Stress, Humor, & The Rest!

Stress.

It’s unavoidable in our always-in-touch, not-enough-hours-in-a-day world.

Exactly what does the word, stress, mean?

The National Institute of Mental Health defines stress as the brain’s response to any demand. According to this organization there’s a positive side to stress. When we’re in danger, the stress response triggers body reactions, which can be life-saving: faster pulse, increased rate of breathing, muscle tension, more oxygen to the brain, all reactions crucial for survival. Stress can even boost the immune system.

Hooping Hoorah! *snort*.

If you’re like me, there’s no good side to being stressed out. The funny aspect of stress is that nine out of ten times, I don’t realize that I’m stressed out until my body reacts – my allergies flare up, or I come down with a flu.

This year I’ve resolved to do what we Trinis call ‘take in front’. The equivalent of the best form of defense is offense. My way of dealing with stress is to do the things that make me relax: Watching funny YouTube shorts, cooking, a mind-numbing Zumba class, gardening, reading, taking a walk on the beach, you get the drift.

Since my day job’s in finance, April is a cruel month—the tax man cometh.

I’m cramming all my stress relievers into this weekend. Here’s my YouTube short stress relief:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGtXyWOcYM0

On Friday night, the dh and I visited the Pompano Beach Seafood Festival—so yum, and such a soothing setting. Imagine sitting in a cool breeze on a pier while sipping wine, slurping briny oysters, and watching and listening to an Eagles tribute band on the beach. Heaven.

 PBSF - hotel view

PBSF beach PBSF Stage

PBSF stage 2  IMG_1903

 

Saturday, I whipped up this incredible Tomato Carpaccio using locally grown heirloom tomatoes. Pure foodie paradise. My mouth’s watering thinking about it:

Tomato Carpaccion wo cheese             Tomato Carpaccio

Yesterday, the dh finally deemed the pool water temperature right for swimming. So, we lazed by the pool, drank margaritas, and barbequed steak and corn. Of course, then there’s the ultimate relaxer *wink wink* *nod nod*.

Today, I’m ready to face whatever Machiavellian Monday crises erupt!

Bring it on!

Cheers,

Jianne

Birthday Thanks!

My sincere thanks to everyone for their good wishes yesterday on my birthday. It turned out to be a wonderful day. First there were the birthday flowers:

041314 FLOWERS 1   041314 FLOWERS 2

After a leisurely cup of coffee, the dh and I took Ricky (the best present ever!) for a walk.

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Then my girlfriend, Tamarind, and her husband treated the two of us and my two sons (the wayward one’s in California) to brunch at Oceans 2000. Yummy stone crabs, oysters, and a whole bunch of other seafood plus champers. Even though it was rainy and grim (which made it the perfect temperature here in South Florida) the misted ocean, and the rolling waves made for an incredible setting. How can anyone go wrong with a combination of a perfect view, friends and family, and fabulous food?

041314 OCEANS GOOD
Here’s a pick of the antique cake dish Tamarind gave me (I collect, according to the dh, ‘useless pink glass’):

Cake with Ricky card

 

And I can’t possibly mention or post a pic of the dh’s gifts…*wicked grin*.
Sigh, the only downside was that birthday number edging closer to the ‘big one.’
Have a magnificent Monday!
Cheers.

Jianne

That Pearly Drop – Trailer

Check out this wonderful trailer The BookChick Designs created for That Pearly Drop!

What do the hounds of hell, time travel, a murdered girl, a coach ticket to Wye Castle, and a governess’ letter of employment have to do with waking up in 1763, the mate of wolf-shifter, Ian, the Earl of Wye? Emma’s about to find out.

Have a Merry Monday!

Cheers,

Jianne

Author Rosanna Leo’s Latest – Predator’s Claim!

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RLeo pic - 12957_(167x250)Today, I’m thrilled to have my fellow Love, Lust, and Laptops author and buddy, Rosanna Leo, as my guest.

Rosanna’s dishing one hot excerpt for her latest paranormal release Predator’s Claim.

Trust me, you won’t be able to put Predator’s Claim down (*fanning myself*)!

Over to you, Rosanna…

Thanks to the lovely Jianne for hosting me. I could not be happier to be here (*looks around, hoping to spot one of Jianne’s dishy Vikings*)

I’m here today as part of my blog tour for Predator’s Claim, Gemini Island Shifters 4. My paranormal shape shifter series has been such a fun one to write, and one of the reasons has been being able to pit gruff animalistic heroes with vulnerable, yet feisty, human heroines.

Book 4 is a little different. In this case, we also have a wonderful shifter hero, wolf shifter Bart Cairo, a security specialist at the Ursa Fishing Lodge and Resort.  However, his heroine is also a wolf shifter, Charlotte Moffatt, someone Bart has secretly adored from afar. They are colleagues and friends, but Bart is dying to make their relationship a closer one.

