​Well this has been one heck of an end of year and start of a new one for me
 
I am on a lovely cruise with three of my mom’ first cousins. The sisters and Mom were raised pretty much like one family and since Mom couldn’t do this trip – I was invited.  As you probably can tell by the way I write my stories, I am a big fan of families and this chance was golden for me.  When your aunts are 80, 86, and 89, you don’t take them for granted!
 
Here we are arriving on the ship – Left to right my aunt Paulina, My aunt Julie, Myself, my aunt Mary, and their cousin Mary. No relation to me but you’ll see from other photos that we are true partners in crime! LOL. 

​We celebrated New Years on board and let me tell you, My aunt Mary and her cousin stayed up later than I did ! And for the record, never underestimate how much dancing keeps you young! 

​The new year started for me in San Juan. I’ve been there before. As a teen with my Mom, then a few years back on a cruise with my Mom again. Some of you might even remember that cruise with Mom as it’s the one where I wrote Shell Game. So much of that book – including the fire – really happened in some way or other, and the lowering of the lifeboats I used in one of the Honeymoon books (I think it was four) came from an even on that first cruise with Mom.  And of course yesterday, my aunts chose to stay on board and play rummy while my new partner in crime, their cousin Mary, and I explored San Juan

Yesterday (Monday) was a new island for me – I’d never been to the British Virgin Islands and I’m blessed to add a new travel spot to my list.  The waters of Tortola are gorgeous.  We took a little tour and had lots of fun. There’s still almost a week left of the cruise so I’ll report in next week. 

​For now, there is no writing. The trip is family time. And I must say, I owe a hug and thank you to my husband and daughter for letting me take this trip and representing me at my mother-in –law’s funeral. She passed away unexpectedly at ninety one the way I want to go, resting on the sofa after watching Wheel of Fortune. She closed her eyes and left this troubled world.  God bless all my family.
 
I’m off to play music trivia (you know how I love it!) 

It's a day of scrambling at the Keniston's so I apologize for posting so late. 

We had a lovely Christmas holiday with friends and family. We celebrate both Christmas Eve and Christmas day. I'm still working on mastering the macaroni and cheese recipe an inlaw gave me, but I'm getting closer. 

We volunteered to feed a neighbor's pet ducks for a couple of days and that was the highlight of my grandson's afternoon every day! 

My daughter gifted us matching pjs with our grands - so I'm hoping that my granddaughter continues to laugh and smile over hanging out with her Oma! 

The sad news, and reason we're all scrambling is that my mother-in-law at 92 years of age passed today unexpectedly.  We're shipping my hubby out to be there with his brother and sister tomorrow and making the arrangements for airfare and car rental etc etc has eaten most of our day. We appreciate prayers at this time. It's always a blessing to have a parent to live to such a ripe old age, and in our case, she'd called him this afternoon because she wanted to hear his voice. They got to visit for a bit and my granddaughter was nice enough to babble for her great grandmother. We were a little surprised to get the call only an hour later that she'd passed. 

I wish you all a blessed season and thank you for being here with us! 
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Boy am I running behind on all sorts of things! 

My hubby and I are going to put the tree up tonight - yeah - a bit late LOL.  And I'm hoping we can get some lights on the house so my grandson is delighted when they come for the weekend!  Since we rearranged the furniture - I have to figure out where to put the tree this year.  The corner where it usually goes is very crowded this year LOL. 

I had an unexpected run to the Houston area to help my daughter with a house she was interested in.  Turned out not to be the great fit they'd hoped for, but the bright side for me was more snuggle time with the grands! 

Yesterday I got to spend time with a group of authors discussing the business side of, well, business LOL.  It's always fun as we get to toss in photos of grands and exchange new project photos! 

Today is more work on the kitchen - yeah we are indeed doing the trickle method of kitchen remodel LOL.  The crown molding is going up and we got one new cabinet - I was so excited. It's the cabinet that goes in the island for the stepstool (which will share doggy treats), the extra oven racks when not in use, and the paper towel roll!  Couldn't be more thrilled. Still needs to be painted but isn't it perty ? 

