Category: thurs13

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Thursday 13 – Favorite Jersey Shore Things

I love the summer and being to drive down to the Jersey Shore and enjoy being outdoors.

So this morning’s Thursday 13 is a list of my favorite Jersey Shore Things! Feel free to add your some of your favorite things about the Jersey Shore or about the summer!

1. Strolling along the boardwalk and checking out the sights.
2. Checking out street fairs, flea markets and art festivals.
3. 4th of July parades and fireworks.
4. Memorial Day parades and services to honor our military.
5. Sitting on the beach and reading.
6. Fishing! I have got to break out that fishing pole.
7. Exploring the various towns and seeing their unique styles.
8. Long bike rides along Ocean Avenue.
9. Surfer dudes. They are so sexy.
10. Eating ice cream at Day’s in Ocean Grove or Kohr’s frozen custard along the boardwalk.
11. $10.00 lobster specials! Yum, love lobster.
12. Shopping at the outlets.
13. Lucy the Elephant!

Hope you’re having a good summer so far! Feel free to share your favorite things with us today!

You can visit more Thursday 13 participants by clicking here.

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13 Favorite Books

Welcome to today’s Thursday Thirteen! I don’t know about you, but way before I was a writer, I was an avid reader and even now I try to get in a number of reads during the course of the year. Amongst those are some favorites which I’m sharing with you today. Feel free to add your favorite ones to the list!

    1. WOLF AND THE DOVE by Kathleen Woodiwiss
    2. NAKED IN DEATH by JD Robb
    3. The rest of the IN DEATH series by JD Robb
    4. WUTHERING HEIGHTS by Emily Bronte
    5. WE by Eugene Zamiatin
    6. LOOKING BACKWARD by Paul Bellamy
    7. SHANNA by Kathleen Woodiwiss
    8. AND TO THINK I SAW IT ON MULBERRY STREET by Dr. Seuss
    9. PILLAR OF IRON by Taylor Caldwell
    10. GONE WITH THE WIND by Margaret Mitchell
    11. IN COLD BLOOD by Truman Capote
    12. BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley
    13. DARKNESS AT NOON by Arthur Koestler

As for what I’ll be reading this summer, I’m going to catch up on a lot of the IN DEATH series books I’ve missed, mix in some wonderfully romantic and sexy HARLEQUIN DESIREs and tackle ATLAS SHRUGGED by Ayn Rand. I’ve heard quite a bit about it and it seems like a great time to consider what happens when there is too much government in our lives.

To visit other Thursday Thirteeners, please click here.

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Thursday 13 – THE FIFTH KINGDOM

THE FIFTH KINGDOM Romantic Suspense from Carina PressA big thanks to Xakara for inspiring today’s Thursday 13, namely 13 (okay maybe 14) paragraphs from my upcoming Carina Press romantic suspense release, THE FIFTH KINGDOM.

Just a little setup for you. The hero, Bill Santiago, is a sexy CIA Agent who is investigating the disappearance of an archeologist and a possible connection to a Mexican terrorist group. The heroine, Deanna Vasquez, is the daughter of the missing woman, but she has a love/hate relationship with her mom, who abandoned her years earlier.

Bill and Deanna travel to Mexico together to try and put an end to the possible threat against both her mother and the United States. Along the way, Bill and Deanna find unexpected danger, namely, a threat to their hearts as love blossoms between them.

As for this short excerpt, if it isn’t hot enough where you are today, today’s Thursday 13 may change that, so you are warned that what follows is a little spicy and for a mature crowd. If you are not over 17, please do not continue. And yes, I am a tease! Please don’t be angry with me for that.
Continue reading “Thursday 13 – THE FIFTH KINGDOM”

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13 Places to Visit in New York City

With the Romance Writers Conference arriving in my hometown on June 28th, look for me to start offering up some tips on Eats, To dos and To Sees! Look for Countdown 2 #RWA11 starting on June 1 on Twitter and my Facebook Fan Page.

But today I’m sharing some other favorite places to visit in New York City. I work there every day and for the longest time really didn’t get to see this amazing city. Once I decided to become a “tourist”, I discovered lots of different little neighborhoods, restaurants and sights to see. It’s one of the reasons I set THE CALLING in Manhattan – to offer up views of all the unique neighborhoods.

So here goes!

When you think of New York you probably imagine there is a lot of hustle and bustle in the city that never sleeps. You’d be right, but tucked amongst all those skyscrapers are oases of green and calm. Here are some of my favorites.

    1. Tudor Greens
    2. Union Square Park
    3. Central Park
    4. Bryant Park

I’d list Gramercy Park in there, but unfortunately this park is open only to those who pay an annual fee and possess a key to enter. Ugh.

Next up – America’s story locations. Unless you’re a Native American, your ancestors came here from somewhere else and New York City is a vibrant part of that immigration story. So be sure to visit these locations to learn more about America’s famed melting pot and experience some of the flavor imparted on New York by its immigrant populations:

    5. Statue of Liberty
    6. Ellis Island
    7. Tenement Museum
    8. Museum at Eldridge Street
    9. Chinatown
    10. Little Italy

To experience the hustle and bustle, from both on the ground and above, these locations can’t be beat:

    11. Empire State Building
    12. Top of the Rock
    13. Times Square

I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s Thursday 13. If you’ve been to New York City, take a moment to share some of your favorite places to visit.

Tomorrow, look for the winners of the prizes from last week’s live video event, news on the next live video event and a chance to win an autographed copy of Margaret Mallory‘s THE GUARDIAN!

