Happy Anniversary!

Hello, gentle readers!

The DH and I just celebrated our thirty-ninth wedding anniversary (we’ve been together for over forty years). That’s quite a milestone…fully two-thirds of my life here on earth.

I knew he was the one – the soul-mate we all believe is the other half of ourselves – almost from the beginning. He was funny (still is) and charming (when he chooses to be) and he has a huge heart (but don’t tell anyone I said that…he’ll deny it). He rode a motorcycle (still does) and my mother called him “a bad boy”, so unlike anyone I’d ever known – I was quite sheltered most of my life (you know what I’m talking about…so many rules about what I could and couldn’t do, Catholic school, who I could be friends with…the whole bit and believe me when I say, she was not happy when we started dating, but she came around – eventually).

As we’re wont to do, we reminisce, and believe me, there’s a lot to reminisce about – our memorable first date, our wedding (he was so nervous!), the birth of our son, our epic journey when we moved from New Jersey to Arizona in an old, beat-up station wagon with a not quite eighteen month old and a 95 pound German shepherd, dragging all our worldly possessions behind us in a U-haul (and hit a blizzard just outside of Albuquerque!). We had no jobs, and a small amount of money in our pockets, but we had faith in ourselves and each other and we were determined to succeed (plus, don’t ever tell me I can’t do something…I’ll do it just to prove you wrong…I’m a bit stubborn that way), two hip replacements (his, not mine), and other medical situations.

Can he drive me crazy? Oh, you bet, but I'm sure I drive him crazy, too (we've had lots of practice). Does he still make me laugh? That would be a big, fat yes. All the time. Does he understand me? Yeah, he does, probably better than I do myself sometimes. That's part of the magic in being together for so long.

We’ve done a lot of growing in the past forty-something years. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s always been worth it, and you know, I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else. Happy Anniversary, honey!

Until next time, remember to spread kindness wherever you go.

Marie

Ruthless Knight -Legendary Bastards of the Crown Series- Book 2 by Elizabeth Rose

Bastard sons of King Edward in the fourteenth century have turned against the King for good reason.  Or so they thought.
When the triplets were wee babes, the King's decision was to kill them, yet they were saved by a distant relative.  The boys' vowed to never bow to the King, but rather raid and plunder the King's riches.
Rook, one of the triplets, lives in the catacombs of a haunted priory.  He still plans against the King, and prefers the solitary life of a thief.
Lady Calliope lives under the tight hand of her uncle and frequently sneeks food and supplies to the villagers.  On a rainy day, she chooses to return to the castle through the priory and avoid the rain.
Her heart nearly bursts with an unknown yearning for the handsome and powerful man she comes upon in the catacombs.
Rook fakes his ability to hold and destroy Calliope when he finds her spying on him.  He easily spares her when he wonders how he can possibly have these strange feelings of...of...lust, interest, or love(?!) towards a noble.
He can't possibly care for her, give her what she deserves, or break his own vow to destroy the King.  So how does she fit in his life?
Lady Calliope doesn't have the freedom or the right to let her heart go to a thief.
But is Rook that bad?  Is Lady Calliope so restrained by nobility that her heart can't go where it wants?  So many hurdles to conquer.
Lovely story of the triumph of love.  One thing the passing of centuries hasn't changed- the strength of the heart!

Happy reading,
Dawn 

Veronica Reviews: ALWAYS LOYAL by Charity Parkerson

Always Loyal

(Cubs for Rent #3)

Charity Parkerson

5 Stars

  

“I just f*cking love you…. I was a f*cked-up mess before you.  Maybe I still am a little bit of a mess, but you saved me.  You always do, and I’d be failing you if I didn’t stop for a second and say that you deserve someone better than me.”

Cubs for Rent is a company that specializes in rental of men for dates (but no sex for money), household repairs or simply companionship.  Toby Kodiak is one of the three brothers (triplets) that is co-owner and manager of the date for hire service.  Toby has been in love with his best friend for years, but when an evening of confessions and lovemaking find him waking alone with no word why, Toby realizes that he may never have his feelings truly returned.

 

Loyal loves Toby like no other, but fear has him bolting across the world, and when he realizes that he cannot run away from his feelings, Loyal returns…only to once again find himself so afraid of expressing his true feelings that his actions find him battered, broken and bound to a life in a wheelchair…but not alone, for he has a guardian angel in Toby, who will love and care for him till the end of time.

Toby and Loyal are two lost and somewhat confused souls that are running from what could be absolute bliss…if only they would communicate and be willing to take a leap of faith. 

Charity Parkerson’s Cubs for Rent series is quickly becoming one of my favs!  Highly recommend and can’t wait for the next installment!

Sharing what I love, 

Veronica

Buy Link: 

Amazon

A Change of Pace

Hello, gentle readers!

If you’ve read my blog before, then you know what a nut I am about routines and schedules. I am convinced that it’s the only way to get everything done that needs to be done, although, sometimes I think my routines are running my life instead of the other way around.

Well, I’m happy to report…there was a change! I know! I was surprised, too!

Saturdays are usually my day to do laundry, iron my clothes for the work week and clean. Well, this past Saturday, I did something completely different, something totally unexpected. What did I do?

I took a road trip with a girlfriend to northern Arizona. Heber-Overgaard to be exact. Can you believe it? I’m still pinching myself!

And I had the most wonderful time. Of course, any time I meet up with this particular girlfriend, we have a great time. We talk (oh my gosh! Do we talk!). About anything and everything—books, movies, spouses, kids, dogs, work...you know, life in general. I don’t think we shut up for more than five minutes.

