Thursday, December 27, 2007

Surviving the Holidays


On my mom's side, I have a pretty big family - 6 aunts and uncles, 15 cousins (about half with kids) 3 brothers, 1 sister 2 nieces and a nephew. The best thing is that we're all really close - any one of us would drop everything for anyone else. Yes, there's a whole lot of crazy in there, but I consider myself really lucky, some people (like my husband) may beg to differ, but I love getting together with everyone. The holidays are never boring with the Green fam.

So far, we've had five out of six family parties and a good time was had by all. Trying to cram 41 people, 17 of whom are small children, inside a small ranch style house probably wasn't the brightest idea, but it was still fun. It would have been more cramped if the other 15 family members would have be able to come too.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to give my niece her Cinderelly dresses. Lexi-Lou-Who got the stomach flu so we had to postpone that party until the 29th. If her mom says it's okay, I'll post pictures of the little princess herself. She'll also be getting a handmade Alice in Wonderland costume and Wendy from Peter Pan costume from my mom - it'll be a very diva-centric gathering.
I'm still finishing a few Christmas gifts, but luckily I'm not due to see those people for a while - well, except for one and she's being super patient. And I'm happy to say, her gift is turning out beautifully. All in all, Christmas has been lovely this year. I wouldn't trade any of it...except maybe Lexi's stomach flu.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Grrrr Argh

I've been without internet all day. Ridiculous, but I felt cut off from the entire world. Oh well, it's back and I'm grateful!

Tomorrow we have the first of our holiday celebrations - brunch at my aunt's with about fifty of my siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and all of their kids. It's always utter chaos, but it's also a blast. I adore my crazy ass family. In the evening, we'll be off to my mom's where I'll be giving Lexie-Lou-Who her Cinderelly costumes and hanging with my sibs and my nieces and nephews and my boys. It should be a great time. Sunday, we'll head to my Dad's where there will be more holiday hoorah.

In writing news, I got FOUR fabulous reviews yesterday!

Noveltalk reviewed Solstice Seduction (already!) and said:

Bronwyn Green writes wonderfully sensual romance. Her vivid descriptions bring the reader into the story allowing them to experience everything firsthand. Her characters are wounded and each one has a valuable lesson to discover, and their flaws only make them more endearing. SOLSTICE SEDUCTION is a fabulous love story that shows that all things happen for a reason. I found this tale to be enchanting, and I await future offerings by Ms. Green.
http://www.noveltalk.com/reviewpage.asp?ID=353

Joyfully Reviewed reviewed Overlord's Vessel and said:

Ms. Green has created a magical world full of fantastic characters and rituals. I for one hope to see more of Maelgwn, and hope that it won’t be long before we see how things work out for Asher, who, I have to admit, was absolutely yummy. Overlord’s Vessel has found its way to my keeper shelf. I can’t wait for a return to this delightful world.
http://joyfullyreviewed.com/reviews/December07/OverlordsVessel.BG.html

Alternative Read reviewed I Put A Spell On You and said:

This was a wonderful light hearted magical romance. It is a wonder any of us manage to come out of high school intact. But when the dreams and fantasies that revolve around love and sex are finally realized as an adult it is truly a magical moment. I loved the characters and the spirit of the romance as well as the underlying magic abilities of Temperance. Great name as well. Good all around read.
http://tjbook-list.blogspot.com/2007/09/review-i-put-spell-on-you-torrid-tarot.html

And last but definitely not least, Night Owl reviewed Best Laid Plans and said:

Bronwyn weaves a stunning tale of mystery and suspense in Best Laid Plans. Each character is well rounded and this is one for the keeper shelf definitely.
http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=1042

Also...the reviewer gave it a TOP PICK!!!!!!

Okay...back to the regularly scheduled holiday sewing. I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!!!

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Cinderelly, Cinderelly, night and day it's Cinderelly

So I've been sewing and beading like a mad fiend. The good news is the Cinderella dresses are both done. Unfortunately, I had to make them both withouut a pattern, so they're not perfect. Here's hoping my niece doesn't notice. I also didn't iron them as I'm morally opposed to the iron. I'm positive she won't notice that - she's four and wanders around in a state of rumpled grubbiness most of the time.


Here are the pictures of the finished dresses - please excuse the crummy camera phone pictures and the fact that my house looks like it's in danger of being shut down by the health department. I'd like to tell you that it's usually much neater...but I'd be lying.



Now I've just got to make the five pairs of jammy pants, three special surprises, two star babies, one slipper and a bracelet. I've really got to start earlier next year...


