Wednesday, August 31, 2016

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY WITH WINNER

Congratulations to the last WORDLESS WEDNESDAY 
winner: Mary!

I liked her answer entitled:



Image courtesy of  [lekkyjustdoit]  / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

BROADCASTING OUR LOVE

To view, go here.

Wordless Wednesday is actually filled with words--the words, thoughts, and feelings that pictures or images evoke within each of us without uttering a single word!



                     
Image courtesy of [thewats] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


What WORD/WORDS does this picture evoke within you?

Or, in other words, "TITLE THIS IMAGE."

I'll start: "My heart is ripped to shreds."

My favorite answer wins a $5.00 dollar Amazon gift card.
Don't forget to leave your email or I will be unable to name you as winner!
You may leave multiple answers to increase your chances of winning.

Contest is closed by Thursday at midnight and the winner will be contacted. Winner will be announced the following Wordless Wednesday.

Open only to those who can legally enter. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be emailed. If email is incorrect, a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is sponsored by Taylor Dean Books. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Monday, August 29, 2016

MONDAY MUSINGS

Well, it's that time again. 

Monday morning.

The start of a new day. The start of a new week.

Time to re-set and turn my thoughts to my new book series. 
It's hard to get back to work after the eventful summer I just had.
But I need to move forward.

Image result for monday morning

Book One of my new three book series, SOUNDS OF SILENCE, has been written. It still needs a lot of work, but the basic story is there.

Image result for swoony awards

I wish I was faster at producing books. But if I rush the process, I produce sloppy work. And that won't do!

The covers for all three books are nearly complete and I am LOVING them.
I used family members for my covers this time around and the results are AMAZING.
 I can't wait to show you my new covers!!!

***

CHASING FIREFLIES is eligible for two awards, and if you feel so inclined, please hop on over to these links and vote! MUCH APPRECIATED! Both of these awards are "reader nominated" and it means so much to me just to be on their lists!

Image result for whitney awards


(currently at #62)




(currently at #74)

***

This weekend we celebrated my cute little grandson's 3rd birthday.
I love this little guy!



That's all for today. Hope your Monday is WONDERFUL!!

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY WITH WINNER

Congratulations to the last WORDLESS WEDNESDAY 
winner: Jana!

I liked her answer entitled:


Image courtesy of  [Stuart Miles]  / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

LOVE IS THE BEST CATCH

To view, go here.

Wordless Wednesday is actually filled with words--the words, thoughts, and feelings that pictures or images evoke within each of us without uttering a single word!


                                                             
Image courtesy of [lekkyjustdoit] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


What WORD/WORDS does this picture evoke within you?

Or, in other words, "TITLE THIS IMAGE."

I'll start: "Tell the world I'm in love! "

My favorite answer wins a $5.00 dollar Amazon gift card.
Don't forget to leave your email or I will be unable to name you as winner!
You may leave multiple answers to increase your chances of winning.

Contest is closed by Thursday at midnight and the winner will be contacted. Winner will be announced the following Wordless Wednesday.

Open only to those who can legally enter. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be emailed. If email is incorrect, a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is sponsored by Taylor Dean Books. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Monday, August 22, 2016

MONDAY MUSINGS


CHASING FIREFLIES released on July 1st and I'm a little overwhelmed by the response.

I wasn't expecting the amazing reviews I've been receiving. (I mean, there's a few bad ones too, but that's just the way it goes.)

Here's what a few readers are saying:

WOW! This might be my new favorite. The words and phrases in this book are like chocolate. I'm a skimmer, but I couldn’t skim this story. It had too many tasty morsels I wanted to savor. The scenes, characters and plot were excellent.
-Charissa Stastny, Author

This might be my favorite book in the Power of the Matchmaker series! It had me staying up til 2 am last night (don't tell my husband), and I would have kept reading all the way to the end, if it wouldn't have put me to 5 am.
-Jessie, Amazon Reviewer


Taylor Dean writes words that describe how I sometimes feel about social situations. Wow! She totally gets the shy/introverted mind process.
-Brooke's Books

Completely gripping read from beginning to end; a sweet love story with enough mystery to keep you guessing. I'll remember this one for a very long time.
-Julie, Amazon Reviewer


