Tag: hero

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#WriteWed Our Inspiring Warriors

I’ve always loved reading stories about our military men and women and that inspired me to create the Take a Chance series. It’s been a challenge to explore the many facets of military heroes and their struggles in the battlefield and off, but I so love giving them their happily-ever-after.

What’s truly inspiring is the way so many veterans have dealt with the wounds they’ve suffered while serving our Nation. People like Daniel Jacobs who didn’t let the loss of part of his leg, remaining foot, and a few fingers keep him from trying out for the Detroit Lions.

Or Noah Galloway, a double amputee whose goal it is to inspire other other veterans!

Please click here if you cannot see the Noah Galloway video.

Noah will be on this year’s Dancing with the Stars. Here he is sharing some info on his journey for that show. Thanks to Noah’s Facebook Page for this!

Post by Noah Galloway.

Then there are my friends at the RomVets, romance authors who have served in various military branches. And let me not forget my buddy Kim, from the wonderful SOS ALOHA Blog who is the wife of a military man and helps organize so many wonderful things for our military men, women, and families with the help of RT Book Reviews.

So that’s my #WriteWednesday inspiration and God bless each and everyone for their service and sacrifice.

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#ManCandyMonday Bradley Cooper in American Sniper

It’s been a crazy couple of months with the holidays and work and writing obligations. Since Saturday was a rainy and dreary day, my hubby and I decided we were going to go to the movies, especially since there was one movie we both really wanted to see: American Sniper. We had actually wanted to go on Friday night, but it was sold out. We weren’t the only ones interested in going. The movie added another 64.4 million in box office sales to last week’s 107 million dollar take. Since release, it’s made nearly 200 million dollars.

Why the interest? Well, for me it was to maybe learn more about Chris Kyle, America’s deadliest sniper and a man who by all accounts was multi-faceted and a hero. He died trying to help a fellow veteran and earned both Silver Stars and Bronze Stars during his military service. If you want to find out more about Chris Kyle, click here for a well-rounded article. Why do I say “wel-rounded”?

There are those who will decry both Kyle and the movie. All I can say is that I thought the movie was thought-provoking and sad. You all know I support our military and that I’m as patriotic as can be. I went into the movie with those sentiments and I left the movie with those sentiments. War is hell and the movie shows that. God bless those who brave that hell for us.

I have to say that Bradley Cooper has surprised me yet again. He’s far beefier in the movie than in Silver Linings Playbook or his other movies. He looks a lot like Chris Kyle with the addition of a neatly trimmed beard. The transformation is amazing as was Bradley’s acting. For that, I’ve chosen him as today’s Man Candy!

Bradley_Cooper,_July_2009_(cropped)

By Chad J. McNeeley, U.S. Navy [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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#WriteWed Just One Night and the Boys of Summer

ONE NIGHT ONLYA lot of writers will tell you they have a playlist of songs in their head as they are creating their story.

Not me. I’m totally into the stories and characters on their own and it isn’t until after that I can match up songs with them.

For sure that’s the story with JUST ONE NIGHT, my contribution to the ONE NIGHT ONLY #Erotic #Romance anthology.

The initial inspiration for Jase, the hero in the story, came from my days at Villanova and awareness of the ROTC program there. It was always lovely to see the men and women in dress uniforms on campus and at other events.

The Jersey Shore location is thanks to my love of that area, but also because I grew up close to the water and spent a lot of time at the beach. I remember driving to Jones Beach, listening to the Beach Boys and later as a teen, to songs like this one by Don Henley. Actually, this is probably my anthem for my days on the shore and Jase is definitely a “Boy of Summer” for the heroine, Nicole.

I hope you enjoy this rendition by Don Henley from a Farm Aid concert. Thanks to Farm Aid for posting it on Youtube! If you can’t see the Boys of Summer video below, please click here.

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#ManCandyMonday Hrithik Roshan #Bollywood Hottie

I had a fabulous weekend! My writing buddy Nisha Sharma and I hunkered down to get some serious writing down, but we also took time to hang with my daughter and the equally fabulous Gail Freeman, Past President of the Liberty States Fiction Writers.

I was working on my latest WIP – TO CATCH A PRINCESS (working title). This is the romantic suspense follow-up to THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE and I am so loving how this story is working out. I hope you’ll like it also!!

But in between the writing and talking writing, Nisha introduced me to the hunks of Bollywood with the action film DHOOM 2 (or BLAST 2 in English). OMG is the main actor, Hrithik Roshan, a hottie. Gorgeous face and eyes. Amazing body and boy, can he dance. I discovered that about Bollywood movies. At any time the actors and actresses can break out into dance and song with dozens of extras behind them in synchronized movement.

