Lazy afternoons

We've just returned from a week in Vermont. Let me tell you, Vermont in the spring is gorgeous. Daffodils blooming, tulips opening, birds chirping. Lots and lots of time to relax...

I did a lot of reading, a good amount (just ask my checkbook!!) of shopping in the little boutiques and art galleries and waaay too much eating and drinking! Stairmaster here I come! But I had a great time, and I certainly needed the break.

I mean, really, doesn't everyone need a break now and then? Is your life as hectic as mine? I'll bet it is. Some days I feel like I'm trying to breakdance, twirl a baton and organize a gala all at once. But that just makes the lazy afternoons, spent with my darling Mickey, all the more enjoyable.

How do you get away? Unwind? Relax?

I could use a few hints, maybe a suggestion or two. Because really, once I unpack and do all this damn laundry, I'm going to need a mini-break...

Rites of Spring

There are certain rites of spring that are accepted in some circles. They vary greatly depending on what circle they're a part of.

For example, my mother and grandmother firmly adhere to the "Spring Cleaning" rites, airing out their homes, having drapes cleaned and even changing the "winter drapes" for the "summer" ones. Neither will rest until every inch of the house sparkles. Although I respect their right to ruin their manicures, I do not ascribe to the spring-as-houseslave credo. Yes, I'll wave the duster to each corner, as if saluting all points on the compass, but I refuse to break a nail over drapes. Not me. Nuh uh.

Others view springtime as the time for "Spring Break." Yep, time to head south, drink too much, party too hard, hook up with someone you barely know and puke your way back home. Again, not for me.

Then there are the gardeners. They see spring as the tilling time, the weeding time, the plowing time, the stooping-till-your-shoulders-break time, the planting time, the watering.... Well, you get my drift. Once more, not my style.

So what, then, is my spring ritual? My rite of spring, the thing that assures me that the warmer weather is here to stay?

One word.

Swimsuit.

Yes, it's the time for me to toss fray-bottomed, chlorine-bleached, droopy-bosomed, last-year's-color swimsuits and head to the store in search of replacements. By summer, I practically live in a swimsuit so I'll need a few.

What are your rites of spring? Tell me, please. I'm very curious. Besides, I'm just sitting here trying on swimsuits. I could use a diversion!!

Things Unknown

We all put on a public mask, a view of ourselves we allow the outside world to see. But we all know that those masks aren't always accurate...aren't always completely forthright portrayals of our true selves, now don't we? There's always something hidden, some things we keep to ourselves. Some things...unknown.

Most of those things are best left unknown, I think. :-) But some can be shared. So that's what I'm going to do. I am going to share a few things about me that you probably don't know. And if you'll do the same, tell me a couple of harmless "secrets" about yourself, I'll enter you in a drawing for a download of one of my books. Just follow the link to the right, go to my website and click on the "contact Nina" link. Send me a short email, telling me...oh, let's say three secrets about yourself, and I'll enter you in the drawing. Simple and fun, and I'm looking forward to hearing all the nitty gritty you share with me!

Okay, here are my three secrets:

1- I love peppers. Any kind, but the hotter the better. Mickey is amazed and perhaps a bit disgusted, too, when I gobble hot peppers like candy. Yes, my eyes do tear but hey, that's part of the charm of a nice, hot pepper.

2-I am terrified--absolutely out of my mind screeching-until-my-eyes-pop terrified--of eggs. HA! You didn't expect that, did you? You thought my fear would be of something reasonable, right? But it's true, eggs gross me out. I can't stand to touch them, see them, smell them. ICK!!!

3-And the last secret of the day is...sometimes when I'm home alone, I turn on old disco music, strip down to my socks and undies and an old sweatshirt and dance around the house. Yep, it's the truth. I can't help myself, that old stuff makes me smile. I do the Hustle, the Bump and all the other Stayin' Alive-type moves until I'm too tired to move. Good exercise, great fun.

Now it's your turn. I'm waiting to hear from you!! Spill your secrets...they can't be nearly as silly as mine! Or can they??

