Let’s Talk is a fun new meme to discuss an little bit of this & a little bit of that (not always bookish) hosted by Smash Attack Reads and A Book Obsession.
How much time do you think you spend on blogging each week, including commenting on other blogs, participating in events, Twitter/Facebook blog talk, etc? Do you have a time management system that works well for you? We’d love to know!
When I first started blogging, I spent several hours a day reading and commenting on blogs. These days I would say an hour a day. I was starting to burn out so I take a few days off from the computer now and it helps keep this whole blogging thing fresh.
Now Twitter is a whole different story! I‘m on Twitter the entire day, checking as often as possible. I just love the immediacy of it and how you can end up discussing all kinds of topics all at once. (As I’m writing this post – I’m in the middle of convo’s about sex & violence in YA, music, naming my favorite heroines, playdates for my dogs lol)
I have a Facebook page but I rarely if ever go there. Looking at my wall gives me a headache lol
I have zero time management skills. I’m a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl so I just blog when I have the time and I don’t worry about it anymore. Some days it could be 4-5 hours writing posts, commenting etc – other days 1/2 hour.
My phone is my “system” I guess. It allows me to keep up on email/post links/Twitter all day so I’m not swamped when I get home. I hate commenting on blogs using my phone though so it’s mostly just visiting.
I’m reviewing all three books from Jennifer Probst's Marriage to a Billioniare series. The basic premise for the series is a magical book that allows you to list the 10 things you want in a person and then cast a love spell bringing you the love of your life. In this case they come in the form of gorgeous billionaire's. Aim high!! The characters pass the book down, hence the making of a series! The stories overlap, setting up the next book while revisiting past characters. All three are told in alternating POV’s.
So here we go!
The Marriage Bargain (Marriage to a Billionaire #1)A marriage in name only... To save her family home, impulsive bookstore owner, Alexa Maria McKenzie, casts a love spell. But she never planned on conjuring up her best friend's older brother—the powerful man who once shattered her heart. Billionaire Nicholas Ryan doesn’t believe in marriage, but in order to inherit his father’s corporation, he needs a wife and needs one fast. When he discovers his sister’s childhood friend is in dire financial straits, he offers Alexa a bold proposition. A marriage in name only with certain rules: avoid entanglement. Keep things all business. Do not fall in love. The arrangement is only for a year so the rules shouldn’t be that hard to follow, right? Except fate has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans… ~ Goodreads | Amazon Review: This is not a trope I usually enjoy. The whole arranged marriage with fake expressions of love to fool the family more often than not annoys me, but the premise was believable in this case. It helped that Nick and Alexa already knew each other from childhood and Alexa is best friends with Nick's sister. It at least established a level of trust and comfort heading in to this arrangement.
Nick is jaded and a bit sexist. All women always want babies….all women are emotional and always cry kind of thing but he's also a really nice guy. He didn't have a great childhood and he's just hiding behind his built in defense mechanisms.
Now Alexa. She's my kind of girl! She marries Nick to get enough money to save her childhood home and she knows the relationship isn't based on love but there is no way she's putting up with Nick's BS. He has a supermodel girlfriend he wants to continue to discretely date but thinks Alexa should be celibate for the year of their marriage so as not to embarrass him if she's caught. Alexa says HELL NO! Either they both get to have sex or they are both celibate! Ha! I loved, loved, loved her.
The story is fairly predictable but Alexa and Nick are such great characters with scorching hot chemistry that you just enjoy the sexy ride. The supporting characters were a great addition and give you a peek at potential future couples in the series.
Rating: 3.5 out of 4 A quick, steamy read with lots of humor and great characters, particularly Alexa.
The Marriage Trap (Marriage to a Billionaire #2) Italian billionaire seeks faux fiancée. Willing to agree to anything in return... In order for his sister to marry, Italian billionaire Michael Conte has to find himself a bride – and fast! When he learns that photographer Maggie Ryan is going to be in Milan, Michael hatches a plan to introduce her to his family as his “fiancée.” Never mind that Maggie is confident, independent, and a control freak. Never mind that she’s everything he doesn’t want in a wife… and everything he wants in his bed! Convinced that Michael is in love with her married gal pal, Maggie agrees to keep up the ruse if he’ll keep away from her friend. Besides, she’s not attracted to charming, ridiculously hot billionaires who drive her nuts. Once they’re in Italy, however, everything changes – and the sexual tension between Maggie and Michael goes from simmer to naked nuclear meltdown! But have they found the perfect arrangement… or are they trapped in a make-believe marriage? ~ Goodreads | Amazon Review: We were first introduced to Maggie (Alexa's BFF and Nick's sister) and Michael Conte in The Marriage Bargain. I adored spunky, independent Maggie in that book but in The Marriage Trap she comes off very abrasive and slightly crazed. Michael showed a very brief interest in Alexa in book #1 and Maggie has become obsessed with the notion that Michael is hell-bent on ruining Alexa and Nick's marriage.
Despite that it is her best friend, despite the fact that her brother is now friends and business partners with Michael, despite the fact that Michael repeatedly says he has no interest in Alexa that way. He sees her as a sister. So sure he could be playing everyone but seriously….do you think your sister-in-law is that easily swayed? Don't you at least trust her? Maggie would marry a guy she hates just to keep him away from Alexa? It seemed extreme. And crazy.
For the first half of this book Maggie drove me mad to the point of almost quitting but once the setting to changed to Michael's family home in Italy and away from Alexa, I enjoyed the story more.
Michael is a nice, loyal family man. The circumstances forcing he and Maggie's fake marriage were a little contrived but I just went with it. I enjoyed when they were alone and opening up emotionally to each other.
I read this right after finishing The Marriage Bargain and noticed striking similarities. I understand that this is a series with the same theme for all three books but some of the same sentences and scenes were repeated almost verbatim. I probably would have benefitted from waiting a few days before diving into book 2.
Rating: 2.5 out of 4 Not my favorite of the series. Although I liked Maggie in The Marriage Bargain, it took me a while to warm up to her in this book but the story still ended on a high note.
The Marriage Mistake (Marriage to a Billionaire #3) Carina Conte has had a crush on her brother Michael’s best friend, Max Gray, since she was a teenager. Now she’s earned her MBA and come to work at Michael’s new venture, America’s fastest-growing bakery empire. But some things never change: her family still treats her like a child. With three drop-dead gorgeous siblings, she’s still the ugly duckling of the bunch. And Max, the company’s new CEO, still barely notices her. Max knows Carina Conte is strictly off limits. But hot-blooded lust wins out at a conference when the two share a scorching one-night stand—and are busted by her mother! Now, forced by old-world Italian tradition into a marriage he’s not ready for, Max is miserable—and Carina is furious. Her new husband is about to realize that hell hath no fury like a woman transformed… ~ Goodreads | Amazon Review: Carina has always crushed on her brother's best friend Max but he's older than her and saw her as a child/sister but now she's all grown up and her brother Michael (From The Marriage Trap) has her working side by side with Max who definitely sees her as an adult now.
