p.m., to come up and fix it.

Lovely setup at Bank Square Books, Mystic, CT
Signed copies are on hand there if you missed me tonight!

Last week, I stopped at my local bookstore and asked to sign the stock they had on hand for Heavy Metal. They said yes. It was cool. I felt a little bit like a big-time author, because when I asked and told her who I was, she was all, "Oh, yeah! That would be great!" You know, like she recognized my name.

I realized that maybe I need to start acting like a big-time author. You know, the whole self-fulfilling prophecy or whatever concept applies here.

So this weekend I'm in Connecticut for Fiction Fest. It's the first time I'm attending a conference without a friend also attending. I'm a little bit freaked by it, but no one will really notice if I go all wallflower. I'll hear the keynote by one of my author heroes and learn something in each workshop, and have dinner with one of my closest friends afterward.

I also had my publicist try to arrange booksignings while I'm up here, and she managed to get one scheduled tonight in Mystic. Which is SUPERcool, because the car chase in Heavy Metal starts in Mystic. I used that angle in the press release she sent to all the local newspapers and radio stations. I did a sponsored post on Facebook that over 9400 people supposedly saw, and even got a few "yeses" on Goodreads when I sent invitations.

I worked extra hours yesterday so I could leave early today, and things went well until about 3:00 when I hit Connecticut. We crawled up 95. 88 miles took me 3 hours, so even though I'd built in tons of extra time and didn't even stop to go to the bathroom for four hours, I barely made it by 7. I'd hoped to get there early, but I did at least get there on time. Barely.

And then I sold one book. I feel really bad about that. Not for myself, but for the bookstore. Good thing I'm up here for the conference anyway, because the $3.40 I spent on a candy bar in the store totally negated my royalty. But hey, maybe the copies I signed will sell over the next couple of days. That will be worth it.

In the meantime, I'm totally indulging myself. I didn't eat breakfast (just had coffee) or lunch (nibbled on sunflower seeds and M&Ms because that keeps me awake while I'm driving) so I ordered room service. I feel all big time now! :) See how lovely my meal was?  ----->

So tonight I'm being a layabout, watching season 3 of Veronica Mars on DVD and probably staying up too late, considering the 7:30 registration time tomorrow. If you happen to be attending Fiction Fest, too, and you see me, make sure you say hi! Then I won't feel like a wallflower. :)

Week of Insanity? No, Month of Insanity vying for "of the Year" status

My husband made new friends in Boston

What a week this has been!

On Sunday, we drove 7 hours from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts.

On Monday, we moved Number One into her dorm. Emerson College's system is amazing. They're right in the city, on Boston Common, so you can't exactly park and unload at your leisure. You pull up to the curb, they check you in, hand out passes, unload your vehicle, and take everything up to your room while one of you take the car back to the garage.

Sunday night/Monday morning, I paid for the WiFi in the hotel. But after that, I checked my e-mail Monday night in the lobby. After that, I had no access until I got home Wednesday night.

It was awful! Because Heavy Metal came out on Tuesday, and I couldn't be involved with the release at all! HUGE thanks to all my fellow Entangled Publishing authors for helping get the word out on Facebook and  Twitter while I was gone.

I'm not the only one with a new release! Entangled has a slew of new books out this week. Particular shout-out to the Select authors who share my "book birthday":

Heaven and Hellsbane by Paige Cuccaro

Deep Rising by N.R. Rhodes

Other releases include:

Ivy Entwined by Laura Simcox, Entangled Edge

Risky Surrender by Robin Bielman, Ever After

Eat, Play, Lust by Tawna Fenske, Flirt

Take Me, Diane Alberts, Ever After

One Night at the Spa by Kathy Lyons, Ever After

The Demon's Desire by Kenda Leigh Castle, Covet

The Awakening: Liam by Abby Niles, Covet

Chaos by Christine O'Neil, Entangled Teen (Ember)

Darker Days by Jus Accardo, digiTeen

Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Entangled Teen

The Liberator by Victoria Scott, Entangled Teen

Everlast by Andria Buchanan, Entangled Teen

Relic by Renee Collins, Entangled Teen

Gamble in Gold by Natalie Anderson, Indulgence

There's definitely something for everyone in that mix, so check them out!

Now, I'm off to play catchup with work, writing, laundry, and prepping for my blog tour. Let the insanity continue!

A Kid's Perspective on a Mom's Writing Career

Her view overlooks this spot.

So two weeks from today, Number One will be moving into her dorm room overlooking Boston Common. Two weeks from tomorrow, we will kiss her goodbye and drive home to our one-child household.

I had a chance to guest blog at Peanut Butter on the Keyboard this weekend. The writer moms running that blog mostly have little kids, and one of the universal traits of writer moms with little kids is guilt. Especially those who have kids and a day job and write. We feel like we can never give enough to everyone.

