Romance with an Attitude

I had a me day!

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Tue, 29 May 2012 20:03:00 +0000

Today was all about me. No babysitting. No laundry, or anything else that can be called productive work.

I started out by going to see The Chernobyl Diaries at the Altamonte Mall, they had a 10:20 showing. Good movie! Extreme suspense literally kept me on the edge of my seat, when I wasn't jumping. There were only 4 of us in the theater, me and three men. And this was only the 2nd time I've ever gone to the movies by myself. I'm growing up:) Last week I went for the first time and saw Cabin in the Woods. That was good too.

Then I went for a pedicure. I love pedicures and used to get one every three weeks. But an injury to my big toe put me off schedule. I'm not working right now so I gave up having my nails done. But my daughter is treating me to the pedicures every three weeks because I watch Mason in the mornings. And because she knows I love them. Got to be good to the feet.

Before returning home I stopped and bought myself some lunch. Dunkin Donuts has good chicken salad. Did you know that it's a crime to go there and NOT get donuts. I brought home a dozen.

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Mon, 28 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000

6 Sentence Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Sun, 27 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000

a blurb to my up-coming new release HOT SPOT

There’d been something brewing between John and Sammy twenty years ago when they were teenagers.
Only good girl Sammy had been too afraid of his bad boy image, besides, in those days all he'd wanted was sex.
She opted for his safer and more predictable brother, Pat.
And when they get married, John disappears.
They’re reunited during a family reunion, and the years disappear in the blink of an eye.
Seeing him now, as the successful, sexy man he's become, reminds Sammy that they're both free to pursue their attraction for each other that had never fully extinguished.

Link to other participating authors.

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Sat, 26 May 2012 02:25:00 +0000

PARTY TIME!

5/26-5/31

LOTS OF FUN

Senior Discounts

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Someone sent me this list so I thought I'd share it with you. Have no idea where they got it from but it doesn't hurt to ask, does it? All they can say is no.
Dunkin Donuts gives free coffee to people over 55. If you're paying for a cup every day, you might want to start getting it for free.

