When you get lemonaide ...

Ok, I admit it. Sigh, I was very very low this weekend. Somehow even with a great protection, a malicious spyware weaseled its way through. No amount of running an anti spyware has gotten rid of it. So the computer is in the shop to be fix. At 8 years old, they may be able to do no more than rescue the material.

We have up graded and I'm having to learn a new system as well as retrieve any blurbs from emails. So as I went about the tedious work of shifting for information, my publisher sent me a review that just made my day.

The review is from Dark Divas site located at

http://ddreviews.blogspot.com/2009/08/sweetbrier-academy-book-2-holding-on-to-html


I enjoyed this book even after the last page was turned. Mrs. Opal and her girls are a true delight. I could not help but laugh.

Holding on to Hope is set in a time when men did not consort with ladies of the evening outside of a whore house.

Sometimes you have no choice with whom you fall in love. Hope and Johnathon are two darling characters. Hope is no shrinking violet. She knows what she wants, as well as gets it. Now all she has to do is convince her cowboy of that.

Johnathon, aka “Doc”, is what every woman wants and needs in a man. He is Hotter than Sin!

Nancy O`Berry created a wonderful series that I, for one, cannot wait to discover the whole series. Holding onto Hope is book 2, and Faith and Charity's books are out now. Come feel what it was like long time ago, when passions ran high.

Rated 5 Delightful Divas by Deb!

WOW instead of going to bed with a heavy heart, I could go to bed and giggle. Dr. Jonathan Norris, what every woman wants and needs in a man. He's hotter than sin! giggle Oh yeah.....

Working on Goals in Publishing

Its easy to sit down and say, I'm going to write a book.

You go and buy the pens or pencils, remember to slip in the whiteout, look for a notebook that had the right "Theme" look and bring it all home. Then to remind your family, you shut off the phone and take command of the kitchen table.

With the paper spread, the pencil's sharpened. You placed the thesaurus and dictionary beside you and sit down. Did you notice how white, I mean really white the paper is? Those little lines just seem to stand out. Real attention grabbers. Then suddenly 101 different things that you need to do NOW jump out.

Its all part of being a writer. Believe it or not paper and pencil can be intimidating, almost to the point of bullying you. Well, you have to show them who is the boss.

If you are having trouble writing. Begin by telling yourself this is a business. First of all when you are away from home in the workplace, do you worry about cobwebs? dirt on the floor? or the dreaded cat box that needs emptying? Well, maybe on your lunch hour you make a list, but the thing that occupies your mind is the abitity to finish your job.

It has to be the same with your writing. Set up time that everyone knows is your writing times. Let the machine pick up phone calls and messages. Get a datebook and sign in/ sign out when you are working keep a track of your word progress by putting down what you begin with and what you end up with. If you find yourself not knowing what to say. Pull up that blank document or a blank sheet of paper and begin with , "I don't know what I'm gonna talk about today. My mind is blank." before long something will begin to form because you are getting those errant thoughts in order.

Remember writing is 50% inspiration and 50% determination. If your butt isn't in the seat, the story won't get done. ... Hum saying that, sigh I need to write. talk later.

I'm feeling as if the world is passing by...

The past two weeks have been strange ones. I have felt as if the world was passing me by. I can't get enough work done or fast enough to get stories out. Yes I am at the querry, the synopsis stage of two stories one a romantic suspense, the other a historical.

I think it has to do with the process of writing the query. The idea of trying to sell yourself. I'm not good at that one. I'm more the, ok I have a story. I think its pretty good. Would you like to look at it. I can't do the Well, this is the greatest story since holes were put in swiss cheese for the mice to come through. Nope, its not me.

I'm the type of person that doesn't toot. My mother taught me that less often is more. If you put out good works others will discover you. She never tried to be the latest or the greatest. She was one of those honest, quiet people but had the greatest courage I know.

So, I working writing. Watching the world go by. I hope there is a brass ring for me to grab.

Holding on to Hope gets a silver star

Yes, doing the happy dance. Holding on to Hope Sweetbrier Academy book 2 has a silver star over at All Romance Ebooks. Whats the silver star? Roll your curser over it and you'll find its a best seller. Oh, its not on the top ten but it sure looks good to see it sitting there. Here's a blurb from Holding on to Hope. Check it out at Red Rose Publishing and at All Romance Ebooks.

HOLDING ON TO HOPESweetbrier Academy Series: Book 2Nancy O'Berry
Mainstream Romace: Historical/Period, Western
ISBN: 978-1-60435-297-9
pages:227 pages
Cost: 3.99

http://redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=151&products_id=406

Reviews say… “ I was completely captivated by the characters and the storyline. I fully intend to read the next installment the minute it is released.”
Sweetbrier Academy is more than just a school. The young ladies lucky enough to be accepted are educated in the social graces that only the wealthiest debutantes of 1870 would have learned. They can play the spinet, embroider, discuss politics, and issues of importance like any lady, but when the lights go down, the debutantes of Sweetbrier know how to make use of their God given talents and bring pleasure to their suitors.
When Miss Opal Benedict, Madame of the Academy, is called out of town, Hope finds Panther's Landing's doctor, the dashing Jonathan Norris paying court. When his attentions become obvious, they find themselves caught in a storm of their own creation. Their lust for one another becomes the object of unwanted attention in a most unflattering way.
When influenza strikes, Dr. Jonathan Norris must choose between his career or the woman who has captured his soul.
Read an excerpt here:

His eyes turned warm brown. She felt the focus shift from her face to her mouth. He was going to kiss her. She parted her lips as his mouth descended upon her.
This time there wasn’t a need to be gentle and exploring. He knew what he would find. His tongue darted along her lips and she opened for him. Hungrily, he took what he could get. His mouth ground against hers as his hand slid up to embrace the swell of her breast.
“Hope,” he murmured her name.

Breaking contact, he looked at her face. Her lips appeared like a woman’s should, swollen from kissing, mirroring the desire burning in her eyes.
“We are traveling down a very dangerous road, Hope.”
Her shoulder lifted in a small shrug. “Is that so bad?”
“I am an honorable man. I need to know that this is what you want?” As he spoke, his hand brushed the swell beneath her left breast. He could feel the sweet flesh below the stays of her corset. He wanted nothing more that to set it free in the palm of his hand, to feel the weight, to savor the sweet tip, as it would bud in his mouth. Yet, it needed to be her decision.
“Sometimes an honorable man needs a bad woman,” she began.
He shook his head. “You must not believe you are a bad woman. You are a woman, a healthy, warm woman who has needs. The only difference between you and women in town is that you can make that decision, without fear.”
He watched the dawning of her power to decide her own destiny spread across her face. He dipped to taste those lips again.
“Know this, Hope, should you choose me, it won’t be just for an afternoon or an evening, but we will take this to see how far it is we go and we must agree on that outcome together.”
For a moment, his words were greeted by Hope’s silence. Her mouth tugged against her cheek. “Your shirt is wet, Jonathan. I believe you should take it off to let it dry or you might catch cold.”

Don't forget

the Lord of Pleasure has hit the shelves and oh what a pleasure it is to read. Don't forget the contest below. The book is well worth 4.99 and if you have get a 40% off coupon from Borders or Barnes and Nobles all the better! Be one of the many that find their pleasure with Lord Hawksford.


The campaign is called Save the School of Gallantry Series. I'm also having a contest, which everyone can post everywhere.The contest is as follows: From August 4 until August 28, anyone who e-mails me at Delilah@DelilahMarvelle.com with the School's quote from Lesson 27, will be entered to win one of three $50 Visa Cards. Winners will be contacted via e-mail by September 10th. I appreciate all the support!!!