As with the first book, The Marriage Bargain, I like how this couple already has a familiarity with each other. The "arranged marriage" is different in this story. I wasn't sure I could buy into the same premise one more time but it works.
Despite everyone treating Carina like a child she steps up to the plate and blossoms into a really great woman who takes control of her future, not letting any of the men in her life push her around. Even the tempting Max.
Max is damaged and commitment phobic (aren't they all? lol) but Carina knows about his emotional scars and isn't afraid to prove him wrong or stand her ground.
This installment brought back more of the romance and sexiness from The Marriage Bargain although I noticed a few inconsistencies. For example: Max sees Carina in a dress and says it's the first time but then a flashback shows that he saw her "for the first time" in a dress years ago. Maybe I missed something or got confused but I noticed a few things like that. Nothing too distracting though.
One thing. Mama Conte (Michael & Carina's mom) needs to be stopped. She’s always been pushy in this series but good lord the way she manipulated these two really crossed some boundaries. I get what she was trying to do but you also deprived your daughter and family from what should have been a very special day and could have made two people very miserable for life.
Rating: 3 out of 4 Another fun, sexy installment.
I'm hoping Probst mixes it up a bit more in the future books from this series. The premise is a fun one but the similarities between the books are becoming a distraction for me. Maybe it's because I read the series all at once.
I would still recommend the Marriage to a Billionaire series but perhaps a little space between each book might be a better way to go.
Author:website | Twitter | Goodreads Source: Thank you to Entangled Publishing (indulgence) for providing the series in exchange for my honest review
Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine to spotlight upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin #2)
by Robin LaFevers
Expected publication date: April 2,2013
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. Naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, the convent views Sybella as one of their most dangerous weapons. But those assassin’s skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father’s rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother’s love is equally monstrous. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for? This heart-pounding sequel to Grave Mercy serves betrayal, treachery, and danger in equal measure, bringing readers back to fifteenth century Brittany and will keep them on the edge of their seats.
~ Add to Goodreads | Pre-order Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin Trilogy) on Amazon ~ Author website
I LOVED Grave Mercy, book #1 in the His Fair Assassin series. (my review) The writing was exquisite and I was so sad to leave that world when it ended.
Sybella was a fascinating character and I’m dying to read her story. I imagine it will be much darker than the first book.
Tune In Tuesday is a weekly feature in which bloggers get to showcase another one of their loves, music! The feature was originally created and hosted by Ginger over at GReads! but can now be found over at Kate’s Tales of Books and Bands.
I was listening to all the new music on Spotify this week and found the Sons of Anarchy: Songs of Anarchy soundtrack. I haven’t kept up with the show this season but listening to this CD brought back a lot of memories of past episodes. It’s beautiful music whether you’ve ever seen the show or not though.
The songs are mostly a mix of blues/rock and like the show, gritty and raw. I love the theme of redemption that runs throughout the show and it’s music.
The Lost Boy – Greg Holden
Lights – Battleme & The Forest Rangers
Here are a few from Sons of Anarchy Season 1-4 soundtrack. Hey Hey, My My – Battleme
The Life – Sons of Anarchy Theme Song – Curtis Stigers & The Forest Rangers
I’m thrilled to be part of the Renegade Blog Tour hosted by Mundie Moms. I absolutely loved this book. Be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of this post!
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Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law. But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie. Her memories have been altered. Her mind and body aren’t under her own control. And the person she knows as Mother is a monster. Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb… and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all. ~ Goodreads
Review:
I was in no way prepared for the roller coaster ride that debut author J.A. Souders took me on with Renegade! I could barely tear myself away from this book when required to do important things, like go to my Dr.'s appointment. I seriously considered rescheduling lol
The tension is off the charts in Renegade. Tension within the plot, between the characters, just everything. I was almost always on pins and needles wondering what would be revealed next. Asking how this could possibly end well for anyone?
We just KNOW when we meet Evelyn that things aren't quite right. The very first line is this:
“My life is just about perfect.”
Two things. Life is never perfect. And I noticed she said "just about perfect". Life does seem kind of perfect at first but then…..
All hell breaks loose and Does. Not. Stop. Until the bitter end.
I'm not going to delve into the plot too much in my review because I'm so rarely surprised when I read these days and this book kept me guessing. I don't want to ruin it for anyone else.
At first I didn't think I could relate or like Evelyn but she is so much more than the barbie doll cutout from the cover she appears to be. I adore her. She's brave and intelligent when it would be much easier not to be.
Gavin, her love interest is another great character. He lets his girl take charge. He didn't feel cookie cutter YA boy to me. He doesn't have superpowers, he just does what needs to be done. I really enjoyed his complete trust in Evie and occasional awkwardness.
I've read a few reviews that mentioned there was insta-love (which I hate) between Evie and Gavin. I didn't see it that way though. I felt they had insta-partnership due to life threatening circumstances. It does develop into more of course but I think what they do for each other to survive says something about them as people and how could you not form a connection?
The world building is phenomenal. I was torn between wanting to stay in Evie's world because it was this beautiful undersea, magical utopia and hoping Evie and Gavin could get the hell out of there knowing that there was darker side of that beauty.
The dark side of utopia. Oh man, this got real dark at times. Because of one person. A very, very, very, evil person.
There were quite a few instances where I was getting impatient, thinking this moment/statement doesn't make sense or match up with what I already knew but then the next chapter would whip me around and present a new truth to me and all the pieces clicked.
Despite all the darkness, there was also a generous amount of levity sprinkled throughout. A few scenes regarding certain "coupling" duties had me falling off my couch laughing. It is seriously one of the best paragraph's I think I've ever read.
Rating: 4 out of 4Renegade is a brilliant, intense, chilling debut. Set aside a good chunk of time when pick this one up. It is unputdownable! I was left with dozens of questions but the main adventure for this book is wrapped up nicely.
Nothing says Thanksgiving more than braaaaains! Right? No? Well……I wanted to show you guys a few cool zombie movie trailers and I’m going to make this zombie/Thanksgiving connection work!
World War Z – I loved the book and here’s the trailer for the movie starring Brad Pitt. The special effects look great but it seems to veering some from the book version. I wish this had been an HBO series instead. The book tackles geopolitics in a very cool way that just can’t be done in a two hour action flick. I'm still looking forward to the movie though.
“Zombie Turkey” – NOT a movie trailer but remember I somehow had to make this into a zombie Thanksgiving theme so this is the video that ties it all together people!
Warm Bodies – I haven’t read the book yet but the movie looks hilarious and has great music!
