My New Book Was Reviewed In Meridian Magazine!

It is Halloween and I got a treat---my new book was reviewed in Meridian Magazine!

I am so thrilled.  My favorite part of the review was this line, "Be sure to block out enough time to read this one from cover to cover because there aren't any good places to stop."  Love that!

You can read the entire review here  (And then come back and tell me what you thought!)

Word Count Wednesday

Well, if you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, or read this blog, you know I've been considering writing a novella.  I wasn't sure if I could really do it and do justice to it, but then the idea came to me.

I've been outlining a great story for Colby and Sophia from my novel Ashes Ashes, to show more of their romance and where they are now.  It's sort of shaping up as a Christmas story, though, and I can't decide if that's good or bad.  But I really like how the romance and outline so far.

So, in honor of having something new and fun to write, I'm going to be doing a word sprint tonight.  If you can come, that would be great! Same time as usual 8 p.m. MST.

(And for those of you who have asked, no, I'm not doing NaNo this year, but I will still do the word sprints every Wednesday and hopefully help/cheer on those of you who are.)

How was your word count this week?

Castle's Halloween Episode---A Hit and Miss For Me

Before we get to the review, I have to share the 4.5 star review *I* got for Pocket Full of Posies.  Cindy Whitney says she's getting addicted to the series.  To see what else she thought and read the entire review click here

Last night's Castle had some good moments and some not-so-good moments.

We start out with Castle and Martha going to Alexis and Pi's new apartment for dinner.  Castle still can't see what Alexis sees in this guy and doesn't keep his feelings hidden.  He's openly condescending to Pi and you can see the anger building in Alexis.

I was trying to decide what bothers me most about this storyline and I think it comes down to the fact that we have no background on Pi from Alexis's point of view.  Did she fall in love with his generosity in Costa Rica? Are they even really more than friends? What happened between them in Costa Rica because it's really out of character for her to do something like this, so I see Castle's point.  Pi just seems like a plot point for angst between Castle and Alexis.  And her anger toward Castle is a bit overdone.  When she whines that he didn't tell her about proposing to Beckett and she doesn't know if him and Beckett are right I was thinking what? You've watched him with Beckett for five years, encouraged him, pushed him, and everything else you could do for him and Beckett and now your dad doesn't like your plot point, maybe "boyfriend" and you don't know if him and Beckett are right?  That's your excuse?  Yeah. Who is this Alexis and where is the real one.  (Of course if there can't be Caskett angst the logical next angst for him would be Alexis, but at least make it believable.) I did like Martha in the scenario.  Her gushing over the apartment was cute.

Then on to the case.  I didn't really like the case either, but there were some good things. I'm not a big fan of occult and the opening scene was too much for me.  I liked Castle's hypothesizing and the way it was being set up as a Da Vinci code thing or maybe National Treasure.  And, on a shallow note, I also really liked Beckett's hair last night.  Gorgeous!  (Ryan's little aside of sometimes wishing Beckett was back in D.C. was funny, too.)  Beckett's classic skepticism was on point with Castle's possible motives but I have to say when Castle sticks his hand in the mouth to pull the lever to the hidden tunnel and screams, the look on her face was so funny.  I loved that scene in National Treasure, too.

I liked the twists and turns of the game that wasn't a game, and finding the treasure in the sarcophagus. Castle's face when he picks up the bag of treasure and all the doors close was almost as good as Beckett's with the hand thing.  But then we get the wrap-up to the case, and it didn't really jive.  Her cousin was questioned early on as her only family, but then says he needed the money for his sick mother. What?  So he wasn't really her only family since she had an aunt then? And her supposed only family would really kill her in such a gruesome manner for money for his sick mother?  That seemed out of place and a tad bit unbelievable for me.

So, some good moments, some not so great.  What did you think?

P.S. With Castle being so up and down for me, I've started watching The Blacklist.  Anyone else watching that?

Book Review: Carla Kelly's Christmas Collection

I need to apologize first thing because this review was supposed to go live on Oct. 14th, but because of a small snafu on my part, it is going up today. So I am sorry for that.