I think this is my favorite matchmaker book so far.
-Melissa, Amazon Reviewer

What a great story! I loved everything about this story from the characters to their life experiences.
-Donna, Amazon Reviewer


I can’t explain how much I loved this book. I kept telling my husband and my friend how great it was, to find a character that could sum up my personality. I’ve tried so many times and here comes Savannah and she explains who I am. Taylor Dean, the author, has a beautiful way with words. I devoured this book.
-Courting Fiction

I laughed, I cried, I fell in love with the perfect book boyfriend all over again, I dreamt of China, and the wonderful experiences it has to offer. Taylor makes me want to pack up my bags and go on the journey of a lifetime right along with the main characters, experiencing new and exciting adventures. This book is absolutely amazing, and I’m positive I will be rereading it many, many times again.
-Mylissa's Reviews and Book Thoughts


I loved it and want to go back and reread it again soon. Such a fun swoony book. You might be smiling from ear to ear, you might cry a little, you might definitely laugh out loud some too. I did all three and couldn't put it down and had to tell everyone around me what I was reading. So good!!!!!
-Julie, Amazon Reviewer

I don't want to give anything away, but the romance in this one is very swoony and yet clean. There is definitely chemistry and some very deep connections, but the twists and turns caught me off guard. This is one story that I will absolutely be suffering a book hangover from--I didn't want it to end!
-Katie's Clean Book Collection


Oh my gosh. I am a sobbing mess. I LOVED this book. I felt each emotion that Savannah experienced. My heart ached for her and I cried and cried as she reveals her story towards the end. I then cried happy tears too. This was a such a beautiful book and I will be recommending it to all of my friends!
-Hanna, Amazon Reviewer

Adoration and love. This book just weaved itself around me. The characters were alive and vibrant in my mind. Everything just came to life like a movie for me. I love when that happens. This book should be a movie!
-Aimee, Getting Your Read On


Wow, I loved this book so much! I started reading it and didn't stop until 2:40 am.
I can't stop rereading chapter 31.
-Cindy, Amazon Reviewer

Chasing Fireflies is the perfect combination of heartwarming and heart wrenching scenes. You'll laugh and feel good, yet you'll weep for Savannah as well. It is a clean romance, so you can share it with anyone! You'll love it.
-Christy's Cozy Corners


This is my very first book by Taylor Dean and I can tell you without a doubt that it will not be my last! She literally sucked me in from the very beginning and I loved the journey she took me on! This is an AMAZING addition to The Power of the Matchmaker series. I am SO glad I picked this one up! Have I told you yet that I loved it and that it's AMAZING?! ;)

And in the spirit of not giving anything away... I give you my casting! ;)


description
 
-kjsbooknook



I have to say, she did a great job of casting CHASING FIREFLIES! I'm impressed!

I admit that my inspiration for my handsome hero--who shall not be named because it's a spoiler--was this commercial:



         

Okay, one more review I love. I love the gif!!!

Chasing Fireflies was a one sitting book! I couldn't put it down until I had finished it, and that doesn't happen as often as you would think nowadays!
                 

-Kate, Goodreads Reviewer

All right, I'll stop now. I can't write all of them or this post will be way too long! Sorry if I left your review out. Just know I appreciate each and every one. I'll read all of these reviews over and over whenever I need encouragement. Thanks, everyone, for all of these wonderful reviews! They mean so much to me!

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY WITH WINNER

After much thought, I've decided to stay with the original Wordless Wednesday until that moment when I can no longer find an image/theme we haven't done before!! When that happens, I'll come up with something new!

Congratulations to the last WORDLESS WEDNESDAY 
winner: Linda!

I liked her answer entitled:


Image courtesy of  [lekkyjustdoit]  / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

KEEP YOUR HEART SAFE

To view, go here.

Wordless Wednesday is actually filled with words--the words, thoughts, and feelings that pictures or images evoke within each of us without uttering a single word!


Image courtesy of [Stuart Miles] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


What WORD/WORDS does this picture evoke within you?

Or, in other words, "TITLE THIS IMAGE."

