It’s supposed to be raining this Saturday and for me, rainy days on weekends means one thing — MOVIES!!

Whether it’s a vidfest at home with a favorite DVD or a trip to the movies, a rainy day makes it perfect somehow.

Highest on the list for this weekend’s rainy day movie fest is IRONMAN, especially since I’m a comic book geek. I’ve always loved the superheroes, hence why I’m counting down the days until the DARK KNIGHT (Christian Bale is sooooo hot!).

So for today’s Fun Friday, here’s the trailer for IRON MAN in case you haven’t already seen the movie. If you have, leave a comment about what you thought about it.

Those of you who work outside the home understand the dreaded words “The Office Fridge”.

I went to get some milk for my coffee this morning and there were two hard-boiled unshelled eggs there in a small plastic container. At least, I think they were eggs. The only remaining white part was where the boiled egg white was in contact with the plastic lid, thereby confirming to me the message in those Foodsaver commercials that air does weird things to food.

The rest was of the eggs were a weird brown color and I think one of them may have winked at me!

Of course, I dared not look at the rest of the fridge nor breathe since it seems like it’s time for that bimonthly emptying and major scrub down that occurs to remove the food that has now seemingly turned into someone’s science experiment.

I always wonder if the poor cleaning person wears a Hazmat suit for that task.

Unfortunately, those who deal with Office Fridges know that the science experiment part is only the tip of the iceberg. There’s the Office Fridge Thief who steals people’s lunches or worse yet — just takes a bite and PUTS IT BACK!! I kid you not.

Considering that our Office Fridge is in a fairly visible and trafficked area, you wonder how the Office Fridge Thief manages it. You also wish that one day that person would take a bite out of one of those science experiments.

So, have you had similar experiences with your Office Fridge? Did your fridge at home provide an unexpected surprise one day? Share the uglies this morning with us!

On a parting note, check out the cool countdown widget I created for FURY CALLS, the next book in THE CALLING Vampire series which will be out in March 2009. You can click here to download the code for the widget and post it on your sites/Myspace pages! Send me a screen print of it once it’s on your site or a link to the site with the widget and I’ll send the first 50 people who do so a CALLING t-shirt!

Get this widget!

I’ve got a very Wicked Wednesdary for you courtesy of my friend and fellow author, Amie Stuart. Amie’s latest release, NAILED, is now available from the Aphrodisia Erotic Romance line.

Leave a comment on the blog to win a special prize! Without further ado, here’s Amie!

First off, thanks so much to Caridad for inviting me to come and play on Wicked Wednesday!!!

NAILED was quite an adventure to write, in more ways than one. I came up with a ballsy woman on the run and a reluctant hero who just happened to be the black sheep of his family because he didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps and become…a hitman, added a psycho-cat, a few outrageous neighbors and mixed well.

One of my favorite types of sex scenes to write is Turning-Point Sex…that scene that comes just after your hero or heroine has learned their life is never going to be the same again, as is the case with my heroine Bonnie below. She’s just talked to her estranged sister, who thought she was dead and….well anything else would be spoilers!

(FYI: Clyde is the psycho-cat and Bonnie has a love/hate relationship with him that any cat lover can appreciate).

Late Night

As resident fix-it girl for an apartment complex in a tiny Texas town, Bonnie James makes enough money to pay the bills and have a little fun on the side. She likes checking out the other tenants and sometimes indulges in her own sexual fantasies by watching them late at night. It’s exciting, it’s erotic, and it always leaves her ready and willing for more…

Turn On

When you’re a bounty hunter, late night stake-outs are part of the job. So Wynn Collier should be concentrating on his own business, not watching a Peeping Tom with the sweetest body west of the Mississippi. But he’s a hot-blooded male on a hot Texas night and he can’t resist the chance to investigate every one of her delectable curves…

Talking to Lisa had been harder than I expected and all I wanted was to get away from Wynn, to be alone, to feel a little normal again, even though deep down inside I knew my life hadn’t been normal for a very long time. After he dropped me off, I headed up to my own apartment and sank into the couch, forcing an unhappy Clyde on my lap.

He scowled up at me, blinking those ugly yellow eyes, then turned to lick his shoulder. Don’t ask me how I knew it was a scowl. I just knew.

Eventually he worked his way free, sprawled on the carpet and proceeded to clean his privates.

“Eww.” I lurched to my feet and stepped outside. Sleep would be a long time coming and a walk was in order. At least that might make me feel slightly normal.

Downstairs, Tara was splashing around in the pool with her latest hoochie-boy. They changed as often as she changed her nail color, which was often. “Hey Bonnie, wanna join us?”

I wandered over to the security fence and leaned against it. Her “friend” was cute. I had to give it to her, Tara had good taste in men. “What happened to What’s-His-Name?”

“I got a new What’s-His-Name!”

And apparently lost her bikini top again. With a shake of my head at the sight of her B-cups, I turned away, ready to go for my walk when Wynn appeared at the top of the stairs. I slowly circled the pool and met him at the bottom.

“If you want to be alone, just say so.”

“I’m good.” I considered kicking him for being so damned understanding. Instead, I stuffed my hands in my pockets and headed for the walkway between the apartments.

“So, who we watching tonight?”

I shushed him, then silently dragged him down the walkway to the parking lot. “Darcy’s husband is home,” I whispered.

“So that guy you were watching her with?”

“Brad, the town mechanic.”

“Has he ever changed your oil?”

“Jealous?” I laughed.

“No way.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me close. There was something comforting and familiar in it, something I hadn’t had in a long time.

“Will I ever have a normal life again?” I asked as we walked.

“Sure you will. Soon as this is all over, you can relocate someplace nice like Brazil—”

“Fuck you!” I said, shoving my elbow in his side. “I don’t speak Portuguese.”

“Ouch! I thought they spoke Spanish.”

“That’s what you get for thinking. It’s Portuguese, baby.”

“Who we peeping on tonight?”

“Nobody! Now keep your voice down.”

“Why do you spy on people?”

“Euh!” With a curl of my lips I looked him up and down. “Why are you a thug?”

“Kaylee and Tan had another fight.”

What?! Was he trying to tempt me with gossip or something? “I know. It’s a really small complex in case you didn’t notice.”

“You could slip him a note and tell him who she’s cheating with.”

“That’s mean. And Tan’s a nice guy, so no way—“ I shook a finger in his direction, “—and don’t you either! When’s your furniture going to get here?”

“Mom said tomorrow.”

“So your mom really did send you your stuff?”

“Some of it. Obviously, I’m not really planning on staying here any amount of time.”

“Aw now. Cielo’s not so bad when you get used to it.”