Nineteen-year-old Cheyenne tries to portray the perfect life to mask the memories of her past. Walking in on her boyfriend with another woman her freshman year in college threatens that picture of perfection. Twenty-one-year-old Colt never wanted college and never expected to amount to anything, but when his mom's dying wish is for him to get his degree, he has no choice but to pretend it's what he wants too. Cheyenne needs a fake boyfriend to get back at her ex and Colt needs cash to take care of his mom, so they strike a deal that helps them both. But what if Cheyenne’s past isn’t what she thought? Soon they’re trading one charade for another—losing themselves in each other to forget about their pain. The more they play their game, the more it becomes the only thing they have that feels real. Both Cheyenne and Colt know life is never easy, but neither of them expect the tragedy that threatens to end their charade and rip them apart forever. ~ Goodreads
Review:Cheyenne thought she had the perfect boyfriend and a perfect future but that's all torn to shreds when she finds him with another woman. She starts wondering if their relationship was ever as great as she thought it was in the first place. And Colt is only going to college to give his mom her dying wish of an education. If she knew what he was really doing to earn money to provide for her, she would be crushed.
Colt needs money fast and Cheyenne needs a boyfriend to show her ex, Greg, that she doesn't want him anymore so they agree to a fake relationship that helps them both.
Charade is the perfect tittle for this book. Not just because of the obvious set up where Cheyenne and Colt agree to a charade but also because on personal level they have both been living in a lie even before they met.
Once Cheyenne and Colt enter their agreement I was surprised at how quickly they opened up to each other but it was refreshing. Yes, their "relationship" started out as a charade and they stay together basically for sex once they realize there is a real attraction. Right from the start these two people have laid themselves more emotionally bare to each other than they ever have to anyone else.
Colt thinks of himself as a jerk/loser (& he does suffer from a severe case of foot and mouth disease) but he makes the grand gestures. He takes, even this fake relationship, seriously. Colt is there for Cheyenne in every way that matters. Just as she is for him. It was really quite beautiful to watch because you pretty much know, as the reader, how they feel about each right from the start. We're just waiting for them to admit it to themselves.
Gregory the ex pops up one too many times. He ends up being more annoying than a serious threat but I liked him overall as the thorn in Cheyenne and Colt's side.
Rating 3.5 out of 4 Nyrae Dawn is my go to author when I need something light to read but that also has a story with emotional impact and heart. For some reason I always seem to start her books before I go to bed. Big mistake. I end up reading till the wee hours of the morning so I can find out how it ends. Every single time.
Author:Website | Twitter Source: Copy provided by the author for my honest review Buy the book!Amazon
Bonus mini review!
Dylan doesn’t do relationships. He and his older brother watched their dad go through hell and back, so they made a pact years ago—no girl would come between the Gibson boys. But his brother sells out. He's getting married anyway. To the sister of a chick Dylan met at a party, who's probably the angriest girl he's ever met. Unfortunately, she happens to be hot, too. Ziah’s life is upside down—her safe boyfriend turns out to be not-so-safe, and now her sister is getting married before college is over to the older brother of a spoiled, party boy who drives her crazy. And also makes her heart beat too fast. There’s no denying the attraction, but there's also no denying how much they irritate each other. When they’re thrown together as forced wedding planners, they find an ally in each other--neither wants this wedding to happen. But instead of putting a stop to the crazy nuptials they find themselves at fittings and cake testing. And maybe even…a few dates? Dizzy is a novel about what happens when two people who are determined not to fall in love, maybe do anyway. Maybe. ~ Goodreads | Amazon
My very mini review :-): Check out Nryae's new book Dizzy, co-authored with Jolene Perry. First the cover. ZOMG! LOVE. And second, it's another home run. Dizzy is on the cuter, tamer side of YA romance. Lots of laughs, steamy kisses and swoony moments but more PG than PG-13.
Tune In Tuesday is a weekly feature in which bloggers get to showcase another one of their loves, music! The feature was originally created and hosted by Ginger over at GReads! but can now be found over at Kate’s Tales of Books and Bands.
This week I’m celebrating the conclusion to one of my all time favorite series,The WVMP Radio Vampire series by Jeri Smith-Ready, with today's release of Lust for Life. Happy book birthday!
*Update: I totally messed up the release date *smacks forehead*. Lust for Life comes out NEXT Tuesday, November 27th! (Goodreads)
For people who don’t already read this amazing series, Jeri’s vampires are quite unique. They are all DJ’s at WVMP Radio – The Lifeblood of Rock n’ Roll. They also get “stuck” in the time of their change so each DJ can only listen to their generation's music. Jeri has incredible playlists for each book in the series and music is integral to each chapter and the plot. (meet the DJ’s here & find playlists for the series here & Lust for Life's chapter playlist here)
Here are a few artists that I’ve been introduced to over the years.
Ciara by Luka Bloom – This is a song from a pivotal scene in book #1, Wicked Game, between Ciara and Shane.
Bloodbuzz Ohio by The National- For me The National embodies the mood of this series after Bring on the Night (book #3) where the tone gets a little darker. I can’t listen to The National and not think of the WVMP gang. When I went to their concert they sang this song a little slower and the whole audience sang along. It was awesome and kind of weird having everyone singing about being “carried to Ohio in a swarm of bees” lol
Rock’n’Roll Lifestyle by Cake – the WVMP series is basically all about the rock’n’roll lifestyle…
Creep by Radiohead – I hadn’t listened to Radiohead before reading this series. What was wrong with me??
You Know You’re Right – Nirvana Confession time. I did not like Nirvana before I started reading WVMP, but, there is no WVMP series and more importantly – no Shane MacAllister (Ciara’s swoony vampire boyfriend) without Curt Cobain. I’ve learned to appreciate and love them now.– This is the last song from the last chapter title of Lust For Life.
There are just SO many songs that I would be here all freaking day if I tried to list them all.
Farewell to Ciara, Shane and the gang. I’ll miss you guys!
I’ve been introduced to Bikini Kill, Liz Phair, Steve Earle, Kate Bush, Dinosaur Jr and many, many more. Not to mention the decades the playlists cover because of the DJ’s “condition”. If you love music then give this series a shot.
Book Blogger Confessions is a meme that posts the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month, where book bloggers "confess" and vent about blogging/bookish topics. Feel free to share, vent and offer solutions.
Just keep it respectful - no bashing authors or other bloggers! If you want to participate just grab our button and include it in your post with a link to either Midnyte Reader or For What It's Worth. We will be providing a linky at the end of our posts so people can "hop" to see all the participants answers.
Question: Giving thanks: Is there a book that you are thankful you have read? Maybe it has changed your life in a small or even a large way, or made you see things in a different perspective.
There are a few books that have had a big impact on me. The first would be the Twilight series. As is the case with many others it is the book that got me into reading again so I have to say thank you for that. ~ Goodreads
A huge thank you to the WVMP radio series by Jeri Smith-Ready. Because of Jeri’s playlists for each book, this series has sparked a love of music that I didn’t have before. It makes me giggle a little bit when people ask for my music rec’s because I barely even listened to the radio before and now I’m always going to concerts and discovering new bands. ~ Goodreads
But the book that has had the greatest impact on my life is Willow by Julia Hoban. It’s quite personal so sorry if I enter the TMI/sappy zone.
I read Willow a little over 3 years ago. The book tells the story of a girl who loses her parents and disconnects from society. She is extremely shy and the more she isolates herself from friends and family the more she feels that people don’t like her and that she doesn’t fit in.
