Love and Luck; Luck and Love

 

I was born and raised in the United States. But I have a long line of relatives born and raised in Ireland. So this time of year is my favorite. St. Patrick’s Day is one of my favorite holidays! I love to celebrate it and not by drinking. I love the food, the crafts, learning more about Ireland and my heritage in itself.

What does luck have to do with love? If you ask an Irishman he will tell you everything! If it weren’t for luck there would be nothing!

In my upcoming release, Claimed, luck had everything to do with Lysandra and Michael’s love. It was by luck Lysandra was at a club with her friends, the same club Michael was visiting, on the same night at the same time. Now that’s luck.

Want even more luck for the story. Lysandra’s friends told her she needed to get out and date more, she was too focused on work. They dared her to find a hot guy and ask for his number. She took them up on her dare and after searching the club she found Michael and there story started from there.

Was it luck that won me a publishing contract with MuseItUp Publishing? I have to say, yes a little, luck played in that I joined Marketing For Romance Writers just in time for a huge pitch event and Lea at Muse grabbed my baby up to publish!

So because of that and the fact I believe in the phrase ‘Luck of the Irish’ I am revealing my cover here, today for this blog hop, of my upcoming release, Claimed, with MuseItUp Publishing. Be sure to check back for an official release date soon!

 

 

 

To hold you over check out my release from Secret Cravings Publishing, Night Promises, the first in my Night Pleasures series.

 

Kelly O’Keefe first met a vampire when she was twelve. Now the pair are best friends and have opened Night Pleasures, an underground club that caters to vampires and their needs. When Kelly’s sister is murdered, she finds herself working with Connor, a vampire she's been in love with for months. Unable to trust men, let alone a vampire, can she let him help her solve her sister’s murder?

Connor has been watching after Kelly for seven months with the help of his sire and best friend Micah. Connor has kept himself at a distance even though he knows they are life mates. He's afraid of losing control and turning Kelly against her will. When he learns Kelly plans on investigating her sister’s death, he steps in and allows himself to get close to her.

But how close is too close?

Secret Cravings Publishing  |   Amazon  |  Barnes & Nobel

 

Giveaway time! Are you feeling lucky?

My contest is simple, go to my Facebook page and like it. Leave a comment here letting me know you liked my page. On the 19th I will draw a name. The winner can choose either of my releases. You will get Night Promises that day or you can wait until Claimed is through edits for your copy.

Either way leave a comment stating you liked my Facebook page and/or something you love about St. Patrick's Day, if you have been lucky this year, etc. Your comment also enters you into the big drawing which is:

1st Grand Prize: A $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

 

2nd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

 

 

There are over 300 blogs participating in this hop. The below link will take you to the main page of all the blogs hopping. You have three days to visit as many blogs as you can and comment for your chance to win tons of prizes and the ultimate prizes above! 

 

Is the luck on your side??

 

Find the other hoppers here!  

 

Lucky In Love Blog Hop

Lucky in Love? Well, are you? It's a time of luck and wealth...or not. With each romance we find ourselves in a new world of love and memories. Are these just by chance? Is it luck? Welcome to your second annual Lucky in Love Blog Hop where we want to hear about your love, your romance, and how much you love St. Patrick's Day!!! Are you wearing green? Ready to get pinched...or wait...do you like that?

Almost 300 bloggers have giveaways and posts about those men we love!

But that's not all....

We have TWO grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!

Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

2nd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

Be sure to watch for my post March 15! You will want to comment on that post and then follow the link to the main blog hop site to comment on other blogs, the more comments the higher chance you have to win!!

Happy Reading,
Tonya

Things You May Not Know About Ireland

It's an offense to be drunk in public!

An Irishman founded the Argentinean Navy

Only 2 members of U2 were born in Ireland

Ireland has the fourth largest stadium in Europe

A Hospital in Belfast Is a World Leader in Kneecap Reconstruction

From the Today Show

Sorry I'm late with this post. It got busy! I did have several scheduled to go live, up until today. So this will be quick and sweet.

Fun Facts from The Today Show

• 5.5 million pints of Guinness is consumed daily. On St. Patricks day that number more than doubles to 13 million.
• There are 7 million St. Patrick's Day cards exchanged.
• Leperchauns make shoes for fairies for a living.

