Holiday Season - What's Your Favorite

We are in the middle of the Holiday Season and as I was out running errands the other day, I found myself thinking about my favorite thing about the season. As I started listing off things I like, I decided it would be a lot easier to list what I hate rather than what I love. But, I don't want to get into the negative. Not this time of year. I believe this should be a happy time, a time for joy and peace and nice things. So, here's my list of things I would call my favorite things.

1. Family and Friends. Getting together, enjoying each other's company, sharing good food, good memories. I hope each of you have friends and family to share this special time of year with.

2. The beautiful Christmas Carols. I've always loved Christmas songs. Even the funny ones like Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer. All of the Christmas songs are special. Take some time and listen to one or two of your favorites.

3.  The bright lights. I love the way the lights twinkle on the Christmas tree. I so enjoy taking evening rides and seeing how the houses are lit up -- each different, each something special.

4. Seeing the excitement in my grandchildren's eyes. I think this is one that really should be at the top of the list. It seems like kids, young and old, get excited to receive a special gift, sit on Santa's knee, take part in a Christmas play, or even sing with their school class. They get so excited to dress up, and I love the happiness that shows on each of their faces.

5. Giving. Yes, the spirit of giving abounds. I have to admit I love the feeling of doing something special, buying the perfect gifts, or giving to others who haven't as much as I have. If you haven't done that, try it if you can. It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside knowing that I'm doing something good in the world today.

Ok, so I could go on and on, and I'm sure if you take a few minutes, you could too. I hope you will take some time to enjoy the holidays. Take some time for yourself to relax, listen to a Christmas song, smell the beautiful pungent smell of pine trees, and just relax doing what you love best.

May this season be a season of joy. May you find peace and happiness. May the love of family and friends surround you.

K. R. Bailey

www.KRBailey.com

Favorite Book of the Weekl

 I just finished a book by an author I've never read before but loved her writing. Skeleten's Key by Stacey Green. It's book 2 in her Delta Crossroads Trilogy, and I've already gone out to get the other two. This is definitely my favorite book of the week!

I couldn't put it down. I love reading about the old south plantation homes. The secrets the author wove into this story kept me reading long into the night. I really enjoyed this book and think you will too.

Here's a brief blurb:

Cage Foster thought taking a new job would be what he needed to get a fresh start on life—and forget about the woman who broke his heart. As caretaker of a beautiful Antebellum mansion, he can’t wait for a peaceful, solitary lifestyle. But nothing could be farther from the truth. The discovery of a skeleton and two fresh bodies buried on the grounds makes Cage a suspicious enemy of everyone in the small town. Everyone but her. Just his luck his ally is a pushy Yankee, a woman who talks too fast and still believes in the romance of the Old South.

Some secrets can set you free…

Restoration expert Dani Evans bought Ironwood plantation to restore it to its former glory. After her mother’s death, Dani wants to rebuild her life, and what better place the sumptuous grandeur of the South. Except what she finds at Ironwood isn’t quite what she hoped. A surly caretaker is only the beginning of her problems. Death, hidden treasure, and falling for a murder suspect were not part of her plan. Dani is convinced the legend of hidden treasure at Ironwood and the murders are tied together, but she has to find the truth before Cage is arrested. And if she’s not careful, she might become the next victim.

Skeleton's Key is available through Amazon.

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

http:///www.KRBailey.com

Holiday Craft Bazaar

I just spent a delightful two days at the First United Methodist Church Craft Bazaar and met so many nice people. Of course, my favorites are the readers I talked to. It's always interesting to see what types of books they prefer -- paperback or ebook, and there's lots of both out there. Then there are those that love to read and they will read in any format they can get. Those are people like me. I love books. I love reading books. I have a kindle and love it. But I also love to hold a real paperback book and scroll through its pages just as much.

We had several author friends of mine there selling their books, offering to autograph each one, and it was so rewarding to see so many young people who were thrilled to have a book personalized just for them.

That's me with many of my books. I'm sharing a table with my author friend, Alysia S. Knight. 

As the holidays are approaching, remember books are a wonderful gift to young and old alike. Think about buying a book when you are searching for that perfect gift for a friend or loved one.

And speaking of perfect gifts, my story Lila's Christmas Dream, is a sweet Christmas Story. If you haven't read it, you will enjoy it. If you have, think about buying one for a gift.

Available in both paperback and ebook from Amazon.com

Here's a brief blurb:

“Lila. Lila?” Her mother’s voice echoed from the house.

“Oh, I need to go.”

Munchie jumped up when Lila stood.

“Thanks for talking to me.” He rubbed his hand down Munchie’s back.

Lila scrambled toward the door at the same time he stood. They bumped against each other. Lila’s eyes went wide when he grabbed her shoulders to keep from falling. She lost her balance and fell against his chest.

She gasped.

He remained holding her close, enjoying the way her soft curves felt.

“Are you all right?” He dropped his hands from her shoulders, but at the sight of her bright pink cheeks, he slid his finger down her soft skin.

She stiffened.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t…”

She put her hand to the place he’d touched. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “I need to go.”

He watched her turn.