I envisioned doing a chat with Number One for this guest post, but it ended up being a long-winded interview. (She comes by the trait naturally, and I'm sure that didn't need to be said LOL). So part of the interview is up at PBoK right now, and the rest of it will be on Everybody Needs a Little Romance on 8/23. Want to see what a kid who grew up with a writer mom thinks? Check it out!

~~~~

Also, don't forget to enter the Goodreads drawing for a copy of Heavy Metal, which releases this month!

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Goodreads Book Giveaway

Heavy Metal

by Natalie J. Damschroder

Giveaway ends August 26, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Who's Your Mystery Man Facebook Event

My newest publisher imprint, now named Entangled Ignite, is launching the new look with a Facebook event this Thursday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. EDT. You can learn more or join the event here.

Throughout the week, the featured authors will be posting clues on their blogs leading us on a hunt to determine/discover the men who inspired their heroes. Read the blogs, collect the clues, and attend the party to win giveaways! There will be a $100 Amazon gift card grand prize and the authors will be personalizing Authorgraphs (digital autographs of their book covers) for anyone who wants one!

Here's the lineup for the week:

Today!

Kay David http://kaydavid.com/blog
Stephanie Feagan http://www.stephaniefeagan.com/

Tuesday 8/6

Joya Fields http://joyafieldswriting.blogspot.com/
Maya Blake http://mayabauthor.blogspot.com/

Wednesday 8/7

Cathy Perkins http://cperkinswrites.com/sample-page-2/
Naima Simone http://www.naimasimoneauthor.blogspot.com/

Thursday 8/8

Elle James http://www.ellejames.com/
Eve Devon http://www.evedevon.com/blog.html

This Awesomeness is Just What I Needed Today

Via Facebook!

Started at The Daily Dot here and here. But I loved it so much I wanted to embed the original videos all together.







I want to hug all those kids in the last video, but the passionate little one especially!

Indulgence Cover Reveal!

I don't write for the Indulgence line at Entangled Publishing, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to participate in the reveal of the line's sexy new look!

Indulgence brings together classic romance, new and fresh voices, and alpha heroes. They're short contemporary romances that are edgy, light, and whimsical and guarantee a happily ever after.

Below are three of line's newest releases. Check them out! And click the banner on the left to see all the fantastic new covers in greater detail.

Famously Engaged, by Robyn Thomas

A chef and a rock star. They couldn’t be from more different worlds…

Rock star royalty’s favorite son, Jake Olsen, couldn’t help but interfere after listening to his future brother-in-law talk non-stop about his ex-wife, Beth Carlisle. Jake decides that the only way to get the groom’s mind off his ex-wife is to give her a fake fiancé.

Before Jake can convince Beth of his plan, he's forced to move in with her to avoid the paparazzi. Their instant attraction makes for a sizzling "first date", but soon Jake’s fame gets in the way and Beth wants out. Too bad Jake's figured out just why her ex is so obsessed with her, and he's afraid he's not going to be able to give her up either.

Now it's up to Jake to convince this chef together they make the perfect recipe.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble (Coming)

The Wedding Gamble, by Cindi Myers

Preschool teacher Laura Nichols is celebrating her birthday and sister's bachelorette party in Vegas. Being in Sin City is thrilling and she intends on tapping in to her wild side. Laura can't resist the added excitement that comes with saying yes when a hunky man off the street proposes...

FBI agent David Abruzzo has been working undercover as a thug to bring down the Zacolli crime family, but his cover depends on convincing the mob he came to Vegas for a quickie wedding. If they catch on to his plan, his cover's blown, and he's as good as dead.

Over the course of 48 hours, David and Laura use rollercoasters, glowing condoms, and exotic male dancers to stay alive and bring the crime family down. But it will take more than Lady Luck, one night of passion, and a little Vegas magic to turn their fake marriage into something real.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Dishing Up Desire, by Barbara DeLeo

Image consultant Blake Matthews is facing his toughest PR challenge yet: salvage the image of celebrity chef Kirin Hart. Once he does, he'll be able to acquire LA's most successful PR firm. But Kirin's no easy fix. She's stubborn about changing her comfortable homemaker image, and is being sued for sexual harassment by a junior staffer. She needs a PR lifeline fast. Only problem is Blake wants more than to make her over...

Kirin doesn't need a makeover--her fans love her as she is. But she could lose everything if the sex scandal and reputation that has followed doesn't get quashed right away. Kirin agrees to let model-perfect Blake work his magic for two weeks, but things get complicated when she can't deny the way her body flares to life whenever he's near.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Gambling on a Heart by Sara Walter Ellwood

Gambling On A Heart
Book 2 of The Colton Gamblers

Blurb:

She once lost his heart on a bluff. Will she risk everything to win it back?

Beautician Tracy Quinn spends her days making the women of Colton, Texas beautiful, while living down the nickname of Olive Oyl, given to her by the only man she has ever loved—Zack Cartwright. She spends her nights alone, despite what her ex husband wants their friends and neighbors to think.

Ex-rodeo cowboy. Ex-bad-boy. Ex-Marine. Widower and single dad Sheriff Zack Cartwright can describe his life in exes. One ex in particular reminds him of what’s missing in his workaholic life: Tracy Quinn. For years since she broke his heart, he’s practically made avoiding her a second job. He still wants her, but can never go after her.

