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Saying goodbye!

January 15th 2014 at 1 pm my little dog fell asleep in my arms. Slowly but surely what little life was left slowly dissipated and  I don't mind admitting that it literally broke my heart.  Lou Lou was a beautiful miniature Jack Russel. I knew she'd be trouble the minute I held her and was left with a smelly deposit all down my nice white t- shirt.

She was one of sixteen pups but the minute I saw her she was the one for me. Now some people would scoff at my devotion to a dog but I don't care I loved her to pieces.
She made us laugh.
She made us shout.
She made us cry.
But most of all she made our life better.
An expert at snooker potting the balls better than I could. My two children grew up with her and she was involved in everything we did, Lou was part of our family..

However her life wasn't easy. In 2009 she became paralyzed  with two slipped discs. Her back legs would not work at all. I made her a harness so that she could get around. She became adept in using her two front legs. We even considered buying her wheels so that she could have some independence. But off course as responsible pet owners we as a family had to decide whether her quality of life was what it should be.

Then we were introduced to a new vet because we were told she'd gone blind. The great thing was this vet had a small hydrotherapy pool for domestic animals. So then it began week after week of intensive swimming for my baby and she hated it, but guess what her back legs started to work. Everyone was amazed...I was elated. She could walk, albeit a little unsteady but she was independent again.

She adapted very well to her blindness and for a while she was happy. But then she had a mouth infection and it was all downhill from then on. *Sigh* We as a family had to make a decision that no animal owner wants to make...it was time to let her go.

I sit here in my office crying like a baby. Lou Lou fell asleep in my arms with her favourite cover wrapped around her and the words of comfort I whispered in her ear as I felt the life leave her.

Damn but I miss you Lou Lou...

R.I.P Lou Lou 2004-2015





Happy Birthday!

January 12th 2015Good Morning!

“Happiness is part of who we are. Joy is the feeling”
― Tony DeLiso
,


Today is my birthday and I'm quick to realize that it means I'm another year older.

 I've gained plenty and lost just as much. I'm happy to be sat here doing this with my health, with my family and thankful for the chance to do it all again this year.
Life is what we make it, only we have the power to change  and to live life in fullness and with joy and kindness in our hearts.

So everyone have a wonderful day!    


Rejecting His Desire

“Honey girl, you look as if you’d rather be somewhere else.” 
The familiar voice made her stomach clench and her heart race.
She cleared her throat, turning around. “I thought about changing my clothes. I’m not really all that comfortable in this type of attire.”
Jack’s dark eyes went over her from top to bottom, his perusal slow, until his eyes rested on hers. “That’d be a real pity, Rose, ’cause you look beautiful in that dress.”
h



Christmas Time.

Christmas should be a time to enjoy peace and happiness to share humility and humanity and to remember that our lives are a gift to be taken care offI’m always grateful for whatever comes my way and know that everything happens for a reason. I’m forever grateful for my family, my beautiful children and the home I've lived in for nearly twenty-six years.
 
I have just finished my Christmas cakes and made a batch of mince pies. My mum always comes to us on the day and enjoys her bucks fizz first thing before she starts to open her present. Traditions are funny things, we all have them and some are carried down from family to family.
My favorite seasonal songs are playing constantly throughout the day and everywhere is looking very festive and colorful…I just love it all! My children are all grown up now but when they were smaller the time was spent making our own decorations, designing Christmas cards and baking gingerbread men.
I loved doing all those things. I hope you all have a wonderful time whatever your traditions are.

Merry Christmas.



Dilys J Carnie Romance Author www.dilysjcarnie.com : Spotlight this week is the delightful Tracey Roger...

Dilys J Carnie Romance Author www.dilysjcarnie.com : Spotlight this week is the delightful Tracey Roger...: Spotlight this week is the delightful Tracey Rogers. Dating in the Dark by Tracey Rogers – Promo Doc Hello and thank you fo...
Spotlight this week is the delightful Tracey Rogers.







