Panic #FunnyFriday

Welcome to September’s Funny Friday, a regular feature published on the last Friday of every month. Funny Friday is a collaborative project. Each month one of the participants submits a picture, then we all write five captions or thoughts inspired by that month’s picture. Links to the other bloggers’ posts are below, click on them and see what they’ve come up with. I hope we bring a smile to your face as you start your weekend.

Here’s today’s picture. It was submitted by Cognitive Script.

1. Sally: Billy, running out of beer is not an extreme emergency.
Billy: But Sally, it is Sunday.
Sally: All the more reason running out of beer isn't a problem.
Billy: Football, Sally. Football.
Sally: You make no sense. I will go get you beer. Leave the button alone, and you better not make a peep during Grey's on Thursday. Not one peep.

2. Millie: Why did you press the button?!?

Willy: You won't let me play my video game.

Millie: Mom and Dad are going to kill you. That is not an extreme emergency.

Willy: Tomato, tomahto.

3. Hallie Anne hoped the hot firemen didn't realize her extreme emergencies, were really just excuses to see such handsome men. That seemed none the wiser, and for that she was grateful. (I absolutely would probably do this as an 80 year old.)

4. I feel like I need one of these. I wonder who it calls. Either way, a panic button would be awesome. I would press it nearly every day. Ever feel like you have no idea what you are doing? Oy. Lately, I feel like I am barely treading water, and I am definitely in over my head.

5. So, one of my first thoughts was about our fortune cookies. I had my neurology appointment earlier, and afterward, out car battery was dead. By the time AAA came and we were on our way home, it was late. So, I chose to grab some Chinese food. I ordered a combination plate, that I knew Gigi would love. Gigi got a Happy Meal, that I knew she would only half eat, but it's her preference. Chad got his beloved bacon cheeseburger from Carl's Jr (gag). They gave me two fortune cookies, and I shared them with Gigi. Hers had a nice fortune (Awaken your divine nature within.). I was so excited to read mine. Opened it. Nothing. Nada. No fortune. I am guessing that is really not a good thing. Maybe it knows that our car broke down, and I think we probably need a new battery. Maybe it should have said "Cars are expensive. Suck it up, Buttercup!"

What about you?! Would you like to have a panic button?! Thank you for stopping by!! Now, go check out what my fellow bloggers have in store for you!! I hope you have a fabulous weekend!!

Click on the links below and let some other bloggers make you smile:

Southern Belle Charm

Bookworm in the Kitchen

Baking In A Tornado

Cognitive Script

Non Fake News #UseYourWords

Welcome to September's Use Your Words post. This is how it works: participating bloggers picked four to six words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once and all the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That is the challenge, here is a fun twist; no one who is participating knows who got their words and in what direction the writer will take them. Until now.

My words are:

blue ~ fake ~ trust ~ file ~ head

They were submitted by: Minette of Southern Belle Charm

I have been staring at these words for almost two hours. Now, admittedly, I was not staring constantly. I am also watching Grey's Anatomy on Netflix. It can be quite distracting. There are not many shows that I can get truly lost in, but Grey's is one of them. I already had a plan for my words, but I then when I sat down to put the post together, I suddenly didn't want to follow that plan. The problem is, I don't really have any other plan either.

So, I decided to just kinda ramble on to y'all about the thoughts in my head. Are you scared? Maybe you should be. My head can be a scary place at times. You can trust me. I won't release any of the truly crazy things.

First thing first, and I promise this is not fake news... I am getting new glasses. On Wednesday, all three of us had eye appointments. It was Gigi's first, and she did well. The only bad part, was the end, when she realized she would not be getting glasses. She was so upset. She apparently really wanted glasses. To be honest, she is adorable in glasses, and so I don't blame her. I look horrible in glasses, so I was a bit sad about needing them. I am excited to be able to see again though! So excited! I am going to order my glasses today. I am leaning towards a pair of blue ones. I like them, and blue is Gigi's favorite color, so she will probably love them. Happy Gigi, happy life. That is my motto.

