Author Guest Post
The Non-Game Side Of The Olympics
Despite the Olympics being over, I have to admit I still have the games on my mind. I miss them and wish I had gotten to watch more of them (the day job didn't approve bringing in a television so we could watch daytime coverage.) While I love watching the stories and enjoy suddenly becoming a diehard fencing fan and other equally rarely-ESPN-covered sports, I admit one of my favorite aspects of the game is learning new facts about the sports and history.
As Bob Costas aptly commented about the I-Didn't-Know-That-File during the opening ceremonies, the Olympics can be a trivia nut's bacchanalia of tidbits, facts, and figures. In my family, we fondly refer to this as the fountain of useless knowledge. But as a writer, I love filing this kind of knowledge away. You never know when you might be able to use something for a character or a setting in the future. In fact, my new appreciation for archery has me sorely tempted to make a future heroine be handy with a compound bow.
In a lot of ways the Olympics can be seen as an opportunity to gain knowledge on top of being a sports fan haven. And I love every minute of it.
Is there something you enjoy for a reason other than its main purpose? Did you watch the Olympics and learn something new?
About The Author:
When Kristen’s not reading or writing, she’s hanging out with friends, family, her two rambunctious daughters, and her exceedingly tolerate husband. She’s also a huge New York sports fan.
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Book Review
Love Like Krazy by Kristen Beairsto
Published By: Amazon Digital Services / Self-Published
Release Date: May 11, 2012
Format: eBook - 237 pages / Kindle - 458 KB / 699 KB
ASIN: B0082PEMOU
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Chick Lit
BUY THE BOOK: Love Like Krazy
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by CBLS Promotions.
Book Description:
Benjamin Matthews is a guy who appreciates things to be slow, steady, and safe. Ben knows many consider him to be boring, but he’s happy with his life and loves the horse ranch he runs with his brother. The only thing he worries about is surviving the planning of his brother’s wedding.
With a wedding between Kit’s best friend and Ben’s younger brother fraying the nerves of everyone involved, Kit’s return home brings out her dark secrets into the light. The emotional overload starts to weigh on Kit and she begins to see Ben as an anchor. As their relationship intensifies, Kit struggles to believe they might actually have a future and soon finds herself fighting for the love she never thought possible.
Book Excerpt:
Ben and Greg arranged things so everyone could relax for the first few hours before the real entertainment showed up. Ben glanced at his watch and noted the stripper would show up in about an hour.
As he grabbed a beer for himself, he started to head towards the poker table. As he moved passed the front window, he heard the music before he saw its source. Loud blaring techno music nearly drowned out the country music behind him. It came from within a black Cadillac convertible pulling into the driveway. The New York plates said KRAZYLV.
The music suddenly died as the occupant in the Caddy turned the engine off. The driver’s head was covered in a red zebra stripped cowboy hat obscuring their face. As the driver climbed out, however, he had no doubt in his mind she was female.
Ben first saw the flame red cowboy boots step out of the car. She turned to close the car door and turned her back to him. Above the boots, red leather pants hugged every curve of two very long legs and wide hips. From there, a red tank top clung with a plunging neckline covering her torso, which included a flat stomach and large breasts. Long blonde hair curled at the ends around her breasts. But as she turned her back to him, Ben discovered the top only covered the front of her and a few crisscrossed strings held the top on in the back, exposing smooth skin. She bent over to grab something from the backseat of the car and displayed a very nice view Ben greatly appreciated.
When she turned to face him fully, he saw she still wore sunglasses despite the sun being almost completely set. Even from the distance he stood, Ben could see the deep red lipstick she wore, the heart shaped mouth practically invited a kiss. But between the sunglasses and hat brim pulled down, he still couldn’t see her face clearly.
She was an hour early, he mused, but he would forgive her since she was sure to stir the party up.
Outside, Kit pulled her backpack from the backseat of her Caddy, turned and glanced up at the two-story house where her best friend lived. She grinned, studying the exterior of the home. Apparently, her best friend was well on her way to becoming a Matthews.
The Matthews were one of the wealthiest and most influential families in the small California town. Raymond Matthews, Greg and Ben’s father, was a banker and venture capitalist. His wife, Loren, up until recently was a highly successful businesswoman and now, from what Kit understood, spent her extra time with her philanthropy. But unlike most of the rich people she came to know and meet, the Matthews were genuine people.
Of course, Ray and Loren Matthews weren’t above using a regal demeanor when the moment called for it, she mused.
Yep, Anne was well cared for, Kit decided as she started up the drive towards the front door. As she stepped closer, Kit realized she heard the low hum of country music and remembered the bachelor party Anne told her about. She smiled in anticipation as she wondered whether or not the stripper arrived yet.
