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Lord Of Rage Cover Blurb

I can't tell you how excited I am about Lord of Rage coming out in October! Here's the back cover blurb - more to come:

Once upon a time...the Blood Sorcerer vanquished the kingdom of Elden.

To save their children, the queen scattered them to safety and the king filled them with vengeance. Only a magical timepiece connects the four royal heirs...and time is running out....

Princess Breena had been dreaming of her warrior lover when she was ripped from her Elden castle and thrown into a strange, dangerous realm. Lost and alone, she prayed for survival and vengeance for her stolen kingdom. She found both in a woodland cottage...in a dark bear of a man.

The golden-haired beauty had eaten his food and slept in his bed when Osborn found her. Though he wanted to awaken his virgin princess to carnal pleasures, Breena wanted more—including his warrior skills. Skills the once-legendary mercenary had long buried. Now Osborn had a choice—risk his life or deny his princess her fairy-tale ending.

Lord of Rage

I have a new cover! I'm so excited - I love it! I'll post the back blurb next week!

I'm Guest Blogging

I know it's been months since I blogged last, but I'm getting a lot of writing done : )

Today I'm blogging with the Blaze Author - come join me by clicking here.

Stuff To Do With Little Ones When You Can't Go ANYWHERE!

I've been watching the news and it looks like the East Coast is getting what we in Oklahoma just experienced...Snowpocalypse!!

Believe me, I know your pain and will assure you...you WILL leave your house one day. Snow does melt and your kids will be able to run free and wild again. But in the meantime, here are a few suggestions to keep kids busy with stuff you (more than likely) have around your house.

Popcorn Painting

Microwave popcorn
Evaporated Milk (could try sweetened condensed milk for a unique flavor. I haven't tried just plain milk).
Food coloring
Paintbrush

Pop popcorn
Mix several colors of food coloring in the different bowls of milk to give your little ones a nice palette.
Begin painting.

This will make the popcorn a bit soggy, but the point is to eat popcorn, right? You'll have plenty of non painted to go around!

Bubble Painting

Water
Dishwashing detergent (I find Joy works best for crafts)
Straw
White Paper (construction works best, but typing paper is find, too)
Bowls
Tempera paint (could use food coloring, but color won't be as bold. Tempera paint can be found at Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart of any crafty place.

Add water, paint and a few drops of detergent. Mix with straw.
Have child blow into straw until bubbles begin overflowing bowl. Drop paper on bubbles for a few seconds, then set aside to dry. Once the bubbles pop, they will leave beautiful designs on the paper to make cards, etc. (grandmas especially love this one).

Warning: THIS WILL GET MESSY!

Ice Cube Painting

Water
Ice Cube Trays
Popsicle Sticks
Paper
Food Coloring (optional)

Mix tempera paint with water and put in freezer. After about 30 minutes, add a popsicle stick to use for a handle later.

One cube is frozen, give child white paper, their frozen paintbrush and let them have at it.

Optional: While you're making ice cubes, you can make a few with food coloring of the primary colors. It's fun to place two cubes of differing colors in a bowl and let your child see what happens as they melt. This is a fun way to teach colors and what mixes with what to make green, purple and orange.


What Is Black?

Black magic marker (NOT permanent)
Coffee filter
Spray bottle of water

Draw a thick line down the center of the coffee filter. Use the rain or spray the coffee filter with water until the color starts to run. Kids will be amazed at the colors that appear from black. Most kids don't realize black is really a combination of many different colors.

Then you can make a butterfly...


Butterfly

Coffee filter
Markers
Spray bottle filled with water
Clothes pins
Black pipe cleaner

Have kids color the coffee filter with many different designs. Use the rain or spray the coffee filter with water until the colors start to run and a new design emerges. After the filter dries, attach to a clothespin and add the black pipe cleaner to make antennae.

Homemade Play Dough

This is a favorite activity because it's cheap, and keeps kids occupied for a long time and you can have a good math discussion about measurements. Cooking is all about science, and playdough is a good introduction to the concepts of solids, liquids, mixtures and solutions.

1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar (I've deleted this, and it still works)
1 cup water (get this as warm as possible)
1 tsp. veg. oil

Mix the dry ingredients - one suggestion from my friend Fancy That is to add a package of dry kool-aid. This adds great color and scent!

Mix water and oil together (ha!) then add them to the dry ingredients and stir. You can add pinches of flour and dabs of water until you get the right consistency. This will stay useable for about 2 weeks if sealed in an airtight container.

Oil and Water Don't Mix

This is a fun activity that bring in science. You'll need water, food coloring, oil, a clear cup/glass and a toothpick.

Fill cup about 1/2 full with water (another talk about measurements).

Pour vegetable oil on top. Watch as the oil and water begin to separate and the oil goes to the top. Give child a spoon to try and stir them together. Talk about why they don't mix (oil weighs less and floats to the top, and the for older students, water has a positive and negative charge, while oil has no charge and therefore don't bond. You can demonstrate charge by rubbing a balloon on carpet).

