This week the Marketing for Romance Writers (#MFRW) 52-week Blog Challenge topic is The Best Dish I Cook. Although my hubby loves to cook and does the brunt of the cooking, I’m not completely absolved from whipping up grub for the family a few times a week. I’ll share my not-so-secret-method of gettin’ er done when the writing is waiting. Plus I have a special holiday gift for you.

Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That

Is pretty much my attitude when it comes to cooking.

• If I see a long list of ingredients—I’m out.
• There’s a ton of dishes involved—that I’ll have to clean up—Nope.
• Measurements which need converted and other math-ey stuff—heck no.
• Ingredient list that requires me to run to the story—no way Jose.

Put it all in a #crockpot and let it cook—you had me at crockpot. #MFRW #recipes
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The Early Bird Loves the Crockpot

My energy level peaks in the morning and the supply dwindles from there for the rest of the day. Thus, I try to get all the chores that require concentration and thought early on, since by the end of the day even basic tasks feel overwhelming. Therefore, a crockpot recipe is my favorite thing ever. Plus, you get the bonus of smelling it cooking all day if you’re home slaving over words.

But, unfortunately, I’m not someone who can craft my own recipe. I might toss in an extra ingredient here and there, or tweak the recipe after I’ve made it a few times, but I don’t have ‘original’ crockpot recipes to share. (No worries—I’ve got your recipes at the bottom).

But I’m good at directing you to some of my favorite places to score a quick crockpot recipe if you don’t want to Google it.

If I’m not flipping through the binders of recipes I’ve printed (gotta love a binder!) Or the crockpot recipe books I have (yes I still have actual books!) Then I Google for a recipe or go to Allrecipes and check out—you got it—the reviews. (Which is why authors always have reviews at the top of their Christmas list.

Got Recipes? Here’s a Treat For You

I’m not the only writer who’s trying to cut corners on cooking and cleaning to escape into the writing cave. Check out my extras page to see the We’d Rather be Writing book which features a multitude of recipes and timesaving tips— I contributed a tip.

Plus, there are several free books with all kinds of recipes courtesy of my publisher and The Wild Rose Press authors for your free holiday gift.

This year, the recipes focus on baking—yes! So I’m sharing Ruthie’s Kuka recipe. You remember, Aunt Ruthie from Destiny Calling and Not A Chance, right? Then you know she knows how to make things delicious like this coffee cake. If you’re already subscribed to my newsletter, you would’ve found out about this free recipe book sooner to get started on your baking early.

Fill Your Belly with More Recipes

Get your fill of recipes with the other authors on the blog hop as they share The Best Dish I Cook.

But before you go, don’t forget to check out this months contest where you can enter to try to win a gift for yourself. Scroll down for all the details.

Enter Here for your chance to win a gift for yourself this holiday.

The post You’re Gonna Have to Look for The Best Dish I Cook appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

I’ve written about this topic before right here and and focused a lot on how time is a priceless gift. But apparently my list for this year is not correct, because everyone else is writing about how their family survives their writing. Although I’ve written about that too, right here. So, since it’s hard to pick just one gift, I’m going with that today. I’m sharing a few other best gifts I’ve received—and a few that really surprised me.

What You Least Expected

Often the best gift is one that isn’t expected. It’s not a holiday, or you haven’t prepared a wish list that you’re hoping to get exactly what you want. This year on the hubs and my anniversary in March, he got my one of the best gifts I ever got. It had me speechless.

Sure, often I’m a quiet person and don’t always feel as if I can adequately display my appreciation with the right words. But that doesn’t stop the words in my head, this did.

I knew hubs was going to get a tattoo. As a musician and a lover of all things music, he was conflicted as to which tattoo he wanted to get and had shown me several ones from albums he was considering.

Imagine my surprise when he returned and I asked him which one he got and he showed me a tattoo of my first novel, Destiny Calling. The first book of The Enchantlings series.

Speechless doesn’t begin to describe my feelings. Hubs has always supported my writing but he doesn’t read my books, so I felt he couldn’t understand what my books meant to me, but apparently, he could.

