February is the month for love and romance! What more can we say about Valentine’s Day? Well, here’s a few quotes from people you may just recognize. Read them and tell me which one pertains most to you or give me your own quote on the subject and you’ll be entered into a drawing for this fabulous 3 in 1 prize including Diana Palmer, Donna Alward and little ole me! Unless of course, you don’t like Red Hot Reads, or Hunky Cowboys or Romance at all!!
Famous Love Quotes:
“Men always want to be a woman’s first love — women like to be a man’s last romance.” — Oscar Wilde
“You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly.” — Sam Keen
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” — Helen Keller
“Where there is love there is life.” – Gandhi
“When you are in love you can’t fall asleep because reality is better than your dreams.” — Dr. Seuss
“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride; so I love you because I know no other way than this: where I does not exist nor you, so close that your hand on my chest is my hand, so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.” — Pablo Neruda, “Love Sonnet XVII”
“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” – Aristotle
“Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love.” — Albert Einstein
“Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward in the same direction.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupery
“Love doesn’t make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.” — Franklin P. Jones
“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind.” — Shakespeare
“Let us always meet each other with a smile, for a smile is the beginning of love.” — Mother Theresa
Funny Love Quotes:
“Falling in love is so hard on the knees.” – Aerosmith
“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” — Charles M. Schulz
“True love comes quietly, without banners or flashinglights. If you hear bells, get your ears checked.” — Erich Segal
“Before I met my husband, I’d never fallen in love. I’d stepped in it a few times.” — Rita Rudner
“It’s better to have loved and lost than to have to do forty pounds of laundry a week.” — Laurence J. Peter
“I’m dating a woman now who, evidently, is unaware of it.” — Garry Shandling
“I love Mickey Mouse more than any woman I have ever known.” — Walt Disney
“I love being married. It’s so great to find one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.” — Rita Rudner
“Love is a grave mental disease.” – Plato
“I want a man who’s kind and understanding. Is that too much to ask of a millionaire?” — Zsa Zsa Gabor
As the oldest child, I’ve always thought about the differences in the birth order. It seemed I was always the one in trouble. And, I was! But there was a reason, I was the oldest. I’ve watched this particularly with my grandchildren. I have seven and they are all about a year apart, so I can really analyze each of them. After attending a workshop on birth order, I quickly inserted these characteristics in my character profiles.
First born characteristics: Resourceful, self-reliant, demand of himself:
Family Relationships: Under scrutiny, documents life, pressure to perform/succeed, good example, reap rewards when they meet parent’s goal.
Results: Anxiety ridden, sets high standards, and cannot handle failure.
.
Middle Child Characteristics: Feels invisible, nothing special, may rebel against status quo. Struggles to be noticed, reach outside the family for relationships.
Family Relationships: Allow the middle child more freedom, not as much fuss and fewer pictures.
Results: Can feel unloved, chooses a niche outside the older sibling (different interests/often more dangerous, takes more risks, empathy for underdog.
Last Born Characteristics: People-oriented, attention seeking, laid back, fun, and flaky.
Family Relationships: Fuss and pampered, their last chance to do it right, caters to the child. More tired, give more freedom.
Results: Skilled politicians, negotiators, may feel disconnected, play baby; don’t always follow commitments or finish a job. Some are determined.
Only Child: Might be spoiled, but often have opportunities of education, travel, and culture.
If you want to evaluate the person you’re thinking of or your character in a dysfunctional family consider:
Oldest: Organized, needs control, outer anger.
Middle: Blends into the woodwork, quiet, inner anger.
Youngest: Needs attention, the family clown or delinquent. (Man, am I glad I wasn’t the youngest in my family, because I don’t do clowns and I wasn’t a delinquent, but I do like attention!)
Did you find any similarities in your family or a person you work with?
Her Forbidden Cowboy was one of my very favorite books to write. Why? Because I’m a die-hard country western music fan and my hero Zane Williams, is a top-notch superstar and multi-Grammy Award winner. He’s from Texas, another of my favorite places to write, and he’s healing up from an injury in a mansion on Moonlight Beach on the southern California shores. Need I say, this is right in this California girl’s wheelhouse? I’m a year round beach girl and enjoy driving along the Pacific coastline whenever I have the opportunity.
I can’t lie, my inspiration for Zane and his heroine, Jessica Holcomb comes from the music I listen to. At any given time, my radio is tuned exclusively to country music stations. I love the stories behind the songs. They spark my imagination, give me ideas and get my creative juices flowing.
Carrie Underwood is my all-time favorite artist. Her songs resonate with me. Not only is her voice beautiful with a powerfully wide-range, but the lyrics touch me in ways that make me smile, laugh, sing along, and often put a tear or two in my eyes. Mama’s Song is one such song. (Scroll to read those lyrics) It reminds me so much of my husband, and the way my parents both felt about him. He is good, so good and they never worried about me. Truly, those lyrics make me tear up every time.
