Slowly but surely

Dieting sucks. LOL. I've tried it a million times in the past and I think I finally found a combo that works for me with diet and excesses. I've dropped seven pounds in two weeks and while I'm super happy about that and the number motivates me, its still damn hard! It's a struggle for me every day. I'm the type who looks at food and a pound or two jumps on me. Not fun. But I've made the decision to stick with it this time. My goals are going well for me so far. I'm taking it one step at a time and slowly but surely, I will get there.

Do you struggle with weight loss? Found something that works well?

The grass is always greener...

I live in Southern California. I'm not from here. I come from a little town in Southern Oregon that most people have never heard of, but when my husband and I had our first child we decided to move here because all his family lived here and by a stroke of luck, my sister had recently moved here with her husband as well.

When we first moved here the thing I was most excited about was, NO MORE RAIN. LOL. Five years later, I miss it. Never thought I would, but I really do. Now, I'm sitting here in the beginning of January and its supposed to be seventy five degrees today. The sun is bright and while I know my friends in other areas are green with envy, I'm feeling the same way about them. Who would have thought you could get tired of sunshine? Don't get me wrong, I love it but after a while, you start wanting a little diversity. I want rain, clouds. Am I crazy? LOL. Guess its true what they say. The grass is always greener on the other side.

Favorite reads of 2009

I read a lot of books in 2009. I'm the type that gives myself time to read every day. I have to, if not I go a little crazy. LOL. It's my way to wind down after the day. That one thing that is mine and mine alone after a day spent caring for the hubby and kidlets. I read some great books, some okay books and some books that just didn't do it for me. These are my favorites of the year. They weren't all released in 2009 but that's when I read them :)






He wanted all of her—and did she ever let him have it...

Vic Savian knows what he wants when he sees it. And what he wants is his sexy neighbor, Niall Chandler. When he finds her in the hallway of their building being harassed by an aggressive suitor, Vic steps in—and finds himself greatly rewarded...

Sleeping with her gorgeous neighbor—when she didn't even know his last name—was the craziest thing Niall's ever done. Now, she can't seem to get enough of Vic—or the uninhibited passion he stirs in her. Suddenly, with his help, she's opening to sensual pleasures she's never known before. But when Niall's past comes back to haunt her, will she and Vic let themselves venture beyond the bedroom and explore the possibility of the love that's in their hearts?

author website


A friend of my recommended this book to me. It's an awesome erotic romance. Hot, hot, hot, but also emotional which is right up my alley! It's the only book I've read by this author, but I plan to get my hands on more!







When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more. In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

author website

This is a YA while I know that's not every one's cup of tea, this is a fantastic book. I devoured the whole thing in one day and then promptly brought a copy for my friend and had it mailed to her. It's sweet and takes on some hard issues, like young men in gangs. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a sweet romance.






In a frozen wilderness steeped in darkness, the lines between good and evil, lover and enemy, are never black or white but drawn in Shades of Midnight.

Something inhuman is stalking the frigid Alaskan wilds, leaving unspeakable carnage in its wake. For bush pilot Alexandra Maguire, the killings stir memories of a horrific event she witnessed as a child and evoke in her the inexplicable sense of otherness she has long felt within herself but never fully understood . . . until a darkly seductive stranger with secrets of his own enters her world.

Sent from Boston on a mission to investigate the savage attacks and stop the slaughter, vampire warrior Kade has his own reasons for returning to the frigid, forbidding place of his birth. Haunted by a secret shame, Kade soon realizes the stunning truth of the threat he faces–a threat that will jeopardize the fragile bond he has formed with the courageous, determined young woman who arouses his deepest passions and most primal hungers. But in bringing Alex into his world of blood and darkness, Kade must confront both his own personal demons and the even greater evil that could destroy all he holds dear.

author website

This is one of my favorite paranormal romance series. I fell in love with Dante in book too, fell harder for Tegan in book three and loved the books in between. Now I have Kade who is battling Tegan for my heart. Kade is a HOT, hero who wants to take care of his woman, but he doesn't deny the fact that she's a capable woman who can take care of herself too. Gotta love that in a man...err...vampire. LOL. This is a great series and Shades of Midnight was one of my favorite books in it.





Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner—are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat

author website

WOW!!!! This was by FAR my very favorite read of the year. In fact, all four books in the series are on my list but I figured I didn't need to post them all here. I picked this book up after it was recommended to my from Stacy. I read all four books that are currently released in one week. I neglected my dinner duties a bit but Cat and Bones were SO worth it. I laughed out loud countless times in the series. Cat and Bones not only have great chemistry but their banter is fantastic. Bones...what can I say about this hero? I think he's probably my number one hero off all time right now. He's sexy, strong, capable, tough, a great sense of humor and he loves Cat so much it made my heart twitter. There's great action in the books and Cat is a wonderful, kick-butt heroine who doesn't sit around and need to be taken care of. Love that about her.

And as a side note...there is one scene, chapter thirty-two in book two that is the hottest vampire love scene I have ever read...I almost need a glass of water just thinking about it.

There you have it. My list of my favorite reads of 2009. Any books you read last year that you want to rave about? Inquiring minds want to know!

Goals...gotta love 'em!

Every year I load myself down with a ton of resolutions. I always have big plans and the best intentions, but guess what? The first month of the year I always kick butt, working on the humongous list with fervor. By February, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed, but still in the game. My March I'm usually ready to burn the damn list. LOL.

So, it's taken me a few years to figure this out, but I think I finally have. A big ole list of a million resolutions is never going to work. It's too much. Guess how many of my list of ten I usually accomplish? One or two. This year I'm going about this a different way. I'm scratching the word resolutions and listing them as goals. I'm not hanging the list next to my computer to taunt me every day but they will be in the back of my mind. My goals are things I've wanted to work and would be working on regardless of the fact that it's a New Year.

1. Finish the weight loss I started last year. It's a tried and true resolution/goal that most of us have on our list. This year I want to scratch it off for GOOD. I've been working the past couple months on it so it's not something I'm just starting on the first. I'm kind of a work in progress in that department I guess you can say so maybe the fact that I've already been working toward it will help me. I'm already in the zone.

2. I want to at least equal, but hopefully write more this year than I did last. I already have my next couple projects lined up on paper so I just have to sit down and write them.

See? Easy right? LOL. Now lets see how I do on them...

Do you make resolutions or New Years goals?

Happy New Year and something FUN

Hey all. Wanted to take a minute to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I'm a day late, but seems I've been able to say that a lot lately. LOL. It's the thought that counts, right?

I'm planning a big month here. Mid January I will be having a blog party to shake things up! There will be prizes, guest authors and tons of fun. Check back for more details!

Bliss available NOW

Ethan Malone has had his fair share of women. Life is short and he damn sure plans to enjoy it. When Lindy Bliss starts work at Malone Constructions, he never expected to want her. She’s nothing like the women he usually brings to his bed. Immediately he’s drawn by her quality work on the job, and her sharp, sarcastic tongue. Of course, the way his name hugs Lindy’s breasts in her work shirt has a whole hell of a lot to do with it too. He needs to get the tomboy, with the stripper name out of her faded jeans and tool belt, so he can play with the feminine curves beneath.

Before he loses a finger or two because he’s distracted by his perpetual hard on, Ethan propositions Lindy for a no-holds-barred weekend of sexual pleasure. Once he has her under his roof and in his bed, he isn’t sure he wants to let her out again. Having Lindy beneath him is exactly what he thought it would be…pure Bliss


Excerpt:
Lindy ordered her usual Coors Light and added an order of cheesy fries. Her stomach grumbled in anticipation for the grease and beer fest she had planned.

A few minutes later her meal arrived. She wasted no time diving in to savor the fries and cheese on her plate. Behind her, the rickety door creaked open. Loud footsteps crunched across broken peanut shells in her direction. Stuffing another gooey, clump of fries in her mouth she chewed like she hadn’t eaten in days when a familiar scent of freshly cut trees, and the musky smell of a hard-working man swirled around her.

“Been a while since someone fed ya, has it?” Ethan pulled out the bar stool next to her and sat down.

Great. Just my luck.

Lindy finished her bite. “Well, I’ve been so busy picking up the slack for all the meat-heads I work with I hardly have time to do something as trivial as eat. Not used to a woman eating in front of you? I may be thin but I’m not a dry salad kind of girl, like the ones you’re used to, I’m sure.” She pushed another bite in her mouth. This one not as big as the last though.

Rich, hearty laugher erupted from Ethan’s perfect mouth snaked around her, causing goose bumps to pebble up her arms.

