Meet Cindy from Shortcomings by Ginger Simpson #YA

My name is Cindy Johnson, and I’m a freak…at least I feel like one.  Although Momma says I’m beautiful, other people look at me like I’m uglier than sin.  You see, I was born with one leg shorter than the other and I have a very bad limp.   I go to high school, but if I had a choice, I’d just stay home and read romance books all day.  At least, through novels, I can escape to a world where people don’t stare and say unkind things.

Funny thing is, I have a crush on the HS Quarterback despite knowing I don't stand a chance with him.  His name is Cory Neil and he’s polite, but probably only because he feels sorry for me. Knowing Math is my strong subject, he called and asked me to tutor him. I was so blinded by his attention, I agreed because he was so sure he’d lose his place on the team if he failed the class.  I couldn't let that happen.  He's awesome.

 Anyhow, I arranged to meet him in the library because our house…well, let’s just say, it isn’t a mansion and I decided I’d be much more comfortable without him seeing how I live.  Oh, don’t get me wrong, my dad does his very best, but we’ve not had the best of luck which is how we ended up with me at a new school and people less forgiving than those I grew up with.  Wouldn’t it be a wonderful world if people thought before they spoke?  

Anyhow, Cory asked me to Homecoming and that made me so mad.  Why would he ask someone who obviously can’t dance unless he was dared by his friends?  I’m not stupid, and I immediately knew I was the butt of someone’s joke.  I absolutely refused to go and he pretends he doesn’t understand why I won't.  Yeah, right!

  I don’t think I’ve ever wished for anything as much as to be normal and go to the ball with Cory, but no matter how much I want things to be different, I’m who I am.  Yes, maybe I let my “Shortcomings” define me, but I just can’t afford to open myself up to more ridicule and hurt.  He doesn’t seem to want to accept my answer, but I’ve already made up my mind.  He can take the pep squad captain.  She takes  great delight in reminding me I’m nothing but a gimp whenever I run across her.  I'll get even...somehow, someday, someway, just you wait and see.

RED MAGIC ~ CHRISTOPH ~ A Character Blog

 

My days of intemperance--of gambling, womanizing, and drinking--are done. Whether my sins ended when the cannon burst , nearly taking my leg, or whether they ended last month, when my affianced, an endlessly forgiving lady whom I’d at last agreed to wed, fell from her horse and broke her neck, matters little. My dear lost Wili, fool that I am, I took you for granted, thought you would always be there, arms open, ready to love and forgive!

That part of my life, full of deception and lies, those days of selfish pleasure—are over.  As my confessor says, God has granted me wealth, position, strength and grace of form, but I have taken His gifts for granted, have evaded the duties and tasks which are required of a gentleman.

 I am to marry my lost bride’s little sister and take up the duties of lordship, tending to neglected family property and assisting my father with diligence and honesty. My young cousin Caterina will not make an easy wife, for she justly blames me for her beloved sister’s years of unhappiness.   Caterina is, to all intents and purposes, a child, with little knowledge of the world or of the duties required of a gentleman’s wife. There is almost nothing about her—beyond her lanky promise of beauty—which interests me, except for her surprising knowledge of horseflesh, which rivals that of any man I've ever known.   

 If I am to fulfill the promises I’ve made to my family and to God, I must be patient with my young cousin, be at first far more a stern and loving father than a husband.  This will not be easy for me, as I have hitherto been accustomed to always have my way with the ladies...

 

~~ Christoph von Hagen

 

 

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~Juliette Waldron

Historical Novels with Passion and Magic 

http://www.julietwaldron.com

Spring Cleaning

It's that time of year again. Usually by now I'm done, but I've been putting it off this year. Probably due to the weather. 
However, this past weekend was absolutely beautiful and motivated me. So far my living room is half done. Curtains are down, cobwebs removed, and furniture vacuumed. There was a time I flew through the room. Not so anymore. I'm not as young as I used to be, so I had to take a break before I dust the furniture, wash the windows, vacuum the floors and hang the new curtains. 
Wow, looking at that, I realize I'm not even half done. Age does take its toll. Part of the reason I'm procrastinating is I'm thinking about buying new curtains. I do like the ones I have a red and white plaid, it gives the room a fresh cottagey look. 
So why do I want to change them? Hubby is making new pictures for the walls. Sail boats and sea gulls and they're predominately blue. I'm hoping to find a blue and white plaid similar to the red and white. They're a linen type material, but sort of sheer. So far I've not been able to find anything like them. I bought them at Penney's a few years ago. 
I guess I'll just save the money and put the red and white ones back up. So it's back to work. 

By the way, two of my books are on special right now from Amazon, Secrets, Lies & Love is on sale for 1.99 for a limited time
and Deadbeat Dads for 99 cents.