It's Been a While.....

So I fully acknowledge that it's been almost a month since I last wrote a blog entry.  I've been very busy with lots of stuff going on but I know, that's no excuse.  In order to remedy this problem, I am putting a reminding on my computer to write a blog post every day.  I may not fulfill my daily obligation but I will be attempting to at least be more of a regular writer.  Hey, at least I'm trying here!

July was a very busy month for me.  I started a new position at work and its been quite an adjustment for me going from the outbound call center to the inbound call center.  Its a great learning experience for me though, so I'm choosing to stay positive even though its a little overwhelming at times. I got to see one of my favorite bands of all time, the Goo Goo Dolls, when they came to town a couple weeks ago!  The concert was awesome and they played lots of their hits as well as some of the songs from their new album.  We were pretty close to the stage and I was able to get some nice pictures and a video of their song Iris.  It was so awesome and brought me back to my teenage years, especially since we dressed in 90's inspired outfits!

July was also the month I threw a baby shower for my best friend Tasha.  I never realized the amount of planning and how much work is involved in throwing a party.  It wasn't even that big of a party, but I still found myself stressing out about the weirdest little things.  Honestly, I blame Tasha.  I mean, she's almost 40 years old and pregnant.  Who does that?  I mean I'm happy for her and I know she's looking forward to it but dear lord, no way.  And I plan the shower?  Me???  Seriously???  I can barely remember to function properly on a daily basis, and I'm the one who gets to be the party organizer!  But the party went off without a hitch and we all had a good time.  I couldn't have done it without my mom.  She planned and threw so many parties as I was growing up so she knew the ropes of it, for which I was extremely grateful.  And here I sit thinking, I'm stressed out about having the party, I can't imagine having the actual kid!!!  Everyone assures me it will be different when I have kids, but at the rate I'm going I'm not even sure kids are going to be part of my future.  Oh well, time will tell.

And since this is a book blog, I have to include a book I recently picked up on my latest trip to the book store.  The title is The Heir by Grace Burrowes with one of my all time favorite cover photos!

Here is the Goodreads.com link to The Heir by Grace Burrowes and the synopsis below:

AN EARL WHO CAN'T BE BRIBED

Gayle Windham, Earl of Westhaven, is the first legitimate son and heir to the Duke of Moreland. To escape his father's inexorable pressure to marry, he decides to spend the summer at his townhouse in London, where he finds himself intrigued by the secretive ways of his beautiful housekeeper...

A LADY WHO CAN'T BE PROTECTED...

Anna Seaton is a beautiful, talented, educated woman, which is why it is so puzzling to Gayle Windham that she works as his housekeeper.

As the two draw closer and begin to lose their hearts to each other, Anna's secrets threaten to bring the earl's orderly life crashing down - and he doesn't know how he's going to protect her from the fallout...

I love historical Regency romance novels and it is by far one of my favorite genres in this writing field.  This is such a sweet story about a couple who struggle, not only to accept their love for one another, but also with accepting the roles they find themselves playing in each other's lives.  Gayle Windham is the heir to a dukedom and is being pushed by his father to find a bride and secure the ducal title by producing a son.  Anna Seaton is his opinionated and slightly irreverent housekeeper who challenges him at every turn.  Their roles of employer and employee are firmly established in the beginning, but the lines are quickly blurred in their attraction to each other.  Gayle pursues Anna relentlessly but she is hesitant due to a secret in her background.  Not wishing to tarnish her reputation as well, she initially resists his attempts at seduction.  However, she slowly succumbs and they fall in love.  There is no insta-love here, but it is built up slowly and realistically throughout the novel.  The banter between the hero and heroine is witty and laugh out loud funny, while the secondary characters give such a warmth and depth to the overall story.  Gayle and Anna must overcome the many obstacles placed in their path on the road to love and in the end, they find their happy ending.

I read this book for the first time a few years ago on my Kindle, but when I saw it on the shelf at the bookstore, I decided to pick up a hard copy and dive into the novel a second time.  It was totally worth it in my opinion and now I'm sharing my love for this tale with all of you.  I hope the story of Gayle and Anna delight you and amuse you as much as it did me.  Below are the links to get your own copy.

Digital:

Amazon - The Heir

Barnes & Noble Nook - The Heir

iBooks - The Heir

Google Play - The Heir

Kobo - The Heir

Print:

Amazon - The Heir

Barnes & Noble - The Heir

Indigo - The Heir

Books-A-Million - The Heir

IndieBound - The Heir

Book Depository - The Heir

Audio:

Tantor Publishing - The Heir

Amazon CD - The Heir

Audible - The Heir

iTunes - The Heir

Well folks, I think that's all for tonight.  I'm going to finish watching the gorgeous men of the US Olympic Gymnastics Team compete for some medals before heading off to dreamland.

Slainte,

M