“Not exactly my idea of a good time either. I’ve got a house in Dallas already, but I’m not there much. Work keeps me on the road a lot. I promise not to trash the place but I guess I can kiss my deposit good-bye.” He grinned at me, his teeth gleaming in the moonlight.

My belly did a funny little flip-flop thing brought on from more than an overindulgence in ice cream. Let’s not get carried away though, Wynn was the closest thing I’d had to a real friend in three years, and he got paid to beat people up—or whatever. Not exactly Nobel Peace Prize material. But I was feeling, off-kilter to say the least.

Sue me for feeling vulnerable. I was tired mentally, physically, emotionally. After everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours, after three years of living a lie.

At least with Wynn I knew where I stood. At least with Wynn there was no pretense. I turned to stand in front of him and let my hands glide up the length of his chest to circle his neck.

His head dipped ever so slightly, then he whispered, “This is a very bad idea.”

“I know.”

He gently pushed my hair away from my face, tucking it behind my ears. “You sure?”

A nod would just have to do. Thanks to the lump in my throat, I couldn’t speak. I buried my face in the softness of his shirt, inhaling the woodsy scent of his cologne, his warmth and maybe even a bit of his strength, and gave in.

He silently led me to his apartment, and slowly undressed me. It was the first time since losing all that weight I felt shy around a man, afraid to speak, out of my element. Afraid if I spoke, the reality of what we were doing would be too much.

We stretched out on the air mattress both of us laughing softly at the silliness of it, then we were touching each other, communicating silently. Kissing softly. Wynn’s tongue gently exploring my mouth, teasing me, warming me, his fingers between my thighs, gently stroking me . . .

LOL! Yes, I’m a tease for leaving you there, but be sure to visit Amie’s website at www.amiestuart.com to read some more of NAILED.

The birds, the bees and the butterflies surely have you thinking about certain things, but this Tuesday Tip is not about sex, but rather, bringing birds, bees and butterflies into your garden!

If you want to enjoy the sights and sounds of birds, a bird feeder and bird bath are the easiest way to bring birds into your area. What kinds of birds will depend on where you are geographically, but also on the kind of food you put out. Song birds and finches love thistle, millet and smaller seeds. Cardinals love sunflower seeds. Click here for info on choosing the right food and feeder.

Keep fresh water around for the birds that visit. If you’re using a bird bath, make sure to change the water frequently. Providing homes for birds is also beneficial. We have two small birdhouses beneath a wisteria arbor and for the last ten years, we’ve had the same birds return to nest. They are tiny beautiful little songbirds and quite amusing to watch.

Butterflies are beautiful in the garden. The single best plant that I’ve put in the garden is a purple butterfly bush. Toward the end of the summer when it is in bloom, I have dozens of butterflies flitting amongst the flowers as well as some bees. Also choose brightly colored flowers to attract both butterflies and hummingbirds. Pink, purple and blue flowers are the best ones for drawing in butterflies. Remember to not use pesticides on the plants!

As for bees, they are one of the best pollinators you can have in the garden, but there is a serious decline in the U.S. bee population. In my own garden, I see a lot less bees in the area of plants that used to see a lot of bee activity.

How can you make your garden bee-friendly. Leave some areas free of mulch so that bees can build nests below-ground. Have large patches of plants with flowers and make sure there are blooms all summer long. Like some birds, bees seem to gravitate toward blues, purples and pinks in the garden. Also, do not use pesticides on the flowers. Finally, have an area where bees can get some water. Click here to check out a list of bee-friendly plants.

Hope this will help your summer months be filled with the beautiful B’s — birds, bees and butterflies!

On another note — Carol G is the winner of the Women, Words and Wisdom blog contest. Please email me your postal address so I can send your prize.

If you enjoy the show Moonlight, you should know that CBS has cancelled the show! Fans like me are totally bummed! BUT, there is a chance that another network could pick it up, particularly with fan support. So if you love this show as much as I do, please contact the TV networks listed below. To make it easy, I%u2019ve even written a letter, listed below%u2014it%u2019s available for your use. I%u2019d recommend changing it up a LITTLE bit so all the emails don%u2019t look exactly the same. And also add your real name, age, gender, city & state to the end because TV execs LOVE demographic info!!!

Now GO and E-MAIL!!!!!! Thanks!

CW
paul.mcguire@cwtv.com
feedback@cwtv.com
john.maatta@cwtv.com CW’s Chief Operating Officer.

Here’s the link to the message board at the CW. People should register and make a post requesting that the CW pick up Moonlight.
http://lounge.cwtv.com/showthread.php?p … ost5159922

SCI FI CHANNEL
feedback@scifi.com

USA Network
http://www.usanetwork.com/feedback

Call the NBC switchboard at 212-664-4444, and ask to leave a message on the USA Network Viewer Hotline. Then call back and ask to leave a message on the Sci-Fi Channel Viewer Hotline.

HERE IS THE LETTER YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO USE:

I am writing to ask that you consider adding an excellent show, Moonlight, formerly of the CBS Friday night lineup, to your programming schedule. Here are several great reasons to do so:

1. Although it was scheduled for Fridays at 9 pm, a traditionally “dead” day/time slot, Moonlight has consistently won its demographic and helped CBS win Friday nights.

2. Moonlight retained its audience despite the writers’ strike hiatus, achieving almost identical ratings as soon as it returned to the air with new episodes.

3. Moonlight’s viewers have proved to be extremely loyal, so your network could count on these viewers to follow Moonlight directly to your station, which would make it one of your highest rated shows, immediately.

4. Moonlight offers something for everyone: drama, action, romance, horror/scifi, mystery, etc. This means that with a decent day/time slot and a little promotion, your audience for the show could grow substantially.

5. Moonlight’s fanbase has consistently helped add to the show’s publicity–winning the show a People’s choice award and putting Alex O’Loughlin’s face and body into TV Guide’s sexiest stars issue. Moonlight fans have also helped the show get heaps of online promotion.

6. Moonlight’s cast is totally hot, giving the show serious sex appeal for the younger audience. If the show were to have a better time slot instead of being on Friday nights, when young people are traditionally out on the town, this audience could grow.

7. The show’s lead actor, Alex O’Loughlin is talented, handsome and hunky. He is truly a rising star and women love him! Some of the supporting actors are pretty easy on the eye, too. The hunk factor alone could convince additional viewers to tune in, even if they wouldn’t ordinarily choose the vampire genre.

8. The show has already been developed, cast, promoted, etc. It’s yours for the taking. (or the negotiating.)

I could go on forever, but I think that’s enough of an argument for now.

Please pick up this truly exceptional and engaging program. You will win our loyal fandom forever!