“I have to give it to you for your comebacks, Bliss. That one was pretty good. A crock of shit, but funny.”

Lindy downed the rest of her beer in one gulp. “Isn’t it bad enough I have to see you all day at work? Why are you coming into Smokey’s now too?” Ethan and his younger brother Shane did come in from time to time, but they spent most of their time at The Last Chance. Smokey’s was pretty far out of town. Not that Last Chance was all that big to begin with, but she figured the guys liked to hang out closer to town since that’s where they lived.

“Free country.”

He gave her a wink and smile. His smile made all the women in town melt like warm butter. It pissed the hell out of her that it worked on her too. Not that she’d let him know it. Before she could think of something smart to say, Smokey walked up.

“I’ll have a bottle of Coors.” Ethan tilted his head toward her. “Bring another light beer out for the lady, too.”

“I can order for myself, Malone.”

“Oh, come on, Bliss. Aren’t ladies supposed to like it when a man orders a drink for them?” The right side of his mouth rose as if he tried to hide his smile.

The man took pleasure in grating on her nerves. She could see it in the light in his sparkling blue eyes. “Only a woman without a brain--like the ones you usually date.”

“Usually, huh? Does that mean we’re on a date now?”

Oh yeah. He was enjoying this. Ethan Malone was the devil himself. He didn’t even try to hide his smile this time.

“I guess I’ll leave you two alone.” Smokey looked at her and winked. She hadn’t even realized he was still there. And what the heck was the wink about? She’d known Smokey since she was ten years old and the man never winked at her.

“Please, you know we aren’t on a date as much as I do. First of all, I don’t date jerks and second, I’m so not your type.”

Ethan took a swig of the beer. “What makes you think you’re not my type?”

“I have eyes.” He licked his lips and watched her. She kind of wished she was his type, which surprised the hell out of her. Honestly, even though Ethan was the hottest thing in a pair of faded jeans and a tool belt, he wasn’t really her type either. It wasn’t too often that Lindy dated, but when she did, the men sure weren’t womanizers. Or alphas, and Ethan was both of those.

“The women I date have eyes, Bliss.”

Lindy tried to hide her smile. “Good one, Malone. You know what I meant. I’m not stacked, flirtatious, and I don’t put out to any man with a six-pack.”

Ethan set his bottle on the bar. “So you’ve noticed my six-pack, huh?”

This time she couldn’t help but laugh. Part of her knew he was serious. The man really did know how hot he was, but that wasn’t his only quality, he had a good sense of humor. Ethan joked around more than anyone she knew.

“You’re incorrigible.”

“You like me.” He leaned toward her. “Admit it, Bliss. You want me just as much as I want you. You might not be my usual type, but you’re damn sexy and I have to tell you, I’m tired of pretending I think otherwise.”

Lindy knew she stared at him open-mouthed, but there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it. Never in a million years did she expect to hear Ethan Malone come on to her. Hell, they didn’t even get along all that well. But he was right. She wanted him, but was it in her best interest to have him? Being the only woman on the site, she already had to fight for all the guys’ respect. If they found out she was sleeping with Ethan, one of the owners, she’d never live it down. “Listen, Malone.”

Ethan reached up and put a finger to her mouth. “Shh. Don’t even say it. I want you, Lindy Bliss, and when I want something, you can be damn sure I’m not going to give up until I have it.”

Available HERE

Finding that middle ground

Madison Scott for Writers Gone Wild

I was chatting with a writer friend of mine about heroes. She writes the best alpha's because these men are strong and dominant. They're blunt when it comes to sex and how much they want the heroine, which is damn hot, IMO, but they also have those sweet moments. Those moments where they can give in a little bit and be romantic and...in a way...soft. I LOVE that. I think it takes a strong writer to pull that off in a hero and to me, it's the best kind of hero. We don't want hard all the time, and if you can pull off that dominant alpha hero with a soft spot for his heroine, you've sold me!

I think that middle ground is some times hard to find. Where do you draw the line? You don't want a hero who is always dominant or hard or he can come off as a jerk. But then, we don't just want that sweetness either, at least I don't. I like my men cocky, dominant, with those hard edges, but with the ability to, at the right moment, be softer for he heroine.

What king of hero do you love? Who are some of your favorite heroes that walk that middle line?