The dynamic changes a little in these books when both the main characters are shifters. In cases where the heroine is human, and mortal, the heroes can get a little worried for their well-being…to say the least. Now, even though Charlotte is a tougher wolf woman, Bart still gets Alpha with her. However, for the author, it makes for a slightly different story.

Both characters come from similar backgrounds. They understand what it is to shift, so one loses some of the awe you find in a human heroine. So how do I bring the awe to my shifter heroine? Well, by showing how the hero affects her. She may not be surprised at his unique talents, but his character and presence still wow her.

And it’s so much fun getting wowed along with her! I hope you’ll check out Predator’s Claim.

LSB Cover Art Template for PhotoShopBlurb:

For years, wolf shifter Bart Cairo has harbored secret feelings for his co-worker, Charlotte Moffatt. Even though he thinks he’s been discreet with his affections, everyone at Gemini Island’s Ursa Fishing Lodge knows he and Charlotte, a fellow wolf shifter, are meant to be mates. Everyone but Charlotte.

Charlotte couldn’t be less interested in mating. A free spirit, she wants nothing more than to succeed at her new career in the big city and leave small-town Gemini Island behind. However, she can’t deny Bart stirs up unwanted emotions inside her. Emotions she swore she’d never feel again.

The occasion of Bart’s family reunion compels him to assume new responsibilities, and to consider a role he never envisioned for himself. Family tensions rise to the surface as a new Alpha is proclaimed in his pack. And when old grudges escalate, Bart must stake his claim.

Charlotte resists as he stakes a claim on her as well. But when he begins to employ sexual tactics of temptation, she wonders if the only solution is submission to the enticing wolf man. Can she trust her heart again? And can they find their happy ending before an enemy cuts their story short?

Excerpt:

He pushed aside one of the suitcases in his way and backed her up against the sitting room wall. He put his hands on either side of her head, closing her in, and leaned toward her. Soaking up the scent of her talc-scented skin and her womanly heat, he inhaled deeply, knowing she was hot for him. “Did our kiss mean nothing to you?”

She blinked. As she stared at him, tears threatened, pooling at the corners of her eyes, but she banished them with another punishing series of blinks. “Nothing.”

Oh, she was good, but he was better. No kidding a kidder, after all. He wet his lips and pinned his gaze on hers, which were now trembling ever so slightly. “You’re fooling yourself.”

“I’m not,” she said on a gulp. “I’m not…”

“Oh yes, you are,” he warned, his voice low and deep. “But that’s gonna stop here and now, Charles.” He moved his face closer to hers, bent his head, and dragged his tongue up the length of her neck. When she gasped, he felt her hold her breath and moved his tongue as slowly as possible. He ground his hips against her, and his cock thumped violently against her belly.

She slammed her hands against the wall behind her, clearly trying to get purchase on anything but him. Even still, her hips rolled against his in obvious invitation. “I want you to stop,” she cried. Her chest jerked as the plaint escaped her, and her tears finally tumbled down her cheeks.

He moved away, just millimeters so she could breathe. Cupping her face, he stared her right in the eyes. “Say it again, and maybe I’ll believe you this time.”

“I want you to…” she squeaked.

“What was that? I can’t quite hear you, princess.”

Her lips wobbled and her eyes crinkled in what could only be agony of the worst kind. “I want…Oh God! I want you”

You can purchase Predator’s Claim here:

http://www.lsbooks.com/predators-claim-p889.php

http://amzn.to/ON1HzA

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/predators-claim-rosanna-leo/1118850470?ean=9781622100910

Here are the fabulous covers of the other books in Rosanna’s Predators series:

RLeo - PredatorsSerencade_600x800

Thanks for visiting my blog today, Rosanna.

Cheers,

 

Jianne

Spring Fling Blog Hop Winners!

Cupids_Arrow-Jianne_Carlo-Banner

Here are the grand prize winners for the Spring Fling Blog Hop!

Kindle Fire— Sally Fryman Wagoner

$75 Amazon Gift Card— Eva

$25 Starbucks Gift Card— Eva Millien

$25 Blushing Books Gift Card— Kathy Osborn

$25 Loose-Id Gift Card— Jessica Subject

And here are the winners of my prize, an eCopy of Cupid’s Arrow:

laurah2727

Anyone who even glances at my blog once in a while knows I’m a total suck and that I love announcing winners…sigh, so it’s no wonder right that I decided on two other winners – YAY!

Okay, so because I feel sorry for Marybeth who’s stuck in snow – you’re a winner too!

And for Ray who thought Cupid’s Arrow was an original and unusual title – you won a free copy of Cupid’s Arrow!

Hope I made someone’s day 🙂

Cheers,

Jianne