NEVER UNDERESTIMATE A READER...

Thanks to the wonderful Christine London for sharing this with me!

Never underestimate a reader...



One morning, the husband returns the boat to their lakeside cottage after several hours of fishing


and decides to take a nap.  Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out.


She motors out a short distance, anchors, puts her feet up, and begins to read her book..


The peace and solitude are magnificent.


Along comes a Fish and Game Warden in his boat.  He pulls up alongside the woman and says, 'Good morning, Ma'am. What are  you doing? ' 'Reading a book,' she replies, (thinking, 'Isn't that


obvious?')


'You're in a Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her.


'I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading.'


'Yes,  but I see you have all the equipment.  For all I know you could start at any moment.
I'll have to take you in and write you up.'


'If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault,' says the woman.


'But I haven't even touched you,' says the Game Warden.


'That's true, but you have all the equipment.  For all I know you could start at any moment.'


'Have a nice day ma'am,' and he left.


MORAL:


Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.

THE ROMANCE REVIEWS TOP PICK!!

I received a nice Mother's Day surprise yesterday!  

The Romance Reviews (TRR)  "Claimed"  A COWBOY WORTH CLAIMING as their Top Pick giving the story 5 Stars *****

Read the Review here:

What a wonderful story! I absolutely loved this book. The author swept me away from the beginning with her amazing writing style and complex characters. The plot line is filled with rich historic elements. I felt like I was transported back into historic Arizona, and I didn't want to leave!

Chance Worth is most definitely a hunky, gorgeous cowboy that I would love to claim for myself! He filled a spot in my heart immediately, and I didn't want to say goodbye to him at the end. Watching him with Lizzie, knowing she was an innocent young woman, trying not to fall for her, was awesome. I cheered for him the whole way through the book. Being orphaned though, he's got a lot of secrets bottled up, and well, with Lizzie, he just wants to let go and be honest.

Lizzie Mitchell. Hmmmm. Now that is a young woman with spitfire written all over her! From the first chapter, when Chance had to rescue her from near drowning, to her sending Chance away after she fell in love with him. Well, I just wanted to shake her and tell her to wake up or send him my way! Lizzie has a good heart and knows that saving the ranch is important to her now that her grandfather has taken severely ill, and she knows that she needs to rely on Chance, but she's just not ready to do it!

Can Chance show her what it's like to have a real cowboy in her life? Or will Lizzie be unable to claim her cowboy as her own?

I absolutely recommend this read! It's a wonderful love story set in another era, and filled with lovable characters. This is most definitely worthy of 5 stars and I am happy to say that it's a keeper! I can't wait to see what other books are in store for this new series, as I am not ready to say goodbye to the Worth's just yet! Well done, Ms. Sands!

 

WE HAVE A WINNER OF CHARLENE'S BRAND NEW-SLETTER CONTEST!!

Congrats to Terriavidreader!!  

 

You have won your choice of  a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card and a beautiful Brighton Heart Necklace!!  I know you'll enjoy these prizes!!

Thanks to everyone who entered.  I loved hearing your marriage proposal preferences!
Look for more Contests coming VERY Soon at www.charlenesands.com

Sincerely,
Charlene Sands

 

HOW TO POP THE QUESTION WITH STYLE! Making Marriage Proposals Fun and a Contest!

Marriage proposals have changed quite a bit since the day when a man simply dropped down to one knee and offered up a ring to his lady love.  Nowadays it seems grooms go to great lengths to ask for their love's hand in marriage. 

THE PRIVATE PROPOSAL


When my son asked his wife for her hand, while she was out of town, he fixed their favorite dinner, arranged flowers and petals everywhere. The house was illuminated in the soft romantic glow of a hundred small, large and heart-shaped candles placed strategically around the rooms.The mood was set.  When his unsuspecting girlfriend walked inside, she was astonished and fully surprised. It was fun and romantic and of course, he went down on one knee with a ring to propose. 


My daughter's husband, had taken her to a charming Bed and Breakfast along the shores of Santa Barbara Beach.  While she was luxuriating in a Spa Treatment, he arranged twinkle lights in the gorgeous foliage in the garden outside and set the scene for her surprise. He'd also created a crossword puzzle and a loving tribute to her on his computer screen and while they were sitting on a benchseat, amid the sparkling lights, he proposed to her.

Another way to surprise her is to have the staff at your hotel arrange words "Marry me" on your bed and hide the ring under the pillow.

Or pre-write the words "Marry Me" in the sand along your favorite private beach path.

Or sneak into her computer and change her screensaver to say "I love you. Marry me?"  along with a loving picture of the two of you.

WANT HER TO SAY YES?

Don't ask too soon in the relationship.

Speak of marriage in vague terms often to gauge her feelings on the subject.

