Category Archives: Uncategorized

What started it all?

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When people find out that I am an author, I am always intrigued by the various reactions that I receive.  The look I receive most often is that of bewilderment quickly followed by the words, “No, you don’t.”  Then I have to prove it to them by pulling a book up on one of the  merchant’s sites.  Keep in mind, I teach high school kids, which are never very trusting in the first place.  Then they start firing the questions and I answer as best I can.

One question I don’t think they have ever asked is, “what started this?”  But I found myself coming across something old and familiar as I was searching for my “Throw Back LittleWomen3
Thursday” book cover.  Little Women is what started it all for me.  I think that one scene simply called “Under the Umbrella” is the most romantic scene of any love story I have read to date.  This is the part that makes my heart melt every time:

“‘Ah! Thou gifest me such hope and courage, and I had nothing to gif back but a full heart and these empty hands,’ cried the professor, quite overcome.

Jo never, never would learn to be proper; for when he said that as they stood upon the steps, she just put both hands into his, whispering tenderly, ‘Not empty now,’ and, stooping down, kissed her Friedrich under the umbrella.”

*sigh*  How could that not make you melt?  How could you not fall in love with Friedrich Bhaer right then and there?  How could you not wish to be Jo March in that very moment?  *sigh*

Thank you, Mrs. Bryan (6th grade Reading Teacher) for introducing me to this beautiful story, staying my friend through the years, and encouraging me in my own endeavors.  So, there you have it, not just the book, but the exact text within the book that started my love affair with romance and happily-ever-afters.

LittleWomen7If you have not read Little Women, I encourage you to do so.  It is a lovely book about four sisters finding their way in the world, and even though it takes place during the Civil War, it is amazing how so many things they go through is still applicable today.

If you are reading this, I would like to know, what started your love affair with romance books and happily-ever-afters?

Happy reading!

Tammy Jo

excerpt taken from:

Alcott, Louisa May.  Little Women. Illustrated by Michael Adams. New York: A Golden Book, 1987.

The Reluctant Lords Trilogy

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It is official, To Love and Protect, Book 3 of The Reluctant Lords Series is out!  I am so very excited!  While this wraps up this series, you will not see the last of the characters I (and I hope you) have grown to love.

Never fear, I am hard at work on the next story and hope you will be as intrigued by the twist of this book as I am.  In the meantime, here is a link to purchase my newest books.  Just click on the cover.

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Until next time, Happy Reading!

Tammy Jo

Inspiration

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I absolutely love looking at other people’s pictures.  They give me inspiration, make me sigh in happiness, and believe in happy endings.  There is a photographer that I follow (teach with her wonderful mother) and the photo shoots that she produces are absolutely ah-maze-ing!  (Yes, use your Texas drawl to make that word go on forever. *Insert winky face here* )  Jillian Zamora has an amazing talent for capturing people, but this latest blog is just, well, WOW!

dallas-trolley-engagements-_48This  picture is my fave, but it was definitely a close contest between about five of them!  Can you believe looking at these pictures that they were not taken in Chicago or San Francisco?  They were taken in the heart of Texas y’all – Dallas to be more specific.  I just can’t get over how amazing she is with a camera.  Keep in mind while you gorge yourself on these beautiful pictures that they only had 8 minutes to shoot the pictures in the trolley.  If my math serves me correctly, that is 480 seconds!  So, not only is she talented, but she also had two wonderful subjects to shoot!

Be sure and stop by Jillian’s blog and check out some of her other sessions as well as the rest of this engagement photo shoot.  And like her Facebook page as well.

My mind is spinning with ideas that these pictures conjure.  And you know what these ideas will turn into don’t you?  Yep, you have it right, wonderfully romantic stories!

Happy reading!