Today it's a little cold outside, the last of the leaves are falling off the trees in front of my house, and my mother in Canada just called to tell me that there was a big snowstorm in her city and she has to go dig out her car.  This means winter is on its way and what better way to celebrate that than reading a collection of Christmas stories?

Carla Kelly has put four Regency Christmas stories together in her Christmas Collection that are sure to touch your heart and put you in the mood for the coming season.  The thing I like about Carla's stories is that they are so filled with emotion and have such unlikely heroes and heroines.

For example, in the first story, The Christmas Ornament, we have two fathers talking about their unmarried children.  The daughter is bookish, a wannabe scholar, who seems to put off suitors with her intelligence. The son is a scholar who doesn't seem to have time for love, so the two fathers scheme to get them together. What follows is an emotional, funny and cute romance that had me smiling right up until the end. There's no dashingly handsome man and a achingly beautiful heroine, but two regular people with problems and rumpled looks who just might find love with one another.

Make A Joyful Noise has a really tender love story between a man who lost his wife and a woman who's lost her husband and is expecting a child.  Her situation is quite dire as she's a "foreigner" and staying with her horrible in-laws who treat her abominably.  I loved this story best I think, because of the tender feelings and the way the hero is so forgiving, loving, and accepting, even when he has to face some pretty big obstacles.

The Object of Charity was a little harder for me to get into because the heroine is first introduced as a possible teenager and the hero is a weather-beaten experienced captain of the sea.  They do eventually overcome some fairly large obstacles of their own and really test out the theory of forgiveness for family members by putting it into practice.  Very apropros for the season.

The Three Kings was another one of Carla's clever heroes who doesn't look much like a hero. I loved Luis' quiet way about him and how he did his duty and honor to keep Sarah safe, even at a great cost to himself. The adventures they go through, the suffering they see and try to alleviate from war-torn Spain is something think about when we come across small ways we can help suffering around us as well.  The traditional Spanish The Three Kings song and the pageant were also really interesting to me and I know Ms. Kelly has done her historical homework as always.

All of the stories were long enough to engage me, and yet short enough I could read each one is an hour or less.  Another great collection from romance writer Carla Kelly that I recommend for anyone wanting to get in the holiday spirit.

Here is the back copy: 

Come explore Regency London with Carla Kelly! This collection features four stories that will warm your heart with Christmas cheer:

The Christmas Ornament: When the father of his now-deceased best friend hints that he should consider his daughter as a potential wife, Lord James Crandall isn’t sure he can get past the fact that he used to tease her mercilessly when she was just a girl. But once he finds out how brilliant her mind is, he’s not sure he can get past the fact that she’s a woman. Add in the fact that her charms have garnered the attentions of other gentlemen, Lord Crandall is in for quite the roller coaster Christmas.

Make a Joyful Noise: Widower Marquis Peter Chard is grateful for his two children, but not so grateful when his mother gives him the chore of recruiting people for the parish Christmas choir competition. When recently widowed and pregnant Rosie Wheatherby turns up with the voice of an angel and the looks to match, Lord Chard isn’t about to let her get away from the choir . . . or his family.

An Object of Charity: Stuck on land while his ship is being repaired,Captain Michael Lynch is approached by his late first mate’s niece and nephew. Learning they are destitute, he decides to take them home with him for the holidays, returning for the first time in 22 years ago. As he spends more time with them and unburdens his heart to the young woman, she replaces his hurt with love in time for a very special Christmas.

The Three Kings: After her brother is shot by the French in Spain, Lady Sarah Comstock is forced to travel across the war-torn countryside with a Spanish Colonel. As Christmas quickly approaches, Sarah learns about the Three Kings giving gifts to the Christ child and finds a gift of her own that she can share—her heart.

Filled with romance and a touch of humor, these stories are sure to find a place in your heart and remind you that Christmas is a time for love.

Review of Hawaii Five-O Fallen Hero

Last night's episode was full of emotion and action---everything I love to have in a show.