The door for the bottom pull out hasn't been added yet - but you can see how it's going to work - I'm pretty happy about it - My goal is to keep as much as possible OFF the countertops.  We'll see how long that lasts! 

Bookwise I am miserably behind and hopeful that you'll have book three of the Billionaire Barons of Texas available from my website around the new year. It's been fun having so many of you venture out into my store front and get an early peak at what's coming! 

well - that's it for now!   Enjoy your week and all the holiday cheer coming your way! 

​I know it’s a little late but it’s been one heck of a busy week!
 
Just a little reminder if you want to read my new series early, book one and two are up for sale exclusively at my website store. Thankfully I have some very patient and understanding readers who were great about helping us work out the kinks.  I admit, it’s kind of fun giving a special perk to folks who have so graciously kept up with my career.
 
I’ve had the pleasure of a house guest for the better part of this week! A business associate and for many years now good friend. We’ve had quite a bit of fun together despite the work schedule. We went to my favorite steakhouse that not only serves absolutely delicious food, but lifts our spirit with live music including the Star Spangled Banner.  It warms a person’s soul to see everyone stop and stand, from the patrons, to the servers, to the cooks in the kitchen. I love this country! We also splurged on my favorite jazz supper club for dinner Saturday night. Sweet Judy Blue Eyes isn’t technically jazz, but they did a rip roaring rendition for an evening finally. I was probably singing, doo doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo doo, all night and then some!
 
To top off the weekend, we had a small gathering of writers at my home for the beloved plotting session. 

​Yep, we discussed Honeymoon for Six!  Have a few ideas and will be getting started on that book after the Christmas holidays.  I think this is going to be fun – think reality television, matchmaking and cruising all jumbled up! I can’t wait to see how it turns out!
 
Okay, that’s it for me for now – will catch up with y’all next week!
 
Do you have a favorite restaurant or night spot? 

Well I have been pounding away at the keyboard like a good little author - almost have book four ready for the editor! 

In the meantime - if you want to read the new series early as they are finished- you can buy them exclusively direct from my website! How cool is that. So far Book one and two are available and book three is almost done with the proofreaders!  Just follow the link:

On top of the news on my new series, there's more! 

I've joined together with a handful of wonderful authors for a Holiday Giveaway! Anyone can enter to win one of two (2) $100 eGift cards, one of two (2) $50 eGift cards, or one Book Basket with 10 eBooks by the amazing authors!  Click to Sign Up !

And now - we get to sit back, relax with all the new books, and I'll share my weekend dining experience while y'all read! LOL. 

It started out with a friend having a hefty gift certificate to one of the better seafood restaurants in town - anyone who knows me will know that I adore fine dining. I'm not even slightly intimidated by a full table setting (can even be critical if I'm not given a shrimp fork for my, well, shrimp! LOL), and truly enjoy the little details of a slow meal and good conversation and of course the best part - time with good friends. 

We arrive and our table was not ready so we waited for a few minutes. This of course is a fabulous opportunity for an author to people watch - it's also a good chance to remind me that truth can be stranger than fiction and I most definitely do not get out of my house enough! LOL.

The first thing to make my eyes pop was a lovely family. A couple with a 13 month old and Granddad.  My first thought, who brings a toddler to restaurant that will cost at least $100 per person to get out the door? Oh, well. To each his own. Then I looked down at the woman's feet. Beautiful dress, but with sneakers. That struck me as odd. In Texas, I would have been less surprised to see a gorgeous dress and cowboy boots. Well, my friend saw where my gaze had gone and leaned in to inform me they were - ready for this - $700 sneakers. Even if I could afford that kind of money- who the heck spends that on beat up sneakers? (Shakes head) 

The next couple was definitely great fodder for a rom com cover. The guy was in a burgundy velour suit jacket (might have been an old tux, who knows) and jeans. (Probably from the same designer as the dress and sneakers lady). His date: pink spiked short hair, huge colorful rimmed eyeglasses, a black and white leopard dress length jacket, red spiked heels, a huge tattoo of Frida Kahlo on her leg - flowers and all, blue nail polish, and so many other eye catching things that twelve hours later I can't remember them all. After all, it would have been rude to take a photo while they were posing for a photo - wouldn't it? LOL. 

