For this "new book" celebration, it's discounted from $3.99 to 99¢, and it's also available on Kindle Unlimited for subscribers.
Yes, the "poster" at left is the set up for this enemies to lovers romcom. I hope you'll enjoy the book.
I'm particularly interest in what you think about the quotations at the beginning of each chapter from The Book of Counted Pleasures by Lady Adorée.
I had a lot of fun writing this book in composing those excerpts from The Book of Counted Pleasures as well as the limericks in the book.
Tell your friends and family who read romance about my new book, available as an ebook everywhere and in print next month.
TAKEAWAY TRUTH
Writing a book is hard work, but the euphoria and the satisfaction when it publishes is absolutely stunning.
When all of the special events—inluding selling a house and packing up its contents to move into storage—were over, I settled in to finish writing The Book.
To be honest, I'd written this book a couple of years ago, but I felt it was missing something so I shelved it.
This year, I pulled it out and started rewriting it—again. I had a fourth of it done when all the personal stuff happened. I didn't get back into the office until after July 4. When I considered that I had only 15 days to get it finished, edited, proofed, and formatted, I nearly canceled the book because I was SO tired.
I did it. I managed to get it uploaded by 5PM Saturday—1 hour before the deadline. Whoop!
Sunday I walked around like a zombie.
Today, Monday, I started a new book.
PERSEVERANCE
If you look up the word, perseverance, you'll see that it's "the quality of continuing with something, especially despite difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement. It involves steadfastness in pursuing a goal, purpose, or course of action."
Perseverance is usually viewed as a positive trait linked to success and achievement. At least, that's always the way I've thought of it.
Personally, I think perseverance is linked to stubborness. You just get deep down stubborn and will keep going no matter what obstacle tries to block you.
The result? My new book, OLD ENOUGH TO BE BOLD, a spicy enemies to lovers RomCom that publishes July 23, it will be available on Kindle Unlimited.
Like the end of any good Romance, my writing challenge has a Happy Ending—the publication of OLD ENOUGH TO BE BOLD.
TAKEAWAY TRUTH
I hope you'll get my new book and love it! If you do, please leave a review.
I'm shopping, and you probably are too. To kick off this event, I have 2 questions for you.
FIRST QUESTION
Why signup for Prime?
See the graphic at left? That was posted to my Prime account recently. Cute, huh?
It represents how much money I saved in the last 12 months from free shipping, discounts on products, ebook reading, music and video streaming.
We shop on Amazon a lot because it's often easier than searching the stores when we need something other than groceries. (Confession: Sometimes we buy grocery products too on Amazon.)
There are a ton of other benefits that we have never used. We're small potatoes when it comes to consumerism, but we think we're definitely getting our money's worth from our membership.
Want to see everything a Prime subscription offers? Here's a list of Prime Membership Benefits that will amaze you.
Yes, indeedy! Special deals and special types of Prime Memberships. Here are a few you may be interested in.
For this Prime Day event, new users can sign up for a 30-day free trial of Prime which gives them access to all Prime Day deals and other benefits like free two-day shipping and Prime Video. So sign up today or at any time before the Prime Day event ends and experience the benefits of membership including exclusive deals and discounts available during the sale.
I didn't know that there was a special discounted Prime Membership for Young Adults, ages 18-24. You get all of Prime’s benefits at half the price plus additional perks tailored for a young adult audience. In fact, you get a limited-time 5% cash back savings across categories like beauty, apparel, electronics, and personal care. See the specific eligibility criteria that you'll find on the Prime Young Adult sign-up page.
If you're a reader, you'd probably like to become a Kindle Unlimited Subscriber and read a plethora of wonderful books each month. (All of my books are on Kindle Unlimited.)
Actually, the Kindle Unlimited Prime Day free trial is for 3 months, not 1 month!
TAKEAWAY TRUTH
I'm afraid I lost track of some things I should have done in April—like sending my newsletter to subscribers and blogging each day.