Dating in the Dark by Tracey Rogers – Promo Doc

Hello and thank you for hosting me today.
When I’m writing it often involves the consumption of calories, as words and food are the perfect combination. Or is that just me? So when I decided to tackle a new project it seemed only right that I should bring words and food together and decorate them with a sprinkle of romance.
Welcome to the Sweet Delights Bakery, where the kitchen gets hot and there’s tastiness aplenty! First to sample the delights of the bakery are Sophie and Damian. Secrets are laced with sugar in Dating in the Dark, book 1 of the Sweet Delights Series.
If you want a peek of what to expect, check my Dating in the Dark board on pinterest here: https://uk.pinterest.com/tracerbooks/dating-in-the-dark/

Blurb
Can you find what you need hidden within the dark?
Hiding out in his sister's bakery to recover from a recent injury isn't an ideal solution for newly unemployed meteorologist Damian Trent. Especially since he doesn't like cake. But hiding anywhere is preferable to facing the media frenzy revolving around his life. He has no intention of being seen by anyone. That is, until he hears a honey-toned voice over the phone.
Public relations agent Sophie Rose has a boss who makes her working week a hellish one. He drives her to her need for sugar, so the recently opened Sweet Delights Bakery is perfect for her much needed Friday treat. But one day when she calls to place an order, she gets an unexpected surprise.
Sophie's keen to dump her V-plates, though only the right man will do. Damian, with his sexy, yet familiar sounding voice, seems the ideal person for her to gain some much needed experience with. But why do they need to date in the dark?
Content Warning: contains sensual sex
Buy links: Amazon | AmazonUK | B&N
Excerpt
Damian rested his arm across his forehead and sighed, trying to blot out the ringing sound and failing. Sleep wasn't happening. He ached from his walk after pushing it to a run. With each step he'd remembered Sophie's voice. He had very little else to occupy his mind, so she was an easy focus. Every stride had gathered pace, and before he knew it a walk had become a jog; a jog becoming a run.
And her voice was still inside his head.
Stretching out on the creaky sofa bed, he winced at the movement. Irritated, he tugged the sheet down from his bare chest to lean over and grab the phone. He placed it to his ear and muttered something unintelligible.
"Hi, sorry—did I wake you?"
"Sophie?" Or was he asleep and dreaming?
"Oh, crap. I did, didn't I? I'm so sorry. I couldn't sleep, so I thought… Anyway, my apologies. Pretend it never happened, and goodnight," she said, speeding over her words.
"Sophie, wait!" he called out, wanting to stop her before she hung up, needing to listen to her voice for a little while longer. "I couldn't sleep either," he reassured her as he heard her soft breaths. He shuffled higher against his pillow and propped one hand behind his head. Why couldn't she sleep? Because of him? And how had she gotten his number?
"Really?" Her relieved sigh made him smile. If he wasn't careful, smiling could become a habit of his. "When you left your number in the box, I thought…"
Left his number? He had no idea what his number was.
"What did you think?"
"I thought you might want me to call?" she asked hesitantly, as if she was worried about his response. She wouldn't be worried if she could see the stirring going on beneath the sheet. Or maybe she would be? Though she seemed confident, he still detected a shyness behind her words.
"And did you want to call?"
"I did."
His jaw clenched at her immediate response, a muscle flickering in his cheek. Interesting. Her honesty was evoking things inside that he was starting to like. A lot.
"I like hearing your voice."
Christ, what was she doing to him?
"What do you look like?" he asked, without thinking about the repercussions of his question.
Silence.
"Does that matter?" she said quietly, the warmth in her tone dropping a degree or two.
"No, no it doesn't." He frowned, the admission taking him by surprise. "Tell me what you're wearing instead."
"Why?"
"Because if you don't tell me you're wearing something hideous, I won't be sleeping for the rest of the night either."
She laughed then, the sound not helping his libido whatsoever. "Damian."
"Yeah."
"I'm not wearing anything hideous." He groaned then, obviously out loud because Sophie was laughing again. "I'm not wearing anything."
Oh, hell. A sudden spike of desire sliced through his veins, making him regret his impulsive words. "Then I'm now very grateful I don't know what you look like."
"You could. Know what I look like I mean."
"You want to tell me now?"
"No. I want to show you. On a…date?"
Damian lifted a hand to his face, massaging his fingers above his brow, then lower to scrub over his jaw. His breath felt restricted by his tightening lungs. As much as he wanted to see her, to touch her, to have someone touch him in a way that wasn't clinical or trying to fix him—he couldn't do it. How could he see her, without her seeing him?

