Cead Mille Failte

And a hundred thousand welcomes to Jenna’s Journal on one of my very favorite holidays! I LOVE Ireland!  It is possibly the most beautiful country on earth and one of my favorite places to be.  I’ve always loved all things Irish, so St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are right up my alley…er a Temple Bar alley in Dublin that is!

I spent two summers in Dublin, working on my dissertation, so I was immersed in the culture and fell in love with the people, the landscape, the very air of the country.  So to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on the Journal, I’m posting some pics that have made me quite homesick for the Emerald Isle.  Take a peek at them, and afterwards there’s a chance to win some books and a gift card.  Sort of like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

It really does look like this!  God’s truth.  Drop dead gorgeous every day (except when it rains–about 5 days a week. LOL).

City life can be fun as well.  Dublin is a party town. You need to go with the flow…of Guiness.

The shamrocks are everywhere.  Green is everywhere.  The most beautiful shade of it imaginable.

I even managed to store up a setting for a scene in my novel As Long As You’re Mine–over ten years before I became a romance writer.  I toured Coole Park, home of Lady Augusta Gregory, a founder of the Abbey Theatre.  While on the property, I saw–actually stood beneath–a huge copper beech.  It was so awe-inspiring, I made a copper beech the meeting place for Rafael and Lady Samantha–their first face to face meeting.  You can see how impressive it is in full autumn color.  Just the place for a fiery tete-a-tete.

And what visit to Ireland could be complete without kissing the Blarney Stone?  I actually did this when I was in college and took a summer tour of England and Ireland.  This was a great feat for me–I’m desperately afraid of heights and no one bothered to tell me you had to climb two stories, lay down and lean back over NOTHINGNESS and pull yourself up to kiss the damn thing.  I did it, though.  I’m still amazed!

Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed this little virtual tour of the Emerald Isle.  And now to our pot of gold.

Jenna’s St. Patrick’s Day Contest:  Subscribe to my blog and leave me a comment telling me your favorite Irish food and which of my books you’d like to win, and you’ll be entered to win a copy (I’m giving away three) and a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card.  You MUST leave your email address in the body of the comment in order to be eligible to win.

Even better, the Blog Hop itself is offering prizes to those who comment.  Your same comment enters you to win 1 of 2 GRAND PRIZES:
1) Winner’s Choice of a KINDLE FIRE or NOOK TABLET

2) Winner’s Choice of a $90 Gift Card from Amazon or B&N

So here are the blurbs for my three books–be sure to let me know which one you’d prefer if you’re a winner.  Enjoy!

Celinda Graham—young, naïve, passionate—is head-over-heels in love with Andrew Finley, Viscount Hurston and insists on marrying him. Unfortunately, Andrew’s family has been feuding with Celinda’s for generations.  When her father refuses to allow the marriage, Andrew proposes a scandalous way to get his approval.  But Andrew has a secret that may spell disaster to his plans if Celinda finds out he is not what he seems.

Seducing bikers Beau and Rob Hogue and commandeering their Harleys is easy for Lula
Wolfendale; finding sexual satisfaction isn’t.  Can their older brother Jesse fill the bill? In a sexual contest for his Phantom motorcycle, will Lula emerge with a bike to die for or the climax of her dreams?

Pamela Kimball’s birthday present, a 1Night Stand adventure, promises jump-start her life, put a new man in her bed, and help her forget her past.  Unfortunately, movie-buff Pam’s Pirates of the Caribbean fantasy takes an alarming wrong turn when she’s abandoned on a not quite deserted island—with ex-husband Roger Ware.

Forced by hunger to accept Roger’s offer of dinner,  Pam realizes the geek she married has transformed into one of the most charming, sexiest men she’s ever met. His newfound confidence—and hot body—re-kindles old fires.  A simple kiss leads Roger to challenges her to discover how much his lovemaking skills have improved, leaving Pam torn between self-preservation and burning desire.

With time running out before they’re rescued, Pam must decide if her heart can survive the consequences of becoming Roger’s “almost” perfect 1Night Stand.

So be sure to leave your comments and email addresses to be entered to win books, cards, and Kindles!  Now, to get back to the Hop, click HERE and have a Happy/Sexy St. Patrick’s Day!