The popularity of ABC’s Once Upon A Time and the release of movies based on the classic fairy tales Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Rapunzel and, less recently, Cinderella all speak to timeless nature of these stories from our childhood. The concepts of good defeating evil, of true love finding a way to bring lovers together despite the odds, and of someone from humble beginnings rising to meet challenges and earn a happy ending resonate for all of us. Sprinkle in some magic pixie dust, royal weddings, and a fairy godmother or two, and you’ve got the stuff of romantic daydreams.

I fell in love with fairy tales and romance stories as a little girl watching Walt Disney movies on the big screen. I had imaginary mouse friends I’d modeled after Cinderella’s pals Jacques and Gus, and I created my own stories of handsome princes coming to rescue me and sweep me off to their castles. Is it any wonder I became a romance writer? To this day, I get choked up when the music swells at the end of a Disney movie and the narrator speaks those magic words…”And they lived happily ever after.” Dreamy sigh.

When I sat down to write TRUST IN ME, I didn’t intend to draw parallels to the Cinderella story, but fairy tale references crept in, just the same. Soon I realized what I had, and the story really came to life for me. While not a strict retelling of Cinderella, I call the story my ‘Cinderfella’ book.

Kevin is a small town guy, working a blue collar job and struggling to get by. Claire is the wealthy and sheltered girl, searching for independence and a fresh start. More than once, Kevin rides to Claire’s rescue, much to her dismay, since she wants to learn to handle little crises on her own. Yet through his good deeds, Claire begins to see Kevin as more prince than pauper, more white knight than frog. For example, when Claire’s car won’t start, Kevin takes her home on his trusty steed…er, motorcycle. Here’s an excerpt:

He pulled up next to her and killed the engine. Tugging off the helmet, he extended it toward her. “Here, you wear this. I only have one, and I’d rather you wear it.”

She gaped at him a moment, unmoving, numb with trepidation.

“A m-motorcycle?”

His chestnut eyebrows whipped together. “Is that a problem? I guess I should have explained … I don’t have a car.”

“Is it safe?”

He grinned. “As long as we don’t crash.”

Her pulse jumped, sending adrenaline scampering through her blood. Her face must have reflected her doubts, because Kevin sobered quickly and raised a hand toward her. “Sorry, I guess I shouldn’t joke about it. I’ll drive slow, and you’ll be safe. I promise.”

The warmth and concern in his gaze reached deep inside her, calming her nerves more than his words could. Her soul seemed to know instinctively to trust Kevin. She accepted the helmet with a trembling hand and drew a slow breath for courage. Pulling the helmet on, she fastened the chin strap and lifted her gaze to Kevin for assurance she’d put the protective gear on correctly. 

He grinned, then slapped the seat behind him. “Swing a leg over and hold tight to me. On turns, lean with me.”

She nodded and took another deep breath, inhaling the aroma of sweat, leather and soap inside the helmet. The intoxicating blend of scents spun her senses in new directions, all centered around Kevin. She clambered onto the motorcycle, self-conscious over her lack of finesse. If Kevin noticed her fumbling, he had the courtesy not to comment. Thank goodness she’d worn slacks today, a concession to comfort her mother would have never approved of, but which now proved a good choice.

Kevin started the engine, and Claire wrapped her arms around his chest, pressing herself close to his broad back. The rumbling engine echoed the thrum of her pulse, and she squeezed her eyes shut.

As he prepared to drive away, Kevin shifted his weight, and the bike rocked. She gasped and clutched his shirt tighter.

Placing a hand on her leg, he gave her knee a quick squeeze and turned his head toward her. “You can trust me, you know. I’d never let you fall.”

I was tickled to learn that Romantic Times Book Reviews called TRUST IN ME “a thoroughly delightful romance.” I hope you’ll agree! TRUST IN ME is available for download from Amazon here: http://amzn.to/t2XHkr

Now it is your turn. Tell me why you love fairy tales and which fairy tale is your favorite, but hurry, the spell …okay, the comment period …only lasts until midnight ET on May 13. I’ll choose one comment at random on May 14 to win an ebook copy (so international readers can play too!) of either my award winning romantic suspense UNDER FIRE or REYN’S REDEMPTION (winner’s choice). Thanks and happy reading!