Author Bio
Usually found with a pen in my hand, or my head in a book, I’m a contemporary romance author who also thinks fangs and wings are a very attractive accessory.
A devourer of books from an early age, imagination was my best discovery. I spent much of my childhood stepping into wardrobes, searching for that magical snowy world where conversing with animals would be expected. When I wasn’t searching for those worlds, I wrote about them instead. My first step into the world of romance was when I stole sneak peeks into my nana’s books. I’m still in that world and I refuse to leave.
I live in Staffordshire, UK, with my husband and three wonderful children. An avid reader and writer of romance, I strongly believe that words make the world go around. I like nothing more than to be swept away by the words on a page. I hope I can sweep you away too.
I love to hear from readers! You can find me here:

Email – traceyrogersaut@gmail.com
Get my newest Christmas story in an anthology with Susanne Bellamy and Nicola Flockton at only

99CENTS

http://amzn.to/14IU3yc




Mistletoe Magic

Ease your way into Christmas with this short sexy read!





Holly Berry is grateful to be alive... so she has a new bucket list. No more nice girl for the new Holly... this year her wish for Santa is on the naughty list. 
Noah Miller plays Santa Claus at Snowdrop House, where he is surprised to find a very grownup...and willing...Holly Berry on his knee. He’d never guessed that a Santa costume and twenty-four hours would make such a difference to his Christmas. 
Will this little sexy little bundle of fun who rocks his world change his future too? 

Excerpt

 “Well done, Santa, you did what I’ve been trying to do for weeks.”
“It was the suit; you did all the hard work.” He smiled back. Holly Berry, he shook his head at the times she’d been teased about her name. An incredible bundle of sexuality who was totally unaware of how attractive she was. It was only accentuated by her kind and gentle nature. It had always made her even sexier. Her deep green eyes were framed by the darkest lashes he’d ever seen.
Her blonde hair was cut short, the long curls were gone, leaving the silken strands curling at the ends. He liked it and wondered what had made her chop it all off. Last Christmas when he’d seen her it had been long.
He’d fancied her for years, and yet they’d never got together. Holly avoided him except when he would watch her looking at him, and then she’d realise, and her face would go a deep red.
He leaned down capturing her wrist in his hand, and tugging her up gently he drew her onto his lap, just like one of the children. A flush reddened her cheeks as she looked around, but he’d made sure everyone was busy with the boys and girls who were playing with their new toys before he’d tugged her onto his lap. Holly turned back to him.
“I think you’ll find I’m not a child and a little too heavy for your knee.”
“Not heavy at all.” He pursed his lips as he looked her up and down. “Definitely. Not. A. Child.” He pronounced the words singly.
She giggled but he knew it was a nervous gesture. His mouth quirked beneath the scratchy moustache. Noah placed his hand on her thigh, the slacks she wore were thin and the heat from her skin warmed his hand.
Sexy.
“So Miss Holly Berry would you be on the naughty or nice list this Christmas?”







November Already...

How can it be November already? It seems like only yesterday that I was panicking about taking the wrong plane when changing in Washington Dulles for Norfolk NC . The sun, the warmth and my yearly visit to see my best friend and her family.

Now it's only seven weeks until Christmas...yikes and not even a bag of dried fruit in for my Christmas cake! A friend has almost finished her holiday shopping...I haven't even thought about it...oh I tell a lie I bought some charity cards with Santa Claus on them that I will put somewhere and loose them only to end up buying more.

Today is my favorite day of the week...Sunday! It's the only day where I can say that I'm not working and no one wants me to do anything. Although the dreaded laundry is never at an end and even now sitting in my chair working on my laptop I can here the poor washer and dryer working crazily. I'm excited when I can see the bottom of the basket and then my son come down with a pile of dirty clothes that he's accumulated throughout the week,*bites my lip from saying something and rocking the peaceful atmosphere*

My interest in cosmetology is a hobby which I love. I make my own skincare to suit the weather and time of year. I love to make skincare oils and at this time of year when the coldness and harshness makes our skin dry it's time to bring out something  that will work that bit harder to keep those dreaded wrinkles at bay. Pure, powerful and organic which will hydrate, nourish, rejuvenate  and lift. I love to be able to work with the richer oils like avocado,tamanu, jojoba, rose-hip and prickly pear with pure rose and  neroli essential oil.