Kind of interesting and it was hard not to appreciate Hrithik every time he came on the screen, especially when he was bare chested! LOL! But in a more serious vein, Hrithik has won numerous Best Actor awards for his work in various movies, so he’s not just a pretty face.

Hope you enjoyed today’s Man Candy Monday.


Photo Credit: Hrithik Roshan at Madame Tussauds – FilmiTadka Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike license – Filmi [email protected]

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Heroes & Heroines & Amazon Awakening

AMAZON AWAKENING Paranormal Erotic RomanceThanks to all of you who have been participating in the AMAZON AWAKENING release party! Woo Hoo! It’s so nice to have you coming to visit.

It’s Guilty Pleasure Monday and I’ve got not one, but two Guilty Pleasures – Benjamin Bratt and Sofia Vergara.

Why these two you might wonder? Well, if I was going to cast Rey Peralta and Paola Lopes from AMAZON AWAKENING, these are the two actors I’d pick to play the leads.

I loved Benjamin in his role as Rey Curtis on LAW AND ORDER and as Sandra Bullock’s partner and romantic interest in MISS CONGENIALITY. He is sooo sexy! I can totally picture him as Rey, guiding Paola through the Amazon rainforest to the Sacred Space he is honor-bound to protect.

As for Sofia Vergara, so beautiful and so funny. I love her in MODERN FAMILY. She is such a hoot. It would be interesting to see if she could play the very serious and complex role of Paola, a woman who has family issues and is not sure if she should take up the mantle left empty by her father’s death and being passed to her by her grandmother’s illness.

Tomorrow I’ll have some pictures for you of what Rey’s luscious bedroom might look like in AMAZON AWAKENING. Take a moment to visit the photo album today. See if you can pick out which bedroom I would choose for Rey and Paola to share and let me know by posting your comment to earn some points.

On Wednesday I’ll be visiting the Romance Book Craze Blog where you can leave some more comments to earn points!

Finally, something very special is happening this Thursday 13. I will have my dear friend and fellow author Melinda Leigh here to talk about her debut bestselling romantic suspense novel, SHE CAN RUN. Melinda will also be offering up the chance to win a KINDLE!

Hope you all had a nice weekend.

Benjamin Bratt Photo Credit: Frank Kovalchek
Sofia Vergara Photo Credit: Keith Hinkle

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Inspiration for Heroes

This morning I’m sharing with you a little of the inspiration for the hero in THE CLAIMED, although I won’t spill his name because I don’t want to spoil things for those of you who have not read THE LOST.

When I think of heroes, especially in a series, I try to mix up what they look like so that you guys won’t get bored of the same old same old. Adam was all light and the hero in THE CLAIMED is all darkness. I will tease you a little and just drop a hint that the hero in the third book, tentatively titled THE SHATTERED, is going to be what the British call “a ginger.” LOL!

Translation: red-haired. Strawberry-blondish to be more precise.

Which brings me to a question for you today: What do you like seeing in a hero? Do you like them blond or dark? Tattoos or clean? Lean or big?

Also have some other news today. I am doing a guest blog for my buddy Cynthia Eden who has a new release out titled BOUND IN DARKNESS. Visit at 1 pm Central Standard time and leave a comment for a chance to win a giveaway and to help raise money for a breast cancer charity. For the first 50 comments, I will donate $1 per comment to the charity.

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Wicked Wednesday – Meet Bobbie and Adam

THE LOST paranormal romanceThere are some characters that you fall in love with as a writer and I think Bobbie and Adam were that for me in THE LOST. I loved the way they grew as the story developed and how they overcame both their physical and emotional wounds to find love.

If you’ve either bought the book or checked it out online, you may know that I’ve dedicated it to the men, women and families of our military. I did that because I truly believe it is up to us to honor their sacrifice and help them how we can. In the past I’ve posted how to contribute to various organizations or donate books and other things.

In this book, both the dedication and Bobbie’s courage on her return home were a way to also honor our military people.

I want to share Bobbie and Adam with you today. In this excerpt, Bobbie and Adam have just survived a battle with two men who were trying to abduct Adam. During the fight Bobbie, who is rehabilitating from wounds while suffered as a Marine in Iraq, is slightly injured. When Adam touches her, however, she feels her injuries improve. Bobbie goes to Adam’s home to speak to him about what has happened.

Warning: I am a bit of a tease and will leave you at a pivotal point. Won’t say more and spoil it for you!

If you can’t see the excerpt below, you can also use this link:
http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/61045171?access_key=key-xf0enng1oa342vs8mam

THE LOST Paranormal Romance Free Read

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