Thursday, May 24, 2012

Do you have a favorite book?

Do you have favorite book?


I’ve got one. Actually, I’ve got more than one. My bookshelf is lined with classics, stories that went straight to my heart and will stay forever.

For starters, I’m quite sure I’ll never forget Captain Brandon Birmingham and Heather Simmons, characters from the novel Flame And The Flower.




Heather, an orphaned beauty has nowhere else to turn except her Aunt Fanny, who turns out to be a jealous and cruel guardian with a brother whose lusty attack on the young ward results in murder. Heather must flee. And ends up in the arms of the most dashing and I must say, masculine man to date, Captain Brandon Birmingham, who recently docked after a long voyage, has sent a couple of his men to fetch a female prostitute or to put it more delicately-- a companion. They run into Miss Simmons on the docks and suggest she follow them, (which she does without question thinking she’s being arrested for murdering the aunt’s brother) Of course the captain realizes he’s mistaken, but not before the deed is done.
I’m pretty certain this novel helped coin the phrase ‘bodice rippers.’ But I’m not afraid to admit that I loved this story. Especially the way the Captain feels duty-bound to marry her, once he learns the lass is pregnant, redeeming him in my eyes and creating a memorable hero as he continues to demonstrate heroic qualities one after another.

Kathleen E. Woodiwiss made history with that novel, taking romance readers to beyond the bedroom door.

And I loved it so much, I named my first born, Heather. And my sister named her son, Brandon. : )


And how about Olivia Goldsmith? Her characters are so funny! And these days laughs are hard to come by.


If you loved First Wives Club then you are going to love Pen Pals.



I picked this book up in the library after having signed in to use the community computer- mine had taken a dump. I was so involved reading Pen Pals that I completely missed my name being called from the list twice! And didn’t want to be disturbed by the third announcement when the attendant came searching for me.

Pen Pals portrays Jennifer Spence as a whiz on Wall Street but naïve’ when it comes to recognizing a setup as her powerful boss convinces her to take the rap on insider trading charges. He’s convinced her she’ll only be in jail overnight, possibly a few days at the most, and Jennifer trades in her Armani suit for an orange jumpsuit. Second mistake, depending on the well-connected, lying through-his-teeth lawyer to get her out, who just happens to be her fiancé. This jerk takes his sweet time and her three-carat diamond ring for ‘safekeeping,’ leaving her to rot in prison.

Jennifer is booked in and frisked down by Motiva, a big woman who works for the warden and Cher, another trustee who doesn’t even wait for Jennifer to be hauled off to a cell before slipping on her shoes! Jennifer wises up with the help of her cellmates, she has to if she ever wants to have her freedom and shoes again. And when they put their minds together, conquering Wall Street is nothing compared to taking down a crooked warden and triumphed up charges.



I’ve since bought my own copy and have read it three times already! Trust me when I say it’s a laugh out loud book.

Okay, since we’re talking books and story people, plot lines and gimmicks, I’ve gotta mention a favorite book you haven’t read. My recently contracted book, Man of her Dreams.
I love this story and from the moment the idea first hit me, (a girl with a warm fuzzy family meets the guy who practically raised himself ) it kind of just unfolded.
The main characters--Jay Westfield and Leslie Stone-- are two people destined to be together. Neither one have ever been in love; although Leslie thought she was. Even going so far as to become engaged. However, after stumbling in on Kevin and her bridesmaid christening the new mattress, it’s obvious he’s not the man for her.
And there’s Jay, an angry young man who grew up literally living and traveling around with a carnival. His mother was a showgirl, Madame Luella, who used whatever wiles it takes to get her way with the countless men who stroll the midway. When she rode off in a cloud of dust all those years ago, leaving Jay at fifteen to fend for himself, he vowed to steer clear of women who sought the lime-light.






So naturally when he sees Leslie on the back of the mechanical bull- (she’s hoping to win the purse to fix her car) he wants no part of it.