Then there was the lady who had on a lovely dress, a rather fluffy fur jacket, and leopard heels tall enough to reach Mount Rushmore. Okay, maybe I exaggerate about the mountainside, but when I say they were ordinary pumps with a one or two inch platform PLUS six inch spike heels, I may be underguessing! Housepainters might use these instead of stilts! 

I move on to the dinner table - notice under the delicious key lime martinis there's a bright menu?? It's backlit - easiest menu to read I have ever come across! I had the lobster bisque which had yummy chunks of lobster (you can even see them in the photo), and she had the tomato salad - all absolutely delish. Then we both had the seabass - a favorite of mine - but I forgot to take a photo so here's the leftovers the next day, lol, and for dessert I had to swipe a photo from someone else because we were so flabbergasted I forgot to take a photo! 

Needless to say - I'm watching what I eat all this week! But it was SO yummy! 

And this brings me to my last thing for the day - anyone looking for a nice Christmas gift for a friend or family member who loves to read - From my store you can buy an autographed book bundle of two of my Holiday set books! How cool is that? Two books autographed for only $16.99 for the bundle.  That's a savings of Five Dollars! Buy here:  ​

Have a good week!  Catch you on the flip side!

I can't believe another holiday is behind us!  So much had to be figured out to make our family Thanksgiving come together and it did!  From the newly installed oven to the extra tables in the dining room. 

Of course, no surprise, guess who forgot to take a photo of the table settings?? Yep - yours truly. Completely forgot. I was so happy to have figured out how to make a dinner table suitable for 18 adults. yep. Eighteen adults and seven children! and we did it! 

I also discovered that convection ovens rock! lol - the non cook here was thrilled to learn I could put all six sides on three racks to cook evenly at the same time. Even if I only make big meals a few times a year, I will never go back to an ordinary oven :) - of course the sad thing about it is that I no longer set the sweet potato marshmallows on fire LOL. (Long story) 

Food wise the big hit for the night was the mac and cheese made by one of my in-law's in-law LOL. Yeah, my cousin's wife's sister's husband. Absolutely to die for and I'm hoping to get the recipe! 

As good as Thursday went, my favorite day is usually the Friday. No more time in the kitchen, no more planning and coordinating. Just family.  The advantage to a big house is there's room to roam.  I had some of the family playing board games in the dining room. (notice the two tables? LOL- for dinner there was a third for the kids!) 

and others were playing chess upstairs - the grandpuppy of course made the rounds from room to room lol.

 and of course - they say the kitchen is the heart of the home - so some folks just hung out chatting and best of all, laughing.  As you may see - there are still cabinet doors missing, and handles missing, and that's the old island, but it served its purpose well! As soon as we get the last details and the island done - I'll snap a photo of the whole room for you! 

There was also puzzle work at another table but like the dining room table, I forgot to take a photo! And if you're curious - the lady with the French beret is my mom. She no longer recognizes those she doesn't see often, but she still has a flare for style lol. 

All in all, a lovely weekend. The only downside is the diet starts tomorrow! LOL. 

As for book updates - any day now you'll be able to purchase Just One Date and Just One Spark early from my website store.  We're still hopeful they will be available at all vendors in January but it's still not confirmed. Just One Dance went off to the editor last night - hopefully this will be the last round! 

​So - what was the favorite food at your house? 