When cattle rustlers target her brother’s ranch, Tracy and Zack are stuck working together. Her son could use a positive male role model, and his daughter is wild for a chance at a “substitute” mom. But Tracy’s ex threatens to sue if she lets Zack near her son, and the Colton grapevine is abuzz with rumors about their past relationship. Is it worth the gamble to see if what they have is more than lust?

CONTENT WARNING: Spicy sex

Excerpt:
“I was hoping you could keep me company this afternoon.” He skimmed his fingers over her cheek.

Her insides, heating up like lava under the surface of the earth, pooled in her low belly. Her lips parted.

Against her lips, he whispered, “Tracy, I want you.”

She had thought of little else since he’d left her standing on her porch Friday night. He was asking her to enter into a sexual relationship without any hope of a future--without love.

But she was already in love with Zack.

Both of their kids would benefit from them being together. Hadn’t that been what she’d decided while she tossed and turned in her big, empty bed?

With her gaze locked on his, she murmured, “I want you, too, but I have a stipulation.”

He leaned back. “What is it?”

“I’m no one’s bed-buddy, Zack. I know what my reputation is in this town, but it’s all wrong.” She swallowed her rapidly thumping heart back into place. “I’ll only go through with this, if you promise to treat me as a serious girlfriend. That means we date, we visit with our families and we share our kids.” When his expression hardened, she quickly added, “Mandy likes me. And I adore her. I’d like to bring her here, to the shop, for a few hours and play. And take her shopping. I know your mom tries, but she’s busy with her foundations and charities she does for the Junior League.”

The breath she sucked in was full of Zack’s scent of sage and leather. “Meanwhile, you can teach Bobby how to ride and maybe take him to the sheriff’s department and show him around. Jake won’t like it, but I’ll deal with him.” Having laid her demands out on the proverbial table, she held her breath, waiting for him to tell her what she could do with herself. After all, a man of Zack’s caliber could have any damned woman he wanted. Tracy was just handy, and according to the gossip of her ex-husband and mother-in-law, she was easy.

He studied her for a few moments. “That’s more than one stipulation.”

“Take it or leave it.”

“Tracy, it won’t change what I told you Friday night. I’m never getting married again.”

His words stung as much now as they had the other night, but she didn’t show him how much. She kept her face determined, as if she were haggling over one of his horses, rather than her body and soul.

“Fine. But I’m not a floozy. Yes, I’ve made mistakes. But I have my son to consider. And I’d hope you’d feel the same about Mandy. They’re bound to see us together. What do you plan on telling your six-year-old daughter when she asks about me? That I’m your friend with benefits? I know that isn’t what I want to be teaching my son.” Moreover, she didn’t want to give credence to Jake’s claim that she had no sexual morals.

“Okay,” he said at last. “We’ll play the game your way.” He pressed her against him. “Luck would have it I’m off this afternoon, too. I’ve already put in sixteen hours.”

When his lips captured hers, she knew she’d made a pact with the devil, but she couldn’t stop the elation surging through her. There was something he wanted from her. Sex was a big portion of it, but something else kept Zack from walking away and hooking up with any one of the many available women in town.

Bio:
Sara Walter Ellwood is an award winning author whose novel Gambling On A Secret was named by bestselling author Carolyn Brown in the Happy Ever After Blog on USA Today as one of her favorite romances of 2012. Although Sara has long ago left the farm for the glamour of the big town, she draws on her experiences growing up on a small hobby farm in West Central Pennsylvania to write her stories. She’s been married to her college sweetheart for nearly 20 years, and they have two teenagers and one very spoiled rescue cat named Penny. She longs to visit the places she writes about and jokes she’s a cowgirl at heart stuck in Pennsylvania suburbia.

She also writes paranormal romantic suspense under the pen name of Cera duBois.

Buy Links:
Lyrical Press | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Kobo

Author links:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Sign Up for Newsletter

Giveaway:
*Please leave your email address to qualify*

Tour Grand Prize is a swag pack full of goodies! A signed copy of Carolyn Brown’s Just a Cowboy and His Baby, an ebook copy of my last release Gambling On A Secret, a notebook, a pen, and a custom jewelry set—all tucked into a keepsake box. A $20 value.

*Swag pack is for the entire six-week tour. Winner will be announced on September 1, 2013

*Open to Continental US citizens 18 years and older and where not prohibited by law.

*For the complete list of rules click HERE (pdf).

Now That's What I'm Talking About! A non-spoilery review of White House Down

A couple of weeks ago, I saw Man of Steel and came away disappointed because of the lack of character development, sufficient character motivation, and wanton destruction with no thought to the consequences. 

Today, I'm here to say that White House Down was, surprisingly, a far better movie. I know, right?!

Those who pay attention to such things tend to go into a Roland Emmerich movie expecting something fun, funny, and full of action with the highest stakes imaginable. A true popcorn movie that you pay to see simply to be entertained. I found much more, and think this is his best film since Independence Day.

Emmerich has done his share of wanton destruction, so it was really nice to find him fairly restrained with this movie. Things blow up, but they're specific and non-gratuitous. The writing was solid, the character development just enough to make us care about the people we're watching. I know that makes it unfair to compare this to Man of Steel, because they were trying to do two very different things. One was a one-day event while the other spanned a lifetime. Still...