Before Kit reached the door, it opened and Ben stepped out.
He still looked the same, she decided. Tall and handsome, with wide shoulders screaming lean on me, and those piercing midnight eyes.
Kit sighed inwardly as she felt the familiar flutter in her stomach. Damn, she was still attracted to him. Oh well, she dealt with it as a teenager, she could deal with it as a grown woman.
“Hi, you’re early, but that’s all right.” He looked down at her backpack and frowned. “If you don’t have a stereo or anything, that’s fine, but I hope you have your own music. I don’t think you’d like dancing to the stuff we have.”
Kit frowned, confused.
Ben watched her heart shaped mouth frown, the rest of her face still obscured from view. The backpack she carried didn’t seem to carry much. He certainly hoped she had her own music, for the price they were paying, the least she could do was provide her own music.
After a moment, a seductive smile slipped across her mouth. There was something oddly familiar about her, but unable to see the majority of her face because of her hat, sunglasses, and the dark, Ben wasn’t sure how he might know her.
“Don’t worry, sugar,” she offered in a husky tone, “I’ve got my own tunes.”
He gave her a friendly smile and nodded. “Good. Why don’t I announce you first?” He turned, opened the door and stood in the doorway, blocking the view inside the house. Ben asked someone to turn off the stereo. “Now, gentlemen, I would like to introduce the real entertainment of the night,” Ben announced.
Moving aside, Ben turned and motioned for Kit to step inside. The seductive smile stayed in place as she stepped over the threshold of the door. A few men whistled in appreciation, a few others gave catcalls.
Smugly watching his buddies’ reactions, Ben saw her mouth curve from the corner of his eye. Glancing down, Ben noticed she had yet to remove the sunglasses. Seeing her seductive smile change, something else nagged his brain.
“Honey, no offense, but what’s your costume?” Ben whispered out of the corner of his mouth.
Ben watched the amused smile spread fully across her lips. Pulling her sunglasses down the bridge of her nose, she turned slightly so the light in the room fully illuminated her face. She looked at him over the top of the glasses with familiar wide pale blue eyes dancing with mischief.
Ben felt his stomach hit the floor.
Her lips parted to reveal white even teeth. “A maid of honor,” she drawled with a knowing wink.
As he grabbed a beer for himself, he started to head towards the poker table. As he moved passed the front window, he heard the music before he saw its source. Loud blaring techno music nearly drowned out the country music behind him. It came from within a black Cadillac convertible pulling into the driveway. The New York plates said KRAZYLV.
The music suddenly died as the occupant in the Caddy turned the engine off. The driver’s head was covered in a red zebra stripped cowboy hat obscuring their face. As the driver climbed out, however, he had no doubt in his mind she was female.
Ben first saw the flame red cowboy boots step out of the car. She turned to close the car door and turned her back to him. Above the boots, red leather pants hugged every curve of two very long legs and wide hips. From there, a red tank top clung with a plunging neckline covering her torso, which included a flat stomach and large breasts. Long blonde hair curled at the ends around her breasts. But as she turned her back to him, Ben discovered the top only covered the front of her and a few crisscrossed strings held the top on in the back, exposing smooth skin. She bent over to grab something from the backseat of the car and displayed a very nice view Ben greatly appreciated.
When she turned to face him fully, he saw she still wore sunglasses despite the sun being almost completely set. Even from the distance he stood, Ben could see the deep red lipstick she wore, the heart shaped mouth practically invited a kiss. But between the sunglasses and hat brim pulled down, he still couldn’t see her face clearly.
She was an hour early, he mused, but he would forgive her since she was sure to stir the party up.
Outside, Kit pulled her backpack from the backseat of her Caddy, turned and glanced up at the two-story house where her best friend lived. She grinned, studying the exterior of the home. Apparently, her best friend was well on her way to becoming a Matthews.
The Matthews were one of the wealthiest and most influential families in the small California town. Raymond Matthews, Greg and Ben’s father, was a banker and venture capitalist. His wife, Loren, up until recently was a highly successful businesswoman and now, from what Kit understood, spent her extra time with her philanthropy. But unlike most of the rich people she came to know and meet, the Matthews were genuine people.
Of course, Ray and Loren Matthews weren’t above using a regal demeanor when the moment called for it, she mused.
Yep, Anne was well cared for, Kit decided as she started up the drive towards the front door. As she stepped closer, Kit realized she heard the low hum of country music and remembered the bachelor party Anne told her about. She smiled in anticipation as she wondered whether or not the stripper arrived yet.
Before Kit reached the door, it opened and Ben stepped out.
