April's Affections and Intrigues: Love and Mystery Bloom

Marcia Berbeza

Features & Posts

No posts found.

204 comments posted.

Re: You Had Me at Wolf (3:00am February 28, 2020):

Darned if I know what the attraction is. I started young
with fairy tales and just never lost that wonder. I love
the stories that aren't horror, the ones where the animal
side retains some of their humanity in the way they deal
with their issues and the problems that arise from the
shape shifting. Thank you for the opportunity. Terry is
one of my all time favorites.

Re: Secret Mountain Hideout (11:18pm January 31, 2020):

Oh, gosh. If it were only one element, anyone could do
it. The magic comes in the mix. Masters take all of the
elements, toss them in the air, and seamlessly tie them
all together in a mesmerizing mix. I've loved books all
of my life. I've read thousands upon thousands of them
and I acknowledge that I am not a wordsmith. Thank you
for the opportunity.

Re: Wicked Cowboy Wolf (6:30pm January 30, 2020):

I LOVE shifter romances. I don't know why. I always
loved fairy tales as a child and expanded into fantasy as
an adult. If I were younger, I'd speculate that it was
because I'd read all of the Animorph books that the kids
couldn't get enough of. But, I think it's because there
are times when we all feel as if we have an animal inside
of us. It's really cool seeing a story where that comes
to life. Thank you for the opportunity! Oh, and please,
PLEASE have more of your titles recorded on Audible.

Re: Cowboy Christmas Jubilee (2:07am October 30, 2018):

Sounds totally delicious. I'm such a pushover for a
holiday story! Thanks for the opportunity!

Re: Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses (2:05am October 30, 2018):

This sounds totally adorable. It also sounds like a
Hallmark movie. There is a reason why Hallmark is
expanding! Thanks for the opportunity!

Re: Beyond Danger (12:51pm February 1, 2018):

A gathering of friends and family is good enough for me.
Good food, good drink, good friends.

Re: Cowboy SEAL Homecoming (1:44am January 11, 2018):

Oh my word. What a question. Certainly Jamie and Clair
Fraser are so well read that they would be interesting
conversationalists. Rourke would be as well, Dallas not
so much. The thought of Dumbledore there as well is
intriguing. Newt Scamander could tell us all about his
exotic animals. I'm attracted to characters that DO as
opposed to THINK, but for a dinner party, you would need
sparkling conversationalists as well. Sometimes the
secondary characters would probably be better choices!

Re: A Distant Heart (12:05pm December 30, 2017):

I'm always fascinated by the creative process that
authors go through to craft their stories. And it
intrigues me that the characters will demand that their
stories be changed right in the middle! So, wonder what
you're gonna do with all of those mice insisting on
coming in. Do THEY get their own story? ;-)

Re: The Desires of A Duke (7:10pm December 13, 2017):

Oh dear! Well, since the question asked for historical
dukes not fictional ones, I actually had to do a little
bit of research first! ;-) I think my favorite is the
Duke of Lancaster, John of Gaunt, 4th son of King Edward
III, from its creation in 1362 until his death in Feb
1399. So many English kings traced their bloodlines and
their claim to the throne to him. I find him rather
intriguing!! Cannot wait to read this book! Thanks so
much for the opportunity!

Re: Perfect Gravity (5:19pm November 20, 2017):

Baking! Temps drop, time to warm the house on those
chilly days! This year is the first time I won't be
making a turkey and it's causing some consternation.
We've always hustled to get the house cleaned for
company, spread out the Black Friday ads and prep for
Xmas. I've been ill and another family member has taken
turkey duty. Doesn't feel the same!

Re: He Loves Me ... KNOT (5:07pm November 20, 2017):

Oh what a thought. I just hope that having accomplished
her dream career she doesn't crawl back to her former guy!
I've been married for 39 years, wouldn't trade him for
anything, but there is something to be said for making it
on your own. Love to see how the author handles this!

Re: Dressed to Confess (3:15pm August 23, 2017):

Costume shop! How fun. But after Halloween, how do they
get enough customers to stay in business? Thanks for the
opportunity!

Re: Crowned and Dangerous (3:10pm August 23, 2017):

I LOVE this series! Such fun reads, although I prefer the
audio with the proper Brit accents! Thanks so much for the
opportunity!

Re: Addressed to Kill (3:08pm August 23, 2017):

Oh this really sounds delightful! I can't wait to read it.
Thanks for the opportunity!

Re: The Sweetest Burn (11:11pm July 27, 2017):

Gosh. I have a really poor imagination (one reason why I
buy my books instead of write them!) For myself, I would
love strength and speed. But then, I would imagine
drawbacks to that as well. In my weakness, I've been
able to enjoy patting small animals and cuddling babies.
I may walk slowly, but I enjoy the sights along the way.
One must wonder what would be sacrificed for the
privilege of super powers....

Re: Indigo Lake (8:42pm July 24, 2017):

I've never been to Texas, but I've always admired the
endurance and hardiness of the people who live there.
Thanks for a great story!

BTW - I met my perfect person more than 40 years ago
after a night of indulging in a bar while in college.
Not a particularly auspicious beginning, but our 39th
anniversary comes up next month. I really can't imagine
living with another man for that length of time. If
you've got the right guy, why go looking for something
else? And if he isn't the right guy, why settle?

Re: Rocky Mountain Home (7:02pm July 18, 2017):

Nice interview!

Re: Brazilian Capture (1:01pm May 23, 2017):

How fun!! I used to enjoy the Pedro Almodovar movies a
lot. Many times if I've read the book, the adaptation
just doesn't live up to it. BUT, most of the Harry
Potters did a decent job, Pride and Prejudice with Colin
Firth, Outlander has been superb, American Gods...still
forming an opinion. I guess in the long run, you just
can't cram an great book into a two hour movie. A mini
series gives you the option of building detail.

Re: War and Peach (8:35pm February 28, 2017):

OMG. Although I loved Nancy Drew and read everyone of her
books I could get my hands on, whenever they were written,
and yes, they changed up every 10-20 years. My favorite
Nancy Drew memory occurred once I became a school
librarian and a 6th grade teacher assigned the boys to
read a girl's book and the girls to read a boy's book.
The boys scarfed up the Nancy Drews because we had the
entire series. And after the assignment was over, the
boys kept checking them out!! They worked their way
through all of them for the rest of the school year. It
was the best thing ever!

Re: Bookman Dead Style (8:26pm February 28, 2017):

I HATED manual typewriters. LOVED the electric ones, but
when I started college, they were so big and bulky, it
wasn't even funny. Had to get a boyfriend to lug it up the
stairs to my dorm room. Was so happy when word processors
came out!!

Re: Jordan Reclaimed (7:46pm February 28, 2017):

Gosh, I have so many favorite series, but I've been
reading the Outander books for close to 25 years now.
I've read, re-read, purchased in every format, and still
love them. There is a depth that I can't find in many
other stories and while there is a grimness to every book,
there is also a redemptive quality and happiness to be
grasped as well. There is love. Not the mushy, everyone
is beautiful kind, but the "I'll love you when your're old
and gray and I know all your secrets and STILL love you"
kind.

Re: Hold Your Breath (1:41am October 9, 2016):

I'm always fascinated by research. So, in the writing of
your stories, who have you interviewed and what places have
you visited to make your stories work?

Re: Every Bride Needs a Groom (1:32am October 9, 2016):

Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you cry
alone. In my family, we were always taught to try to find
the ridiculous side of any situation so that we could heal
faster. Sometimes it was stupid stuff - like Mom telling
us to make sure we wore decent underwear so that if you
tripped and fell at church, she wouldn't be as
embarrassed. (Yes, my MOM actually did that.)

Re: Every Time with a Highlander (1:11am August 12, 2016):

I want some unstructured time to just relax. I want to go
to the Farmer's Market to shop, visit, eat, schmooze. I
want to maybe listen to a concert in a small venue in the
evening with my husband and a few friends. I want to
worship on Sunday with a nice dinner later and spend time
with my family.