As the oldest member of my generation, and the only one with enough bedrooms for out of town guests - I have hosted Thanksgiving for the better part of the last decade.  Through those years, the table has grown. 

A few years ago I bought my dream table at a consignment store that with the three leaves is 11 feet long and can seat 14 people. If I squeeze nothing but really skinny people I can stretch it out to 16 but it really works best for 12.  We are having 18 adults this year. So we had no choice but to add another table. 

I freely admit I toiled over this for days and days - how to make it work. Should I make an addition with plywood and table legs? Should I buy a folding table? Do they even make 42" wide folding tables?  - and then yesterday morning it hit me - our old kitchen table - the same height and width of my dining table - is upstairs in my hubbies office for his research work.  Only now it's in what used to be my living room, butted up against my dining table 🙂. 

I have never been more thankful for whichever architect first came up with the formal Living/Dining combination!  All we had to do was line our living room furniture against the walls and extend the dining room into the living space. It will work fabulously - though I can't help but think as the kids grow and marry, I may need a house with a bigger dining room! LOL.  Does anyone actually make a dining table that seats twenty or so people for anyone besides the Queen of England?? LOL 😁

Since I'm woefully behind on so much - thought I'd share the intro to the hero in book three (Just One Dance) for the new series (the one I'm editing now) - hope you like him ! 

Here you go: 

     Pepper limping home was the crown on a miserably hot and unproductive day. If today’s mishaps were an indication of how tonight would go, Jared Gold was in serious trouble.
     “Uh oh.” Older than dirt, with legs as bowed as the St Louis arch, there was no man on this planet that Jared would trust with his horses as much as he trusted Randy. “What happened?”
     “Good question. We’d barely ridden the first small section of fence on the east pasture when she started favoring one side. I climbed off and checked her shoes, but didn’t see anything. I’m guessing she’s got a stone bruise. Before we went out this morning I cleaned out some pebbles from her shoes, but you know how it goes.”
     Salt and pepper brows buckled under loose locks of cayenne red hair. “You wear your boots out walking her all the way back?”
     “Just about.” Jared patted the horse’s neck and scratched under her jaw. “Didn’t want to take any chances.”
     “Smart man.” Randy smiled and reached for the reins. “I’ll take a look at her. You’d better be gettin’. Your mama has called me three times in the last hour, looking for you.”
     “Blast.” Jared snapped his fingers and glanced at his phone. Almost five thirty and two missed calls from his mother. “Tonight’s that stupid gala. Promised Mom I’d step in for Dad.”
     “So she said, but isn’t this the fundraiser for building homes for troubled or disabled vets?”
     Jared nodded.
     “Doesn’t sound stupid to me.”
     “No.” Jared blew out a long sigh. He stood corrected. The ranch foreman had been like a second father to him since coming on board with the Golden Creek ranch over twenty years ago. Jason Gold was a great dad but had no interest in the ranch that had been in his family since Texas was its own republic. Everything Jared knew about horses and ranching he’d learned from Randy. Everything he’d learned about being a man and a decent human being had come from both his biological and ranch families. “It’s a great cause. One I’d be happy to cut a nice check for. It’s the dinner and endless superficial chatter that’s going to be a stupid way to spend my night.”
     “Understood.” Randy was a cowboy through and through. He’d never survive a night buttoned up in a tuxedo and sipping champagne. Though the way Jared felt at the moment, he wasn’t all that sure he’d survive a night dressed like a penguin, making nice to Houston’s social elite either. 
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Hope you enjoyed it!  Books one and two will be available for discounted purchase on my website any day now - so keep your eyes open!  And until next week - May you have more than ever before to be thankful for! 

I had a wonderful rest of my visit with the other authors in Galveston 

I managed to get the last of edits done on Book One for the new Baron Series - Just One Date. YAY - of course I'm still slaving away to get more books done to keep up with the release schedule but I'm hopeful. 