The opening of the movie was nicely tense. If you have a basic idea of the storyline, you know right away, as each person is introduced, what is going to happen to them. I found the initial invasion a bit too easy, though they did set up why that was. I just thought someone would have fought back, at least had time to draw his weapon. But that minor complaint was offset by great actors doing a great job, from the big names (James Woods!) to the unknowns (that bad guy who referenced Speed with such deliciousness!). Especially good was the actress who played Channing Tatum's daughter, who brought off a tricky combination of terror and bravery with aplomb.

Number One and I give this two enthusiastic thumbs up!

Not Your Average Day of News

Let me know when the bombardment's over

I came home yesterday to a positive barrage of news. Some so incredibly good, some so incredibly bad, and some just mind-boggling.

Number Two is very into tennis, so first I got hit with the rundown of retirements and upsets. She'd started the day with her favorite player getting injured and having to retire, so that bummed her out. It got worse when Federer went down and freed up the path that would have been John's.

While I watched that suprising win over Federer with her, I browsed my Twitter feed. OMGYay, DOMA defeated! Prop 8 dismissed! Fantastic!

Aaron Hernandez arrested. Patriots release Aaron Hernandez. Then, a short time later, Aaron Hernandez charged with murder.

Somewhere in the middle, shocking in its timing and its (fan-related) connection to home, was the concurrent arrest of Cleveland Browns rookie linebacker Ausar Walcott for murder and immediate release by his team. In this house, we are a fairly equal blend of New England Patriots fans and Cleveland Browns fans. As far as the teams go, Walcott (undrafted rookie who hasn't done anything yet) is obviously a much lesser impact on his team than Hernandez (star tight end with $40 million contract). But murder charges in the NFL? Two on the same day, and both of them for our teams? Kind of freaky.

So then I come on down to my computer to get to work and I learn of a woman being outed for plagiarizing. She claims she hired a ghostwriter and didn't know that person stole the work. Her bio claimed *she* was a ghostwriter who got such unheralded acclaim she decided to publish her own book. But then once discovered, she said she can't write.

Mind-boggling!

Did I miss anything else? What other news stories made your eyes pop yesterday?

Man of Steel? More Like Man of Sillyness

I love action movies. I was the one who dragged my husband to see the latest Die Hard film, and my geek factor rose to 20 over Iron Man 3 and Star Trek Into Darkness. 

The one thing most action movies have in common, though, that I really hate, is indiscriminant destruction. Yes, I thought The Avengers was the best movie of 2012, but I really cringed for New York during the whole final battle.

But at least in The Avengers the good guys were trying to stop the destruction, and MOST of it came at the hands/bodies/creepy ships of the aliens. At least we were shown the people in harm's way, and the effects on some of them as the battle raged. I could forgive the excessiveness in a film that had fantastic characterization and acting, a solid, interesting plot, and well-developed motivations.

Man of Steel? Not so much. WARNING: From this point on there are rampant spoilers for the recent film Man of Steel. I'm holding back nothing. So read on at your own risk.

I was a little wary of this film before I went. I didn't care for the Dark Knight trilogy all that much, and wasn't sure I'd like the "darker, grittier" tone that was supposed to match those films. I also was a little bored at the idea of the Zod storyline again. But I love Superman (and really, more I love Clark Kent) so I wanted to give it a try.

*heavy sigh*

It turned out, I liked the Zod storyline overall. Russell Crowe was good as Jor-El, and I found the extended backstory of Krypton actually interesting. I appreciated that they took a new approach to Clark and Lois's meeting and connection. And I thought the most interesting thing about Clark's personal thread was his struggle (and sometimes failure) to always be the better man. The best part was seeing him save people, and then be passive aggressive against a bully.

But his character development fell far, FAR short of what they were striving for. They NEVER gave ANY hint that he had this rule about not killing people. (If I missed it, please feel free to correct me in the comments!) They did a decent job showing his dilemma when Zod threatens the entire planet if they don't turn him over, and I can appreciate the hints of "is he a hero or a threat?" that flow throughout his interactions with the human military.

But then they start fighting, and it all goes to hell.

First, they destroy Smallville. Not just General Zod and his cultish followers. I have to insert a whine here about how they made a big deal of how Kal-El would soak up the young, strong rays of the yellow sun and develop powers as he grew up, and then Zod and his crew got those same powers after, oh, five minutes. Their invulnerability was kind of ridiculous. So anyway, then they start flinging each other around the town, blowing apart buildings and making things explode and taking down military helicopters. The "saving" that Superman does isn't quite enough to sell me on the colonel or whatever saying "this man is not our enemy."

During this battle, Clark gives no thought to the innocent people who might be behind the walls he just smashed down. He doesn't try to move the fighting away, or to rescue anyone. Afterward, he's all grave and melodramatic in thanking the colonel for seeing that he's not a threat, but he doesn't go see if anyone was hurt in all that shrapnel and structural collapse.