Re: A Promise of Fire (1:08am August 12, 2016):

The first time I remember crying over a book was when I
read Little Women in 4th or 5th grade. I was devastated
when Beth died. And it opened up the fact that I prefer
to laugh when I read, but some people prefer to cry. As a
children's librarian, I actually had books that I had
never read, and never wanted to read. And I was public
about it. I actually had 5 copies of the one title
because there was such a demand for my "books that make
you cry." Anytime I presented one of those titles there
was an immediate exodus to the shelves....

Re: Heart Strike (1:02am August 12, 2016):

Favorite weekend, starts with a visit to the Farmer's Market
to visit with my friends in that little community, then
spending time with my family, ending with Sunday worship. I
want my weekends to be a relaxing oasis in a sea of
insanity!

Re: For Love or Money (12:55pm August 12, 2016):

For the past 17 years, I had worked as an elementary
school librarian in the inner city. I worked for hugs.
But I must confess, every year, I had someone who made the
break though and took me with them. The third grader who
came to me and said that she needed something longer,
because the beginning chapter books didn't last until her
next visit to the library. Once she checked out her first
LONG book, she came back the following week, proudly
proclaiming that she'd finished the whole thing and it was
just crazy! The fifth grader who heard a friend rave
about a book only to try it out and become a reader... I
lived for those moments. And I will miss them!

Re: Grilling the Subject (9:32pm August 2, 2016):

My mint chocolate Christmas cake gets raves, but it's the
simplest recipe ever. Just crumble a large peppermint patty
into the dry mix, and swap out butter for the oil. Follow
the rest of the baking instructions. The frosting is 2 cups
of powdered sugar, half a stick of softened butter, 2 tbs of
milk, and 1 tbs of creme de menthe. Beat for 3 minutes. If
too thick, add more milk. Enjoy!

Re: In The Line Of Fire (3:57am July 23, 2016):

I have always wanted to go down under. Australia sounds
fascinating! I have some cyber buddies that live down there
that I've always wanted to meet as well. Thank so much for
the opportunity!

Re: Fire Danger (3:37am July 23, 2016):

I love shifter stories. Well written paranormal fantasy is
my favorite. If it makes me laugh, that's a bonus. I also
like have a romance going on as well as an HEA. Thank you so
much for the opportunity!

Re: Torn (6:32pm July 22, 2016):

ANYTHING by Ilona Andrews is wonderful. I had read them
all, so I logged onto their web site to get the latest on
the Innkeeper Chronicles. Molly Harper has a new one coming
out in a couple of days. This is one author that really
benefits from audio. Amanda Ronconi, her narrator is
fabulous. Nalini Singh just released her latest in the
Psy/Changling series. I do adore Jennifer Ashley's shifter
stories. Dakota Cassidy is another humorous author of
paranormal fiction and my favorite with no new Harry
Dresdens, is Jim Butcher. Yes, I know he's got a couple of
new series, but the Dresden Files is just superior and Jim
Marsden his narrator nails the audio versions.

Re: The California Gold Rush Romance Collection (6:15pm July 22, 2016):

When I was a kid, I read ALL of the great animal books.
Rascal, Owls in the Family, Big Red, Old Yeller and all of
their sequels! As a school librarian, one of my favorite
book titles was one by Gordon Korman "No more dead dogs"
because the kid in the story said the dog bites it in the
end of the book every time. As an adult pet owner...we keep
bunny rabbits. When the last dog died, the last hamster,
and guinea pig, I thought that we would finally be able to
take a vacation without a pet sitter. My husband drove off
with the guinea pig cages one fine day and brought them back
filled. He said that I had gotten all of the other pets,
now it was HIS turn. Took my breath away, but...he was
right. At the moment, we have 5 of them. And FOUR are in
my rec room. Two are my pets, and the other two are still
babies.

Re: Billionaire in Wolf's Clothing (7:53pm July 7, 2016):

Oh. My. It was like reading the outline of your book.
Definitely works. LOVE your wolf books! Thanks so much for
the opportunity!

Re: The Diva Serves High Tea (9:22pm June 13, 2016):

OMG, I'm hyperventilating over that trifle! I love
raspberries! Last night I had a slice of vanilla pound cake
with half a pint of raspberries and cool whip. It was to
die for! Thank you so much for the opportunity!

Re: Into the Whirlwind (9:18pm June 13, 2016):

These books are so fun! Thanks so much for the opportunity!

Re: The Firefighter's Refrain (3:33pm June 7, 2016):

Any man that can stand the heat and races into disasters
instead of doing the sane thing and running from them is a
hero. When they're handsome as well? Well that's just
icing on the cake! Thank you so much for the opportunity!
Oh, my hero? My husband of nearly 38 years, of course!
He has always rescued me from whatever scrape I've ever
gotten into, quite a few actually!

Re: Irish Stewed (2:13pm June 7, 2016):

Your various books sound great, but I'm really interested in
Pepper Martin. Are they going to be on Audible soon?
Thanks for the opportunity!

Re: Her Fierce Warror (10:58pm March 6, 2016):

My special occasion celebration would be any venue large
enough to hold our family! It honestly doesn't matter to me.
What matters are the people.

Re: My Tempting Highlander (10:56pm March 6, 2016):

Not sure I would want to travel back in time. My health has
always been precarious and I probably would be first to die!
On the other hand, I dearly love reading about the past.
Particularly Revolutionary War era.

Re: One Texas Cowboy Too Many (10:52pm March 6, 2016):

OH YUCK!! However, I will agree. Shit storm describes it
perfectly! Very vivid visuals! Cannot wait to read.

Re: MacLaren's Bride (12:53pm March 5, 2016):

Oh my word, I want to read this!! I'm so happy you realized
that you can be a mom and still write! I'm older so you
probably don't yet realize that you can do a lot of things in
this lifetime, sometimes simultaneously and sometimes
separately.

Re: Taken by the Highlander (2:15am December 31, 2015):

My husband and I usually ring in the New Year's quietly with
a nice dinner, a glass of wine and just the two of us. When
the kids were small, we would make it a family event and do
the First Night activities in town.

Re: A Skeleton in the Family (8:09pm December 15, 2015):

I'm getting older and having more problems now as well, so I
adore audio books! You can do so much with them and not miss
your stories! Thanks so much for the opportunity!

Re: Pouncing on Murder (7:59pm December 15, 2015):

Oh dear, do I really have to confess that I LOVE having a
librarian as the heroine? I read constantly and when not
reading, I'm listening to a book or reading out loud or
teaching from them.... What can I say, I'm a book person!

Re: Deep Down (9:13pm November 27, 2015):

I love sushi, but I don't think I've tried uni yet. I LOVED
what you wrote about Sam's eyes and sent the blurb to a
friend who has one brown and one blue eye. Thanks for
sharing that!!

Re: Single Wicked Wolf (11:38pm October 31, 2015):

I love break out characters, they're always a surprise. But
at the moment, I really do not have favorite.

Re: A Geek Girl's Guide to Murder (1:32am September 7, 2015):

I'm a school librarian. I geek about books. Hands down.
Once had my car stolen. It was full of bags. Car was found.
Bags...were still there. Apparently no one else was
interested in my paperback novels. sigh.... School year has
just started. I work in the inner city. I've been getting
back books that weren't returned at the end of last year
because my kids apparently had separation anxiety about
returning them earlier.

Re: Last Chance Cowboys: The Drifter (1:26am September 7, 2015):

I try to treat everyone with respect, the way that I would
want to be treated or to have my child be treated. Learning
is a treasure not to be wasted, but some children have to be
inspired. I work at it. Don't lie, don't cheat, don't steal,
don't commit adultery. In other words, follow the 10
commandments. They are commandments, not suggestions. Do all
things in moderation. Words hurt, use them gently. Everyone
has a story, some are even more compelling than our own, but
they won't share, if they don't trust. (I work in an inner
city elementary school. But these are my basic life rules
regardless.)