Day 12: Win a Trip to Ireland

How green would you go to win a trip to Ireland? Even the Empire State Building is going green! Try out our fun app and enter our Great Green Off competition and you and five of your friends could find yourselves in Ireland. http://bit.ly/XZOaCq

For more information visit Tourism Ireland on Facebook today!!

Day 11: Ireland's Sports, Outdoors and Sense of Humor

A sporting nation…

Irish people are very passionate about Gaelic games – football, hurling, handball and camogie. Rugby and soccer are also very well supported in Ireland. Golfing stars from the island include former World Number One Rory McIlroy and U.S. PGA champion Padraig Harrington. Among Ireland’s athletic stars are Dervla O’Rourke, and Katie Taylor is an international boxing champion.

The great outdoors…

The Cavan Way, The Dingle Way and the Kerry Way are just some of the country’s scenic walking routes that offer a great opportunity to sample Ireland’s breathtaking countryside.

Sense of humour…

There’s nothing like the Irish sense of humour, wit and play with words. Have a look at the below examples:
“not backwards in coming forwards” – means a person is not shy.
“no flies on him” – means a person is not easily deceived.
“she has a tongue that would clip a hedge” – means a person who gossips.
“come for a day and stay for a week” – means someone outstaying their welcome.
Just a few facts to ponder over – for a small island we certainly have a lot going for us!


Read more: 20 Interesting and Fun Facts about Ireland - GoIreland

Day 10: More about Ireland

I love the facts this site had to offer, so I had to share more, even I learned something.

Famous outlaws…

Grace O’Malley (Queen of the Pirates) operated off the west coast of Ireland and Ned Kelly (son of an Irish convict) was an infamous Australian outlaw.

Highest mountain…

Killarney, County Kerry is home to the highest mountain – Carrantouhill, part of the mountain range the McGillycuddy Reeks.

Longest river…

The river Shannon rises in County Cavan and is approximately 240 miles long. It contains 3 lakes, Lough Allen, Lough Ree and Lough Derg.

Irish delicacies…

Drisheen is a type of pudding made from cow’s, pigs or sheeps blood. White pudding is a mixture of pork, cereal, bread, fat and suet. Periwinkles are sea snails boiled in salted water.

Guinness…

No trip to Ireland would be complete without sampling a pint of the black stuff! It’s said that no matter where you go in the world, only in Ireland will you be served the most velvety, and creamiest pint of Guinness.

Bailey’s Irish Cream…

Invented in the 1970s, this hugely popular liquor, composed of is added to everything from coffee to cheesecake.

Irish pubs…

Stumble upon a “trad night”, throw in the customary singsong, a bit of Irish dancing and you’re in for an evening of craic!


Read more: 20 Interesting and Fun Facts about Ireland - GoIreland

Day 9: More Fun Facts about Ireland

National language…

Ireland’s national language is Irish, but it is spoken as the everyday language only in the Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) regions – chiefly in Galway, Kerry, Cork, Mayo, Donegal, and Waterford. In all other parts of Ireland, English is the spoken language.

Music…

Ireland’s most famous musical export is U2. Other acts that have achieved international success include The Boomtown Rats, Thin Lizzy and more recently Boyzone, Westlife and Damien Rice.

Hollywood factor…

The cream of the crop includes Michael Fassbender, Pierce Brosnan, Cillian Murphy and Colin Farrell.

The world of literature…

The list of Irish writers goes on and on, with each generation producing several new word wizards. A sample includes James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett, William Trevor, John McGahern, and Emma Donohue.


Read more: 20 Interesting and Fun Facts about Ireland - GoIreland

Day 8: Ireland

Ireland claims that more people fall in love by being friendly in Dublin!

And it's true what they say if you want a real Irish pub than you must go to Ireland!!

 

Ireland's capital is Dublin!

Irish delicacies…

Drisheen is a type of pudding made from cow’s, pigs or sheeps blood. White pudding is a mixture of pork, cereal, bread, fat and suet. Periwinkles are sea snails boiled in salted water.


Read more: 20 Interesting and Fun Facts about Ireland - GoIreland

Day 7: Parades Worldwide

It seems like the entire world joins in on the festivities on St. Patrick's Day! From the United States, yes every state has a parade to Ireland, Canada, Scotland, Middle East and all the way to the Far East of the world.