Continue adding oil until you have a good discernible layer at least a 1/2 inch.
Add a few drops of food coloring (it should suspend within the oil).

After everything has settled for a bit, poke the food coloring through the oil down to the water - pretty! Don't mix or shake, allow the food colored water the move slowly in the water creating patterns.

This was kind of fun revisiting my old rainy (snowy) day projects. May pull out some more next week!

Goodbye, Dear Friend

It's taken me several days to write this, because the world lost someone special on Sunday.

A few years ago, my online critique group began moving in different directions, and a writing friend, Donnell, invited me to join hers. That invite changed my life, because I made amazing friends.


This group of ladies has supported my writing and me and have truly changed my life. You'll find their names on almost every dedication page of my books, and on Sunday we're minus one because Donnell lost her battle with cancer.

Sometimes in the writing community, you'll see people discuss if you're a "real" writer if you aren't published. This, of course, is ridiculous. Writers...write. And it's the world's loss more people didn't get to read Donnell.

For Oklahoma Romance Writers she was the first to offer a smile, helpful tip and to make new writers feel welcome. She was still motivating others, sick and taking chemo as you can see by her last comments on her blog The Pink Spyder.

I can't think of anything better than to leave this world having helped, inspired and been a friend to others. Donnell did it all and more.

New Book - New Excerpt

It's November, and I have a new book out. SEALed and Delivered hit bookstands yesterday, and I couldn't be more excited. I have a contest in the works, which I'll announce later, but in the meantime, I'm posting an excerpt.

SEALed and Delivered can be found at eharlequin.com, Borders, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books A Million and a host of other places.

Not even the sound of footsteps echoed in the Naval Special Warfare Center as Lieutenant Commander Na-thanial "Nate" Peterson led his trainees through the corridor. Each exercise had grown steadily more dangerous, and even though they'd gone over every aspect in the classroom, actuality always heightened the senses. Made the tension more acute.
"Where's the party?" a trainee called laughingly from the back. "I hear you always know."

Nate's shoulders straightened. Strange thing about tension… some soldiers rose to the challenge, some men snapped and some, well, some of them bellowed smartass remarks to their superior.

"You're never going to live that reputation down." Riley laughed quietly beside him. Their steps slowed as they approached the locker area where the men would change into their wetsuits.

Nate shot a disgusted look at the man he'd known since their BUD/S training class. True, Nate had earned a reputation as a man who liked to play hard but he worked just as hard. Harder, actually. And yes, he always knew where the party was. But there was something all SEALs understood, and that was to keep priorities in order.

Something that smartass hadn't yet realized. Some men knew and understood from the beginning when to turn it off and on. Others needed that knowledge worked into their thick heads. Like the Ensign behind him. As it had been for Nate a few years back.

Nate stopped, and turned to stare at the man who'd called the question, not needing to see the man to know who he was. Harper treaded toward a familiarity he hadn't yet earned. "Maybe a party isn't what you should be concerned about, Ensign Harper. Your swim time is slipping."

The younger man's back stiffened, and the other trainees hustled quickly into the locker room.

"So's your conditioning," Nate added. This next minute would be crucial. How Harper handled the criticism would prove to Nate if that man had what it took to earn his Trident. SEALs took evaluation and adapted and made themselves better.

The Ensign swallowed. "I've passed."

Eight years ago Nate was this guy, with his BUD/S, Hell Week and Jump School behind him. All that stood in the way between the Ensign and the Trident that turned a man into a SEAL was The Finishing School or the official name—SEAL Qualifications Training, here on Coronado. With the end prize in sight, that was something a man could get cocky about. But that cockiness would be a downfall… no question about it.

Although surely that had been long gone in Nate by the time he'd hit SQT Some hardass instructor had ensured it. A man lost his swagger when he was wet, cold and covered in sand. Lost the arrogance, because his life, and that of his Team, depended on professionalism not ego.

Now it was his turn to make sure these men thought only of focus and discipline, and each other, not themselves.

Unfortunately.

"Minimum standards are forty-two pushups in two minutes. You content with the minimum?" Nate asked.

Something stony and strong-willed flared inside the other man's eyes. Good. "No sir," he answered, with nothing but determination in his voice.

No sir was right. Harper might just be the best man to come out of this class.

"Suit up," Nate ordered and turned, not waiting for a response. Their next drill was in an hour.

Once the candidates were out of earshot, Riley glanced at him. "How do you keep a straight face during that?"

Nate let his guard down a little and smiled. "By counting the hours until I'm out of here," Nate told him as they continued down the hall, just the two of them. "Besides, if I'm not on the Teams, I'm damn well going to make sure my replacement can do the job."

"Still doing the physical therapy?" Riley asked.