Two for One

I know when most people list the best #gifts it’s often things that aren’t of material value. #MFRW
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Things like family, friends and health. I’ve often felt it goes without saying that my twins are one of the best gifts I ever got. Definitely something we weren’t expecting. Well, I was expecting, but it wasn’t until my sonogram at 5 months that we discovered we were getting double.

Then to later confirm we were having girls made my heart swell since I have three sisters (and one brother) and my relationship with my family, and especially my sisters was a wonderful gift, and still is. I’ve often felt it was a gift to have a healthy pregnancy, two healthy babies who were born with a best friend—and the gift of being a mother.

It’s A Blog Hop

If you check out the other author’s blogs you’ll find out how their family survives their writing.

Think the holidays are challenging with families? Try living with a writer all year long. (Here’s an older post of mine on that topic)

Started your holiday shopping yet? Me neither, but here’s your chance to get some gift ideas if you scroll down and check out the Holiday gift guide if you’d like to give the awesome gift that keeps giving all holiday season and then some—a book.

Then check out the new contest below to win a gift for yourself! Us paranormal and fantasy peeps want to help you put the magic back in your holiday season.

What’s The Best Gift You Ever Got?

PARANORMAL ROMANCE

& URBAN FANTASY GIVEAWAY

November 15 – December 5

Kindle Fire 7 • Ebook Prize Packs • Multiple Amazon Gift Cards

Paranormal romance, fantasy romance, and urban fantasy fans, we’ve got a giveaway just for you. Enter and you could take home a Kindle Fire 7, Amazon gift card, or ebook prize pack where you get to choose the books you want to win on Amazon, including that latest PNR bestseller you’re lusting after.

And though Halloween may be over, those of us who love witches, vampires, fae, demons, and dragons can never get enough. Feed your fiction addiction (here) with our page full of tasty ebook bargains. All books 2.99 or less, some free!

The post The Best Gift Is One You Never Expected appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

ALL THINGS MAGICAL GIVEAWAY

Paranormal Romance & Fantasy Giveaway

August 22 – September 12

Enter for Your Chance to Win! Right here

How would you like to win a prize pack of paranormal romance or fantasy ebooks by your favorite authors? Enter and you could take home one of four packs where YOU tell us which books to buy for you. We also have a Kindle Fire 7 and Amazon gift cards up for grabs!

(Sponsored by the 29 authors listed below)

Allyson Lindt • Amanda Uhl • Angela Roquet • Angela Sanders • Angelique Armae • Arizona Tape • Aurrora St. James • Bella Roccaforte • Cailin Briste • Candace Sams • E.B. Black • Elizabeth Rose • Karen Michelle Nutt • Katherine Gilbert • Kerry Blaisdell • Kristy Tate • L.E. Harrison • Laura Greenwood • M.C. Cerny • Mary Morgan • Maureen Bonatch • Mia McKimmy • Michele Barrow-Belisle • PJ Friel • Siera London • Sorchia DuBois • Tena Stetler • Aileen Harkwood

Share the love for this magical giveaway with a tweet

Want to #win a Kindle Fire, ebook prize pack, or Amazon gift card? Enter the ALL THINGS MAGICAL PNR #GIVEAWAY for your chance to win! Aug 22- Sept 12 https://bit.ly/2nN9zVr #bookwrapt
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Plus, don’t forget to shop our All Things Magical Book Fair (right here) for best-selling and highly-reviewed ebooks on sale just for this event, and a bonus giveaway for a leather-bound spell journal!

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The post Magical Paranormal Romance & Fantasy Giveaway appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Initially, I thought of a gift that was the best I’d ever given but then I realized I considered that gift the best, but perhaps the recipient may not have thought it was the best gift they ever got. There’s a difference in what the giver wants to give, and knowing the best gift for the recipient.

Money for Nothing

When my husband and I were first dating, I wasn’t working so I had very little money for anything. I saved any money I received for holidays or birthday gifts etc. So, when Christmas came around that year, I used the money (most of which I’d received from my future hubs months before as a gift) to buy my future hubs a nice gift. In retrospect, my generosity made me feel good about the gift, but that doesn’t mean it was the best gift I ever gave, it only meant I felt the best about the gift since it was something I couldn’t normally afford.

For several years after, once I was working, I took pride in choosing gifts for people. It took some personal reflection to realize that often I chose gifts based on what I liked, or what I thought the person should like.