Beth Cornelison

Award winning author Beth Cornelison received her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from the University of Georgia. After working in public relations for about a year, she moved with her husband to Louisiana, where she decided to pursue her love of writing fiction.

Since that time, she has won numerous honors for her work including a final in the Rita contest sponsored by the Romance Writers of America. She made her first sale to Silhouette Intimate Moments in June 2004 and has gone on to sell many more books to Harlequin/ Silhouette. She has also published with Five Star Expressions, Samhain Publishing, and Sourcebooks.

Beth has presented workshops across the country to numerous chapter meetings, conferences, online classes and book clubs. She lives in Louisiana with her husband, one son and a fluctuating number of cats who think they are people.

As some of you know, we had to euthanize our black Lab Nick last week. He was just shy of his 11^th birthday, but he had a very aggressive oral cancer that was untreatable unless we wanted to put him through some radical surgery. The vet advised against it, and I was appalled by the idea of it, anyway.

It occurred to me this morning that Nick has been around for most of my writing career. He was born in June 2001, and my first book came out in 1999. He came to us at 6 weeks old as a 17 lb puppy who curled up under my desk by my feet while I wrote. He turned into a typical Lab – a goofy 95-pounder who was obsessed with playing fetch. He was the craziest “fetcher” I’ve ever seen and would run himself to death chasing a ball or a stick if we let him. The kids called him “The Hustler” because he was always on the make – for treats, for attention, for games. 

So now we’re down to one cat and one dog. Bob and Ranger.

Bob has been perfectly happy since we lost our other cat – Kokomo – two years ago. He adjusted right away, becoming the Alpha Cat in the household. I thought it was interesting how he developed a lot more personality and became much more affectionate after his “boss” was gone. He is definitely King Kat around here now, and I doubt that he would take well to another kitty in the household.

I’m not so sure about Ranger, our six year old yellow Lab. He’s been moping since Nick died, although he had a happy moment yesterday when my friend brought her 1 year old pup to play. It makes me wonder whether we ought to jump right in and get another dog. In the past week since Nick’s been gone, I’ve realized how high-maintenance it is to have two big dogs. So, what do I do? Get another dog for Ranger’s benefit? We got Ranger for Nick’s sake when he was grieving over the loss of our old Schnauzer. But I’m not sure that’s the way to go. Don’t get me wrong – I love dogs. But  I’m pretty much on the fence about this.

What do you all think? Should my poor Sad Sack here get a buddy?

The winner of THE GREATEST GIFT: A MOTHER’S DAY COLLECTION featuring A MOTHER’S DAY MATCH from my Time Flies blog is…
Janet!

Please contact me via my website and I will get your prize in the e-mail to you!

Thank you everyone for stopping by.

Katherine

Those of you who know me know that I am a procrastinator. Why do something in advance when you can do it last minute? So, it shouldn’t surprise most of you that I tend to write my blogs at the last possible moment…as I’m writing this one just before midnight….

Tonight though, my heart is heavy and I find it difficult to write something light and funny.  So let me tell you about true love.

Maureen and Len married 37 years ago and Len would proclaim to everyone who would listen that Maureen was the love of his life.  Every six months when they came into the dental office where I’ve worked for the last 20 years, they would continue to talk to each other across the office even as their appointments continued. They ALWAYS scheduled appointment together and rarely came without the other. Len usually began his conversations with ‘my wife Maureen’ and then would go on to tell anyone who would listen about the wonderful woman he loved and had married.

They raised three daughters and Maureen taught school for almost 3 decades, in a struggling school system and never talked about retiring until the year before she did. Len had already and they had lots of things they were going to do together — because that’s how they always did things. Together.

Then, just after retiring ( I would run into them at the local health club pool — spending time together in the exercise pool and class), Maureen was diagnosed with lymphoma. Through it all, Len and the girls were at her side, encouraging her and supporting her through all kinds of treatments and were optimistic when the docs thought her through the worst. And hopeful when she went into remission.