Do you want to win some fantastic holiday reading? If so, come celebrate the Twelve days of Romance with 12 authors from Ellora's Cave, Wild Rose Press, Total-E-Bound and Cerridwen Press. Each day beginning December 8th and running through December 19th one of the twelve authors will tell what their "True love gave to them" on either their blog or website.Collect all twelve answers and e-mail them to mailto:anny@annycook.com with 12 days of Romance in the subject line to win some great books.

Deadline for answers is December 21st at midnight EST.There will be three lucky winners. The prizes –1st prize--6 books 2nd prize--4 books 3rd prize--2 books. All books and prize winners will be drawn randomly.

Anny Cook Winter Hearts
Sandra Cox Boji Stones
Bronwyn Green Ronan’s Grail
Heather Hiestand Cards Never Lie
Barbara Huffert Deal of a Lifetime
Amarinda Jones Mad About Mirabelle
Kelly Kirch Time for Love
Cindy Spencer Pape Cowboy’s Christmas Bride
Brynn Paulin Fallen
Jacquéline Roth Access Denied
KZ Snow Mrs. Claws
Lacey Thorn Earth Moves

Monday, December 17, 2007

Atomic Wedgies, Anyone?

I was all excited this morning - the Christmas gift making is moving along nicely, Solstice Seduction releases today from TEB and my kids got up and ready for school with nary a whine. And then I tried to get to the car.

I slipped on the ice and fell down our back steps. Granted, there are only four, but I cleverly managed to hit each and every one with my butt and my head, I wrenched my knee and the huge bag of canned goods I was bringing to school for the food drive for the homeless landed on my thigh...the same one that's connected to my twisted knee. I have lovely crescent shaped bruises on my leg and a giant one on my butt. And because I'm silly enough to wear skirts all year round, I also got an atomic wedgie and snow in my underwear. Yes indeed, it's a banner morning for the Green household.


On a hopefully better note, I'd like to share the blurb and prologue of my new story.

Celtic Fire: Solstice Seduction

Banished from Heaven as punishment for his sins, Taliesin has walked among humans for thousands of years. He's damned sick of it. Death would be preferable to the cultural bankruptcy of the twenty-first century, but what's a cursed immortal to do? It's not like he can kill himself.

Dr. Emerson Matthews has no clue what to do with the enigmatic, gorgeous man who has landed in the psych ward at the hospital where she works. Well, she knows what she wants to do, but it's unethical and likely illegal. Especially since he seems to be out of his mind. Why else would he claim to be a fallen angel?


Hell bent on seduction, Taliesin tempts Emerson, luring her tightly guarded passion to the surface and introduces her to sensual delights she's never dreamed of. As she learns more about the mysterious man in her care, she begins to question her own sanity as his claims of Divine origin seem more plausible with each passing moment.

Prologue

Guns, razor blades, pills, ropes... The options for suicide were limitless. If one was human. Hell, even the vampires had sunlight and holy water.

Taliesin sighed and scrubbed his hand through his hair in frustration. In the beginning, his banishment from Heaven had seemed a lark. As a fallen angel, of course he’d missed his connection to the Divine. It was a throbbing ache that never truly abated, but over time it had dulled.

Humans had quickly filled the void—practically revered him as a god. For a while it had been enough. With his harp, he’d wandered the length and breadth of Britain, performing in the halls of great kings. Legends of his bardic skill still survived today. It was good to be remembered, he supposed. Of course, he had been the one to suggest writing everything down. It often seemed that the most wildly artistic among humankind needed the most guidance.

He’d been more than willing to guide while some of his fallen brethren preferred to thwart. Some had even hated the humans. They’d refused to have any contact with them or worse, sought to harm them. Taliesin merely looked at them as entertainment during his exile. He’d come to enjoy many of them, revelling in the creativity with which their Maker had gifted them.

He’d shared arcane secrets with Cerridwen, advised Arthur and Merlin and seduced Morgan Le Fay...or perhaps she’d been the seductress. It had been centuries ago. He’d imbibed with Byron and Shelley and served as inspiration for Austen. He’d watched Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Waterhouse create masterpieces. He’d listened as Mozart composed his Requiem Mass and while Lennon wrote Imagine. He’d been a sounding board for Tolkien and had read all of the drafts of all of Yeats’ work and Neruda’s as well.

