Sunday, February 9, 2014

I HAVE MELISSA KEIR IN THE CRIB TODAY!!!



Sometimes You Just Love Your Job
By Lauren Walsh


Becoming a teacher was a choice or in my case a compulsion. I love apples on sweaters, aprons, pointers, on notepads…etc. Having summers off and snow days are other reasons. I’m at work by 8 and out the door by 4. The huge salary and pension are the icing on the cake! And then there’s all the hugs and high-fives I get after teaching a lesson on borrowing for subtraction. Really? If you believe that, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn for sale…cheap!


Teaching is a 24/7-365 day a year job. I wake up thinking about my students. I worry about them as if they were my own children. I’ve been known to bring in food and clothes for children who don’t have enough. Or drop my own plans to sit down with a parent to discuss their child’s progress. The hugs and love are important, but I usually give just as many as I get. Who doesn’t like one when they are sad about missing a family member or worried about a test.


Seeing a child’s eyes light up as they “get it” makes my day. And rather than apple items, I love those homemade notes.


Above all, it’s the challenge of each new day. No two are the same just as no two children are identical. I teach the content in a way to match my students’ diverse interests and learning styles. And I do that all while bandaging boo-boo’s, facilitating friendships and coaching children to think for themselves. 

What did you do today?


Recipe:
Frozen Daiquiri
½ teaspoon of sugar ½ ounce of lemon or lime juice
Dash of maraschino liquor 1 ¼ ounce of white rum
•Mix with fine cracked ice on an electric mixer or shake well by hand. Pour unstrained into champagne saucer and top with a cherry.
*You can add fresh or frozen fruit to your mix and blend in a blender for more flavor. If you decide not to use alchol, add a little package of frozen fruit and a little water to liquify it.*

In Chalkboard Romance, Lauren Walsh meets Mac Taylor for an arranged date. On the date, she orders a fruity daiquiri. These drinks allow her to relax and flirt with Mac. It also lowers her inhibitions giving her the passionate night she was looking for. I’ve included a homemade recipe for Frozen Daiquiri from my mom’s old recipe book. It’s the perfect drink to enjoy on a hot summer day!

Blurb:

Lauren Walsh, a divorcee and elementary teacher, wanted to feel sexy again, after her ex tossed her aside for a younger woman. Her teaching partner and best friend encouraged her to sign up for The Playhouse--a renowned dating agency.

Mac Thomas remained trapped in a marriage to a money grubbing socialite. Forced to stay away from his young son, Mac lost the ability to trust. After the death of his wife, he returned to care for his son but his sister wants more for him. She sets him up with The Playhouse.

Passion ignites but Mac’s a parent of one of Lauren’s students. A teacher and a parent dating could cost Lauren her job and her chance at happiness. Will Mac be able to convince the school and Lauren, that love is the most important thing?

Excerpt:

Mac sat at the beautiful mahogany bar nursing his first beer. I’m more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a rocking chair factory. The last place he belonged was somewhere as opulent as this. He ran his fingers up and down the condensation on the beer glass. Even though he grew up in a family with a great deal of money, his parents taught him the benefit of working hard and doing what you love. At eighty, his dad still worked in the stables every morning, grooming his horse or was out in the pasture feeding the cattle.

Claire never understood his family. Money wasn’t important to them unless the cash could be used to befit someone else. Mac shook his head. Sure, he used his family’s money to get inside some of those war-torn countries but only so he could show the world the truth.

He’d worked hard to be impartial but his soft heart swayed him. Seeing any amount of suffering hurt, making him known as a compassionate emissary in those challenging countries.

With Claire gone, his life had changed once again. He took a job as a reporter at the local station affiliate, reporting on the important events happening in his community so he could be at home with Todd. Realizing how much poverty and conflict existed in his own hometown left him cold. They say charity begins at home. Well, he was determined to find a way to help, while setting a good example for his son.

He took a look at the clock on the wall. Where was she? Maybe she took one look at him and ran for the hills.

Mac turned on his bar stool in time to see a gorgeous brunette walk into the bar. Her steps seemed to match the beat of his pulse. Shifting in his chair, he adjusted his now tight, uncomfortable pants. Maybe it’s a good thing he was meeting a woman tonight, if she shows.

He twisted his stool around farther to get a better look at the hottie.
If only she was his date. The woman’s blue dress hugged her curvy body and he couldn’t take his gaze off those legs that seemed to go on forever.