Re-planning

Have you ever made one set of plans, only to find when the day arrives that the plans you've made are utterly impossible to carry out? Or that, at the very least, they'd be ridiculously impractical to adhere to? Of course you have. We all have. And that's what I'm facing as I wake this morning to the sound of ice pellets hitting our windows. A winter storm. In spring. Sheesh, only in New York! Oh, right. And the rest of the northeast, too! :)

So the dilemma. Mickey and I were planning to picnic in Central Park. It's part of his get-your-mind-off-the-cast-on-your-arm plan. Because, you see, the cast comes off next week but I'm a hairsbreath away from hacking it off myself, I'm so frustrated. Hence, the plan. But today things won't be going according to Mickey's fine plan, not unless I relish the thought of getting cold and damp--which I don't. So we'll have to make alternate plans.

Perhaps a picnic in our apartment? With the heat turned up really, really high so we can wear next to nothing? Yeah, right. Not feeling so romantic with this dratted cast. We'll probably call in for take-out and settle in with a couple of good books. Not a bad way to spend an icy day.

Not a bad alternate plan, especially considering the great selection of new books available at Cerridwen Press and Ellora's Cave. Recently I've read a lot of books by fellow authors. Some have made me laugh, some have made me cry and all have entertained me. We write a whole range of stories, so there's always something to please every taste. If one doesn't suit your fancy, try another. We've got a bunch!

Yes, today I'll find a new book or two to read from the EC/CP selections and it will be a good day, I know it will. Plans are meant to change, we're meant to adapt and me? I'm always meant to read. :)

Wherever you are, whatever your weather and whoever you plan to spend it with, I hope you have a great day today. And thanks for stopping in.

Here To Stay

I've been getting emails again asking about what I've been reading. Oh, I love it that you're all so interested and that you actually read some of the books I've recommended, but this time the list is too long to discuss. You see, in February I fell on the ice, fractured some ridiculous bone in my arm and have been in a cast for weeks. For me, that is nearly intolerable. No writing. But much reading...the proverbial silver lining, I guess!

So I've read heaps of books. Can't possibly dish about all of them. Besides, not all of them rate dishing. But this one does, so I'll share my thoughts with you.

Jenyfer Matthews' Here To Stay, a Cerridwen Press release, is a book worth reading. At least twice, which is exactly what I've done in the past few weeks. I enjoyed it so much the first time, I had to go back and read it again. Haven't you ever done that when a book is really good? Just tuck back into it, almost like a second slice of chocolate cake? Yummy.

Here To Stay has it all. A love story, with an intelligent heroine (my favorite kind) and a hunky hero (again, at the top of my fave list) it is also an intriguing mystery with all sorts of twists and turns. When Julia inherits an old house at the Jersey shore, it seems as if her aunt's gift will give her a way to make a fresh start. But what she hasn't counted on is finding her almost-ex-husband, Patrick, on her doorstep. He's come to convince her he still loves her and, almost against her better judgement, Julia falls for his smooth talk and sultry eyes. She listens to her heart. And really, how can that be bad?

I love this book because the characters are real, the mystery interesting and the love story is both sweet and sexy, all at once. Jenyfer Matthews has written a wonderful book and I believe that anyone who reads it a time or two won't be sorry. I know I'm not.

Maybe tomorrow I'll fill you in on some of the other things me and my cast have been doing. Until then...a word to the wise. Stay off the ice. It's slicker than it looks!

Violet Moons Release Day!

Violet Moons, my new title with Ellora's Cave, will be released on March 28th. THAT'S TODAY!!

This book is one of my personal favorites. It was so much fun to write and I love the cover that has been created for it. It is a story of one woman's journey through the unknown in search of a better life for those she holds dearest. Although set in an imaginary world, it is, I think, a tale that is consistent with the lives so many of us lead. After all, most of us put the welfare of those we love above our own needs, don't we?

