Friday Freebie--Third Time's The Charm

There are so many great deals today, but I chose to highlight one that I really enjoyed from the Aliso Creek series, Third Time's the Charm.

This is the first one I read in the series and it's what got me hooked.  Here was my review of it:

"Wow! I really wasn't expecting the story to take the turn it did. I am a big fan of Heather's work, and this story was no exception. It had some delicious toe-curling romance and yet the characters were well-developed enough for me to connect with them. It definitely made me want the story to continue.

Even though it was a novella, it seemed to go deeper into the characters than I expected and I really can't wait for the next in the series. (I hope we get to find out more about Sloane and Liz in the next one as well. *le sigh*)

You can click here to download your free Kindle copy if you're interested.


Here's the back copy:

Liz, Gemma, Arie, Jess, and Drew have been best friends since creating “the Five” at Aliso Creek High School. But that was over ten years ago, and each is still trying to find that perfect someone . . . if perfect is even possible.

In fact, Liz Carlson will settle for a normal man. A normal man with a job, that is. Married twice, then divorced twice, Liz had her rose-colored glasses fall off and shatter on the ground a long time ago. Her main focus now is raising her six-year-old daughter and surviving long days at work on her feet as a hairdresser. When Sloane Branden answers her call for help, quite literally, Liz doesn’t even give him a second glance. She has sworn off dating for as many years as it takes, and it seems that Sloane has done the same after his own tumultuous marriage. But when Liz realizes that Sloane defies every stereotypical deadbeat she has dated, she might just find room in her heart and discover the third time’s the charm.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope your day is filled with good food, good friends, and lots of good books.

I am grateful for all of you.  Thanks for being such great bloggy friends!

How Did You Do With NaNo?

NaNoWriMo is coming to an end. How did you do?  Did you win? Get close?

I was going to work on my novella during November, but it didn't happen.  I don't know if you remember last year when I was purging paper and clearing my basement of the boxes of paper that I had kept for years and years.  While I was down there I found a box of unfinished projects and among the myriad things in that box was a Utah Jazz quilt that I'd started for my oldest son in 1998.  The Jazz had won the Western conference and were in the finals and I'd gotten all the materials to make my Jazz fan a quilt.  When I pulled it out of the box, I showed it to my son and he asked me to finish it for him.

Now, if you know me, you know that crafting, sewing, quilting, are all things I'm not good at.  I don't even know why I started the quilt so many years ago because even as I look at it, it looks like a drunken sailor sewed the seams.  But he asked me with such sincerity that I couldn't refuse.  So I have been picking out seams and piecing together this very old quilt. It's my son's birthday this week and I really want to finish it for him.

Quilting is hard.  I don't think I've ever said the word crap so many times in my life.  This will be my first quilt ever and it's a steep learning curve, especially since I have to work with what I had from 1998.  (The old colors, etc.)  But it's almost done and I'm proud of myself.  No, it's not perfect, but it is a gift of love that I hope my son will cherish for a long time even with all it's imperfections.

So that's what I've been doing this month. (Besides reading a few books, including this awesome manuscript a close friend sent me to read!)  It's been a nice break from writing, one that I didn't realize I needed.  I know when I come back to it, I'll be better for it.  (Maybe one of these days I'll post a picture of this quilt.  Maybe.)

The Most Adorable Castle Episode EVER!

Oh my goodness.  Last night's Castle was full of EPIC adorableness!

The episode starts out with a heavily bleeding man who staggers up the aisle of a church and before he dies he hands over a swaddled baby to the priest.  Back at Castle's apartment Beckett and Castle are discussing Thanksgiving plans and he tells her that his family dresses for Thanksgiving as either Pilgrims or Indians. Oh man, the look on Beckett's face was funny. But then they get called to the crime scene.

Lainey is holding the baby when they get there, but Castle immediately takes him.  Beckett says Child Protective Services will be called and he's all, I'll take him while you do your thing here.  He's hungry, needs a few things.  Castle also assures Beckett he's highly qualified and has his RHD, so there's no problem.  What's an RHD you ask? Ruggedly Handsome Dad.  And he so totally is.  Nathan Fillion is absolutely ADORABLE with that baby.  He's holding the baby and heading out the door telling Beckett he'll take a patrolman to help him get all the stuff.  (And the look the patrolman gives Beckett is also hilarious.)

The team starts the investigation, trying to figure out where the baby came from.  He doesn't belong to the man who brought him in, since his wife says they've only been married two years and aren't ready for children.  They question his boss and get some information about a scary man that came into the dead guy's work a while back.  So they try to track him down.

Meanwhile, Castle comes back to the precinct with the baby and the patrolman following him has an armload of bags and baby paraphernalia.  Beckett gives him the raised eyebrow and Castle is all, what? You don't want little Cosmo going hungry, right? He named the baby Cosmo because that's what he wanted to name Alexis if she'd been a boy. Haha.  Oh man.  All I could think of was that guy on Seinfeld.  Anyway, Castle also dressed Cosmo in a turkey outfit and he's so proud of himself. It is heart-melting to see Nathan Fillion with this baby. He's such a natural!  The baby has some pretty expressive looks whenever Castle talks to him too, which just adds to the whole effect.  He does correct Beckett that it's not an "outfit" it's a onesie and Beckett is all, I suddenly have a picture of what my future is going to look like.  Oh man, I laughed. I have missed the banter between these two.