It took me years to finally stop buying the hubs sweaters. Just because I liked how the sweaters looked, he’d verbalized more than once that he didn’t like them. Occasionally he’d wear them begrudgingly since I bought them. But it was obvious that he wouldn’t buy them for himself.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

I came to realize that giving the best gift came down to listening. I could always go out and get a nice gift by picking out something I thought they would like, or by purchasing a gift card so the person could get their own gift.

These #gifts didn’t make me feel as good as one that I knew they really wanted, but never expected to get. #MFRW #author
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I’ve successfully gotten a ‘close to perfect’ gift for more than one person by paying attention all year long. I note down ideas when someone mentions something they like. The other person isn’t really asking for something, or telling you what to get, you simply know what to get because you’ve been listening. (Kind of like Ruthie’s gift of knowing in my book Destiny Calling –but not that good) They may have mentioned the gift months ago and never expect that they might receive it. The best part of those gifts is seeing the surprise, and joy, on the person’s face when they open it. Then I’ve truly succeeded in getting the perfect gift for that person.

P.S.—Scruff Chose His Best Gift

You may have realized that Scruff is just a bit spoiled. He won’t admit it, of course. He has a plethora of toys and loves them all, but one is extra special. If you’ve been around my blog for a while, you might have heard me talk about Bummy, the Lhasa Apso we had before Scruff for almost 15 years. Losing Bummy was hard on all of us, and especially my girls who were only around nine years old at the time.

They made a ‘shrine’ of some of Bummy’s things on the bottom of their bookshelf. One day, while Scruff was still a young pup, he saw the bookshelf and desperately wanted the ratty, old, stuffed duck that used to be Bummy’s favorite toy. We let him have it, and it’s now his favorite toy over all the shiny new ones that he gets. He knew exactly what he wanted.

Do You Know What Gift to Get?

The post Knowing the Best Gift to Give appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

But there is one gift that really stood out—but it wasn’t actually the gift, this is an example of when it was truly the thought that counts.

I’m Slightly Obsessed with Time

I’ve become more focused on time. As the years seem to fly by faster, and my obligations, responsibilities and tasks seem to be never ending.  It’s no secret for anyone who may have noticed my too-many calendars, clocks in every room and my ever-present watch. I’m constantly trying to do it all—and not always succeeding.

Thus, I’ve frequently informed my family that the best gift would be to give me time. Take care of the cleaning, groceries or other chores so I can just focus on what I want to do most—write. But, alas, this is a gift for another day, because so far no one else wants to take up that burden either, even for a short time.

The Gift of Deciding

With so many tasks and decisions demanding room in my thoughts, my mind becomes fatigued. There’s actually a name for this mental fatigue. It’s called decision fatigue. (I wrote a freelance article about it here, it you’d like to learn more). So, when I’m asked where I want to eat, what are we doing for this, where do I want to go, sometimes—I just don’t know.

I’m too tired to even consider it. #MFRW Sometimes the best #gift is knowing just what to give.
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But, a few years back, on a milestone birthday, the hubs and my girls gave me the best gift. They decided on everything themselves, leaving my mind free to wander and relax.

It Wasn’t Just the Gift

The “gift” was fabulous—a surprise weekend at a spa with the hubs! But that wasn’t the best part. It was the surprise. He told me to pack for the weekend, and gave a few suggestions what to bring. He’d made all the decisions. All I had to do was get ready to go. Granted, the hubs knows me pretty well after all these years, so he knows what I like.

The girls were too young to go buy a gift on their own. Instead they prepared my breakfast (this was a few years back, believe me, the food wasn’t the memorable part, lol).

The ‘meal’ was served in their little restaurant (our decorated kitchen) complete with their handmade menu of breakfast items. Although they’d already chosen what I would have to pick. Because they were limited on what they could make.

Despite my resistance to choosing the ‘special punch’ I was pretty much forced to choose the beverage of questionable ingredients. But I drank it instead of my usual orange juice, knowing it was the thought that counted.

It’s a Blog Hop

It won’t cost you a thing, and you don’t even have to decide where to hop to next in cyberspace.

Check out these other fabulous authors to discover the best gift they ever got. Perhaps it will inspire you for future gift giving of your own.

