Happy Easter Monday, my darlings!

Yesterday was Easter Sunday, and I trust the bouncing bunny of good luck and good fortune has smiled upon you all.

When my girls were little, they used to get really excited by Easter because their mother bought and even *cough* made baskets and chicks for their annual Easter Egg hunt with their friends. I cannot tell you how many hard (think solid rock) boiled eggs they’ve painted over the years. They’re a bit old for all that these days, so I look forward to doing the same with my grandchildren. Although the likelihood of grandchildren happening anytime soon is zero. The biological clocks are ticking, girls, just say’in!

My favourite candy eggs are Cadbury’s creme eggs and if you guys across the pond haven’t tried one, then you don’t know what you’re missing.

You can buy them singly or in packs of three/six/twelve etc.

This year I’ve been so good it isn’t funny because I have a history with Cadbury’s creme eggs. A history that goes back many, many years.

Do you girls remember what it was like to be pregnant with your first child? Remember how we nourished the bump with prenatol cream to avoid stretch marks? I used to rub in the cream religiously every morning and night. And if I was lucky H might lend a hand too. There is a point to this story, it’s coming.

Anyway, my first child was born in November. And that meant I had a whole Scottish summer with ‘the bump’. And what a beautiful bump it was. Since I was lucky enough to be a housewife and my garden was secluded, I could lie on my back in a bikini to let the sun do its thing. I can always remember the time I was seven months pregnant and I went to my pre-natal check up. H came with me. The nurse pulled back my dress and grinned at ‘the bump’.

‘Look at that,’ she said in a cheery voice. ‘What a beautiful bump and not a stretch mark.’

The lovely doctor smiled and did his thing with the measuring tape. ‘I have to say, Christine. It is the perfect shape. And what a fantastic colour. It’s really brown.’

How lovely are they, I thought, feeling pretty pleased with me and the bump.

Until.

‘That’s not a baby,’ said H in his deep growly voice. ‘That’s a huge Cadbury’s creme egg. She’s scoffed so many, the factory had to take on extra workers to meet demand.’

Haha! Very funny. But also, I’m ashamed to say, very true. This year I’ve had three Cadbury’s creme eggs.

But I’ve also had THE most amazing news I want to share with you guys!!

FINALIST IN INDIE ROMANCE CONVENTION READER’S CHOICE AWARD FOR 2013

It’s been eleven months since Reckless Nights In Rome was published. I know, I can’t believe it either.

 

Since that nerve-wracking day, the book has been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times across fifty countries via iTunes, Amazon.com, Kobo, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and many more. Across those distributors reader reviews are in four figures with an average of 4.6% out of 5* - and I have to say I feel truly humbled by those statistics. Reckless has been in the top 100, sometimes reaching the top five of iTunes and the top twenty in Amazon.com. And readers have contacted me from every corner of the globe, many of whom have gone on to buy books two and three of the series.

However, the big news is that the book has finaled in the Indie Romance Convention Readers’s Choice 2013 Awards, which means the book was selected by readers! Woot! And not only that, but people can go in and vote HERE.

So, if you’re sick of chocolate eggs and feel so inclined, please vote! You don’t have to sign in or jump through hoops, just click on the little button second from the top.

You know I adore hearing from you guys!

What are your favourite Easter stories?

And what did you do with your children/grandchildren this year?

Big Hug

Christine xxx