We start off with Kono and Adam who are running from the Yakuza still.  They get away and are hidden in an alley when Adam says he's going to draw them away from Kono and meet her someplace in an hour.  They say goodbye and he goes back to the road where he is immediately picked up by the guys chasing them while Kono watches.  That didn't sit right with me.  Sure, he doesn't want them to catch Kono and gives himself up, but really? They didn't even look for her at all? See the car about a hundred yards away? And why would Adam go back to the road?  Why not draw them away by giving them a glimpse of him while he runs and hides or something? Giving himself up seemed a needless sacrifice since he has to know Kono will now look for him and refuse to leave without him.  Which she did say to Chin later in the episode.  Still, great action in the chase and great emotion in the goodbye.

Then we move on to Billy and Catherine on surveillance of a cheating husband. Talk about awkward! They see the mistress leave and are packing up to go when another car pulls up with a shooter.  Billy and Catherine both go to confront him after he murders the cheating husband, but both Billy and Catherine are shot. Catherine's wound is in the arm and she manages to get Billy to the hospital before she faints.

Cut to Steve's garage where he's working on a car and Joe walks in. They talk a bit about Doris, who Steve is trying to contact and he wants Joe's help.  Why, I will never know since Joe is rarely honest with him.  Later on, we do see Joe stealing something from Steve's father's toolbox and Joe seeks out a guy who seems to have answers to Steve's questions.  The new secret source tells Joe to be careful what he tells Steve.  That annoys me a lot, but whatever.  Hopefully Steve can find it out on his own, but I digress.  Steve's phone rings and it sounds like the hospital or someone official telling him about Catherine and Billy.

The scenes with Steve at Catherine's bedside while she's waking up were some of my favorite of the season. The emotion between these two is so well done.  Steve is clearly having a difficult time telling her about Billy and when he finally does, Catherine turns over in grief and tears.  Not overdone, but a perfect pitch. Steve stands to tell her how sorry he is and to kiss her head.  And I love that the next scene we get with these two, he's in the hospital bed, cradling her, until she rips out her IV and heart monitor leads to get up and go find Billy's killer.  Steve is obviously torn here because he wants her safe, to stay and rest in the hospital since she's been shot and all, but he also does know how it feels to want to find justice for a friend.  When Catherine presses this point, he caves and helps her leave.

They head up to the cabin crime scene where the HPD are waiting.  Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a crime scene.  The cabin is pristine, no blood spatter, no body.  Steve gently asks Catherine if maybe she got it wrong and she's the one who smells bleach on the floor and finds fresh paint.  So there, Steve! They go back to Five-O headquarters to talk about the little evidence they do have and there is a really sweet hug between Danny who's come back to help with the case and Catherine.  Awww.  I love how easily Catherine seemed to fit into the team and the action scenes were very well done.  Car chase with the guy who stole the car with the body in it, shoot-out with the killer, all so good. I also loved that they were keeping it real when Catherine froze at the scene of the shooter.  Seeing him lying there in his own blood with a stomach wound (just like Billy) when he's the one who shot you and killed your partner, would have an effect on anyone.  I'm interested to see if they follow up with any more of that reaction.

Of course the case was a teeny bit predictable. I called the culprit who hired the hitman early on.  Especially where they just showed the sarin episode the night before where the secretary did it then, too. But it was still a nice wrap-up.

The ending was full of respect for the military.  I liked the scene where Joe calls the M.E. down to tell him who Billy was and the funeral, flag ceremony, TAPS, the whole thing was fitting for the man, SEAL, and hero that Billy was.  The ending Irish song was perfection and the fact that Catherine is feeling guilt for Billy's death was so believeable.  Michelle Borth hit all the right emotional notes and really tugged on my heartstrings.  I can't wait to see how this unfolds if she does, in fact, join the team.

So, another balanced episode of emotion, action, and great teamwork for the Five-O family. Can't wait for the Halloween episode next week!

McRoll Fanfic #4

Always (An Episode Tag for the Season Premiere)

In the season premiere Catherine is kidnapped by the NLM terrorist group and Steve has to release some high value prisoners to save her.  This is the tag I came up with for when the episode ended.  As always this is for entertainment purposes only, I own nothing and no copyright infringement is intended.

They were all heading toward the parking lot when Chin’s phone buzzed.  “Hello?”  He stopped walking and Steve, Catherine and Danny stopped with him.  “Okay, I’ll be right there.”  Chin looked over at them apologetically.  “I’ll need a rain check on that drink.”