Anyway, I realized several things during this road trip. One, I haven’t been up to northern Arizona in over twenty years! That’s twenty. 2-0. That’s way too long. I’d forgotten how lovely it is. And there was snow on the ground so it was even more beautiful (I love snow—as long as I don’t have to shovel it). No, I didn’t take pictures…I was too busy flapping my gums and just staring at the beauty around me.

The second thing I realized…I would love to have a cabin or cottage or little house up there (that might have to wait until I retire). So quiet and peaceful. The air was crisp, and yeah, a little chill, and the wind sighing through the evergreens was so relaxing. There’s nothing quite like that sound.

The third thing I realized? I need to stop letting my routines rule my life (my Saturday chores? They got done on Sunday). I need to do more fun stuff like taking road trips and visiting with friends.

I think I will.

Until next time, remember to spread kindness wherever you go.

Marie

Start 2020 right with the Reese siblings.

I hope you've had a wonderful holiday season. I'm not sure about you, but I'm ready to tackle 2020. Especially with good reads. Have you met the Reese siblings? For those who'd rather wait until the series is finished before reading, I have good news! The series is complete and is at retailers worldwide. You can binge read your way to February. Lol.


Meet Rio, Rome, Edinburgh, Sydney, and London. They're shedding their family's dark past and are looking into the future. We all love a good HEA and the Reese family will fulfill that need. And, to top it off, there is a free story linked at the back of London's book. You don't want to miss it.

Get Loved by Reese!

Love'sTempting by Maryann Jordan

Lily likes to keep her world quiet and frankly, lonely.  She's never mentally gotten over her physical change from an accident, yet physically, someone would have to look closely.
Matt has a similar issue with his looks.  Women glance at his problem before knowing him, and that makes it hard to let anyone into his life in a romantic attachment.
Working in the basement of a hospital, Lily is contracted to update their computer system that deals with prescriptions.  She keeps her contact with people limited except for her assistant.  That's until her assistant is murdered.
Matt is assigned to the case as a detective.  
It's inevitable the two meet.
Matt's amazed that Lily doesn't appear to notice his visible scar.  The first woman ever.
Lily is self-sufficient and is far from someone looking for help or a handout.  Matt does want to assist her, but understands the contradiction of pity and care.
And then there's the murder with a killer running loose.
If Lily knows something, she's going to be in danger.
If Matt is overly protective, she'll back away.
They have a few hills to climb and work out a way to find the top together.
The story was a good romantic suspense with likeable characters.  I thought they could've had more tension in the romance department as the doubt between the two was minimal.  The mystery part was well thought out and filled with twists, so I do recommend this a four star  read!

Happy reading,
Dawn

Veronica Reviews: MY DARLING DUKE by Stacy Reid

My Darling Duke

by Stacy Reid

5 Stars

“You are the only person I’ve ever wanted to share my silence.”

Miss Katherine “Kitty” Danvers is going to be bold, daring, and a wee bit wicked to save her sisters from spinsterhood.  Claiming to be the betrothed to the recluse Duke of Thornton, Kitty knows her family will begin to receive invitations to balls, dinners, and all the top social functions of the ton.  Being a “duchess” will make her sisters stand out amidst the crowd, and will give them the opportunity to find husbands to care and protect them.  But when the Duke of Thornton suddenly comes out of hiding to meet his soon to be duchess, Kitty is not at all prepared for the “Beast” she encounters, nor the way her heart beats faster, but not out of fear…

Alexander Master, the Duke of Thornton, starts hearing rumors of his upcoming marriage to a Miss Katherine Danvers.  Wondering who would dare claim to want to be engaged to a beast of a man, Alex begins to study and gather as much information about this bold woman.  With his curiosity spiked, Alex does the one thing he vowed not to do…enter back into society if for no other reason than to lay his eyes on Miss Danvers.  But when she does not shy away from his appearance, and in fact looks upon him with something akin to desire, Alex knows he must possess her…at least until she no longer interests him…

To convince her darling duke he is worthy of love and a happily ever after, Kitty must use the same wicked boldness that started their affair…and hope she doesn’t lose her heart in the process.

Stacy Reid is a new to me author I am ever so thankful to have discovered!  My Darling Duke reads like Phantom of the Opera meets Beauty and the Beast (two of my fav kinds of romance).  While heartbreaking at times, I devoured every page.  Loved and highly recommend!

Sharing what I love, 

Veronica

Amazon Buy Link

Welcome 2020

Hello, gentle readers! And Happy New Year!

Can you believe it’s 2020 (I hope I remember to write that on my checks—yes, I still write checks!)?

What’s on deck for me this year? You know, I haven’t really thought about it too much. I’m not one to sit down and write out my goals for the year though I do have a few. I want to finish my current work in progress, but that’s a given. I always want to finish my current work in progress and start the next story (because there are so many stories in my head).

I’d still like to lose those 30 pounds that don’t belong. That’s been a goal for a long time and somehow, I never seem to do it. What can I say? I start off the year really good, but then, somewhere along the line, I lose my momentum (or I buy that loaf of French bread) and all bets are off.

Of course, there is the main thing that I wish for—to be kinder in both my actions and words (to myself as well as others…I can be very hard on myself). I can also be blunt though I’ve been trying hard not to be. There are gentler, nicer ways to say something (I’ve been taking classes at the day job and working on that).   

The only thing really different for this coming year is that I’ll be taking some time off from the day job and doing a little visiting with friends and family I haven’t seen for a while so that’s new (and something to look forward to).  

So welcome 2020. I’m hoping it’ll be a good year for everyone!

Until next time, remember to spread kindness wherever you go.

Marie