A South American scientist from Argentina, after a lengthy study, has discovered that people with insufficient brain and sexual activity read their e-mail with their hand on the mouse. Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late.

I'm a little sad this morning. I discovered two age spots on my hands. They look like faint freckles but I know what they are. I've been waiting for them to show up:)

Ohmygod...!

The Promise has just been picked up by Liquid Silver Books! Whoohoo! I have 3 new releases coming out in 2011 so far...

Dang has it been cold lately! The last three mornings I've had to drag my cold butt out of bed and go to work at 5:30. Was shocked to see it was 25 degrees! And on top of that my car was iced. Thank goodness I have another long weekend beginning Friday. Will be nice sleeping in with this kind of cold. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

I actually remember having a phone like this. I also remember party lines.

Monday Man Candy

OMG...I'd love to play ball with this one!

Whoohoo!

An unexpected Christmas gift for me. I just heard from my editor with Ellora's Cave and they picked up another erotic romance from me!

Eating Tips for the Holidays

Hope it's not to late!

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare... You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand and wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Nativity Scene

A Nativity Scene was erected in a church yard.

During the night the folks came across this scene. An abandoned dog was looking for a comfortable, protected place to sleep. He chose baby Jesus as his comfort. No one had the heart to send him away so he was there all night.

We should all have the good sense of this dog and curl up in Jesus' lap from time to time.

No one mentioned that the dog breed is a "shepherd!"

Kind of sad isn't it? I hope he found a good home.

Monday Man Candy

Now, this is what I think of when I think of cowboy. Is that my imagination or does he have a sausage in his jeans? LOL

Sex Between the Covers

I'm so excited! I've been thinking about this for a while now and finally took the time to do it. I've created a new blog called Sex Between the Covers, where romance authors of all genres can showcase their beautiful book covers only. It will include a one line teaser, and one link for readers to check out if their interest is peaked.

It's a new baby so don't expect too much right now. But once authors get the message I'm sure they will be posting their book covers and links faster than you can keep up with.

Please check it out, become a follower if you'd like, and let me know what you think.

Tootles!

Three Wicked Writers Plus Two

I'm a guest over there today! Please stop in to say hi:)

Three Wicked Writers Plus Two

4 Stars for All the Right Moves!

Just in from Night Owl Reviews!

All The Right Moves was a good story. I enjoyed that Annie stood up to Marshall when she needed to and that he learned to ease off. I thought the development of their relationship was interesting but caring too. It was hot...

The bits of action were good and I liked what happened to the bad guy.

4.5 Delightful Divas for Breathless Surrender!

Whoohoo!!! I'm doing a little dance right now. Dark Diva Reviews reviewed my new Quickie with Ellora's Cave and here's a snippet of what the reviewer had to say.

Breathless Surrender is a pulse racing short story that will have the readers gasping. Tory Richard’s created such intensity in this story, that I couldn’t put it down. The flow was intense and the scenes were laid out beautifully. The effect was combustible! Reid and Alexis are two characters worth revisiting again.

The plot line in Breathless Surrender is a true, edge of your seat grabber, full of action and steamy hot passions, which is the reason I was unable to put it down. Let Breathless Surrender by Tory Richards warm up your cold nights, you won’t be sorry.

Read the whole review here!

My little granddaughter brought tears to my eyes this morning. She spent the night with me and when we woke, we sat cuddling in my chair talking about Christmas and Santa Clause. I asked her if she'd seen Santa yet and she said no, but that he got her letter. So I asked her what she asked him for. She proceeded to go down a list in her head. Finally she said, oh and a TV stand for you. I was touched. I said, you asked Santa for a TV stand for me? You're so sweet, I told her. She then said that she knew mommy and daddy weren't getting anything for sure, because Santa only brought gifts to kids and grandmas:)

Excerpt Time!

Enjoy! This one is for Breathless Surrender.


Reid stretched and groaned, keeping his arm over Alexis so she didn’t topple to the floor. They’d fallen asleep on the couch. A glance at the clock on the mantle over the fireplace told him only half an hour had passed. He knew Juan was expecting him and he couldn’t afford to be late, although waking with a beautiful naked woman in his arms made him want to tempt fate. Only in his case it would mean a hell of a lot more than just his life.