 To make these oils work even better for you combine them in a roller ball and use nightly beneath your normal night cream to push the oils deep into the upper dermis. Another great trick is to put a thick layer on tour skin and then spread over a face mask leave for twenty minutes and then wash off and I promise your skin will be like a baby's bottom, beautifully soft.

Prickly Pear plant...powerful anti-ageing oil.



Tamanu oil has many uses and a great added ingredient to your anti-ageing regime.

Rose-hip oil is such an incredibly nutritious skin care ingredient.

Rose oil reminds me of my grandma's garden when we used to pick the petals and make perfume.

Neroli oil is more expensive than gold use use it wisely a small drop is plenty.






For a short while only some of Beachwalk Press books are 99cents. Read the first book in my Lost Sisters series for the fabulous price of 99CENTS!!


                              
                    She was a feisty thing. It stirred him low in his belly, a totally inappropriate reaction. He liked the way her short hair curved around the base of her neck, leaving the skin bare. Her skin looked soft and satiny. Her small earlobes were adorned with pearl earrings.
He frowned. When the hell did he notice ears? Jesus.
He needed to stop thinking about it—about her. He laid out the manual on the floor and identified the layout of the washer and its parts. It wasn't long before he’d found the problem and untangled the small piece of silk that had wrapped itself around the motor.
A red thong. Raising his eyebrows, he hung the tiny scrap of material from his finger and swallowed.









Ease your way into Christmas with this easy going romance!



Ease your way into Christmas with this easy going romance!





One touch…one moment in time. 
Belle Jones never did anything that wasn't planned…that was until she met Ethan Thompson on one steamy afternoon. 
Now he’s come looking for her and he discovers more than he bargained for. 
Belle is trying to come to terms with her first Christmas on her own. Until Ethan throws all her plans out the window and leaves her with a decision to make. 
Will the secret she is hiding from this man bring them together or push them apart? 

Excerpt

“I've wanted to kiss you since the first moment I saw you and a thousand times since. Every time you move your lips. Every time your scent fills the air that I breathe.” He took a deep breath as he tried to find the words that would tell her how much he cared for her, and not just the baby they had created. “Whenever your body touches mine I want to make love with you, each and every single minute that passed and I didn't know where you were... all I could think about was you. Kiss me, Belle. Let me feel your lips against mine.”

Buy Links:



http://www.dilysjcarnie.com/




Autumn Aroma's

I'm reminded on this crisp autumnal day how much I love this time of year. The freshness in the air, crispy brown leaves crushing beneath my feet and pumpkin lattes. Although I’m a black coffee kinda girl but my friend introduced me to these coffees when I visited her in America.

It makes me excited to bring out my hot water bottle and drink hot chocolate beside the log fire and curl up with a book. Candles burning, leaving the scents of toffee apples and spices.
Don’t get me wrong I love the sun, and I adore sitting out in it or swimming in the pool and drinking cold Chardonnay. However there’s something very comforting about the cool air, winter sweaters, thick woolly socks, jeans and a glass of warming Shiraz.

I usually start collecting my ingredients for my Christmas cake, it should be made at least before the end of October but somehow I always seem to be rushing around in November and icing it on Christmas Eve.

My winter pansies are in bloom and the colours are sensational I love to have that splash of colour as everything is perishing in the colder weather these are blossoming.

I’m super busy at the moment with work and writing. I have three short Christmas stories coming out in November and I’m excited for these to be released. It seems like the year has flown and I wonder did I miss some of it as it passed me by, it seems the older I get the faster it goes. I wish I had a pause button just so I could catch my breath!











Rejecting His Desire by Dilys J. Carnie

When Rose’s past catches up with her will she survive? Jack will stop at nothing to make sure she does.

Rose Eagleton has never let anyone penetrate her tough exterior. She won’t allow herself to be hurt again, nor will she let anyone uncover the secrets of her past, which she has successfully hidden for years. But when she meets Jack Calloway he refuses to let her hide behind her shell. She’s confused about her feelings for this man who takes every opportunity to be close to her, to touch her, to make her feel. But she knows one thing for sure—she can’t let him become important to her.

Jack’s motto had always been ‘to protect’. An ex-Navy Seal who is now part owner of a security firm, he takes his work seriously. When he installs a security system in Rose’s club as a favor to her sister, he finds himself intrigued by the beautiful young woman who fights so hard to keep him at a distance. As he discovers the secrets she’s trying so desperately to hide, it becomes clear that her life is in danger. Can he break through her shell and provide her with the protection she needs but refuses to accept?