I'm also thrilled to be making progress on my house before the holidays. Sunday we moved everything out of the dining room and living room and found a place for it in the kitchen. Well - some of it is on the counter because the shelves haven't been installed - but it's progress!  

Today the electrician ran the new circuit for the oven so after the a/c vent is installed on Wed - we can install the cabinet and oven - yay!!  It really looks like I'm going to have a functioning kitchen for Thanksgiving :) 

 Just a quick reminder that my Christmas stories are in one collection 'Tis The Season and - on sale! for only 99 cents! -  Tell ALL your friends - okay - tell your enemies too LOL :) 

Okay - that's it for today - I think next week will be slower paced - at least - I hope so! 

​have a great week everyone! 

Well it's been a busy week! I spent four days in downtown Houston for a writer's conference with 350 other authors - it was very very interesting!  

I think one of the more interesting things about the stay is at the time we signed up, no one could possibly have known that it would be World Series weekend, or that the Houston Astros would be in the series, or... ready for this, that the opposing team, the Phillies would be staying in our hotel.  It was absolutely fascinating watching the entire stream of people, all ages, with backpacks, and small bags being led into the hotel from the back door to avoid the lobby and all the people.  We just happened to be eating dinner in just the right spot to watch all this.

Then we spent a good deal of Saturday free time people watching. My most favorite was two particular tables of women. Another author and I watched, surmised, and concluded that the eight women in casual clothes with limited makeup and fuss had the be the wives table and the table with the big hair, full makeup , fashionable shoes, and striking outfits had to be the girlfriend table. We got confirmation from our waitress that we guessed right - the young lady was so shocked that we were able to figure it out lol. We explained watching people, and drawing conclusions, is a key part of our jobs lol.  Then of course, somewhere close to midnight I realized the Astros had won the Series - mostly because the horns were honking outside our windows well into the wee hours of the morning. At least people were having a good time! 

Anyhow, one of the nice perks of my trip to sales tax free clothing in PA last month is that I had something fresh and different to wear every day. Here's a photo of myself with my legal rep in my nice blue top ! 

Now I'm here trying very hard to finish book four of the Barons (yes I'm WAY behind schedule) for my editor's deadline of the 10th.  This is going to be a hard push, but at least we have beautiful views. There are nine authors in total here at the gulf coast. There's also so much to process after a conference and we decided to process it together. It's amazing how much you learn and then how much you realize you missed once you start talking to others. No better views for me - I love time at the shore! 

I will be home by the weekend and hopefully will have more kitchen updates soon! 

Until then, where is your happy place? 

It was supposed to happen Saturday afternoon. Then is was supposed to happen This morning. And now.... after lunch... it's happening!  My counters are going in! 

Here's a single photo to give you an idea - I have to leave tomorrow for a writer's conference in Houston so there won't be any more work done on the cabinets until I get back, but I'm guessing I will have a functioning kitchen in time for Thanksgiving.  The island may not be ready by then - but the sink, the cook top, the counters, and with the Grace of God the oven will be ready to go! 

I am so happy I could do a jig. I have wanted to redo my kitchen for at least 20 years. Always thought the design was backwards and senseless. Six years ago an architect redesigned it for me for my daughter's wedding (we had a party for 100 people at my house and I was hoping for more room to roam lol). Well, we did rearrange the left side of the kitchen to make more room but a big wedding and a completely new kitchen weren't in the cards. 

It's taken five more years to finally get this done but I am so excited I could dance all the way to the conference tomorrow! 

As for everything else in the book world. It looks like the Barons of Texas won't be out until January - again date still to be confirmed, but the good news is that for those of you who like saving money, the ebooks will be available soon on my website at a 10% discount off retail! How fun is that!  Will also keep y'all posted when that happens! 

Okay - lots going on today so I'm going to cut this short. It's a nice sunny 70 degree day in my neck of the woods which makes for good writing weather! I have catching up to do! 

See you all next week - same bat time, same bat channel ! LOL  (who's old enough to remember that one??!! lol)