Alexis’ soft moan aroused him again. Six months of secretly wanting her wouldn’t be assuaged by a couple of quick screws. No matter how hot they were. She stirred, pushing her ass against his flaccid cock. Damn, that feels good. Reid pushed back, realizing it was a mistake. The last thing he needed right then was to get turned-on again. So why couldn’t he stop his hand from roaming up her smooth belly to cover her full, warm breast? He leaned forward and nuzzled her behind the neck.

Maybe it was a change in her breathing, but something told Reid she was awake. “Are you okay, Alexis?”

“A little sore.”

Reid grinned. “Are you ready to listen to me now?” She nodded. “I am an FBI agent. My badge is on the kitchen counter if you care to look at it.”

She seemed to hesitate. “What has that got to do with me?”

He released a heavy breath. “Absolutely nothing, two days ago. As of yesterday, you became a disposable commodity.”

“I don’t understand, you said you were protecting me.”

He couldn’t blame her for being confused. “There are things I can’t divulge to you right now. Suffice to say I’m working undercover, and in two days, six months of hard work will pay off. Until then, you need to stay here and out of sight.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“Alexis,” Reid pulled her around so he could look her in the eye. “What happened yesterday was a crude initiation ordered by the sicko in charge in order to build his trust in me…in Mike Dunstin. When I was done with you, I was ordered to ‘take care of you’.” Reid hesitated, wondering how much he should tell her. “That meant he wanted me to kill you and dispose of your body.” Her eyes rounded and he could see the fear in them. “That’s why I brought you here instead of back to your apartment. They won’t find you here.”

“And where is here?”

“My home in Millerton, about a hundred miles outside New York City.” He gave her time to digest what he’d just told her. “I need to go soon.”

“You’re going to leave me alone?”

“You’ll be safe here, I promise. I have a high-tech security system, and I’ll release the guard dogs once I’m outside the gate. They won’t let anyone in…or out.”

“I could go to my mother’s.”

“No. You won’t be safe there either. And you’d only put your mother at risk. I can’t take the chance that the people I’m involved with discover I didn’t follow through with my orders. They’re an untrusting bunch and I can’t afford to screw up now.”

Bear Cat

I alternate back and forth between living with my hubby and living with my daughter and her family. Since I tend to spend more time at my daughter's I brought my babies with me. That left hubby alone and miserable. So this past weekend I took him to the humane society to get him a cat.

The goal was simple. He wanted a kitten. But when I walked in a little black cat with gold eyes called out to me. He was so pretty, and starved for attention. I mean, he rubbed up against the cage and reached out for me, taking care not to catch me with his claws. He let me hold him and cried out when I walked away from his cage. It broke my heart and I knew immediately he was the one.

He wasn't a kitten.

Hubby waited in the car because he said if he went in and saw them he couldn't take it, he'd want them all. This is the man who hated cats when we first met. But Woofy, Gin Gin and Jezzie took care of that, and it wasn't long before he was hooked. You know what they say about giving the elderly a pet for companionship, something to occupy their time? It's absolutely true!

Now, before you think I'm the meanest woman in the world, I did offer to leave Gin Gin when I left, but he was adamant the cats not be broken up. So here we are at the humane society. It didn't take him long to come walking in. I called him over to Bear Cat's cage. At that point I'd taken him out and was cuddling with him. He was so friendly! I looked Earl right in the eye and said, "This is the one for you."

Bear Cat is almost a year old and has lived in the humane society since he was brought in with his litter mates, as a kitten. It broke my heart to hear that he'd been living in that cage for all that time. Why had no one adopted him? Because he was black I learned. What?! Then I was informed that black cats are hard to find homes for because no one wants them.

Bear Cat looks exactly like my little Jezzie, except that he has a smudge of white on his ear. I fell in love with him so we took him home. He's already adapted to his new surroundings, and has made himself right to home. He comes to us when we call to him. I know hubby is going to spoil the hell out of him. Because he spoiled our other three.

Bear Cat is going to spoil Earl, too.

