A New Day, A New Launch Party!

by Beth


It's launch party time again in the lair! THE PRODIGAL SON is out now and I'm thrilled to celebrate its release with my fellow Bandits, our Bandit Buddies and, of course, Sven, the Gladiators and the Hockey Hunks ;-)


THE PRODIGAL SON is the second book in my Diamond Dust trilogy for Harlequin Superromance and tells the story of Matt Sheppard, the youngest of three brothers, and Connie Henkel, who works as the vineyard manager for the Sheppard's winery. Here's what the back cover says:


He always gets what he wants--and that's made Matt Sheppard an international success as a vintner. So he never saw his mother's blackmail coming. She says she'll sell the family's vineyard if he doesn't stay put for exactly one year. But running the Diamond Dust with his brothers was his father's dream, not his. Now he's shackled to the place by familial ties as strong as vines and tight enough to strangle him.


Worse, he's forced to work with a resentful manager, Connie Henkel. Her mile-long legs can't distract him from his goal: to improve the business and get out as soon as he can. Because if the single mom entwines herself around Matt's heart, he'll never be able to leave.


Here's a quick excerpt from when Connie approaches Matt after his brother's bachelor party:


“So,” Connie said, turning slightly in her seat to face him. “How’d the party go? Anything wild happen? Any Hangover moments?”
He grinned, appreciating her reference to the movie. “No tigers or babies have been spotted and as far as I know, everyone still has all of their teeth.”
“As long as the groom does, that’s all that matters.” The bartender set a glass of ice water in front of her and Connie smiled her thanks to him. Took a sip before clearing her throat. “Look, about last night--”
“Are you going to apologize?”
Her pretty mouth thinned. “For putting an arrogant man in his place? Can’t say I’ve ever regretted that,” she told him, reminding him of his words when he’d asked if he should apologize for kissing her.
“So you’re obviously not here to beg my forgiveness. Did you come over expecting me to apologize?”
Brushing her short bangs to the side, she stared down at her water. His own fingers twitched with the need to touch her hair. To see if it was a soft as he imagined.
“I came over because…” She stirred the ice in her glass with her straw then abruptly let go and met his eyes. “I came over because you looked…alone.”
“Hard to be alone when I’m surrounded by people.”
“Okay,” she said slowly. “Maybe alone wasn’t the right word. More like…lonely.”
The muscles in his shoulders tensed but he didn’t move. Couldn’t. Not when his breath was locked in his chest. Not when he was afraid she was right.
Still, he forced a grin. “Not lonely,” he assured her as he deliberately slid his gaze down her figure lazily before holding her gaze. “But glad for the company anyway.”


Enough chit chat...let's get this party started!! Crank up the margarita machine! Dim the lights! Buff the Cabana Boys! And, most importantly, turn up the music! This is a party after all, and what better way to celebrate then by hitting the dance floor?


What song gets you out on the dance floor? What song gets your groove thang shaking when you hear it, no matter if you're at home, in your car or at the store? I'll give away copies of THE PRODIGAL SON to two commenters today!
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Heading back to High School

by Donna MacMeans

If there's any question that school will be starting soon, just try dropping into your local office supply store for a quick purchase. More reliable than geese heading south, bright yellow school buses practicing their routes, and long lines at Office Max signal school is about to begin. (And I haven't even addressed the resounding cheer of mothers across America).


Sooner or later all those precious darlings will graduate high school and eagerly race for independence and a bright future. Then, years pass. Couples marry, couples divorce. Those precious darlings have precious darlings of their own and then...sometime after the lapse of many decades. Those same high school graduates race back to home for their high school reunion.


I attended my very first high school reunion earlier this month. Not the first year after high school, mind you. (Grin) When I told a writing friend that I was going to my (cough, cough) reunion, she looked me straight in the eye and said, "I wasn't even born then."



It's a miracle that she walked out of that coffee shop.


My high school, Greenhills High School, no longer exists. The building is there, but it's used for other purposes. The high school has been reduced to a memorabilia room in the town community center. (sigh)


But we still have memories...and friendships that quickly rekindle even after so many years.


Here's a photo of me and my best friend from high school. We went away to college together and lived in the same dorm. I hadn't seen her for about 35 years until this reunion.


Many of those present said this was the best of the reunions they had attended. Apparently, one has to wait a certain number of years for old wounds and memories to dim. I'm glad I joined the group when everyone was there just to celebrate good times.


We ate. We drank. We reminisced. And we danced as a couple of glum DJs played songs from our youth.


Now here's the problem with dancing. I LOVE to dance. I met my husband on the dance floor of a Cleveland bar and I fell in love when I learned he had no objections (then) to being the first out on the dance floor. I dance with enthusiasm - the music just moves me. I've had complete strangers come up and compliment me on my dancing (I think it was a compliment...does "you sure know how to dance" qualify?) It's happened several times but I have this fear that I look like Elaine on that Seinfeld episode. Here's a YouTube clip in case you need a reminder (Sorry, couldn't embed.)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xi4O1yi6b0


The other thing about reunions...there's lots of photos and light bulbs flashing, and if I'm dancing - that provides lots of opportunities for blackmail worthy photos. The disc jockeys - the only two men in suits in the place - keyed up KC and the Sunshine Band. I believe I was doing an imitation of my Zumba class instructor who leans back during class and yells: SHAKE SOMETHING! Thank Heavens this is a photo and not video (grin).


And so my question to all of you who have picked yourself off the floor from laughing so hard after viewing my photo...Have you ever attended a high school reunion? Good memories to share? Bad? Blackmail-worthy moments? If you haven't attended one, why not? Let's all go back to High School. I'll send a book from my backlist (your choice) to someone posting a comment.
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You Make Me Feel Like Dancin'

by Beth


My younger daughter is going to see Step Up 3 tonight and can’t wait to see if this third movie lives up to the first one of the franchise. We both loved the original Step Up – her because of Channing Tatum and me because of the dancing *g* (Okay, Channing’s cute, too!) I’ve been a fan of musicals and dancing movies (movies with dancing IN them, not movies that can dance *g*) ever since I was little and saw Grease. I sang along with the album daily and even had a Grease book I read so many times, the binding came apart!


Some of my favorite movies with dancing in them include:


Footloose. Oh, how I loved Kevin Bacon as Ren, a city boy forced to live in a small, country town where one of the rules was No Dancing. And how about that soundtrack? Hearing any of those songs takes me back in time!


Dirty Dancing. This one came out during my teen years and all of my friends and I LOVED it! How awesome was Patrick Swayze as the boy from the other side of the tracks? *sigh* Nobody puts Baby in a corner! And the dancing? Soooo sexy!


Flashdance. I’m not sure which I loved more—the movie, the soundtrack or the off-the-shoulder-sweatshirt trend *g* It was a bit risque but the dancing was fun and fabulous!


Singing in the Rain. A wonderful classic with Gene Kelly that had it all: superb dancing, great songs, romance and humor! Still an all-time fave *g*


Do you like dancing movies? Which ones are your favorites? And a very important question: Are you a good dancer?
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