I hope to get my April newsletter out to subscribers by Sunday. (I'll mark that task as "Better late than never.")
I'm trying to get ahead of the curve on the writing, and the blogging will take care of itself.
May is going to be a frantic month. We have a couple of high school graduations and 2 out of town trips. Then there are the painting, landscaping, and a few other projects to wrap up.
I'm afraid some of these things will carry over into June, and new projects will be added to the list. But let's get to the 99¢ sale.
THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE went on sale yesterday, and this book is also on Kindle Unlimited for you subscribers.
Please leave a review. The competition grows fiercer every day. Authors need a lot of good reviews to make it in today's world.
Susannah Quinn is a by-the-book Texas deputy who's about to have her life turned upside down! When the tall, dark, and too-darn-yummy FBI Special Agent D.E. Hogan strolls into the Sheriff's office, battle lines are drawn. To her consternation, she finds herself in a steamy battle of the sexes—and a battle of wills—that's hotter than a bowl of Texas chili!
TAKEAWAY TRUTH
I'm looking forward to the weekend, and you probably are too. Here's wishing you good weather—none of that scary stuff involving storms—and relaxation. Get a fun book and your weekend will be complete.
SUNFLOWERS FOR HER is Book 4 of Wildflowers of Texas series
KARA, WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR SUNFLOWERS FOR HER?
My husband and I always go on a trip for our anniversary. I went hunting for our next getaway – I wanted a small town with antique shops – and I found Jefferson, Texas.
This small town sits in the northeast corner of Texas, just a hop and a skip away from Louisiana.
When I discovered all the historic houses in this town, I flipped with excitement. I can’t even begin to tell you how many gorgeous homes have been turned into B&Bs. We ended up just strolling the streets to see them all.
This caused Jefferson, once a very booming city, to become almost a ghost town. In an instant, people’s lives were changed.
And that got me to thinking…
What would a town do if their city was threatened with extinction?
Enter Millie Stewart, the heroine of SUNFLOWERS FOR HER. A young lady who isn’t used to carrying heavy burdens and discovers that an entire town is depending on her to get things right. And because she loves her neighbors, she’s going to do everything she can to be what they need.
Read more about Jefferson, Texas, here: https://visitjeffersontexas.com/history .
BLURBING THE BOOK
Buckshot, Texas, 1885
After a horrific storm rips through her hometown, Millie Stewart finds that her neighbors are in dire need of help. She sets out to do everything she can, but when her brother leaves her high and dry, she has to operate Stewart Mercantile on her own. The town is depending on her.
John Fletcher—smart, reserved, and mysterious—comes to town, sets up shop, and brings with him the knowledge needed to clear the log jam on the river, giving everyone a chance at survival.
John is a tad scary in Millie’s opinion. Never mind that he’s handsome. Never mind that he’s generous. He makes her feel things. He makes her heart skip a beat, and suddenly, with barely a warning, she’s in love. Only he doesn’t seem to return the sentiment.
Her brother returns, but only to rob her blind. A little too mad and a whole lot tougher, Millie sets out to find him and give him what-for. Little does she know, someone is chasing her.
John won’t let Millie go to battle alone, especially since she’s the reason his heart is beating again. Can he get to Millie in time? Or will her ne’er-do-well brother’s villainy take everything John holds dear?
Kara O’Neal is an award-winning author of over thirty historical romances. Humor, family, love, and romance take center stage in her novels, and her characters have been touted as “real, complex, and down-to-earth”. Her books are available in print and ebook.
When not writing, she’s a teacher, but she’s always a mother to three talented children, and the wife of a man quite worthy of being called “hero”.
Telling stories is her passion, and she does so with memorable characters and unique plots certain to keep you reading late into the night!
Visit Kara at these popular websites:
Website: www.karaoneal.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/KaraONeal84/
X: https://twitter.com/KaraONealAuthor
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kara-o-neal
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveandletters7/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7278350.Kara_O_Neal
TAKEAWAY TRUTH
The weekend is here, and SUNFLOWERS FOR HER sounds like a great weekend escape. It's available in ebook and print at most ebook retailers. Why not get a copy today?
Oh, for you "Amazon only" readers, just click here for SUNFLOWERS FOR HER.
I've reposted it to Facebook, but I wanted to share it here too.
WHO IS VIVIAN STEPHENS
If you're not a romance author, you may not know who this remarkable lady is.
Ms. Stephens has been an Editor at Publishing houses, an Agent, and an Author, but one of the most significant contributions she made was to the Romance Genre as a whole when she co-founded Romance Writers of America.
Here's a little about her, but I hope you'll go to her GoFundMe page and read more about her and be moved to make a donation to help her with her medical and living expenses.
The Romance genre would not be the literary powerhouse it is today without Vivian Stephens. As an Editor for Dell Publishing, she started the Candlelight Ecstasy Romance line of books which soared immediately.
Women were hungry for stories that spoke to them, and women who read the books wanted to write them. Many of those early romance writers are now household names who wrote for Ms. Stephens.
Those early romance authors were mostly ordinary women without any experience in the business. Ms. Stephens saw the need for an organization to teach them important aspects of the business of writing.
She, along with Parris Afton Bonds, Rita Gallagher, and Rita Clay Estrada, met in Houston, Texas in 1980, and founded Romance Writers of America, an organization with the goal of promoting the genre and supporting the authors, all of whom at one time were women.
SHOWING APPRECIATION
Now, Ms. Stephens is in her 80s and in need of our help. If you have a few dollars to give, please click the GoFundMe link to help this amazing woman.
Great book cover, isn't it? Grab a coffee and get comfy so I can tell you about A Highlander's Healer by Heide Middlebrook.
A HIGHLANDER'S HEALER
The year is 1411. The campaign season has come to the Highlands of Scotland along with the conflict between Highlanders and Lowlanders in the pursuit of the Earldom of Ross.
Caught in the chaos is young Greer McGray, a bold Scottish healer, and Rory MacKearsin, a talented mercenary for the opposing clan who suffers in silence from a mysterious condition undiagnosable at that time which we now call PTSD.
Greer’s teachings passed down from the medical kindred are tested with her own nonconformist treatments in a race against time to save Rory after Greer finds the mercenary mortally wounded.
Unable to turn him away, her keen medical instincts are placed to the edges of reason when feelings spark between the pair.
Once Rory discovers a warrior whose obsession with Greer has led to the murder of her brother, Rory vows to protect Greer and seeks justice for her loss. A choice that will force the pair onto a treacherous journey surrounded by Scottish knights, secret castle passages, and Highland spies leading them to the ultimate battle of Harlaw… where Rory’s and Greer’s destinies will be sealed for all time.
Each book in the Kellsey Isle's Clans is a standalone book within a series featuring protective heroes, strong female heroines, adventure, spice, and an epic happily ever after!
Book 2 in Kellsey Isle's Clans: A Red Lion’s Alliances is on the path soon to publication.
Sigh. If only I were a poet. Thankfully, there are plenty of poets who have, well, waxed poetically about this loveliest of seasons.
Here's an excerpt from "A Light Exists in Spring" by one of my favorite poets, Emily Dicksinson. The poem is about that special quality of light in the spring that I mentioned.
Her poem was published posthumously in the 1890s. Her work published before 1923 is now in the public domain which allows me to publish it here. There are a couple of other verses to the poem, but these are my favorite.
THE LOVE LETTER starring Campbell Scott and Jennifer Jason Leigh, a 1998 movie from Hallmark, has everything a great romance should have: a fascinating premise, unexpected love, great characters, good secondary characters, a surprising plot, and a twist ending.
I dare you to watch it and not cry, but take heart. There's another twist in store for the viewer. You may not expect it which makes it even better.
