Discover A New World of Romance

My wonderful children gave me my own digital camera....

Delicious, and while it begins….As a cool minty tickle over your tongue, it settles inside you like warm chocolate kisses Peppermint twist martini 2 ounces of Absolut Peppar vodka 1 ounce of white Creme de Menthe 1.5 ounces of Godiva White Chocolate liqueur 1 ounce of Rumple Minze peppermint liqueur 2 small peppermint patty candies Peppermint twist martini glass rim sugar The mix Pour the ingredients except the Creme de Menthe into a shaker 3/4 full of cracked ice. Shake vigorously for a full minute. Rim your martini glasses with peppermint twist sugar Strain your elixir into the glasses Top each glass with 1/2 of the Creme de Menthe. Garnish each glass with a peppermint patty. To celebrate the season and the Release of Christmas Mischief

Monthly Romance Reviews CHRISTMAS MISCHIEF by Christine Columbus Available December 12 The Wild Rose Press As the Minnesota temperatures plummet, Amber faces Christmas and a long cold winter with no one but her grandma’s ornery black lab to keep her company. A chance encounter on a treacherous country road brings Amber face-to-face with a yummy man, guaranteed to melt the icicles in her heart.This delightfully sweet short story is the perfect confection to savor over a cup of holiday cocoa. Sparkling humor enlivens this tale of tender romance, and you cannot help but cheer Amber’s transition from longing and frustration to hope and happily-ever-after.Another heartwarming read from Christine Columbus! Great Big Thanks to Molly Stark for the review... http://www.mollystarkbooks.com/romancereviews.html

Besides learning the East Coast Swing….right, left, ball change…I’ve been doing the Mn Swing…Shovel, one, two, three… It also turns out that I’m not a wimp….brought my car into the service garage…my thermostat is broke…no wonder I’m never hot… But after Friday look out…

T o Trick or Treat Gwen, Sandra, Ruthie and I went out Trick or Treating...for the Troops. The Elks Club has an adopt a platoon program and we thought it would be fun to go door to door Trick or Treating... It was a Blast..

Besides having a Releast Date of December 12th for Christmas Mischief.... I went to a Singles Dance.... ... Saturday night with Mary and her friend Sally from Buffalo. I don’t dance, so I came prepared not to dance in jean, t-shirt and rubber soled clogs. So, I’m sitting at a table with my friends, enjoying the music and watching everyone else dance. A guy comes over to the table, “Would you like to dance East Coast Swing?” “I don’t know how to dance.” He reaches out his hand, “I’ll teach you.” We dance (and I use that term loosely) in front of the band. I can’t hear a word he’s saying – so I smile and nod. Toward the end of the song he moves closer to me and I hear, “Have you ever been bit?” My heart is pounding and I thought I was nervous before. What a weirdo. Will my friends hear me if I scream. Is there a full moon? Does he think he’s a vampire? I take a deep breath and smile as my rational mind takes hold. –he must have meant bitten by the dancing bug. He holds me tight...

Came back with a cute skirt and a great idea for a short story...had my cards read...and was told to be careful for what I wish for, because I was going to get it...Well, it's a good thing I bought a new skirt because when my novel because an Oprah Book Club - must read at least I'll have something "cool" to wear on the show.

Something Racy....

On July 3, 2007 - I posted the following message at yahoo group writerwarriors *** I'm in for Sept...just when I think I'm getting back to the swing of it...I can't remember where I put the swing... After 27 years working for a utility company...I'm quiting and going to work for a city...as an Admin Assist., Some people have a mid-life crisis and get a sports car, spouse/boyfriend...not me I get a new job...Dang....I'm so boring.... My goal is to do something racy by Sept., so I'll have something to tell..MY 81 year old neighbor hoped on the back of a Harley and went for a ride on her birthday.... **** I realize that I'm almost out of time to do something racy....I'm trying to decided if drinking a beer alone - quailifies as racy....

Bridget stopped by with laundry... at least Ruth was happy....to see the dirty clothes.

Ruth's best friend went away to college...

I'm not much of a cook, so imagine my surprise when my daughter called and asked for one of my recipes. It gets better, her dad wanted to know... "Mom, what's the recipe for that stuff you use to clean my car battery last night?" she asked. "Baking soda and water," I replied the wind going out of my sails...

Review: Hard Day On The Farm By guest reviewer: Michelle Oberlander Hard Day On the Farm by Christine ColumbusWhen Molly Moved to the country, her new neighbor, George, made learning to drive the tractor a memorable experience. And that was just one aspect of farm life Molly found enjoyable.This is one story included in the Rose Petals II anthology. Available in print and eBook formats.Who knew tractors could be so sexy? Well, maybe not the tractors themselves, but like Ferrari's or Mustangs, they sure can offer an intro into a unique romantic interlude. Think I'm kidding? I kid you not. A Hard Day On The Farm takes us to the little farming community of Edgewater where we get to meet Molly and George. Molly has high hopes for George but George isn't cooperating and she is getting antsy. Thoughts of George are coloring most aspects of her imagination which the author shares with us so we understand what drives Molly to plotting and scheming to get her way. I get the sense ...