And THEN. They go do the same thing in a couple of big cities. Zod doesn't care, he wants to destroy all of humanity so he and his five fellow surviving Kryptonians can start over (I guess they'll harvest the 20,000-year-old babies in the genesis chamber of the crashed scout ship, because of COURSE they haven't reached their expiration date yet). Buildings topple, cars fly around, pavement buckles. We have an odd stretch where Perry and some guy from the Daily Planet try to save some chick as if we should care desperately about her plight, when we barely met her and I never even caught her name.

So after all that, when there are probably thousands of casualties already (not counting the babies in the destroyed genesis chamber), Zod doesn't get sent back to the Phantom Zone with the rest of them and he's determined to end Kal-El. Ensue a pointless fistfight because they both have the same powers and indestructability. AGAIN they plow through buildings and probably kill thousands more people without a blink of Clark Kent's eye. Zod uses his infrared vision/laser eyes to threaten a family, and Clark kills him to stop him.

And then Clark yells an anguished "nooooo!!!!"

So I kind of figured that was because he'd killed the last of his kind, leaving him all alone, but the debate all over the Internet (ref. Entertainment Weekly) is all about how a major trait of Superman is his sometimes desperate attempts not to kill anyone, ever. For me, it's not about whether it's okay for him to kill. It's about whether the writing sucks or not, and this writing pretty much violated every major "rule" of characterization.

Any action can be justifiable if it's well motivated. In the bus scene where Clark saves his classmates and his dad thinks that was a mistake, have Clark argue that life is more valuable than reputation. Give him an opportunity to stop a horrible crime and instead of physically harming the culprit, turn him over to the authorities. Have him at least SAY something about moving the fighting out of Smallville, and let him lead the bad guys to open land. Destroying trees and abandoned buildings and the occasional farm implement will satisfy your mindless need to smash for no reason. Then when the whole planet is in danger from the World Engine, let him lament the loss of life a little bit. Give it some depth, not just a tossed off concept. Have him go crazy with grief at all the people being killed by Zod's relentless attack, let him have a full conversation with SOMEONE at SOME point about his responsibility not just to save lives, but to avoid taking them. When he fights Zod, let his blows be about avoiding collateral damage instead of causing as much of it as possible.

Then, MAYBE, I might buy that he has some remorse over killing the bad guy.

As it is, I'm left feeling that Superman is not all that super, and is in fact kind of a douche.

What did you think? Do you disagree? Counterarguments welcome in the comments!

Welcome Guest Blogger Louise Rose-Innes

When my friend called me a few years ago and said, “My only New Year Resolution last year was to have a date for this New Year’s Eve, and it isn’t going to happen,” I replied, “That sounds like a romance novel in the making.” So she promptly asked me to write a happy ending for her, since it didn’t look like it was going to happen in the real world.

That’s the beauty of romance...

We live in a dream world of hot, alpha men who are rugged but gentle, rich but unpretentious and macho, yet caring. The heroines are feisty but sensitive, beautiful but confident, and successful in their own unique way. It’s an ideal world of escapism.

THE NEW YEAR RESOLUTION is the result of our conversation. Nicole, a single mum and divorcee, decides it’s time to get back into the dating game—but only because she needs some fun in her life. Not because she’s looking for anything serious. So a “no-strings” New Year’s Eve date with jet-setting eco-tycoon Ryan Jackson is just the ticket.

Except Ryan needs Nicole for reasons of his own... He’s out to change his womanising image, so as to raise money for his latest eco project, and he needs an ordinary, respectable girlfriend. Nicole fits the bill to a T.

So Nicole’s New Year’s Eve date turns into a week-long vacation on the idyllic tropic island paradise of Medjumbe – off the coast of Mozambique—with Ryan and his prospective investor. All she has to do is pretend to be Ryan’s girlfriend for the week, and enjoy an all-expenses-paid beach holiday.

Except the hot, balmy climate, the close proximity and the undeniable attraction between Ryan and Nicole make keeping their relationship on a pretend basis virtually impossible to accomplish. As their passion sizzles under the tropical sun, Nicole finds herself falling for the jet-setting playboy—which is a complication she does not need.

Already fragile from her divorce, with an important job and a child, Nicole can’t afford to put her heart on the line for a man whose previous girlfriends include an impressive list of royalty and supermodels. So she tries to back out of their deal, only to discover it’s a lot tougher than she thought.

If she leaves Ryan, his reputation will be in tatters and he’ll lose his funding—a fate she doesn’t wish to bestow on him. However, if she stays, and continues the facade, her heart will be inextricably damaged, which is a risk Nicole is simply no prepared to take.

Then the paparazzi get wind of their affair...

THE NEW YEAR RESOLUTION is available from Amazon.com here.

About the Author

Louise Rose-Innes is a romantic novelist who lives in the United Kingdom. She is a member of the Romance Novelists Association (RNA) and a member of the Professional Writers' Alliance.

Louise has self-published three non-fiction books, two contemporary romances and one short novella. Her latest romantic suspense has been acquired by Entangled Publishing and will be available later this year.

In addition to writing, Louise runs a popular marketing blog for writers called www.MarketingForRomanceWriters.com. Here she blogs on eMarketing techniques for writers including social media marketing, self-publishing, Web PR and Promotion.