So before I leave you with these inspirational lyrics from my favorite songs, (imagine the story behind each song) I’m giving you an opportunity to meet the deadly handsome, and emotionally wounded Zane Williams and my heroine, Jessica Holcomb, his one-time sister-in-law:
“Do you know how incredibly perfect you are?”
Zane’s hands wrapped around Jess’s waist, and
thrilling warmth heated her skin. “I’m not.”
“You are. You can’t let what those two did to you
change who you are. That guy was the stupidest
man on earth. You have every right to feel hurt,
Jess. But don’t let what he did change the person
that you are.”
“You think that’s what I’m doing?”
“Isn’t it? You changed your hair, your eyes. You
dress differently now. Don’t get me wrong, you
look beautiful, sweetheart. But you were beautiful
before.”
She shrugged. She found it hard to believe. “I needed the change.” Tears misted in her eyes.
“I get that.” Zane took her into his arms and hugged
her, as a friend now. “But promise me one thing?”
“What?”
“Don’t try to find what you need with another man.
It makes me crazy.”
* * *
Her Forbidden Cowboy is book 1 and part of the
Moonlight Beach Bachelors series—
Three men living in paradise…and longing for more.
Releases everywhere February 1st.
Do you find inspiration in music? What’s your favorite genre of music? Who do you listen to? Be sure to sign up for my newsletter if you haven’t already. I’m giving away a gorgeous Brighton Heart Necklace in time for Valentine’s Day at www.charlenesands.com You might be my Instant Newsletter Winner. Be sure to open the newsletter, coming in two weeks, to see if you’ve won! (Already signed up? Your name is automatically included in the drawing)
Down every hallway’s a slamming door.
No way out, no one to come and save me.
Wasting a life that the Good Lord gave me.
Then somebody said what I’m saying to you,
Opened my eyes and told me the truth.”
They said, “Just a little faith, it’ll all get better.”
So I followed that preacher man down to the river and now I’m changed
And now I’m stronger
There must’ve been something in the water
Oh, there must’ve been something in the water
Well, I heard what he said and I went on my way
Didn’t think about it for a couple of days
Then it hit me like a lightning late one night
I was all out of hope and all out of fight
Couldn’t fight back the tears so I fell on my knees
Saying, “God, if you’re there come and rescue me.”
Felt love pouring down from above
Got washed in the water, washed in the blood and now I’m changed
And now I’m stronger
There must be something in the water
Oh, there must be something in the water
And now I’m singing along to amazing grace
Can’t nobody wipe this smile off my face
Got joy in my heart, angels on my side
Thank God almighty, I saw the light
Gonna look ahead, no turning back
Live every day, give it all that I have
Trust in someone bigger than me
Ever since the day that I believed I am changed
And now I’m stronger
There must be something in the water (amazing grace)
Oh, there must be something in the water (how sweet the sound)
Oh, there must be something in the water (that saved a wretch)
Oh, there must be something in the water (like me)
Oh, yeah
I am changed (I once was lost)
Stronger (but now I’m found)
(was blind but now I see)
—
Mama’s Song by Carrie Underwood (Puts tears in my eyes)
Mama you taught me to do the right things
So now you have to let your baby fly
You’ve given me everything that I will need
To make it through this crazy thing called life
And I know you watched me grow up
And only want what’s best for me
And I think I found the answer to your prayers
And he is good, so good
He treats your little girl like a real man should
He is good, so good
He makes promises he keeps
No he’s never gonna leave
So don’t you worry about me
Don’t you worry about me
Mama there’s no way you’ll ever lose me
And giving me away is not goodbye
As you watch me walk down to my future
I hope tears of joy are in your eyes
Cause he is good, so good
And he treats your little girl like a real man should
He is good, so good
He makes promises he keeps
No he’s never gonna leave
So don’t you worry about me
Don’t you worry about me
And when I watch my baby grow up
I’ll only want what’s best for her
And I hope she’ll find the answer to my prayers
And that she’ll say
He is good, so good
And he treats your little girl like a real man should
He is good, so good
He makes promises he keeps
No he’s never gonna leave
So don’t you worry about me
Don’t you worry about me
Mama don’t you worry about me
Don’t you worry about me Temporary Home by Carrie Underwood (Sadly beautiful)
Little boy, six years old
A little too used to being alone
Another new mom and dad, another school
Another house that’ll never be home
When people ask him how he likes this place
He looks up and says with a smile upon his face
This is my temporary home
It’s not where I belong
Windows and rooms that I’m passing through
This is just a stop on the way to where I’m going
I’m not afraid because I know
This is my temporary home
Mmmmm
A young mom on her own
She needs a little help, got no where to go
She’s looking for a job, looking for a way out
‘Cause a half-way house will never be a home
At night she whispers to her baby girl
Someday we’ll find our place here in this world
This is our temporary home
It’s not where we belong
Windows and rooms that we’re passing through
This is just a stop on the way to where we’re going
I’m not afraid because I know
This is our temporary home
Old man, hospital bed
The room is filled with people he loves
And he whispers, “don’t cry for me,
I’ll see you all someday”
He looks up and says,
“I can see God’s face”
This is my temporary home
It’s not where I belong
Windows and rooms that I’m passing through
This was just a stop on the way to where I’m going
I’m not afraid because I know
This was my temporary home
Do you remember the first time you were in a new place or met a new person and felt you belonged, that you’d finally come home? Maybe it’s a new house, where you walked in the front door and said to yourself “This is what I’ve been looking for.” Mine was the first date with my future husband. I knew this man was my “home” no matter where life took us—and it’s taken us quite a few places!