I love this movie so much that I looked it up on Amazon to see if it was available for purchase, and it is. The DVD is only $9.99.
In fact, if you're a romantic, you'll probably watch it and then go buy it. It's simply so awesomely romantic and is a portrayal of what we all want love to be.
Darling Hubby is out of town so I'm going to watch it again this evening.
TAKEAWAY TRUTH
The movie is everything a romance should be.
Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.
I guess I don't haunt the self-help subject as much as I did years ago when I had so many things about myself that I wanted to improve. Not that I'm perfect now, but I know what it takes to be "happy" and productive and successful.
I still read self-help books to reinforce what I know and to see if they're books I'd recommend to others especially to the readers of SlingWords.
That's where this book comes in. It's about the ideas I've been sharing in my 25 for 2025 Updates.
One of the first axioms I learned as a child was something Benjamin Franklin said: "In the beginning man makes the habits, and in the end, the habits make the man."
That is so utterly true. We are all the product of our habits. If we're unhealthy it's probably because we have unhealthy habits like failure to move our bodies and a diet of unhealthy food.
I venture to say you could look at any part of your life that you feel is out of balance and come up with reasons why it's that way. Chances are those reasons are the habitual way of doing things either by acting or not acting.
In his book, Clear asserts that the reason one can't change a bad habit into a good one is that a system for doing that hasn't been learned. The book is a daily "take action" process that teaches the reader how to make time for a new habit despite what's going on in your life, how to overcome a lack of motivation and/or willpower, how to set up your environment to make success easier, and how to get back on track if you fall off the wagon.
TAKEAWAY TRUTH
Atomic Habits can be a game changer for you. Check it out at the library, find it at a used bookstore, or order it from Amazon which offers it in Kindle or in new and used print editions. In fact, as I write this, the hardcover edition is on sale for $14.85.
Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.
Even though I have central heating, I keep the thermostat at 69 or below so my wardrobe of sweatclothes gets trotted out. I have colorful shirts but mostly navy, gray, and black sweatpants.
You may laugh that I follow fashion "rules" when it comes to sweats, but why not be stylish if one can be stylish in sweats.
This morning when it was below freezing, I said to Darling Hubby, "I don't know who invented sweatshirts and pants, but I'd like to thank them.
Of course, that started me on the research trail of whom to thank. As it turns out, it was Benjamin Russell Jr., a 1926 football player who was tired of itchy wool jerseys and had an idea for an all-cotton practice football jersey.
He went to his father who turned Junior's idea into reality. Thus Russell Athletic was born with the production in 1930 of the crew neck sweatshirt.
Of course, the label sweat was attached to the cotton jersey shirt because men who wore it played football—one could justifiably call it iron man football back in those days—and they sweated.
If you have a sweatshirt with a triangular piece set in at the neckline, then you have a traditionally styled sweatshirt.
In today's world, that triangle of cloth, originally meant to collect perspiration and to keep the neckline from stretching out, is often missing.
Most sweatshirts are loose-fitting garments with long sleeves and a crew neck,and they're still designed for warmth, and the best, in my opinion, are 100% cotton.
Russell Athletics still makes and sells a quality sweatshirt and pants. Darling Hubby has some Russell Athletic wear that is about 10 years old, and the garments still fit well, retain their shape, and are soft and comfortable.
WOMEN AND SWEATS
Ironically, the first pair of sweatpants for women was introduced in the 1920s by Émile Camuset, the founder of Le Coq Sportif, who saw them as pants a woman could wear for comfort and ease.
Yet, it seemed to take a man "inventing" them for men for them to become commonplace. Was it that the idea didn't cross the Atlantic, or perhaps the French design was different from the American design?
Now the Fashion Police deride any woman who appears in public in sweats. Personally, if I'm wearing sweats and need to go to the store, post office, etc.
I do not hesitate to appear in public. In fact, if I lived in a cold climate, I probably wouldn't wear anything but sweats 24/7.
Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.
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