Thank goodness for Mr. Jingles, who just happens to know a thing or two about a thing or two. Who's Mr. Jingles? Don’t worry, it’ll all be revealed soon. Stay tuned for updates on the progress as Man of her Dreams is soon to be headed to production!

Friday, May 18, 2012

Girls just gotta love dolls


Whenever I’m rattled, I go on a cleaning frenzy. Windows, woodwork, you name it. I’ve even gone so far as to wash and iron the valances! And once the inside's done, I head outdoors. I swear, I probably lost three pounds (if I’d had said ten, you’d know I’d be lying) from the numerous walks down to the road.

What has ruffled my feather duster, you ask?

I recently signed a contract for my contemporary novel,

Man of her Dreams.

I love this story and I’m so happy it’s going to be published. Jennifer Lawler, editor for Crimson Romance, contacted me to say she wanted to add it to their line up of books to be out this year!

Naturally, I’ll need to come up with a plan of action. I've set up Facebook fan page. Teresa Blue, author, https://www.facebook.com/yahoo#!/looking4heros

If you get the chance to check it out, please hit the LIKE button. The more ‘likes’ I acquire, the more …I don’t know really, but something good comes from having lots of fans LIKE your page. Might take me to the next universe of something. : )


And with all the things to do, I can’t figure out what needs to addressed first. Website? Revisions? Blog tour? (more on that later) Or get busy writing that follow up book?
Maybe I've mentioned...I'm not sure what to do first?






And so instead of driving myself crazy (I know, short trip) I decided to go picking and in no time at all my worries disappear and a peaceful calm soothes the soul. There's just something so tranquil in looking over stuff from the past...but with a past all their own.






This is a Ginger Walker original PlayTime series doll. 1950’s, she stands 8’ tall is made of hard plastic. Her blue eyes sleep when tipped back and are covered by tiny molded lashes. Whenever her legs are moved, her head turns on its on. From the minute I first picked her up and she nodded hello, I knew she was going home with me. She’s adorable, and with fly-away hair and the way she seems to fall asleep quickly, I’ll think I'll name her Teresa.


She’ll be the perfect playmate for Little Red Riding Hood who also has sleep eyes and that lovely handmade cape from Grandma.


This doll doesn’t need an introduction. It’s Mattel’s version of Katie Scarlett O’Hara, issued in 1994. Course you know the dress she’s wearing, it’s straight from the O’Hara’s parlor window!
The war was almost over and Scarlett needed to money to pay the taxes on her beloved home, Tara. Although many changes had taken place since the war, old habits die hard, and Mammy refuses to let Scarlett anywhere near Atlanta and the horse stables where Rhett Butler is being held until she’s properly attired.

Stunning, eh?

























That’s an awful lot of fuss for one man, right? But when the guy is handsome blockade runner, Rhett Butler, it’s a privilege.
Dashing in his smoking jacket, World Doll released their version in 1989. I had one with him wearing a black tuxedo too.


Can’t forget the woman who made the dress, and put Scarlett in her first pair of diapers.




When Rhett gave Mammy the red petticoat he was afraid she wouldn’t wear it. But to his surprise, she did. Although it made noise when she walked Mammy loved it and loved Mr. Rhett for giving it to her.


I'm sure it's obvious by now that I love everything about the movie Gone with the Wind. And collecting memorabilia just gives me one more tie to such a wonderful story full of rich characters and beautiful costumes.

And the dolls, well...who doesn't love a pretty doll?



Oh, wait! Before I go I want to tell you that on Monday, May 21st, I'll be blogging with Diane Burton at her blogsite http://dianeburton.blogspot.com
If you get the chance, please come by and comment. I'd love to see you!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Salute to Mothers




Where would we be without Mothers? Er, um…actually I don’t think we'd ‘be’ anywhere were it not for Mom. She’s the starch in every household. You’ve heard of a one man show? Well they were referring to her. A Mother. The all around multi-tasked person who can cook, clean, a nurse, gardener, chaperone, shuttle bus driver, and at times… be herself.

