Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Does This Happen To You? Or...How I Lost Five Hours

 This is a tale of expectations vs reality. 

In case you're wondering, expectations lost. 

Last night I went to bed earlier than planned and when I wasn't really that tired with the intention of getting a good night's sleep and getting up early today to really get a lot of writing done. 

Thanks to an impressive nap yesterday afternoon and possible caffeine abuse later in the day, I tossed and turned until 4 am. Fine, I'll just take a little nap after Mr. Jones leaves for work and everything will be fine. 

The alarm goes off at 6:30 and Mr. Jones tells me there's been a change of plans. He's now going to work at 9 pm instead of 7 am. No problem, I'm adaptable, right? 

I roll over and sleep a couple more hours. Okay, maybe three more hours. 

Due to the changes in my husband's schedule, I text three people to rearrange Zoom meetings for the rest of the week. Sigh. 

However, I'm not concerned about my work because once I get up, I'll have all afternoon and well into the night for writing and I prefer writing after dark. (Of course, that begs the question, why don't I get more done in the winter when it's dark at 5 pm...but that's for another day). 

I start making breakfast by putting bacon on to fry. While that's cooking I put away the clean dishes. When I try to close the drawer with all the plastic containers and lids, one of the lids slips back behind the drawer and I know I shouldn't ignore it. 

I peek back there and see about 10 assorted lids and containers. I wondered where they'd gone! 

I could ignore it and I'm tempted, but I'm trying to be more proactive about dealing with things in the moment. Fine. I remove the drawer and get down on hands and knees (insert creaking bone noises here) dig them all out and toss them in the sink which I've filled with soapy water. 

Concerned about burning breakfast, I turn off the bacon and inspect the grossness behind the drawer. *Shudder*. 

Next I get the vacuum and attachments and clean up what I can of that mess as well as the kitchen floor under the baseboards because...I'm there, why not?

Put away the vacuum, spend five minutes trying to get the drawer properly lined up on the sliding gadget. Mr. Jones comes and fixes it. Then I finish cooking breakfast, about 20 mins later than planned. 

It's not like we're on a tight schedule and I'm glad I got that task done. We have breakfast, I wash the breakfast dishes, including all the recovered containers and lids and sit down to start my tasks. 

I pay a couple bills, transfer some money around (high finance stuff for sure!), check my book sales, check Facebook and make a cup of tea. Time to start work. 

Wrong. 

Amazon says they've delivered two packages for us at the campground office. Off I go to retrieve them. The packages include new pillows. Of course we have to take them out of the boxes and plastic bags, watch them puff up and put them in fresh pillow cases. 

Also delivered, a blood pressure thing for Mr. Jones to keep tabs on his blood pressure. Again, we must test it out. My blood pressure is a bit high. I wonder why? 

Mr. Jones decides to take a nap since he'll be working late. I'm just about to get my chance to start writing when the phone rings. My new glasses are in. 

I rarely have a car during weekday hours because of Mr. Jones' schedule and the fact that we only have one car, so I take the opportunity to go and get the glasses. It's about 10 miles down the highway and I arrive without any issues, but the traffic going the other way is completely stopped for several miles. Ugh. I consider alternate routes for the trip home, but that will add a lot of time to the trip.  

Once I get the glasses I decide to visit the fancy grocery store and look for a couple things I haven't been able to find elsewhere and also hope it gives traffic a chance to clear up. Not only do I not find the stuff I'm looking for, but I'm so shocked by the prices that I leave without buying anything, not even a guilt-induced purchase to compensate for the fact that I used their restroom. 

Good news. Traffic is cleared up so I don't have to take the detour I'd planned.  

I stop at a not fancy grocery store (WalMart) and buy a few things. 

Come home, put that stuff away, take the dog out, start dinner and sit down to write. 

But then I think: This would make a funny blog post. 

And that, my friends, is How I Lost Five Hours. 

Does this happen to you? Tell me about it in the comments. 

Friday, May 20, 2022

Sneak Peek At Lady Katherine's Comeuppance

Lady Katherine's Comeuppance is available now for Pre-order and will be delivered to your e-reader when it goes live on May 24. Just a few days away. 

You can get your copy here. 

👀Here's a little sneak peek! Enjoy! 


Chapter One

London

April 1813



Solicitor Percy Whitmore studied the man seated across from him. Although his dress and manner

were not inappropriate, they were hardly what one would expect of the newest Earl of Winchester.

Regardless of Percy’s opinion of the man, as solicitor for the estate, duty required him to explain

this man’s unexpected change in circumstances to him in the clearest possible terms.  


“The estate consists of a home here in London which is fully staffed and Aprilvine Park, the

ancestral home located in Hertfordshire.  It is an expansive estate which includes many tenant

farmers for whom you, as earl, are responsible.” 


The man to whom he spoke sat in stunned silence for a moment.


“Are you saying all of those things are mine?” 


The solicitor smiled and tried to hide his pique. Americans always acted like they had never

heard of British traditions. “It is not yours outright, my lord,” he tripped a bit over the title,

but like it or not, this man was the rightful heir to the title and as such he became the solicitor’s

most prominent client. “The estate is passed down through the family to members of the male line.

