All Our Love – Cover Reveal

Yours truly was invited to participate in an anthology, a great honor to be asked to write along side these other talented authors.

Please take a look at out new cover.

All Our Love

A Novel Grounds Anthology

Release: March 11th, 2014

Goodreads

11 Authors. 11 Stories. 11 Chances to fall in Love.

Love stories.
Moments that make your heart flutter. Scenes that have you holding your breath. Coveted admissions of love that you just can’t wait to be confessed.
This is a collection of stories that center on matters of the heart, overwhelming feelings of love, and stories that make you stop to re-read those breathtaking moments between your favorite characters. Be it the angst, the turmoil, or the first kiss, these are stories that speak to your soul and warm you to your core.
Eleven authors, eleven stories, eleven special moments—brought to you with ALL OUR LOVE.

Participating Authors:

Rene Folsom

Brooke Cumberland

Juli Valenti

Melissa Collins

Felicia Tatum

S. L. Dearing

Jettie Woodruff

Marie DeStafino-Wathen

Brandy L Rivers

Sarah Marie Cradit

Vicki Green

Goodreads

A Day of Thanks…

Thanksgiving is tomorrow.  Well, at least here in the states.  A truly American Holiday and although it has a shady origin, I think it’s found it’s way to what it should truly represent.  And although I know a lot of people get stuck on the history of this day, and don’t celebrate or refuse to acknowledge the holiday, to me, its something else.

It’s the doorway to Christmas, Hanukkah and Yule.  It kicks off the winter holidays with the most important thing about all of these holidays.  It is about gratitude.  For everything we are, everything we have and everyone we love.  Whatever happened those oh so many years ago, Thanksgiving is now about what we have and how we give thanks.  It’s about fighting with your siblings over a football game or something as equally benign.  Or helping your mom make dinner, even when she tries to give you directions for something you’ve been doing for 30 years.  Or remembering you last Thanksgiving with your dad and how he ate an entire pie over the weekend and stole all the Turkey when everyone else wasn’t looking.  It’s about sharing what you have with those that have nothing.  It’s about giving your time or your money or your food to someone who needs it.

Thanksgiving is more then a moment in the 17th century,  it’s about what happens everyday and being reminded of how much we have and realizing that we are blessed.  Whether it’s to celebrate a birthday or a miracle of lights or the impending winter, this truly American holiday is the opportunity to celebrate with our fellow Americans about our prosperity and large or small as it may be and to share that joy and all it’s blessings with those that need it.  I’m not saying you have to work with the homeless or serve turkey dinner at a Soup Kitchen, but maybe you have a friend who doesn’t have much, or you have a neighbor who needs a friend.  A small kindness can go a long way.

Tuesday at the market, I went to pull into my space and there was a cart left there, so I didn’t fit.  I didn’t get mad, I just got out of my car to move it, but before I could, the woman next to me said “I’ll get it.” and smiled at me.  She grabbed the cart and waved to me again.  She didn’t have to, but she chose to.  A small kindness.  In the store, I went out of my way to smile and engage people.  There was no hurry, no rush.  One smile can lead to another and then another and then another.

My wish for this Thanksgiving it that we all share our joy with one another.  Enjoy the moments with the people you love.  Share your love with people you don’t know and give of yourself to someone who needs it.  The world is a truly lovely place when we all give thanks.   Happy Thanksgiving Everyone 🙂

In Too Deep by Brandy L. Rivers – Review

Well, on Nov 2-3, less than two weeks, I’ll be at my first book event with three other lovely lady authors, Magen McMinimy, Brandy L. Rivers and Sarah M. Cradit.  Now we all know each other from our friend Facebook, but we decided to share our works with one another so that we could familiarize ourselves with our writing before we all meet up.   I just finished the first book, In too Deep by Brandy L. Rivers… FANTASTIC!!  I can’t wait to sink my teeth into her other works, but for now, I shall review the first book about Edenton and then move on to the next author.  If anyone is near, Kirkland, WA on Nov 2 or Nov 3, please come see us at the Northwest Bookfest!!  We would love to meet you!!