Restaurants
Applebee’s: 15% off with Golden Apple Card (60+)
Arby’s: 10% off (55+)
Ben & Jerry’s: 10% off (60+)
Bennigan’s: discount varies by location
Bob’s Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+)
Boston Market: 10% off (65+)
Burger King: 10% off (60+) I have been getting a free drink with a sandwich
Captain D’s Seafood: discount varies on location (62+)
Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee (55+)
Chili’s: 10% off (55+)
CiCi’s Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Culver’s: 10% off (60+)
Denny’s: 10% off, 20% off for AARP members (55+)
Dunkin’ Donuts: 10% off or free coffee (55+)
Einstein’s Bagels: 10% off baker’s dozen of bagels (60+)
Fuddrucker’s: 10% off any senior platter (55+)
Gatti’s Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Golden Corral: 10% off (60+)
Hardee’s: $0.33 beverages everyday (65+)
IHOP: 10% off (55+)
Jack in the Box: up to 20% off (55+)
KFC: free small drink with any meal (55+)
Krispy Kreme: 10% off (50+)
Long John Silver’s: various discounts at participating locations (55+)
McDonald’s: discounts on coffee everyday (55+)
Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+)
Shoney’s: 10% off
Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+)
Steak ‘n Shake: 10% off every Monday & Tuesday (50+)
Subway: 10% off (60+)
Sweet Tomatoes: 10% off (62+)
Taco Bell : 5% off; free beverages for seniors (65+)
TCBY: 10% off (55+)
Tea Room Cafe: 10% off (50+)
Village Inn: 10% off (60+)
Waffle House: 10% off every Monday (60+)
Wendy’s: 10% off (55+)
White Castle : 10% off (62+)
Retail And Apparel
Banana Republic: 10% off (50+)
Bealls: 20% off first Tuesday of each month (50+)
Belk’s: 15% off first Tuesday of every month (55+)
Big Lots: 10% off
Bon-Ton Department Stores: 15% off on senior discount days (55+)
C.J. Banks: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
Clarks : 10% off (62+)
Dress Barn: 10% off (55+)
Goodwill: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Hallmark: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kmart: 20% off (50+)
Kohl’s: 15% off (60+)
Modell’s Sporting Goods: 10% off
Rite Aid: 10% off on Tuesdays & 10% off prescriptions
Ross Stores: 10% off every Tuesday (55+)
The Salvation Army Thrift Stores: up to 50% off (55+)
Stein Mart: 20% off red dot/clearance items first Monday of every month (55+)
Grocery
Albertson’s: 10% off first Wednesday of each month (55+)
American Discount Stores: 10% off every Monday (50+)
Compare Foods Supermarket: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
DeCicco Family Markets: 5% off every Wednesday (60+)
Food Lion: 6% off every Monday (60+)
Fry’s Supermarket: free Fry’s VIP Club Membership & 10% off every Monday (55+)
Great Valu Food Store: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Gristedes Supermarket: 10% off every Tuesday (60+)
Harris Teeter: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Hy-Vee: 5% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kroger: 10% off (date varies by location)
Morton Williams Supermarket: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
The Plant Shed: 10% off every Tuesday (50+)
Publix: 5% off every Wednesday (55+)
Rogers Marketplace: 5% off every Thursday (60+)
Uncle Guiseppe’s Marketplace: 5% off (62+)
Travel
Alaska Airlines: 10% off (65+)
Alamo : up to 25% off for AARP members
American Airlines: various discounts for 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
Amtrak: 15% off (62+)
Avis: up to 25% off for AARP members
Best Western: 10% off (55+)
Budget Rental Cars: 10% off; up to 20% off for AARP members (50+)
Cambria Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Clarion: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Continental Airlines: no initiation fee for Continental Presidents Club & special fares for select destinations
Dollar Rent-A-Car: 10% off (50+)
Econo Lodge: 20%-30% off (60+)
Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 5% off for AARP members
Greyhound: 5% off (62+)
Hampton Inns & Suites: 10% off when booked 72 hours in advance
Hertz: up to 25% off for AARP members
Holiday Inn: 10%-30% off depending on location (62+)
Hyatt Hotels: 25%-50% off (62+)
InterContinental Hotels Group: various discounts at all hotels (65+)
Mainstay Suites: 10% off with Mature Traveler’s Discount (50+); 20%-30% off (60+)
Marriott Hotels: 15% off (62+)
Motel 6: 10% off (60+)
Myrtle Beach Resort: 10% off (55+)
National Rent-A-Car: up to 30% off for AARP members
Quality Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Rodeway Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Sleep Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Southwest Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
Trailways Transportation System: various discounts for ages 50 and up
United Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
U.S. Airways: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
Activities And Entertainment
AMC Theaters: up to 30% off (55+)
Bally Total Fitness: up to $100 off memberships (62+)
Busch Gardens Tampa : $3 off one-day tickets (50+)
Carmike Cinemas: 35% off (65+)
Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off
U.S. National Parks: $10 lifetime pass; 50% off additional services including camping (62+)
Regal Cinemas: 30% off
Ripley’s Believe it or Not: @ off one-day ticket (55+)
SeaWorld Orlando: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)
Cell Phone Discounts
AT&T: Special Senior Nation 200 Plan $29.99/month (65+)
Jitterbug: $10/month cell phone service (50+)
Verizon Wireless: Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus Plan $29.99/month (65+).
Wendy’s: Free drink with meal.

Miscellaneous
Great Clips: $3 off hair cuts (60+)
Super Cuts: $2 off haircuts (60+)

Cats on Crack

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Well not really. I bought my babies a new toy which came with catnip. They each took their turn playing and rolling all over it. This is what Gin Gin looked like when she was done. She collapsed in a drug induced sleep with her eyes open. They looked glazed over! It was so funny. Then when she wakes she decides to claim the toy for herself. As you can see she practically covers up the whole thing.