“What’s going on?” Steve asked, his arm automatically tightening around Catherine.

“Nothing to worry about.  I need to get back to HQ.  While I’m there I’ll make a few calls and see if we can’t reconstruct the hard drive and see what the NLM was after.”  When Steve was about to protest, Chin nodded toward one of the officers.  “Don’t worry, I’ll catch a ride.”  Chin gave them a wave as he zig-zagged in and out of the maze of emergency vehicles and officers.

“We’ll all need to catch a ride,” Danny pointed out.  “Since my car is a burned out shell.”  His eyes cut over to Steve and he raised his brows with “the look.”

“Lt. Lukela,” Steve said, greeting the man approaching them and ignoring Danny. “Could we borrow a car?”

“Only if you’re heading to the hospital.  From the looks of you, a doctor needs to check you out.”  Lukela jabbed his thumb at the car behind him.  “You can take that one.”

Steve didn’t give him an answer on his suggestion of the hospital, he just thanked him and opened the passenger side door for Catherine.  She got in carefully, as if she were in pain and suddenly he wanted to get her home, to make sure she really was all right.  Maybe a quick drink would be okay, though, since that’s what she seemed to need and want right now.   He went around the driver’s side, but Danny wasn’t getting in.  “You coming?”

Danny glanced at Catherine and then met Steve’s eyes.  “No.  I’ll take a rain check, too.  You need to take care of her and I need to get back to Gabby.”

Steve nodded.  Sometimes it was scary that Danny could read him so well, but at the moment he was grateful.  “See you later then, man. Good luck with Gabby.” 

“Yeah.” Danny shoved his hands in his pockets and headed in the same direction Chin had gone.  Steve slid behind the wheel.

“Where’d Danny go?” Catherine said, craning her neck to see where he was.

“He’s going to meet up with Gabby.”  Steve started the car and looked over at her.  “We need to get cleaned up anyway.”

Catherine leaned back against the head rest.  “I think your shirt is ruined.”

He looked down at the bloody shirt he still wore.  “Yeah, definitely.”  He watched her out of the corner of his eye.  The bruise on her cheek was darkening, making the rage curl in his gut again.  He took her hand, unable to describe the relief he felt at having her next to him, but the fear and anger still licked at the edges of his emotional control.  That had been too close.  He could have lost her today. 

She squeezed his hand and looked over at him, as if she knew the direction of his thoughts.  “I’m okay.”

He smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear, letting his hand caress her face for a moment.  “I know.  I just want to get you home, that’s all.”

She closed her eyes again and he knew the adrenaline was wearing off.  With everything that had happened, she had to be exhausted.  He pressed harder on the gas and in no time was pulling up in front of his house.  He parked and looked over at her.  She was so still, as if just taking everything in.  Maybe starting to process what she’d been through.  He leaned toward her, wanting to be close, to let her know he was there.  Always.  “We’re home.”

Catherine ran her palm over the stubble on his jaw.  Her touch was gentle, contemplative.  “I’ve never been so glad in my life.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” He rested his forehead against hers.  She was so small and yet so brave.  He admired that, but on days like today, it scared him.  He couldn’t lose her and he almost had.  Pushing that thought away, he pulled back. “Cath?”

“I’m okay.”  She smiled and gave him a quick kiss. 

He wanted to believe her, but knew she was hiding something from him.  “Let’s get you taken care of,” he said, opening his door and coming around to open hers.  He was tempted to carry her into the house, but she looked determined to show him she was okay, so he didn’t try. 

Once they were inside, Steve grabbed his first aid kit and took Catherine’s hand to lead her into the bathroom.  “Let’s see what we’ve got here,” he said as he flicked on the lights.

With a practiced pop, he opened the first aid box and got out the gauze and other supplies he would need.  He pushed her hair back and started cleaning the cut on her head, trying to do it as quickly as he could, knowing it would sting.  She leaned back against the sink and sucked in a breath.  “Sorry,” he murmured.  She didn’t reply, just closed her eyes.“If it helps any, I don’t think you’ll need stitches.” 