The blurb for Violet Moons:

The land of Vestia is forced to replenish its life force from a circlet of power that is kept in a distant kingdom. Wathalia, one of the Vestian princesses, must make a swift, secret journey to retrieve the circlet. Along the way she meets all manner of odd creatures as well as one very handsome man. A man whom she has seen many times before—in her dreams.

It appears that Wathalia’s mission is leading her to something other than the circlet and she realizes that her destiny may include more than a trip to the kingdom of the North. Meeting Priam makes her wonder if all moments in her life have been leading purposefully to the instant of their coupling. She wonders, too, if the man from her dreams is all he seems to be. Could he, too, have secrets? And will his secrets interfere with her ability to save the people of Vestia?

To celebrate my new release, I'm holding a little contest. If you've visited my website, or even if you just look at the title and cover of Violet Moons, you can probably guess what my favorite color is. So my contest is an easy one to enter...just go to my website, head to the link page and drop me an email with your guess about what my favorite color is. In the email, tell me what your favorite color is, too. Because really, I love to hear from readers and I love to learn about all of you.

Tomorrow morning I'll put all the names of those who emailed me in a hat and I'll let Mickey choose one lucky winner. The prize? A download of your choice of any of my Ellora's Cave releases. Good luck to all and in case you don't know where to find me, my internet home is:http://ninanashromance.com/

The site is under construction so please bear that in mind when you visit. I am in the middle of an update but that has had to wait to be completed. Hopefully it will be back to normal soon, so I hope you'll check back in sometime in the future.Until next time, good luck with the Violet Moons send-off contest! And happy reading!

The Undomestic Goddess

Since I posted my thoughts about Blame it on Cupid, several blog readers (and you know who you are!) have commented or dropped an email asking What are you reading now? And are you going to tell us what you think about it? Since I love books--reading them, talking about them, holding them, everything about books makes me happy!--I will share regularly a fast book review. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them. And, too, I hope you perhaps pick up and read some of the books I discuss.

I've just finished The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella. It's no mystery why this woman is a New York Times bestselling author. She writes with flair and humor, drawing the reader into her stories on the first page.

The Undomestic Goddess is a modern-day Cinderella tale, complete with stress, confusion, Blackberry's, mobile phones and the occasional household appliance thrown in for good measure! Samantha, a lawyer who runs into a bit of trouble at the law firm, manages to inadvertantly secure a position as a housekeeper. The trouble, or at least one of the troubles, is that she doesn't know one end of a vacuum cleaner from another!

This is a thoroughly enjoyable read, filled with fun and romance but it's also a story of one woman's journey to a more peaceful existence. If you like to smile while you read, pick up The Undomestic Goddess. You won't be sorry. I wasn't. :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!



Today my Valentine Vixens Quickie Assignment is released! I'm so excited about this title. I loved writing it and I'm hoping that readers will enjoy reading it.


I know its snowing across the northeast so in a lot of places Valentine's plans will need to be postponed. So if you find yourself looking for something hot and romantic to read today, please choose Assignment. I think you'll be happy you did!


And Happy Valentine's Day!!

Assignment releases tomorrow!

My Valentine Vixens Quickie, Assignment, releases tomorrow from Ellora's Cave. I am so excited about this--it's sort of a Valentine's Day gift to all of you readers out there who have made my time with EC interesting and fun. I love to hear from you, love to hear that you've enjoyed my books, so please keep sending mail my way. Although I try and answer every email personally I know I must miss a few so please know that I love getting them and I appreciate all your kind words.

I hope you enjoy Assignment!

New York living

I love living in New York. Mickey and I divide our time between Florida and the Big Apple and it's a situation that works well for us. We get the best of both worlds, a bit of the beach while still enjoying the attractions of Manhattan.

Recently we've been to see a few Broadway shows. Now, if you've never been on Broadway before, I completely recommend it as one of the things on you to-do-before-I-die list. (Do you have one of those? I do. Sometime I'll share some of it with you.) Broadway is like no other place on earth, the excitement and anticipation is so thick it surrounds you.