Not Fun

There's nothing more frightening, or humbling, than being stopped by the police...or two. It happened to me the other day. I was traveling behind a state trooper, on I-4 heading to Deltona. I stayed behind him for a spell. Not really paying attention that when he slowed down, I'd slow down, when he picked up speed, I picked up speed. Which then put me over the speed limit.

Eventually he pulled into the center lane and let me pass him. Then came up behind me with his lights flashing. I pulled over, wondering what I'd done, and dug out my driver's license before he even got out of his cruiser.

"Do you know what the speed limit is here?" he asked.

I thought for a moment. "Either 55 or 65?"

"Fifty-five," he said. "Any reason you were speeding?"

I shook my head. "No." I usually set my cruise control to keep my speed down but I hadn't that day.

"Some people think when they stay behind a cop that they can speed and get away with it," he went on to explain.

I know my eyes got big. "I wasn't doing that. I just wasn't paying attention." Smart comment, I thought with disgust. Then he went on to explain that not paying attention could also cause an accident. Well, duh! I wondered if I could possibly dig myself into a deeper hole. "I know that, I'm sorry."

He asked for my insurance and registration. I'd already given him my license. I looked in all the usual places, sure I had it somewhere in my purse. He waited a moment, then said if I found it while he was back at his cruiser just wave it out the window and he would come get it.

I dumped my damn purse out, but it wasn't anywhere! I then dumped out the glove box, the middle console and the ashtray. Nowhere! I got out of the car and went around to the trunk. The owner's manual was there and I went through that. Nope, not there either. I began to toss things around in the trunk, and almost fell in while trying to reach for things at the front. The cop probably got a good laugh. I finally gave up, got back into the driver's seat and sat there with frustration. The only two insurance cards I did find were expired.

He came back. "I'm sorry, I can't find them."

He said. "This is either going to be your best day, or your worse day."

I just looked at him and almost said, just take me to jail now. I felt like such a criminal. And he was being really patient and understanding. It's not like he was all pumped up and throwing his power around or anything. I told him about my new grand baby. He congratulated me. He also wished me a belated birthday.

"I can give you a total of seven tickets today."

What?! I'm thinking, OMG...don't take me to jail, just shoot me! That's when I glanced in my review mirror and saw another cruiser had pulled up, lights flashing. Can you imagine what flashed through my mind? Hand cuffs, being frisked, thrown in the back of the cruiser, strip searched back at the station stuff. I began to shake, and made a half hearted attempt to find the registration and insurance card again. I looked up after a while, and remained quiet.

He didn't. "Speeding, no registration or insurance card, expired license tag (my birthday was the day before), wrong address on my driver's license, obstructed view of my license tag (hubby had bought me a pretty license tag frame and we didn't know you're supposed to remove the plastic that covers the tag), blah...blah...blah...." At some point I couldn't listen to him anymore.

"I'm sorry." It seemed lame at that point, thinking back at his comment that this would either be my best day or my worst day.

The end result? The nice policeman gave me a warning! I do have 30 days to mail in proof of my registration and insurance, update my tag and driver's license, and that is all. I was so relieved. I'm thinking my safe driver's license might have helped a little. And he said with the up-coming holidays he didn't want to put a strain on my finances. Wasn't that nice of him?

After both troopers left I had to sit there for several moments. Ever try to pull back into traffic on the interstate?

Welcome Renee Vincent

We have a guest with us today folks, and I'm glad she took the time to stop by. She has a brand new release out this month and it sounds intriguing!



Blurb:
A tortured soul…

Breandán Mac Liam, the strapping young hunter from Ireland’s lush forests, is in love with Mara, an ineligible beautiful princess. For seven long years, he has been vividly haunted by her memory, taunted by the throes of his heartache. And not even the thought of her marriage to a Northman can extinguish the fierce, burning desire running rampant through his heart and soul.



An innocent heart…

Mara, the spirited Connacht princess, has no idea she is the object of the Irishman’s longing. She is living out her days on Inis Mór, raising a troubled son and trying to endure the cruel loneliness that afflicts her.