The problems with being BUSTY!

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

If you're busty and you know it clap your hands. Ok ladies, who can relate to this? I know I can, some of it anyway.

constantly tucking them back into your bra
when you go to a restaurant and sit in a booth, they have nowhere to go but onto the table
can't get close enough to your plate so you have to bring the food to you, in which case some of it ends up in your cleavage or staining the front of your blouse
when you go to bed at night and lay down on your back, they rest against the bed on either side of you (I guess this one would be good if you're breast feeding twins)
when you go to the doctor and have to strip, they give you that little square tissue to hold over your breast, you have to put your arms underneath the sides to keep them beneath that tissue
you feel like you're being molested when you get a breast exam
when the mammogram technician has to use both hands to pick up one breast, and she makes a sound like she's struggling
when you get a mammogram and they can't get an ex-ray of the entire area so you have to get two ex-rays
you work at a desk and by the end of the day the weight of them have pulled you down so that your slumped over and they are resting on your desk top
you're typing a document and when you reach forward for something your breasts land on the keys and before you know it you have 2 or 3 lines of letters that make absolutely no sense
they make a good cat bed

Sucks, doesn't it? Have I left anything out?

Winners

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Mon, 21 May 2012 22:28:00 +0000

Leni, congratulations! You win an autographed copy of The Senator's Daughter. Please contact me to claim your prize. Thanks!

Rissa is my winner for the Sinful Sirens Blog Hop! Congratulations on winning a copy of The Mercenary Way. Please contact me and claim your prize. Thanks!

Monday Man Candy

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Great bod! Nothing wrong with a hairless chest but I've always liked a little hair where it needs to be. Especially at the belt area. Sexy!

Does the phrase, "Save a horse ride a cowboy" come to mind? Whew! I could personally save a lot of horses with this one:)

Around the World with Virginia Campbell

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Sun, 20 May 2012 09:58:00 +0000

TAKE A "MINDCATION"--READ A GOOD BOOK--VISIT THE CHANNEL ISLANDS

When warm weather comes to stay for a while, it's the perfect time for cookouts, outdoor concerts, and enjoying the pleasures of the sun on your face and the fun of bare toes in fresh cut grass. Savor the abundance and variety of fresh produce from Farmer's Markets, or the bounty of your own garden. Don't just stop and smell the roses. Take time to watch the butterflies, hear the buzz of the bees, and let Mother Nature's aromatherapy work its wonders. Find the time to laze in the fresh air with lots of good books. A backyard "mindcation" is a wonderful, inexpensive, and easy way to escape for a while from the everyday issues of life. I very much appreciate my personal freedoms. Due to my financial constraints, I have a very modest lifestyle. However, I find great delight in simple things and I have an unlimited imagination. I get up very early each day, and I relish that morning time with my coffee, my newspaper and my computer. That's the way I prepare myself for the rest of the day and dealing with the world at large.

I read a wonderful book which brought home to me how precious freedom really is, and how high the cost is of preserving that freedom. "The Soldier's Wife" by Margaret Leroy is a thoughtful, well-told tale based on the true German occupation of the small Channel Island of Guernsey during World War II. After I read the novel, I researched the facts of the occupation, and the real story is just as compelling as the fictional account. Reading them both enhances the collective story content. Vivienne de la Mare is the wife of an English soldier, and she and her two daughters live with her mother-in-law at the family home in Guernsey. Vivienne's husband was absent from her life long before he went off to war. His affair with an actress alienated him from Vivienne's heart. Left to care for her mother-in-law, who is rapidly succumbing to dementia, Vivienne makes life as pleasant as possible for her two young daughters. When the German occupation arrives in an intense and violent manner, many rapid changes occur in the life of the islanders. German soldiers take over the empty house next to Vivienne's, and she becomes involved with one the officers. Theirs is a poignant, passionate, and ultimately improbable affair. During the time of the occupation, Vivienne is faced with many difficult decisions, some of which may have dangerous consequences for those she loves. "The Soldier's Wife" is written in a beautifully descriptive style, and it offers glimpses into both sides of the horror of the second world war. The shades of survivorship are well represented.