What Was the Best Gift You Ever Got?

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The post The Most Precious Gifts are Priceless appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Look no further! My question is up today at The Romance Reviews! 

To play you need to register and be logged in at TRR before they can play the game. Registration is free and easy. 

The Romance Reviews Sizzling Summer Reads

• Has more than 150 participating authors and publishers.
• There are more than 150 prizes up for grabs during the whole month of June.
• Grand prize is $100 Amazon Gift Certificate!

I'm heading to @TRRparty to try to #win Forget Me Not @mbonatch & tons of prizes http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php
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Winners and Prizes:

Winners will be randomly selected by the system and the sponsors notified by email. The list of winners each week will also be posted on the site.The decisions of the contest judges are final.
The prizes must be accepted as awarded. No exchanges allowed. For non-cash prizes, these prizes are not convertible to cash.
For ebook prizes, winners hereby agree not to distribute the ebook via email or upload to a file sharing website or via any technology presently in use or yet to be invented. Distributing ebooks is a violation of the author’s copyright, and violators will be fined and prosecuted.
Each person can only use one account in entering the contest. Suspicious duplicate accounts will be investigated and all wins in all accounts will be invalidated.
If you won a prize but no one has contacted you within one week of the announcement of winners, kindly contact event @ theromancereviews.com.
Week 1 Prizes

Broken Survivor by Jennifer Labelle (ebook)
Willpower by Anna Durand (print)
Updrift by Errin Stevens and a sea charm bracelet (print)
Pistol Fanny’s Hank & Delilah by Annie Rose Welch (signed print)
Blood Surfer by Debra Jess (ebook)
In His Keeping: Taken by Mia Frances (ebook)
Must Remember by Colleen S. Myers (ebook)
The Sun King by Sandra Kyle (ebook)
A Knight to Remember by Anne Barwell (ebook)
Death Wish by Megan Tayte (ebook)
Friends and Lovers by Sloan Parker (ebook)
The Caress of a Commander by Linda Rae Sande (ebook)
Early One Morning by Aubree Lane (ebook)
Siren’s Snare by Crystal-Rain Love (ebook)
Maid For The Billionaire by Ruth Cardello (ebook)
The Seventh Son by Ashley York (print)
Unforgettable Lover by Rosalie Redd (ebook)
The Runaway Millions by Parker Avrile (ebook)
The Dirty Secret by Kira A. Gold (ebook)
Fairyproof by Constance Phillips (ebook)
Daniel’s Duty by Josie Dennis (ebook)
Murphy’s Law by Pamela Jo Edwards (ebook)
Dark Captive (Manlove Edition) by Lea Bronsen (ebook)
Enticing Her Unexpected Bridegroom by Catherine Hemmerling (ebook)
Vampires Bites Boxed Set by Gina Kincade (ebook)
Lord Bachelor by Tammy L. Bailey (ebook)

Week 2 Prizes

The Pirate’s Duchess (A Regent’s Revenge Novella) by Katherine Bone (ebook)
Pairing Off by Elizabeth Harmon (ebook)
Catch My Breath by Lynn Montagano (ebook)
Profile of Terror by Alexa Grace (ebook)
In His Keeping: Taken by Mia Frances (ebook)
I Dream of Dragons by Ashlyn Chase (audio book)
I See You (Come to Your Senses #1) by Susan Reeves (ebook)
Tinman’s Heart by S. Carman Knight (ebook)
Super Starrella by Aurora Springer (ebook)
$25 Gift Certificate to winner’s choice of one of the following: Amazon, Kobo or Barnes and Noble (sent over email)
The Betrayal by Marina Martindale (print)
Built For Power by Kathleen Brooks (ebook)
Somewhere In Time by Robyn Peterman (ebook)
Reflection (A Whitney Steel Novel, Book One) by Kim Cresswell (ebook)
Strategic Alliance by Vanessa Liebe (ebook)
My One And Only by Terri Osburn (ebook)
One Night Promised by Jodi Ellen Malpas (signed print)
Going All The Way by Megan Ryder (ebook)
My Alpha by Jianne Carlo (ebook)
Reclaiming Forever by Larynn Ford (print)
Ceiba’s Grace by Nicole Pouchet (ebook)
The Runner’s Enticement by Addie Jo Ryleigh (ebook)
The Book of Life (Illuminati Book 1) by Elizabeth Alsobrooks (ebook)
$25 Amazon Gift Card from Magda Alexander (sent via email)
Melting Shadows by Rhea Rhodan (ebook)
Fierce & Fabulous by Elizabeth Varlet (ebook)