Thanks for the info, Beth! Good luck with saving the program.

Today’s the Day! My Women, Words and Wisdom story. When I first heard about the topic, I had no doubt what I was going to write about . . . my mom and the lessons she taught me.

Actually, one lesson in particular — That you could accomplish anything in life if you worked hard enough and never gave up.

My mom knew about never giving up. When she lived in Cuba, she didn’t like Batista so she helped make a change. When that change didn’t work out the way she envisioned, she tried to undo what she had done. That forced her into exile, but worse yet, had her making a very difficult decision — ending up in jail or leaving her two young daughters behind in Cuba while she fled to the United States.

When I mean young, I really mean young. I was just over two years old and my little sister was six months old. Even before I was old enough to have a child of my own, I understood how difficult a choice that must have been. Your life or leaving behind the things you loved most.

But my mom did it. And in the years that followed, she not only taught my sister and I that we could accomplish anything we wanted, she showed us by doing the same. She worked hard, struggling against a lot of odds back in the early sixties.

For starters, people didn’t want Cubans in their apartment buildings or neighborhoods even though they loved watching Ricky and Lucy. That kind of acceptance was mostly on the television tube. Mostly because there were some very kind people as well. Kindness overcame intolerance, a lesson also learned.

Mom was a working woman, something more common in the Sixties than in the Fifties, but certainly not as common as it is today. Worse, she was a woman in a man’s world — the legal profession.

But she persevered and worked hard. She pursued and obtained the American Dream — a house in the suburbs, car and college for her kids. Education was something she firmly believed in for her children because she believed, as had her dad, that they can take everything you own away from you, but they can’t take what’s in your mind. That’s yours forever.

So by example and by word, mom tattooed in my brain to never give up and always work hard. It’s something that’s served me well in my life. When things don’t necessarily go my way, I stop and ask myself, “Is this something I really want? Is this what’s best for me and my family?”

If the answer is yes — I go for it. Wholeheartedly and with every fiber of my being. Some say I’m mad crazy driven and they’re probably right. I’m my mother’s daughter and I know that I can accomplish anything that I desire if I persevere.

In the publishing world, that’s an especially good attitude. My friend Lara Rios blogged during the tour about Wisdom Applied to Writing and had Persistence as a necessary trait for writers as well as for all other aspects of your life. So true.

Persistence. Perseverance. Couple them with hard work. It equals Heart to me. It’s what keeps you always reaching for your dreams.

So I leave you those thoughts today from a very wise woman — my mom. I also have a special gift to you from me and from another friend who understands the words persistence and perseverance — Berta Platas.

Long before Indiana Jones found the Crystal Skull, six remarkable women came together and became the Skull Sisters. I had been working on this concept with some good friends and Berta and I were on the verge of selling the Skull Sisters series when the publisher decided to close the line!

Perseverance, I tell myself. We haven’t given up hope that one day this series will be acquired. For now, enjoy some action and adventure with some totally kick-ass heroines and the mystical crystal skulls. Be sure to pop over to Berta’s Blogspot to read from her story in the series!

Don’t forget that coupled with those thoughts, we’ve got a contest going on! Leave a message on this blog to win a prize of a complete collection of the SOUTH BEACH CHICAS books as well as a HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE color t-shirt!

And don’t forget to check out all the other stops on the tour for their stories and prizes (look at the end of this post for the other stops!). I hope you enjoy reading from all these amazing women.

So last but not least, here’s the extra special Women, Words and Wisdom Free read — an excerpt from Book One in the Skull Sisters series! You can visit www.skullsisters.com for more info on the series.

Chapter 1
“Run!”

Sara Mendoza had taken no more than a step or two from the temple excavation when an explosion rocked the structure behind her.

She hurtled through the air, arms and legs flailing. A huge fireball from the detonation chased after her. As she neared her objective — a strategically placed crash mat — Sara tucked tight, preparing to absorb the blow from the landing. At the speed she traveled, the mat could be as hard as cement.

Her shoulder connected with the foam, but she maintained her natural momentum by rolling. Then that sixth sense that had served her so well in the past kicked in. Something was different from the earlier rehearsals.

Flattening instead of continuing with her controlled tumble, Sara raised her hand in anticipation of the blow. A tingle danced along her fingertips a second before sizzling heat skimmed along her body. A large piece of fiery debris sailed past her. With a dull thud, part of the scaffolding from around the excavation landed only a few feet away. It was a section that shouldn’t have come off the set.

The trio of pullers who had been busy helping her fly through the air thanks to the harness at her waist now quickly rushed forward with fire extinguishers to keep the crash mat from igniting.

Sara rose and stretched to work a kink out of her back. Reaching behind her, she undid the shackle which attached the cable to the harness beneath her shirt. Seeing that her co-workers had things under control, she hurried toward the trailer reserved for the stunt crew’s use. The RV was set quite a ways back from the temple built by the film crew in the Puerto Rican jungle.

She had one more scene to shoot today. She needed to mentally prepare and eventually change into the duplicate wardrobe that matched what the heroine of the movie would later be wearing. Plus — although she would deny it if anyone
asked — she was a little shaken about how close she had come to being pancaked by the flaming piece of the set.

“That was awesome, Sara. Way cool,” said the new assistant, a young man who was more boy than man and hoped to break into the business.

She forced a smile while they walked along and the assistant continued to carry on about her luck during her recent exploit. Her past luck during such feats had made her famous throughout the industry. No stunt was too hard or too dangerous for Sara Mendoza. The amazing part was that after nearly four years in the business, she was still in one piece, uninjured except for the occasional minor bump, bruise or road rash.

She snapped her hand up to silence the overeager assistant. “Gracias, Billy. Let’s just concentrate on the next one.” She hated the talk. Not that she was superstitious, but acknowledging her luck was almost like tempting the gods to remind her that she was human. Humans broke and bled and worse.

Right now soreness gradually awakened in the shoulder that had absorbed the brunt of the landing’s force. She opened the door to the trailer, but stopped the young assistant as he went to enter. “Do you think you can scrounge up an ice pack for my shoulder?”

“Do you need to see the doc? Is it bad?” he asked, almost too eagerly.

“An ice pack will do. Gracias.”

He scurried away, and she took a deep breath and entered the trailer.

Once inside, she walked to the small refrigerator, grabbed a can of Pepsi, and slugged down a good portion of the soda. Bracing her shaky hands along the counter in the kitchenette, she thought about the fact that she had just survived a close call. Not her first, but nevertheless scary.

Weakness slowly crept into her limbs along with a chill. A byproduct of the adrenaline rush from doing the stunt, she told herself, and finished off her drink. Combined with a little rest and some meditation to center herself, she would be ready for the next stunt later that afternoon.