Re: The Highwayman (10:31pm September 1, 2015):

This sounds so good! Thanks for the opportunity! My favorite
color is red!

Re: Fudging the Books (12:13pm August 3, 2015):

I used to love traveling. Now, I prefer to stay home. I was
never into amusement parks, but loved living history museums
so Williamsburg in the winter, when it wasn't busy, was
terrific for me. I once had a behind the scenes tour of the
Library of Congress that I've thought about for years. When I
was younger, I loved traveling into Canada to practice my
French.

Re: The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts (11:59pm August 2, 2015):

We lead a fairly tame life, but my husband and I keep bunnies
for pets. After handling them, every other animal seems to
have a coarser fur now! We live a fairly small town, so it's
not uncommon to sit down in a restaurant next to a complete
stranger and end up comparing stories about the people we
know. I once stood in line behind a lady talking about a
couple of kids and I knew immediately whose children they
were. Wilmington, DE may seem like a mid-size urban area, but
it's really a small town at heart. Makes for a great setting!

Re: To Mate an Assassin (11:46pm August 2, 2015):

I adore So You Think You Can Dance!! It is a favorite of
mine. I also love Outlander and Poldark! Project Runway and
Top Chef are also favorites of mine. I'm an elementary school
librarian in the inner city, so I sell books to reluctant
readers. And sometimes...sometimes my kids come back and
thank me. Then I put them to work in the library! (insert
evil cackle here) Actually, our state requires high school
kids to do 60 hours of community service before graduating, so
the ones that come back to me often choose to do their
community service in their old library.

Re: Naked (1:10am July 25, 2015):

I will sometimes switch out sugar for honey, but I've never
deliberately made a honey cake. The recipe sounds wonderful,
but I would need to change the measurements. ;-)

Re: Nowhere to Hide (1:05am July 25, 2015):

I'm not very brave. I have a feeling I would blank it all out
and deny that anything happened for as long as possible.

Re: The Empress Game (3:25pm July 15, 2015):

Star Wars! Hard to beat that one!

Re: Change Of Heart (10:03pm July 11, 2015):

My mother's family are German Lutheran farmers from Michigan.
There are enough similarities to the Amish way of life that for
myself and some of the older relatives, this genre is highly
enjoyable.

Re: A Sword for His Lady (9:43pm July 11, 2015):

Oh, I do love a great battle of wills. I've been involved in
one for 37 years. Sometimes I win, sometimes he wins. But
we're always very aware of each other. So, in the long run, we
both win. It is never boring at home.

Re: The Curiosity Keeper (11:15pm July 6, 2015):

So funny! I've been working my way through Georgette Heyer's
audio books. And the really cool thing is that they are
absolutely timeless. They are still as delightful now as they
ever were! I just finished These Old Shades and Devil's Cub
this week.

Re: 50 Ways to Ruin a Rake (11:05pm July 6, 2015):

OMG. My house so needs to be cleaned out AGAIN! I hired a
gal many years ago to help me dig and toss. We found a
genealogy paper I had written for a class many years ago. I
had interviewed my husband's father who had come from the
Ukraine, interned in WWII Germany, and then settled in the US.
I copied it and gave it out with some old photos to all of the
kids in my children's generation. Every last child thanked me
for it.

Re: SEAL Wolf Hunting (8:50pm July 2, 2015):

I am the cautious, settled down type. I prefer to live my
adventures vicariously through reading, listening, and watching
others adventures. After moving constantly in my early years,
my husband and I have lived in the same house for the past 35
years.

Re: Her Greek Doctor's Proposal (8:54pm July 1, 2015):

We've been getting a LOT of rain. I've been finishing up in
my library before concentrating on home for the summer. Once
I start on my home, I need to pack away winter sweaters, clean
up the rooms, toss out unwanted items to make room for items
that came into our home that we don't presently have space
for....sigh.

Re: The Tide Watchers (8:45pm July 1, 2015):

Truth is always stranger than fiction. We had a gentleman
that lived in a little town nearby that had worked for the
government in a top secret job at one point. He had retired.
The town was historical but one of the homes had to be
demolished and the owners had received permission to rebuild
in the same spot. This gentleman had gotten used to an
unhindered view of the waterfront and spent years fighting
their efforts to rebuild. He sabotaged the construction,
finally trying to set up a fake murder plot. All of this came
out when he was killed by being in the wrong place at the
wrong time.

Re: Mint Cookie Murder (8:25pm July 1, 2015):

These sound fabulous. Tell me they're being recorded for
Audible!!

Re: Murder Under the Desert Moon (8:21pm July 1, 2015):

Death under the Parisian Moon. You could explore the fashion
industry. Or Death under the Roman Moon and you could visit the
ruins!

Re: Four-Patch of Trouble (8:14pm July 1, 2015):

Vocabulary. I work in a multi-cultural, bilingual inner city
school. Sometimes words I take for granted go right over my
students' heads. Although I work in an elementary school, I
have high school volunteers. I had a group of them
volunteering to learn how to cover books and I was explaining
I was methodical in the procedure and after a couple of
minutes, they looked at each other and then asked me what
"methodical" meant. Sometimes it's the little things in life.

Re: Bushel Full Of Murder (9:20pm June 25, 2015):

I LOVE our local Farmer's Market! I've been going there for
the entire 37 years that we've been married and my husband
remembers going there as a child. So hard to choose just ONE
treat, but I think my favorite is a fruit smoothie made with
strawberries, blueberries and raspberries while I watch. Ours
is indoors and very multicultural. The Amish, Greeks,
Italians, Germans, Thai, and many other cultures are clearly
represented in the cuisine available. You can buy vintage
jewelry by the gram, or finer pieces from a jeweler. You can
have your hearing checked or make a will. I love the eclectic
feel and small town community feel of it. I have lost my
wallet twice there and both times it turned up with the money
still inside. I greet many of the vendors by name. What's
not to love?

Re: The Spring Bride (9:10pm June 25, 2015):

In spite of being married for nearly 37 years, nothing settles
my nerves and straightens out my mind faster than a good
romance. It takes one out of our troubles and reminds us that
there is always a better day.

Re: The Iron Princess (8:51pm June 25, 2015):

This sounds so good! Of course after several seasons of
Vikings, who doesn't have fantasies about the Northmen?

Re: Against the Tide (1:06am June 13, 2015):

I've only read Dylan's story so far! Sooo....it would have to
be him!

Re: Murder Freshly Baked (1:00am June 13, 2015):

Like-able characters and a little romance working with an off
beat community.

Re: Shadow Fires (12:50pm June 13, 2015):

My goodness, my husband and I are opposites and we've been
together for nearly 37 years. I always figured that it was a
matter of what one lacks, the other fulfills. And it does make
for an interesting marriage. Not calm or peaceful always, but
interesting! ;-)

Re: Never Resist A Rake (12:28pm June 13, 2015):

Going out to a nice dinner and just spending the evening
talking.

Re: 50 Ways to Ruin a Rake (1:28am June 7, 2015):

I wore a size 11 up to the point when I had my kids. I
finally lost all of my baby weight and I got into a car
accident. And my metabolism changed. I was inactive and
gained more weight than I ever thought possible. It took 3-4
years to find the right meds to stabilize my condition. I
have never returned to that size. After a period of time, I
had to give myself permission to buy "good" clothes in a
bigger size. A much bigger size. I hadn't made poor choices
that caused me to gain weight, I had gotten into a car
accident and had some health issues that complicated things.
So often women punish themselves by wearing cheap garments
until they lose weight. I accepted it and made the most of my
appearance.

Re: Night of the Highland Dragon (1:16am June 7, 2015):

Dragons!! I love dragons!! Ever since I read the first Pern
book more than 40 years ago.

Re: Against the Tide (12:52pm May 30, 2015):

When I was younger, I used to love going on road trips. Now, I
have several health issues that make it very uncomfortable. I
think in addition to WHERE you're going, WHO you go with is the
most important part of a road trip.