I lost my mother to cancer when I was 16 years old and it’s very difficult to be in high school when that happens. The other kids don't know what to do with that and you try to avoid any personal conversations that might bring it up. I was always super shy anyway and it got so much worse after my mother died.
Anyway…..Willow has much deeper issues – she is also a cutter. That was not my issue but I connected with her isolation and shyness. She meets a boy who helps her confront her problems and pushes her out there little by little until she feels almost normal again.
I kept wishing that this book (or any book about parental loss) was out back then when I needed it. I thought it would have totally changed my life to know someone else understood how I felt. And yes, I’m aware Willow is a fictional person but it still helps. I’m in my 40’s now and felt like my time had passed to change who I am at this stage in my life but then I figured what the hell! If not now – when? I’m not getting any younger. I don't want to be full of regrets.
Since I’ve read that book I’ve pushed myself waaaay out of my comfort zone. I make myself talk to other people and sign up for things that I know will make me uncomfortable just so I can break down the barrier. I’m afraid of flying but fly at least twice a year now. (I’m still working on the nerve to fly outside the US - I think I would need drugs for that though lol)
Whenever I get *stuck* in life or start slipping into old patterns, I think of this book and Willow’s bravery and try to take another step forward. ~ Goodreads
This also why I think the so called "darker YA" books are so important. Parents may try to shield their kids from bad things but you never know when someone might connect to a story or character and it can change their whole life.
More importantly, EVERY book has impacted my life in some way. The good, the bad and in-between.
** For all Book Blogger Confession topics click here. Next up - December 3rd - book budgets.
How about you? Are you thankful for a book impacted you in a small or big way?
Linky for BBC Monday:
Welcome to Saturday Spotlight. A feature hosted by Tina’s Book Reviews as a way of shining the light on Indie/Debut/Self Published authors. Each week I’ll have a guest post written by a featured author.
Today I’m welcoming author Jaye Frances back tot the blog to talk about her new novel Love Travels Forever, a collection of stories & essays that would make for perfect holiday reading.
In Love Travels Forever, Jaye Frances captures the reader’s heart with an inspiring collection of seventeen stories filled with romance and passion, the hopeful innocence of youth, and a love so strong that it transcends the mortality
of life. Here are just a few of the people you’ll meet:
Evan and Frankie, a loving couple traveling through life hand-in-hand, are unaware that the shadow of fate is about to tear them apart. Helpless to change their shortened future together, one of them makes a promise—a promise of devotion and courage, honoring a love that surpasses the boundaries of time. Mark and Janice, the perfect couple with the perfect life, are on the threshold of finally seeing their dreams come true—until an unexpected circumstance changes their lives forever. Danny, a young soldier fresh out of boot-camp, is desperate to find a way to travel home and marry his sweetheart before being shipped overseas. Stranded in a train station on a three day pass with no hope in sight, Danny meets Wanda, an incredible woman who vows to find a way to bring Danny and his fiance together. Nora and Georgia are two eight-year-old best friends who share giggles, dolls, and secrets. But when one of them faces sudden danger, the other responds with an unconditional act of love and forges a lifelong bond between them unaffected by fear or prejudice. So find a quiet spot, get comfy, and grab a box of Kleenex. You’re about to take an unforgettable journey of the heart, to a place where compassion and hope have no limits, and where love continues to travel forever. Love Travels Forever is available now in kindle eBook on Amazon for $1.99Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads
Jaye Frances:
Thank you, Karen, for having me back on For What It’s Worth with my new release, Love Travels Forever. The book is a collection of my favorite short stories and essays, derived from impromptu interviews, happenstance meetings, and childhood recollections. In “The Angels of Ellis Island,” you’ll meet Molly, a determined mother traveling with her seven-year-old son, William, as she leaves everything behind, risking it all, to build a new life in a new land. Here’s an excerpt:
I recently spent some time with a new friend who considers the Thanksgiving of 1907 as one of those historical milestones still celebrated by her family. That year, President Theodore Roosevelt signed a special proclamation urging Americans to observe the day with prayer, his request even more significant because it also marked a year when over a million immigrants passed through the Great Hall at Ellis Island—a time when people from all parts of Europe came looking for a better life and a new beginning in a strange and wonderful country called America. One of those immigrants was a woman named Molly. From her family records, I learned that Molly was a slight woman and about 30 years of age at the time she made the crossing. She had lost her husband to cholera three years prior and, as a widow, she knew the transition to a new life in another country would be difficult. She would have to leave everything behind, sail across the ocean to an unfamiliar city without the promise of a job, a place to stay, or a single friend to help her get settled. And she would have to do it with her seven-year-old son, William. For over two years, she had saved her money—enough to buy third class passage on a steamship. And right up until the day of sailing, her friends tried to talk her out of leaving. “Even the voyage itself will be a challenge,” they told her. Third class passengers (called steerage) were restricted to the bottom decks, where they often spent the majority of the two-week Atlantic crossing in their bunks, seasick and restricted from the open decks and fresh air. But Molly was determined. She wanted to raise William where he would have the opportunity to obtain the education she never received, and to achieve financial independence equal to his efforts. She wasn’t making the trip for herself. She was making the change—the sacrifice—for her son. Like the rest of the steerage passengers, Molly and William boarded the ship and settled into the cramped public accommodations. They shared six bathrooms with eight hundred other people and waited in long lines for a meal of soup and stale bread—with Molly always keeping a watchful eye on William. At night, she told him stories about the school he would attend, about the new friends he would soon have, and about all the wonderful things they would see and do together in a magical city called New York. She planned to find work in the garment district. She had been told that laundries and tailors were the best options for immigrants, and with her sewing skills, she hoped to find a job that paid well enough to afford a one bedroom flat in a boarding house on the lower west side. It was where the poor eked out a living, but it was a start. And that was all Molly wanted—a chance to provide a better life for her son. Molly’s dreams of opportunity and success for William kept her motivated and focused during the difficult trip. However, the future she planned for William was one she would never see. On the sixth day of the crossing, Molly complained of headaches and dizziness. Three days later, she was dead.
Author Bio: Jaye Frances is the author of The Kure, a paranormal-occult romance novel, The Possibilities of Amy, a coming-of-age romance novella, The Cruise-All That Glitters, a humorous adult satire about love on the high seas, The Beach, a sci-fi supernatural tale about a man who is given the opportunity to receive his ultimate wish, and Love Travels Forever, a collection of poignant short stories and essays. She is also a featured columnist for the NUSA SUN magazine. Born in the Midwest, Jaye readily admits that her life’s destination has been the result of an open mind and a curiosity about all things irreverent. When she’s not consumed by her writing, Jaye enjoys cooking, traveling to all places tropical and “beachy” and taking pictures—lots of pictures—many of which find their way to her website. Jaye lives on the central gulf coast of Florida, sharing her home with one husband, six computers, four cameras, and several hundred pairs of shoes. For more information, visit Jaye’s website, or Jaye’s Blog, Facebook, Amazon Author Page
GIVEAWAY!
Jaye is giving away one (1) Kindle eBook version of Love Travels Forever.
Giveaway ends 12/8 at 11:59pm – winner announced 12/9
Synopsis: Trinity has given up everything to reach her dreams as a professional wrestler in the national spotlight; even though it's breaking her heart to stay away from her trainer, Derek.
Derek knows the road Trinity is walking and wants to be there for her to see her succeed, but he wants so much more than that for them.
After having a wrestler break her heart once, Trinity isn't willing to jump back into another wrestling-relationship. That doesn't stop her heart from pounding at the sight of Derek or her hands from trembling with their touch.
Convinced she has to focus on her dreams, Trinity leaves the safety of home and wrestling federation,(Epic Force Wrestling), and heads out for the chance of a lifetime. The things she sees don't make her more sure of her goals, but they do make her sure of something else - she can't outrun her old wrestling school or the trainer that holds her heart in his hands. Sometimes true love is an epic force all its own.
Guest Post by Alexi Raymond: How I came up with the idea for writing a book about professional wrestling. It all started because of my real-life (mis)adventures in professional wrestling. It’s a tough sport! Especially if you’re a female! Especially when you really believe you are as tough as the guys you work out with! Getting in the ring brings me to life; the feel of the ropes across my back, the way the steel shakes under my feet as I run across the ring - all of it is like a religious experience…that hurts a lot. But it also brings out a side of people that sometimes they don’t know they have. Being around the boys, watching them learn and succeed, eating with them even after you’ve beaten the tar out of each other. Those are all real moments I wish people could see. It’s a passionate sport, which is what makes it so dangerous.
All of that passion can get into your head and lead you to make decisions that are just plain dumb. After having made a dumb decision or two, I found myself lost and hurting. The advice I was given was to write about it in a journal, but I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to remind myself of mistakes - I wanted to fix them…and I was scared someone would find the journal…. So as I started writing a half fictional/half autobiographical novel, I started letting Trinity make up her own mind and found she was a lot better at it than I was! By the time I had written two complete novels (Epic Force was originally slated as a three book series with book one being titled Meeting The Boys and detailing her relationship with Nate), I realized I didn’t need to write for myself anymore and I actually really liked where Trinity’s story was headed, so I scrapped it! Almost all of Meeting The Boys was trashed and Epic Force was born!
Although revolving around professional wrestling, Epic Force is truly a romance at heart. It’s strange. I didn’t set out to write a romance, I just wanted to get some of my bad feelings about wrestling and what it had done to me/I had done to it off my chest and then BAM the romance was there! But I guess that’s not a surprise, it is a passionate sport! Excerpt:
From chapter 1 with Trinity and Derek.
"Don't go." His whispers were lost in her hair. He remained so silent, so nervous, and yet his arms snaked around her. Trinity’s heart soaked in the familiar security that came with his embrace. "Please, Trinity, please don't leave me." He squeezed, no longer hugging her. They clung to each other as tears rolled down her face, or maybe they were his, there was no way to tell. He had always been there for her; from the first time she walked through the doors of the warehouse into the poster filled walls of Epic Force Wrestling, to the first time one of the boys refused to hit her like a real wrestler and even now, as she stood there breaking his heart. She would never find another man like Derek; but the truth was that regardless of how she felt for him, she couldn’t let herself. Nate had broken her heart. She’d never let another wrestler get that close to her again. "I'm going to be late." She sniffled and wiped her face with the back of her hand, still wrapped around Derek's neck. "Be late. Be late forever, just stay." "Derek." With a kiss on the cheek, Derek relinquished his hold. The chocolate swirls in his eyes were moist, his lips pursed together. Trinity trailed her hands down his arms and squeezed his huge warm hands. Her palms fit inside of them, tucked neatly away from the harm of the world. She wanted to face the world, regardless of the risk, she felt she needed to. She squeezed one last time, took a longing look into where they both knew she belonged and left him standing alone under the singular light on the pier. Author Bio:
Alexi lives in Indiana with her husband and kittens! You can find her throwing the boys around the ring, shooting sports highlights or curled up on the couch with Castle and her "writing kitten" working on a never ending supply of ideas for all of the books she wants to write!
November 12 --Fictitious Delicious Interview with Trinity November 13 --Living Fictitiously Review/Interview with Alexi November 14 --Adriana Ryan: Captivating Fiction Guest Post: What's your publishing story? Why did you decide to take the route you took? November 15 --For What It's Worth Guest Post: Where you came up with the idea for writing a book about professional wrestling November 16 --Blog - O - Rama Interview with Dave November 17 --What's On the Bookshelf Interview with Derek November 18 --The Reviews News Guest Post: Balancing Writing and Personal Life Giveaway! Win an e-copy of Epic Force and swag! Enter using the Rafflecopter form below.
Let’s Talk is a fun new meme to discuss an little bit of this & a little bit of that (not always bookish) hosted by Smash Attack Reads and A Book Obsession.
What are your thoughts on series? How many books in a series is too many? What authors do you think handle longer series well, as opposed to ones who seem to stretch it out less successfully?
If you had asked me this question before I started blogging I would have said I wished that all my favorite series would go on forever! Even if the quality went downhill, because I still like seeing what my favorite characters were up to.
These days I’m reading dozens of series and I know this sounds cynical but I don’t have time to waste on stories that aren’t moving forward or making an emotional impact on me.
My other problem is that so many series started sounding similar to me and they run together so I can’t keep track. Particularly with the PNR - tortured hero meets virginal yet spunky love of his life - genre.
I cut out quite a few series last year when I realized I didn’t remember what was going on from the last book or I started getting irritated by the lack of progress with the plot. I also don’t have time for series re-reads anymore to refresh. The Sookie Stackhouse series is one I cut loose. I probably read the first four books a dozen times but I can’t seem to drum up enough enthusiasm to see what Sookie is up to these days.
I actively seek out stand alones now and very rarely start a new series these days. I enjoy companion novels too. You get to revisit the world and characters but move on to a new story. Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss / Lola and the Boy Next Door) and Miranda Kenneally (Catching Jordan / Stealing Parker) seem to be two authors who are successfully leading this trend.
I’m also noticing a switch to two book series. This seems promising because the second book in many trilogies that I’ve read is usually a let down, padded with filler to keep the drama going until the conclusion in the third book.
The one series that I hear only gets better is Kresely Cole’s Immortals after Dark series. I have only read the first book. The series is at book #13 and going strong and I haven’t heard anyone complain – the exact opposite – people love the series even more now. So yay! for the authors who get it right.
I think in general a series should go on as long as it needs to for the story to be told but make sure you’re telling that story. A few that have gotten it right and ended on a high note for me are: Ann Aguirre’s five book Sirantha Jax series, Stacey Kade’s Ghost & the Goth trilogy, Jeri Smith-Ready’s five book WVMP series, Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld series – thirteen books total.
Taking place after Wicked as They Come, this original eBook features a mysterious lady and a reclusive mechanical genius who find love and danger in a traveling circus. An elusive woman arrives at Criminy’s doorstep with a steamer trunk, begging for a position in the caravan to perform her unique new act. She opens her trunk to reveal a menagerie of brilliantly colored butterflies. The woman, who calls herself Madam Morpho, is on the run from a dark past in London, where she was forced to leave her equipment behind and abscond with only her tiny performers. Playing a hunch, Criminy hires Madam Morpho on the spot. Taking her down to meet Mr. Murdoch, the reclusive talented engineer who keeps the carnival’s clockworks running, Criminy instructs them to work together to design and build a groundbreaking new circus for the butterflies. Amid the magical ambiance of the circus and the hint of danger from Madam Morpho’s pursuers, she and Mr. Murdoch soon find that their scientific collaboration has produced chemistry of a more romantic kind. ~ Goodreads
Review: The Mysterious Madam Morpho is a short novella from Delilah Dawson's imaginative Blud series that opens with Criminy and Letitia's POV (from Wicked as They Come, Blud #1) and a really intriguing glimpse of what is to come in Wicked as She Wants (Blud #2) - Casper's story - coming in April 2013.
There isn't as much of the world building in this novella as there was in Wicked as they Come (it is a novella after all, so that's to be expected) but the relationship between Madam Morpho and Mr. Murdoch is written very well. It wasn't rushed and was completely believable. I loved these two and their slow simmering romance filled with respect and admiration.
As with Wicked as They Come, there is a delightful sense of Steampunk whimsy. Clockwork creatures! A butterfly circus! It's these two things that bring our couple together and also places them both in a great deal of danger.
I expect we will see much more of Madam Morpho & Mr. Murdoch. The ending certainly made it clear that all characters are important to the future installments in the Blud series.
Rating: 3.5 out of 4 Delilah Dawson manages to pack a lot of story into this little gem of a novella. Action, romance and a satisfying peek at our favorite characters from Wicked as They Come. I always get a little dreamy eyed with her descriptions of the clockwork animals. They sound so COOL!
AND!!!! There is a preview of Wicked as She Wants at the end. This book sounds so good! I loved Casper (from book #1) and it looks like a wild ride ahead!
*** It isn't necessary to have read Wicked as They Come to read The Mysterious Madam Morpho as far as the relationship is concerned. You will probably be a tad confused by the crazy Blud (vampire) world but it's a fun introduction. My review for Wicked as They Come is here.
Tune In Tuesday is a weekly feature in which bloggers get to showcase another one of their loves, music! The feature was originally created and hosted by Ginger over at GReads! but can now be found over at Kate’s Tales of Books and Bands.
I know I’ve featured Ed Sheeran many times on the blog already but he just debuted the new video for the single “Give Me Love” (a favorite song of mine)
I didn’t think it fit with the song when the video first started but after seeing the whole thing I like it. It appeals to the paranormal/romance reader in me lol
If you have a little time to spare, you need to see this video. (about 3 1/2 minutes long). Australian artist Emma Hack used body paint on human models to create a sculpture called Body Crash. It’s so incredible to see the process and the end result. Body Crash is part of a road safety campaign in Australia.
Winners! (chosen using randomizer)
~ Mr. Real by Carolyn Crane – Kimberly Callegan
~ Decoy by S.B. Sebrick - Denise Z
Today is Veterans Day. To honor those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom consider donating to one of my favorite charities: The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. The provide family support and state of the art care to our wounded or injured military personnel. Donate here
Well….that’s all for today! Have a great Sunday!
TTFN!
Welcome to Saturday Spotlight. A feature hosted by Tina’s Book Reviews as a way of shining the light on Indie/Debut/Self Published authors. Each week I’ll have a guest post written by a featured author.
I’m welcoming back author and singer Brooklyn James to talk about the soundtrack she created for her novel The Boots My Mother Gave Me. She’s giving us a peek at the chapter “Can’t Get It Right” along with her video that parallels the story. Check it out and enter the giveaway at the end of this post!
"Brooklyn James' soundtrack to her novel The Boots My Mother Gave Me does more than give a clever feminist twist to the title. Her songs serve as chapters themselves, underlining James' deft ability as a storyteller and songwriter." -Margaret Moser, The Austin Chronicle
Listen to more clips from The Boots My Mother Gave Me soundtrack here.
AMAZON BREAKTHROUGH NOVEL AWARD QUARTER-FINALIST
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk through life in someone else's shoes? Strong-willed tomboy Harley LeBeau puts you in the boots her mother gave her, as she takes you along her journey of escape from an abusive childhood and the desire to find herself as she comes of age. Made to feel a burden to her father simply by her gender, Harley is determined to prove her worth and independence, leaving the small town she grew up in and the one boy who gave her a soft place to fall, Jeremiah Johnson. Torn between saving herself and abandoning her mother and younger sister, Harley chooses her own life in hopes they will choose theirs, too.
A mature, candid read for everyone. A must for women. The Boots My Mother Gave Me explores the dynamics of abuse and dysfunction, the courage to overcome, the strength in sisterhood, and the ongoing conflict and unconditional love between mothers and daughters. Climb into Charlene the Chevelle for a fast-paced story about a girl who is tough enough to survive and tender enough to learn to trust in love. ~ Goodreads | Amazon buy link
Read an excerpt from the novel, Chapter: Can't Get It Right. In this chapter, newly engaged Harley LeBeua has returned to her small hometown to help her childhood friend, Jeremiah 'Miah' Johnson get back on his feet after an injury suffered as a Marine in the military, shortly after 9/11.
Can't Get It Right
I snagged a place in the rocking chair beside the window, wrapping myself
in a blanket, settling in with a book. I looked around the room, much the
same as I remembered it years ago, minus the football trophies and pinup
posters. Well, he still had his most favorite poster, framed and hung over
his dresser, it’s dwelling since his childhood. It was the classic Farrah
Fawcett red swimsuit poster, and stunning she was, simply beautiful.
I looked out the window at my parents’ house, a speck from this distance,
my eye catching the fire escape ladder leading to Jeremiah’s room.
Mr. Johnson installed it long ago, seeing as Jeremiah slept upstairs. I think
I used it more than anyone, though. My mind busied itself with memories
of nights I sneaked in here after my dad’s rampages just to feel safe.
The first time I used the ladder was the night I found Mom hiding in
the silage wagon.
**********(beginning of flashback sequence)**********
She had put Kat and me down for bed. I was seven years old, Kat four.
It was a school night for me. Kat fell quickly asleep, but I lay there, eyes
wide open, staring at the ceiling, heart pounding as my father’s enraged
voice carried through the house for what seemed like hours, until I heard
the front door close. The house fell silent.
I got out of the bed Kat and I shared, stealthily attempting not to
wake her. I escaped the bedroom, pulling the door closed behind me, as
I ventured out into the living room to investigate.
The house was dark, except for the pole light shining through the
window by the wood stove. Something lurked behind it. I walked in its
direction, focusing my eyes, halting in my tracks at the sight of my father,
lying there behind the stove with a long rifle clasped to his chest. He said
nothing, perfectly silent and motionless. He just stared at me.Holy crap! My heart jumped up into my throat. I made a beeline for
the front door, shutting myself outside in the dark. I wasn’t a big fan of
the dark back then, fearing the illusive boogey man. But I would much
rather be outside with the boogey man than in my own house with my
father. Ironic, huh? The one person, who was supposed to make me feel
safe and secure, scared the ever-loving daylights out of me. I slipped on
my barn boots from the front porch and took off in search of Mom.
“Mom,” I whispered, inspecting the darkness. “Ma? Are you out
here?” My light hair, long and curly, whirled about in the wind. I kept
pushing it out of my face, hugging my arms to my body, attempting to
shield myself from the cool night air. My favorite pink cotton nightgown
blew in the breeze, nearly exposing my Incredible Hulk Underoos.
I heard an echo from inside the silage wagon, a big, square metal
box on wheels, which caught corn as the combine chopped and spit it
through the air. What was she doing in the silage wagon? That was for corn,
not people, my seven-year-old mind reasoned. I climbed up on the tongue
of the wagon, attempting to peek over the top, but I was too short.
“Mom?”
“Harley, go back inside,” she ordered softly. I could tell she had been
crying, her voice shaky.
“Are you okay?” I placed my hands around my mouth, as I talked into
the side of the wagon.
“I’m fine. Get back inside and go to bed. You’ve got school in the
morning.”
“Are you cold?”
“No, Harley, I’m fine. I’ll be over in a bit. Go to bed,” her tone becoming
harder.
I ran to the house as fast as my black rubber boots would carry me,
returning with a blanket. “Mom, I got you a blanket. Here it comes,” I
warned, throwing it over the side of the wagon. “I’m going to bed now.
Night, Ma. I love you.” I ran away so she wouldn’t have to worry with
scolding me again.
“I love you, too,” I heard her call after me.
I didn’t stop running until I got to Jeremiah’s house, about a half-mile
down the road. I saw the lamp glowing in his bedroom window. Climbing
up the fire escape, one nervous step at a time, I thought I would blow
right off that ladder into thin air, the wind whipping me.
Making it to the top, I peeped in and there he lay in bed, tossing his
football up in the air, catching it as it dropped. I knocked on the glass
lightly, trying to avoid alerting his dad. His attention diverted to the
window in mid-catch, his football landed on his stomach.
Seeing my reflection there in the glass, he hurried to the window,
sliding it open, offering me a hand, as he helped me through the square
opening. My breathing labored, having run all the way to his house, the
heels of my feet burning from the contact of their soft flesh against the
rubber of my boots, surely I would find blisters in the morning.
“What in the world are you doing?” he asked.
“I’m scared, Miah.” I hugged him to me.
“Why? What scared you?” He reluctantly hugged me back, thoroughly
convinced he could contract cooties if he got too close to a girl,
let alone hugged one.
“I’m just really scared and I don’t want to go home. Don’t make me
go home,” I pleaded, clutching his shoulders. He pulled away from me,
holding his finger up to his mouth, and walked toward his bedroom door.
“Dad, I’m going to bed now,” he yelled. “See you in the morning.”
“Okay, son,” Mr. Johnson reciprocated from downstairs. “Love ya,
kid. Sweet dreams.”
“You too, Dad.” He closed his bedroom door, locking it behind
him. I shivered from the cold. He closed the window, pulling the covers
back from where he had rested. “Should be all nice and toasty,” he said,
motioning for me to take his bed. “I’ll sleep in the rocking chair.”“Thanks, Miah,” I whispered as I snuggled in, finally feeling safe and
warm. He tucked the covers around me, switched the bedside lamp
off, and pulled a blanket from the foot of his bed, wrapping himself in
it, sinking into the rocking chair. The moon, full and bright, cascaded
through the window, providing a natural nightlight. He propped his feet
up on the side of the bed, finding a comfortable position in the chair, and
there we were, Jeremiah Johnson and me.
**********(end of flashback sequence)**********
“Remember when you used to climb up that thing at all hours of the
night?” his voice interrupted my memory. I looked from the ladder to
him lying there, his eyes open, studying me. I wondered how long he had
been awake. “Must feel awkward, you in the rocker and me in the bed.”
“A little. You hungry?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Embarrassed, maybe…not hungry. I’m sorry
about the other day.”
“Me too.” Our exchange followed by silence.
“Is he good to you?” I nodded my head, looking away. I didn’t know
how to approach talking about Xander with him. “Are you happy?”
“Yeah,” I answered softly, making eye contact with him.
He took a deep breath, wincing a little with his inhale. “Well, that’s all
I need to know, then.” We sat quietly, his mouth forming into a playful
smile. “Aren’t you going to ask me to be your male of honor…at the
wedding?” I broke up laughing. He braced his pillow to his chest, attempting
to hold his ribs in place while he joined me. It felt good to laugh with
him. We were going to be okay.
“So, what happened over there?” I asked, divvying up his morning
medications.
“EOD.” I looked at him puzzled. “Explosive Ordinance Disposal.
We were covering for them, guys who deactivate explosives, bombs. It
didn’t feel right, the whole situation. We started to clear out, and then,
boom. That was the last thing I heard before my body was airborne.
Don’t remember a thing from then on, until that day I saw you in the
hospital.”
“All the sedation can cause some amnesia, which might be a good
thing,” I said, handing him a cup full of pills."I do remember waking up on and off with a bunch of chords and
wires, stuff all over me, something shoved in my throat. Now, that was
unsettling.” He took the pills, washing them down with water. “I’ve had
two tours, one in Afghanistan, one in Iraq, and I’ve never felt as helpless
or scared as I did in the hospital. Why do they do that to people?”
“To save your life.”
“Good God. Can’t they find some other way? All the technology we
have. I’m telling ya, that was a horrible experience, Harley-girl. And
those damn things they had me tied down with.”
“Well, that’s because you wouldn’t quit fighting. They can’t have
you wrestling about and pulling all the things from your body that are
required for you to live,” I explained, tidying up his room. “And that tube
down your throat was a breathing tube, filling your lungs with air, keeping
you among the living.”
“Kat said you’re a nurse in the city. You like it?”
“It’s okay.”
“You still writing?
“Not so much these days. I’m trying to heed my mother’s advice and
get a real life.”
He grinned. “How’s that working out for ya?”
“Aw, I hate it, Miah,” I blurted out, surprising myself with the truth,
taken aback as my feelings revealed themselves. “It felt good to say that!”
“Say it again.”
“I hate it. I really, really hate it. That’s such a strong word. Okay, I dislike
it. Yeah, I feel better about that one, dislike. It’s so…stifling, heavy,
constrictive,” I searched for words of emphasis. Jeremiah looked out the
window deliberately, his eyes searching. “What are you doing?”