My mother and grandparents often talked about food shortages and rationing during the Great Depression and later during World War II. My grandparents were very resourceful, skilled in gardening and preserving food, and practical in making the most of what was available. As a matter of survival, the characters in "The Soldier's Wife" had to learn to do the same thing. Used to the bountiful produce from the land and the sea, and the superior dairy products from the famous Guernsey cows, the islanders suddenly were faced with scrambling to find substitutions for everyday foods. They learned to use vegetables in many different ways including making flour from dried ground beans and coffee from roasted and ground parsnips. I am not sure that I would be that resourceful, but we never know what we are capable of until we are faced with great challenges. One of my favorite scenes in "The Soldier's Wife" involves the rapture of Vivienne's struggling family's enjoyment of an unexpected gift of overripe peaches. The fruit was sweet and succulent, and it seemed like a taste of Heaven. The juice from the peaches ran freely down their chins as they gratefully devoured their fruity treasure. You will also greatly enjoy reading about the Channel Islands in "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society " by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

Some traditional food favorites enjoyed by the islanders of Guernsey are "Guernsey Gâche" (Pronounced Gosh), a type of fruit cake/yeast bread; "Bean Jar", a hearty dish made with dried beans, onions, and pork; and Gâche Mélée (pronounced Gosh Mel - are), a type of apple tart. Seafood is plentiful, and abalone is a native delicacy. Vegetables are plentiful and varied due to the mild climate of the islands. The dairy products are of the finest quality due to the world-renowned Guernsey cows. I have adapted some recipes in order to share with you the flavor of the islands. I am also providing some links to information about theChannel Islands. It's a tiny, but tremendously fascinating spot on the globe. Famous author Victor Hugo was a resident of the islands for fifteen years, and during his time there he wrote many great works including "Les Miserables".

Visit Guernsey

Visit Guernsey Blog

Chopped Apple Tart

1 cup all purpose flour
1 stick butter
6 medium red apples
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon all spice
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup water
1 egg

Peel and dice apples into bite size pieces. In a large bowl, cut the butter into the flour. Add all other dry ingredients and apples. Mix well. Add the water and the egg and stir until well blended. Pour into a buttered casserole dish. Cook at 350° for 1 hour, or until crispy. Serve topped with butter and sugar or a dollop of fresh cream.

Creamy Fresh Tomato Soup

2 strips of bacon
1 onion
2 tbsp. butter
2 lbs. red, ripe tomatoes
1 tsp. thyme
1 bay leaf
4 c. chicken stock
1/2 c. heavy cream
Salt and pepper to taste

Chop the bacon and the onion and saute in a heavy kettle until the bacon is cooked and onion is soft. Put the tomatoes in a bowl or saucepan and pour boiling water over them, leaving it for a few minutes, and then draining. Slip the peel off and coarsely chop the tomatoes. Add the tomatoes, the thyme and the bay leaf to the saucepan and saute for 5 to 10 minutes. Add the chicken stock and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and put the mixture through a food mill. Return to the saucepan and heat through, tasting and adding the seasoning as necessary. Swirl the heavy cream into the hot soup and serve.

Beans with Pork & Onions

3 cups dry pinto beans (soak beans overnight)
1 medium size onion
3 cups of water or unsalted chicken stock
2 level teaspoons salt
1 heaping teaspoon prepared mustard
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup molasses
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/8 pound bacon or salt pork

In a Dutch Oven, cook soaked beans on low heat until tender. Drain and rinse beans. Slice onion in bottom of bean pot and add drained beans. Mix remaining ingredients, except meat, with water or chicken stock and pour over beans. Cut meat into small pieces and stir carefully into bean mixture. Place in 300° F oven and bake for 2 1/2 hours; uncover for the last half hour. Add water if necessary

Mushroom Stroganoff

3 tablespoons butter
4 garlic cloves minced
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 lb white mushrooms, sliced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dry white wine or apple cider
1 cup sour cream
salt & pepper to taste
8 ounces egg noodle, cooked

Melt butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute 30 seconds. Add onion and saute another 2 minutes. Then add mushrooms and saute until tender, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, then add flour and stir another minute. Add white wine or cider and cook until mixture thickens, stirring frequently--about another 2-3 minutes. Mix in sour cream, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Add cooked noodles and toss to blend noodles with sauce.