Now the world was filled with talentless hacks. Faced with the Britney Spears and Paris Hiltons of the world, what was the Angel of Inspiration to do? Well, the Fallen Angel of Inspiration, anyway. Providing inspiration for the humans had been easier in his angelic form. Maybe that was part of the problem...perhaps if he still held his place in Heaven, he would never have had to be tortured with the feeble musical attempts of the New Kids on the Block. Another thought occurred to him. Perhaps the Divine Being had noticed that he’d been enjoying his banishment on earth and now saw to it that songs by those Simpson girls remained painfully lodged in his head. Maybe the real punishment had just begun. More than ever, he longed for the comforts of Heaven and reconnection with the Divine.

It wasn’t simply that he was disgusted and bored. If he was honest with himself, he’d admit that he was lonely. He never thought he’d grow attached to the humans, but he had. Well, some of them anyway. But their lives were over in the blink of an eye. The pain of losing them year after year had become worse with every death.

Shivering Taliesin buttoned the top button of his jacket. Chile with Neruda would be far warmer than this backwater town in Michigan. He’d come here to hear a young poet, but the coffee house had burned down, so instead he found himself walking along the length of a nearby railroad track half-wishing for an oncoming train. Would this exile never end?

Tilting his head back, he closed his eyes. I’m sorry, all right? I’m fucking sorry already. What the hell do I need to do to prove it?

A blinding flash of blue-white light seared his eyes.

“You might want to consider not cursing when you address our Lord.”

Taliesin stifled a sigh. “Hello Gabriel.”
The angel walked at his side. “Haven’t you tired of you banishment? Aren’t you ready to come home?”

Taliesin stopped and stared at his friend. “Did you not just hear me? Isn’t that why you’re here?”

Gabriel smiled patiently. “Not exactly.” Holding up his hand, he immobilised Taliesin as the railroad tracks began to rumble. “This is your last chance to figure it out, my friend.”

“Figure what out?”

The angel shook his head, his eyes sad. Gabriel waved his hand toward Taliesin and he found himself standing in the middle of the vibrating tracks.

“Funny.” He fought against the supernatural hold. “Release me, Gabriel.”

“I cannot. If you are ever to regain your place within the Kingdom, you must learn what He sent you here to learn.”

Rage flooded Taliesin’s veins. “This isn’t a fucking fieldtrip. He banished me.”

The whistle of a not-so-distant train sounded, and the ground beneath his feet shuddered. He attempted to use his few remaining angelic powers to break Gabriel’s hold, but the angel had done something to nullify them. Bastard.

“Release me!” he demanded again.

Gabriel merely held his gaze. “Heed what you’re here to learn.”

“Yes, do be cryptic. It’s always so helpful.”

As the engine drew closer, the blinding headlight pulled his focus from the angel. The painful, metallic squeal of brakes split the quiet night drowning out his thundering heart. The engineer had obviously seen him, but there was no way he’d be able to stop in time. Taliesin sighed. He might be immortal, but immortality didn’t mean getting hit by a train wouldn’t hurt. Someday, Gabriel would pay for this.

Do you want to win some fantastic holiday reading? If so, come celebrate the Twelve days of Romance with 12 authors from Ellora's Cave, Wild Rose Press, Total-E-Bound and Cerridwen Press. Each day beginning December 8th and running through December 19th one of the twelve authors will tell what their "True love gave to them" on either their blog or website.Collect all twelve answers and e-mail them to mailto:anny@annycook.com with 12 days of Romance in the subject line to win some great books.

Deadline for answers is December 21st at midnight EST.There will be three lucky winners. The prizes –1st prize--6 books 2nd prize--4 books 3rd prize--2 books. All books and prize winners will be drawn randomly.
Anny Cook Winter Hearts
Sandra Cox Boji Stones
Bronwyn Green Ronan’s Grail
Heather Hiestand Cards Never Lie
Barbara Huffert Deal of a Lifetime
Amarinda Jones Mad About Mirabelle
Kelly Kirch Time for Love
Cindy Spencer Pape Cowboy’s Christmas Bride
Brynn Paulin Fallen
Jacquéline Roth Access Denied
KZ Snow Mrs. Claws
Lacey Thorn Earth Moves

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Busy, busy, busy


Now that I've caught up on deadlines, chaperoned field trips, attended concerts and played nursemaid to a sick hubby, I've started making Christmas gifts.

Today, I made five pillows, a necklace, a bracelet and a pair of earrings. Over the next few days I'll be making five pairs of jammy pants, two Cinderella costumes, three bracelets, two star babies, a pair of slippers and a big fat secret (it's a secret because it's for someone who regularly reads my blog).