Be sure she is the ONE.

THE KNOT

According to The Knot , a site exclusive to weddings and marriage,  here are a few fun suggestions for a successful public proposal:
1.Take out a full-page ad in a newspaper you know your girlfriend reads daily.

2. Arrange a surprise proposal with a street caricaturist. Have him sketch a picture of you two with word bubbles. Yours will read, "Will you Marry Me?", and hers will say, "Yes!"

3. Pay the divers at an aquarium to put on a proposal show inside their biggest fish tank. Give them handwritten signs that say "Will You Marry Me?" to hold up against the glass.

4. Send your girlfriend on a treasure hunt. Start with a clue at home, then send her on a tour of your favorite spots all over town. When she gets to the last hint, the prize should be you on one knee.

5. Go out for a night of dancing, and ask the DJ or band leader to pass you the mic so that you can dedicate a song and propose on the dance floor.

6. Have a friend or family member set up a picnic -- complete with wine and cheese, or course -- for you in a park. Take your girlfriend for a hike on a route where you'll stumble upon this surprise "Proposal Picnic."

7. Hire a skywriter to spell your proposal for everyone around to see.

8. Flying anytime soon? Use the plane's loud-speaker system (of course, run your plan by the flight attendants first) and propose at 35,000 feet.

9.Movie buffs? Ask your neighborhood theater to run an ad featuring your proposal and make sure you get there in time for the previews.

10. Gather a bunch of your friends and family for a party. Have everyone in attendance put on a T-shirt bearing one of the letters in the phrase "Will You Marry Me?" When you walk in the room with your girlfriend, suggest a group picture and let the shirts speak for themselves.

Amazon   BN  Eharlequin

In my NEW RELEASE -- A COWBOY WORTH CLAIMING, Chance Worth starts a traditon of marriage proposals that spans for generations.  Every Worth Man MUST propose to their loves, at Elizabeth Lake on the land where Chance first saved Lizzie's Mitchell's life.  Throughout the stories set in Red Ridge and Worth Ranch, you'll see the inventive ways my heroes get the heroines to the lake to offer their love and have the women say "YES".  

Be sure to enter my BRAND NEW-SLETTER CONTEST by signing up for my newsletter on the WIN STUFF  page. For 3 extra entries each post a comment here OR Tweet OR Facebook the Contest and be sure to let me know you did.  You could win a romantic heart-shaped Brighton locket AND a $50 Amazon Gift Card!  Secondary prizes awarded too!!   **Note if you already subscribe to my newsletter you are automatically entered, but take advantage of the Bonus Entries!

What's the most fun, inventive or romantic proposal you've had or have heard about? Which one of the above would you have liked for yourself?  

Leap Day Love

We have an extra day this year! Leap Day comes once in every four years on our calendar.   It was once believed that during  Leap Year and especially on Leap Day, women, who have tired of waiting for a proposal, are allowed to ask for a man's hand in marriage.  This dates back to B.C, but these postcards were designed in 1908 and depict some humor on the subject.

Be careful, Clara. He's a fine specimen!

The Maiden's Vow  1098

Charlie shall propose tonight

I swear it by on twinkling star,

For ages past might's been right

And all is fair in love and war

My father was born just after midnight on March 1st, missing being a Leap Day baby by just a short time.   Do you know anyone who was born on Leap Day, February 29th?



The Truth About Cowboys

I'm talking about Cowboys today at the Brand New Desire Blog.  If you stop by, I'll be giving away an advance copy of A Cowboy Worth Claiming to one commentor today.

Hope to see you there!! 

MY FAVORITE ROMANTIC MOVIE by Charlene Sands

It's Valentine's Day and Love is in the Air!

Whether it's love of a sweetheart, a child, friend or family member, today is the day that we celebrate LOVE.

So I got to thinking about the one romantic movie that does it for me every time.  The one movie, I never tire of watching. The one movie that fills my emotional well in one way and drains me, in another. For me, this movie is one of best stories of true love, that I've ever seen. 

I remember going to the movie theatre, not knowing what to expect exactly, and then being completely blown away. I hadn't read the book, so the story and the way it was told, really reached deep inside me and pulled at my heartstrings. Because of this movie, and my public display of crying,  (I wasn't warned to bring tissues) I have now shied away from all movies that I KNOW will bring on the waterworks.  Mostly, those are animal movies, but also stories of heartbreaking love.

But The Notebook was uplifting in it's love story.  No matter how many times I see this movie, I still cry during the sweet and poignant moments.  It's a movie I have to watch over and over again.

It reminds me of the tremendous power of love.

 
And what better day than today, to speak about true, everlasting love?  

Happy Valentine's Day to you. 

What's your all-time favorite love story?