A knock came at the door. Billy with the ice pack, she remembered, walked to the door and opened it.

His face was in shadow as he stood in the entryway, but Sara would have known it was Matt even if it was pitch black.

“Heard you had a slight problem,” Matt said.

Great, she thought. The shittiness of her day was now complete.

“I’m fine,” she said with a shrug, then grimaced at the twinge of pain and rubbed her shoulder.

Matt instantly moved to her side and eased away the collar of her shirt to expose the reddened spot at the top of her shoulder. Gently he ran his hand over the area and said, “I’ve already seen the crash mat and heard what the crew had to say. That’s not my idea of fine.”

She jerked back from his touch, flinching at the slight pain it created in her shoulder. “It’s nothing to worry about, ‘Mom’.”

“I checked and double-checked everything. That piece of the set shouldn’t have — “

“Come off? We both know the unexpected can happen during a stunt. So just leave it alone already,” she nearly shouted, tired of Matt’s overprotective smothering. No one would intentionally rig the set to cause harm. Everyone on the crew was almost like family. None had a grudge to settle. At least, not that she knew, but in a cut throat business like Hollywood, anything was possible.

Matt clearly thought the accident might have been something else, but then again, Matt had been in paranoid mode since an accident on the set nearly two years earlier had badly injured him. He had been lucky to survive, but their relationship hadn’t. The stress and fear that remained with him after the incident had made it impossible for them to stay together.

Sara sensed that Matt itched to dredge up their battle about her stunt work. But instead he just stood there as she removed her shirt, followed by her black jeans to expose the flying harness. The main part of the harness encircled her waist snugly, while two straps slipped down and around the uppermost portion of her thighs. They were there to keep the harness from being jerked out of place during the stunt.

She tried to ignore Matt, who seemed disinclined to leave, but it proved difficult. Too much history joined them. A funny thing really. Matt had been the one to introduce her to the business. He had taught her much of what she knew. Had become her first lover.

Her hands fumbled with the webbing of one buckle and suddenly he stood there, brushing her hands aside.

He loomed over her, close to a foot taller than her own 5′4″ height. Broad-shouldered and still well-muscled despite the fact that he was now normally a stunt coordinator rather than an active participant.

She wouldn’t look at him while he undid the safety binding as easily as he had once undressed her. Caressed her.

She refused to notice the slight tremble in his hands when he accidentally brushed her skin with the back of his hand as he undid the second buckle and main lacings of the equipment.

The harness slipped off and Matt grasped it. She rushed to the opposite side of the trailer and grabbed her robe off a hook. Belting it securely, she turned and watched Matt check the equipment carefully, making sure that it was still in usable condition.

“It worked just fine.” She wished he would leave so she could get a little respite from his presence and prepare herself mentally for the next stunt.

“It’s great that the harness worked fine. What about the friggin’ piece of lumber that nearly flattened you? Was that fine as well?”

“I’m in once piece, Matt. That’s all that matters.” Despite saying that, she was a little spooked. Matt was right about one thing — he ran a tight ship where accidents rarely happened. She would have to keep a close eye on the preparations for the other stunts which remained to make sure no one was up to no good.

Meeting Matt’s gaze, she faked unconcerned and said, “There’s nothing to worry about.”

Matt nodded and seemed about to say something, but an angry buzz from her phone as it rested on the table prevented it.

She grabbed the cell phone and even though unfamiliar with the number showing up on the caller id, answered in order to avoid continuing the fight with Matt. “Sara Mendoza.”

“Ms. Mendoza? This is Detective Alvarez from the Huntington Beach PD. There’s been an incident at your home.”

Check out the rest of the tours on the Women, Words and Wisdom Blog tour:

May 19 - Mary Castillo (http://www.marycastillo.blogspot.com/)
May 20 - Barbara Ferrer (http://www.fashionista-35.livejournal.com/)
May 21 – Lara Rios (http://www.lararios.blogspot.com/)
May 22 – Mayra Calvani (http://www.thedarkphantom.wordpress.com)
May 23 – Caridad Pineiro (http://www.caridad.com/blog)
May 24 – Jamie Martinez (http://www.jamiemartinezwood.blogspot.com/)
May 25 – Berta Platas (http://www.bertaplatas.blogspot.com/)
May 26 – Tracy Montoya (www.tracymontoya.blogspot.com)
May 27 – Kathy Cano-Murillo (http://thecraftychica.blogspot.com)
May 28 – Misa Ramirez (http://chasingheroes.com)

Also — the winner of the contest at Marya Calvani’s blog is ZULMARA! Congrats. Please contact Mayra for your prize.

As you may have realized by now, I am a TV junkie and so today’s Thoughtful Thursday is about some happenings in my favorite shows and the cliffhangers and character assassinations that effect the continuity of those shows.

For starters –

STOP IF YOU WATCH NCIS, BONES OR CRIMINAL MINDS and haven’t seen the season finales. THERE WILL BE SPOILERS in this post!!

Okay, you’ve been warned . . .

I’m watching the two part NCIS and never saw it coming. A good thing I guess, except . . . Did we ever have a clue before the show the other night that Jenny Shepard was dying from some kind of wasting disease? Did I sleep through that (my family will likely say YES!) Truly character assassination and I will miss Lauren Holly because romantic optimist that I am, I kept on hoping her and Gibbs would reunite.

But if that wasn’t enough (especially after they killed off the other female agent a few years back just when it was getting good with DiNozzo), they end the show by transferring out all of the major characters. HUH?? They pulled a HOUSE?

I didn’t much care for it in HOUSE when we lost most of the regular cast that we had grown to know. I’m not sure how NCIS will start off the next season, but it would sure be damned disappointing if we didn’t have Ziva, Dinozzo and McGee back as regulars because without them, the show is losing continuity much like HOUSE lost continuity. To be honest, HOUSE used to be a do not miss and now, I have a backload of DVR’d episodes to watch since I lost interest with some of these new characters.

In CRIMINAL MINDS, the show ends with each of the characters getting into the similar black Suburban SUVs and then fade to a shot of one of them blowing up! So who is dead? Who knows? Will it be the newly pregnant and about to be happy one, the dour one, the quirky one . . . You get it (Sorry, but I tend to forget their names on this show. Maybe not a good thing).

I wonder why the writers feel they need to do these shake-ups? Do they assume the fans don’t want continuity? Do they think the show needs some new blood?

One of the things I admired most about Buffy was how in general, the characters grew with each show and season. We learned more and more about their strengths and weaknesses. What led them to where they are and how they will take that knowledge and move forward with it — in their careers and their lives.