Speaking of blogs...and secrets... I have one I'm about to reveal.


On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... Nine Naughty Knights.

So if you want to win some fantastic holiday reading, come celebrate the Twelve days of Romance with 12 authors from Ellora's Cave, Wild Rose Press, Total-E-Bound and Cerridwen Press. Each day beginning December 8th and running through December 19th one of the twelve authors will tell what their "True love gave to them" on either their blog or website.Collect all twelve answers and e-mail them to mailto:anny@annycook.com with 12 days of Romance in the subject line to win some great books.

Deadline for answers is December 21st at midnight EST.There will be three lucky winners. The prizes –1st prize--6 books 2nd prize--4 books 3rd prize--2 books. All books and prize winners will be drawn randomly.

Anny Cook Winter Hearts
Sandra Cox Boji Stones
Bronwyn Green Ronan’s Grail
Heather Hiestand Cards Never Lie
Barbara Huffert Deal of a Lifetime
Amarinda Jones Mad About Mirabelle
Kelly Kirch Time for Love
Cindy Spencer Pape Cowboy’s Christmas Bride
Brynn Paulin Fallen
Jacquéline Roth Access Denied
KZ Snow Mrs. Claws
Lacey Thorn
Earth Moves

Friday, December 14, 2007

And I thought the 4th graders were bad...


Yesterday was the 8th grade field trip. Instead of driving my son and three of his friends like I'd planned on, I got stuck with four girlies. I've been volunteering at my kids' school for several years, so I knew two of them well. The other two I didn't know at all, but they were both pretty nice. I'd apparently repressed how maniacally giggly 13 year old girls are. Yikes!
Now, I'm not going to pretend that I wasn't freakishly giddy at that age - hell, sometimes I'm still freakishly giddy. I had however forgotten the level of ear piercing shrieking that goes on with 13 year old girls. But that said, I had a great time with the chicklets. We went to see Enchanted with the other 65 or so kids, teachers and chaperones. Being so early in the morning on a school day we also had the theatre to ourselves.
The movie was absolutely delightful. I loved it. I'll admit, I'm a sucker for fairy tales, but I usually like the grittier ones. This was just adorable and fun all the way around. I'd like to take my younger son to see it. He, of course, would rather see Alvin and the Chipmunks, but I'd rather chew glass. I LOATHE Alvin and the Chipmunks.
Anyway, back to the field trip...after the movie and the subsequent squeeeeeeing by the girls and the eye rolling by the boys, we went out to lunch at Taco Bell where I ended up with my son and his friends after all. Later that night was the holiday band concert. Thank God I brought my knitting. Hubby's convinced it's the only thing that kept me from reaching out and smacking the drummer who couldn't keep time to save his life as well as grabbing the out of tune trumpet and tuning it for the poor child.
Well, I should chain myself back to the sewing machine so I can make a few more Christmas presents and return you to our regularly scheduled contest.
Do you want to win some fantastic holiday reading? If so come celebrate the Twelve days of Romance with 12 authors from Ellora's Cave, Wild Rose Press, Total-E-Bound and Cerridwen Press. Each day beginning December 8th and running through December 19th one of the twelve authors will tell what their "True love gave to them" on either their blog or website.Collect all twelve answers and e-mail them to mailto:anny@annycook.com with 12 days of Romance in the subject line to win some great books.

Deadline for answers is December 21st at midnight EST.There will be three lucky winners. The prizes –1st prize--6 books 2nd prize--4 books 3rd prize--2 books. All books and prize winners will be drawn randomly.

Anny Cook Winter Hearts
Sandra Cox Boji Stones
Bronwyn Green Ronan’s Grail
Heather Hiestand Cards Never Lie
Barbara Huffert Deal of a Lifetime
Amarinda Jones Mad About Mirabelle
Kelly Kirch Time for Love
Cindy Spencer Pape Cowboy’s Christmas Bride
Brynn Paulin FallenJacquéline Roth Access Denied
KZ Snow Mrs. Claws
Lacey Thorn Earth Moves

Thursday, December 13, 2007

I heart vengeful barbers.





I had the greatest night last. I spent the evening with Brynn Paulin, Jennifer Armintrout and Cheryl Sterling and thanks to Brynn's most awesome husband, we went to see the sneak preview of Sweeny Todd.

I admit to having very healthy fascination with Johnny Depp, Alan Rickman and Helena Bonham Carter (girl crush!) so I was pretty excited about seeing it, but holy cow, it was so much better than I'd anticipated. I loved it! It was freaking fabulous! The costuming and sets were excellent, the cinematography perfectly eerie - Tim Burton at his best.