Louise loves to hear from her readers, so visit her at www.LouiseRoseInnes.com or on her Facebook page - www.facebook.com/romantic.novelist or connect with her on Twitter - @LouiseRoseInnes.

Thanks so much to Louise for being my guest today! THE NEW YEAR RESOLUTION sounds like a great read and is already on my wish list!

If you all were to make a no-holds-barred new year's resolution like Nicole, what would it be?

This is What a Blog Looks Like When You're on Deadlines

I can't read that headline without singing "When Doves Cry." Weird, huh?

So, yeah, I'm on deadline. I'm actually ahead of it, so I decided to post something here before I hit a month since the last post.

Though "ahead of it" sounds much more optimistic than it is. I had to do some massive moving things around, which was tricky, but I got all the timelines smoothed out and changed all the emotional stuff that was different because of things happening earlier and new things happening and stuff. And then I got to skip past gobs and gobs of deleted text that had been moved to earlier pages. That was very satisfying, seeing my daily progress go so high and thinking I'd gotten past the hardest part.

And then I realized the next scenes are totally effed up, as far as timelines go. So okay, yeah, I'm probably procrastinating a little bit here, too.

So what else is going on in my life? Number One just graduated from high school! I think I've mentioned here that she's going to Emerson College in Boston at the end of August. So we're immersed in the logistics of that big change.

In the meantime, we're enjoying the Harrisburg City Islanders games. They've had the best start in the 10 years of their existence, and even though more than half of my favorite players are either gone (retired or on other teams) or hurt, they're still a joy to watch.

It's also Big Popcorn Movie season! I absolutely LOVED Iron Man 3 and enjoyed Star Trek into Darkness (but not as much as the first one of the reboot). I'm intrigued by Man of Steel and Pacific Rim and White House Down. My tastes are definitely all over adventure movies lately, with less concern about quality than I used to have. Not to say those movies won't be good. We'll see.

I have to admit I'm torn about Much Ado About Nothing. I've loved everything Joss has ever done, but my brain just doesn't get Shakespeare. I mean, I can *get* it, but it takes so much work I have a hard time enjoying it. And since I'm supposed to be a smarty-pants, that's hard on my ego. LOL

We are almost through the drought between regular-season TV and summer TV. Thank God they do new programming in the summer, right? It's my go-to destressor and I have definite withdrawal symptoms when nothing's on. Graceland started this week, and I really liked it. A house full of beautiful people, what's not to like? :/ Seriously, though, they seem to have hit the chemistry factor, which to me is the most important thing. Well-written, well-acted shows have suffered from a lack of chemistry, while silly or mediocre shows have flourished because they had it.

Besides chemistry, I liked the setup and introduction. They had a decent balance between giving the new guy a hard time and making his entrée into their world rough and also welcoming him and treating him as one of the team. An even more intriguing balance has been struck on the theme of trust. It's almost impossible to do the work they do without trusting each other, because they can trust no one else, and no one can trust them. And then, at the end, a few seconds of phone conversation shake that all to hell.

I'm also excited about the return of Falling Skies, Continuum, Royal Pains, Franklin & Bash, and Covert Affairs. Those should hold me until fall! :)

Okay, that's way too long for a blog post to begin with, and I really must go solve my timeline issue. Tell me what you're doing this lovely June!

Sunroper, Retreat, and Yummy TV

Wanna see the cover of Sunroper, book 3 in the Goddesses Rising series? (There is a wee little wren hopping around outside my window, warbling and then singing a song way too big for it! I love it!)

Sorry about that. Anyway, you can see the cover here on my main website, and how it matches up with the rest of the series. Eventually I'll get this blog moved over there in its entirety. Like, maybe October, after I get through the Deadline Frenzy of 2013 and before I hit the Release Madness of 2013/14.

Tomorrow I leave on my annual writing retreat! Long-time readers are rolling their eyes and saying, "Oh, come on, are you going to wax rhapsodic AGAIN about four days of no cleaning, cooking, working, outside obligations, nothing but writing, talking about writing, and partying (about writing)?" Of course not, that would be boring.

I can't decide what to work on. I mean, my first Entangled Suspense novel, of course, since I expect to get the revisions tonight and isn't that perfect timing? But since I can write as much as I can physically handle, I also want to work on Man of the House, a short story I hope to be the first in a series, and Harte and Soul, the third book in my Soul Series, and Taking Action, a new romantic adventure I started three retreats ago and had to abandon for deadlines, and a cool YA series I've had percolating for two years. I don't think I can tackle ALL of that, so... We'll see how it goes.

Okay, now let's talk about TV. I'm bummed that it's finale season, but excited about a few new fall shows. I think all my current favorites escaped the massive ax that hacked apart the networks' schedules (except Go On :( ). The Castle finale was kind of tame, but the end surprised me. I would have been annoyed if they'd backed off the Caskett relationship just because you're supposed to do that. I think the conflict is more interesting because of the challenge of digging deeper and going all in.

The Revenge finale, by contrast, was not tame. There were lots of leaps of logic on the characters' parts, but I can forgive those. Not sure I can forgive what they did to Declan and Nolan, and anything to do with Charlotte feels like a lame attempt to keep her relevant, but the rest of it? Emily's confession and not revealing what Daniel did to Aiden and the difference between Conrad's choices and Victoria's, equally awful but seething with heated emotions where he's as cold and empty as the vacuum of outer space. But the actor sells it so damned well.