Week 3 Prizes

Kiss of the Virgin Queen by Sharon Buchbinder (ebook)
Blood Ties and Leather Restraints by Sierra Brave (ebook)
Can’t Forget by Colleen S. Myers (ebook)
A Man of Character by Margaret Locke (kindle ebook)
One Step Further (ebook)
In His Keeping: Taken by Mia Frances (ebook)
Married for the Boss’s Baby by Susan Carlisle (print)
The Royal Street Heist by Scotty Cade (ebook)
Last Resort Love by Holly Cortelyou (ebook)
$10 Amazon Gift Card from Diana Layne (sent via email)
The Memory of Roses by Blair McDowell (ebook)
Shifting Magick Trilogy box set by Lia Davis (ebook)
Worth the Fall by Claudia Connor (ebook)
Tangled Sin by Georgia Lyn Hunter (ebook)
Submission and Surrender (ebook)
Baiting Trouble (Sinful Business 2) by Marie Astor (ebook)
The Misbehaved by Jessica Jayne (ebook)
The Clam Festival Murders by Laurel Richards (ebook)
Vibrizzio by Nicki Elson (ebook)
Council Courtship by Constance Phillips (ebook)
His First and Last by Terri Osburn (ebook)
Forget Me Not by Maureen L. Bonatch (ebook)
Vexing Voss by Gail Koger (ebook)
Red Velvet Rose by Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku (ebook)
Dante’s Gift by Aubrey Wynne (print)
Stockholm Diaries, Melanie by Rebecca Hunter (ebook)
Signed copies of Alien Attachments and Rebellion by Sabine Priestley (paperback)
Guide Me by Chelsea Brighton (ebook)
$5 Amazon Gift Card (gift card)

Week 4 Prizes

At His Command by Ruth Kaufman (ebook)
Behind the Scenes by Natalie J. Damschroder (print)
The Guardian by Jacquie Biggar (ebook)
Moonstone Conspiracy by Elizabeth Ellen Carter (ebook)
Song of the Blackbird by DB Michaels (ebook)
Charm Me by Tena Stetler (ebook)
Tell Me Something by Aubrey Bondurant (ebook)
Sins in the Sand by Kait Gamble (ebook)
Stefan of Caeli by Aurrora St. James (ebook)
Fairyproof (The Realms Salvation Book 1) by Constance Phillips (ebook)
Fairyproof (The Realms Salvation Book 1) by Constance Phillips (ebook)
Our Now And Forever by Terri Osburn (ebook)
$25.00 Amazon Gift Card from Terri Osburn (sent via email)
Fated Love by Susan Boles (ebook)
Winning Ben by JoMarie DeGioia (ebook)
Waking Amy by Julieann Dove (ebook)
Glimpse Eternity by Ryan Jo Summers (ebook)
Buchanan House by Charley Descoteaux (ebook)
The Letting by Cathrine Goldstein (ebook)
Demon Duke by S.J. Frost (ebook)
The Runner’s Enticement by Addie Jo Ryleigh (ebook)
Catch Me If You Can by Juliette Cosway (ebook)
PARTICIPATING PUBLISHERS

eXtasy Books
Pocket Books
Loose Id
Loveswept
Gallery Books
Soul Mate Publishing
PARTICIPATING AUTHORS

Why me, of course! And also- wow! Look at all these awesome authors!