1039 left to go...That's if I work at the city for 20 more years. I decided that this is going to be the year of change for me...partial because my youngest goes off to college, I'm 48 and I've been finding dimes and seeing butterflies everywhere I go. I'm not sure what it means, but I'm thinking it means metamorphosis/transformation and cents/sense. (Hopefully I'll get more of both) I'm currently working on "Looking For Henrietta" and edits for my novel, I did get a contract for Christmas Mischief - a short story for the Sweatheart line. I'm working on letting my characters run uncensored across the page, it’s tough to let go. I fear they’ll end up in trees and I have to throw bigger and bigger rocks at them to get them down… But I am letting go. No Fear…Just Bigger Boulders. I’m also getting braver and more adventurous in my own life...I tried to make margarita popsicles…I could get them to freeze, but the problem was you have to ea...

Review: First Class Male By guest reviewer Michele Oberlander . First Class Male by Christine Columbus Jenny decided to walk to the Post Office to pick up the package her co-workers claimed was waiting for her. However, when she got there the handsome clerk was unable to find the parcel, but he did find her heart. (10 pages) - sweet First impression of the cover: Simple and classy. The title made me think of a story of the perfect man. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I realized it was a clever play on words. This is a short story that hones in on what we romance readers look for; girl meets boy, girl chases boy, boy doesn't call, girl thinks "whoops" and guy plans a "Gotcha!". Reverse chase. I loved it. This story is told in first person by a plucky heroine named Jennifer. We jump right into a day of her life where work and serendipity play a pivotal role in her future. Jennifer finally has her life on track, or so she thinks. Her co-workers know otherwise and...

UNCLE MIKE’S LOVE CHRISTINE COLUMBUS www.wildrosepress.comE-BookPrice : $3.00 35 PagesSweet Romance/A miniature Rose in the Sweetheart Rose Line Rating: 4 Cups (Outstanding Great Read This is a very outstanding book you would like to keep to read again in the future. ) Mike left his hometown twelve years ago. Memories and regret trouble him as he still carries a torch for the girl he left behind. Patty White was crushed when Mike left for college. When he returns, she feels the heartstrings tugging. Mike left years ago, for college, after receiving a football scholarship. Now he has returned home and helps with his two little nephews, Dustin and Danny, while his sister works. When the nephews have different opinions on what to eat for breakfast, Mike chooses to take them out to eat. He never expected to run into the hometown girl that captured his heart. Surprised to see Mike, Patty remains cool around him, while being extremely sociable with others around her. She can still feel the ...

Sunday, July 8, 2007 Review: Happy Meal Mark's mother was notoriously stubborn and when she set her mind to dining at McDonald's there was no persuading her. He suspected his mom was up to something but would have never guessed that their weekly dinners out would end up with so many Happy Meals to come. (10 pages) - sweetHappy Meal by Christine Columbus is all its name suggests: a neat treat in a tidy little package. This is a quick bubbly story that kicks off with fun repartee between a mother and grown son. The author's ability to describe people without every slowing the action is impressive. As I have come to expect from Columbus' works, a certain depth of character and a hint of compassion all leave the reader with the impression of a far longer and more involved tale. The 'happy accident' involved here leads to the sweetest of romances, but I dare not give any more away. Mark this a 'must read' on your list.Thanks to our guest reviewer: Nancy A.Lin...

The hardest part about starting a new job....is trying to remember where you put your social security card. I felt like I won the lottery when I found the card tucked into a file with photos. The last time I need it was 27 years ago...

I'm calling it quits...Friday the 13th of July - will be my last day of employment...at the gas company....on the 16th of July...I start life as a City Employee... I am thrilled....my intentions when accepting a position at the gas company in March of 1980 was to only work for the summer... So, my new game plan is to work for the City for twenty years...and retire with a pension...(check back in 20 years - to see if I stuck to my game plan) Of course, I will continue writing...I'm working on edits for my novel with the editor for the Yellow Rose at TWRP - turned in a short Christmas story...waiting to hear back...and turned in a Rosette - also waiting to hear back... Works in progress include - Looking for Henrietta and Chance Meeting...

Thursday, June 28, 2007 Review: Uncle Mike's Love Uncle Mike's Love by Christine ColumbusMike felt the biggest mistake in his life was moving away from his hometown and not asking the first love of his life Patty to go with him. Now, twelve years later he's back in town to take care of his nephews and he's hoping to get a second chance with Patty. Miniature(29 pages) SweetThis is a charming story which focuses on one man's realization that letting what someone else might think about the woman you are in love with is a sure way to lose that love. Will he be able to win Patty back now that he's back in town? Ms. Columbus draws an entertaining picture of Mike trying to win back Patty, but I have to say I think the two young boys steal the show as they attempt to play "matchmaker" between Mike and Patty. "Uncle Mike's Love" is a lighthearted look at love, romance, and second chances.