Baked Sea Bass with Roasted Vegetables

2 sea bass, cleaned and left whole
1/2 a lemon, thinly sliced
2 large red peppers
1 large red onion
5 small tomatoes
4 garlic cloves, unpeeled
1 tsp dried thyme
salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tbsps olive oil

Preheat your oven to 350 F. Clean and trim the red peppers and cut into large chunks. Peel and trim the red onion and cut into thin wedges. Cut the tomatoes in quarters. Toss all these vegetables and the garlic cloves into a buttered roasting pan and sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper and 2 tbsps of olive oil. Place in the oven to roast for 25 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the fish. Cut the skin of the fish about 3-4 times each side. Stuff the fish with sliced lemons. After the first 25 minutes, take the tray out of the oven and sprinkle over 1/2 the thyme onto the vegetables. Lay the fish on top of the roasting vegetables, sprinkle over the remainder of the thyme and then drizzle over the remaining olive oil. Put back in the oven and continue roasting for 20 minutes.

I wish you all the joy that sunshine and the smell of freedom can offer.

Most of all, I hope that you always have days when there is peach juice on your chin!

6 Sentence Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Sun, 20 May 2012 07:30:00 +0000

...my review of Cabin in the Woods

I went to the movies Thursday for the first time by myself and saw Cabin in the Woods.
My opinion...it was really, really good!
Full of zombie and other monster action, a little sex between Chris Hemsworth (yum) and Anna Hutchison , and a wee bit of misplaced comedy thanks to pot smoking Fran Kranz.
The gist of the story was to escape the family of zombies the 5 people who went to the cabin for the weekend, unknowingly released.
It has an action packed, jump out of your seat plot with a twist at the end you won't see coming.
The movie contains one of the bloodiest scenes I've ever seen!

LINK to other participating authors.

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Sat, 19 May 2012 18:30:00 +0000

nuff said

LAST TWO DAYS

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Sat, 19 May 2012 15:37:00 +0000

It's on folks! Lots of authors and lots of chances to win a prize. My giveaway is a download of one of my books, winners choice! All you have to do to get your name entered into the drawing is become a follower and leave a comment about which book you'd choose if your name is drawn. Good luck!

LINK to other participating authors!

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:27:00 +0000

Morning folks, Tory and I decided to swap blogs today, but we are both talking about the same subject. The importance of a book cover, which also includes a book cover blurb.

So what do you find most appealing about a book cover...the title, the author, the picture? I have to say the picture is what catches my interest first. I want something that tell me a story, before I every open the book. The title is next...does the book sound interesting. Last is the author, have I heard of this author, have I read her or him, and do I like their writing?

Being a lover of romance a couple on the cover usually always catches my interest, next a hot guy, then the colors, red with black print, dragons, tattoos. It varies between books but the cover is what gets me to pick up a book.

Book cover Blurb – The Executives Wives Club series need a banner for the cover. I wanted people to know this was series. Next I decided on the titles for all four books, where Widow is in each title, because this is a series about four widows. The picture needed to reflect how a woman needs love, and a man who can understand her needs. Jinger Heaston, my cover artist, found the balance to bring out the elements of each aspect of the story. Jinger has done all of my covers and finds a way to make them all touch the heart of my readers.

Blurb for the Unwilling Widow.

Jennifer Larson, having lost her husband, friends and the perfect life she’d had plan, now faces the biggest challenge of her life, moving into an unplanned future. While the rest of the Executives Wives’ Club is still wallowing in the past, Jen is tempted into the future by a sexy chiropractor, Hagan Chaney.