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13 Things I Love About the Jersey Shore

Jersey ShoreBeing a Pisces, you know I’m a water baby and so the Jersey Shore is such a lovely place for me to be. Being near the ocean spurs my creativity in so many positive ways as does soaking up the sun. So here are the 13 things I love about the Jersey Shore.

1. Long strolls along the Boardwalk.
2. DAYS ice cream. The short shot is the absolute best way to end the day.
3. Sitting beneath an umbrella and watching the ocean.
4. Seeing the little kids playing in the sand and water. Such unabashed joy.
5. Taking a nap beneath my umbrella (something I rarely do the rest of the year).
6. Reading lots and lots of books beneath that umbrella and on my little balcony.
7. The assorted fairs and craft events in all the nearby towns.
8. Fishing. Maybe this year I’ll actually do instead of just watching.
9. Watching the tents go up in Ocean Grove.

Tents down for the Season at Ocean Grove
Ocean Grove Tent City

10. Listening to music at the Ocean Grove Auditorium.
11. Listening to the music from the Stone Pony in Asbury Park.
12. Looking for shells along the beach. Found lots of sand dollars last year.
13. The Bradley Beach Lobster Festival. Yummy yummy I got lobster in my tummy.

What about you? Are you a Jersey Girl? If so, share your favorite shore things to do.

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The Thirteen Lies I Use To Protect My Heart

We’re still celebrating with my month long birthday bash and today I’m lucky to have with me Rachel Firasek whose latest release is PIPER’S FURY. Rachel had a chance to chat with Piper and since it’s Thursday 13, Piper is sharing with us the 13 lies she uses to protect her heart.

But first, Rachel is being kind enough to offer a copy of an e-book if you leave a comment and follow her on Facebook, Twitter or her website.

And now for a short blurb about PIPER’S FURY and Piper’s list for Thursday 13.

Blurb

It’s an empath thing…

Using your “powers” to help the Dark Hills Police Department hunt down serial killers doesn’t leave much time for dating. Not that Piper Anast is complaining. The last thing she needs is some guy brushing up against her and pumping his pornographic thoughts into her head.

When she meets Bennett Slade, a sexy, tormented vampire, Piper stumbles headlong into a telepathic connection with his missing daughter. She can’t leave the kid to the evil surrounding her unwanted visions, nor can she resist her draw to Slade. He’s the first guy she’s been able to touch vision-free in, well, forever.

As she and Slade close in on the evil creature holding his daughter, Piper’s powers morph into a deadly fury. To save Slade’s daughter-and herself-Piper must face down demons she never knew she had and trust the one thing she keeps from everyone.

Her heart.

The Thirteen Lies I Use To Protect My Heart by Piper Anast

1. Slade is Ugly…no it’s a lie, it is. The man is gorgeous. His eyes reflect a storm above the mountain when he looks at me. Major hunk.

2. Slade’s mean. He’s mean to me. Nope, that’s a lie too. He’s really very nice. And polite. Too polite, it’s annoying!

3. He can’t cook. LIE! He cooks better than most women in America, he has years of practice. Hundreds of them.

4. Slade, is kind of cold-hearted. That’s not true either. He has a pure soul. He’s an open book until he tried to protect me from all the baddies in the world.

5. He’s a chauvinist. Well, other than keeping me away from death–dang, that’s not true either. He let’s me be a complete feminist.

6. He’s not sexy. If you like perfect muscles, tall and mysterious, I guess he would be considered sexy, but I don’t. *averts eyes from the crowd*

7. He doesn’t show any interest. Maybe he’s not into me as I’m into him. That’s not true. When he looks at me, when he kisses me, I know he more than just wants me.

8. He doesn’t take care of his kid. It’s true. She gets kidnapped when she’s a year old. I mean, who lets that happen? That’s mean, even for me. He adores this kid. It’s breaking his heart.

9. I tell myself that we wouldn’t be good for each other. Why would a gal with a temper need somebody kind and calm? It’s just not a good fit.

10. I’m not ready for a relationship. I mean, I’m only 24. I’ve never even dated. But, that’s because men are pigs. Well, except for Slade. He’s the first man I’ve ever met that hasn’t dirtied my mind with torrid visions.

11. I can’t move in with him. He lives in the mountains. Oh, who am I trying to kid. It’s the perfect place for an introvert like me.

12. If I were to get with Slade, I’d have to leave Mabel. She needs me. I mean who would drag her home from her many meetings, outings, and socializing?

13. I lie to myself. I lie to my friends. I lie to everyone because I don‘t have any feelings. Biggest lie yet. I love them all, but I can’t let them know that. You see, when you admit it, when you voice it and lose it, it hurts worse. I’ll just keep it locked inside and when they pass or leave, I’ll be able to keep a piece of them with me.

Thank you all for letting me share my chronic lying problem with you. Piper Anast, signing off!

Thank you Rachel and Piper for visiting with us today!

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Thursday 13 – Valentine Chocolate Goodness

With Valentine’s Day just a few days away, men should remember that the way to a woman’s heart may be through chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. So today I’m sharing 13 luscious recipes for you courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens! You can visit their site for even more chocolatey goodness.

1. Cheesecake Brownies
2. Hot Chocolate Souffle with Coffee Ice Cream
3. Chocolate Bread Pudding with Cherries
4. Dark Chocolate Tort
5. Easy Chocolate Souffle
6. Bittersweet Mousse
7. Double Deck Chocolate Custards
8. Chocolate Mixed Nut Pie
9. Molten Chocolate Cakes
10. Chocolate Dipped Cookies
11. Chocolate Fondue
12. Toffee
13. Chocolate Chunk Biscotti

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