During your lifetime, you shall have the use and governance of the estate and its profits, but

you may not sell assets without consent of the trustees.” 


The newly minted earl sat up straighter in his chair. “And just how much are these ‘profits’ you

mentioned?”


The solicitor was taken aback by the boldness of the question. “It would be difficult for me to give

you an exact figure,” he said, diplomatically, “but I believe you will find the living quite

comfortable.” 


Thomas, the Earl of Winchester, shook his head from side to side in slow disbelief.

“To tell you the truth, Mr. Whitmore, I had myself convinced this whole thing was some sort of

big mistake or a prank, though who would go to so much expense to make a fool of me, I do not

know.” 


“I assure you, sir, this is all quite serious. The duties of the Earl of Winchester are numerous

and there are many people whose livelihoods will depend upon you.” 


“Why? Did I inherit some children?” 


“No, my lord, the tenants on the estate. They work the land, which is owned by you,

and in exchange they pay a portion of their profits to the estate. But it will be up to you

to manage the estate, the grounds and the fields, in order to ensure their success.” 


Thomas’ brow furrowed. “You told me my cousin died a year ago. Who has been running

things since that time?”


“There is a steward who manages the day-to-day operations. In addition,” here the solicitor

paused, unsure of how much to share with Thomas of his new life,

“Lady Katherine Winchester, he dowager countess, your cousin’s widow, continues on at the

estate and, I understand, is very much involved with all things related to the Winchester family

holdings.” 


Thomas cocked his head to one side. “Dowager? Is she infirm?”


Percy sighed and hoped his annoyance did not show. “No, my lord. Dowager refers to the

widow of an earl. It has nothing to do with age or infirmity.” Had he elaborated, he might have

mentioned that Lady Katherine was known to be an energetic and lively participant in ton social gatherings, or at least she had been before she entered a period of mourning for her

husband, though he believed the proper period of time for a respectable mourning had passed. 


“What shall become of her?” 


Here the solicitor paused, peering over his steepled fingers at Thomas before he answered.


“That,” he said, “would appear to be up to you.” 


The new earl raised his eyebrows in a silent quest for explanation. 


“She has no family. Her mother is now deceased, so Lady Katherine is quite alone.

She does have a small income of her own which is the result of monies settled upon her by

her family when she married. As the dowager, she is entitled to continue on as a

member of he household, though where she resides is up to you.”


The solicitor shuffled some papers on his desk. 


“Are you saying she and I will live together?” 


Yet again, the American’s directness stunned the solicitor.


“I assume that is one option. I believe currently the countess has a hired companion

who lives with her, for the sake of propriety. In most cases, the dowager is set up in a

separate, smaller household, of her own,” he said.  “Unless she remarries.” 


“So why is what happens to her up to me? I am not expected to marry her am I?

I inherited my cousin’s title and estate but I’d like to select my own wife,

if I ever decide I need one.” 


“Of course, Lady Winchester is not property to be inherited. She is a lady, in every

sense of the word.” The solicitor felt the color in his face rise at the suggestion that such a fine,

and beautiful, woman would be included in an estate like a clock or family Bible. 


“I believe we have covered all of the documents which needed your attention, my lord,” the

solicitor said, changing the subject. “If you would like, I would be happy to travel with you

to your new London residence and make the proper introductions.” 


Thomas looked the solicitor up and down, scanned the pile of papers on his desk and stood up.


“Thank you, but I believe I would prefer to make my own introductions.” 


As the man left, the solicitor felt a pang of regret.

Watching Lady Winchester and this man’s first interaction would have been the highlight of his day.

If not his whole week. 

***

Thomas stood on the walkway outside a large home on a corner lot, checked the address

on the paper in his hand and charged up the steps to the front door. He paused and considered

knocking. Earls do not knock on their own doors, he thought, and entered unannounced. 


He paused to take in his surroundings. Polished marble covered the hallway which ran the

length of the townhouse. A mahogany table in the entryway contained a silver dish to

hold calling cards. 


Female voices could be heard from a room to the left. An experienced hunter, he

approached his prey on footsteps muffled by thick rugs on the marble floor. He paused to listen. 


“An American! Oh Lady Katherine how will you stand it?” 


“I do not know. I am sure he is quite savage. They all are, you know.”


“Barbarians. I heard Lady Laura Smith-Smythe’s husband forced her to receive some distant

relation of his and the level of their vulgarity forced Lady Laura to take to her rooms for a week

after they finally departed.” 


“They made such a fuss about being independent and not wanting to be part of our country,

why can they not simply stay away?” 


“Exactly!” the other woman said. “But,” her voice became more serious, “what shall become of

you? He is now the earl. He could force you out of your home, could he not?” 


Lady Katherine sighed dramatically enough for him to hear it from a distance.


“Yes, Lorena, such is true. I am in quite a precarious situation. Fortunately, he has not arrived yet.

I will continue to enjoy myself until I am forced to deal with him.” 