But does he really love her or is he only after her money?

Find Tina everywhere:

Home - www.tinagayle.net

Blog - www.tinagayle.blogspot.com

Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/AuthorTinaGayle

Goodread - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1641826.Tina_Gayle

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/tina.gayle

Google + - https://plus.google.com

Linkin - http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tina-gayle/11/689/759

Stop by website to read the first chapter of any of my books.

Thanks Tory for letting me blog for you today, and for being the host of my blog. Leave a comment to enter a drawing for a copy of my e-book “The Unwilling Widow.” Winner will be announced May 19,2012

New Excerpt of The Mercenary Way

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:07:00 +0000

Damn him! His rugged, square-boned face and the interested gleam in his eyes did nothing to convince her that she was any safer with him than the man outside her door. Her first instinct was to scratch his eyes out for being amused at her embarrassing situation. Her common sense warned Sarah to take care where he was concerned.

“And how do I do that?” She couldn’t decide what needed covering the most by the inadequate towel. Either way he was going to know just about every flaw she had. Experience reminded her that if she sucked in her stomach it would force her breasts
out, which at the moment he couldn’t seem to draw his gaze off of.

“How do you think? Come on to him. Let him get in a few kisses, squeeze your ass. Whatever it takes to get him in here, the door shut, and his guard down.”

Her brows drew together in a frown. “You don’t ask for very much,” she whispered sharply. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly centerfold material. I’ve never had to play a femme fatale.”

He looked at Sarah as if she were kidding, or very stupid. “Listen, angel, I don’t have time to stroke your ego. But you have a luscious body most men would swallow their tongues over.”

Sarah didn’t care, and she didn’t like his crude compliment either. She shook her head no and started slowly backing up, but there was nowhere for her to go. She wasn’t at all confident she had what it took to do what he expected. Without warning, he grabbed her arm, halting her progress. She swallowed the sound of pain his grasp caused.

“You want to get out of here alive?” he hissed, lowering his face and pinning Sarah with a hard look, a cold look that said he meant business and wanted results.

“But…” She nearly lost her grip on the towel when he gave her a sudden shake.

“It’s not just your life we’re talking about here, lady.” Mano began to pound in earnest, and Clint swore beneath his breath. “What’s it going to be?”

Unsure, Sarah’s eyes darted to the door. Did she really have any choice? “Okay, I’ll do it!” she hissed reluctantly and jerked her arm away. “But don’t blame me if it doesn’t work! By the time I let him in, he’ll be too angry to get turned on by anything I do!”

“Listen, show an angry man some tits and ass and he’ll forget his name,” he said crudely.

“Thanks for putting it so eloquently,” she grumbled.

“What are you, a prude? I don’t care if I offend you or not. It will work.”

Clint opened a closet door and Sarah realized he’d been hiding in there earlier. It was a narrow dark closet and she wondered how he’d managed to squeeze his mountain-size body in there.

“Just remember I’ll be in here. Try to keep his back to me.” With that he shut the door, leaving her alone.

Sarah stared at the door with amazement. It wasn’t solid but had slats going up the top half. Uncaring that he could see her, she stepped backward to the vanity and grabbed a much bigger towel. She swore she could hear his soft laughter as she brought it around her body.

Just as she reached for the doorknob, she heard the unmistakable sound of a key being inserted in the lock, and then the door was flying open. She managed to jump out of the way in the nick of time, flattening herself against the wall, her planned femme fatale performance all but forgotten. All she could think about was survival and staying as far away from Mano’s clutches as possible.

Mano barked something out in his own language, his eyes darting around the room suspiciously before narrowing on her. It didn’t take a genius to know he was asking her why she hadn’t opened the door.

She was relieved to see he was alone. “Why were you pounding on the door when you had a key all along?” she shot back recklessly, forgetting about the mood she was supposed to be aiming for until Clint’s plan came back to her. “I mean, I…I was hoping to ah, see you again. I like a man who’s…ah, strong and forceful.” Painfully aware she sounded like a robot about to run out of juice, the words nearly stuck in her throat.