Re: Passionately Yours (12:48pm May 30, 2015):

I am unfamiliar with this series, but I'm certainly willing to
try it out. Thanks for the opportunity!!

Re: A Family for the Bull Rider (11:41pm May 29, 2015):

Such a dangerous sport! Must admire someone who puts it all on
the line! I've never been to a genuine rodeo, but I've seen
events on TV. I have no favorite. Thanks for the opportunity!

Re: Greek Gods Bearing Gifts (7:28pm May 9, 2015):

Remington Steele and Moonlighting come to mind, but I do so
miss Eureka as well! Longmire doesn't have the snappy
diaglogue, but it is soooo well done. I'm so happy they've
reconsidered and are bringing it back. If you wanted camp,
Farscape was full of camp! And who doesn't love a little Dr.
Who? I'm still mystified as to the reason why writers think a
married couple has no more sexual heat, perhaps Outlander will
teach them otherwise, because I just never got over Sam and
Diane breaking up on Cheers!

Re: Wicked Stitch (9:21pm April 14, 2015):

About 40 years ago, I took part in a living history
experience. A public day in colonial Delaware. I created
authentically made clothing that I had dyed myself using
authentic fibers and patterns. Now, I am a school librarian
and every couple of years, I pull out my chemise, bodice,
pockets, and petticoats and dress one student in each class in
the outfit. It is an experience that my kids just love,
particularly the girls that were selected to model it. The
pockets are always my favorite bits because they are on a
drawstring that you tie around your waist. Colonial ladies
wore their pockets under the petticoats and reached into them
from a slit in their skirts. You can make the pockets as big
as you wanted or needed, so mine were really big. I also had
a lace mob cap with a grosgrain ribbon and a sandalwood fan.
Unfortunately, the fan is broken, but fragrance remains.
Because the bathed so seldom, it was necessary to have
something to smother the odors in close quarters. The payoff
is one of my inner city 4th graders made the comment in class
that he would LOVE to learn history that way.

Re: The Cozy Cookbook (9:07pm April 14, 2015):

Gosh, so many people sharing recipes in the last couple of
days. Before I share mine, I have to tell you about a FB
group an old high school friend just started. She's been
battling cancer for several years and she recently got the
news that it's spreading. Nothing can be done. BUT she is an
amazing cook, so she started a FB page that documents her
recipes with pictures of every stage of the recipe and the
final product. A lot of our friends have joined in and are
sharing their recipes in a pictoral format as well. Some of
them are these fabulous Italian recipes with pasta from
scratch.

So, I'm sharing Marcy's Marinated Mushrooms
I usually use either a pound of sliced white mushrooms or 2 or
3 sliced up portobellos.
Pour 2 cups of white zinfandel in the bottom of a frying pan.
Add a dash of dark Chinese soy sauce (there is no name brand,
we go to an oriental store to purchase it)
Add about 1/2 teaspoon of lemon pepper, and 2 tsp of dill
weed.
Place mushroom in the frying pan and allow them to set and
absorb the wine for about 10-15 min.
Turn the heat on high until it starts to simmer, reduce
slightly so that it continues to simmer. Allow the liquid to
reduce. Cook them down until there is a very small amount of
thickened liquid left.

You can serve them alone, on potatoes, in meats or add to
gravies. Because the flavor is locked in, they add an extra
sweet flavor to any dish. Do NOT add any salt. Any soy sauce
is liquid salt.

Re: SEAL My Home (9:06pm March 24, 2015):

I love SEAL stories, but even more, you always offer them in
audio! Thanks so much for that!!

Re: Siren's Call (12:31pm March 22, 2015):

What's not to love about mermaids? I've always been fascinated
by the possibility. I love underwater archaeology. A mermaid
could go onsite without fear.

Re: His Majesty's Secret Passion (10:28pm March 21, 2015):

Well, that is weird! Looks like someone put an ad in the
middle of the comments! At any rate, bless your heart, I may
love to talk, but I seriously doubt that I would ever make a
writer. I know my own faults too well. I am re-reading an
old Georgette Heyer, Cousin Kate. It was a departure from her
usual style since there was a mystery, a madman, and murder
involved. I love her Regencies, so they never seem to get
old. I have discovered Audible as well, so I've been enjoying
listening to favorite stories while I work.

Re: Claimed by the Sheikh (3:01pm February 20, 2015):

Well, first off, you have to love really dominant males to get
into this book. I do. ;-) In fact, I can't wait to read it!
I have had several careers at this point in my life. My last
career change took me into a school library. It has been a
really great fit. I'm not happy with the direction education
is going at the moment, but I will NEVER regret having gone
into the field. I wish I could say that a career in writing
awaits me on retirement, but I don't think it does. Not
everyone has the skill and ability to spin a tale!

Re: Rescuing the Texan's Heart (7:19pm February 14, 2015):

I would worry about all of that ice. Are the sidewalks cleared?
When I was younger, it would have been somewhere that I would
have liked to visit. Now that I'm older, I think twice. ;-)

Re: Once a Wallflower, At Last His Love (7:49pm February 11, 2015):

Oh my. I fell in love with Jamie Frazier more than 20 years ago
and since the series came out on STARZ, there has been no reason
to change my mind! Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.

Re: As Gouda as Dead (8:29pm February 7, 2015):

I know this is a cliche, but my daughter's wedding! I have food
allergies and normally dread food events because of all I can't
eat. But she had discussed it with the caterer ahead of time
and arranged to have gourmet items that I still dream about!

Re: Meow If It's Murder (10:17pm January 14, 2015):

This sounds like such a delicious little book. Can't wait to
read!

Re: Hitting on the Hooker (10:14pm January 14, 2015):

I never quite got the rules of rugby or soccer down, but I never
mind watching a bunch of physically fit young men running and
showing off their skills!

Re: How to Plan a Wedding for a Royal Spy (10:01pm January 14, 2015):

Sidekicks! I love the concept. Some of the best books ever
have gotten there based on their secondary characters. Can't
wait to read this!

Re: More Than A Duke (9:57pm January 14, 2015):

A hero is someone who perseveres in spite of his own personal
discomfort. My favorite type of heroine is someone who
participates and contributes as opposed to sitting back and
waiting to be saved.

Re: Two Week Seduction (11:13pm January 5, 2015):

Coffee or chocolate! I figure that you could make a killing in
either one! And I want to know why you have the ugly oil
outside your house too!!

Re: Hard to Come By (3:31pm November 27, 2014):

Many years ago, we had a family at church where the husband
had one leg amputated close to his hip due to a sewer accident
when he was 18. I had never seen anyone so graceful in my
life. Prosthetics were a problem and gave him sores, so he
normally just used a cane. OK, so what could he do? He could
dance with his wife, he could play baseball, he could carry
their brand new baby up and down the stairs. And when he and
some co-workers had been mugged on a trip to Mexico, he saved
the day and rescued the other guys with his fierce use of his
cane. Glad to see guys with disabilities get a fair shot at
romance!

Re: Chasing the Runaway Bride (3:21am November 23, 2014):

I have 2 healthy children and they both have spouses that I like
and love. I have a wonderful husband who's been with me for 36
years. I am a lucky woman.

Re: What The Groom Wants (12:48pm November 1, 2014):

Oh my! I missed the party! So sorry! It sounded like fun!

Re: The Doctor's Fake Fiancee (3:22pm October 26, 2014):

As we grow older, I look at my husband's characteristics and
tend to compare other men to him. Grumpy? Yes. Dependable,
yes. Sense of humor? Yes. Strong, yes. Sense of humor?
Yes. Those were my most important needs, but the one that
took the longest when we were dating? Saying I love you. I
figured if he ever said it to me, it would be forever, because
this was not a man who made promises lightly. We've been
married 36 years.

Re: Bridging Two Hearts (12:32pm October 4, 2014):

Hmmm....life imitating art? Actually I finally authors
research stories fascinating. I'm a school librarian and I
teach research skills to children who think it dull, so when I
can find a great back story about a book, it's fun to share.
Not every story I come across is appropriate for the
elementary crowd, but I have gotten hooked on back stories!