REVIEW

Wow, What an AMAZING book!!  Brandy Rivers is a true talent in the vein of Kresley Cole.   River’s writing is exceptional and engaging and she has a great mastery of her characters.  They grow and change and have their flaws, but the feel is instinctive and the flow is easy and appealing.  The world she has created in Edenton is fantastic.  A Small town in the wilderness filled with paranormals called Others.  This is the story of Fallon and Brody and it’s exciting, hot, sexy and full of adventure.  And yeah, hot!!

The supporting characters have all the draw and definition I crave as a reader.  They are all different and some are good and some are bad and some are both.   There is a glossary at the end of the book to keep straight all the Others and the terms they use.  I found I didn’t need it, but it was nice to have it there.

I give this Book 5 stars and recommend it to anyone looking for a paranormal romance erotica.  Just Fantastic!!!

 

http://brandylrivers.com/

Family…

Everyone has different experiences with family.  Mine… well, it’s been pretty amazing.  Despite a lot of drama and tears and fights and disappointments, we are closer and happier than we have ever been.  My family.

My family consists of a brother and sister I couldn’t live without.  A niece who makes me smile and reminds me what it is to be a teenager.  A mother who loves me even though she rarely understands me.  A father who was my best friend, an uncle who never didnt’ have time for me.  An aunt who often took the time out to make me feel special. My cousins (I only have two first cousins) who I adore and have become closer to with each passing year.  Their wonderful children who fill my heart and make me laugh.  A grandmother who taught me the real meaning of love and forgiveness and a grandfather who had the most gentle smile.  My other grandmother, who I learned was stronger than she thought and funny as hell.  Her mother, who was as tough as nails, and loved her family with equal fervor.  And I married a wonderful man who has one of the kindest loving hearts I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

I never knew my paternal grandmother and great-grandmother and my Papa died when I was five.  But I know them through the stories my mom and grandma and dad told me.  I could see them and hear them and feel them.  I remember by Uncle Woody when I was a kid, running around the living room with my cousins and me, just being silly.  Then later in high school, helping me with my physics homework, while everyday getting worse from the Parkinson’s that ravaged his body.  But he always had time for me.

This is the family I was raised with, the ones who have been with me from the beginning.  Sometimes they know me better than I know myself.  But over the last ten years, I’ve learned that family isn’t about DNA or blood,it’s about a bond.  A consistency.  It’s about loyalty.  Sharing hard times as well as good times.  I love these people more than air, but there is another part of my family.  Those friends who become family.  The ones who stay forever.  The ones who embed on your soul.

I have been luckier than most, but I suppose I tried harder than most.  I love to be around people and sometimes they suck, but sometimes I am rewarded beyond my wildest dreams.  I have some of the most amazing friends anyone could ever imagine.  They weren’t raised with me, we don’t share a bloodline, we grew up in different surroundings, and yet we are all connected.  By our laughter, by our dreams, by our love.

Sometimes the people we’re tied to genetically aren’t worth the time of day.  Sometimes they hurt us so badly that we can never go back.  That kind of betrayal is devastating and yes, that has happened to me too, but what I’m learning is that although I may never forget, or allow a bridge to be re-built, I can forgive and move on.  I’m letting go of my anger, but only because it hurts me.  I loved you once, so I can remember that and wish you the best.

I miss those members of my family who have gone on before me, but I carry them with me always.  I don’t get to see my cousins or siblings as often as I would like, but I talk to them all the time, or text, or email and I hold them in my heart.  My husband and I are ending our marriage this year, but we are still best friends and will always be there for one another, he is my family.  My friends are scattered around the country, but we do what we can to see one another or talk to one another when it’s possible.

The bond we have strong because we nurture it.  We build on it and support it.  I have an amazing family and I know how truly lucky I am.  For these are the people who fill my soul, raise my spirits, have my back and hold my heart.  This is my family… and they are extraordinary.

Amendment to previous post:

I said that I was betrayed, and I was, but I also said I wouldn’t allow a bridge to be built again.  I take that back.  It so happens that I’m embarking on a road to forgiveness.  Allowing a bridge to be built that will be based on trust , respect and honesty.  Hopefully, I’m not making a bad decision, but then again, it is my decision to make.  Hope does spring eternal… and life is too short to be angry.  So, I take it one step at a time… that’s all I can do. : )