In my short story, COMING HOME, Jericho Hawken meets Maryland Henry and her three nieces and knows he’s found what he’s been searching for. But there are some big boulders in their path to happiness.
I’m so happy to share that Coming Home is being released as an electronic short story for only .99! [It was first released as part of the Hearts and Spurs anthology from Prairie Rose Publications.]
Here’s a little taste:
COMING HOME: Sometimes it takes two to make dreams come true.
When a man who believes he’ll never have a home and family… Former U.S. Marshal Jericho Hawken should have been shepherding a wagon train to new territory, but he unwillingly left them vulnerable to a vicious raider. The murder of the settlers he was supposed to be guarding is the hardest thing he’s ever had to face…until he meets the sister of one of the settlers.
…finds a woman who has lost everything… Instead of a joyous reunion with her brother, Maryland Henry has come to River’s Bend to take responsibility for her three orphaned nieces. Fired from her teaching position and with no other family on whom to rely, Mary believes Jericho Hawken is responsible for all her woes. Or is he what she’s been searching for all along?
It takes a lot of forgiveness and a few fireworks to realize that together their dreams can come true.
Excerpt: He watched Mary’s throat work as she battled back tears that made her blue eyes seem huge in her pale face. When she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, he knew his time for avoiding the truth was over.
“What happened, Mr. Hawken?”
Self-loathing threatened to choke him. “I’m not sure.”
She glanced at Matt, then returned her piercing gaze to Jericho. “I don’t understand. Did it happen at night? Was it too dark for you to see?”
He gulped down the liquid in his glass and carefully set the crystal aside when he wanted to hurl it against the stone hearth. “I wasn’t there.”
“Where—”
“I was in jail.”
Coming Home will be released on DECEMBER 4. Stop by my website, www.TracyGarrett.com, to keep up on what’s new. And thanks for visiting today!
It’s always exciting to get your first look at a new cover. Even if it gives you an odd feeling of deja vu. That’s what happened to me when my editor first sent me the cover art for my next project, Love on the Mend.
This a novella that follows up with a character from Full Steam Ahead. In that story, the hero and heroine take in a runaway boy named Jacob. The full story of what led the boy to run away in the first place, however, is never completely revealed . . . until the novella. In Love on the Mend, Jacob is a full-grown man, a doctor weary from his time as a surgeon in the Civil War and all the death witnessed firsthand. He longs for peace, but knows he will never have it unless he lays his past to rest. So after 17 years, he finally returns home, only to discover that his past is still alive and kicking.
Now, since this new story will only be available in digital format, and as a novella it will be offered at a fraction of the full-length novel price, my publisher decided that it would be more cost effective to use material they already had in-house for the cover instead of doing an entirely new cover shoot. Being a frugal person, myself, I thought this a wise plan. Besides, it left me with a fun quirk for my cover.
Playing off the doctor angle and using what they had on hand, the art department came up with this adorable cover–one that is remarkably similar to a book by the wonderfully fun Cathy Marie Hake.
My new cover. (You can click on it to pre-order the e-novella.)The original cover from 2009. (You can click this one, too. Grin.)
They changed the scenery in the background, photo-shopped the color of the dress to change the stripes into a teal color and used a different pose and props than the one selected for Cathy’s cover, yet the two remain very similar.
Now Cathy’s book came out five years ago in 2009, so I wasn’t sure if anyone would even notice. But the first time I posted the cover on Facebook, one savvy librarian from the Netherlands was quick to pick up on it. She asked straight out if it was the same model and dress. Yep. Didn’t bother me in the least, though. It’s not like going to prom and finding two other girls wearing the exact same gown as you. No, to me it was a conversation starter. Besides, I’m a huge fan of Cathy Marie Hake and was honored to share a cover model with her.
The only complaint I have at all is that the style of dress is not right for my time period. Love on the Mend takes place in 1868. The skirt should be much fuller and belled out. But other than that, I’m very pleased. It’s fun, cute, a bit flirtatious, and it fits my feisty heroine, Molly Tate, just fine.
So what do you think of the cover?
Ever showed up to a gathering wearing the same dress or blouse as someone else?
Do you remember the first time you were in a new place or met a new person and felt you belonged, that you’d finally come home? Maybe it’s a new house, where you walked in the front door and said to yourself “This is what I’ve been looking for.” Mine was the first date with my future husband. I knew this man was my “home” no matter where life took us—and it’s taken us quite a few places!
Here’s a little taste:
