UPDATE: The winner is…Pansy Petal!
*~*~*

I’m not trying to be cruel. Some folks did actually enjoy the last sliding puzzle. LOL!

For me, it was completely frustrating, trying to move the tiles around to see the image. This time, the image will be so worth the effort! Trust me.

Anyway, I love castles. I visited many in Europe while stationed in Germany for seven years. I loved standing on a castle wall, looking over a valley or waterway, and imagining what it was like when it was inhabited. Grim, I suppose, but I prefer the romantic images in my mind.

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle (if you can!), then tell me something about the image…a story you might tell…or elaborate on some aspect of the castle or the mysterious figure in the foreground. Have fun!

I’m so excited to offer my YA fake dating/pop star romance for sale for 99 cents in time for Valentine’s Day.

Check out the blurb…

From the outside, Olivia Macomb looks like she leads a charmed life. She’s an up-and-coming influencer who is an heir to the Macomb family fortune, and about to start a lifestyle brand with her childhood sweetheart, Jeff. Then her world gets blown apart by her longtime boyfriend leaving her the morning of their website launch. Not only has he left, but the business she created is all in his name and she’s been left with nothing to show for all her hard work. Now she has to pick up the pieces and find out who she is on her own.

Enter Walker Vinton, the indie pop star who used to date Olivia’s close friend, Paige. When their school throws a big event, Paige asks Walker to be Olivia’s date to give to the gossip bloggers something else to talk about other than Olivia’s broken dreams.

Walker ends up coming to Olivia’s rescue in more ways than one at the party, and a twist of events leads to the two embarking on a fake relationship. Walker and Olivia wind up becoming best friends and she realizes he’s the boyfriend of her dreams.

He helps her build both her brand and her self-esteem back up. Walker even helps her start a new business. However, the lines begin to blur as Olivia’s feelings for Walker are very real. The two share intimate conversations and dreams, but what’s real and what’s fake in this starry world?

Get it here for $.99 cents for a limited time:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/When-Stars-Collide-City-Book-ebook/dp/B0D8BR4H2L
Amazon CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0D8BR4H2L
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0D8BR4H2L
Amazon AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0D8BR4H2L

About the Author

Krysten Lindsay Hager is a bestselling author of YA and contemporary romance. She writes romance because she loves bringing people swoony moments and hope-filled happily ever afters. She writes about falling in love, fame, fitting in, frenemies, first loves, and finding your way in the world. She loves reading, watching movies, and lipstick.

Website: https://www.krystenlindsay.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystenlindsay/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/krystenlindsay/

Report Card

Last week…

1. I had an appointment with my heart doctor to catch him up on my cancer journey. I mentioned I might be going in for a hysterectomy soon, and he wants me to get a stress test before I do that. I don’t know whether I want to do that. He said my blood pressure and cholesterol are looking fine (I’m on meds for both). I’ll be meeting with my oncologist and the surgeon before I have that stress test, so I’ll feel them out about whether they think that’s necessary. I don’t like the idea of a chemical stress test, even though he says it’s pretty routine.
2. I continued work on one author’s edits.
3. If that looks like a pretty unproductive week, you’d be right, although I have been puttering around my space putting things away and doing some early spring cleaning. I have to get my writer-butt in gear!

This next week…

1. This week, I’ll be diving back into finishing up Ignition! Okay, so I said this last week and the week before, but I mean it this time. Seriously, I want to finish it and put it up for pre-order.
2. I have two authors’ edits to work on this week.
3. So far as personal goals—I’m still not ready to diet. I’m still in celebrate mode. I also can’t find the drive to up my activity. I need some inspiration.

Open Contests

Be sure to check out these posts and enter to win the prizes that are still up for grabs:

1. A Tale of Two Cats (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Flashback: Hook (Contest–3 Winners!) — Last day to enter! Win a FREE book! THREE winners!
3. Memory Game: Happy Chinese New Year! (Contest) — This ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Tell me a story… (Contest) — This ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Gabbi Grey: I have a secret to share… (Contest) — Win a FREE book!
6. Liza Collins: Having the Heart for Medical Romance (Contest) — Win a FREE book!
7. January into February (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
8. Clear My Bookshelf Giveaway — Win a signed book!
9. TGIF (Contest) — Win a FREE book!
10. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Super Bowl Sunday! — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Flchen!
*~*~*

I’m not a huge football fan. I used to watch back in the day when my father was alive and huge Arkansas Razorbacks fan. The last time I followed pro ball was when Mike Ditka coached the Bears, and The Refrigerator and McMahon were the heroes of that game. Was that really forty years ago? I never so enjoyed a game, but that was it for me. Not sure why.

My family loves going to the high school and local college games. They love knowing the players and meeting up with friends to watch. The only time we gather for a pro ball game these days is for the Super Bowl. I’m embarrassed to say I’m there for the commercials. The girls love the half-time show, but we stay for the end—if the game is a nail-biter. We pick our sides and love ribbing each other when our favorite team makes a great play and scores.

However, if the power went out tomorrow night, we’d be okay. We’re not that invested. It’s just another chance to sit together and celebrate as a family and maybe eat some finger food (I’ll have to talk someone into hitting the grocery store for some goodies!).

How about you? Are you big fans? Who are you rooting for to win this time around? Are you gathering with friends and family or heading to a sports bar? Solve the puzzle then post your answers below for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Sarah Ulfers!
*~*~*

It’s Friday! If I lived alone and didn’t have young ones still in school, I could see how Friday might just be another day. However, the kids were chomping at the bit this morning to get to school and get the day over with so they could start their weekend. I love that charged feeling in the air. We don’t even need to have any big plans; it’s just nice to have the kids underfoot. And I say that and have to laugh because my mother really, really liked it when kids were in school. She had the house to herself. The quiet had to feel like a daily vacation to her. My three siblings and I were a rambunctious bunch.

