Ramblings-n-Writings

Archive for February 10th, 2009

You’re looking at post #300 for Ramblings-n-Writings! We’ve been here for almost 1-1/2 years, so I guess that’s really not that phenomenal of a number. But I still wanted to recognize it!

Somewhere in the past 299 posts, I found my comfort zone and what I felt like the Lord wanted me to do with my blog. When I started blogging, I had no clue what I was doing or what I was writing before I started writing it. I know I have a few readers that have been around since the baby stages and to you I say a huge THANK YOU!

A lot of blogs out there are so much cooler than mine and have thousands of readers more than me. Do I mind? Not at all. Well, I do a little because I’d love to have a lot of readers.

Blogging is my outlet – something I can do for me that no one else can control or have a say in. I love reading and reviewing books, talking about farm life, sharing photos and just talking about life with all my readers.

So today, if you’ve made it this far, here’s what’s happening in my life…

• I finished and e-filed our taxes today. Yay! We’re taking advantage of the first-time homebuyer’s credit giving us a nice return. I know a lot of people end up having to pay at tax time, but I honestly don’t remember ever having to pay. Even this year without counting the homebuyer’s credit, we would have received an $18 refund. Not bad for a self-employed person.
• We’re still battling it out with the Farmer’s worker’s compensation. Oh how I dislike those people…a lot. Hopefully we’re coming to the end of the road though. In early March we have a mediation scheduled to talk about a settlement, meaning we’ll wash our hands of them forever if all goes as planned. I can’t wait! I know the Farmer can’t either – 5 years of looking over your shoulder for P.I. is 5 years too much.
• In case you’re wondering, since I haven’t mentioned it recently, I’m still working on writing my novel, but I haven’t really made it out of the incubation stage yet. My most recent progress has been studying a certain historical town for the setting. The more I learn about the town, the more I love it. And, no, I’m not saying what town.
• Along the same lines, I started a fiction writing mentoring course in mid-January. I finished my first lesson and just need to submit it. (Taxes kind of interfered with that since I was greedy and wanted my refund ASAP. LOL)
• In January I worked on three major projects for my business. Two are complete, and the third just arrived back in my inbox yesterday after the author reviewed suggestions.
• All of our furry four-footed babies are doing great. Sadie gave us a scare (again!) last week, but I’ll save that story for another post. I will say that even though she is a dog, she has nine lives.
• And, finally, I’m glad it is February because that means I can start thinking about seeds and veggies for the summer garden. We’re hoping to do a lot of outside work in the next 2 months – everything we had to put off because winter came. And we’ll get to grow grass around our new house! No more mud yard!!!

Irene Hannon’s Against All Odds is definitely the new hot item in the romantic suspense category!

So, what can I say about this book? Sitting on the edge of my seat, not wanting to go to bed because the book was so good and I had to finish it, thinking I was reading Dee Henderson again… yep, that sums it up!

A life-and-death crisis throws three major characters together causing sparks to fly (in more ways than one!).

Monica Callahan concentrates on her career and her professional appearance. Anything that gets in her way is just a huge inconvenience that she’ll deal with in her own way. If it means change, forget about it. She’s also a highly perceptive person seeing behind the facades many put up.

Evan Cooper is hard-nosed, well-trained FBI Hostage Rescue Team member. His main goal is to just do his job and protect whoever is in danger. Unfortunately, his job means disrupting Monica’s life. He’s not good with words and expressing himself which often results in a blunder. Because of his training, he doesn’t like revealing details about himself, something Monica needs him to do.

David Callahan is Monica’s estranged father who works as a hostage negotiator. Even though he has highly acclaimed skills dealing with delicate situations, he failed to negotiate his only family. Now he realizes his choices weren’t the best and wants to make amends before it’s too late.

What happens to these three?

Monica refuses to be intimidated by a related terrorist threat back in the States…until a chilling warning convinces her that the danger is very real—and escalating. As Coop and his partner do their best to keep her safe, David Callahan continues his work in the Middle East—triggering an abduction that puts his daughter’s life at risk. And with every second that ticks by, Coop knows that the odds of saving the only woman who has ever managed to breach the walls around his heart are dropping. Because terrorists aren’t known for their patience—or their mercy.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Against All Odds, go HERE

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

4 ½-star, “Top Pick” rating from Romantic Times BOOKreviews!

“Brava! Award winner Hannon debuts the heroes of Quantico series with a wonderful array of believable characters, action and suspense that will keep readers glued to each page. Hannon’s extraordinary writing, vivid scenes and surprise ending come together for a not-to-be-missed reading experience.”~Romantic Times BOOKreviews~

“I found someone who writes romantic suspense better than I do. I highly recommend Against All Odds as one of the best books I’ve had the privilege of reading this year. This is a captivating, fast-paced, well written romantic suspense destined for my keeper shelf. I loved this book, and highly recommend this author.” ~Dee Henderson~ Author of the O’Malley Family Series