I'm really looking forward to watching Arrow and Supernatural tonight and Nikita Friday. What Amanda has done to Nikki is... Yeah.

Despite the 50 or so shows ordered for next fall, there are only 13 I'm currently willing to give a try. The synopses of a handful intrigue me: The 100, Star-Crossed, and The Tomorrow People on the CW; Crazy Ones and Intelligence on CBS; and as midseason replacements, Us & Them (though I'm not high on it yet), Killer Women, and Mind Games. Enlisted was the only comedy that actually made me laugh. I like the actors, they seem like they have good chemistry, and the premise doesn't completely suck. Sleepy Hollow intrigues, but the trailer made me feel like it might be *missing* that all-important chemistry, despite good writing and production values.

But I am freaking EXCITED about S.H.I.E.L.D. and Almost Human.

S.H.I.E.L.D. already looks like it has it all. Joss Whedon. Phil Coulson. Humor. Chemistry. Quirk. New actors we have no preconceived notions about, and a couple of cool old favorites. Superheroes. Action. And a winning franchise already tied in. This one can't start soon enough!

When I watched the trailer for Almost Human, I was disappointed at first. I love Karl Urban, but the robots  didn't look like they could hold interest. Then he shoved his partner out of the moving car and it was demolished. Then he got his new partner. I like Michael Ealy, too, and from there it looked amazing. JJ Abrams is probably going about 50/50 now with the TV shows he's backed, but this one should raise his percentage.

Okay, I am officially off the clock in 8 minutes. Yay, retreat! But I will be back here to chat in the comments, so let me know how you felt about the finales and which shows you're looking forward to next season!

Springing into Euphoria

I always say fall is my favorite season with a slight edge on spring, but I think I might have to swing that the other way slightly. Kind of like a couple of years ago I went from slightly more Dean-girl to Sam-girl and now I'm back. Dean is just...guh...right now.

But I digress.

I figure I have a low-grade seasonal affective disorder, because every spring, I hit this moment of euphoria that has no true cause. Today was that day for me.

Oh, sure, there are things that contribute to it. Saturday was the 10th season home opener for the Harrisburg City Islanders, and they won the game 5-1 (!) and it was their 100th win, and that was all very cool. Sunday I spent the entire day revising a book, and despite the deadline looming over us, it just felt so good to immerse myself in the purity of writing. May is almost here, and that means great movies, Mother's Day, and my annual writer's retreat. And Roxanne St. Claire's book comes out tomorrow. So, you know, there's plenty to be happy about!

But there's got to be more to it. Daylight has been increasing steadily for a few weeks, and that has a an obvious psychological effect, but there's got to be a tipping point that puts this euphoria on me. I slept poorly and not long enough last night, so I should have been tired and grumpy. Instead I was excited and even bouncy, if you can believe it. (Those who've met me in person would not likely believe it.) I haven't felt this good in at least six months, and it's such a relief. But telling, because I remember the day I felt like this last year, and I would bet you anything it was the same week.

Usually when I listen to my iPod, it's the Harry Potter books or podcasts about football. Today I rocked out all the way home and then did a few chores so I could keep singing. I'm pretty sure I traumatized the retired folks in our neighborhood singing "I Write the Songs" on my way to the mailbox.

Whatever it is, I'm digging it. :)

So how many of you have similar moments, and what do you think triggers them?

Amazon Freebie for Three More Days

Amazon has price-matched Soul of the Dragon so it is now free! Go here to download it now!

The promotion will only officially last through April 30, at which time I'll be setting a special price of $2.99. I don't know how long it will take Amazon to match that again, so hurry over and get it today!

You can also get it free at other preferred retailers. Click here for the links.

A thousand years ago, a jealous mage cursed a young lord into dragon form to keep him from his soulmate, a peasant girl coveted by the mage. They have three lifetimes to break the curse.

Twice they have failed.

Alexa Ranger doesn’t remember the lord’s son who was her soulmate three lifetimes ago, nor does she recall their previous attempts to break the curse—each one ending in her death. But she does remember Cyrgyn, the golden dragon who has haunted her dreams since childhood and has appeared to her now to begin their final attempt.

A highly trained spy, Alexa has been preparing for this mission her entire life. But her skills are no match for the desperate mage who has lost none of his command of magic—and none of his twisted, possessive need for her. She is determined to save the dragon she has come to love, but there is more than the curse standing in their way…

Reflections on Humanity

On Saturday, my husband and daughter returned home from a short trip to Boston, satisfied and decision made. On Sunday, we paid the enrollment fee for her to attend Emerson University, on Boylston Street. On Monday, two bombs went off on that very same street, mere blocks from where she will be attending college.

Our connection to this horrific event is so tenuous it's almost not worth mentioning. We are lucky that no friends or family members were harmed in the blasts, and I can't claim any personal emotional trauma due to the event. But still, the coincidences tie it closer to us than any other such event has ever been.