I don’t feel that way. I love and like the three girls—all of them so different from each other. They get on each other’s nerves, but there’s nothing better than seeing them when they get along. Karoake night in the living room is a true celebration. Even meal times are a celebration with them around. The 16-year-old always leads the conversations once we’re all sitting around that table. “So, Mom, how was your day? Nina?” That’s the start and sometimes we pull out conversation game cards and ask questions, like “If you could meet anyone in history, who would you choose?” The answers are always fun and never the same. Anyway, TGIF! I can’t wait for the weekend to begin!

For a chance to win a download of your choice of stories from my backlist, tell me whether “Friday” is still a day you celebrate.

UPDATE: The winner is…Brenda Southard!
*~*~*

I’ve had several guests this week on this blog, so I’m happy to have a day to pop in and say hi again. I’m trudging along, editing, thinking about writing, and trying not to watch the news (impossible!). I have an appointment with my cardiologist today. Boy does he have a lot to catch up on with me—I haven’t seen him since early last year. I know at the end he’ll give me marching orders—lose weight, walk more, blah-blah.

Anyway, it’ll be a busy day. Gotta get started!

As a way to solve my book-hoarding problem and make room in my bookshelves, I’m continuing my Clear My Bookshelf Giveaway! I have a ton of my books, collected over my 20 years of publishing. So, rather than consign them to the burn barrel I thought maybe a bunch of giveaways would be fun. As the first giveaways last summer seemed to garner a lot of interest, I’m happy to offer more opportunities for readers to win a signed copy of one of my old books! I bet if I ask pretty-please, my daughter will be on board with making a trip to the post office for me. She loves it when I volunteer her for stuff. 🙂

For a chance to win a randomly chosen by me (I might say, do you want a western, an erotic novel, or a paranormal?) book, which I will of course sign and fill with a bookmark painted by me, tell me how the new year is treating you so far!

At an early age, Rhonda fell in love with romance novels, knowing one day she’d write her own love story. Life took a short detour, but she decided to dive in and write when the story ideas were no longer contained. Her first plot was on a dirty napkin she found buried in her car. Eventually, she ran out of napkins. With a baby on one hip and a laptop on the other, she made a dream into reality—one word at a time.

Her specialty is men who love to get their hands dirty and women who are brilliant, strong, and flawed. She loves writing about the everyday hero.

When Rhonda isn’t crafting sizzling manuscripts, you will find her busy editing novels, blogging, juggling kids and animals (too many to name), dreaming of a beach house, and keeping romance alive. Oh, and drinking lots of coffee to keep up with her hero and heroine.

Three fun facts about Rhonda Lee Carver:

1. She had odd food cravings while she was pregnant. Sardines in mustard sauce. Penrose sausages. Tuna. And brussel sprouts.
2. She has an unhealthy fear of red ants.
3. She must have peanut butter sandwiches with her chili.

What is Rhonda Lee Carver’s newest release?

Embracing Hope (Cowboys of Sagebrush Rose Book 5) – Kindle edition by Carver, Rhonda Lee. Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Sneak Peek:

“You’re missing out,” she said in a soft, semi-husky voice that lifted the hairs on his neck.

“Really?” He pushed away the remaining basket of fries and wiped his fingers off a napkin. “What am I missing?” He couldn’t stop staring at her sparkling eyes, reminding him of a clear blue sky on a pretty summer day. She had a scattering of light freckles across her nose and the tops of her cheeks, the same color as the bronzed highlights in her hair. And that smile…no doubt stole some hearts along the way.

He wondered how old she was? Thirty, maybe? Something about how she carried herself gave the impression that she could be older.

“The taste of that burger. It’s meant to be savored,” she said, showing off a row of pearly white teeth against her sun-bronzed skin. “You ate it in record time.”

“Anything that takes longer than ten minutes to eat is called fine dining, a luxury that I wouldn’t know much about.”

She leaned in slightly closer. “A burger and fries are considered fine dining around these parts.”

“Then pardon my bad manners, ma’am. How can I make it up to you? What are you drinking? It’s on me.”

“I’ll take my usual, Jenna,” she said to the bartender.

“You have a usual, so does that mean you hang out here often? Entertaining the crowd with your bull riding skills and dining etiquette tips.”

She looked at him while she tucked her bottom lip between her teeth. “You were watching, huh?”

“Who wasn’t?” He cocked a brow.

“I need to show these boys how bull riding is done.” She picked up her drink and slurped it up through the paper straw. “Sometimes they need a reminder that a woman can do anything a man can do, and most of the time better.” She twirled a long strand of her wavy hair around her finger.

“Oh, that statement does have its limitations, but I’m sure you’re right, mostly. These fellows won’t ever forget that you can ride a bull. I can damn well guarantee that.”

“I like to leave a lasting impression.” She locked her gaze with his.

He liked her confidence.

“Mission complete.”

Yeah, he most certainly wanted to learn more about this intriguing woman.

What is the next series of Rhonda Lee Carver’s?

Connect with Rhonda Lee Carver

Facebook: www.facebook.com/rhondaleecarver.author/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/RLCarver
Instagram: www.instagram.com/rhondaleecarver/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rhondaleecarver
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/rhondaleecarverauthor/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Rhonda-Lee-Carver/e/B00CQLXKTO
BookBub: www.bookbub.com/profile/rhonda-lee-carver
Street Team: www.facebook.com/groups/471259293018665/
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