Ryan asks a couple of times to hold the baby for practice since his wife is due to deliver next month. (That seems fast to me! Didn't we just find out she was expecting?)  Anyway, the baby cries every time Ryan tries to hold him and Castle takes him back and he's calm.  So funny because then Castle tells everyone he's the baby whisperer.  And I believe him!

Back to the case, they find the scary guy and figure that the dead guy was a getaway driver for a bank robbery a long time ago, but that the scary guy wasn't the one who killed him. He has an alibi.  Lainey comes in to play with the baby and reports in a baby voice what she found under the dead guy's nails.  So funny.  When the Child Protective Services people finally come Castle is concerned about handing Cosmo over to strangers and Beckett is all, don't get attached.  She also mentions she's not really a baby person which is shocking to Castle. He asks her if she hates rainbows, too. Ha!  They end up taking the baby home since there's no beds at the Child Protective Services place and the baby is crying, crying, crying and then pukes on Castle. Oh I remember those days.  Caskett makes a good team in changing and quieting him, though, but go into the precinct the next day looking like zombies. (Alexis also shows up and looks at Martha holding the baby and a tired looking Caskett and is all how long have I been gone? I love normal Alexis again. I've missed her.)

While Alexis and Martha babysit, the team starts Dumpster diving near the abandoned building where they found the bullet holes and dirty diaper.  They find ping pong balls and assorted other evidence, but nothing is really adding up. I LOVED this case.  So twisty.  Castle figures out that they've rigged the lottery with the ping pong balls and then they head down to the TV station where the host that just announced the winning numbers is anxious to get away. She finally tells Beckett her husband and baby were kidnapped and won't be released unless she picks the case with the implanted balls and does exactly what she's told.  The team heads back to the dead guy's work where they find the kidnapped husband and reunite him with his family while arresting the dead guy's boss and the security guy for the TV station where the lottery was broadcast.  A happy ending for all and the parents are grateful the dead guy gave his life to save their son.  The baby is brought in by Alexis and Beckett promises Castle that it will be different when they have a child and he won't raise their child alone. Awww. So sweet!

The end scene is hilarious when Beckett walks in for Thanksgiving dinner dressed as Pocahontas. Castle tells her he was only kidding about the costume thing and she hands him a Pilgrim costume and tells him to get dressed.  Haha! Oh man, I love them.

I love everything about this episode.  The banter, baby, the case, they were all superb, but Nathan Fillion and that baby stole the show.  So so ADORABLE!

A Book Review! And Ornaments Too!

I am so excited to share with you and awesome book called Christmas From Heaven: The True Story of the Berlin Candy Bomber.  It's a children's book about the Gail Halvorsen and how he became the Candy Bomber.

He was delivering flour to war-torn Germany when he noticed a group of children over by the fence.  He went over to talk with them and wanted to give them some candy, but all he had with him were two sticks of gum.  He gave those and watched as they were divided up into the group.  This gave him an idea of what to do with his candy ration and some white handkerchiefs.  The humanitarian effort quickly expanded and this book shares a wonderful story with beautiful illustrations.

My five year old and I read it together and she looked at all the pictures while asking questions about the kids who got the candy from the sky.  It was a nice reminder that even in an uncertain world there are still pockets of peace to be found in individuals who look for it and help create it.  I loved all the little extras that were included, even a picture of the thank you letters some of the children sent, but most of all I loved the DVD that came with the book of Tom Brokaw reading it along with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  Definitely not one you want to miss.

Click here for a purchase link.

Here is the back copy:


"From little things come big things," Gail Halvorsen remembered his father saying. As a twenty-seven-year-old American pilot, Brother Halvorsen's job was to airdrop much-needed food and supplies to the people of West Berlin in the aftermath of World War II. But it was his simple gift of two sticks of gum that launched an extraordinary humanitarian endeavor and earned him the nickname "The Candy Bomber." Each day as hundreds of small white parachutes delivered treats to the children of West Germany, the wounds of war began to heal. "Operation Little Vittles" captured the imagination of people everywhere, bringing the spirit of Christmas to a world in need of peace and hope.

Famed broadcast journalist and author Tom Brokaw brings this remarkable true story to life in a stunning live performance with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, captured on the accompanying DVD.
Also included in the book is a template and directions for creating your own "Candy Bomber" parachutes.

The second thing I wanted to tell you about is an heirloom ornament set of stars with the different Biblical names of Christ.  They are really sturdy, (made of metal) which is important to me as a mother of lots of kids, and they are a great reminder of what this season is really about and what the star that appeared that night meant for mankind.  I'd like to use each one as a family home evening piece and discuss why Jesus would be called that name and where it is in the scriptures.  Lots of ideas are running through my head on how to stress Christ in my family Christmas this year.