Nate shrugged. Three months ago, he'd been injured while rescuing a pirated freighter with rigged explosives. Now another man had his spot on his Team. While Nate was teaching. The muscles of his right leg cramped, and he breathed through his nose. Control.

But as soon as he was healthy, goodbye settling for being an instructor, goodbye Coronado Island, goodbye San Diego.

"If it's any consolation, I've heard good things about the training you're providing. I guarantee your fresh-off-deployment perspective will save a life."

He knew what Riley was trying to do, and appreciated the effort but men didn't join the SEALs for a pat on the back. Most of the stuff he and his fellow SEALs had done was so covert the files wouldn't be opened until he was long gone. Little would ever make the history books.

But Nate's friend did point out a reality. In another year, these men might be beside him down range. Most of these men he'd be happy to serve next to as SEALs… but they weren't there yet. He might not like instructing, but he'd make damn sure the new guys wouldn't hold a Team back. They'd be ready on day one. "So is there a party?" Riley asked hopefully.

"After this exercise, I'm on my way to pick up the beer," he said, with a wink.

"Hoo yah."

Whoo hoo! Naked!

The echoes of laughter flowed from the newly-repainted Tea Room into the modernized kitchen. Hailey glanced at her sister Rachel and smiled. "Those are the sounds of a good party."

"I have to hand it to you, Hailey. You did a great job with this wedding shower."

"As you've pointed out, I've had three. Glad something useful came out of those relationships." With a flourish, Hailey topped the last of the mousse with chocolate shavings. "Of course you can't really go wrong with chocolate and champagne."

"Or naked beefcake."

"I don't think The Sutherland is quite ready for that." Hailey lifted the tray and scooted backwards, pushing the door out into the Tea Room with her backside.

"The chocolate's here!" calledAmy Bradford, the bride to be. Although they'd been friends since school, they'd lost track of each other. Reuniting with old pals was another positive she could attribute to returning home.

"Wait," said a redhead, who Hailey had learned was the maid of honor. "The girls and I chipped in and bought you something to wear on your wedding night." The other guests met this announcement with everything from giggles to a few oohhs. In a flourish, she presented to the bride a large paper-wrapped box tied with a bright yellow bow.

"Five bucks says that box is empty," Rachel whispered.

Hailey glanced at the dozen or so women. Despite their pastel sundresses, these ladies looked like they were up for a little mischief. Hailey shook her head. "Not taking that bet."

Careful not to rip the ribbon, the bride did indeed open an empty box to the laughter of the group. With the last present now revealed, Hailey and her sister moved forward to serve the desserts. The rest of the guests made room on the table for the treat their little B&B had always been known for in decades past.

Amy glanced up toward Hailey. "I can't tell you how excited I am that you have reopened The Sutherland. When I was seven and a flower girl, my aunt had her shower here."

"Amy's had her heart set on this place ever since," the maid of honor added. "I couldn't believe my luck when I found out you just happened to have a free weekend."

The two sisters looked at one another. Yeah, they had plenty of free weekends. But it was nice to keep up the illusion of exclusivity.

"It was fate," Amy said with the kind of beaming smile only a woman about to be married could get away with.

Had Hailey ever worn such an expression at any of her wedding showers? She doubted it.

"And the Tea Room looks just as beautiful as I remember," Amy continued.

"Tell your friends," Hailey encouraged, ever the businesswoman, and ready to tear her thoughts away from her failed engagements.

After serving the ladies, and refreshing their tea, Hailey and Rachel began to discreetly clear away the wrapping paper. "I can't tell you how relieved I am," Rachel said quietly. This was the first real test of their hosting skills. While The Sutherland had been in their family for generations, and they'd performed their fair share of serving, their mother had always been the hostess.

Just to make sure the place shined, the last coat of paint to the Tea Room had gone up sometime around two that morning. Now looking around the beautiful banquet hall, Hailey experienced a swell of pride to see her home restored to as close as the sisters could remember it. The cypress wainscoting she was never allowed to touch gleamed. Prisms of light reflected around the room from the newly washed crystals hanging from the chandelier. The cornice molding gleamed with its new coat of papaya whip.

She just hoped no one looked under the crisp linens because the tables were a disaster. The management team apparently held an aversion to coasters. After hearing the delight of their new guests, the memory of all their hard work faded away. Grandpa Sutherland would be proud.

"This dessert is to die for," one of the ladies exclaimed.

Hailey winked at her sister.

"What's next?" asked another guest.

The smile faded from her sister's face.

The bridal party had already played Groom Trivia, Wedding Night Surprise, opened the presents and consumed dozens of champagne soaked strawberries. Hailey had heard so many off-color wedding night jokes, she could probably start a stand-up routine. "What's next?" her sister mouthed.

After being awake for nearly twenty-four hours, Hailey had hoped it was a nap.


© Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.