~Tammy Jo

*photo property of Jillian Zamora Photography

Technology

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Do you ever have one of those days?  It just doesn’t seem like anything is going right?  That was my day, especially in the technology realm.  I love technology.  I love everything about it: the ease of access, the content, the way there is always something new out there.  But today just wasn’t my day.  But one call to Apple (Nathan helped me) and my life was easily back in order.  He did not make me feel like an idiot or berate me for trying to fix it myself first.  He just simply asked a few questions and said, “This should be an easy fix.” And it was.apple-logo1

Thank you Nathan for fixing my computer.  Thank you Apple for having such lovely customer service.  And thank you sis for steering me towards the dark side!

~Tammy Jo

Happy Holidays!

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I love the Christmas season, but I think I have mentioned this in an earlier post.  Today is officially Christmas (albeit early).  Later today me and the fam will have Mexican food and open presents while watching a little Grinch.  Between now and a week from now, I will attempt to do some reflecting as to what goals I want to set for the coming year.  But in the meantime, I am going to enjoy my accomplishments – 2 published novels!  I am so excited by this little bit of news.  I never would have imagined.  And for me, that is the best Christmas present ever!

Warm wishes & happy reading!

~Tammy Jo

christmas camel

Cabin Fever

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For those of you that are not aware, those of us here in the North Texas region are on a Mother Nature Lockdown.  Most of us have been locked in our houses since Thursday evening because of a vicious cold front and ice storm that trekked its way through here.  The temperature today never reached above the low 20s.  However, this cold weather has indicated several things.

  • The end of football season is approaching.  High school playoff games were postponed, college conference championships were played, and NFL wildcard hunts begin.
  • The yuletide season is upon us.  So, what did I do?  I watched ABC Family Christmas movies on my Charter on Demand and then finished out the night by popping in White Christmas into the VCR.  Yes, VCR – kicking it old-school.
  • Also, for the girl who usually only drinks cold drinks, it was a coffee all day type of day for me.  (And that never happens.)

I worked hard on editing book #3, To Love and Protect, but had to fight hard against the cabin fever that had me clicking on FaceBook, Twitter, Pinterest, e-mail, and anything else that could successfully distract me.  And halfway through the day I found myself thinking, “I would kill for a Dr. Pepper right about now.”

It looks as if we are going to have one more day that we are locked inside our igloos (most churches in the area, including mine, has cancelled services on Sunday) for another day.  So, here is hoping you and yours stay warm and toasty and find a way to beat your cabin fever for one more day!

Happy reading!

Tammy Jo

Will the real Ichabod Crane please stand up?

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I love the new season of television shows.  After a summer of reruns and channel surfing because nothing is on, the long-awaited new shows are about to start.  I must admit to having my favorites.  Returning is “Once Upon a Time,” “Revolution,” and “Grimm.”  Don’t forget the nerds of “The Big Bang Theory” and who else out there is glad we are finally getting to meet the mother on “How I Met Your Mother.”  Then there is a promising new show that is a spin-off – “Once Upon a Time in Wonderland” about Alice and the White Rabbit (who doesn’t see a crossover episode in the future???).

But what I really want to talk about is one that I am totally hooked on after only one episode – “Sleepy Hollow.”  Wow!  Fox has found a winner with this show for sure!  First of all, the story is just captivating (yes, one of those that I wish I had written – darn it!).  But really, let’s talk about the most important thing – casting.  Ichabod Crane, thanks to Disney, has never been one to make a girl “weak in the knees”.  Then along came Johnny Depp and blew the theory of Ichabod out of the water (sort of).  I mean, yes, he ended up being a hero, but there was still that cute little scared Ichabod of Disney fame lurking in the shadows.  But now we have Mr. Tom Mison, and my oh my, he has definitely broken the mold of Mr. Ichabod Crane.  Tell me, readers, which one would you rather be fighting a headless horseman with?

ichabod  johnny depp       sleepy_hollow_fox_04

I know Johnny Depp has his fans, but Mr. Mison has my vote!!!!

Happy Reading!

Tammy Jo