A Little Beefcake

I don't know if it's becaause it's 2pm and I haven't eaten yet, but suddenly I was craving some beefcake :) Merry Christmas y'all (aint he good enough to eat ?)!

Playing Favorites

Three days ago my wife informed me that her cousin's 30th birthday wish was that he be sent a copy of his loved ones' favorite book with an explanation of why it held such a position in the sender's heart. His plan is, of course, to read the beloved book so that he can be touched as we have been. At first I thought the task was to send a well thumbed copy of said favorite book. Immediately I felt a stone in my gut. There was no way I was going to part with my copy of one of my favorite books. Those are my friends, well loved and even if I haven't cracked some of them open in decades, it would be like sending one of my children away to another mother (if I had children, that is). I later learned that a new copy of the favorite book could be sent, which at least stopped my panicking. But then my problem became, which favorite book? Would it be my favorite book growing up, Little Women (sorry Anne of Green Gables, you take a close second place)? Or should it be a favorite romance, the genre I love the most and almost exclusively read? Perhaps Dreaming of You, my first favorite romance, or Marrying Winterbourne, my current favorite romance? Should it be The Windancer, the romance I think is a great indroduction to the genre? Or maybe one of my favorite romances with non-traditional storylines and characters, to delight a non-romance reader, such as The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie or The Portrait, or Waiting on the Moon? There are just so so many. I realized I don't like playing favorites, particularly among my romances, so after much thought I sent my cousin by marriage Little Women. It is a worthy addition to anyone's library and I hope that he loves it as much as I do.

Crushin' On A Good Guy

It’s not a secret, when it comes to heroes, I love alphas. I love their power, I love their confidence and if they are the smartest man in the room, I love that even more. Alphas are known for their take charge attitude, and quite frankly, they are usually ass-holes and I love that too. Alphas are many things, but a good guy, they aint. When I write heroes, they are definitely The Alpha. So it surprised me when I found myself admitting to crushing on a good guy. You might know him, Dominick “Sonny” Carisi on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. Carisi is tall and lanky with hair on the light side. Nothing like the typical beefy alpha with dark hair and brooding good looks. Sonny isn’t the best educated guy. He has a law degree, yes, but from night school as some of his more urbane opponents like to point out. Instead of money, he reeks of the working class with his accent and point of view. But I’ve slowly fallen for this guy, because he is a good guy, an underdog even. He loves his family, fights for them as much as he fights for justice. He loves a flawed woman and probably her children even more. Those morals he has obviously come from that working class Catholic background and yet instead of using his faith to judge, he shows compassion and is willing to see things from another perspective. Without a doubt Carisi has made his way into my heart. Viva the Good Guy, because sometimes he is oh so very very good.

My Man Hamilton

So guys, after many many years of waiting, I finally saw the musical Hamilton live and in person. Full disclosure, I got Disney Plus to watch the original cast years ago. But there is just a magic to be found in live theater performance. And yes, dear reader, I am in love. There are so many things I love about the show and so many moments that make my heart skip. But for this post I thought I'd share the incredibly romantic song of the show Helpless, showing Eliza and Hamilton's meeting and young love. And I can not enjoy this delightful piece without also considering the exquisite pain of its twin Satisfied. Do yourself a favor, after reveling in these two great songs, go down the YouTube rabbit hole and watch (well probably rewatch) some more fabulous songs from the show.

Love Is Love

As someone in an interracial relationship, I thought it only fitting to remember Nichelle Nichols' kiss with William Shatner, now that she has passed. Their interracial embrace opened the minds of many and allowed Americans to imagine w

Freedom for Some

Normally I wish you a Happy Fourth of July during my July blog post. But since the overturning of Roe v Wade in this country, there is only freedom for some. And so I can't celebrate Independence Day like I usually do. Hopefully one day I will.

