How to get rid of that pesky double chin

Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart

It's of course the time of year when we reflect on our many blessings, and the things we are grateful for. I'd like to take a minute to thank each of you who visit my blog throughout the year as well as those who buy and read my books. A special thank you to everyone who writes to let me know how much you enjoy my stories. I'm thankful for your encouragement and your friendship. Writing is a solitary job, but with the support and fellowship of other writers and the friendship of readers and friends, it's a rewarding one.

Happy Thanksgiving and God bless you!

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
~ Melody Beattie

Give Thanks

Thanksgiving Blessings to each and every one of you!

Blogging at MamaWriters

Please come visit me at MamaWriters.com today!

Susan Boyle, a Refreshingly Real Singer

I don't watch morning television, so I rarely ever see performances on the morning shows, but occasionally I catch one while I'm clearing away the breakfast and morning mess. I think the last performance I saw was Mariah Carey. Today I'm so thankful I tuned in as Susan Boyle was about to perform.

I smiled through every song, and I can only think of one way to describe her singing: Honest.

True and pure talent and honest singing that can't really be called a performance, because she doesn't put on any airs or try to be anything she's not. Nor does she have to. No psychotic runs of notes that stretch a syllable into infinity. No spandex or cleavage or bling or sparkles or prancing around. No glam coaching. Just a real woman with an incredible gift, and the HONESTY to clear her throat before she goes for a high note. Breathtakingly beautiful.

People flew from California to hear Susan sing in Rockefeller Center.
Her I Dreamed A Dream album holds the record for the most amazon pre-orders ever.
I ordered one.
The album contains:

1. “Wild Horses” Mick Jagger, Keith Richards The Rolling Stones 4:55
2. “I Dreamed a Dream” Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil, Herbert Kretzmer Patti LuPone, from Les Misérables 3:11
3. “Cry Me a River” Arthur Hamilton Julie London 2:43
4. “How Great Thou Art” Carl Boberg Christian Hymn 3:13
5. “You’ll See” Madonna, David Foster Madonna 4:43
6. “Daydream Believer” John Stewart The Monkees 3:20
7. “Up to the Mountain” Patty Griffin Patty Griffin 3:32
8. “Amazing Grace” John Newton Christian Hymn 3:35
9. “Who I Was Born to Be” Original composition 4:10
10. “Proud” Steve Mac,Wayne Hector, Andy Hill Matthew Thomas (Britannia High) 3:22
11. “The End of the World” Arthur Kent, Sylvia Dee Skeeter Davis 3:16
12. “Silent Night” Josef Mohr, Franz Xaver Gruber Christian Christmas Hymn 3:00

Order your copy:

Jacquie Kennedy: Let Them See What They've Done

ENTER THE CONTEST

If you haven't yet entered the COWBOY UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE contest over at Petticoats and Pistols, do so now! Great prizes, among them a pair of earrings made by ME!

The Perfect Cup of Tea

Come chat with me at PETTICOATS AND PISTOLS today!

The Great Christmas Tree Tour 2009

I know - it isn't even Thanksgiving yet, but I'm giving you a heads up, so you'll remember to have your camera ready when you decorate your tree, and when you go visiting or sightseeing. My annual Christmas Tree Tour is always a big hit for readers and authors alike,. Since I'm crazy in love with Christmas trees, I love getting to see everyone's creations.

In the following weeks, I'll be offering tips and suggestions for tree decorating, so stay tuned and check back often. And make a mental note right now to take photographs and send them to me - your tree, your neighbor's tree, the tree at the museum or anywhere you go. This year I'm going to make a special trip to the Western Heritage Museum, the old Union Pacific railroad station to take a pic of the 40 foot tree. They decorate a donated tree every year, and I saw on the news last night that it was set up just yesterday.

So get excited - it's time for Christmas trees!

Single Titles .com

There’s a website that I visit every so often that I really like. It’s called SingleTitles.com and it’s a really reader friendly place. They review romance, mystery, thrillers, etc. About once a week they publish an author interview and there’s usually a book giveaway going on as well. Stop by http://www.singletitles.com when you get a chance.

RT REVIEW: Her Colorado Man

HER COLORADO MAN by Cheryl St. John

RT Rating: 4 STARS

Category: HISTORICAL

Setting: 1882 Colorado

Publisher: HARLEQUIN

Published: December 2009

St. John's strong yet sweet romance is peopled by characters readers will care about...the lesson St. John teaches in the subplot about abuse touches the heart.

Summary:

Mariah Burrows has everything she wants: a position in her family's brewery, a wonderful son and a large, loving family. True, she is living a lie; there is no Mr. Burrows off in the Alaskan gold fields, just an old friend who writes letters to her son. After an accident, miner Wes Burrows discovers he has a "son" and decides to come "home" for his wife and child. Wes simply wants the boy to have a father, but once he meets the headstrong, beautiful Mariah, he wants more then a pretend marriage. To her surprise, Mariah likes Wes. He fits in with her family and slowly makes his way into her heart. Though she is happy, her sister-in-law is suffering, and when things go from bad to worse, Mariah realizes the kind of wonderful man she has.

(HARLEQUIN, Dec., 300 pp., $5.99)—Kathe Robin

Look who came home with a proud smile

Here's Elijah proudly wearing his swing choir T-shirt.

He was invited to audition for a district choir, too.

Linda Lael Miller: A Creed Country Christmas

A Creed Country Christmas
Linda Lael Miller
November 2009
HQN Hardcover

READ AN EXCERPT

Celebrate the holidays with the Creed forefathers—Montana men who built the family homestead and established a legacy of love…

In the unforgiving Montana wilderness of 1910, widowed rancher Lincoln Creed is up against more than rustlers, wolves and the coming winter storms. His young daughter has needs beyond the beans and bacon he can barely cook. Lincoln must find little Gracie a governess, a lady who can teach and cook—yet won't set her sights on him.

Disowned for her refusal to marry, twenty-five-year-old Juliana Mitchell shares the love in her heart with her young students at the underfunded Indian school. When she meets Lincoln and Gracie, her response to the handsome rancher makes her realize she's not against marriage after all.

She longs to help, yet the two orphaned brothers in her care need her. But in the season for miracles, Providence just might find a way to bring Juliana, the boys and the Creed family together for Christmas Eve….

BROWSE THE BOOK

Browse this book

Add to your site

Buy this book