We got a call today at the office letting us know that Maureen died suddenly last week – a powerful infection struck her down and she went from recovery to ventilator to death in only a few days. Len called to apologize for not letting us know that his wonderful wife, the love of his life, had passed away. I happened to take the call and all I could do was cry as he told me once more about the special person she was and how he could not imagine how he would live without her.

As I thought on all he’d said, all he’d ever said about his Maureen, I realized I was hearing true love. Through the good times and the bad, through decades of married life and raising children, into retirement and through trials, they were always together. They were soulmates — the other half that was never far away. And even now, I know their love will remain strong between them….how could it not?

And, as I grieve tonight for the wonderful man who lost the woman he loves, I know I was privileged to see real love in action. Not the fictional love I create in my stories, no, this love was true and deep and abiding and won’t end just because she’s passed away.

So, help me celebrate this true love by sharing a story about a true love you’ve witnessed. Your own? A family member or friend? Please post it — I’ll appreciate hearing about true love during this sad time.

Terri is working on a new proposal for Harlequin Historicals, another MacLerie Clan story, and recovering from her recent month on the road for various work assignments. Visit her website for more info about her upcoming books and events.

I can’t believe its May already. When I was a kid May was that perfect time that meant the school year was almost over and summer waited just around the corner. I loved May!

When I worked at my very first job at Walt Disney World, May was one of those months with five pay periods which always made me think of found money. I realize now that I’m not making more money but at the time I was 17 and it seemed like a bonus!

I still like May. I get to celebrate Mother’s Day both with my mom and with my own kids. We get days off for holidays (Memorial Day in the US, another Bank Holiday in the UK) and it is the start of summer. Its still dreary in the Midlands of the UK but I bought some new summer clothes and I’m ready for it.

What do you like most about May?

I’m giving a way a copy of THE GREATEST GIFT: A HARLEQUIN MOTHER’S DAY Collection today to one blog participant. Its only available in e-book form and has stories from myself, Kathleen O’Brien, Donna Alward and Tonya Micheals.

This week, we’re going to hear a lot of great things about a lot of great moms. But I thought it might be fun to visit our less than stellar moments. We’ve all had them. (Except my friend Lisa, who makes the rest of us look terrible.)

So here are a few notable moments in the old mother/child relationship that maybe aren’t so great.

My mom goes to the hospital with a broken foot. We see the orthopedist, whose name sounds like the Hungarian word for granny-style underwear (it’s a weird language). The snorting begins. He is confused at our amusement, which only makes it worse. When Mom is given crutches, both of us know she’s going to fall. She does. Hilarity ensues. Nurses express concern that my mom is being discharged into my care.

My neighbor pretends to give her children up for adoption. Okay, this was a different time. My neighbor is 77 years old. When her boys were fighting and breaking stuff (which was daily, let’s be fair), Carol would pick up the phone and say, “Hello, Bad Boys Home? I have two boys I’d like you to pick up.” Today, that would be considered emotional abuse, but I’m happy to report that both boys are now men and seem pretty dang happy and successful to me.

I embarrass my daughter and godchild by referring to anatomy in a mall. “I’ll meet you at the nipple store,” I blithely call, referring to Hollister, whose name always escapes me. The girls shush me in horror, then bolt into the crowd.

Star Wars dorkiness revealed when I engage in a heated debate about who is cooler — Han Solo or Yoda—while out to breakfast with my daughter. (And please. It’s Yoda.). My daughter’s gentle advice: “You probably should keep some things to yourself, Mommy.”

My mother pretends to abandon her three small children in the car on a dark road, warning us not to open the doors “no matter what you hear.” She’d get out of the car, walk a few yards away, wait us out until our whimpering became loud enough, then come back, laughing. “Oh, you didn’t think I was serious, did you? You kids!” I know. I’d like to say the emotional scars have healed. But I can’t. That being said, I seem to be a normally functioning adult, so clearly Mom did something right!

Got any funny stories of your own less-than-notable moments in motherhood…or your own mom’s? You know you’ll be bringing her flowers on Sunday, so for now, go ahead. Tell us!