Because of Mom you learned to say your prayers and were warned not to cry too long or your face would freeze that way. Gulp!

Because of Mom we know we have eat our vegetables, after all, people are starving in China. Mom taught us important things like washing behind our ears and the absolute necessity to change our underwear regularly. Suppose you were involved in an accident?

Mothers know so much! And here's a few more saying we’ve heard from Mom.

Money doesn’t grow on trees.
When you have a house, you can make your own rules.
Close that door! Were you born in a barn?
Judas! Have you been in my purse again?
If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.

My favorite: If everyone jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?

I won't argue, Mothers are everything to every body. But here a few things you may not have known about some world famous Mothers.


Anna Mary Robertson- aka Grandma Moses
, born 1860 in Greenwich, New York.

She married a farm worker Thomas S. Moses and gave birth to ten children. Anna discovered painting by accident while wallpapering her parlor. She ran out of the patterned paper and instead she painted a scene on a separate sheet of paper, then filled the gap with her art.
That particular painting is now hanging in the Bennington Museum in Vermont.
Anna won many awards and on her 100th birthday, the governor of New York, then Nelson Rockefeller proclaimed the day as Grandma Moses Day.
Her highest selling painting titled “Sugaring Off” sold in 2006 for a whopping 1.2 million dollars! And to this day the canvas painting “4th of July” that Anna painted for President Eisenhower still hangs in the White House.




Of course I have to mention Barbara Billingsley, better known as June Cleaver from the hit TV show Leave it to Beaver.

June and her husband Ward were the typical suburban parents of the 1950’s living in the beautiful town of Mayfield with their two sons, Wally (Wallance) and Theodore (the Beaver.)

But did you know that June has a sister, Peggy with an infant niece. June also has a spinster aunt named Martha Bronson who June claims to have raised her. Aunt Martha's 'old maid’ mindset drives Ward and the boys crazy whenever she comes to visit, which thankfully, is not very often. Aunt Martha tends to serve milktoast for breakfast and egg plant for dinner. She means well and actually gave Beaver an heirloom ring, which belonged to her brother, Theodore, whom the Beaver is named after.
Knowing about aunt Martha, it’s little wonder June tends to decorate in British upper class traditional. A Monet hangs on one wall while a Constable hangs in the livingroom.
And if June'a appearance is slightly stiff, it's probably because she was taught a formal curtsey by her aunt who often referred to their common Bronson linage.
It’s been rumored that June and Ward slept in twin beds while watching their small portable television set. Only on occasion, if she had a pressing errand that simply couldn’t wait, did she drive the Ford Fairlane,

To this day I use wax paper to wrap my sandwiches, cut corner to corner, in honor of June Cleaver.




Mothers all over will be showcased for their wonderful uniqueness they've brought to their family.

I’ll add mine to the collection.


Happy Mother's Day MOM!

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Night Bird Buy link





This one is directly from The Wild Rose Press. In case you're looking for it.
Finally, the book is up on Amazon. Yay!

And a review from Christine Warner:

I highly recommend this novella. I don’t like to give away too much in any review I write, and I won’t make an exception here, but I can tell you that you will not be disappointed with this read!

From the very first paragraph I was invested in this story. I was drawn into the mood and the characters. Emma is the perfect heroine for this story and Travis is not only sexy and manly as the hero, but tender and vulnerable at the same time.

Teresa Blue has a wonderful way of weaving her words together to bring her characters to life and put the reader right into the scene. Each word she used to describe what was happening was so well chosen, it made everything so crisp and easy to visualize. Top it off with Emma’s emotion and caring attitude to her past, her present and her future and I was a goner. I didn’t put this story down until I reached the end.

Beautifully written with twists and turns I didn’t expect, I loved following along with Emma and Travis as they revealed themselves to each other…and the story was revealed to the reader. There were several times I was caught by surprise and that’s a real treat when reading a story.

I’m not a professional reviewer, but if I were, I’d give this 2 thumbs up, 5 stars and lots of satisfied sighs!


Thanks!