With new characters we don’t get that. We lose all continuity and all the time we’ve invested in these characters (not much different from books and series in print).

BONES at least has seemed to strike a better note with its season finale. We lost a favorite and yet that loss will certainly prompt the other characters to reconsider not only what they knew about him, but about themselves. Already Hodgins is questioning how his actions may have led a friend astray. Bones is wondering what she gave Zak and maybe will wonder how much she gives of herself to others (I hope). The relationship with Bones and Seeley has certainly progressed, making all of us romantic optimists salivate at what will come next season.

Now that’s what I call a good cliffhanger!

Don’t forget to join me tomorrow, May 23, for my contribution to the Women, Words and Wisdom blog and the related contest.

Leave a message on tomorrow’s blog to win a prize of a complete collection of the SOUTH BEACH CHICAS books as well as a HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE color t-shirt! Here’s the line up for the tour and I hope you enjoy hearing words of wisdom from these amazing women.

And don’t forget to check out all the other stops on the tour for their stories and prizes!

May 19 - Mary Castillo (http://www.marycastillo.blogspot.com/)
May 20 - Barbara Ferrer (http://www.fashionista-35.livejournal.com/)
May 21 – Lara Rios (http://www.lararios.blogspot.com/)
May 22 – Mayra Calvani (http://www.thedarkphantom.wordpress.com)
May 23 – Caridad Pineiro (http://www.caridad.com/blog)
May 24 – Jamie Martinez (http://www.jamiemartinezwood.blogspot.com/)
May 25 – Berta Platas (http://www.bertaplatas.blogspot.com/)
May 26 – Tracy Montoya (www.tracymontoya.blogspot.com)
May 27 – Kathy Cano-Murillo (http://thecraftychica.blogspot.com)
May 28 – Misa Ramirez (http://chasingheroes.com)

This Wednesday I’m going to do something different, namely, ask you to pop on over to my long time friend Lara Rios’s blog for her Women, Words and Wisdom story and contest! Lara’s story and contest can be found at http://www.lararios.blogspot.com/.

Please take a moment to visit my with my other friends and fellow authors at their blog sites (listed below).

The come and visit with me on May 23rd! Anyone who leaves a comment on this blog on May 23rd will win a complete collection of the SOUTH BEACH CHICAS books as well as a HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE color t-shirt! Here’s the line up for the tour again and I hope you enjoy hearing words and stories of wisdom from these amazing women.

May 19 - Mary Castillo (http://www.marycastillo.blogspot.com/)
May 20 - Barbara Ferrer (http://www.fashionista-35.livejournal.com/)
May 21 – Lara Rios (http://www.lararios.blogspot.com/)
May 22 – Mayra Calvani (http://www.thedarkphantom.wordpress.com)
May 23 – Caridad Pineiro (http://www.caridad.com/blog)
May 24 – Jamie Martinez (http://www.jamiemartinezwood.blogspot.com/)
May 25 – Berta Platas (http://www.bertaplatas.blogspot.com/)
May 26 – Tracy Montoya (www.tracymontoya.blogspot.com)
May 27 – Kathy Cano-Murillo (http://thecraftychica.blogspot.com)
May 28 – Misa Ramirez (http://chasingheroes.com)

There are some tried and true Italian dishes that satisfy no matter what and you can find at every typical Italian restaurant (like Luigi’s from THE CALLING vampire novels).

Chicken parmigiana is one of those dishes, but when you’re trying to eat healthy, this kind of dish can be a problem. It’s breaded and fried. There’s the cheese with its animal fats and you generally serve it over/next to pasta, a problem if you’re watching carbs.

So what can you do to enjoy this dish? Well, here’s some alternatives that will help you make a tasty chicken parmigiana that even your most difficult critic (like my Italian hubby) will enjoy! Try one or all of the alternatives.

Lower Fat Chicken Parmigiana

Step One: “Breading” the cutlets. This accounts for the step where you can lose the most calories!

First Alternative: Most Chicken Parmigiana is breaded and fried. If you don’t want to lose the breading, lose some of the fat by using either an egg white wash or just plain water to get the bread crumbs to adhere to the chicken breast. Lose the dredging the chicken in flour as well. Some will say it helps the bread crumbs stick better. I’ve always found that it just makes the bread crumbs fall off faster and adds extra carbs you don’t need. As for the frying part of this, try baking the chicken! Use a cooking oil spray and lightly grease a baking dish. Place the breaded chicken breasts in there and give the tops of the breasts a spritz with the cooking oil spray. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes or so (or until the bread crumbs begin to brown).

Second Alternative: Again use an egg white wash or water, but this time, dredge the chicken breasts with a good freshly-grated parmesan cheese. In a frying pan spritzed with cooking oil spray, toast both sides of the chicken breasts. The cheese will create a coating on the chicken breasts.

Third Alternative: Lose the “breading” entirely to cut out the fat and carbs. Just brown the chicken breasts in a frying pan spritzed with cooking oil spray.

Step Two: Using either your own sauce or a bottled spaghetti sauce, spread a thin layer of sauce in a baking dish. Place the “breaded” chicken breasts on the sauce.

Step Three: Place some sauce on the chicken and then a slice or two of a low-fat or fat-free mozzarella cheese on the chicken. For variety, you can also add a slice of prosciutto, grilled eggplant or zucchini or roasted red pepper on top of the chicken before you add the mozzarella. The addition of the lower fat vegetables really helps to make this a complete meal.

Step Four: A little bit more sauce on top of the cheese/chicken (but not enough to hide all the cheese since you want it to get nice and toasty in the oven) and a fresh grate of some parmesan! Cook the dish at 350 for at least 30 minutes or so, until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese has browned a bit. You may want to even broil it for a few minutes to toast the cheese, but make sure you have a pan that can be used to broil.

Last but not least, serve with a whole grain pasta or Barilla’s Plus pasta that has lower carbs.

Hope you like this variation on an Italian Classic!

Today’s Guilty Pleasure Monday is sexy Michael Weatherly from the hit CBS show NCIS (one of my favorites!). I love his quirky character, Tony DiNozzo, but I hated that they killed off the first female NCIS agent since the sexual tension with them was great. They’ve been trying to build it again with Ziva, the Moussad agent working with NCIS. It’s a great show and Mark Harmon is still pretty hot as well. Check it out! The 2 hour season finale is May 20 - this Tuesday and looks like it will be awesome.

You may also remember Michael from DARK ANGEL where he starred with Jessica Alba.

Here’s a trailer with a sneak peak of the big season finale on Tuesday, May 20th:

Today you are getting a double dose of blog, since besides the Guilty Pleasures that will shortly follow, I’m spreading the good news about a totally awesome Women, Words and Wisdom Blog Tour as well as a contest!