Kathryn!  Congratulations!  I just drew your name as the winner of an eBook copy of Dance of Desire, the prize I offered in my recent blog post.  Please check your email for my message.  Thanks to everyone who left comments, and look for more chances to win great stuff here at the Jaunty Quills blog.  Have a great week, everyone!

Here is the list of winners from my blog about Rock*It Reads on Monday. You will soon be contacted by the Rock*It Reads authors on how to claim your books (if you haven’t heard from them already). If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me. (Margomaguire@yahoo.com). Congratulations, ladies!

Donna Ann
Julia
Jane
Stella
Jenni
Breanna
Megan
Ebony
Sharon D
Stacie D

When I was growing up, our family didn’t travel much.  Translation: not at all.

Other kids would talk about going to Disneyland or the Grand Canyon and I would just sigh.  Because from the time I was a little girl, I wanted to travel.  I didn’t fly on an airplane until I was 19 when I went to visit a friend who had moved to Chicago.

As an adult I’ve made a special effort to visit places that I longed to visit as a child.  Granted, Cinderella’s Castle doesn’t quite have the same magic when you’re no longer little, but I enjoyed it.  Until the past week, I’d never been to the Grand Canyon.  When I’d tell people that, they’d look at me strangely.

No longer.   When I made plans to visit a friend in Tucson and mentioned that I’d never been to the Grand Canyon, she said “We’ll have to do a day trip there.”  I saw that big hole and was filled with awe.  It was so incredible I almost couldn’t believe it was real.

It didn’t matter that I wasn’t seeing it as a child.  I actually think that I appreciated the view more as an adult!

Have you been to the Grand Canyon?  What did you think?

If you’ve never been there, where have you been that took your breath away?  I’d really like to know.

I love life’s little surprises—the nice, unexpected gifts that come my way now and again.

I stumbled upon one such gift earlier this year.  My family and I had bought a composter the previous spring, and I’d diligently tossed in our veggie scraps, overripe avocados, banana peels, rinsed egg shells, melon rinds, and also a few fat worms I’d dug up from a flower bed.  By the fall, the composter had done its work; a layer of dark, rich soil filled the bottom, and I scooped it out and added it to the earth around my fall annuals.

Winter came and went, but what should appear amongst my annuals?  Tomato plants!  Strong and healthy, they demanded a place in the sunny front garden, so I stuck wire cages in the ground and said “go for it” (but don’t tell anyone I talk to my tomato plants!).  Yes, it’s rather unconventional to grow tomatoes in the front garden but they have grown like crazy.

We’ve had a couple of pickings so far—my teenage daughter even volunteered to gather them—and there are lots more tomatoes ready to ripen.  I’m thrilled, because I LOVE tomatoes (or to-MAH-toes, as The Brit would say), especially in salad, drizzled with a bit of olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt.  Yum!

My most recent surprise actually occurred a couple of months ago.  As most of you probably already know, I adore cats.  I would have a house full, if my family would let me (but they won’t).  We already had one kitty named Kai, a three-year-old Maine Coon mix we’d adopted from the local animal services when he was three months old.  However, he started having behavioral issues.  For no reason, he’d lunge at us and bite.  Not fun.  After my daughter had endured several bites, my husband even talked about getting rid of Kai, which was not a good thing to hear, since he and I are, well, good buddies.

When I mentioned Kai’s behavior to the vet during his annual check-up she said, “Does he have any other cats to play with?”  In other words, he was bored.

The Brit had been resistant to getting another cat, but when I relayed what the vet had said, and when my daughter insisted she’d love a kitten, we went the same day to the local animal services where we’d found Kai and ended up adopting an 8-week-old gray furball my daughter named Sherlock.

It took a while for Kai and Sherlock to become friends, but now they are inseparable and Kai is much happier.

Sherlock?  He’s the cutest, sweetest, happiest little dude and my daughter adores him.  So do I.

***

How about you?  Has life handed you any nice surprises lately?  One commenter will win an eBook copy (Nook or Kindle verson) of my award-winning medieval romance Dance of Desire, which contains a few surprises within its pages.