Notes before taking some leave...

Good morning - all. Friends, fans, and family... I had a few minutes with my morning coffee and almost picked up my journal - but decided here was as good a place as any. We're about to go through some changes at our house. I'm off work for awhile, as many of you know... but before I go, we're taking our little trailor down to the beach for a relaxing family weekend WITH FRIENDS this time.

This should be fun. For once, it's Perry's group of work friends we're going with. I'm truly looking forward to meeting these people he spends time with. I've been promised many hands to help with the girls - which should be great - and I'm frankly looking forward to parking myself in a lounge chair and watching the waves, having a few glasses of wine, toasting marshmallows, and listening to laughter and great music... quality time with no computer. Ha! no phone (save for the cell to call my sis/bro in law when we have a trailor "emergency") and just "roughing it" together.

Life is good. I'm set for surgery on Monday, and will be in recovery a bit after wards. Don't expect much from me until middle of October - when my birthday extravaganza begins! :) Mine and Ellie's. This year will be cause for great celebration. We have our wonderful girls, our friends who have been coming out of the woodwork to lend their support and their good wishes. I'm genuinely blessed, and finally feel at home in this little town of Temecula, California.

Will I ever consider myself a non-Arizonan? I don't think so. It's the home of my heart. But, being able to take an easy trek to the beach for a few days is a joy that I always longed for. I've got a husband who loves us so well. And mom and dad are coming out to lend a hand. All is good. So, here's to a quick recovery, time to work on "Castles by the Sea" -- my WIP that's in rewrite now. And some enjoyable time researching the 1930s - one of my favorite periods in history.

Love and blessings to you all... and I'll catch up in a week or so... Meanwhile, good reading, and good writing to you, all!

~Ashley

Book Review - The 10th Gift

The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson

My review rating: 4 of 5 stars
Jane Johnston's the 10th Gift is an amazing first person adventure into the life of a young woman, on the verge of falling apart. Her long-standing affair at an end, she is bound to her ex-lover only through the pages of an antique book - her parting gift. What she finds is an invaluable treasure: the story of a young woman from 1625 who is kidnapped from the Cornish coast by Barbary pirates to become a Christian slave.

Soon consumed by this story, she finds herself rootless, homeless, and following the young Catherine's trail to the coasts of Moroccco. She learns that there are two sides to every story, and that true love can find even those who've made mistakes.

Not just a romance, it is a mystery frought with intrigue and well researched historic detail. She maintains a fast pace for all of her characters, even though the story flip-flops back and forth between time periods, and locations. It is a highly recommended, entertaining read.

Edits complete - Double Phew!

All or Nothing edits are DONE! DONE DONE DONE.

I'm so exhausted.

One more read straight through and then Elizabeth can have it back. Fingers crossed that this time it'll go to galleys!

Show Don't Tell

Here's a hump-day question for you lovers of romance.

Would you rather your husband SHOW you he loves you, or TELL you he loves you?

I've been pondering this one this afternoon - as I am a romance writer, and I have a husband who is a shower. He tells me, too, yes. But sort of in that robotic way. The obligatory "I love you, bye" kind of way.

Now, for those of you who know him, he is a first generation American, born to Germans straight off the boat. Germans are very stoic sorts. They're gruff. They're a happy bunch when they've had a few brewskies. They're also not terribly lovey dovey. HOWEVER, back in the day, we were a schmoop-fest. Things change. Kids come. Diapers. Years of spit up in the hair. Later, up all night with sick tummies and snotty noses. The romance is sure to dim somewhat.

So, is it better to have your lover SHOW you they love you - by pulling some weeds? doing dishes? playing with the kids so you can take a night off? bringing home takeout?

Or would you rather a sudden, unexpected heartfelt hug to all the soap bubbles in the world? This tired mommy wants to know, what works for you?