During "The Worst Pies in London," Brynn leaned over and suggested that should be the theme song for my kitchen. Alas, she's probably right. My favorite number was "A Little Priest" - it was delightfully macabre not to mention hilarious. I really loved "By the Sea," too - so funny!



Alan Rickman does evil better than anyone on the planet and I can now add Judge Turpin to my list of all time favorite Rickman villains - the top spots going to his portrayal of Hans Gruber in the first Die Hard movie, The Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood and of course Snape. the man is pure evil genius, sexy as hell and I love him for it.






Johnny Depp...what can I say? He was brilliant in the role and is singing voice was wonderful. I can't imagine anyone else doing a better job. Helena Bonham Carter was fabulous - of course, when is she not? If you like your humor (and musical numbers) dark, do NOT miss this movie!

The Twelve Days of Romance Contest is half way over - have you been collecting your answers? Remember, 12 books, 12 days, 12 answers!
Deadline for answers is December 21st at midnight EST.There will be three lucky winners. The prizes –1st prize--6 books 2nd prize--4 books 3rd prize--2 books. All books and prize winners will be drawn randomly.

Anny Cook Winter Hearts
Sandra Cox Boji Stones
Bronwyn Green Ronan’s Grail
Heather Hiestand Cards Never Lie
Barbara Huffert Deal of a Lifetime
Amarinda Jones Mad About Mirabelle
Kelly Kirch Time for Love
Cindy Spencer Pape Cowboy’s Christmas Bride
Roth Access Denied
KZ Snow Mrs. Claws
Lacey Thorn Earth Moves




Tuesday, December 11, 2007

The Tooth Reaper Makes Housecalls



My day job involves children. I take them to and from school, I tutor, I teach them things like sewing, weaving grapevine wreaths, a little pottery here and there, sarcasm and creative insults. Most days, it's a pretty good gig.

One of my day care moms is awesome. She's been with me for twelve years. The other mom makes me grind my teeth on an almost daily basis, but back to the other one. She and her girls are basically family - I'd do anything for them and vise verse.

Tonight was one of those nights. B (short for Abby) had a loose tooth. She's nine and an absolute FREAK about losing teeth. She'll let the loose ones stay in until they reattach or the new one grows in all wonky next to it. She begs me to help her get it out and then kicks and screams when I try.
Her mom can't pull them because it queases her out. It doesn't bother me so I do it. Last time I had to pull one out, my youngest son made me a scythe out of legos and named me the Tooth Reaper. I tried to talk B into letting me take care of it before she left, but she was having none of it, so it was no surprise when her mom called an hour later. I could have had her bring B back over here but really, I figured I'd save everyone's ear drums and drive over there. Man that kid can scream...

Anyway, the Tooth Reaper made a house call. She came. She conquered. There was screaming, tears and recriminations, but the Tooth Fairy will be making an appearance at B's house tonight. Here's hoping that she wasn't scarred for life. Too much, anyway.

Back to the regularly scheduled contest...
Do you want to win some fantastic holiday reading? If so come celebrate the Twelve days of Romance with 12 authors from Ellora's Cave, Wild Rose Press, Total-E-Bound and Cerridwen Press. Each day beginning December 8th and running through December 19th one of the twelve authors will tell what their "True love gave to them" on either their blog or website.Collect all twelve answers and e-mail them to mailto:anny@annycook.com with 12 days of Romance in the subject line to win some great books.

Deadlinefor answers is December 21st at midnight EST.There will be three lucky winners. The prizes –1st prize--6 books 2nd prize--4 books 3rd prize--2 books. All books and prize winners will be drawn randomly.
Anny Cook Winter Hearts
Sandra Cox Boji Stones
Bronwyn Green Ronan’s Grail
Heather Hiestand Cards Never Lie
Barbara Huffert Deal of a Lifetime
Amarinda Jones Mad About Mirabelle
Kelly Kirch Time for Love
Cindy Spencer Pape Cowboy’s Christmas Bride
Brynn Paulin Fallen
Jacquéline Roth Access Denied
KZ Snow Mrs. Claws
Lacey Thorn Earth Moves

Monday, December 10, 2007

A day spent with 75 fourth graders or why I'm a fan of birth control.



Today was Thing Two's big winter field trip. Why would anyone plan a field trip in winter? In Michigan? In December? No freaking clue. But away we went to the state capitol.

