A Perspective on 2016

Hi Everyone!

This is a special blog post. Normally, I do my Meredith's Monday Musings or I participate in a blog hop. However, with recent events and the end of 2016, I'd like to share some of my thoughts.

Lately, there have been many people, including myself saying, "Enough 2016" "2016 has been a horrible year", etc. I'll admit, 2016 has been a bit rough in some aspects. Many famous actors, writers, directors, etc have passed away. This is horrible because their creative light is no longer shining. Donald Trump got elected President. This scares the crap out of me because there are some who compare him to Adolf Hitler. It's a very scary thought that the President of the United States might implement some of the tactics that Hitler did.

As I was sitting on my couch yesterday watching the movie, To Kill A Mocking Bird, I realized that I've been focusing on the negatives of 2016, when I should have been focusing on the positives. By solely focusing on the negatives, I was starting to become depressed. So, I decided that it was time to count my blessings and turn my frown upside down! (FYI, a person uses twice the number of muscles to frown than to smile.)

It's Dec-29th and I'm healthy, I haven't gotten cancer or any other horrible illness. I have a roof over my head and a full stomach. I published three stories this year. I was able to spend Christmas with my family and send out presents to my friends. My family added a new edition to it (a puppy). I wasn't in any major car accidents. I have enough money to buy everything that I truly need. I work for a great publisher. I have great friends. I laughed twice as much as I have cried this year.

All of the above are focused on me, lets focus on some positives that we all experienced. The sun has risen every day this year. We do not live in a place that is constantly being bombed. We can watch the movies, read the books, listen to the songs, etc of all the famous people we have lost. We can vote and freely speak/write our opinions on any situation. We have all survived 2016. We are all a part of a fantastic author community.

So yes, we have lost many famous people this year and a scary man was elected President, but those events shouldn't control us or shape how our year was. We should focus on the positives, instead of the negatives, and think about all of the possibilities that come with the new year.

I believe that 2017 will be the year where many new creative talents are brought to light. We can fall in love with those new actors, writers, etc and cherish those who we have lost. And we may have a man for President who has no political experience and enjoys mocking others who are not like him, but I believe that he will unite people under one banner. And under that one banner, the people will not tolerate those who judge others based on their race, religion, where they came from, etc.

So yes, 2016 had it's rough spots, but it was not a bad year. As long as we stick together, help others out, and focus on the positives, 2017 will be our best year yet.

Happy New Year and Happy Thursday!

Meredith Monday's Musing: New Year's Eve!

Hi Everyone!

Did y'all have a Merry Christmas yesterday? I'm still getting over the delicious meal I had for Christmas. I got to spend the day with all my family. It was amazing.

Today's Meredith's Monday Musing is all about: New Years!

I can't believe that this Saturday is New Year's Eve! It feels like just yesterday 2016 was just beginning and now it's over! I'm really hoping that 2017 is a better year for all.

I had a pretty good year this year. I published four stories, learned a few valuable life lessons (not all good, but they made me a better person), stayed out of debt, and just overall, had a great time. I'm very grateful for all of the above.

My only sorrow about 2016 is all of the people who we lost this year. There have been so many actors and actresses that I loved who are now gone. So hopefully, next year won't claim as many wonderful people.

Do any of you have any New Years resolutions planned? To be honest, I never really do resolutions. I feel like that there's too much pressure to do them with everyone else making resolutions. In the past, the couple of times that I've done them, I gave up on them after like a month. So, I decided not to do any. But, I'll still support anyone who does do them.

On to happier times, who here has something fun planned for New Year's Eve? I myself have some pretty awesome plans. (Sarcasm alert) ;-) I'm planning on enjoying a delicious meal with my family and staying up to midnight playing games and maybe watching a movie. Fun times. LOL!

Anyway, that's all I have. I hope that everyone has a Happy New Years! Please be safe if you go traveling. There are going to be a lot of people out on the roads and sadly, not all of them will be sober. So please, be careful.

Happy Monday!

The Mate's Helper is Back! Maddie Taylor is Visiting Today!

Hello Everyone!

Today I have Maddie Taylor to promote her latest book, His By Command! It's a very hot story focusing on an alien who captures a human female. They turn out to be mates and...I'll let you guys read the last. 

Maddie was so kind to bring a snippet by today. So, enjoy! 

“Step up on the platform.”
She twisted and glanced dubiously at the alien contraption.
“Trust me. It will make the spanking you have coming easier to take.”
Not liking the sound of that, she retreated a step; unfortunately, it brought her right into him.
“Do as I say, Maggie,” he directed evenly, his hands resting lightly on her hips.
“But Roth—”
One hand moving to her lower right cheek accompanied his low growl of “now, mate.”
A tantrum was looking better by the minute.
“You’ve been over my knee before and survived. This stalling is simply putting off the inevitable.”
She’d been spanked, yes, except being over his knee was far more intimate and a lot less scary than being strapped to a cold, unyielding frame. Plus, while over his knee, he had used his hand, and hadn’t left her to fetch whatever it was that he needed. What could that be?
The hand on her bottom applying a firm squeeze gave her incentive to step forward. Tentatively, she put one foot then the other on the foot pedals. He moved quickly once she did, snapping cuffs around her wrists and thighs the next moment, but she didn’t make it easy, squirming and resisting the entire time.
“Stop it,” he growled. When she didn’t, he landed a stinging swat on each cheek. She yelped. And while she did, he hooked her wrists to the rings on her thighs, and added a strap at the waist.
“Helper, position five,” he murmured near her ear.
“What?” She twisted her head around to see him.
“You’ll see in a moment. Face front.”
There was a whirring noise as the rods and arms began to move.
“Roth,” she cried, as the pedals on which she stood separated and moved back.
“It’s okay,” he murmured, stroking one hand along her spine. “You’re perfectly safe.”
She didn’t have the capacity to comment on the irony of that statement, too busy being reconfigured mechanically into an alternate position with her feet at least eighteen inches apart and her upper body bent forward at an angle. Her weight was supported by a padded bar bifurcating her breasts along the center line of her body and her ass jutting up and out in the perfect pose for a spanking. The moving and lurid positioning wasn’t the most surprising part, that came a second later when Roth spoke.
“Low speed,” he said, giving the voice-activated machine another order. Instantly, something moved between her thighs and slipped in between her slightly parted pussy lips. It was smooth and rounded, and came to life, vibrating the full length of her slit, from clit to already weeping entrance.
“Ohmigod,” she gasped as the buzzing sent tingles coursing up through her belly and beyond to her breasts, hardening her nipples instantly into stiff peaks.