“That’s good.”  She didn’t open her eyes.

Steve touched her cheek, gently turning her face toward the light.  The bruises on her cheekbone and jaw were deep, but they would heal with time and the help of an ice pack and an Advil.  “Does it hurt anywhere else?”

She looked to the side, but the pain on her face was obvious.  “Catherine?” His chest felt tight.  What wasn’t she telling him?

“My arm,” she admitted. “But it’s nothing.” 

His hand slid down her shoulder slowly.  “Let me see.”

She pulled her sleeve up until her upper arm was visible.  Dark ugly finger bruises in the shape of a man’s hand were all over her arm.  “Catherine,” he breathed, anger filling him again.

“I know there’s nothing we can do for bruises.” 

Steve grit his teeth together, abruptly turning toward the tub.  He flipped on the faucets.  “You need to soak, relax a bit, and I’ll go get us some wine.”

She put her hand on his arm.  “Steve, I’m fine.”

“I know.  I just need a minute.”  He kissed her forehead.  “I’ll be right back.”  He went downstairs to the kitchen and got a bottle of wine out of the refrigerator.  Fury was pulsing through him at what Catherine had gone through today.  What if he hadn’t gotten to her soon enough? 

He heard the water turn off and took a deep breath.  She was here.  She was okay.  That’s what he had to remember. 

Going back upstairs, he knocked and then went in.  She was completely submerged in the water, bubbles everywhere, her hair up.  “I hope you don’t mind. Mary must have left bubbles in the cabinet.”

“Not at all.”  He handed her the wine glass and sat down on the floor next to the tub, facing her.  Reaching out to tuck her hair behind her ear, he leaned closer.  “Catherine, what happened?”

She took a sip of her drink.  “I don’t want to talk about it Steve.”

His gut clenched.  “I need to hear it.”

“Why? It’s over.”

“Because I feel like it’s my fault,” he finally said, letting the feelings to the surface.  He dipped his head and then faced her.  “If you weren’t connected to me, none of this would have happened.”

She moved closer, sloshing a bit of water over the edge.  “Steve, none of this is your fault.  None. And even at my very worst moment today, I knew you’d come for me.”  Reaching out, she grabbed the front of his shirt to draw him closer and kissed him.  Her mouth moved over his, full of need and healing.  All of the feelings he had for her surged in him and he could barely suppress a groan.  His hands slipped around her head, undoing the clip so her hair fell free just how he liked it. 

“I’ll always come for you,” he murmured before pressing his lips against hers once more, no longer gentle.  

Catherine pulled away, her breath coming in short gasps.  “Let’s get you cleaned up, too,” she said with a wicked grin, reaching for the buttons on his shirt.

And Steve didn’t need to be asked twice. 



Want to read some of my other McRoll fanfics?  

Click here for Breathless

Click here for Let's Go Home

Click here for Safe Harbor

Click here for The Long-Awaited Dinner

Friday Freebie

Today's Friday Freebie is The Captain of her Heart by Anita Stansfield.  I haven't read this one myself, but I've heard good things about it.  It's a historical romance and the first in a series.

Here's the back copy:

The year is 1777. As the brooding mists of war settle over a stark American battlefield, Captain Ritcherd Buchanan yearns for his native England—and for Kyrah Payne, the woman he loves. Wounded and disheartened, he eventually returns home, only to have Kyrah torn cruelly away from him and deported for a crime she didn’t commit. Desperate to bring her home, he joins a band of privateers and finds himself embracing the American patriot cause—a cause he’d once sworn to defeat.

All alone in a country at war, Kyrah becomes a victim of the breach between her own impoverished circumstances and the aristocratic upbringing of the man she loves. They had been best friends and confidants for more than half her life, but now she wonders if Ritcherd will ever be able to find her—or if he’ll even try. And she fears that the chasm between their worlds can never be bridged.

A powerful and deeply moving saga, its intricate plot expertly woven and guaranteed to keep any reader turning its pages. The only disappointment is that the book ends!

The Captain of Her Heart may be the finest novel yet by best-selling author Anita Stansfield.

If that sounds good to you, click here for the link to get your free copy!