My Friends

This weekend I was going to go to the wedding of one of my oldest friends. But it was not to be. The couple decided to cancel it. But since this was also a reunion of almost all of my college friends, we still descended upon Boston. When I got home today my wife asked me what we did all weekend. Talked I said. Took a few walks,had a few meals, but mostly talked. And it was wonderful. These are some of the people I love the most in the world. Though I enjoy sightseeing, shopping and going to the movies, I enjoy just spending quality time with these (mostly) women more. The more I spend time and catch up with them, the more I fall in love with these amazing people. I can't wait until the next time I can spend time doing nothing more than talking with them.

I Like the Island Manhattan

When I was a little girl there was a movie that would periodically show up on my grandmother's black and white television. Mama never got cable so I would happily catch it whenever it would magically show up on her screen. I didn't know the name of the movie, I just knew it was my favorite and that it was both joyous and sad. Mama eventually got a colored set (remember when we called tv's that?) and I learned that movie was called West Side Story. And of course it was magical, it was a retelling of the ever so romantic Romeo and Juliet. Bestill my heart. The movie is packed with great musical numbers, but my absolute favorite has always been America, ironically the one that has nothing to do with Tony and Maria. But who can deny the amazing chemistry shared by Bernardo and Anita? The original number is fantastic but so too is the newest version. Do yourself a favor, watch it and fall in love with Anita, Bernardo and America, warts and all.

Dear Reader, I Loved Bridgerton

If you haven't, Dear Reader, you must watch season two of Bridgerton. Kate Sharma and Anthony Bridgerton have great chemistry and light up the screen together. Normally I'm not a fan of enemies to lovers storylines but I so enjoyed their romp through the Regency ballrooms, green fields and of course bedrooms. To be fair, Anthony is so fine he can bring the heat to any situation. While I would have wanted to see more of him without clothing, the glimpse of his naked backside was quite satisfying. And that wet shirt scene was sublime. I can't wait to see if Anthony gets to spar (lovingly) with Kate in season three while we watch another of his siblings find their love match. And if we're really lucky, maybe we'll get to see him with his shirt off. Wishfully thinking, Dear Reader, I know.

I'm Excited Y'all

I'm excited ya'll. I was in Walmart today and as I was browsing through the book section (as I am wont to do, #smalltownliving) I spied a Harlequin Presents book with not one but two black people. Two dark skin black people are gracing the cover of Bound by Her Rival's Baby and I'm shocked. I've never seen the like. To be fair, I've read a Presents with a black heroine but she was so pale on the cover, I wasn't quite sure what her nationality was. But this time there was no doubt and this time the hero is black. And it brings me so much hope that one day I can write and sell a Presents with a beautiful black couple. Today is a good day.

Very Good Girl

Y'all know I love perfume, right? Well, I'm a sucker for a beautiful bottle too and I'm in love with Very Good Girl's. It is so sexy, alluring and provocative. It makes me wonder what kind of character would wear such a shoe. Is she a man (or lady) killer? Or is she dressing up in her best friend's clothes for a first date, trying to be someone she isn't? I haven't smelled the scent yet, but it's on my list to get. If nothing else, she is a great muse for a future story (I hope).

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year y'all! I hope 2022 is an amazing year for all of us. Like every good American, I've made some New Year's resolutions. I need to take off those last 15 pounds and I'm determined that I'll be ringing in 2023 15 pounds slimmer. I also have a writing resolution (which is appropriate, no?). I haven't submitted a story for publication in a long long while. I'll think of stories and not write them. I'll write stories and not edit them (my usual sin). I'll edit stories but not submit them (for fear they're not good enough, or worried they need yet another round of editing before I send them off). This year I'm shaking off the all of those inhibitions and worries. As the great Wayne Gretzky said, you miss 100% of the shots you never take. So by December 31, I will submit at least one story (hopefully more). Do you have a New Year's resolution? What is it? I wish you luck and hopefully a year from now we can report back and share our success (positive thoughts only y'all ;))