If you are interested in seeing where and when the parade in your area of the world will take place this website is one of the best to check out, other than your local website and/or news.

http://st-patricks-day.com/st_patricks_day_parades_home.html

 

Day 6: A Few More Facts

1). In Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps. Children wear orange, white and green badges, and women and girls wear green ribbons in their hair.

2). 34 million Americans have Irish ancestry, according to the 2003 US Census. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.

3). The name “leprechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which means “shoemaker.”

 

Facts from: http://www.wsaw.com/seasonal/misc/40129602.html

Day 5: Interesting Facts

1). The very first St. Patrick's Day parade was not in Ireland. It was in Boston in 1737.

2). In Chicago, on St. Patrick's Day, the rivers are dyed green. Mayor Daley is also of Irish descent.

 

 

Facts from: http://www.wsaw.com/seasonal/misc/40129602.html

Picture from Google search

Day 4: To Catch a Leprechaun

Want to get into the St. Patrick's Day spirit? How about enjoying some of these activities.

1).  This game is fun for kids and adults. Set traps to catch a leprechaun. One way is tying fishing line to the top of a plastic berry basket, then threaded the line through the wire loop and back down through the basket. We pulled the line taut and secured it under the bait. To conceal the cage, we tucked fiberfill into the weave of the basket, giving it the look of a fluffy cloud.

For more ways to catch a leprechaun please visit http://spoonful.com/crafts/catch-leprechaun

2). I personally love scavenger hunts. I really love being the one in charge, sending everyone looking for clues. I can't wait for my little boy to get bigger and we can have scavenger hunts for St. Patrick's Day and to find his Easter basket. For a really awesome one go here http://spoonful.com/family-fun/st-patricks-day-scavenger-hunt


There are all kinds of great crafts, games, treats, etc for St. Patricks day at http://spoonful.com/ so be sure to check it out today to plan your festivites for St. Paddy's Day!!!

Day 3: Traditional St. Patrick's Day Recipe

Corned Beef and Cabbage with Buttered Potatoes

This recipe is delicious, but it takes a little over 8 hours to make!

Picture and Recipe from Food Network:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/corned-beef-and-cabbage-with-herb-buttered-potatoes-recipe/index.html

Ingredients

Corned Beef:

• 3 pounds corned beef brisket with spice packet
• 2 carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 1 small head green cabbage, cored, roughly chopped
• 2 cups apple juice
• 1 cup water

Potatoes:

• 1 1/2 pounds baby red potatoes, sliced in 1/2
• 1/2 stick butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

For Corned Beef:
Put the carrots and onions on the bottom of slow cooker, and put the corned beef on top. Arrange the chopped cabbage around the beef. Add the apple juice and 1 cup of water along with the contents of the spice packet. Cook on low 6 to 8 hours until the beef is tender. Remove the beef and vegetables to a platter and keep warm.
For potatoes:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the potatoes. Cook until the potatoes are tender, about 12 to 15 minutes. Drain and return them to the pot.
Add the butter, garlic, parsley, and salt, and pepper, to taste. Gently combine so that all the potatoes are evenly coated. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve with corn beef and vegetables from the slow cooker.

If you happen to make this recipe feel free to comment if you like it or not! Or if you have any other recipes you make around this time of year please share with us :)
 

 

Day 2: Three Famous Symbols in Irelad

Shamrock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Celtic Cross

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.eupedia.com/ireland/trivia.shtml

Lucky In Love Blog Hop

Today is March 1st, this begins my 17 Days of St. Patricks Day!

Each day I will post a fun fact about Ireland or St. Patrick's Day! All leading up to the March 15-18th Lucky In Love Blog Hop! Check back every day for a fun fact!!

Day 1 Fun Fact: According to legend, St. Patrick used the 3-leaved shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people.

According to http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/sbrandt/trinity.htm
The Trinity tells us that there are three Persons in one Divine Nature. The names Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are names of persons. God can serve as either a name for the Father or a name for the Divine Nature. Before delving into the relative meaning of Persons and Natures it will be useful to make it clear that these terms refer to distinctly different things.

Click the link above to learn more about The Holy Trinity.

The four-leaf clover is an uncommon variation of the common, three-leaved clover. According to tradition, such leaves bring good luck to their finders, especially if found accidentally. According to legend, each leaf represents something: the first is for faith, the second is for hope, the third is for love, and the fourth is for luck.

Please feel free to leave any fun Irish or St. Patrick's Day facts you have!