She was conscious of what she was inviting, too. Another woman intent on winning a man over for her own devious purposes would probably have followed up her comment with some sort of gesture,
like walking up to him and dropping her towel, but Sarah drew the line at that kind of demeaning act. The most Mano was going to get from her was the batting of her eyelashes and a fake smile.

His response wasn’t what she’d been hoping for. Instead of looking interested, he looked even more suspicious, like he was trying to figure out why she was coming on to him all of a sudden. So far he
hadn’t moved from the doorway. Well, she’d warned Clint this wasn’t going to work. She knew she had to think of something, and
fast. Strolling up to Mano with an exaggerated swing to her hips she didn’t have an inkling of what that something was. Whatever she did, she was only going to get one chance, and it would have to count.

At least she’d managed to snag his attention finally; he was eyeing her with growing interest. Determined to keep it, she pulled back her fist and hit him as hard as she could in the face. Sarah was no less surprised than he was at the force of her punch. His head snapped back, and she was certain she heard his teeth connect. As he slowly turned back to her, she gasped upon seeing the stream of blood pouring out of his nose. He advanced on her like an angry bear, his words low and filled with fury. Recognizing she’d made a
terrible mistake, she backed up until her hip connected with the vanity, too dazed to realize all she had to do was step around it.

“You can’t touch me,” she reminded him, reaching behind her for something she could use as a weapon. She completely forgot about her would-be rescuer in the closet.

Mano reached for something behind him too, only it was his back pocket. He pulled forth a knife, his eyes holding Sarah frozen as he pushed a button that produced a nasty looking thin blade. He ran his finger along the sharp edge of it, a sinister laugh escaping him.

“You try to escape,” he said, finally speaking in broken English. “What else is Mano to do?” He wiped the blood pouring out of his nose with the back of his hand, smearing it across his cheek.

“Mr. Rodriguez might not like that,” Sarah said in a desperate voice, her hand encircling something that was long and thin. She whipped it around and held it threateningly between them, her eyes
dropping to the object only because Mano’s had. With a low moan of despair, she threw the toothbrush at him in a burst of pure frustration. Why couldn’t it have been a straight razor or something a little more threatening?

The flying toothbrush hit him in the eye with the force of a flying missile. He yelped and swore, grabbing his eye, at the same time taking a menacing step toward her. Crying out, she turned to see what else was on the vanity, but it was too late. He was on her before she could turn back with a spray bottle of perfume in her hand. A vicious chop to her wrist sent it falling to the thick carpet
between them.

All at once Sarah found herself bent over backward on top of the vanity, with his huge bulk on top of her. He dropped his knife in the sink, his eyes rounding in stunned surprise, before glazing over
lifelessly. It took her a moment to realize his weight was dead weight, and then it didn’t matter as he was being lifted off her.

Book in the Making...unedited

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:06:00 +0000

“What? I can’t hear you. I’m going through a tunnel. I’m glad you’re okay. Talk to you again soon. Enjoy your weekend. Bye love.”

He hung up. Marissa pulled the phone from her ear, ready to explode with frustration. A tunnel, in Orlando, Florida? There was an unexpected knock at the door. What now? She slammed the phone down on her dressing table.

“Miss Lambert, is everything okay?”

A light came on and Marissa turned to face Beau. She was ready to blast him for the scare he’d given her. And now that she knew he was her bodyguard, then fire him on the spot. But all that changed the moment she saw looked into his intense I want to fuck you right now eyes. He was incredibly handsome.

God…he’s my bodyguard? Awareness slammed through every bone in Marissa’s body. She’d shamelessly flirted with him when she realized he was in the audience watching her. Knowing the highly sexual attraction that had been between them, and recognizing the look in his smoky eyes that said he still liked what he saw.

