When one door closes another opens.

A few weeks ago I had to put my dog to sleep.  I got Lucy when she was a puppy and had her for 9 years before she got sick.  She was perfectly fine one day and the next she was deteriorating before my eyes.  The vet said she had diabetes and something wrong with her pancreas.  Even if I could have afforded to treat the diabetes, there was nothing we could do about her pancreas.  The vet said there was not a cure and a "treatment" would be overnight (3 days at a time) stays where they would basically starve her and give her an IV to make sure she didn't get dehydrated.  The reason for not feeding her would be to give her pancreas a rest, only for her to eat later and get sick (she was vomiting everything, even water at this point). It broke my heart but I knew it had to be done so the next day Lucy went to the vet to get put down.

This is my baby right before we loaded her
 into the car to take to the vet. You can see how sick and
 rundown she looks.  She did not look anywhere near
like that a few days before.

Every day after that when I would walk into my house there was an empty hole, like a blank space in a canvas.  My heart echoed the emptiness of my house.  It came to the point that I dreaded walking into my house, to not be greeted at the door, to see her dog hair stuck to everything (labs shed like crazy!).

I knew I wasn't ready for another dog.  It was too soon but I couldn't handle the emptiness any longer.  I needed someone to fill the silence and my empty heart.  I went to my local animal shelter three days ago and adopted this little ball of fur..

I named the kitten Phoenix (Nix for short) after one of my favorite book characters from Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series.  Nix is two months old and about two pounds.  He is calm and extremely affectionate to the point where you have to tell him, "leave me alone for two minutes while I try to eat!"  I love the little guy and know I made the right decision to adopt him.  

The pain from losing Lucy is still there and to some degree will always lurk in my heart.  However, out of the dark can come some light and I'm sure Nix would agree.  Without Lucy's passing, he might not have been adopted or have stayed in the shelter for an indefinite amount of time.  So, if your in pain from losing a pet of any species/breed, my heart goes out to you.  I'm not saying to go out and adopt/buy a pet, etc. but when one door closes, another one opens.  However it happens for you, it will happen.

Poetry Corner

Hi everyone!  Thanks for all the great feedback via message, my friend really appreciated the positive comments.  She actually wrote another one she wanted to share.  This one is about a break up she went through.  She also wanted me to share this quote with you that she said "fit the situation perfectly."

"Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is wonderful stroke of luck."  -Dalai Lama

Free Woman

I didn't know what to do without you until I realized I was a free creature.

Free to open my wings,

Free to explore,

Free to express myself in ways I never thought to,

Free to have fun.

I didn't know if I could live without you,

Now I wonder if I lived at all with you.

Suffocated by what I thought I needed,

Hidden away by choices that were made, some mine and some by him.

After good-byes were spoke, I realized I was free.

A free creature,

A free woman,

Free of emotional anxiety,

Free of tears not my own,

Free of wants made for me.

Free to be myself,

A free woman.

Thanks guys and dolls!  Until next time, please feel free to comment (positive only please) or the contact page if you so wish to submit any of your own work you would like to share.  

Poetry Corner

Hi everyone!  I cannot believe it has been over a year since I have posted anything.  I have been so insanely busy with my life... college, stalker-exs (don't ask), new baby in the house (not mine!), and a new job too.  This summer has been filled with a second job and a huge renovation project.  It has been crazy!!

Since it has been so long since I have last posted, I thought I could shake things up from the (old) norm of what I used to post (reviews) and start something new.... Poetry Corner!  If anyone would like to submit a poem, short story, etc. (make sure it is your own!!!) then please feel free to do so in the contact section of the blog, not in the comments below.  Just send a message with your work and I will have it published on the blog.

Okay, so getting down to it, here is the first poem in K&K's Poetry Corner.  This was written by a very close friend of mine.

Point A, Point B

It doesn't matter how,

It doesn't matter why,

It doesn't matter where,

It's that you get there.

Some go left,

Some go right,

East, West, North, South

Different paths but going in the same direction.

We all start somewhere,

And off we go.

Some take detours,

Some take a path less traveled.

Our destination is our goal,

Our experiences part of the journey,

Our scars come from the bumps in the road.

Some travels take longer than others,

With scenic routes taken too long.

But, it doesn't matter.

It only matters that you get from Point A to Point B. 

Thank you to everyone who stuck through the long intro to read the first poem in Poetry Corner and I hope to see many of your own submissions soon!  If you wish to submit but remain anonymous, remember that that is always an option.

Kresley Cole

If you didn't already know, Kresley Cole has her newest Immortals After Dark series book out.  Lothaire.