Content Warning: contains adult language and explicit sex


Genre(s): Contemporary Romance


REJECTING HIS DESIRE – EXCERPT

"Honey girl, you look as if you'd rather be somewhere else."
The familiar voice made Rose's stomach clench and her heart race.
She cleared her throat, turning around. "I was thinking about changing my clothes. I'm not really all that comfortable in this type of attire."
Jack's dark eyes went over her from top to bottom, his perusal slow, until his eyes rested on hers. "That'd be a real pity, Rose, 'cause you look beautiful in that dress."
"Yeah, right." She laughed. "Is that a pick-up line, Jack?"
Even on her best day she thought she just looked 'okay', nothing out of this world, definitely not a beauty like Daisy and Jasmine. Rose thought that the beauty gene must have passed her by, because her two sisters were beautiful while she was merely passable.
The male species were okay, but she'd never found one that made her sigh and swoon. She was used to putting up a front, fighting her battles, but truth be told, she was embarrassed and felt uncomfortable in such close proximity with Jack.
He reached over, slipping his finger around a curl that the hairdresser had tonged into her straight hair, it was left loose while the rest of her hair was piled on top of her head. He twined it around his finger, doing it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
She reached up, circling his wrist with her fingers, only they were too small, and it made her aware of just how large he was.
He gave her a questioning look. "You gonna try and throw me down the stairs or something?" His mouth twitched as his eyes twinkled with amusement.
She stared hard at him. She didn't like to be touched. "If I have to."
Rose was defiant; she knew for sure that no way in hell would she be able to do that. When he'd allowed her to kick his six and a half feet of muscled body out of her club she'd had to admit surprise. Rose thought a man like him would have been mortified by a female getting one over on him, but he hadn't even lifted a finger to stop her.
He stepped back, and she held her breath when she felt his fingers touch her neck as he let go of her hair. Her insides did that shaking thing which had also happened the last time she saw him. He leaned against the banister and shoved his hands into his trouser pockets.
"So why'd you laugh when I called you pretty?"
"Because I thought it was funny and a terrible pick-up line."
He raised his eyebrows. "You think that was a pick-up line?"
"Wasn't it?" She moved back, or tried to; she was already pushed against the window. He was so close, she had to look up to talk to him. The air seemed limited, and she blew out a breath to cool her very unattractive sweaty upper lip.
"No, it was the truth. You look beautiful."
She tried to be casual by shrugging her shoulders, but she was standing in four-inch heels, and the movement unbalanced her—there was no way that was ever going to end well. She fell forward straight into his arms, her braless breasts squashed into his hard chest.
Immediately her nipples hardened, and she was shocked. She could feel her body enjoying the warmth of Jack Calloway before she realized he had his arms around her with his long fingers laying on the bare skin of her back. Jeezus, was that an electric shock whizzing down her arms to the tips of her toes?
She pushed back, looking up into those black eyes that were half closed. He, on the other hand, seemed perfectly unaffected by what had just happened. Although he wasn't smiling as he had been, the facetiousness had disappeared. She frowned. Had she imagined that sizzle of awareness? No…the soles of her feet felt like a pincushion.
"You are beautiful," he insisted.




Dilys J Carnie


Dilys J Carnie-Author
My home is on the beautiful island of Anglesey on the west coast of North Wales. Anglesey has been my home since the age of eleven after moving here with my mum and dad and three sisters from Scotland.
I'm the proud mother of two grown children. My daughter Emma is a primary school teacher, and my son Christopher is part of the family business.
I'm a health freak and a vegetarian. Pilates class combined with visiting the gym at least four times a week keeps me fit. I love clothes, makeup, and having my nails and hair done. I'm just a girl's girl.
If I'm not in my office pounding the keys I'm sitting in my favorite chair reading books and discovering new authors on my Kindle.
As a young child I loved to write. I always carried a notebook and pen around with me and wrote about everything. I never thought for one moment I would ever be able to pick up a book with my name on it and say "I wrote that". It was a dream coming true when I signed with a publisher for my first book in November 2012. So, dare I say at the young age of fifty I think it's time for me to see if those dreams are everything that I hope they will be.