“I’m looking for flying pigs. Did hell freeze over and I’m the last to
hear?” he ragged. “I never thought I’d see the day Harley LeBeau took
advice from anyone on how to live her life.” I ducked my head shamefully.
Really, it was a sad thing. How did I end up here? Doing the right
thing, the responsible thing, what’s expected of me? It wasn’t a bad life,
just not the life I planned for myself.
“People change. They evolve,” I said, smiling.
“Sounds like you’ve expired,” he joked. I swatted him playfully on my
way to gather shaving supplies from the bathroom, returning with them.
His smile dissipated. “I knew this girl once. The quickest way to get herto do anything, tell her she couldn’t, she shouldn’t. She would, just to
prove you wrong.”
“Maybe I’m tired of proving myself.” I sat beside him on the bed, putting
a bowl of hot water, shaving cream, and a razor on the bedside stand.
I pushed the button on the bedrail, sitting him upright.
“You can’t please everybody, Harley. It’s not your responsibility to
make your mom happy. You can’t live your life for her.”
“I do want to make Mom happy. I always have. That’s why I tried
so hard, pushed myself in school, academically, athletically, everything.
She had enough disappointment at home, she didn’t need any trouble
from me,” I said. “But I make my own choices. Nobody twists my
arm.” I dipped a washcloth into the water. “Lay your head back,” I
requested, a familiar scenario. I became highly skilled in grooming him
at the hospital.
“You don’t have to do this. Now that I can sit up, all I need is a mirror,”
he said.
“Oh, so you don’t like my shave?”
“I didn’t say that. What man doesn’t like being catered to?”
“Well, then lay your head back.” He did as I instructed. “I kind of
like it. Maybe I’ll become a barber, for a while.” He smiled, shaking his
head. “I even picked up a barber brush yesterday at Calvin’s. You remember,
down on Main, catty-corner to Benny’s, Calvin’s Barber Shop. ‘Hair
Today, Gone Tomorrow,’” I quoted the slogan that had been painted on
his window for years.
“Dad and I used to go there once a month to get our ears lowered.” He
grew silent with the memory. I held the moist towel to his face, allowing
it to soften his stubble before removing it, applying the shaving cream
with the brush as Calvin had instructed, softly, thoroughly. “That feels
good,” he said.
“I miss your dad. I wish he could be here, to see what you’ve done
with your life. He’d be so proud.”
“Ya think?”
“No doubt.” I worked the grain of his hair with my razor.
“Yeah, he would, wouldn’t he? He always had a way of making me feel
larger than life.” I tenderly scolded him to hold his lip still as I shaved
above it. He waited until I finished before continuing, “He’d get a kick
out of this, tomboy Harley delicately shaving my face.”
“I can get rid of the delicately,” I teased, coaxing his head toward me
with my hands. “Here, let me have the other side.” I felt his eyes on me,
watching me as I attempted to manipulate the razor skillfully, with just
enough, but not too much pressure against his skin. “When are the guys
coming out from your recon unit?”
“It’ll be a little while. They’re still on assignment,” he spoke tightlipped,
as I continued to shave him, my eyes focused on his jaw line,
freeing it of stubble. It was square, rugged, and exquisitely handsome. I
loved shaving his face. It was intimate, really. Maybe there’s something
to be said about the natural instincts of animals to groom each other. It’s
truly bonding.
“What?” I asked, unable to ignore his eyes taking me in, as I moved
down to his neck, shaving it up toward his face with the grain.
“You still do that…with your lip, bite the inside of it when you concentrate.”
I annihilated one last stretch of stubble, wiping at the residual shaving
cream. Filling my hands with aftershave, I lightly tapped his face and
neck with the soothing concoction, my hands resting a little too long on
his face at times. I had to remind myself to pull them away.
“I missed you,” he said softly, as if the sentiment escaped his lips
without his knowing. “Sorry.” He turned his head from me, clearing his
throat. “So, why am I upstairs?” He changed the subject immediately,
looking around the room. “I mean, I’m not a nurse or anything, but even
I know the guy who can barely walk might not perform his best on a
flight of stairs.”
“There’s a method to my madness,” I assured, cleaning up the shaving
supplies. “Studies say people recover better in their natural habitat.”
“Sure,” he said, making fun, “because I didn’t live in the whole house.
I lived in my bedroom.”
“There’s a bit more to it than that.” I giggled, swatting him on the leg
with the washcloth, as I walked to the bathroom to rinse out the shaving
basin. “It’s about the feng shui, your room is perfect, it has great direction
and natural sunlight pushing through the window every morning, and it
has good energy, perfect to promote healing.” I returned to his bedside,
fluffing the pillow behind him. “Also, it’s about identification. This was
your room when you were a sweaty, hormonal, adolescent jock, strong,
indestructible, and driven. So it’s the perfect place for you to identify those feelings and use them in your recovery. You’ll need that part ofyourself when we start rehab in two weeks.”
“Two weeks? I can’t lay in this bed two more weeks.”
“You have no choice, sweet cheeks.” I chuckled at the moniker to
which he grinned, rolling his eyes. “Strict orders, no pressure on the
lower back for at least a month, two weeks in the hospital, two weeks at
home. Enjoy it while it lasts. Think of yourself as man’s best friend, your
primary tasks, eat, sleep, sit, and lie down. We’ll work on sick’em and
fetch when you get on your feet.” I smiled, pushing the button on his
bed, causing him to lie back. He grimaced slightly with the movement,
finally settling into a comfortable space.
“I think you missed your calling, Harley-girl. You would have made a
good drill sergeant, as many orders as you’re throwing around.”
I ignored his rebuttal. “What will it be this morning, a book, a movie,
video game, peace and quiet…what’s your poison?” I inquired how he
wanted to pass the time.
“How about some music? You have any songs I haven’t heard?”
“I haven’t played in a while, and my guitar is at Gram’s,” I quickly
dismissed.
“My old Fender is in the closet, amp and everything.”
“No way!” I helped myself to the contents of the closet. “I remember
when you guys…you, Terry, Zac and Danny…were going to start a
band.”
“Yep, we wanted to be musicians because musicians got the girls.”
“Like you needed any help with the girls,” I added, tuning the guitar.
“I do have this one I was thinking about last night.”
“Let’s hear it,” he said.
Even though I hadn’t played in a long time, I went with the riding a
bike adage, hoping my fingers would remember the chords. They did,
unsure at first, settling into the rhythm, playing my newest theme song.
Jeremiah listened intently, as I sang along:
Can’t get it right, I’m always wrong. Think I know what I like, Then I want it gone. Don’t wanna be rich, Don’t wanna be poor. Don’t wanna be a bitch, Or a nice girl anymore. Complicated, Aggravated, Being me gets me so frustrated. Wanna give you everything you’re missing in your life, I just can’t get it right.
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Welcome to the random ramblings of a reader, armature baker, & inflexible yogi. I'm a lover of good food, TV, music & all things nature. My favorite thing is being a dog mom to @Ripley_kai_yay
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