“You do enjoy yourself as much as possible,” Lorena said, and Thomas detected a note of envy

in her voice. He heard a giggle and wondered what Lady Katherine’s guest was implying.


“When is he expected?” 


Thomas heard the sounds of plates and silverware being moved. “This cake is delicious.”


Apparently her friend’s situation had not dimmed Lorena’s appetite. 


“No one knows when he will arrive. Those Americans,” she practically spat the word,

“they know nothing of consideration for others or decorum in general.” 


Lorena tsked. “I pity you. Will you be required to socialize with him?”


Katherine groaned. “My role is certainly unclear. I should hope to be able to go on living my

life without interference, though I do not know if such will be possible. Much depends

upon this man.” 


“Do you have a plan?”


“I shall win him over the same way I did the last Earl of Winchester.” 


“Lady Katherine! What a thing to say!” 


“A woman has few options available to her, Lorena,” Lady Katherine said. “With Charles

my virtue and beauty appealed to him. Since my virtue is no longer in tact—” 


“And has not been for quite some time,” laughed Lorena. 


“Hush!” Lady Katherine joined the laughter. “I shall use other methods to secure my position.” 


What kind of fool does she take me for?

Thomas stepped around the door and prepared to enter the room to confront the two women

in the midst of their disparaging remarks, but the appearance of one of them stunned him

sufficiently to stop him in his tracks.


Although seated he could see she was taller than average and regal in her bearing.


Even the way she sipped her tea had an air of distinction to it. 


Beyond that, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Shiny black hair crowned

her head while soft tendrils framed her face. Dark eyes and red lips stood out from her fair

complexion in dramatic contrast. 


The way her mouth caressed the edge of the fine teacup in her elegant hand made him

wonder how it would feel caressing him. The mere sight of her tongue as it slid over her

crimson lips had set his manhood off in a manner which he found most distracting.

 

He stepped back into the shadows behind the door and retraced his path until he found

himself back on the sidewalk in front of the house. 


First order of business will be better security for the house, he thought as he strolled around the block.

Second order of business: show Lady Katherine there’s a new earl in town. 



About Lady Katherine's Comeuppance

He’s a barbarian. She'll never submit to his authority. 

What’s a proper lady to do when her fate is in the hands of a brash American? 

Fight back, of course. 

Until scandal forces them to marry. Now they are bound together for life. 

Will the ton’s most stubborn lady surrender to the American? 

Steam level—scorching. Bottoms will be spanked. Orgasms will be plentiful. You have been warned. 

Note: Originally published as Lady Katherine’s Comeuppance and Lady Katherine’s Conundrum, the two books have been combined into one satisfying book. 

Preorder Here!                                                                       

Friday, May 6, 2022


 



Owned by the Pirate is FREE this weekend!

She yearns for freedom, he demands ownership.

Stolen out of a church only moments before her wedding, Mademoiselle Lizzy d'Campe doesn't know what to think of the huge muscle-bound outlaw who's absconded with her. She's relieved she won't have to marry her distasteful fiance, but what will happen to her now? Does the handsome, domineering pirate captain truly intend to claim her as his own? His kisses leave her breathless and his masterful touch makes her quiver with need, but she can't help but wonder--is she only trading one cage for another?

After a chance meeting with the beautiful Lizzy d'Campe, William "Sea Lord" Marshall feels an overwhelming urge to protect the headstrong young woman. He'll take her to his private island and keep her all to himself, vowing to fight off all threats to her safety. And if she proves disobedient? He won't hesitate to take the little mademoiselle over his knee. Stripped naked and blushing, her bottom bright red and freshly punished, she will have no choice but to surrender to his every command.

Storms rage, passions flare, and love prevails in this steamy historical pirate romance.

Publisher's Note: 
Owned by the Pirate was first published in the Pirates, Passion & Plunder box set, however, this edition has been lengthened and re-edited to include many new scenes and chapters for your reading enjoyment.

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Hey! Remember me?

 Hello, hello, hello! 

Wow, it has been a long time since I've posted on my blog. More than three years. 

I'm sorry. I've missed you.

You know how everyone is going one way and then there's that person who goes the other? That's me, it seems. I don't mean to be contrary. 

But, in a world where everyone is using TikTok, I've decided to rejuvenate my blog. I hope you'll hang around and see what happens. It will be a surprise for all of us. 

I have a newsletter. "Everyone" says that's the thing you need to connect with readers. But, is that really connecting? I feel like I'm imposing by sending stuff to people's inbox and I tend to keep my newsletters short and to the point. I don't want to be a bother.

With a blog, you can stop by when it suits you and see what's up. If you'd like to get notified of new posts, you can sign up over there --->  where it says "Follow." There's also a spot to sign up for my newsletter and you're welcome to do that too. I still send them regularly.

As I was updating my blog, I scrolled through some of the old posts and comments and it made me really happy to remember the fun times we had. 

Let's do that again. 

What about you? Do you like getting newsletters? Do you use Facebook? Am I the old dog you can't teach new tricks? 

Please leave a comment and say hi. Let me know what you think and what you've been up to.