This next update, can be put in a file labeled Bahumbug. Years ago, I was told I would end up in a wheelchair, by the time I was between 60 and 65. Since 2010, my health has been on a roller coaster ride, and I was told it could happen as early as 40. I have been using one off and on, for the past few years, but I do my best to avoid it. Unfortunately, I was informed on Wednesday that my condition has worsened considerably. I have no idea why, but my condition was advancing at about 30 mph, and then suddenly in the last few months, it increased to 220 mph. So, I have reached the finish line way above schedule. So, as you can imagine... These thoughts have been racing through my mind since hearing the news.

I have also been thinking a lot about Global Warming, Natural Disasters, End of Days, foreign relations, etc etc These are scary days that we are going through. Truly scary. I am trying to keep the faith, that in the end, things will work out well. That people will step up to the plate, and good will triumph over evil. I have been trying hard to control these thoughts, so that I don't get too upset over it all. Just trying to keep the faith. 

So, tell me... What has been going on in your life? What thoughts have you been having? How are things? 

Make sure you go check out what words my blogger friends were assigned, and how they used them. I'll be grabbing a cup of coffee and meeting you there!!

Links to the other “Use Your Words” posts:

Baking In A Tornado

Cognitive Script

The Blogging 911

On the Border

Southern Belle Charm

Bookworm in the Kitchen

Part-time Working Hockey Mom

Climaxed

Misadventures of a City Girl #BookReview

I had the pleasure of reading a book from the Misadventures Series. This one was written by Chelle Bliss and Meredith Wild. Have you been able to read any of their books? I highly recommend you check them out, after you read this one. I was actually really excited when I discovered they teamed up to write this book, because I love their individual books. I had high expectations for this book, and it did not disappoint.

I loved everything about this book. I love the plot, the ending, and the characters. I also loved that it takes place in my backyard. I do love books a bit extra, when they take place in California (or one of the other places I have lived). The authors did an amazing job developing the characters. I love when an author enables you to fall for the characters in their books. When characters aren't developed well, I always feel empty at the end. Good character development really adds to the story.

This story was unique and entertaining. It was also steamy. So, if you love entertaining romances, with happy endings, steamy middles, and great characters... You need to read this book. I highly recommend it. This book left me excited for the rest of the series. I have a great feeling about this series. 

Keep reading for a synopsis of the story, information on how to get a copy of your own, information about the authors, and a link for the giveaway!! 

Check out the Misadventures Series here: http://www.misadventures.com/

Book:  Misadventures of a City Girl

Authors: Meredith Wild & Chelle Bliss

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Buy Links for all Platforms

Synopsis:

Fresh off a divorce from a Hollywood hotshot, Madison Atwood needs an escape. With the paparazzi fresh on her heels and her love life splashed on every tabloid, she runs away to a swanky retreat in Northern California. Avalon Springs is the mountainside haven she needs to find herself again. Luke Dawson lives off the grid, preferring solitude to society. When he finds a beautiful woman soaking in the hot springs on his property, he can’t stop himself from watching her. She captures his attention, but she’s just a city girl—a beautiful distraction disturbing the peace he’s settled here to find. When Madison discovers Luke’s secluded cabin, he can’t turn her away again. They make no promises. Madison needs to feel wanted again, and Luke misses the touch of a woman. But when mother nature has other plans, they’re forced to spend more than a night of passion together. Can Luke say goodbye to the only woman who’s made him feel anything in years, and can Madison leave behind the man who brought her back to life?