He still looked the same, she decided. Tall and handsome, with wide shoulders screaming lean on me, and those piercing midnight eyes.
Kit sighed inwardly as she felt the familiar flutter in her stomach. Damn, she was still attracted to him. Oh well, she dealt with it as a teenager, she could deal with it as a grown woman.
“Hi, you’re early, but that’s all right.” He looked down at her backpack and frowned. “If you don’t have a stereo or anything, that’s fine, but I hope you have your own music. I don’t think you’d like dancing to the stuff we have.”
Kit frowned, confused.
Ben watched her heart shaped mouth frown, the rest of her face still obscured from view. The backpack she carried didn’t seem to carry much. He certainly hoped she had her own music, for the price they were paying, the least she could do was provide her own music.
After a moment, a seductive smile slipped across her mouth. There was something oddly familiar about her, but unable to see the majority of her face because of her hat, sunglasses, and the dark, Ben wasn’t sure how he might know her.
“Don’t worry, sugar,” she offered in a husky tone, “I’ve got my own tunes.”
He gave her a friendly smile and nodded. “Good. Why don’t I announce you first?” He turned, opened the door and stood in the doorway, blocking the view inside the house. Ben asked someone to turn off the stereo. “Now, gentlemen, I would like to introduce the real entertainment of the night,” Ben announced.
Moving aside, Ben turned and motioned for Kit to step inside. The seductive smile stayed in place as she stepped over the threshold of the door. A few men whistled in appreciation, a few others gave catcalls.
Smugly watching his buddies’ reactions, Ben saw her mouth curve from the corner of his eye. Glancing down, Ben noticed she had yet to remove the sunglasses. Seeing her seductive smile change, something else nagged his brain.
“Honey, no offense, but what’s your costume?” Ben whispered out of the corner of his mouth.
Ben watched the amused smile spread fully across her lips. Pulling her sunglasses down the bridge of her nose, she turned slightly so the light in the room fully illuminated her face. She looked at him over the top of the glasses with familiar wide pale blue eyes dancing with mischief.
Ben felt his stomach hit the floor.
Her lips parted to reveal white even teeth. “A maid of honor,” she drawled with a knowing wink.
My Book Review:
Kit Conner is a best selling author who comes back to her hometown of Eastminster, California, to be the maid of honor for her best friend Anne's wedding. It's been seven years since she was back home, so she relies on her old outward appearance of wearing outrageous outfits and doing crazy antics that the townspeople remember to mask her deep dark secrets that have haunted her all her life.
Benjamin Matthews is a down-to-earth guy who runs a horse ranch with his younger brother Greg. Ben is going to be his brother's Best Man in his wedding to Anne.
Kit has had an attraction for Ben since freshman year in high school that hasn't dimmed over the years. When Kit arrives home for the wedding, Ben doesn't remember meeting her years ago, but he did meet her as a self-conscious shy overweight teenage girl who worked in his mother's shop. Seven years later and sixty pounds lighter, she's a real beauty and doesn't resemble that awkward teen anymore.
Sparks fly and banter abounds between Kit and Ben, but when her past comes to light, Kit has to decide what she is going to do about their relationship. Can Kit let go of her past and let Ben into her heart?
Love Like Krazy is a lighthearted romantic story about a woman's journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Written in the third person narrative, the reader follows along on Kit's emotional journey to put her past behind her, to learn to believe and accept who she really is, and to trust others and allow love inside her heart. This is a story of a girl who has emotional and self esteem issues that were inflicted upon her by her mother in her childhood, and the damaging affect it continued to have into her adult life. The author does a wonderful job of balancing the quirky antics that Kit uses as a facade to cover her insecurities with the tantalizing romantic relationship that blossoms between Kit and Ben. When Kit's past is revealed, the reader is in for an emotional roller coaster ride, you can't help but feel for Kit, it will tug at your heartstrings. As Kit journeys to rediscover and accept herself, she has the love and support of her family and friends to realize that there is nothing better then to Love Like Krazy.
The author has created a cast of characters that are realistic and engaging, and the reader can easily relate to them. Kit's a complicated person who hides her hurt and insecurity behind a sassy facade. Ben is the strong, patient, steady type of guy that a girl can depend on. I really enjoyed how the romantic relationship developed between Kit and Ben, the sparks and banter and passionate encounters make this an enjoyable romantic love story. The supporting cast of characters: Anne, Greg and Aunt Mae are all fun loving people whose dialogue and interactions with Kit and Ben help make the story that much more an enjoyable read.
Love Like Krazy is a sassy romance story that has a mixture of passion, humor and emotion that will tug at your heartstrings and make you smile.
RATING: 4 STARS ****
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