Anyway, it was field trip day and I promised Thing Two that I would come along. We visited the Michigan Museum of Natural History and it was great. What wasn't great was one of the extra children who'd been assigned to my group. This child had an inherent inability to stay put. I was constantly pulling him off exhibitions, dragging him away from employee only portions of the building and disappearing all together. To top it off, he kicked the back of my seat of an hour and a half on the way down there and an hour and a half on the way back.

Despite repeated threats to his continued existence, he couldn't manage to remember not to kick me for more than five minutes at a time. Nor could he remember not to howl at the top of his lungs in near rush hour traffic. Drill Sergeant Mom shut that down, but the boy had a short memory. I fantasized about leaving him on the side of the highway. The other little boy in my car, while quirky and plotting world domination with my son, was sweet and listened fairly well.

Still, I'm going on barely three hours sleep, so I'm going to crawl in my nice toasty bed, but first I'm going to flog the contest!

Do you want to win some fantastic holiday reading? If so come celebrate the Twelve days of Romance with 12 authors from Ellora's Cave, Wild Rose Press, Total-E-Bound and Cerridwen Press. Each day beginning December 8th and running through December 19th one of the twelve authors will tell what their "True love gave to them" on either their blog or website.Collect all twelve answers and e-mail them to mailto:anny@annycook.com with 12 days of Romance in the subject line to win some great books.

Deadlinefor answers is December 21st at midnight EST.There will be three lucky winners. The prizes –1st prize--6 books 2nd prize--4 books 3rd prize--2 books. All books and prize winners will be drawn randomly.

Anny Cook Winter Hearts
Sandra Cox Boji Stones
Bronwyn Green Ronan’s Grail
Heather Hiestand Cards Never Lie
Barbara Huffert Deal of a Lifetime
Amarinda Jones Mad About Mirabelle
Kelly Kirch Time for Love
Cindy Spencer Pape Cowboy’s Christmas Bride
Brynn Paulin Fallen
Jacquéline Roth Access Denied
KZ Snow Mrs. Claws
Lacey Thorn Earth Moves


Sunday, December 9, 2007

Excerpt and Contesty Goodness

Have you started collecting answers for the contest, yet? Well, on that off chance that you haven't heard about the 12 Days of Romance contest, let me sum up:


Do you want to win some fantastic holiday reading? If so come celebrate the Twelve days of Romance with 12 authors from Ellora's Cave, Wild Rose Press, Total-E-Bound and Cerridwen Press. Each day beginning December 8th and running through December 19th one of the twelve authors will tell what their "True love gave to them" on either their blog or website.Collect all twelve answers and e-mail them to mailto:anny@annycook.com with 12 days of Romance in the subject line to win some great books.
Deadlinefor answers is December 21st at midnight EST.There will be three lucky winners. The prizes –1st prize--6 books 2nd prize--4 books 3rd prize--2 books. All books and prize winners will be drawn randomly.


Anny Cook Winter Hearts

Sandra Cox Boji Stones
Bronwyn Green Ronan’s Grail
Heather Hiestand Cards Never Lie
Barbara Huffert Deal of a Lifetime
Amarinda Jones Mad About Mirabelle
Kelly Kirch Time for Love
Cindy Spencer Pape Cowboy’s Christmas Bride
Jacquéline Roth Access Denied
KZ Snow Mrs. Claws
Lacey Thorn Earth Moves





In an attempt to hopefully entice you enter, here's an excerpt from my latest Ellora's Cave release Ronan's Grail (one of the nifty prizes in the contest.)




Despite the fact that it looks like my hero was unicorn hunting, no unicorns were harmed in the writing of this story.





EXCERPT:
Without warning, Morgan was pinned flat against the institutional green wall next to the shower, Ronan's huge wet hand splayed across her upper back, holding her motionless. She struggled against the unfamiliar weight.

“What the hell is the matter with you? Let me go!”

“Cease your movement,” Ronan commanded. His warm, damp fingers lifted the back of her shirt and she fought harder. “I will not hurt you. Remain still.”

Pulling downward, he tugged at the waistband of her jeans, stroking the skin at the small of her back. “You bear the mark,” he breathed.
Mark? What mark? Realization quickly dawned.

“It's just a tattoo.” Morgan's mother had warned her but she hadn't listened. She could hear her mother's voice now. Tattoos make you look easy.

Ronan traced the outline with his fingertip, following the path of interconnected circles and sending shivers through Morgan's body.“You are the keeper of the grail.”