Amazon       Amazon UK      iBooks     Barnes&Noble      Kobo Audio

Meet the Authors

Meredith Wild is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of romance. Living on Florida’s Gulf Coast with her husband and three children, she refers to herself as a techie, whiskey-appreciator, and hopeless romantic. She has been featured on CBS This Morning, The Today Show, the New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Publishers Weekly, and The Examiner. When she isn’t living in the fantasy world of her characters, she can usually be found at:

Facebook.  Instagram  Twitter

USA Today bestselling author Chelle Bliss currently lives in a small town near the Gulf of Mexico. She's a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, and coffee fiend. She's written over ten books and has two series available. She loves spending her free time with her boyfriend, 2 cats, and her hamster.  Before becoming a writer, Chelle taught high school history for over ten years. She holds a master's degree in Instructional Technology and a bachelor's in History. Although history is her first love, writing has become her dream job and she can't imagine doing anything else. 

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Buy Links for all Platforms

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What I need you to know...

I received an ARC of Misadventures of a City Girl to read, and given an honest review of. Thankfully, I loved it, and so here we are. Had I not loved it, I would have said as much. So, do yourself a favor, and read this book. 

Rescued by Lyz Kelley #BookReview #Giveaway

The time has come. The Elkridge series by Lyz Kelley has come to a close. Rescued was just released, and finally our questions have been answered. I will not be giving any spoilers, but if you want to discuss it, message me! 

Just like all the books before it, this book is amazing. It is well written, and will keep you satisfied and yet leave you wanting more. I am not even kidding. This entire series, each book has been written so well, and complete, that at the end I feel like that part of the story is finished. Yet, I still want more. More, more, more. More Elkridge. More citizens lives told. More updates on the citizens we know and love. More. 

Lyz Kelley is a truly wonderful writer. She has this amazing ability to tell great stories. She has built this entire community within these books, and she has develops the characters so well, that it almost feels like we really know them. Each book, on its own, is a complete and satisfying story, but combined they created a wonderfully suspenseful tale. 

Now, I say that this is the last book, because that is what I have been told from the beginning. However, two things you NEED to know.... At the end of Rescued, I was given the impression there will be more. (Fingers crossed and happy dance) Rescued gives us all the answers to the mystery surrounding Sheriff Sam's murder, so obvious that story line is over, but I am certain that Lyz will be able to continue the story of the lives and times of the Elkridge community, and keep us satisfied. You should also know, if you sign up for her newsletter, you will receive a novella, that is the perfect companion to the Elkridge series. I strongly recommend signing up, and enjoying the extra story! 

Now, I will admit... I was not completely successful at solving Sheriff Sam's murder. However, I did have quite a bit correct. It was way more intense and deeper that I ever knew. Lyz really wrote an intense, thrilling tale. Also, I will say, that there was one person who I was POSITIVE was involved, and apparently he was not involved. Most of my suspicions were correct. 

So, what are you waiting for?! READ IT, and let me know if your suspicions were correct, or if you were way off. Prepare yourself, because it is a wild ride. Of course, along with all the intense drama, you will get plenty of romance, happiness, hope, and passion. I think you will absolutely fall in love with Karly and Thad. Their love story is a beautiful one. It is full of sadness and hope and fate. 

Keep reading to read a synopsis of Rescued, get to know the author, find our where to get your own copy, and enter a giveaway!! 

Rescued by Lyz Kelley (An Elkridge Series Novel) Release Date: 12th September Genre: Contemporary Romance  #RescuedTour

Synopsis

What happens when you realize too late that you’re in love?

Karly’s animal shelter business is failing. Right now, she has too many animals, and not enough foster parents, trainers, or adopters to keep food in the bowls, and she’s desperate to find options. When her first love returns home from Afghanistan wounded and alone, she offers Thad a win-win situation—a job in exchange for training a special needs dog.

Thad wants to be left alone. He feels responsible for not spotting the IED before it killed his friends and his war dog. When Karly drops off a dog for him to train, memories of their deaths swamp him with guilt.

Corruption is tearing the small town of Elkridge apart. Thad is brave enough to give his life to save Karly, but is he brave enough to live? Will she be strong enough to survive? Will fate allow them a happily ever after?