Constance Phillips, Lecia Cornwall, Kira A. Gold, Addie Jo Ryleigh, Larynx Ford, Marina Martindale, Errin Stevens, Jenn Langston, Kayden Claremont, DB Michaels, Diana Layne, Gail Koger, Cali MacKay, Jaime Reese, Alexa Grace, Jianne Carlo, Rebecca Hunter, Jeanette Winters, Lea Bronsen, Gina Kinkade, Mia Mitns, Vera Roberts, Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku, Jessica Jayne, Kathryn Freeman, Juliette Conway, Aurora St. James, Laurel Richards, Nicki Elson, Kait Gamble, Aubrey Wynne, J.S. Scott, Ashlyn Chase, Susan Carlisle, Jennifer Labelle, Normandie Alleman, Dariel Raye, Margaret Locke, Ruth Kaufman, Nicole Pouchet, Vanessa Liebe, Anna Durand, Kahlen Armes, Elizabeth Alsobrooks, Crystal-Rain Love, Rachel Rossano, Pamela Jo Edwards, Michelle Jo Quinn, Cathrine Goldstein, Nicole Morgan, Audrey Bondurant, Rosalie Redd, Lisa Marie Rice, Susan Boles, Sloan Parker, Josie Dennis, J.M. Danny, Julieann Dove, Jacquie Biggar, S.J. Forst, Ryan Jo Summers, Elizabeth Ellen Carter, Elizabeth Harmon, Terri Osborn, Sabine Priestley, Morgan O’Reilly, Colleen Myers, Aubree Lane, Lia Davis, Magda Alexander, Katherine Bone, Debra Jess, Karyn Good, Annie Rose Welch, Blair McDowell, Kelli McCracken, Felice Stevens, Deanna Lynn Sletten, Kathleen Brooks, Tena Stetler, Rhea Rhodan, Clair de Lune, Holly Cortelyou, Kim Cresswell, Anne Barwell, Natalie J. Damschroder, Sandra Kyle, Catherine Hemmedling, Linda Rae Sande, Megan Taste, Meredith Bond, JoMarie DeGioia, Charley Descoteaux, Elizabeth Varlet, Teri Riggs, Claudia Connor, Mia Frances, Megan Ryder, Sharon Buchbinder, Marie Astor, Rena Koontz, Lynn Montanan, Alyssa Drake, Georgia Lyn Hunter, Sierra Brave, Annette Blair, Amy J. Hawthorn, Robyn Peterman, Chelsea Brighton, Ruth Cardello, Morgan Kay, Scotty Cade, Mia Moore, S. Carman Knight, Tammy L. Bailey, Ashley York, Susan Reeves, Parker Avrile, Nikka Michaels, Cassandra Piat, Aurora Springer

The post Romance Reviews Sizzling Summer Reads appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

High School 

If I heard it once back in the day, I heard it a hundred times. Enjoy high school, these are the best years of your life! 

I disagree. 

High School was hard. Not the courses, but the awkward teenage years. Everything and everyone changes. You feel like you don’t fit in anywhere. Every little inadequacy feels as if it’s spotlighted into a massive flaw.  

At the time, I’d blamed much of my social ineptness on not being rich enough to afford the latest social fashions. Or losing my childhood friend. Because apparently once you hit high school you couldn’t have a best friend who was a boy—unless you were a couple. 

I was wrong.

We aren’t rich by any means, but my girls were able to buy brand name and wear the latest fashions in junior high. But it made no difference in their social ease or popularity. It didn’t stop them from losing long time friendships as girls became catty and hormones separated the strong from the weak. 

I’ve never once told my girls these were the best years of their life, because that’s a lie.

Believing that would mean we peak at a young age and the rest of our lives are endured on a downhill slope. What would there be to look forward to? Despite how many times I tell my girls not to worry about these little things that seem so big. That there are so many more things coming. That they’re so much more wonderful than they realize. To enjoy these years but don’t fret about them— they can’t hear me.

I’m just Mom.

The woman who won’t really know anything for another handful of years. 

As I reflect back over my life I can finally assure my teen self that these things had nothing to do with happiness and popularity. I’ve long ago accepted the stunning truth that popularity doesn’t = happiness.

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You require one thing to achieve happiness. Once you have it, you'll no longer care about popularity.
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It’s a little gem that can’t be bought or shared…you must discover this magic within. Sometimes you can’t unearth it. Then you just have to fake it until you make it your reality.

Confidence

Despite the pain at not being able to wave my Mom-magic-wand and make everything better as I could when they were small, I’ve discovered something blossoming within my young teens.

As they maneuver the senior high years, they’ve finally shed the chameleon shell. The one where they blended into whatever they felt was expected from their friends. They’ve found their true selves and embraced their heart.