“What?” She struggled to turn her head. “No! That's just the vesica pisces—the symbol of the Chalice Well in Glastonbury, England.” Great…if she remembered her mythology correctly, the Chalice Well was one of the rumored resting places for the grail. After college she'd backpacked around Europe and had fallen in love with the town of Glastonbury. She'd felt a soul deep connection to the place and had the vesica pisces tattooed while she'd been there. Though her mother had complained, Morgan had never regretted it—until now.

Ronan continued to trace the mark, seemingly oblivious to the tremors of desire he sent through her. “I knew Merlin sent me to you for a reason,” he whispered.

Pulling harder on her pants, he bent to more closely inspect the design. His hot breath skated across her sensitized skin and a fresh rush of moisture dampened her core.

“Where is the grail, Morgan?”

“How the hell should I know?”

“You are its keeper,” he murmured as he brushed his calloused thumb back and forth over the design.

“No I'm not.”

He grunted his displeasure.

“Look,” she began. “I'm sorry that some crackpot guy told you that I had the answer to your problem, but he was wrong.”

“Remove your braes so I can better see the sigil.”

She glanced over her shoulder at him. “No.”

His jaw tightened and his eyes glittered with irritation. “I said, remove your braes.”

“And I said, no. It's not gonna happen.”

“Take them off or I will remove them myself.”

She craned her neck to get a better look at him. Fierce intent hardened his gaze and she shivered under his stare. Call her an idiot, but she wasn't frightened of him. She knew he wouldn't hurt her. She wasn't sure, however, about her jeans. He might just shred them to get what he wanted. And why did that perverse thought send bolts of tingling awareness to her cleft?

“I am waiting, Morgan.”

“Get used to it.”

He leaned to the side and reached for something. She followed his gaze. His sword? Panic beat like thunder in her chest and she struggled violently. Insinuating his knee between her thighs, he pressed his groin against her ass and held her more securely against the wall. His granite hard cock was trapped between them and she fought the ridiculous urge to turn around.

“Cease woman! I will not hurt you!”

“Said the man with the bloodstained sword.” She drove her elbow into his stomach, feeling almost satisfied when he grunted.

Hearing the sound of metal against leather, she froze. She'd taught stage sword fighting long enough to recognize the sound of a blade leaving its sheath. She glanced at Ronan and the dagger he held. She hadn't noticed it on his belt earlier, but clearly it had been there.

“This is your last chance, lady. Will you show me or shall I use this?”

Morgan swallowed thickly and her fingers dropped to the waistband of her jeans and released the button and zipper. With shaking hands she slid her pants down—not quite over her ass but far enough for him to see the entire image.

The dagger clattered to the floor as he sank to his knees behind her. He skimmed his hands up the outsides of her thighs until he reached her waist and pulled fabric further from her body.

“Sweet Mother of God,” he whispered, his breath warm against her lower back and ass.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Pssst! Hey you...wanna buy a watch? Erm...I mean win some books?

Nearly everyone I know is rushing around like mad getting ready for the the holidays. Why not take a few fabulous minutes for yourself and enter The Twelve Days of Romance Contest?

Why Bronwyn, what's that, you ask.

Sit back and I shall tell you the tale.

Once upon a time, twelve fabulous authors got together and decided that they wanted to do something lovely for readers of romance. So they put their heads together, gathered their hard bodied heroes, kickass heroines and clever clues and feverishly plotted. The result is that the winner will receive six books, the person who places second will get four and the person who places third will get two.



Here are the handy dandy rules.

Do you want to win some fantastic holiday reading? If so come celebrate the Twelve days of Romance with 12 authors from Ellora's Cave, Wild Rose Press, Total-E-Bound and Cerridwen Press. Each day beginning December 8th and running through December 19th one of the twelve authors will tell what their "True love gave to them" on either their blog or website.
Collect all twelve answers and e-mail them to mailto:anny@annycook.com with 12 days of Romance in the subject line to win some great books. Deadline for answers is December 21st at midnight EST.
There will be three lucky winners. The prizes –1st prize--6 books 2nd prize--4 books 3rd prize--2 books. All books and prize winners will be drawn randomly.

Anny Cook Winter Hearts
Sandra Cox Boji Stones
Bronwyn Green Ronan’s Grail
Heather Hiestand Cards Never Lie
Barbara Huffert Deal of a Lifetime
Amarinda Jones Mad About Mirabelle
Kelly Kirch Time for Love
Cindy Spencer Pape Cowboy’s Christmas Bride
Brynn Paulin Fallen
Jacquéline Roth Access Denied
KZ Snow Mrs. Claws
Lacey Thorn Earth Moves

So that's it. It's easy. It's fun. You should enter. All the cool kids will.