RESCUED is a sensual, contemporary romance about a brave woman and a heroic man who fulfill their dreams. If you like heartfelt characters, deep topics with powerful emotional cores, and happy endings, then you’ll love this sixth book in Lyz Kelley’s tales of strength, love, and survival. Buy RESCUED to unlock the emotional tale today!

Buy The Book

Meet the Author

Award-winning author Lyz Kelley resides in a small community in Colorado with her husband and several four-legged family members. She’s a lover of board games, gardening, and painting, a disaster in the kitchen, a compulsive neat freak, and tea snob. She loves writing about strong women who have endured challenges and the men who enrich their lives.

A healing love is at the heart of her book series. Creating wounded yet amazing characters—discovering what drives them, frightens them, heals them, makes them laugh—is what gives her joy. Lyz is pleased to share that joy through her masterfully written stories.

To keep tabs on her award-winning novels, connect with Lyz by signing up for her newsletter at LyzKelley.com. Members receive an exclusive copy of Regrets, (the prequel to the Elkridge Series), learn about thoughtful giveaways, and get a sneak peek at upcoming releases. Members may even get the opportunity to receive advanced reader copies. Check out LyzKelley.com for more information.

Website: www.LyzKelley.com

Newsletter Sign Up: www.LyzKelley.com

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Why would I want to read the Elkridge Series?  Each book in the Elkridge series is a piece to a puzzle—a suspenseful mystery involving the murder of a small-town sheriff. You get six contemporary romance books to figure out the mystery and a bunch of happy ever after (HEA) endings. Two novels in this fiction series—Blinded and Orphaned—are award-winning romance books.

Where is Elkridge, Colorado?  Elkridge exists only in my mind. On any given day, I can stop at River Creek Café for Jenna's fresh baked cinnamon rolls, or shop for a birthday present at Mara's Blooms, or get my nails done at Kym’s nail salon. Sitting in the park eating lunch, I can watch the kids play and hear the latest gossip from neighbors. Later, if I want, I can stop at Mad Jack’s to hear a local band play and get some dinner. Elkridge is a great small town where the sun shines 360 days a year and people do their best to make ends meet.

Would you tell us about your writing process?  It takes me awhile to write each stand-alone story because I am passionate about creating the very best stories for my readers. These contemporary romance books have complex plots and sub-plots and include suspense romance threads, with deep emotional women’s fiction elements, humor and even a bit of quirkiness. I’m so excited to see the 5-star ratings because it means I’ve created the ideal mix to provide readers with a few hours of enjoyment.  

RESCUED: Frequently Asked Questions: (FAQ)

Many of your books have challenging topics. Why?

The easiest explanation is that I believe everyone can be honorable, brave and loved no matter the circumstances. Blindness, domestic violence, and abuse can create fear and insecurities, yet each situation can be overcome with a gentle, patient, and healing love. In my heart, love begins with respect and the willingness to listen to gain mutual understanding. Without those two components, a relationship filled with love is hard to build.

How did the Elkridge story line develop?

I don’t want to spoil the series ending, but the series story arc started with Colorado legalizing marijuana, then it went from there. Question after question started popping into my head. The first question was, “How will the illegal drug trade change?” I started researching news articles on drug trafficking to find answers. Then one day a story formed. I’m glad I had my research notes when I talked to an FBI agent to nail down technical aspects of the story. Otherwise, he might have been a little more curious about why I was asking such in-depth questions. There is a saying, “Don’t judge me by my search engine history, I’m a writer.” {grin}

You say you write about honorable men and brave women, but your characters are so flawed.

Everyone can be a hero just by offering a smile, holding a door for another, or opening a medicine bottle for a person with arthritis. Heroes aren’t only those individuals who accomplish grand gestures. We may feel a smile is insignificant, but to the person on the receiving end, we might just have made that person’s day. Being a hero isn’t always about rescuing a child, or stopping a bank robbery, it can also be about the little things in life that bring joy.

Would you ever do a spin off of the other characters introduced in the Elkridge series?

