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

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

Primal Lust – Sneak Preview!

I’m so thrilled this Magnificent Monday morning. Taliesin Publishing has not only contracted the first book in my new Prymal Series – Prymal Lust – they’ve agreed to contract the whole series! So, you know that means  I have to do a sneak preview today. First, here’s my hunky inspiration for the Prymal alpha hero of the book, Axe R. Smith:

FrankSepe18 (2)

Here’s the blurb for Prymal Lust:

Tania, a Wylfen aristocrat, hooks up with a stranger right before her twin’s graduation from military college. Not hours later, the bottom drops out of her world when she’s introduced to Axe, her twin’s new SEAL commander. Then she discovers he’s a Prymal Wolf, the arch enemy of her people. Wylfen laws prohibit her from mating with a half-breed. If anyone finds out she’s mated with Axe, exile is the least she has to fear…

Prymal Lust – Sneak Preview:

Unable to resist, Axe nipped Tania’s claim spot. Breathed in the essence of his mate. Knew in that moment he couldn’t let her go. From the second he’d scented her in the stadium, he’d been a goner. The need to claim her, to mark her, to protect her had overcome him.

Mine. Mine. Mine.

The word boomeranged in his head.

His fangs ached. He ran his tongue over the pointy tips. His dick began to swell at the base. His mating instincts were on overdrive, ready to seal his sperm in her. If he didn’t get out of her blistering heatright away, their fates would be cemented.

He had to stop inhaling her fragrance. Had to force his fingers to stop petting her silky skin. Had to stop tasting and feeling the pulse beating in the hollow of her throat. She was making these sweet little noises, a whimper-purring kind of sound.

Axe lifted onto his forearms and glanced down at her.

She wore a Madonna smile.

He grinned. Kissed the tip of her nose.

Her eyelids flew up. She stared at him. Color rioted across her face. She ducked her head. Clamped a hand over her eyes. “I can’t believe we just…”

Nudging her chin, he teased, “Screwed like minxes?”

She whipped her hand away and wrinkled her nose at him. “Do you have to put it that way?”

“My bad. Made love like minxes.” He waggled his brows. “Better?”

“No.” She shoved at his chest. “How long—”

“Not long enough. Next one, we take our time.” He forced himself to ease out of her tight, hot sheath. Regret dogged every millimeter of his withdrawal. He stared at damp mahogany curls framing her core. Blew out a sigh when his cock popped out of her with a loud sucking noise. His dick had found home and didn’t want to leave.

He yanked out his pocket square and gently wiped the creamy dampness from her folds. Every instinct urged him to roll her over onto her hands and knees, instead he patted dry her pubic hair, and reluctantly pulled her skirt back into place.

“You’ll have to write off the panties. They got ground into the dirt.” He bent down, retrieved the brown-stained strip of lace, absently rubbed the crotch over his nose, and then stuck the underwear in his pants pocket.

Finger-combing her lush brown locks, she declared, “No one can know about this.”

He grit his teeth. “I wasn’t about to broadcast our matin.”

She narrowed her eyes and jammed her hands on her hip bones. “And there isn’t going to be a next time.”

Hope you liked!

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

Things That Are Green Today – St. Patrick’s Day!

chicago river on st paddy's dayThe first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in North America took place in—drum roll— Boston in 1737!

For years my dh convinced our three sons that leprechauns snuck into our home the night before St. Paddy’s Day and colored all the drinks in the house green. The boys were all convinced because the beer was colored green and the bottles were capped! What fun those days were! J Sigh. The days of innocence.

St. Patrick’s Day was once a strictly observed religious holiday in Ireland. That means the pubs were closed and there was no public drinking—go figure!

The International Business Times published ten interesting facts about St. Patrick’s Day and I decided to share them with you:

1. St Patrick wasn’t Irish. He was born in England around 385 AD.

2. His given name was Maewyn Succat.

3. St Patrick was a slave. He was captured at the age of 14 and taken to Ireland, where he was enslaved for six years herding sheep before escaping and returning to his family.

4. He never drove serpents out of Ireland, because evidence suggests there were no serpents to be driven out.

5. St Patrick’s Day was first celebrated in the United States. Boston was the scene of the first Paddy’s knees-up in 1737.

6. It wasn’t until the 19th century that green became the colour of St Patrick. Before then it was blue, the colour of his vestments. Green was picked to commemorate St Patrick’s use of the shamrock.

7. There are nine cities, towns and boroughs in the United States called Dublin – they are in California, Georgia, Indiana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia.

8. In Ireland St Patrick’s Day was an alcohol-free holiday until 1970. Before then it was considered a day of relgious observance, meaning pubs had to be closed for business. In 1970 it was reclassified a national holiday.

9. St Patrick’s Day is celebrated on 17 March because that is the day he was thought to have died in 461 AD.

10. In 2013 Census data revealed that the number of people in the US who identify as Irish-American are seven-times more than the amount of Irish people in Ireland itself.

Have a great St. Paddy’s Day!

Cheers,

Jianne

Facts and photo of the Chicago River courtesy: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/10-st-patricks-day-facts-you-might-not-know-1440389