Smile Somebody Loves You-New Year's Eve Blog Hop ~ @Donna_Michaels #SSLY

 

Welcome to a fun multi-author blog hop where we all discuss what we're looking forward to in the upcoming year, and you have the chance to win several prizes along the way, including a great Grand Prize drawn on January 3, 2014!

 

The Grand Prize, which will be chosen from the rafflecopter at the bottom of the page will include:

$150.00 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card (winners choice)
SSLY Key Chain, a signed copy of Bohemian Grove by T.M. Williams
E-book of Maverick Touch: The Cat by Ashley Nemer
E-book Scorned (LeKrista Scott, Vampire Hunted) by Tyffani Clark Kemp
Paperback copy of Summertime by Christina Cole
Signed copy of Mail Order Brides of the West: Trudy by Debra Holland
Godiva Chocolate Basket Courtesy of Morgan Wyatt
and an awesome prize, a 30 minute tarot card reading via Skype or telephone by author Shauna Aura Knight

Along with the rafflecopter, some of the authors will run an extra contest. I am giving away a $5 Amazon GC to one lucky commenter on my blog!

 

Okay, so...on with the blog...

What are you looking forward to in the new year?



 

For me, I'm actually going to start out by telling you what I am NOT looking forward to in the new year.

 

My youngest child graduating high school.

 

Not so much because it makes me feel old, and yeah, it makes me feel old, but because she'll be going away to college in the fall. Sure, I've been through this with her three older brothers. Key word 'brothers'. Jestina is not a boy.

 

 She's a very beautiful, talented, slightly naïve girl who is interested in attending the University of the Arts in Philadelphia for acting/musical theater and film. We toured U of A this month, and...okay, it's a great fit for her, but, dang, Philadelphia? Pretty big city. Jestina also received a request to audition and visit Rowen University in New Jersey where they may possibly pay half her tuition. She has an audition and tour scheduled with them in January. Her audition song? 'Think of Me' from Phantom of the Opera. Yep, she can actually hit those notes at the end. I know. Insane, right?

 

So, I'm not looking forward to my daughter graduating high school and going away to college in 2014, but at the same time, I am looking forward to my daughter gaining her independence, experiencing the thrill of striving for her dream, studying and working hard for her dream...and eventually living her dream. After all, far be it for me to tell her not to reach for that star, since I reached for mine and am now living my writing dream!

 

 

What am I looking forward to as far as my career in 2014?

 

I am looking forward to writing more hot, humorous & heartwarming novels, including riding some sexy...I mean writing, writing some sexy cowboys in my Harland County Series. Phew, slip of the keystroke there. Must save the riding for my romagination. 

 

 

 

Okay, now...where was I? Writing, right. I'm also looking forward to starting the spin-off series-Citizen Soldier Novels-about the Wyne brothers who happen to be National Guard soldiers (other male and female solders will be featured in the series, some may even cross over into Harland County); and writing the 2nd book in my Time-shift Heroes Series. Yeah, that's a lot of writing, but I have to do something with all the voices in my head. lol 

  

Speaking of voices in my head, one of my 2013 novels is up for Best Romance Novel in the Preditors & Editors Poll.  

HER UNBRIDLED COWBOY, book 2 in my Harland County Series.

 

 

If you've read Connor's story, and are so inclined to give it a vote, I'd sure appreciate the support. Here's the link:

 

http://critters.org/predpoll/novelr.shtml

 

 

HER UNBRIDLED COWBOY also happens to have a

 NEW YEAR'S EVE scene I'd love to share:

(set up: Kerri is at a New Year's Eve party, the ball is about to drop, so she ducks into the laundry room to be alone. Of course, the hero follows...)

“Do you think I was just duped?”

Moonlight filtered in through a small window on their right, illuminating his face enough for her to see his expression. Contemplative. He removed his hat, set it on the washer to her left then ran a hand through his hair.

“I’m not sure,” he said after several beats. “Jordan did appear sincere, but well, let’s face it. Your sister’s good.”

Kerri smacked her head back against the wall a few times, closed her eyes and groaned. “I know. That’s the problem.”

Smack. What if this was all a ruse to get her to stay in Texas? Smack.

“Hey.”

She reopened her eyes only to discover she had a bigger, sexier problem standing so close, she couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe, could only feel. The big, hot, sexually potent man crowded her space and she liked it. A lot. But he made her body consider things, want things, needy things she had no idea what to do about.

Smack.

Then the bugger stepped closer still, easing his hand between her head and the wall, being sweet again. Making her heart melt. His other large, strong hand settled ever so lightly on her hip.

“Easy there, darlin’.” His voice was soft and low, their gazes only inches apart in height thanks to her high heels. “It’s not worth hurting yourself over.”

Hurting myself? No. Hitting her head off the wall was meant to knock sense into her, not hurt. But the need and want and hunger suddenly raging inside, that sure as heck hurt. In a fierce way. If she had any sense, she’d run out of the room and not stop until she was miles from this man who could sometimes be so sweet, he had her chest aching with a longing that scared her witless.

She swallowed and opened her mouth, intending to tell him God knows what, when they heard the crowd in the other room start to count backwards from ten.

The New Year was upon them.

With each number called out, his face drew closer, his breath warm on her skin, her heart pounding louder and louder. Three. Two. One. Connor’s hold on the back of her head tightened, and his other hand lifted to gently brush his thumb across her jaw.

“Happy New Year, Kerri,” he breathed.

When she opened her mouth to reply, he covered her lips with his.

And that’s how she rang in the New Year, in the Dalton’s dark laundry room, sharing heat and touches and soft murmurs with Connor McCall.

 Amazon

So, with the arrival of 2014, it's a new year...a clean slate. What are you hoping to accomplish in 2014?  

Tell me in a comment, and one lucky commenter will win a $5 Amazon GC. Winning name will be randomly drawn on January 3rd and announced here on my blog.

Don't forget the rafflecopter and the wonderful Grand Prize in this fun blog hop! Click the link below to enter!

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Here are the other Blog Hop participants. Check them out for more chances to win! Good luck!

Smile Somebody Loves You
Tonya Renee Callahan
Madison Sevier
Tricia Anderson
Cate Masters
Tabitha Shay
Paula Millhouse
Hunter S Jones
Magella Troche
Tory Richards
Deena Remiel
Evelise Archer
Ashley Nemer
Roxy Wilson
Inner Goddess Forum
Literal Hotties
TM Williams
Jayn Wilde
Victoria Pinder
Eden Connor
Elise VanCise
Andrea R Cooper
Adriana Kraft
Leigh Ellwood
Lisa Carlise
Andrea Cooper
Sherry Gloag
Natasza Waters
Kathryn Beyerle Lively
Sugar and Spice Reviews
Jeanine McAdam
Morgan Wyatt
Naomi Bellini
AJ Williams
Lyncee Shillard
Beth Barany
Candy Caine’s Corner
Shauna Aura Knight
Anne Easley
Fiona McGeir
Donna Michaels
Tiffany Clark
Brenda’s Book Beat
Reading by the book
Tuere’s not so
Random Thoughts
Flossie Benton Rogers
Stephanie Kepke Kaplan
Debora Dennis
Samantha Holt
Heidi Sieverding