Oh no!

One minute she remained all grace, next her poise went down the drain as her shoe broke. Mac lurched to his feet and ran over to help the stunning woman.

“Are you hurt?” He reached his hand out to help but instead of the tears he expected, Mac heard laughter coming from under the waterfall of hair which hid her face. He ached to touch the burnished bronze length. She reminds me of Dad’s favorite colt, a little skittish but feisty. I like spirited women.

Not wanting to see her sitting there on the floor, Mac scooped her up in his arms.Whoa. She was like a foal, all legs, and she fit perfectly in his arms. He could hold her all day.

“Sir, is the woman okay?” The bartender stood in front of Mac. He couldn’t tell if the guy wanted to grab her out of his arms for himself or to protect his hotel from a lawsuit.

Mac couldn’t help but growl like a dog defending his territory. “I haven’t checked yet. She appears fine. Why don’t you get her a glass of water?” Anything to get rid of him. He wanted to keep her in his arms.

Mac pulled her close to his chest. At the thought of letting her go, his heartbeat sped up. Maybe I can convince her to have a drink with me. He reluctantly set her down in a chair at one of the bar tables.

“Are you okay?” Mac brushed the hair back from her face.
The strands felt like silk between his fingers. Images of brushing this woman’s hair while they lay naked on the bed danced through his mind. Reluctantly, Mac pulled his hand from her and took a deep breath. He didn’t understand what had come over him. He didn’t have this strong of a reaction when he met Claire.

Like uncovering a present on Christmas morning, he could hardly wait to see her face. He watched as the woman lifted her head to meet his gaze. Mesmerized by the light dusting of freckles across the woman’s nose, his breath stopped. Her beautiful green eyes sparkled with merriment. Her tantalizing laughter danced across his skin making his slacks already tight very uncomfortable.

Buy Links: 
Amazon, B&N, and ARE

About the author:

As a writer, Melissa likes to keep current on topics of interest in the world of writing.  She’s a member of the Romance Writers of America and EPIC.  Melissa is always interested in improving her writing through classes and seminars.  She also believes in helping other authors and features authors and their books on her blog.
Melissa doesn’t believe in down time.  She’s always keeping busy.  Melissa is a wife and mother, an elementary school teacher, a book reviewer, an editor for a publishing company as well as an author. Her home blends two families and is a lot like the Brady Bunch, without Alice--a large grocery bill, tons of dirty dishes and a mound of laundry. She loves to write stories that feature “happy endings” and is often found plotting her next story.
Melissa loves hearing from readers!

Thanks for stopping by today Melissa! Come back anytime,

Cynthia Arsuaga

10 comments:

  1. Thank you for having me on your blog. I hope people see how much Lauren loves what she does and how hard it is to walk away from that even for love.

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  2. What a fun post. It sure takes me back, Melissa. Some of my former students have kids of their own now..a few the same age their parents were when I taught them. I loved it and would do it all over again. Chalkboard Romance sounds lie a charming love story. Best luck!

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    1. Thank you for stopping by Rose. This year I have a child of one of my former students in my class. It's feeling like I'm really old now!

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  3. Melissa, I bet you're a wonderful teacher. It was nice to learn about you. The excerpt was great.

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    1. Thanks Sandy. I like to think so. I have fabulous relationships with my students. Most of them still contact me. :)

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  4. Great post Melissa, and the book sounds really interesting.
    Thanks for the frozen daiquiri recipe. I'm going to try it out.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by. I love to add whipped cream to my daiquiris. You could even try different flavors. Raspberry and Strawberry are my favorites.

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  5. Melissa, what a beautiful testimony to teaching. I have so much respect for teachers. I become angry if I hear someone dissing them or saying they make too much money. What bubble are those people living in? I really admire what you do. I have Chalkboard Romance in my Kindle and can't wait to read it.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Cara. I did the math today and found out that I earn $1.27 dollars per hour if each parent paid me by the hour for the time I spend with their children. That didn't even count the extra time I spend at home working on things. Teaching is not valued in the US, which is unfortunate. It's a talent not unlike being a sports star and I take it very seriously.

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  6. I loved teaching...and had more stamina and patience when I was younger! Every single day was different. The kids always find some way to surprise you. The rewards are knowing how you impact young lives and help kids be ready for the future.
    Good luck with your writing career!

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