Re: A Winter Wedding (10:29pm September 6, 2014):

Oh, I was a summer bride and totally sensible. But, the one
area that I've indulged myself over the years is with jewelry.
Not small tasteful pieces, but large semi-precious stones that
make statements whenever they are worn. And now I've reached
the fun part where I will take old pieces and have them remade
into something new. Looking through estate jewelry for bits
and pieces that can be remade into something new and exciting
is such a pleasure!

Re: A Duke's Wicked Kiss (10:18pm September 3, 2014):

Is it sad to admit that I find my quiet time in the
bathroom? Although, occasionally when my husband goes to
bed and I turn off the TV, the bunnies and I share quiet
moments together. And sometimes when I get home from school
and sit down in the recliner, I fall asleep. At that point,
my husband comes in and looks at us and makes some smart
comment about how we're all sleeping. (Yes, I have two
bunnies that live in my rec room. They're mine. His live
in the hutches outside.)

Re: Saving Gracie (6:14pm August 24, 2014):

Life is so short. And as you get older, it flies by faster
and faster. I try to live each moment, in the moment. And
sometimes, those speed bumps turn into blessings. After a
family crisis that lasted for years when my kids were
little, I wanted to become a full time teacher rather than a
substitute. I was really good, didn't realize that I'd made
myself irreplaceable. But if I had gotten that class, I
never would have pursued any higher education to become a
school librarian. And that is where my heart lies. When I
started becoming less physically fit, I wondered how I was
going to do my job. Didn't realize that my students and
former students loved to help and were just looking for
something to make them feel useful. With each roadblock
there has been a detour. And I have to say, some of those
detours have been wonderful. Today, I'm enjoying the fact
that I'm sitting here in my nightgown, not having to race
around ANYWHERE, because tomorrow? Tomorrow is our kids'
first day of school, and I have to be on duty. Happy,
smiling, and full of hugs. If I'm not happy and peaceful
inside, I can't be what my students need. Enjoy the moment!

Re: Flame (1:43am August 3, 2014):

I HATED Delores Umbridge. She was so certain she was right.
That is truly the scariest of villains. I'll be interested to
see what you do with it. :-)

Re: Shenandoah Dreams (9:33pm July 4, 2014):

Hmmm...it would depend on where I was and what was at home for
me. If I were single and childless, I'd probably stay for a
while. But if I had kids and a husband, then send me home
ASAP!

Re: Full Exposure (10:34pm July 2, 2014):

EASY!! Red headed Jamie Frasier from the Outlander books by
Diana Gabaldon!! I have lusted after him for nearly 20 years!

Re: Crime Rib (9:19pm July 2, 2014):

I cannot believe you actually addressed that age old question
of "Where do you get your ideas?" Only a writer can be in a
God awful situation and think, "I can use this!" At any rate,
I appreciated the glimpse into the artistic process!

Re: Muffin But Murder (10:42am June 30, 2014):

I do love a cozy mystery! Agatha Christie set the standard for a generation!

Re: The Midwife (8:11pm June 21, 2014):

So very sad. Although I deplore the number of single parent
homes we have now, I can't help but think in some ways it may
be healthier for both mother and child.

Re: Once Upon a Highland Autumn (10:19pm June 18, 2014):

Well if you have to cry, I can't think of a better reason than
over Culloden. Such a sad, sad battle. And what happened
afterwards? Horrible!

Re: Queen of Wands (8:40pm June 18, 2014):

I dislike horror intensely, but one of my favorite movies is
The Mummy. Ones Muse is an odd thing.

Re: Hunter By Night (7:32pm June 13, 2014):

Love the cover! I am so glad the hunky 700 year old vampire
isn't going to have it easy with the human... so totally sold
on this book it isn't even funny!

Re: Demon Creed (8:04pm June 7, 2014):

I want a book that makes me feel good at the end of it. I
don't choose sad tales, I don't want to go through the
trauma of rape or incest. I want adventure, fantasy, love
that triumphs in the end. Yes, I want my happily ever
after. And a well developed bare chested male on the cover
is definitely going to get my attention!

Re: House Of Jaguar (11:16pm May 20, 2014):

OK and that's why I read. I will (hopefully) never experience
anything this exciting.

Re: Lady Gone Bad (11:13pm May 20, 2014):

I wouldn't mind the dresses, but hauling water, chopping
wood, lack of medical care? I like today's like much
better. I remember visiting my grandma in the hills of NC
and helping her to churn butter, cook on a wood burning
stove, trying to bathe in a little tin tub, believe me, the
modern conveniences cannot be trivialized!

Re: Rise And Shine (8:31pm May 9, 2014):

I am a control freak. I admit it. But life being what it
is, I very rarely have control over it. Sometimes it works
best when you act like a cork bobbing on the water and
letting the current take you where it wills. The most
difficult times of my life, I have no idea how I survived,
but the good Lord did take care of me and provided.

Re: Stop Dragon My Heart Around (8:51pm May 4, 2014):

My parents were both raised on farms, every summer we
visited my grandparents and those days were some of the
happiest of my life. Sadly, I work with inner city kids who
have no idea where their food comes from. So every year I
teach about farm animals and agriculture. Charlotte's Web
is wonderful, but the fact is, we do eat bacon! ;-)

Re: Secrets and Sins: Raphael (10:00pm May 3, 2014):

Oh dear. I'm a school librarian and cursing can be a
problem. But even more than that, the meaning of certain
words have changed over the years. I can remember trying to
read "The Owl and the Pussy Cat" out loud to an inner city
class. Once. I only tried it ONCE. Never again. I can
still hear myself saying, "Oh, Pu##y, my Pu##y," and a bunch
of children with their hands over their mouths, looking at
me in shock. NEVER AGAIN. I think that was one of the most
unintentional embarrassing moments of my life.

Re: My Not So Super Sweet Life (9:41pm April 26, 2014):

Chocolate! I am a self confessed chocoholic!

Re: A Shot of Red (3:16pm April 23, 2014):

About 15 years ago, my husband won a pair of tickets to the
Radio City Christmas show. At first we talked about taking
the train or bus, but after checking prices, we decided to
drive to a hotel in Jersey, spend the night and take the
train into the city the next day. We spent 2 nights at the
hotel and the whole trip was magical. It actually rained
the whole time and we didn't care! We wandered NYC, visited
FAO Schwartz, saw the show from the 4th row. We didn't see
a restaurant we wanted to stop at for dinner, so we went
back to the hotel. It had a 4 star restaurant that for some
reason was nearly deserted that evening. We sat in front of
the fire and were treated like royalty. When we left, they
gave us the rest of the bottle of wine to enjoy in our room!
I still think of it as a 2nd honeymoon. So unexpected and
it came at just the right time.

Re: A Killing Notion (10:01pm April 1, 2014):

I'm rather eclectic, it depends on my mood. While I prefer
lighter, funny mysteries, I also adore Agatha Christie and
have probably read her entire catalog. Grew up on Nancy
Drew, still remember being a late thumb sucker and my mother
bribed me to stop sucking my thumb with a Nancy Drew book.
I've even gotten sucked into John Grisham's novels at times.
Paranormal is one my recent passions, but I always have a
different rotation of genres going on my kindle. And let's
not forget the In Death series. Probably my most favorite
thing that Nora Roberts has ever done.

Re: Turned (7:32pm March 26, 2014):

Oh my! This sounds like it's right up my alley. I'm a total
sucker for a great paranormal story, especially when it
involves the military!

Re: Desperately Seeking Suzanna (7:40pm March 13, 2014):

Dear me, where to begin? I am a self confessed chocoholic.
BUT I make a dynamite chocolate mint cake, usually around the
Xmas holidays. I make a butter cream frosting to go with it
that uses Creme de Menthe instead of vanilla. It is to die
for.