They might not see it yet, but I’ve noticed this little growth of confidence…these little changes inspiring them to follow their own path…and it’s beautiful. 

So tell me, what little piece of advice would you give your high-school self? 

Leaving a comment will enter you in a random drawing for a copy of your choice of one of my books in ebook format. Winner will be announced by April 6th. 

The post How to convince my shy teens the truth about popularity appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day…A sweet novella to help you believe in love and second chances

Don’t forget to check out how you could win an ebook, a chance at a $5 or $20 Amazon Gift Card, or a Kindle Fire from The Wild Rose Press!

Read on to find out how to win Prizes for today’s comments, enter for a rafflecopter gift card drawn on January 28th and follow the blog hop for more prizes!

Visions, Vows and Valentines

What if your memories hadn’t been made yet?

The car accident totaled Sabrina Post’s convertible and reinvented her memories. She can’t recall dumping Cole Dawson ten years ago. What her new clairvoyant visions tell Sabrina is he’s her husband. Any practical girl would question her sanity. But if Sabrina wants to make this imaginary future a reality, she’ll have to regain Cole’s trust and eliminate her rival, the coffee shop waitress who’s pegged Cole as husband #4. To prove she’s foreseen their destiny, Sabrina stirs Cole’s interest by revealing specifics about him she couldn’t have otherwise known. Unfortunately, the one detail he vividly remembers is the pain when she left him and their “rinky-dink” town in her rearview mirror.

If Cole can’t believe she’s a changed woman, can Sabrina accept the only second chance she has at love exists in her memories?

Here’s A Taste of Forget Me Not…

The boxes of candy hearts Julie forgot spilled across the floor.

Cole hunkered down and gathered the papers. His mouth formed a hard line as he glanced at Sabrina’s leave paperwork with the end date prominently circled. He replaced it on the table under the keys.

“No really, I can do it. You stay, Cole. I’ll be right back.” Sabrina caught her reflection in the mirror on the wall. The quest for a coat resulted in her hair looking as if she’d stuck her finger into an electrical outlet. Her appearance matched her desperation. She ran her hands over her head, but the static filled strands resisted smoothing.

“I need to check on Dad anyway, and it’s on my way. I’ll take Josie.” Cole extended his elbow, and Josie latched on like a lifeline, her fingers digging into the leather of his jacket. She skittered across a few of the remaining candies, crushing Be Mine and Love Me on the floor. “Thanks again for dinner, Marge.”

“Cole wait.” Despair leaked into Sabrina’s plea.
He glanced toward the papers on the table and sighed. “I waited for years, Rena. It’s you who waited too long.”

As the door closed behind him, so did the future with Cole that she’d imagined. Her shoulders fell. She knelt to collect the candy hearts scattered on the floor. Forget Me Not and Hug Me taunted her with their cheerful words. Lacking a garbage bag, she shoved a handful of the candies into her jacket pocket. Several hearts were trodden into tiny pieces, like her own.

Comment below if you believe in second chances for a chance to win!

One person will win their choice of one of my books (ebook copy) and another will win a $5.00 Amazon gift card. Winners will be drawn on January 7th!

Before you go- don’t forget to enter my rafflecopter at the bottom- the $20 Amazon gift card will be announced on January 28th!

Then follow the next stop of A New Year blog hop by clicking on the banner below:

Don’t forget to pick up your copy of Forget Me Not today!

Amazon:

The Wild Rose Press:

Barnes and Noble: 

Kobo: 

IBooks: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Don’t Forget! Today is Release Day for Forget Me Not! appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

The Wild Rose Press is putting the catalog on sale from Thanksgiving day through cyber Monday! Who to say that while you’re picking up gifts for everyone on your list that you can’t shop for your yourself for the holidays? 

Sneak away while the pie is baking, or when you need a few minutes to yourself to escape from your family into a good book.

Who knows what you like better than you!

Happy Holidays!

The post Holiday Sale at The Wild Rose Press appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

I’m participating with…

More than 300 other authors and publishers!

More than 300 prizes up for grabs during the whole month of November!

Grand prize is an Amazon Kindle Fire HD7

Click on the picture above to play!

The post Want More Prizes? #TRR Year End Splash Party appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.