On Becoming a Grandmother

Posted on by
8

First – everyone is fine and home and doing great. I did discover that my Mama Bear is just as fierce with this one as the ones I carried. He was 7 pounds, 3 ounces, 20 inches long with light brown hair and dark eyes that we really couldn’t tell a color because he didn’t want to open them very much. He was smaller than either of mine, so literally the smallest baby I’ve ever “had”. Ryder closeup!

We arrived about an hour after he did, looking like we’d been on the road for some time and I’m sure I looked like I could take on any of the damn truckers that had been in my way. The room was full with the other set of grandparents, a set of great grandparents, an uncle and a great aunt, but my precious DIL looked up at me and smiled and handed him to me.

Yes, love at first sight does exist.

We had a wonderful two days to bond and visit and just hold him. I’d forgotten how soft newborn’s skin is. I had to look to see that I was really touching him at times.

Then the Mama Bear came out. A doctor, not his regular pediatrician, gave him the going home exam. Pompous old guy came into the room and said a lot of good things, poop turning green, peeing regularly, good ears, etc. then out of the blue the doctor says that he’s not uncurling fast enough and they want to do an ultrasound to find out if there’s a problem with his brain. Then the old fart turns and leaves the room. No explanation, no time for questions, he just walks out. Now my job is to work with words – yes, I have the luxury of editing and rewriting, but I also have the responsibility of crafting my words. So did he. There were 27,000,012 ways to say something like that to this young couple and that wasn’t any of them. I wanted to race down the hall and rip his throat out for being so damn careless and, yes pompous.

Like I said before, everything turned out fine and they’re home and happy, but the frozen looks on their faces are still with me. I unswaddled the baby and let him be free – something the hospital apparently doesn’t approve of – and he stretched and explored and opened his eyes the widest I’d seen them to check things out.

So kid, you’re got a terrific set of parents who adore you, but remember, you’ve also got an old bear who doesn’t mind making waves and who’ll always have your back. Just let me know.

Dance Partner Anniversary

Posted on by
1

A year ago today Dance Partner was published. This is a short story, originally planned for an anthology on the theme of “Love is Blind”. When I was invited to this venture, this story was just there in my head, as though it had been waiting for the invitation.

I must admit, it’s one of my personal favorites, and I fell in love with Jim before I could even get him down on paper.   Dance Partner cover 012014I may just have to give a couple away!  Leave me a comment.

Jim is back home and existing, but nothing more. The irony of going to a dance club isn’t lost on him. The redhead moving around the floor is the last thing he needs in his life. So what if he can’t take his eyes off her.

It’s been a great day for Wendy, and dancing is her favorite way to celebrate. The hunk’s eyes are on her, but he doesn’t approach. Intrigued she approaches him and learns a lot more about herself than she planned.

Available through AllRomance, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iBooks

Here’s a short excerpt –

Wendy Cauthern knew she was smokin’ hot in her new outfit. Her long red hair cascaded down her back and she was glad she’d rethought cutting it because more than one guy had been drawn to it this evening. It was a great night following a fantastic day.

Her presentation this morning had been spot-on perfect. Mr. Stanford from the fifth floor had even stopped by to tell her she’d done a good job.

Her eye caught a guy over to the side sitting alone at a small table. Damn, that was one fine specimen–large broad chest and shoulders, dark hair that spilled around his shoulders long enough to be pulled back into a ponytail. Eyes too dark to make out a color at this distance. Intense.

And he was staring at her.

Before she could even give him a come on signal, someone else captured her for a dance. She abandoned what remained of her drink and followed the guy onto the dance floor.

Wendy loved to dance. At one point she’d thought about doing it professionally but she needed a steadier income. At least her job didn’t stop her from enjoying herself on the weekends.

The guy she was dancing with was okay but he wasn’t good. She noted the hunk was watching her without attempting to disguise it. Hell. Why wasn’t he making a move? He made everyone else in the room seem almost a child by comparison yet he just sat there.

He was distracting her, and when the dance ended, she excused herself and headed his way. All of her stars were aligned tonight, giving her the courage she needed to approach him.

He continued to watch her walk his way with those dark eyes.

“Want to buy me a drink?”

“If you like.” Well, maybe her winning streak had ended and he wasn’t that interested. But his eyes hadn’t left her.

“May I?” She indicated to the chair across from his when he didn’t rise. He nodded and signaled the waiter.

“What would you like?”

“What are you having?”

“Coke.”

She blinked at that. Just a Coke? “A Cosmo, please.”

The waiter nodded then disappeared.

“Do you come here often?” She asked, finally getting a reaction that looked like something akin to a hint of amusement in his eyes.
“Never been here before. I guess you’re a regular.”

She shrugged. “I come sometimes. They have good music but you can still talk without screaming.”

The waiter was back with her drink then gone again. “I’m Wendy.”

“Jim.” This was getting awkward. Should she excuse herself and leave? She was definitely getting mixed signals.

She took another sip trying to make up her mind as to how to proceed. He was too delicious to just walk away but before she decided, they were joined by a man she’d seen here before. Hadn’t Cheryl dated him?

“I think it’s time we got out of here.”

She wanted to protest, but mister dark and brooding nodded.

Cover Reveal for Cohesion, The Melting Book 3

Posted on by
Reply

Come visit over at Kitty Jones Bookshelf this morning! Kitty graciously offered to interview me for this new cover reveal.