Anyhow, recently Mickey and I were lucky enough to see Spamalot. It's at the Shubert Theatre and has an all-star cast. The story of King Arthur and his knights, it's a telling of the quest for the Holy Grail. If you liked Monty Python's version, you're going to love this. I laughed until I cried, and then I laughed some more. It was, honestly, a wonderful evening.

So if you've never been to New York, perhaps you should plan a visit sometime in the future. And while you're here, why not take a stroll on Broadway? I guarantee you there'll be a show or two you'll want to see.

Recipe for Love Reviews

My first review for Recipe for Love came in and I am tickled! Reader Views said, in part,

Nina Nash is a talented writer. “Recipe for Love” is a great short read for Valentine’s Day. It’s romantic and passionate and written with lots of humor. This lighthearted book is sure to please and lift your spirits. The character of Nonna is wonderful. I want a Nonna like her. I want to be a Nonna like her. This book is sure to please. I highly recommend “Recipe for Love” to those that enjoy humorous erotic romance.

I am so thrilled, it always feels great to know that readers are enjoying what I've written! Thank you Reader Views, very much!

The entire review, along with many other interesting reviews, can be found here:

http://www.readerviews.com/ReviewNashRecipeforLove.html

Say-Yes Valentine's Brownies

If you're anything like I am, food can often make me feel romantic. Candlelights flickering, a fine meal, soft music in the background, then, before the actual fun begins...desert. Yes, I'm talking about the goodies before the goodies, if you get my drift. One of my fave goodies is chocolate, and since chocolate seems to be the food of choice for Valentine's Day, I'm going to share my recipe for Say-Yes Valentine's Brownies.

Ready? The recipe:

Say-Yes Valentine's Brownies

1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chopped almonds

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, eggs and cocoa, mixing well after each addition. Set aside.

In a separate bowl combine flour, salt and baking powder. Add to the creamed mixture and stir until well blended.

Add half of the chopped nuts and mix well. Spread batter in greased and floured 8-inch square baking pan. Top with remaining nuts. Bake in a pre-heated 350° oven for 25 minutes. Cool before cutting into squares.

Enjoy!

Assignment Releases February 14th!

Assignment, a Valentine Vixens Quickie, is being released on Valentine's Day! It is a thrill for me to have my story come out on that day, that special day, meant for love and lovers everywhere.

I love this story. It was a blast to write and I'm hoping that everyone looking for a little Valentine's romance will read it and love it, too.

A blurb? Sure, I've got a blurb. Actually, I was hoping you'd ask!

When Aphrodite, reigning goddess of love, sends Diana on a mission to give a mortal woman the push she needs to be able to be open to romance—just a few days before Valentine’s Day—the “assignment” seems to be an easy one. Nudge the woman toward the handsome, interesting man and hope for the best, right? That’s exactly what Diana does and Kate and Trevor, the mortals, find happiness in time for the big day.

When Diana realizes that there is a second being from the realm of love among the mortals she assumes that Artemis is along to help with her assignment. Art, however, has an assignment of his own to attend to—one that is, to him, much more important than any other.

As I said, I loved writing this story. Assignment is a tale of love, not only among mortals, but among the gods, too.

Yearning

Hmm...you're probably wondering what it is that I'm pining for. Home, I'm yearning for home. Mickey and I have been away for the past few weeks, first in Vermont where we shivered and shook and decided that it was way too cold for us to hang around there any longer. So we went home for a day-and-a-half before heading out to visit the dear man's relations. Don't get me wrong, I love his family but I miss being home. We've still got five days left to the visit but I'm counting each and every one of them. As I said, we love everyone and we're having a great time but really, there's no place like home. Our bed doesn't have nearly as many lumps in it, either. And at home I would be a half a block from a Starbucks...yeah, I know it's shallow but I'm yearning for a caramel macchiato--not a grande but a venti. It's been way too long to skimp on size. With coffee, as with many...ahem...other things in life, bigger is sometimes more desirable. Sometimes. :-)