Re: The Bride Insists (7:19pm March 13, 2014):

Those babies are adorable, but they look more like goats to
me. EVERY one loves the black sheep or the prodigal son.
I've always felt more sorry for the son that stayed home and
did the right thing. The black sheep runs around, has fun,
leads the exciting life and then when he's used up all of
his resources he comes home and is rewarded for finally
seeing the light. So I have mixed feelings about them.

Re: Darkside Sun (10:58pm March 11, 2014):

Sounds like a book that I would be interested in reading!

Re: Between the Sheets (10:38pm February 25, 2014):

You two are so fortunate that you love what you're doing and
whom you're doing it with. Thanks for the opportunity!

Re: Oath of the Brotherhood (11:16pm February 21, 2014):

What if.... I have read all of my life. I adore fantasy,
fiction, romance and all genres in between. That being
said, my husband once said that I could write stories
because I read so much. I was dumbstruck because I do not
have the detailed dreams for the what if... question.
Authors have a story begging to be told that not every one
has. I truly admire the drive and skill that it takes to
put your vision into words.

Re: The Cowboy's Mail Order Bride (11:10pm February 21, 2014):

What a romantic story! I think YOUR story is almost more
romantic than the one that you wrote! Fate plays such a big
part of who you end up with sometimes. I met my husband by
chance, and I was even with another guy when we met. But I
agreed to go out with him and we've been married for 35
years. Such a chance we took.

Re: What The Groom Wants (11:49pm February 13, 2014):

Georgette Heyer! It surprises me that there are any women who haven't read her books. I was always amazed that her husband thought she was wasting her time and talent writing those Regency novels when she was a historian and should have been writing "serious" books. And yet 40 years after I first discovered them, they are still as fresh as ever and they are being discovered by a whole new generation. Keep writing your delicious romances and you will continue to have an audience! Now honestly, all of them sound plausible, but I think B because you have that special inside knowledge about the way siblings torture each other. Why? Because they can.

Re: Much Ado About Jack (11:39pm February 13, 2014):

I think Shakespeare would find the clothing rather plain. After the heavy, sumptuous fabrics of his day, the plain dress that the men wore and the filmy dresses of the women might have been a bit much for him. I also think by the Regency people bathed a bit more than they did in his time. People were more apt to lose their lives for their political beliefs in Shakespeare's time than in Austen's. The American Revolution was fought because middle class merchants rebelled against paying taxes. Wouldn't have happened with Queen Elizabeth. Interesting vein of thought!

Re: What The Groom Wants (10:45am February 9, 2014):

I remember once when my husband was on his way out the door to go to work, we both got abruptly hot and bothered. Up against the closet door did just fine, but it wasn't long enough! And at the same time, I found I worried about the windows in the front door, yes they were up high, but someone might have seen his head bobbing. The time, man has always taken his time, didn't know he could do a quicky! And the wood floor, I was in socks and kept slipping. Thankfully he had a good grip on me. Oddly, you never read these issues in a book. Yet my mind was consumed with them. ;-)

Re: The MacGregor's Lady (10:37am February 9, 2014):

I love the way your mind works. If you can't have Mr. Darcy, go to Scotland. I've had a thing for Jamie Frasier for nearly 20 years. So my question and I'm pretty sure I know which you'd prefer is, Scotsmen past or present? Would you prefer the wild, wooly danger of the past or something sleeker. A modern Scot. Something intriguing about that thought isn't it? Sean Connery caused some consternation at one point because he didn't wear underwear, and at the time I was shocked. But knowing what Scots do not wear under their kilts, it makes perfect sense. :-) Have a great day!!

Re: A Minute on the Lips (10:25am February 9, 2014):

Sounds wonderful. Thanks for the opportunity!

Re: Risk Taker (4:45pm February 1, 2014):

I love the premise of this book, but I have to tell you, after seeing you tuck your books into the care packages of our fighting men and women around the holidays, I'd read anything you wrote.

Re: Sadie's Secret (9:25pm January 18, 2014):

How fun! Lady detective in the Pinkerton's! Just the concept sounds intriguing!

Re: What the Heart Wants (12:50pm January 7, 2014):

My daddy came from the hills of North Carolina. A lot of those old traditions were alive and well in our family. I have always been so annoyed by folks who think the 12 days of Christmas starts before the holiday! Today is Epiphany, it is the official 12th day of Christmas. In a perfect world, school breaks would cover us from right before Christmas until after Epiphany.

Re: The Groom's Gamble (12:47pm January 7, 2014):

OMG, before I even get to your book blurbs I look at those great covers and I drool. You had me at the cover!!

Re: The Baby in the Window (12:45pm January 7, 2014):

Fantasy is great. I dream about perfect men all the time. BUT...I've been married for 35 years to the same guy and I've never regretted it. No matter how much we might fight, I can't sleep without him at my back. So I'll take the real deal anytime!

Re: The Temptation of Lady Serena (2:09am January 3, 2014):

Sounds like a great book! Can't wait to read it!

Re: If Wishes Were Earls (6:54pm December 31, 2013):

Looking forward to reading this! Sounds great! Thanks for the opportunity!

Re: The Bad Boy Billionaire's Wicked Arrangement (6:52pm December 31, 2013):

Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the opportunity!

Re: The Scandal in Kissing an Heir (6:51pm December 31, 2013):

Sounds like a great read! Thanks for the opportunity!

Re: Welcome Back To Apple Grove (8:29pm December 21, 2013):

I guess I'm pretty boring. I LOVE my chocolate chip walnut oatmeal cookies. I'll meander through a plate of fancy cookies, but given my choice, I'll eat one of those every time!

Re: Take Over at Midnight (8:27pm December 21, 2013):

Sounds wonderful. I loved the excerpts that you posted!

Re: How Beauty Met the Beast (8:24pm December 21, 2013):

I love the way your books sound, but I'm still fixating on clear alcohol. So you can drink vodka but not wine?

Re: Meet the Earl at Midnight (10:07pm December 19, 2013):

Best thing about Christmas Eve was attending the church service and then coming home and opening ONE gift and then packing the kids off to bed and putting out the presents. Sometimes we would share a meal with other family members first, sometimes we would celebrate with friends after, but it always starts with the service at church.

Re: Last Chance Proposal (9:47pm December 10, 2013):

When I was in 4th grade, we moved to Florida. We all though that it was remarkable that we got bikes for Christmas and could RIDE them the same day! This was a brief move and by the next year, we were back up north. But I will always remember that year.

Re: Tangling with the CEO (9:41pm December 10, 2013):

Sassy mouth, sweet demeanor. That's me. Now if we ask my husband....

Re: Undressing Mr. Darcy (10:33pm December 9, 2013):

Oh my! Where is my fan when I need to hide my red face? Would I like to see Mr. Darcy take off his historically accurate clothing? Um, well, yes! Colin Firth is still my go to guy for the role, though!

Re: Billionaire Blend (10:27pm December 9, 2013):

This is lovely, but where do we find the poster of Wolverine? Like other readers, I love the recipes as well!

Re: Down Range (9:00pm December 1, 2013):

Gotta love those Seals!! Sounds like it's going to be a great series!!

Re: Reign (10:19pm November 24, 2013):

Squid's Ink Soup? God bless you!! I usually make my turkey and stuffing because I'm allergic to onions, garlic, peppers and peanuts. I create my own stuffing and frankly, I think it's pretty darn good since there is NEVER any left over! I married into a Ukrainian family and we've added pyrogi to our holidays. It was a good fit, although once again, I can't indulge. The holidays are for sharing, opening our doors and inviting one another in.

Re: The Wedding Game (10:07pm November 24, 2013):

What a delicious premise!! OK, I'm a total romantic schmuck, been married 35 years to the same guy, but this just sounds like a great book!

Re: Switch Hitter (11:32pm November 21, 2013):

Thank you so much! Greatly appreciated!

Re: Texas Tango (1:47am November 16, 2013):

Sounds like a great book! I work with elementary kids, teenagers drive me crazy! Too many hormones! They interfere with my own, you know! ;-) Congrats on the new book!