Visit my with my friends and fellow authors at their blog sites and come and visit with me on May 23rd! Anyone who leaves a comment on this blog on May 23rd will win a complete collection of the SOUTH BEACH CHICAS books as well as a HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE color t-shirt! Here’s the line up for the tour and I hope you enjoy hearing words of wisdom from these amazing women.

May 19 - Mary Castillo (http://www.marycastillo.blogspot.com/)
May 20 - Barbara Ferrer (http://www.fashionista-35.livejournal.com/)
May 21 – Lara Rios (http://www.lararios.blogspot.com/)
May 22 – Mayra Calvani (http://www.thedarkphantom.wordpress.com)
May 23 – Caridad Pineiro (http://www.caridad.com/blog)
May 24 – Jamie Martinez (http://www.jamiemartinezwood.blogspot.com/)
May 25 – Berta Platas (http://www.bertaplatas.blogspot.com/)
May 26 – Tracy Montoya (www.tracymontoya.blogspot.com)
May 27 – Kathy Cano-Murillo (http://thecraftychica.blogspot.com)
May 28 – Misa Ramirez (http://chasingheroes.com)

You know I love walking through Bryant Park, but it’s even more fun when it’s time for the Good Morning America Summer Concert Series! I get a kick out of seeing the crowds and stars, not to mention all the prep for these events. In years past, I’ve stopped to listen to the sound checks for Rascal Flats, The Beach Boys and Michelle Branch. The crowds last year for Miley Cyrus were huge, wrapping around the park at least twice. I suspect they’ll be as big this year for her and my daughter’s latest loves — The Jonas Brothers.

So if you’ll be in New York City on a Friday, or just have Friday free to come hang out, check out the GMA Concert Series, but be sure to arrive early! The crowds start lining up well before 7 a.m. when the concerts “officially” start. (Click here to check web cam images of the park which catch the concert series. The webcam updates every 10 minutes).

Here’s the upcoming schedule and you can click here to check on the dates as well!

Friday, May 16 — Josh Groban
Friday, May 23 — Counting Crows
Friday, May 30 — Usher
Friday, June 6 — Ashanti and guest
Friday, June 13 –Cyndi Lauper
Friday, June 20 — Boyz II Men
Friday, June 27 — Maroon 5
Friday, July 4 — Chaka Kahn
Friday, July 18 — Miley Cyrus
Friday, Aug 1 — Broadway cast of the hit musical “Rent”
Friday, Aug 8 — The Jonas Brothers

What else is fun for this Friday? Well, interleague play starts for Major League Baseball. I don’t know what that means in your city, but in NYC it means SUBWAY SERIES between the Mets and Yankees. You know who I’ll be rooting for, of course. GO METS!

So I spent a great deal of time thinking about what today’s Thoughtful Thursday would be about, but couldn’t get a single thought to take shape in my brain.

Why? Too many random thoughts, muddling around in there. I’m sure you’ve had those kinds of days.

You start the day thinking about all that you have to do at work/home/school and soon you may be wondering why it’s so important to do all those things at work/home/school especially when in the scheme of life, most are relatively unimportant (hence the picture of the seagull on the thinker sculpture. Puts things in perspective).

Of course, that thought about unimportant things and perspective just lead me to thinking about the RT Convention I just attended and how my friends convinced me to go to a psychic for a reading. Two psychics actually, but we’ll talk about the first one. This young woman was only using Tarot Cards to do a reading and I confess, I’m a skeptic about things like this in general, but it turned out to be rather interesting.

She asked me to shuffle the deck and I did.

She asked me to pick three cards and I did.

She asked me to flip them over and I did — one stood for discipline, another for relaxation and the third for joy.

She told me the first told her that I was always the kind to do things without being told. That I was self-motivated and controlled. I am.

The second card told her that I needed to learn to relax and let go of things. I do.

The last card told her that once I could do that, I would find joy. I hope I will.

We went on and did a few more cards, bringing up cards about children and friendship. She asked me if I had children, but also said that if I did, I had a very good relationship with them. Since my daughter’s my best friend, I would say that’s pretty accurate.

We did a few more cards and it was interesting. More talk about indecision about something that was upcoming, getting past a hurdle, etc. Could I find things in my life that applied to those cards? Yep, I could.

So, for someone who is normally a skeptic, I was impressed with my encounter with this one young woman. It was interesting and it was fun.

It gave me something to think about — and write about — not to mention, it reminded me that all those things that seem so important at times, aren’t as important as family, health and love.

Now those are the things to really be thinking about!

This Wicked Wednesday is for all the fans of THE CALLING vampire novels! Coming in March 2009 is FURY CALLS, a story about a vamp drug that is wreaking havoc in the Manhattan vampire underworld courtesy of a Kiang-shi — a Chinese vampire named Sun-Tze Lee. Diana, Ryder, Diego and others will need to work hard to find out who is responsible for the drug before it destroys the vampire underworld they know.

You will hopefully love seeing the return of sexy punk vampire Blake Richards and NYU Coed turned immortal Meghan Thomas. I’ve been dying to write their story since I first introduced them in TEMPTATION CALLS.

In FURY CALLS, I’ll also be introducing Otro Mundo, an upscale restaurant with private dining rooms owned by Diego Rivera and Ryder Latimer.

So, without further ado, here’s a sneak peek at FURY CALLS!

Prologue

Her deadly kiss was near, but he welcomed it.

He buried his fangs deep in her breast as she held him the way a mother might cradle a child while he fed on milk-spiced blood. But then she gently eased his head back, enough to expose the rising pulse beating at his neck. Bending her head, she sank her fangs through the fragile barrier of his skin.

Blood rushed, hot and sweet, awakening the kind of passion that only vampires could share. The little love drug he had added to their drinks earlier that night also ramped up the passion surging through their bodies. As his partner murmured a growly complaint that she was still hungry, he said, “It’s the juice. It’ll pass once you sip a little more.”

And once he had a little more, he thought as he tried to sate his need from her sweet
breast. When they finally ripped away from each other their bodies were supercharged — sexually and violently. Fangs stained crimson from their feast retracted as they surged together for a kiss, bodies naked and heated from the torrent of immortal blood rushing through their veins and the potent chemical mix of the drug.

Over and over they kissed, licking the last remnants of blood from their lips, but soon that wasn’t enough once again.

He pulled away from her, unseeing of anything other than the perfection of her body as he trailed his hands across warm skin, flush with the life bestowed by his blood. He kissed the tip of the breast where he had been feeding just moments earlier.