A deadly secret…

Ordered by the king on his deathbed, Breandán must return to Mara and bring her through the perilous lands of Connacht to fulfill her father’s last dying wish. But as their worlds collide, Breandán not only finds himself wrapped in the arms of Mara’s embrace, but thrown into a struggle to defend his honor.


With Mara caught between the family she loves and the father she knows, can Breandán uncover the mystery of her past and still protect her from a secret that threatens them all?


Links
Website: http://www.reneevincent.com/
Blog: http://pasttheprint.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/reneevincentauthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ReneeVincent


Buy Now:
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Monday Man Candy

Now this puts a BIG smile on my face!

The cold is back! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Book News!

Whoohoo! Someone to Love Me has found a new home, with Whiskey Creek Press Torrid! And you know what that means. Readers will be able to buy it in ebook and print. This book was the hardest novel I've ever written, as there's only two characters in the story until the last couple of chapters. It takes place in Alaska. More to come on the re-release date.

For those of you who might have read it when it first came out a few years ago, with New Concepts Publishing, content has been added and it is definitely hotter! You won't be disappointed.

New Review for Talk Dirty to Me

Pajama Mommy Community is new to me but they reviewed my book and liked it! Here's what they had to say.

I enjoyed this book immensely. It was a short read but it got straight to the point beautifully. Richards knows how to write a great erotic romance. The interest of Lilly trying to constantly put off Blake in her head but can’ resist him with her body is definitely a great combination. I found humor in the book, there was of course a little suspense but a great amount of action that I enjoyed maybe a little too much!

I definitely will be on the look out for more of Richards’ work!

The good ole days!

Kendall Grace

Hey folks, we have a special guest blogger with us today. She's also a fellow author at Ellora's Cave. Please welcome Kendall and check out her new book. Hot cover!


Balancing Life and Writing

Is there such a thing? Or is there such a thing as doing it well? I have to admit if there is, I’ve yet to find it. But what I do know is that it somehow works out (and if I’m fooling myself… Well, ignorance is bliss). The lure of writing pulls at me so strongly I find myself wanting to indulge my passion every chance I get. This is problematic for two reasons. First, I work full-time in a profession where no one knows I’m an author. And no one can know I’m an author. So the deep-stealth mode does not allow me to squeeze in writing time while on the job. Second, I have a family with young children. My husband is very supportive of what I do, but there will always be that “mom guilt” when I take time for myself. And let’s face it, to get published you have to take time for yourself. Lots and lots of time.

What is really comes down to, I believe, is that if writing enriches you personally, it will also positively affect the other areas of your life. I know I am a better wife, mother and employee because I have something I’m so passionate about that makes me so happy. Knowing that I am a writer makes the good things in my life that much better, and the bad things more tolerable. I also like to believe I’m setting a good example for my children, especially my daughter. See? I can do everything. And in heels, no less.


Blurb -


My sister became dependent on painkillers after a skiing accident left her leg broken in three places. I didn’t understand and, yes, I judged her. After all, we were talking about her will. No one was forcing those pills down her throat. It seemed very cut-and-dried to me back then. But I know differently now.

The first time Chase touched her, Jane finally understood addiction…understood the aching need, the keen want for more…more of his hands…his mouth…his tongue. His complete mastery over her body. She knew the suffocation of crushing anxiety as she waited for her next hit, the flash of terrific pain when it didn’t come.

Chase seems unwilling to give Jane what she needs; what she ultimately craves above all else. But addicts can’t think beyond the fix. They’ll resort to desperate measures to feed their need…even if they lose themselves in the process. Even if they come undone…



Excerpt

“So,” Chase said. “You’re an artist.”

I nodded and walked to the porch railing, leaning my palms against it. “On my good days.”

He joined me at the rail. “And on your bad?”

I turned to face him, crossing my arms over my chest. “I was an accountant.”

The corners of his lips curled up. “On your bad days you were an accountant?”

“Yes. I mean, no.” I shook my head. “I used to be an accountant. I quit my job right before Sara and I came down here for the summer.” Picking at some paint on my cuticle, I faced the ocean again. “Art is my passion. I’m here for the summer to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.”

Chase trailed the tip of his finger lazily across the line of my jaw. “You look all grown up to me.”