Amidst the intense reactions in the news, on social media, and in my daily life, I hear variations on a theme, a lament about the state of humanity. But I have come away from this with the opposite.

My heart is full of respect and pride and love for all of those who responded the way they did. For the immediate outpouring of support and aid. For the bravery of those who went to help, heedless of the possibility of a secondary blast. Even for the feelings of horror and compassion and sickness in the pits of stomachs, because those put paid to the notion that we are desensitized by fictional violence and separated by a gulf created by the Internet and decreased personal interaction.

There are humans, individuals who are sick by many different definitions. Dreadful things happen every day, many of them perpetrated on innocents by cowards or sociopaths. "Evil" has always existed, and always will.

But those humans do not comprise humanity. They are, in fact, devoid of humanity. When we give coats to strangers and save the lives of the injured next to us because that's what has to be done, we are displaying the traits that make that word what it is.

We will take care of each other, and when the time comes, we will bring the full force of humanity behind the hammer of justice to ensure those humans not worthy of the name are punished.

Humanity is, in fact, in fine shape.

Routinely Impossible

People often say things like, "I need to get in the habit of going to the gym every day" and to talk about how many times you have do something before it becomes habit. But usually they're mixing up the words "habit" and "routine."

A habit is something simple, mindless. Reaching for my glasses when I got up was a habit, such a strong one that I did it for about six months after I had LASIK and didn't need them anymore. Going East on the Turnpike every day was such a habit, I did it automatically when I had jury duty one day and should have been going West.

Sucking your teeth when you talk. Flicking your cigarette with a thumbnail. Dropping silverware into the sink instead of the basket over the sink. These are habits.

You know what's not a habit, and never will be? Getting up before 5:30 a.m. to exercise at the gym before work four times a week. At best, you can make it part of your routine, and you're much more likely to be able to do it if you're a morning person and get off on the endorphin high.

I am SO not a morning person. My ideal sleep time is 2:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Strike one.

I don't get off on exercise. It has its advantages. I like the 2 lbs. I lost after one week of doing this. But forget endorphin high. I'm practically in a coma when I get done with a workout.

Strike two.

As I got in the car at 5:45 Friday morning, when it was dark and a fantastic 29 degrees, I wondered how long I'd be able to stick this out. I mean, it's not the first time I've tried to establish an exercise routine. Several years ago, I got up every morning to walk the dog for 15 or 20 minutes. Harry Potter audiobooks were a good incentive, but not for very long. It lasted a few weeks at best.

Getting up at 5 or 5:30 to work before work so I could write when I got home from work lasted only a couple of weeks, too. So we'll see how long I keep this going.

I'm stacking the deck in my favor this week. I've already got three sets of clothes laid out. When I go to bed I'll put them in the bathroom with my sneakers, so I don't have the excuse of waking up my husband trying to gather things. As soon as I finish this post, I'm wrapping things up and going to bed early. So hopefully, I'll stick it out for at least one more week.

Losing another two pounds would be good incentive for week #3, right? :)

So what have you had to work hard to make part of your routine? Do you have any tips? Sound off in the comments!

R.I.P. Frisbee

In June of 2006 I was browsing cat shelter listings online, because a coworker was looking for a new cat. This long-hair with a curled ear caught my eye. First, because we'd adopted one cat already and finding a long-hair at a shelter was impossible at the time. Second, because our dog had ear issues, and we got the first cat as a companion for her and joked that maybe she'd clean the dog's ears. She didn't, and she had ear issues of her own. Plus, she matched the other two, color-wise. So she seemed destined for us.

Mostly, though, her story pierced me. The shelter had named her Frisbee because the person who brought her in had witnessed her tossed from the window of a moving truck. Awfulness and awesomeness all at once.

We brought her home. She hated us. She'd slice our legs when we walked by, bite if we pet her the wrong way, and walk around hissing and growling just out of orneryness. We called her Demon Cat. But slowly she mellowed. She started hanging out with us. Licking my husband's face, and curling up on my lap while I read (or wrote). She sat in the window and acted as town crier, announcing when each of our neighbors got home and then, with a very different cry, when one of us did.

The shelter had listed her as 2 years old in 2006. That would make her 9 now, but a couple of years ago, when she was diagnosed hyperthyroid, we knew that couldn't be right. I guess "2 years old" is code for "we have no freaking idea." She's at least 13, possibly much older.

A little while ago, she went blind suddenly. High blood pressure (not really measurable without invasive testing, bad at her age) or a stroke were the likely causes. Her vision came and went since then, but she gained a little weight. Then she lost it. And continued losing it, and went more fully blind. About a week ago she stopped eating and developed an upper respiratory infection. In two days she went skeletal, and spent all her time creeping around in a hunched posture. She wouldn't lie down, was clearly uncomfortable being held, and had increasing trouble breathing.

We weighed all the factors, and came to the conclusion that she probably wasn't going to get any better, even if we spend a lot of money trying. So as of half an hour ago, she's no longer suffering.

Goodbye, Frisbee. We love you.