There wasn’t even a hint of his bite there since she had already healed.

He suckled the tip and she moaned, reached down and unerringly found the head of his erection and stroked it, pulling a needy groan from him.

Their passion was too great for prolonged foreplay, he knew. Besides, his blood seemed to be sizzling in his veins from the demand to devour every part of her in every possible way.

He dragged her beneath him and onto the plush cushions of the settee in their private dining room and without further delay, drove into her, seeking satisfaction.

His thrusts grew stronger, more violent, yanking a strangled gasp from her as the craving to feed rose again, potent and more demanding than anything he had ever experienced before. For a fleeting moment, he wondered how long it would take for the kick of the drug they had ingested earlier to subside.

He shook his head, nearly lightheaded from the strength of his medicated lust, so great that he felt that if he didn’t taste her life’s blood again, he would die from the want of it.

As his gaze met hers, he realized she was feeling the same overwhelming pull of hunger.

Surging toward one another, they bared their fangs once again and attacked, fury replacing any other wants, driving them to the darkest corners of their immortal kind.

Chapter 1

With a flip of her wrist, Meghan Thomas tossed the porcini mushrooms in the saute pan. The brandy she had added to the pan flared up with a quick flash of fire before it burned off.

She placed the pan back onto the flame and was just adding some cream to reduce with the mushrooms for a sauce when she sensed it.

Meghan didn’t really know what “it” was, but her vampire powers were telling her that something very wrong had occurred. The other vamps in the kitchen sensed it as well. From the bus boys to the waiter who paused by the doors to the other vamp chef a few stations down, they all had become aware of something odd. It had to be something powerfully wrong for the vampires of all ages, even someone as new as her to the undead world, to feel “it”.

She took the pan off the flame and put it to the side just as Diego Rivera, part owner of the restaurant and her mentor of sorts, pushed through the door into the kitchen. Diego looked around as if to see if the source of the disturbance had come from within and then he faced her.

“Is everything okay in here, Meghan?”

Wiping her hands on the towel tucked into her apron, she walked to him and said, “Yes, but you feel something as well, don’t you?”

At his abrupt nod, she laid a hand on the sleeve of his expensive silk suit jacket and asked, “What was it?”

She had hoped that with his greater vampire age and therefore stronger powers, he would have known what had been the sensation that all of them had experienced, but the look on his face told her otherwise.

“I’ll find out,” Diego said, worry stamped onto his fine features. A deep furrow was etched between his brows as he pivoted on one heel and out of the kitchen, Meghan right behind him.

When he realized she was following, he stopped. “There’s no need for you to come with me.”

She searched his features and realized he was just trying to protect her much as he had for over four years now. Although she had appreciated that assistance before she had resigned herself to her new immortal life, it was long beyond the time for her to start being a help rather than a hindrance. “I can watch your back if need be. I’m not a newbie anymore.”

For a moment Diego appeared ready to protest, but then he turned and strode along the edge of the restaurant’s main floor and as he did so, she shot a quick look around.

Most of the diners were intent on the meals before them, but a couple of heads turned their way and she recognized some familiar vampire faces. They had all sensed the disturbance as well, but remained in their seats. They had human partners at their tables and might not want to reveal their undead status. At least, not yet, Meghan thought.

Diego entered the hallway which led to the private dining rooms along the first floor, but she discerned nothing unusual there as they walked past the pair of doors. At the end of the hall, Diego nearly vaulted up the stairs to the next floor.

The feeling grew stronger here, but Diego didn’t pause, as if he already knew the answer to their question rested on the uppermost floor of the building where the last two private dining rooms were located. As young as she was in vampire years, even Meghan perceived the pull of that weird something dragging them ever upward.

When they stepped from the stairs into the hallway on the top floor, the smell of blood assaulted them.

Meghan immediately experienced a burst of heat in the center of her body. Before she could control the reaction, the heat traveled through her like fast-moving lava, summoning the vampire she hated and had struggled for so long to learn to control. Her fangs exploded from her mouth, dropping down to mid-jaw and all around her, things jumped to life as her vamp senses went into overdrive. From the glow of the sconces to the muffled sounds of their feet along the thick Oriental carpet, her immortal senses registered every little nuance that a human couldn’t.

That she couldn’t have sensed before being turned years earlier. Fury rose inside of her, much as it did every time that she was reminded of what she no longer was. Her anger was fueled by the violence of the vampire that had assumed control thanks to the too strong smell of blood.

Diego shot a concerned look at her, his brows furrowed over crystal blue eyes which were bleeding out to the strange neon-green of the undead, but nothing else gave away what he was. He was mastering his transformation and as he noted that she hadn’t, and maybe even picked up on her anger, he said, “Niña, you need to collect yourself. There are others around.”

Others meaning humans, she realized. Others not like me anymore.

The doors to the private dining rooms were closed and she was certain that if there had been any vampires there — any live vampires that was — they would be out in the hallway investigating the source of the disturbance and the overwhelming aroma of blood.

With a deep breath, she gathered herself and forced back her fury and blood lust, summoning the human to return. But even after reassuming control, the scent of death and the frisson of fear that something otherworldly was wrong lingered.

My deepest apologies for not giving you a Guilty Pleasure Monday yesterday, but unfortunately a series of computer glitches at work kept me busy for the better part of the day! Yes, I do still work and write, which made me think of Today’s Tuesday Tip - Time Management.

Yes, time does get away from us in so many ways, but the one question I hear repeated often is: “How do you find the time to write since you have a full time job and a family?”

It’s not always easy since yes, I do have a full time job, hubby and daughter not to mention other important family members and friends. Then there’s the volunteer work of hosting writing groups, workshops and doing work for my local Romance Writers chapter. Lots of time taken in various ways, but here’s what I do to make sure that I find time to write and that it doesn’t get unnecessarily hectic.

1. Make a plan. You know that old adage about those who fail to plan plan to fail? It couldn’t be more true. When I’m working on a new project, I always set a deadline for myself — a reasonable deadline. I could say I’m going to set a deadline of a week, but if I don’t meet that deadline it will be depressing and start a whole negative vibe and who needs that? Life is too short to make yourself miserable so set a reasonable goal.

2. Know your schedule. When I’m taking on a new contract or planning a new project, I always look and see not only what’s already contracted, but what obligations I have with my family (vacations, trips to school) and for my lawyer job (conferences, projects, meetings). Based on that, my agent and I schedule the new delivery dates and I plan my own completion date in advance of the real date to give myself time to read and revise.

3. Use your free time effectively. I admit it — I love being a couch potato and watching television. But I’ve always been able to watch TV and do other things. In fact, doing other things keeps me from falling asleep during the shows! LOL! So, I use that couch potato time to do research, update the website, check out things to do with you on the blog, put together promo materials, etc.