I love this question! What a great way to introduce the Lonely Ridge spin-off series. I chose to differentiate the Lonely Ridge series from the Elkridge set because this group of books will not have the mystery thread included in the Elkridge series. Each new book will be a stand-alone love story and will include the quirky characters from the town I’ve come to love. I’m hoping to have the first book in this new series out in time for Christmas.

GIVEAWAY

Head to Lyz's website to enter the giveaway - http://lyzkelley.com/elkridge-series.html

Other Books in The Series

Blinded - Buy Here

Spurned - Buy Here

Abandoned - Buy Here

Orphaned - Buy Here

Exposed - Buy Here

What I Need You To Know: 

I was given an ARC of Rescued, to read, and share my honest opinion with y'all. That is exactly what this is.... my honest opinion. Had I not liked this book, I would have told you. Gratefully, I loved it, and I genuinely think you will too!! 

What's in a name? #SecretSubjectSwap

Welcome to September's Secret Subject Swap. This week ten brave bloggers submitted a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.

My “Secret Subject” is:

Do you have a unique name? Were you named for someone? Who? Why? What does the name mean?

It was submitted by: Dawn of https://cognitivescript.blogspot.com//

Is my name unique? Julie? I don't think it is all that unique. It isn't extremely common either. I think it is a name everyone knows. Many people know or know of at least one Julie. I have met a handful of other women named Julie over the years. My middle name is Marie. It is definitely not unique or uncommon. My nickname is Jules. My mom started calling me Jules the moment I was born. Sometimes, I genuinely think she should have just named me Jules. I did not embrace Jules until I was into my teenage years. Prior to embracing it, I would correct people regularly, saying that my name was Julie. The nickname I tended to go by was J/Jay. Now, I am called Jules. So much so, that when called Julie, I tend to not even realize people are speaking to me. 

I wish I had some magnificent story about my name. I don't. I have one, that I do not feel comfortable telling y'all.... No offense. I have another, that I will say.... I need to preface this with the fact that I do not know if this is completely true... I was told that I was named after my dad's ex. I also know that my mom was the one who named me, as my father was not present at my birth. So, I am not entirely sure that my mom would name me after his ex. Though, maybe she did not know. I was also told that my dad chose my name. My mom wanted to name me Gertrude Irene or Irene Gertrude. My dad wanted me to be named Julietta Marie. So, here I am.

I place huge importance on names, and that is why there is absolute meaning in my childrens' names. Albeit, the least meaning in Gigi's name, but still meaning there. Plus, for what it lacks in meaning, she does have an interesting tale in how she was named. Like me, she was named by her father. I wanted with every fiber of my being for her to be named Marlee. I still feel the name Marlee suits her. However, I also feel she fits her name, so it is okay. However, Chad HATES the name Marlee. He could not get past the movie Marley and Me. Which is ironic, because Embee's real name is one of the most popular names of dogs, cats, and cows. So, when we could not agree on a name, we put 'first' on a piece of paper, and 'middle' on a piece of paper, and drew from a hat. I thought fate would let me name her, but nope. I got middle. So, she has two middle names, and her first name was chosen by her father. 

I think, now that I am older, I may talk to my mom again about my name. She what she says, and if I can get anymore details out of her. My name means youthful, soft-haired, vivacious, and beautiful. Sadly, I don't think any of those apply to me. I think having Gigi has helped in the youthful department, somewhat. I don't feel like I have an inner-child. Though, as the years pass, I feel more and more of my inner-child returning. If nothing else, I have grown fonder of kid movies. Which is a good thing, because we watch quite a few of them. 

What about you?! How did you get your name?! Any interesting meanings or stories behind it?! 

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts.  Sit back, grab a drink, and check them all out. See you there:

Baking In A Tornado

Cognitive Script

The Blogging 911

The Lieber Family Blog

Southern Belle Charm

Bookworm in the Kitchen

Never Ever Give Up Hope       

Part-time Working Hockey Mom

Climaxed