Even when you lose, you win--as long as you keep playing

That's the kind of parties we have here in Anna-land.

So, on this day when the news if filled with so much to be scared of (I can't talk about it it's upset me so much, so, please, let's just focus on the party and remember that every day is a gift to be lived to its fullest), we're going to hide out online and talk about what we love most about romance. Hope you made it by Romance By The Blog yesterday--it was a great day, and as Jennifer Crusie said about lovers of "those books"... yay us!!!

For me, the escape of a good romance novel is one of the true blessings in this world. No matter the trials and difficulties our favorite heros and heroine's face, things will always end well. Of course, for this author that's a challenge to see just how much I can put them through before they get their happily ever after. But the safe landing, the promise that all can be overcome (even my dreamed up drama), is always there. Hope is always there. All will be well, no matter what. What an amazing world to be able to build and share. I'm honored every time I reach "the end" and every time a readers share their joy as they join in the journey. Through all the ups and downs and the losses, these stories will be there for us as a reminder of what can be, no matter what.

So, what's your favorite thing about romance novels? What keeps you coming back?

We have winners from yesterday, but even those who don't get a prize have another goody to enjoy--another excerpt (this time from my upcoming October Because of a Boy). Plus another chance to win. It's all below. It's all good. Thats what I keep telling myself, as I avoid the TV today. There's still good in the world, you just sometimes have to work extra hard to see it.

Yesterday's winners:

The Coach Keychain goes to... Sue a., who posted at 6:25 pm

The XOXO purse and wallet set goes to... Rin, who posted anon at 1:04 pm

And my website addressbook prize ($5 Borders gift certificate) goes to... Staci Maniaci (who I will contact via email, if she's not joining us for the party this week.

Today's prizes (for your chance to win, leave a comment, even if you have to do it anonymously and just leave your name within the comment...I'll figure it out ;o) --

How about the blue Coach scribble wristlette:











And look at this great XOXO shoulder bag...just found it in my prize closet. Totally forgot I'd picked it up. Is it perfect for Spring or what?

And, of course, I'll be giving away another $5 Borders Gift Certificate to a randomly drawn fan in my address book.

As for Lissa and Martin, I left them hanging both yesterday and at the end of The Perfect Daughter. Let's fast-forward to the first scene they have together in Because of A Boy (out in October, so you'll have to wait for their AMAZING shower scene ;o). They're still secondary characters in this story, but their romance is an amazing thing to watch. Martin's moved to Atlanta, his estranged sister (the heroine of BOAB) is insisting on being a part of his life again. He's resigned to that now, but what he doesn't expect is for Lissa to follow him to town, too, to do some insisting of her own...

Enjoy today's excerpt!!!
************
"There's a woman out front asking for you," David Weller stepped into the Academy's bathroom long enough to relay the message, then ducked back out.

Martin finished washing his hands.

He was actually looking forward to seeing his sister tomorrow night. But he'd counted on having another day to process their unexpected reunion.

He straightened to his full height, grabbed his crutch and pushed into the hallway. Walked as normally as possible, his head high, his right leg dead weight but moving with him. His hip was still screaming from last night's slip and slide, but he'd be damned if he'd let Katie see it.

His sister and their mother's pasta he was welcoming back into his life. There was no place for her pity.

Only, it was tiny fireball of a blonde waiting in the academy's reception area.

The woman he'd let himself believe he could ove was picking at the wilting ends of the fern no one at the academy seemed to care about--so Martin had been sneaking it water between classes, or late at night, after everyone else had left and he couldn't stand to go home.

Lissa loved plants.

She'd bought him several for his hospital and rehab rooms. He'd found a way to keep them alive, somehow, those first few months after the shooting. He'd left most everything but his parent's antiques behind when he moved away, except each plant had found it's way into the moving van. One for every room of his tiny apartment, and then some.

Now he couldn't pass a fern without thinking about her. Stopping to touch it, to check if it was getting enough water.

His crutch creaked as he stepped forward. Lissa looked up, the beauty of her smile fading when he didn't return it.

"It's good to see you." She fiddled with a pinched-off piece of fern.

"Why are you doing this?" He glanced to where Weller was manning the reception desk, then motioned Lissa toward the couch no one ever used.

She sat. He walked to a nearby table and settled on its edge, his uncooperative leg stretched before him, the crutch draped across his lap. He usually kept the damn thing as far out of site as possible. But it was important that neither of them forgot it was there, or what it represented.

"I told you I'd come," Lissa explained.

"Your life is back in Oakwood." He could smell the citrus of her shampoo. The subtle fragrance that always lingered on his clothes after he held her. "Being here is a waste of both our time."
Lissa set the piece of fern aside.

"For someone who gave me the full court press for as long as you did, you're awfully sure we can't weather our first problem."

"Problem?" The hurt in her voice tempt him to reach for her. He locked his hands together in his lap. "I have to retrofit my apartment to keep from killing myself doing things I shouldn't have to think about doing. I'm fighting to get my mobility back, Lissa, but it may never happen."

"Fighting? Is that what you call ranting at your physical therapist, pushing so hard you're messing with the progress you've already made?" Her chin rose. "Sounds like a temper tantrum to me."

"We may not be able to make love. Ever." He didn't bother looking around to see if Weller was listening. "We might never have a normal relationship."

The reality of knowing he couldn't get hard, not even with the most beautiful woman in the world sitting within arm's length... He could accept all the rest, but never loving Lissa again...

"Martin--" Shock stole the rest of her sentence.

"Is that what you came up here to get a piece of?" he demanded. "You want to take a cripple back home with you, because it's easier than dealing with a real man after your divorce."

"I'm sorry to interrupt," a voice intruded from the building's entrance.

Both Martin and Lissa jumped. Lissa pushed to her feet, losing her balance briefly before righting herself.

Fury rolled through Martin. Not at the interruption, but at what he'd just said.

Damn it!

Lissa's ex had screwed her over for his secretary, but she'd rallied and rebuilt her life. She was the strongest, bravest woman Martin had ever met, and he'd just called her a user and a coward.

"I was leaving, anyway," she whispered, her head down. But at the door, she turned back. "Be as much of a bastard as you like, Martin Rhodes. Hurt yourself. Hurt me while you're at it. But the only way you're going to get rid of me is by listening to the physical therapist, then we'll see if we can handle where that leaves us. Until then, I'm going to be an in-your-face reminder of everything you're throwing away."

Martin rose slowly to his feet, but not to try to stop her from leaving. His crutch crashed to the floor, his focus riveted on the way his body had tightened in response to the vision Lissa made in a full-on fury.

Her cheeks flushed, her temper flashing. Blond hair curled maddeningly around her heart-shaped face. She'd looked just as disheveled the one time they'd come close to making love. And his body was reacting now, exactly the same way it had then.

He was hard as rock. Straining against the fly of his pants, friction and shock causing him to grit his teeth against the urge to adjust himself in the middle of the reception area.

Good Lord!

When he said nothing, Lissa's shoulders slumped.

"See you around, tough guy." With a glance at Creighton, she turned on the heels of her sexy black boots and walked out.

Martin stepped to follow, stumbling over his crutch, cursing when he had to sit to pick up the infernal thing.