Marissa tried to swallow. Not usually nervous by nature but this Texas cowboy was nothing like any man she’d known. And the way he was looking her over now caused a flood of liquid desire to pool between her legs. He had nerve. He didn’t even try to hide the fact that he still found her attractive. His sexy, crooked smile didn’t undermine the look of determination on his face, though.

And Marissa knew then that Beau Evans was going to mean trouble.

page 8 (5/23) Beginning Chapter 2

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:15:00 +0000

LINK to other participating authors!

This is NOT sexy!

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:38:00 +0000

I don't care who you are.

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:17:00 +0000

Sometimes my five year old granddaughter sounds much older than she really is. The other morning, at 5:00 I got out of bed because I couldn't sleep. Had a terrible night! She woke to find me sitting in my chair and said, "Let me guess, your head?" I chuckled and said no, I just couldn't sleep. So she says, "Have you tried pills?"

I had to coax her to go back to sleep because it was a school morning.

Monday Man Candy

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:00:00 +0000

OMG he's hot!

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Sun, 13 May 2012 22:37:00 +0000

It always makes me nervous when I send a new manuscript off to a publisher. I don't know why. But as I hit the send button I feel a flutter of anxiety in my stomach. Maybe it's because I know once I hit send and it's gone, there's no getting it back. Wish me luck!

6 Sentence Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Sun, 13 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000

When did the dodo become extinct?

Not until 1681, and mainly because humans and animals ate the remaining eggs.
The dodo, first found on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, was the size of a very large turkey.
It was slow and defenseless, save for its hooked beak.
To complicate matters, it did not reproduce well, as the female laid only one egg each year.
The death knell came in the 1600s, however, when Dutch colonists on Mauritius found the eggs palatable.
Other animals also found them edible, and soon the dodo was gone.

Link to other participating authors.

Happy Saturday Everyone!

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Sat, 12 May 2012 13:20:00 +0000

My son-in-law did the sweetest thing. He knows my routine well. I always head for the coffee maker when I first emerge from my woman cave. This morning there was a Mother-in-law card waiting for me. It means a lot to me. Damein is very quiet so I sometimes wonder how he feels about me. This show of affection went straight to my heart. Just the thought of him standing in front of the card section brings a smile to my face.

Erotic Romance Madness Hop!

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:00:00 +0000

Whoohoo! It's on folks! Lots of participating authors, and lots of giveaways. And we'll be showcasing our favorite erotic romance. I chose The Promise. This story is close to my heart because it depicts the chaos and joyfulness of a large family during the holidays. Marrying into a family of 10 siblings, I was able to draw from plenty of first hand knowledge. And once they all had spouses and children, well, you can probably imagine the rest. There was never a dull moment!

The Promise is about an orphan, the heroine, who marries into a large family. But then her husband dies in Iraq, leaving her with a toddler. Still considered part of the family, she's invited to the Vermont farm for the holidays, where the whole family comes together. Including the one son in the Military, the hero, who rarely comes home for anything. Their attraction is instant and undeniable, yet they both have to overcome the promise they made to the same man before they can accept the love growing between them.

Liquid Silver Books is where you can find The Promise. Leave a comment and your name will go into a drawing to receive an ebook of The Promise.

Reviews -
5 hearts for The Promise...from The Romance Studio!

For those that like plenty hot and sensual sex in your romances, you will enjoy this because there was plenty of heat generated between Ryan and Shannon. I will gladly recommend this story to anyone who likes a great love story and doesn't mind shedding a tear here or there.

and

The Promise just received 5 ravens and recommended read from Blackraven's Reviews!

Tory Richards has created a tale of heartache, passion, and love yet a chance for a brother to love again. Tory Richards has outdone herself in this romance. It is easy to root for Ryan, a soldier who has always been strong yet has a weakness for Shannon. Loved this book and definitely highly recommended for once again Tory Richards shows us she can create a story that easily comes to life.

From now until the 5/14 visit the link below to go to the next blog.

Thought this was cute

noreply@blogger.com (Tory Richards) — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:34:00 +0000

We can all relate to this.