I'll start: "I'm hooked on you!"

My favorite answer wins a $5.00 dollar Amazon gift card.
Don't forget to leave your email or I will be unable to name you as winner!
You may leave multiple answers to increase your chances of winning.

Contest is closed by Thursday at midnight and the winner will be contacted. Winner will be announced the following Wordless Wednesday.

Open only to those who can legally enter. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be emailed. If email is incorrect, a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is sponsored by Taylor Dean Books. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Monday, August 15, 2016

MONDAY MUSINGS

Hello everyone!
Hope your summer has been fantastic!

When I decided to close down my blog for a month and a half right before we left for our summer vacay (family reunion), I wondered if I really needed that much time. We were only going to be gone for two weeks.

However, there were several other reasons why I thought it would be a smart idea and those reasons proved to be true. I knew what was coming in my life--and sadly, it came.

If you have been following my blog, then you know my father was very ill with pancreatic cancer. We decided to have a family reunion with all of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. We knew Dad was going downhill and in spite of his determination to fight, the treatments were not working.
We didn't want to go to all of the effort to have everyone together just for the funeral.

We wanted to have everyone together while my father was still alive.

It was the best thing we ever did.

We had an amazing family reunion. We each had the opportunity to say our goodbyes to our father, grandfather, and great grandfather.

 We had all been telling ourselves there was still a chance for him, that a miracle might happen.

But once we saw him, I think we all knew. He had lost a scary amount of weight, he could barely stand or speak, and he hardly ate anything at all. It was a truly heartbreaking sight.

Regardless, somehow he found the strength to get up and join us for as many of the activities as he possibly could, which was nothing short of amazing. It was only through sheer will power that he was able to find the energy to join us.

Here's a few pictures of all of us together:
(Yes, we had matching t-shirts! Except one of my nephews who insisted on having a different color than everyone else.)



The below picture is taken by the tree house my father built. (The one I featured in Girl of Mine.)


The below picture is of my parents with their living children. (My brother passed away at age 27. Pictured is my foster brother.)


The next picture is of my parents with their grandchildren. (The four on the right are mine!!)


Below are my parents with their great grandchildren. (BTW, they are all my grandchildren. And my mother is pointing to the one on the way, who happens to be a GIRL!!!)


This next one is of my family with my parents.


These pictures are now highly precious to all of us.

We left our family reunion on July 12th.
We each had time to say goodbye to Dad.
We knew it was only a matter of time.

My father passed away peacefully in his sleep, in his own home, on July 23rd while surrounded by family, holding his hands and talking to him.

If it's your time to return home, I can't think of a better way to leave this earth.

My hubby and I returned to Oregon for the funeral services.


Me and my sisters.


The fire truck led the procession to the cemetery.


The pall bearers all wore one of my father's Disney ties.
He loved to wear Disney ties and seldom wore anything else with his suit.




My father was a retired fire chief, a true American hero.



So, needless to say, it has been an eventful summer.
Chasing Fireflies released on July 1st, and then all of my attention went to family matters. (More on Chasing Fireflies next week.)

I'm home now and readjusting to life. The desire to remain in Oregon for another month with my mother was strong. But I had other family responsibilities at home and I needed to go back to Texas.

My father spent his retirement years landscaping and working his property. He has seven acres.
He truly created a paradise. It's so beautiful and relaxing.

This is the barn. The BARN! (The place where he stores all his STUFF.)


I've already told my Mom that I want to convert the barn into my retirement home. It's amazing.


(Decorations and popcorn machine left over from our Family Reunion. We had a talent show, a dance party, a painting party (choose a name and paint a painting for a family member), a baby shower, and a movie night in the barn. It's filled with wonderful memories.)

Dance Party

Painting Party

BTW, here's what my niece painted for me!! I love it!

Talent Show

Baby Shower

Baby Shower

Dad joined as often as possible.

Movie night pic below, projected on the barn doors.





Sigh. I feel peaceful just looking at the pictures. I could easily live there.
My father has left behind an amazing legacy. My mother wants the property to stay in the family and we are all on board with that idea.

Love you, Dad.

This post is dedicated to my father.

In loving memory.