Re: Daughter Of The God-King (2:03am November 10, 2013):

Sounds like an interesting read. I've always wondered how much research a writer does before setting words to paper.

Re: How To Handle A Highlander (1:58am November 10, 2013):

I have never considered making my own undergarments. BUT...I would LOVE a bra that fit me properly! That being said, I love wool. In the winter there is just nothing better. I wear wool sweaters, socks, and even my shoes are wool felt! When I was younger, I had authentic Revolutionary War outfits, one for dress and one for everyday. And yes, you had to have the proper undergarments. Now I take them to school and put my kids in them every year.

Re: Born Wild (10:30pm November 2, 2013):

Sounds delicious! Congrats on the new book!

Re: Once a Rake (10:30pm October 30, 2013):

Regency? Georgette Heyer. Nobody ever did the period better. She is the one the created that love for me. Of course, I read and loved everything that Jane Austen ever wrote. Sharpe?

Re: Murder At Hatfield House (9:38pm October 23, 2013):

I love the American Revolutionary War period. My father came from the hills of North Carolina, where traditions were old and technology was non-existent. It started an interest in living history. When I was younger, I participated in living history re-enactments. If I could meet one person, I think I would like to meet Thomas Jefferson. He was an avid reader and inventor whose extensive book collection was left to Congress on his death and became the basis for the Library of Congress. His way of cataloging books is still used today.

Re: A Lady's Secret Weapon (3:26pm October 18, 2013):

I loved all of the authors that you listed but can't believe that you missed Kathleen Woodiwiss! She certainly started the genre with the Wolf and the Dove and no one ever looked back after that! While I love historicals, I also like to mix it up. So I have fantasy, paranormal, sci-fi, murder mystery, contemporary...all in the mix on my kindle. I kept the mix going so that I don't stagnate. :-)

Re: Bite Me, Your Grace (10:57pm October 6, 2013):

Buffy the Vampire Slayer! I really don't do horror, but I do camp. The Rocky Horror Picture Show! ;-)

Re: Love and Other Games (10:48pm October 6, 2013):

Hayrides, corn stalk mazes, pumpkin pies, and pumpkin soups. It really doesn't matter much what you do as long as you're with someone that you love.

Re: Command Performance (8:22pm October 1, 2013):

OMG. So, when my son joined the army a number of years ago, I was surprised to find that he joined the Cavalry Unit. Why you ask? Because he got to wear a cowboy hat and spurs! (True story, you can see them in his wedding photos!) He never rode a horse, but he was an Army scout in Iraq. I have rarely been so scared in my life. God Bless each and every one of our fighting men and women.

Re: Long Shot (8:14pm October 1, 2013):

Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm! There's just something about a man in a kilt. When in college, I once dated a Scotsman. LOVED the look. Of course I ended up with a Ukrainian, but there is something romantic about the Scots.

Re: Dirty Trick (10:32pm September 25, 2013):

This is APPLE weather! Sweet potatoes, pumpkin roll, acorn squash, fluffy wool socks, wool felt clogs, wool sweaters and a turtle neck. Other than that, I dread the season because I lose my voice and get a massive upper respiratory infection.

Re: Severed Trust (10:18pm September 21, 2013):

The way I've always understood it (being a strict Easterner who never set foot in Texas), the Rangers are the elite. The best of the best. A central character in many classic Westerns, lovely to see them updated. Congrats on the new book!

Re: Dark Road Home (10:15pm September 21, 2013):

Research...so easy to get sucked in. Sometimes you forget why you're there and lose track of which facts that you started out looking for. Congrats on the new book!

Re: Gideon's Call (8:01pm September 21, 2013):

OMG. When I became a school librarian, it was the happiest day of my husband's life. He thought that while I would still be buying books, it would be with someone else's money. Sigh...I have a bad Amazon habit. I had to call the bank last week because they decided I could only have 20 transactions on my credit card a day. I explained that that was totally unreasonable and if they only checked, the money was there and most of the transactions were only for $.99. They agreed to up the amount of transactions. I am a self confessed bibioholic.

Re: To Wed A Wicked Highlander (5:57pm September 20, 2013):

Funny you should mention Back to School. I'm a school librarian and summer is NEVER long enough, especially when you stay several weeks at the end of the school year to finish shelving and cataloging books. I always think we should have a couple of more weeks before going back. But then...I see those sweet little faces and feel the little arms hug me as if I were the most special person in the world. And the year is on.

Re: How To Entice An Enchantress (8:38pm September 18, 2013):

I cannot believe that you referenced Disney's Beauty and the Beast! My all time favorite Disney movie! I always identified with Belle because she spoke French, loved books, especially when no one else cared (the scene where she's raving about a book and sheep starts eating it is a classic), and she married a beast. I've been known to tease my husband that that is him to a tee. :-)

Re: When Mountains Move (11:14pm September 12, 2013):

I love the concept of group reading. Of course I would. School librarian. I frequently will provide more than one copy of a title in my library so that my kids can buddy read. It helps when you start a journey with your best friend. Thanks for the opportunity!

Re: Shades Of Mercy (11:08pm September 12, 2013):

I despise people who worship uniformity. Our country is created from a diverse group of people and I believe that we should celebrate our differences rather than trying to create uniformity. How boring life would be if everyone loved only vanilla ice cream! Give me my mint chocolate chip, chocolate, strawberry and peach flavors! I went to my high school reunion this year, visited with a bunch of relatives and when I came back home and went to work, a friend asked me how it was. My answer? It was too white. I've gotten used to having some spice added into the mix. I want my Hispanic friends, African Americans, Indians (both American and from India), Afghanis, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc in my life. I seem to need to have that diversity in order to function properly!

Re: Traces Of Mercy (10:53pm September 12, 2013):

Sons and weddings. My son came to me 6 years ago and announced that he was getting married in less than a week. He was 23 and my first thought was that he was too young. My second thought was that he was legally an adult. My third thought was that he was on his way to Iraq and might not survive. And the entire time I was thinking, "Be cool, be cool, be cool." In the next 5 days, we assembled family members, lined up the church, ordered the cake, got the dress, his buddies relayed his dress uniform down from upper New York state to DE, and his wife allowed me the honor of being bossy enough to make sure they had a wedding with pictures. Four years later, my daughter got married on the same day. And did I mention that it was the day after OUR anniversary? Yes, those memories are a powerful thing. I am blessed to have them.

Re: It Takes Two To Tangle (10:42pm September 12, 2013):

I've always wanted a nickname. It seemed as if all of the people in the world had one except me. Not sure what it said about my personality. The closest I came was that my name was shortened from Marcia (Mar-see-a) to Marcy. And then I had children. After spending so much time choosing a great name, I am annoyed to this day that my son has shortened his name. He did the first day he hit school. Of course it could be because I used both his first name and middle name every time he got into trouble, and he did THAT a lot! My daughter is still using her full first name and occasionally uses her middle name (after her Ukrainian grandmother) as well. Interesting thread!

Re: Against The Ropes (6:24pm September 6, 2013):

If you don't laugh, you cry. I always try to find the humor in any situation, but I REALLY hate to be embarrassed! Sometimes I can't even watch a movie because I know the hero or the heroine is going to be embarrassed! On the other hand, I've spent a LOT of time laughing!

Re: Bad Nights (6:13pm September 6, 2013):

I have a big streak of yellow right down the middle of my back. I love reading adventure, but there is no way you'd catch me out there hang gliding, sky diving, bungee cording, etc! So you go, girl! And keep on writing about it so that I can experience it vicariously. ;-)

Re: Virtual Heaven (10:47pm September 5, 2013):

I have never attempted VR, but I've been fascinated by the possibilities for years. Some of the most intriguing futuristic murder mysteries that I've read have involved VR. Definitely think that it is going to be playing a huge role in the future. Just curious, do you think Star Trek's Holodeck was really VR?