Oh, I'd love to use that machine. It sounds so fun! If you want more fun and sexy moments, check out these buy links...

Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
All Romance eBooks

Thanks for stopping by, Maddie!

Have a happy day, everyone! :-) 

Meredith's Monday Musings: Christmas Time!

Hi Everyone!

 Happy Monday! Did everyone survive the freezing temperatures that came with this past weekend? I barely did. I hate the cold, so I stayed bundled up inside where it was warm.

Can you guys believe this Saturday is Christmas Eve and Sunday is Christmas Day? I'm so excited. That's what today topic is all about: Christmas!

I love Christmas time. It is my second to favorite holiday. But, I do love this time of year. The cheerfulness that is everywhere and the giving spirit of most people. On the flip side, it kind of drives me crazy all the busyness and how materialistic people become. I feel like all of the shopping makes people lose sight on what this season is all about. It's not about the objects you get and didn't get. It's about the people you're with, being kind to others, and being thankful for what you have. At least, that's what I feel this season is about.

That is why I love Christmas. I get to spend time with those I love, be extra kind to strangers, and just be thankful for everything I have. The Christmas carols and food that comes along this time of year doesn't hurt either. ;-)

Since there won't be another Meredith's Monday Musings post until after Christmas, I hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas!! And please, if you are traveling, drive safe. There will be many people driving that night and sadly, they all won't be sober. So please, be careful.

Happy Monday!

Meredith's Monday Musings: WipItUp Wednesday Blog Hop

Hi Everyone!

Happy Monday! I all hope that you had a delightful weekend. Today, I'm going to share some big news. ;-) I think y'all know what it is by this week's topic: WipItUp Wednesday Blog Hop.

Melody Parks began running the WipItUp Blog Hop all the way back in 2014. About a year ago, she asked me if I could co-run it with her. I would be in charge of sharing and commenting on the blogs and she would be in charge of the technical stuff. It was a great match.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, she decided to shut WIP down. My heart was broken when she told me this news. I love the WipItUp blog hop because I get to read snippets from author's books that they are working on or have published. It was great!

I've been doing a lot of thinking this past week and I've decided to keep the blog hop going. So starting on January-4th-2017, WipItUp Wednesday blog hop will be back!!

It'll be under a different URL because the WIP blog hop is under Melody's blog and I'll have to move it to mine. Melody sends her blessings and she promises to pop in and check out all of your snippets when she has the chance.

I'm going to be honest here. I'm super scared about taking on a blog hop. I have absolutely no problem reading the snippets and commenting on them, but I'm horrible when it comes to technology. Melody was telling me how she sets up the WIP posts and it was like she was speaking a foreign language. ;-)

I'm sure that I will figure out the technical stuff after a while, but if y'all could go easy on me the first couple of months, that'd be greatly appreciated.

If not that many people decide to participate in the WIP blog hop after a couple of months, then I'll re-evaluate doing it.

Authors and readers, keep your eyes open for Jan-4th. I'll share more information as soon as I figure out how to get this hop set up and a linky list started. Thank you in advance for your patience. :-)

Happy Monday!

Meredith's Monday Musings: Gift Giving

Hey Everyone!!

Happy December! Who here can believe that it's already December? I'm still having a hard time comprehending it.

This week's topic for Meredith's Monday Musings is...Gift Giving!!

Who hears love receiving a gift? Let's face it, we all do. To be honest, I think I like giving presents, more than I like receiving them. I'm not exactly sure why I feel this way. I don't know if it's because I love seeing people happy because they enjoy the present I got them, or being able to give someone, something that they need/want. Again, I'm not really sure.

What I do know is, I'm really good at picking out a present for a person and knowing that they would really like it. It's my secret talent. Well, I guess it isn't so much of a secret anymore.

With my "secret" talent and my love of giving presents, I'll admit, I go a bit crazy this time of year. More so, than normal. I can't help it. I'll be at the store, walking down an aisle, minding my own business, and something will catch my eye. Instantly, I'll think of someone who would love the item that I'm now paying attention to, and it makes it really hard to not get it.

Or, I'll be at work, trying to keep focus on the task at hand, but then my mind will drift off and a present idea will hit me. Now, after I have that idea, how the heck am I supposed to ignore it? I can't! Thus, more present purchasing.

That's my topic for today. How do y'all feel about presents? Do you like giving or receiving them better?

Happy Monday, everyone!