Click here is the purchase link for the ornaments where they are exclusively available.

Hawaii Five-O Review--Thanksgiving With the McGarretts

Last night's show featured Carol Burnett as Steve McGarrett's Aunt Deb and she did a fantastic job. It ended up being a really sweet holiday episode and I was so glad we were together.  (Love Carol!)

Let's start with the "family" football game at the beginning.  It was adorable and everyone was having fun.  It did seem a little odd for Grover to be there, but Steve explained to Danny that Grover's family was out of town so that's why he was invited.  Aww, Steve is such a nice guy.  He has to leave, though, just as the game is tied to go put the turkey in the oven.

He goes home to find Mary blow-drying the turkey because she forgot to defrost it.  She looks a bit frazzled and Steve is regretting making her his prep cook.  The doorbell rings and it's Aunt Deb. Surprise!  Steve gets a phone call and has to go into work and Aunt Deb assures him she'll take care of the turkey.  She has a fun scene with Mary and the baby at the butcher's trying to get a turkey. Mary admits she feels overwhelmed and Aunt Deb assures her every caregiver feels that way---she did when she first had Mary to take care of, too.  It was a sweet moment.

Steve and Danny arrive at the crime scene where a Secret Service officer's body has been found in a barrel filled with lye. Ew.  They start investigating and realize the president is on his way to Hawaii and his itinerary etc. may have been compromised.  The team starts to retrace the Secret Service guy's steps and find an assassin for hire has been on the island and that's who the Secret Service guy was on to.

Steve has to stop in the middle of the investigation to go get Aunt Deb out of jail because she got caught trying to get some marijuana.  She then tells Steve she has a medical marijuana card for her brain cancer and isn't going to get chemo or radiation treatment because it won't help.  Her and Steve have a very tender moment filled with tears and it was so heartbreaking to watch.  Steve has lost so much and I don't understand why the show would bring on another family member that is going to die on Steve.  I mean, the man has lost his father, thought he lost his mother, lost most of his friends, (like Freddie and the bad SEAL friend whose name I can't remember and Jenna Kaye who helped him escape North Korea before she died) and now Aunt Deb.  Really? That seems excessive for any one man.  Anyhow, after a nice family moment Steve goes back to the case, but not before confiding in Danny about Aunt Deb.  I love the close friendship Steve and Danny share and that Danny gives good advice sometimes.  He is really there for Steve.

Catherine goes to take Aunt Deb home and she introduces herself as Steve's "friend." That was so odd to me because in earlier episodes Danny has referred to Steve as her "boyfriend," so I thought we'd moved past that. Just odd.  Anyway,  Aunt Deb and Catherine do have a nice talk about how Catherine should help Steve and Mary stay close because Aunt Deb knows Catherine will be sticking around.  At least Steve's mom and aunt both like Catherine.

The case goes on to find an Algerian cleaner who gets shot and Grover gives the line of the night when he leans over the guy and saying, "oh did somebody shoot you? You've got a nasty booboo." Haha.  They figure out the assassin isn't after the president but the nosy neighbor's daughter they talked to earlier (who happened to witness a Russian mob murder) and so they take off.  The nosy neighbor's daughter is an idiot however, and runs to the beach where the assassin has a clear shot.  Stay in the trees! Double back and get in a car! Thankfully she lives when Chin saves the day and takes down the assassin.

We all go back to McGarrett's house and Aunt Deb has told Mary she's dying. Steve goes out on the porch to console Mary and there is a tender moment with the siblings.  No, no, I wasn't crying, that was dust in my eye!  They vow to keep Aunt Deb's memory alive for Mary's baby and Steve tells Mary they'll get through this.  Sniff.

Aunt Deb hasn't been able to get a turkey big enough for the crowd so they all go to a tiki bar that we've seen in a past episode.  Aunt Deb is invited on stage to sing (she gave up her big break and a singing career to take care of Mary.)  She gives a very moving tribute to everyone with a song about being all right and counting her blessings.  What a tear jerker!  A great way to end the show and start the holiday season.

Sadly, we don't get a new episode until mid-December.  So, until then, I'll be tuning in to TNT to watch past episodes. 

Friday Freebie---With A Kiss

Today's Friday Freebie is a fun and witty story about twisted fairy tales.  It's called With a Kiss by Stephanie Fowers and though I haven't read it myself, I've loved Stephanie's other books and know she is a great storyteller.  And this one sounds like it has a great premise, with faery queens and leprechauns and a baby that needs help!

Click here to download your free copy!

Here's the back copy:


Faerytales. They're real . . . they just haven't happened yet.


Halley Starr finds out the truth when she loses her heart with a curse. Now she has to get it back from that dirty faery who stole it from her, but first, she must fight against the seven rules of the faery kingdom that
mortals must never break


No trespassing sacred faery territory

Don’t ever say thank you

Using a faery’s given name is a no-no

Resist all faery music

Never break a promise to a faery

Reject all faery food

And never, never fall in love with a faery

But if Halley wants her heart back again, she can’t worry about the rules.