Welcome to my daily blog. If this is your first time, I'm a romance writer and a misplaced city girl currently living in the wild Sierras. I tend to have a lot of I-Love-Lucy moments that I share here but sometimes we talk about books, TV, and our favorite cookies. Okay, my favorite cookies. In any case, please feel free to comment by clicking on the Comments at the bottom of any entry. If you're too shy, that's okay, just know I love having you.

Why you shouldn’t wear your pj’s as work clothes

January 18, 2012 | Filed under: Stuff

Because when your daughter calls and says the words that no mom wants to hear, the “I’ve been in a car accident” words, chances are you’re going to run out of the house exactly as you are.

Which I did.

And yeah. I was in my pj’s, which consist of pilfered Alpha Man sweat bottoms and a two decades old Mini-Mouse t-shirt. My hair was … crazy, I had no mascara on (I lost it a few weeks back), and I was in my donkey-from-shrek slippers. Take a moment and picture that, won’t you?

The good news. Youngest is fine. The other guy is fine. The cars … not so much, but we’ll deal. Everyone is fine. Moral of this story: Get dressed every single day. Or at the least, buy cool pajamas.

Posted by Jill @ 3:30 am | 28 comments

Pretend Boyfriend Day

January 17, 2012 | Filed under: Stuff

Today’s economic stimulus package.

You are welcome.

Posted by Jill @ 3:30 am | 29 comments

Best Of Monday

January 16, 2012 | Filed under: Stuff

Okay, ALL I wanted was a nice picture of the family in the kitchen. Not a portrait, God forbid I attempt a portrait. I thought hey, I have Youngest and Middle and Alpha Man in the kitchen, all laughing and having a good time, I’ll just snap the moment.

I said please don’t look crazy and wild like a pack of wolves. Please just . . . I don’t know, smile and hold still for a second.

Hello, I’m over HERE. Behave!

Thunk.

Which, by the way, is the sound of my head on the counter top. Speaking of the counter top, please ignore our dinner mess.

And if you could also ignore the fact that they’re dancing instead of giving me the picture I wanted! Okay, one more time, people. Stop wrestling and pay attention.

Middle, get off the floor! Youngest, get off Middle!

I couldn’t even make this one look sweet and innocent even in black and white. Forget it, I give up. Sadie, take it away.

Posted by Jill @ 3:30 am | 26 comments

The cat’s I Love Lucy tale

January 13, 2012 | Filed under: Stuff

So bored. What to do…

Huh. Not quite as fun as I thought. There’s got to be something else I can do …

Wow. I can totally get my whole head in here …

Uh oh.

I’m stuck.

HELLO????? I’M STUCK! I’M GOING TO DIE …

DIE, I TELL YOU!!!!

I nearly died you know …

Posted by Jill @ 3:30 am | 15 comments

Giveaway

January 11, 2012 | Filed under: Stuff

Update:
Winners, picked by random.org are #3, #97, #107. Email me with your book choice and whether you want print or Kindle. Congrats and thanks all for playing! I’ll do another next week!

Original Post:
Okay so I had a giveaway a few days ago and two of the three winners didn’t claim their prize. So. Let’s try this again. Something we haven’t done in a few weeks. Name the book of mine that the excerpt comes from. Also, I want to know if you’ve read Head Over Heels or Animal Attraction. Or neither. Three winners will win their choice of Head Over Heels or Animal Attraction, or their choice from backlist. Print or Kindle. US or Canada only, sorry!

Here we go. Excerpt:

She swiped at her eyes. She was not going to cry. “Suck it up,” she whispered fiercely to herself. “It’s all good, no matter how hard it is.”

“I’m going to refrain from saying ‘That’s what she said’ since you seem to be having a moment.”

Whirling around, she glared at the tall, dark and far too handsome man leaning against the front wall of the building. “Why do you keep sneaking up on me?”

Instead of answering, he handed her a bag.

Opening it, she found two additional old fashioned chocolate glazes. “Since you handed yours off,” he said with a shrug. “Thought you could use some.”

“I gave them away so I wouldn’t eat them. I was saving myself.”

“Okay.” He tried to take the bag back, but she slapped his hand and hugged the bag to her chest.

He appeared to fight a smile, but his voice was serious. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. Though I’d be a hell of a lot better if you hadn’t told the whole world that I have a parking problem.”

“I didn’t tell the whole world. Just what’s his name. Your friendly ex.”

She blew out a sigh. “Nick. And how do you know he’s an ex?”

“It’s either that, or he’s a prospect. Which would explain the hungry look on his face.”

“Ex,” she admitted. “And he looked hungry because he was. For donuts.”

“And for you as well.” Stepping into her personal space bubble as he had a habit of doing, Brady cupped her face and tilted it up to his, running his thumb under her eye, catching a tear she’d missed. “You don’t look like you’re okay,” he said quietly.

She sent him another glare just for the heck of it and tried to turn away, but he held her still.

And close.

And Lord, he was deadly in close. “What?” she asked, sounding testy. Because she was.

He backed her closer to the building, under the eaves and away from the window, giving them a little bit of privacy. “You look like you need . . .” His eyes darkened a little and his thumb brushed over her bottom lip now, making it tingle and tremble open.

“What? I need what?”

“This.” Holding her gaze for as long as possible, he leaned in and lightly brushed her mouth with his warm, firm one.

She heard a sound, a whimper really, and realized it was her. He was right. She needed this. Bad. Fisting his shirt to hold him close, she heard the sound again, horrifyingly, embarrassingly needy.

“Shh,” he whispered soothingly, and then kissed her once more, not lightly this time.