I bought the hardcover for $25, but I just saw on Amazon that you can get the paperback for $7.99 and the Kindle edition for $11.99

It was an amazing book!!

Young Adult Novel Discovery Competition

Young Adult Novel Discovery Competition


Get in Front of Top YA Editors and Agents with

ONLY the First 250 Words of Your YA Novel!
No query? No pitch? No problem!

Serendipity Literary Agency, in collaboration with Gotham Writers' Workshop, is hosting its Third Annual Young Adult Novel Discovery Competition for a chance to win a one-on-one consultation with one of New York's leading YA literary agents!


If you've written a novel for young adults or have an idea for one that you would like to write, we invite you to enter our contest. Simply submit only an enticing title along with the first 250 words from the opening of your original YA novel. http://bit.ly/YAContest



GREAT PRIZES

The Grand Prize Winner will have the opportunity to submit an entire manuscript to YA literary agent Regina Brooks and receive a free, 10-week writing course, courtesy of Gotham Writers' Workshop, plus a collection of gourmet teas from Possibiliteas.co.

The Top Five Entrants (including the Grand Prize winner) will receive a 15-minute, one-on-one pitch session with Regina Brooks, one of New York's premier literary agents for young adult books. They will also receive commentary on their submissions by editors at Scholastic, Disney, Harlequin Teen, Random House, Viking, Roaring Brook Press, Sourcebooks, and Kimani Tru and receive a one-year subscription to The Writer magazine.

The First 50 Entrants will receive a copy of Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina Brooks.
Enter to win at http://bit.ly/YAContest Hurry contest ends November 30, 2011





www.serendipitylit.com
Facebook.com/serendipitylit
@serendipitylit

 
 
**I was not paid to post this.**

Review: Tall, Dark and Cowboy by Joanne Kennedy

She's trading in her luxe lifestyle and heading for Wyoming...

In the wake of a nasty divorce and with her ex's vicious cronies hot on her heels, Lacey Bradford heads for Wyoming in search of an old friend.  But her high school pal Chase Caldwell has changed, hardened by bitterness and loss.  He's considerably less than thrilled to see the girl that broke his heart - especially when Lacey turns up on his door step asking for help.

As the two grapple with the ruins of their former friendship, a brand new, surprising attraction ignites.  Lacey is boldly beginning to create a new life for herself.  And, Chase has to admit, he's rather be part of that life than be left out in the cold alone... description taken from back cover.

I love these types of plots!  Guy likes girl.  Girl never knows.  Girl falls for guy down the road.  I especially like them when the guy is rough around the edges, like Chase is with his hardened heart.

I liked Lacey's character (as well as Chase's). They were well written and I enjoyed reading them and about their romance.  And, of course, I liked the drama!  Lacey had been a trophy wife and had never been able to go after the goals she had made when younger.  Chase's family had gotten cheated out of their farm by Lacey's husband (now ex-husband).  Lacey's ex's vicious minions are after her as well.  All of this made for good drama.

The romance was very cute, but I don't want to give too much away, so I'm just going to say that I very much enjoyed it.  The book was great, and it will be a good re-read that will be waiting on the shelf for me.













**I was sent a copy of the book in order to write a real and honest review. I was not paid to write this review. All opinions are my own.**

Review: The Highlander's Heart by Amander Forester

Lady Isabelle escapes her murderous English husband only to be abducted by a Highland warrior and held for ransom. Her determination to break free from captivity is exceeded only by the passion growing between her and the Highland Laird. David Campbell plans to hold Isabelle for ransom as an easy way to line his pockets and return her back where she belongs, but he is unprepared for a feisty English lass with a penchant for finding trouble. Caught between rival clans bent on claiming the throne of Scotland, Campbell must choose a side, and a bride. Standing on the brink of war, Isabelle may be his only hope to save his clan, and his heart. description taken from here.




This is the 2nd book in Amanda Forester's Highlanders series.  The first is called The Highlander's Sword, and the 3rd book in the series called True Highland Spirit will be coming out in March of 2012.



Lady Isabelle was wed to a mean older man, and now she is trying to get an annulment.  She starts her journey here, running from her husband, only to find out that she can't hide out at her uncle's because he is now dead, and then be captured by a highland brute.  Of course, we all know that heroins (as well as us, the readers) always fall for the brute, especially if they have a Scottish accent. 

I thought the book was great.  My attention was held the entire time, and I had some trouble putting the book down (which is not good for my sleeping habits!).  The mix between romance and drama/action was awesome and I think it is pretty safe to safe that I loved this book.  It doesn't hurt that the cover is pretty too though, does it?    ; )













**I was sent a copy of the book in order to write a real and honest review. I was not paid to write this review. All opinions are my own.**