Support the Troops Auction!

Hi everyone!  I'm popping in to let you know about the Support the Troops Auction, being hosted by Herding Cats, Burning Soup.  She volunteers her time with the USO, and all proceeds from the auction go to benefit the troops.

There's a lot of great stuff up for grabs.  I've donated a signed set of my books (Deadly Contact, Fatal Fallout, Lethal Lies, and Killer Exposure) along with a $10 Amazon gift card.  Check it out!

The auction runs until July 3 at 9 pm, so you have plenty of time to take a look!  I hope you'll participate! :)

Celebrate the Small Things - Writing edition

Hi everyone!  How was your week?  I'm happy to report that Baby Girl and I (and Mister, of course) are still here :)  We've got something resembling a routine started and while we've had a few rough days, for the most part, things have been going well.  Major thanks go to my Mom, who has been an irreplaceable help.  Thank also to you all for the kind words and well wishes--we really appreciate it!

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Fortunately, I have a lot to celebrate this week!  Tonight, my Mom is going to watch Baby Girl for a couple of hours so Mister and I can have a 'date.'  I think we're going to grab a quick bite to eat and pick up some diapers.  It's a far cry from a movie or a show, but we're just as excited about it. Funny how your perspective can change so quickly, isn't it?

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In other news, I'm hard at work on my book for the Colton series, coming next year from Harlequin Romantic Suspense.  I was smart enough to write a pretty detailed outline before Baby Girl was born, so it's making my job a lot easier now that I'm sleep-deprived. And in even better news, I'm thrilled to report that I just signed a new 3-book contract with Harlequin Romantic Suspense!  I'm not sure when the books will be released, but I'll let you know as soon as I find out!

I hope you all have had a great week!  What are you up to this weekend?

If you've been reading my blog, you know that Fridays are reserved for a post where I celebrate the little things that have happened during the week. This is a blog hop created by Vikki and now hosted by Lexa Cain, and it's one of my favorite blogging things to do.  I encourage you to check out her blog and the full list of participants, because who doesn't love reading about good things?

Celebrate the Small Things - Baby Girl edition!

She's here!  Baby Girl was born Tuesday, June 9 at 6 pm.  We've been home almost a week and are slowly figuring out a routine.  Mister had to go back to work, but fortunately my mom is very close and has been so much help.

My brother is arriving tomorrow to meet his niece.  He's only going to be here for a few hours, but I'm excited for him to meet our newest addition :)

How was your week?

If you've been reading my blog, you know that Fridays are reserved for a post where I celebrate the little things that have happened during the week. This is a blog hop created by Vikki and now hosted by Lexa Cain, and it's one of my favorite blogging things to do.  I encourage you to check out her blog and the full list of participants, because who doesn't love reading about good things?

Another giveaway!

I'm hosting another giveaway of my latest, Killer Exposure!  Click below for your chance to win!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Killer Exposure

by Lara Lacombe

Giveaway ends June 09, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to Win

Celebrate the Small Things - Last weekend edition...

As I write this, Mister and I are staring down the barrel of our last child-free weekend.  It's amazing to think that in a couple of days the baby will be here, and other people can start carrying her around ;)

So what's on deck for this foot-loose and fancy-free couple?  Well, not much.  We're planning on sleeping in, going to the grocery store, and hopefully going to see a couple of movies.  After all, there's only so much excitement I can take at this point.  I must say, pregnancy has given me a new appreciation of the laws of inertia--once I start to do something, be it walking, or sitting, or just standing, I'm okay.  It's just the transitions that are tough. Damn Newton and those outside forces!

In other news, I have some exciting bits to share with you on the writing front.  I'm not ready to reveal all yet, but stay tuned! :)

I hope you all have a good weekend!  What's going on in your part of the world?

If you've been reading my blog, you know that Fridays are reserved for a post where I celebrate the little things that have happened during the week. This is a blog hop created by Vikki and now hosted by Lexa Cain, and it's one of my favorite blogging things to do.  I encourage you to check out her blog and the full list of participants, because who doesn't love reading about good things?

Dealbreaker?

So I'm in the process of reading this book, and I'm having a little trouble getting into the story.  I usually keep plugging away, as I'm reluctant to give up on a book (and in this case, I've been reading this series for for-ev-er, and I don't want to skip ahead because I'm afraid something pivotal will happen in this book and then I'll be lost in future books.  But I digress...).

I decided to check out the reviews on Goodreads, as I was curious to find if I was the only one who had trouble engaging with this story.  Maybe everyone else loves it and I'm just the odd one out?  It's happened before.

Imagine my surprise when I find that the heroine of this book dies.  Dies as in is dead, gone, lost forever to the hero.  No coming back as a ghost or spirit to keep him company, no raised from the afterlife to carry on the relationship.  Nope.  She's out of the picture, do not pass Go, no happy ending for you.

Normally, this kind of thing wouldn't bother me.  I've read plenty of books where a main character dies.  But I feel like there is one inviolate rule when it comes to romance books: the story must end with a happily ever after for the hero and heroine.  Kind of hard to pull that off when one half of the couple is dead.

Maybe I'm just being sensitive, but I think if you market your book as a romance, it needs to adhere to the genre rules.  As a reader, I pick up a romance novel when I want that emotionally satisfying story.  If that doesn't happen, I feel cheated.  As it is, I still haven't decided if I want to finish the book.  I'm more than halfway through, but I have lost all enthusiasm for the story since I know how it will end.

What do you all think?  Do you want your books to adhere to genre rules too, or am I just being grumpy?