Re: The Highlander's Desire (11:36pm September 1, 2013):

A long time ago, I read a book called "The Glass Slipper." There are a lot of books with similar names, but I've never found the original with a slightly dotty kleptomaniac who was the fairy godmother. I've read a lot of romances based on fairy tales, but honestly, I've always wondered how they faired AFTER the happily ever after. I mean, did Prince Charming snore and spend all of his time watching jousting?

Re: What the Bride Wore (10:21pm August 30, 2013):

Golly, I can admire Stephen King and think that he is brilliant, but it doesn't mean that I want to read his books. I really want to be able to sleep at night! ;-) On the other hand, I really love romances!

Re: Unforeseeable (10:17pm August 30, 2013):

OMG. Tying two genres together is genius, although my first thought is "Witness". But since I always loved that movie, I can't wait to read the book!

Re: The Blood Gospel (10:14pm August 30, 2013):

Interesting. I would never have thought to tie the traditional blood loss in the church to a vampire story. Hmmm...have you tied it into the Spanish Inquisition?

Re: A Rancher's Christmas (8:33am August 28, 2013):

I am so glad I'm not the only sucker who loves to read Christmas stories year round! There's just something special about that holiday that makes anything connected with it feel like magic.

Re: Cowboy Seeks Bride (9:32pm August 22, 2013):

I know that I'll never ride a horse, sleep under the stars, rope a cow, but I make up for it in my reading material. Thanks for creating that adventure for me!

Re: Surrender To Sultry (9:27pm August 22, 2013):

Whether I win this or not, I'm gonna HAVE to get this book!! Whew! (Fanning myself.) Sounds great!

Re: Strung Out To Die (8:25pm August 20, 2013):

That is exactly what I thought a cozy mystery was. While my mother was alive, this was the type of book I would search out for her. Especially when she refused to reread Agatha Christie!

Re: Beneath the Dover Sky (11:26pm August 18, 2013):

Interestingly, I was discussing the fact that the roots of WWII had its roots in the outcome of WWI just yesterday. A salesgirl couldn't understand how Hitler had ever come into power and I explained that it stretched back to the previous war that left Germany destitute and living in poverty. They would have followed anyone who promised them a way out.

Re: The Amish Seamstress (11:19pm August 18, 2013):

So many people have never learned HOW to sew. Even those of us who learned, don't use those skills very often. Many years ago when I was first married, I made all of the curtains in our house because we didn't have the $ to buy them. Needless to say, after 30 years, guess what needs to be redone. And I still can't afford to buy what I want, so once again, I need to sew. Now that I'm off that tangent, I do so love romance!

Re: Three Days on Mimosa Lane (9:14pm August 16, 2013):

One of my dearest friends had lost her home, moved with her family into a rental, and her husband got cancer. I would drive an hour to leave bags of groceries or staples to help out. She said I would usually show up when the cupboard was truly bare and they didn't know what they were going to eat next. Because she loves to cook, I didn't worry about making anything, I just bought the staples. It enriched my life by warming me all the way home. As they face each new health scare, we send up constant prayers. As I face health problems, I know there is always someone I can talk to.

Re: Once Upon A Tartan (2:15am August 15, 2013):

I am in awe of people who have double careers. Particularly such wordy careers as writing and law. I know that you aren't the only one managing that hat trick, but it seems to me to be something that draws a certain personality type to both careers. I am a school librarian. I teach boys and girls to find information while I try to arrange the information in such a way as to be found. I know that it took dual certification to get to this point, but I still marvel at your accomplishments. Well done!

Re: A Cursed Embrace (10:04pm August 12, 2013):

There is lesson in persistence! I can't wait to read it, although when I hear "Weird Sisters", I think of Terry Pratchett! ;-)

Re: Taken by the Vampire King (10:00pm August 12, 2013):

Vampires. The ultimate bad boys. And who doesn't love a great bad boy book? Can't wait to read it!

Re: Love On A Midsummer Night (11:38pm August 8, 2013):

Hmmmm, did you mention slapping his face in PUBLIC? Embarrassing a man is a sure way to get him to avoid you...at least I think it is. Sometimes men can be perverse and take that as a sign to pursue. Oh well. I've been married 35 years and gave up trying to understand men a LONG time ago. ;-)

Re: What the Bride Wore (1:42am August 6, 2013):

Congratulations on your new book. I came home to DE from Pittsburgh yesterday. Would have loved to attend a signing but was there for my mother's funeral. Maybe another time.

Re: Second Ride Cowboy (12:55pm July 28, 2013):

I think second chances are important. Everyone screws up, it's what you do afterwards that defines a person. So, a second chance at love is just a part of life.

Re: Rugged Hearts (2:57pm July 24, 2013):

My mother guided me through my life and influenced my life choices, BUT the unexpected influence came from my high school French teacher. The woman was amazing, we once decided we didn't want to take a test and instead cooked French food and planned a party instead. We came down the hall singing the Marseilles. She had us write out our recipes in French and share them. She conned us into taking summer school for enrichment purposes. She took us on trips to both France and Canada to practice speaking the language. Forty years later, I still keep a bottle of wine in my refrigerator to cook with. And it is all due to her.

Re: Reckless (2:50pm July 24, 2013):

Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, True Lies, Transformers, Casino Royale...I still have nightmares about jumping around on those cranes and half finished buildings! It's funny how I hate watching tear jerker dramas and have no hesitation about watching an action movie!

Re: Moonlight (2:43pm July 24, 2013):

I enjoy reading both types of literature but I really prefer the shifters more! ;-) I'll take the warm blooded over the cold every time!

Re: The Medic's Homecoming (6:24pm July 9, 2013):

I dislike zombies because I think they are dead end characters. No pun intended. There's just not a whole lot you can do with a rotting dead guy that would actually appeal to a warm, red blooded living person. So...while I read a lot of paranormal stories, I've never really gotten into zombies. So...we'll see what happens with the warm bodies.

Re: Guardian (6:19pm July 9, 2013):

I LOVE reading about second chances! Being human, not everyone gets it right the first time! I grew up hearing, "Don't worry about it. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be." It's nice hearing how some people actually MAKE it meant to be!

Re: Winning a Bride (11:33pm July 5, 2013):

I don't much care for the typical novella. They are too short!! Just as you start investing in the characters, the story is over! Give me a double length one any day!! The other thing I've learned is not to limit an author. Give them the time to tell the story and you'll leave satisfied!!

Re: Breathe Again (10:39pm July 5, 2013):

The first show that I remember breaking the saintly doctor mold was St. Elsewhere. While I'm not sure I would want to trust them with my medical care, they were definitely more realistically rounded than any show up to that time. I'm not sure how realistic Gray's Anatomy is, but once again, it is riveting. Medicine and romance are a reliable source of drama!!

Re: Wish You Were Here (5:33pm June 28, 2013):

When I was younger, we moved around a lot. Everytime we moved, I had to make new friends. Sometimes there weren't any other girls in the neighborhood and it would take time before school started and I could find new ones. For this period of time, books were my best friends. I will say, depending on the part of the country we moved to, the libraries all had vastly different collections. What do I remember the most about living in Florida? I got to discover all of the Oz books. From the 14 originally published by Frank Baum to the ones written by Ruth Plumly Thompson, they started a life long love affair with fantasy!! But the pictures? That is where I got my first feeling for romance. They had an Art Nouveau feel to them, very romantic and dreamy.

Re: Act Like You Love Me (7:51pm June 26, 2013):

My mom used to tell the story about how she had the lead in the school play about nerdy, homely girl who turned into a swan by the end. Sounds like something she might have enjoyed!

Re: Exposed (7:49pm June 26, 2013):

Sounds like a great read, would love the opportunity to try it out!

Re: Luck of the Dragon (7:21pm June 26, 2013):

Love my dragons! Would love the opportunity to try this book!

Re: One Day in Apple Grove (3:00pm June 13, 2013):

I've had the privilege of attending reading conferences years ago where we could meet and greet the authors. It was a real pleasure each time!