Melting 3

The cover for Cohesion, the third book in The Melting series is finally up and I love it!! Rebel did a great job of carrying out the theme on all three covers and I’m delighted.

Please leave a comment either here, or over at Kitty’s for a chance at a free copy!

Available February 10, 2015!

A New Cassie Book!

Posted on by
2
Cassie is one busy lady. The new country club/spa has opened and the whole gang is enjoying all the amenities. That is until a new club member, Clara, begins to ride roughshod over everyone.  The situation worsens until it becomes physical, but even that doesn’t stop it.
 
Cassie seems to find little conflicts everywhere she turns, but it’s not always her fault. Tom is over protective about her health, sending Cassie into a tantrum. In addition a few things happen on the girl’s trip that lands Cassie, as well as the other ladies, in even more hot water.  Through it all Tom is there to love and protect Cassie in his own unique way.
Cassie's-Conflict-Final-200

Thanks for having me Donna! I’m excited about book five, Cassie’s Conflicts coming out. I hope everyone is still enjoying Cassie’s adventures. She certainly has her share of conflict in this latest book, but in this excerpt it’s Allie who manages to get everyone stirred up.

Amazon

 Excerpt –

“Cassie, I really hate to bother you so late, but is Allie over there with you? I’ve called her cell forever and she’s not answering. Do you know where she is?”

I sat down with a smile, grateful to release my worries. I laughed at the boy. “Ryan, I swear you are as bad as Tom. She’s safe and sound in her bed. I saw her come home around nine o’clock and she told me she was going to bed early. She probably has her phone off. Just because you’re out of town you’re turning into a regular worrywart. Allie’s fine.”

“Cassie,” Ryan’s voice sounded agitated. “I’m not at school. I decided to drive back tonight. I’m standing in Allie’s bedroom. Her car’s here, her bag’s here, but she’s not.”

A shot of adrenalin hit me hard. I nearly dropped the phone as I turned to Tom. “She’s gone! Someone’s taken Allie! Tom, we have to call the police.”

Tom took the phone from me and listened for a minute. “Come over here, son. We’ll figure out what’s going on.”

“Why aren’t you calling the police? Someone’s taken her, we have to do something.” Tom wasn’t nearly as agitated as I needed him to be.

“Hang on, girl. Let’s talk to Ryan.” We headed to the screen porch and let the boy in.

Ryan’s face was tense. “She doesn’t have her phone either.” He said holding it up. “Why would she leave her bag and her phone?”

I was beside myself. “Tom, we have to call the police! Something’s happened to her. She wouldn’t go off without her money or her phone and she told me she was staying home.” Tom was making no move to the phone and I was getting angry with him. “What’s wrong with you, why aren’t you doing anything?” Ryan looked like he agreed with me completely.

“Cassie, calm down. I’m wondering where Allie is, but I don’t think anything’s happened to her.”

“How can you be so calm?” I demanded.

“Let’s just say I’ve had experience with a beautiful woman that I love not being where she said she was going to be and intentionally misleading me.” Tom spoke calmly. “We’re talking about an eighteen year old girl whose parents are out of town and whose boyfriend is away for the weekend, going out somewhere. I just don’t believe someone came into her home in this neighborhood and grabbed her.”

“You think she’s out with another guy?” Ryan looked like someone had just punched him.

Tom smiled at him. “No, Ryan, that’s not what I’m thinking, but I bet she’s gone out with some girlfriends. Can you think of anything they want to do or somewhere Allie has mentioned going with her friends?”

“I can’t think of anything. I’ve called her friends – the ones whose numbers I have anyway, but no one’s answering tonight.” Ryan was starting to sound really annoyed.

I was still just worried. “Tom, you don’t know that she’s off with friends. What if something has happened? We can’t just sit here. I’m going out looking for her if you two won’t.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Tom said sternly. But he softened when he realized just how upset I was. “Let me call over to the police station and see if Brandon’s working tonight.” Brandon Weeks is a wonderful deputy who is a fixture in our neighborhood. Finally luck was with us and Brandon was soon on the phone with Tom. Tom told him what was happening with Allie, including his feelings that she was probably with friends. Tom listened for a long time, his face growing more and more serious.

“I see,” he finally said. “When did all this happen?” He listened a bit longer then said, “But you didn’t see Allie? Okay, I see. You’ll call us if you see her won’t you?” Tom hung up and turned to us. “It seems there was a big rave at one of the old warehouses in town. Brandon says kids just broke in and took over. The police were called and gathered up some of the partygoers, but most of them scattered to the wind. He didn’t see Allie, but he said that there were probably sixty to seventy kids there.

Oh boy, Ryan looked as angry as I’ve ever seen him. “Allie has talked about those stupid raves they have around here. She said she just wanted to go and see what they were like. But I told her there was no way we were going to one of those things.”

I gulped. I remembered all the times Tom had told me we weren’t going somewhere and the first thing that popped into my mind was ‘fine we won’t, I will’. I suddenly felt terribly guilty about some of the stories Sue and I had shared with Allie over the summer.

I didn’t know what to do. It was after two am and we still knew nothing.

Suddenly Ryan’s head snapped up. “Was that a car door?” It was a windy night and I’d heard nothing.

Ryan was heading to the front door when we all heard what happened next – a car engine revved and then a crash so loud it seem a car must have exploded. Ryan had torn through the front door and sailed off the porch when I heard the scream.

Allie’s scream.