“Come on, Munchie,” she called.

As she limped from the room, he had to refrain from rushing to help her. When she left, the soft scent of her remained in the tack room making it a much nicer place.

He made his way to the door and watched as Lila stopped to pet the nose of each horse. She then said goodnight to the cow before she left the barn.

Smiling, he closed the door and sat on the cot. He’d never met anyone who took time to talk to a milk cow.

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

http://www.KRBailey.com

Book of the Week

I just finished a new book by an author I had never read and really enjoyed it so it has become my book of the week.

The book is titled, Summer Again, A St. Caroline Novel by Julia Gabriel. This is the first in a series and I really enjoyed the story.

Here's the blurb from the Amazon website:

.Dive into this sweet (and slightly steamy) enemies-to-lovers office romance and fall in love with the town of St. Caroline ...
For years, Lucy Wyndham wondered whether she'd ever catch another glimpse of the boy she crushed on as a teenager at the Chesapeake Inn's summer camp for disadvantaged kids. He was tall and quiet ... mysterious and aloof ... and oh so gorgeous.

Also the owner’s son. Not the slightest bit disadvantaged.

Fast forward ... now Sterling Matthew runs the Chesapeake Inn and is Lucy's boss. He's still tall, aloof, and oh so gorgeous. Ten years later, the attraction between them is just as strong—but they’re no more compatible today than they were as teenagers.

Nor do they share the same views of the summer camp. When Sterling informs Lucy that the camp must be eliminated to improve the resort's bottom line, she embarks on an ambitious campaign to save it. Even if the price is her job ... and her heart.

*****

If you are looking for a new author to try, give this book a try. I did and I am glad I did. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

http://www.KRBailey.com

Thought for the Day

The best things in life are the
people we love...
the places we've been...
and the
memories we've made along the way.

I love that thought.

Too often I think we feel like we need money. We spend every day working to earn more money. We are always trying to invest to build our nest egg bigger. But I think we sometimes forget about the little things.

The people we love -- not a little thing by far, and probably one of the most important things in our life. Whether it be our family, our close friends, the people we work with, or a stranger we happen to chat with along life's pathway. People are one of the best things in life. We need to hold them dear in our hearts.

The places we've been. Ah, so many beautiful, interesting places in this world whether it be hiking to the top of a majestic mountain, swimming in a warm springs pool, or being wined and dined in a fancy restaurant, the places we've been are special.

Without the people we hold dear and the wonderful places we have enjoyed, we wouldn't have memories to tied us through the hardships in this life. After the loss of a loved one, memories are all we have to keep them close in our heart, to remember why we loved.

I'm hoping each of you will cherish these things as you make your way through life's pathway. Hold special people dear to your heart. Soak up the beautiful places you get to visit, and most of all, cherish the memories you've made along the journey.

Have a beautiful day.

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

http://www.KRBailey.com

When It Rains, It Pours

Have you ever noticed that it seems if something goes wrong, then it doesn't quit until several other things go wrong, too. Yep, my mom always said, When it rains, it pours. I used to laugh when she'd say that. Course I was young and problems were small. Anyway, my problems could be taken care pretty easily by talking to my mom or my sister or my best friend.

Now, of course, I'm older. Gosh I hate to admit that. Tire on our truck keeps going flat so I know I'm facing buying new tires. Winter is approaching and that means draining the sprinkling system, draining the hoses and putting things away. And, of course, October is one of the busiest months of the year. I have two trips planned out of town, it's our annual Reader's luncheon which I have volunteered to help at, my brother needs my help with some medical things going on with his family, step-daughter had surgery, and I woke up this morning with a leak in the roof.

Do I laugh or do I cry? Crying really won't help but sometimes it sure seems as if that is the best answer. Laughing doesn't help either unless you think keeping my sanity is helpful and sometimes I even wonder about that.

Where do I find the time to take care of everything? Ever ask yourself that question? Oh, I'm sure you have. Well, that's exactly what I have been pondering today.

Will things work out? Yes, they always do. Will they work out the way I want them to? Who knows, but I guess the main thing is they will work out and life will go on.

I hope your life is going smoothly. It's fall, and my favorite time of year, and I want to enjoy it. I'll get through. Hopefully, you will too. Hopefully, you will find time to enjoy the crisp fall days, the beautiful fall colors, and perhaps find a book to read to relax.

Wishing you the best.

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

http:/www.KRBailey.com

M Favorite Author

Do you have a favorite author? I'm sure if you are a reader like I am, it's hard to pick just one favorite. There are so many wonderful books out there and so many amazing authors that I just love how each one tells a story, pulls me into it so much I feel like I'm friends with their hero and heroine. When I finish the book, I feel sad because I'm going to have to meet new people and go to a new town and experience something new.

Is that bad? Not really. That's what keeps me reading.

Right now, I'm reading Nicholas Sparks' book The Rescue and loving it. So I guess today my favorite author is Nicholas Sparks. His books are amazing, and I love most of the movies made from his writing.

If you are looking for something to read, check out his book. You won't be sorry.

What's your favorite book and author?

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

http://www.KRBailey.com