4. Work on your book every day. Do I do this? Almost always, although there are days I take a break here and there (although I am almost always thinking about the book I am writing or an idea for a new book). I normally write every day on the train ride to and from work and on the weekends, I get up at 6 and put in a few hours. Sometimes I’ll write on weekend nights as well depending on my plan and the schedule.

5. Give yourself some time off. Yes, I know that sounds inconsistent give 1 through 4 above, but you do need time to recharge the creative juices and you will know when it’s time. When your mind says, OVERLOAD, take a day or two or even a week to get rid of all the excess stuff cluttering your brain so you can refocus and revitalize.

6. Find your peak creative time. Some people are better in the morning, others at night. Find when you are at your most creative and structure your writing time around that peak. I’ve found mornings are best for me and so I try to set aside those hours for writing.

7. Find your prime physical space. I have a desk in my office. I swear I do! Here’s a picture of it! What do you mean you can’t see it? It’s right there, behind my knapsack and promo stuff. To the right of the telescope. Buried beneath the mounds of paper and goodies I picked up at every conference I’ve been to in the last two years! The desk is a good place for keeping all my Buffy action figures (they are not dolls!!).

Seriously, though, you know where you are most comfortable and creative. Make that place your writing place. As you may guess, I don’t work at my desk often as that is not my comfort zone for writing. As I mentioned before, certified couch potato. I usually write on my laptop while snuggled beneath my favoritest Buffy comforter while in my sweats. Writing is so glamorous, isn’t it? VBG

So that’s how I do it. I know it sounds rough at times, but I’ve found that it works well for me. Just remember everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for another. Find your peak time and place. Make a plan that won’t make you miserable and try to stick to it.

Just remember, even if you write just one page a day, at the end of a year, you’ll have written a book!

My daughter and her friends loved the Web Dollz that you could create online. I found the Dollzmania site and it’s lots of fun. You can create all kinds of Dollz and things like this Blinkie. You can also create glitter graphics with all different sayings and the like.

The best part about it! You don’t have to register and it’s free so you can bling up your website, Myspace or Facebook to your heart’s content! They do have a members section with even more, but I like to bling without registering.

So, if you’ve got some time to play, visit Dollzmania and check out all their cool stuff.

As a parent, there’s lots of challenges you face, some more difficult than others. Recently, I’ve been dealing with the fact that my child has gone Bimetro. What’s Bimetro you may ask? I think pictures explain it better than words right now.

Here we are last year during happier times namely, before the most momentous collapse in baseball history.

Here she is, my child, in the Bimetro phase!

Need I say anything more? Have you, too, suffered through this Bimetro phase with one of your children? Do they have one foot planted at home and another in a different city, their loyalties so brutally divided? VBG!

Have you suffered through this Bimetro phase yourself? Torn between loyalties? It’s okay to come clean now that we’ve gotten this syndrome out in the open.

This week’s Wicked Wednesday brings you another installment of my urban fantasy involving a twist to the werewolf mythology, battles with vampires and a struggle for control in a werewolf pack. The tentative title is UNDEAD UPRISING and I hope you like this next free chapter that I’m offering you.

Ramon has made love to Catalina to help her maintain her human form for as long as she can, but now the transformation begins and Ramon must watch helplessly as Catalina becomes the wolf she hates.

For those of you who may have missed the first seven chapters, you can read them here:

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7

CHAPTER 8

He quickly slipped from her side and stood to view her transformation. It began slowly at first, with the thickening of her muscles and the shift of them as they rearranged themselves. As the change gathered speed, Catalina writhed on the bed, yanked at the chains. Moaned as bones, sinew and muscle moved and morphed. Parts of her body popped and cracked as they slipped in and out of place.

He could only wonder at the agony it brought her. As a doctor, he knew just how a human reacted to such trauma. Did Catalina feel it as well?

Combined with the violence attacking her muscles and bones, fur quickly sprouted. A thick rich fur obliterated her alabaster skin. Finally, her beautiful face elongated, her mouth and lips losing most semblance of the human as her wolf’s muzzle erupted. She uttered something. It sounded like his name, but was lost in the growing cavity of her wolf’s mouth. In the strong jaws that could take life with just one snap.

Razor sharp fangs emerged. Glistened brightly. He imagined her slashing and killing with them. The wolf totally assumed control now. A wolf like no other within the pack.

Despite the many months they had shared together, the change still fascinated him. Maybe even repulsed as well.

Catalina’s wolf pulled at the shackles, trying to free itself. Bayed loudly at the frustration of imprisonment. When long minutes passed and the transformation finished, the animal’s attempts for freedom lessened, as if it sensed that to struggle against the restraints would be useless.

Ramon laid a hand on the wolf’s side and brushed the silky fur, a reddish brown color unique amongst all the wolves. A color so much like Catalina’s hair that he wanted to weep for the woman trapped within the beast. The werewolf didn’t shift beneath his caress, but whimpered, like a dog in pain and maybe it was. Maybe this was still Catalina responding to him. To his anguish on her behalf.

He met the werewolf’s gaze and as always, Catalina’s green-gold eyes stared back. The look there screamed human, which made him risk it all to reach up and rub his hand gently over her head. At that, the large animal closed its eyes and finally stopped struggling against its bonds.

He was mesmerized by the differences between Catalina’s wolf and a real one. Hands which while not human, could still grasp a weapon. The wolf-like body that could walk and fight upright, but on all fours, loped along elegantly. Quickly. A body stronger and larger than a real wolf and therefore, more dangerous.

Ramon gave Catalina’s head one final stroke, and then rushed over to secure the door to the room. Striding back across the large space, he armed himself from the weapons closet. He eased on the specially made armor — a gift from Catalina. Buckled on not one but two swords and for good measure, grabbed a loaded shotgun. The shells in the gun were packed with silver pellets laced with silver nitrate. Equally as effective against a vampire or werewolf.

Remembering what had happened in the last few days, uneasiness grabbed him more completely now that Catalina lay defenseless. He snatched a few extra shells and tucked them into his pocket. After, he returned to the pallet in which Catalina’s wolf rested and sat on the floor beside it, the shotgun across his lap; the swords within easy reach.

If anything decided to try and take advantage, they would have to get through him first. He only hoped he would be strong enough. With one last look back at Catalina, he considered what would happen if he had to set her free to protect herself.

He prayed the wolf might remember who he was and spare his life.

Copyright 2008 Caridad Pineiro Scordato www.caridad.com

The weather’s warmer and I’m already out there working on my tiny ponds and g