“Appearances can be deceiving,” I replied with a calm I didn’t feel.

He pulled the paintbrush from my bun, running his fingers through to separate the curls. “That’s true,” he said against my ear, “because right now you appear to be nervous around me. I find that hard to believe, seeing as my head has been between your legs.”

I sucked in a breath and stepped back. Smug. That was the look I found on his face. Straightening my spine, I met his gaze. “I’m not nervous,” I lied.

This only seemed to fuel him further. He smiled. Smiled like the cat that got the cream, damn him, and closed the distance between us. His lips barely touched mine, a feathering caress, but it was enough. Enough to make me forget I should be angry with this man.

Damn...

It's going to be one cold night here in Florida! Freezing I hear. And it will be hard getting out of bed in the morning. Good sleeping in weather:)

Monday Man Candy

What a pretty stud!

Know who this EVIL person is?

Geeze...

How would you like to come across something like this while enjoying an afternoon of boating? Scary.

First Review in for All the Right Moves

Romantic suspense
Available from The Wild Rose Press
ISBN: 1-60154-824-9
October 2010

Tory Richards gives us a well developed suspense with some characters who frequently steal the limelight from Annie and Marshall. Her pet Mynah bird, Harold, takes over every scene he's in with his antics. Annie's friend Elliot is also a great addition to the book. Marshall is still reeling from past relationships that have been all about his being used by women. Annie is developed with such humor and spunk it's no surprise that she manages to get under his skin in spite of his reluctance on an intellectual level. Everything but his mind knows he's hooked the first time he sees her.

Ms. Richards has a delightful style that keeps the story fresh and fast paced. There are moments when we're on the edge of our seat with suspense. At other times I found myself laughing out loud at some conversation or situation. The early sexual scenes when they're trying not to have sex are as good as the ones when they finally give in. The scenes seem to come alive the way this author builds them with just the right words to tantalize, tease, and keep us wanting more.

Overall rating: 4 hearts
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Dee Dailey
November 24, 2010

Read the whole review at The Romance Studio

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

New Reviews In

Breathless Surrender -
Seriously Reviewed said...HOT HOT HOT!!! With a bit of questionable content at the beginning.

Ok so I make no secret that I am a fan of Ms Richards. Have been since It’s All In The Jeans and I don’t think I will be stopping anytime soon :) While this quickie begins with a scene that could have turned bad and ugly very quickly, it could have killed the hero and the entire story for me…Ms Richards was able to make it rockin’ good and kept the pace through this tale.
WOO HOO!!!! Love it :)


Talk Dirty to Me -
Veiled Secrets Reviews - 5 dragons!

Talk Dirty to Me is a very highly sexually charged story. It'll make your cheeks glow and your desires heighten as you read about each sexual encounter. Lilly does her best to keep a little distance from Blake, but he is such a charmer and gorgeous to boot. She really has no hope of avoiding him wooing her into his arms again. In the bedroom, on the kitchen counter, in the car, on the dance floor, pretty much anywhere.

This fast paced story quickly became one of my favorites. You will be wanting to find your own 'Blake' when you finish reading this deliciously erotic story. Don't miss out on one of the best times I have read about in a while

Here he is folks!

My brand new grandson! We all can't stop grinning. He's about 6 hours old in these pictures. Even though he weighs less than what Alivia did when she was born, he's actually shorter which makes him chubbier. He weighed 8 pounds 5 ounces where she weighed 8 pounds 9 ounces. He has a beautiful head of hair and it looks like he's already got a mohawk thing going on, thanks to the cap they put on him.

Okay...there's something wrong when a 4-year old beats you at a match the card game! LOL

IT'S BABY DAY!

My daughter and son-in-law are already at the hospital. He should be calling anytime now to say baby and mom are doing fine. I'm here at home with Alivia. My plans to be in the delivery room with my daughter, like four years ago, fell through yesterday when we were told no by both the doctor and the wicked witch of the west nurse on duty. I was so bumbed!

No one will even be allowed to see the baby or them until later today when they have a room. What the hell is that all about? Winne Palmer is a great hospital but geeze! What happened to viewing the baby through the nursery window?

I'll post pictures and specifics as soon as I can!