BTW, here's the blurb from my book. Come back tomorrow for an excerpt. (hmm...kinda feel like a pusher)

Torrid Tarot - Ronan's Grail By Bronwyn Green

Ronan, bastard son of Lancelot of the Lake and last of King Arthur's knights, has been charged with a quest — find the Holy Grail. Merlin sends him forward in time to seek the relic, promising he'll know the keeper of the grail by a sigil. If he fails, all is lost.

Morgan Foster bears the magical symbol in the form of an ill-conceived tattoo but has no idea what to make of this hot, possibly crazy man who lays siege to her body and heart.

Timeless magic and breathless passion bring them together, but is their love strong enough to survive when the battles of the past rip their fragile future apart?

Friday, December 7, 2007

Here's something I never thought I'd say...ever.


Thing One has a 101 degree fever and Thing Two's fever is down from 105 to 102. So needless to say, we're all lying around like big lumps. Anyway, Thing One got the brilliant idea to watch the Transformers movie. Having absolutely no will power, I got sucked into the movie. You know what? I can't believe I'm about to say this, but it's really pretty good. The goals, motivation and conflict are all there, there's some decent character development and the dialogue is downright enjoyable.


Now, it could be that the plague has interfered with my ability to discern a good movie from a bad one, but I don't think so. However, I'm unwilling to test this theory by watching Mariah Carey's Glitter. That's a road I'm unable to travel - even for the advancement of science.
So what about you guys, have any movies surprised you by being much better (or worse) than you expected?

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Ugh...

It seems the plague has struck again. Thing 2 was sick with the respiratory crud and a fever when I picked him up from school yesterday and got worse through the night. I started feeling crummy last night, and Thing 1 started in with a fever this morning. Sigh...

In happier news, a bunch of TEB authors will be chatting over at Love Romance Café. Here's the address if anyone wants to come out to play. There will be excerpts from the holiday stories and who knows what else. It should be a pretty lively crowd. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveRomancesCafe/

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Christmas Survey

Brynn's mom sent me this survey and I thought it was really fun. I'd love to read your memories too, if you feel like posting them to your blog.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper, but that's where hubby comes in. He's much neater than I am.
2. Real or fake tree? Fake. I’m allergic to real ones.

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the weekend after Thanksgiving, but it han’t happened yet this year.


4. When do you take the tree down? Right after New Year’s Day.

5. Do you like eggnog? Meh…I’m indifferent

6. Favorite gift received as a child? The Sunshine Family and their super awesome hippie craft shop - seriously, there was even a pottery wheel and a spinning wheel. For those of you who didn’t grow up in the 70s (or have a hippie-dippie mom) let me enlighten you.






















7. Do you have a nativity scene? No

8. Hardest person to buy for? My dad.

9. Easiest person to buy for? My sister, Cait.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever got? A Precious Moments clown figurine. I hate Precious Moments figurines and I’m terrified of clowns. There’s nothing like a heartfelt shriek of terror on Christmas morning.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail…if I get around to doing it.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Normally I start in August, but it hasn’t turned out that way this year.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom’s fudge

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored

17. Favorite Christmas song? I can’t have just one…Coventry Carol, Carol of the Bells, What Child is This? And John Lennon’s Happy Christmas...Okay, if I’m gonna be completely honest, I have to add my 80s fav, Do They Know It’s Christmas.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I travel to my mom’s, my aunt’s my dad’s and my mother-in-law’s – but all of them are within an hour of my house.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yepper

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A grapevine star with a little field mouse dangling from it – its’ sooo cute.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning with the boys and whenever we schedule the other get-togethers with everyone else.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Icy roads and heavy traffic.

23. What I love most about Christmas? Being with my crazy-ass family – they’re the best.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Waxing...when will I learn?

Knowing that there are scads of holiday parties coming up and knowing that my eyebrows looked like they might require a weed wacker, I decided to get my brows waxed Monday.




Usually, it's not a big deal. There's a little redness for a day or two and that's it. Not so, this time. There's a swath of burned skin above my brows. Worse, there are several layers of skin missing below my brows and my right eye is bruised and puffy.




I look a lot like I slammed my face in the car door. Needless to say, I won't be going back to that place. Sigh....


Oh look...Bush is having a press conference.

I think this picture pretty much sums up my

feelings on the subject.