You Need to Watch Ted Lasso

We Need to Talk About Ted Lasso

This is the number one thing I’ve been telling people to watch lately. (And I’m NOT alone)

It’s a story about an American football coach who moves to London to coach an English Premier League football (soccer) team.

It’s a comedy, but it’s got the heart of Schitts Creek, the community of Parks & Rec and the quick wit of The Good Place.

It’s got incredibly supportive female friendships.

It’s about sports, but without the toxic masculinity. 

It’s about the culture clash between the UK and the US but without any false superiority.

It’s about relationships, platonic, romantic, community.

It’s about joy.

It’s about finding a new way to look at life.

It’s my favorite thing right now.

Watch it.

It’s on Apple TV. and you (all of us) deserve something this good in 2020.

Here’s a podcast about it because Brene Brown agrees with me (OF COURSE SHE DOES).

And when you’re done watching it, come find me on Instagram and let’s talk about how much you love it.

The Best Football Romance Novels to Read this Fall

The Best Football Romance Novels

It’s that time of year – the constant roar of the crowd is now my background meditation (cough) every weekend. Pretty much as soon as the first round of Monday Night Football opened up, I got the irrepressible urge to re-read a football romance.

Which one?

It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

I’ve read this one so many times, at least once a year.

And as I pressed the button on my Kindle, I thought I’d recommend some more of my favorite football romances to the rest of the world!

(Before I get started, here’s the usual caveat. Y’all. There are SO MANY football romance novels. Hundreds, if not thousands. I know there are a few that I’ve left out, so please feel free to recommend your favorites to me!)

Here we go.

As I mentioned, you probably need to read the Chicago Stars series by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I’ve read most of them (I think?) but my top 2 are the stories of Molly and Phoebe Sommerville; It Had to Be You (Book #1) and This Heart of Mine (Book #5) .  This is a series where you can definitely jump around but I think it’s really nice to read #1 and then #5 back to back, since the heroines are sisters.

I have a special fondness for Nobody’s Baby but Mine (Book #3), too, mostly because of the side characters and the second half of the book.

Of the three of these, It Had to Be You is definitely VERY football focused, the other two much less so.

(Second Caveat: These books are over twenty years old, on average. Let me tell you how old the first book is – Donald Trump is mentioned  - FONDLY! - and it’s pre-Apprentice. I still enjoy them but I’ve noticed that some of the attitudes and references have not aged well. In addition, there are some sex scenes that are old-school-esque borderline-consensual/ non-consensual. FYI.)

Another romance that is football adjacent is Changing the Play by Julia Blake. The heroine is a sports agent and the hero is a reporter but football obviously plays a big role in the book.

Next recommendation! Sidelined by Suzanne Baltzar! I recommended this here and I’ve also had the hankering to re-read this during football season. Seriously, people. This is such a good book. Go grab it. (Hear me talk to Suzanne on Women With Books here.) This one is about a female high school football coach and her offensive coordinator. If you are psyched up about #equalpay then this is the book that will have you sighing and fist bumping your pals.

Also full of football players and the women who show them the score? Alexa Martin’s Playbook series! Start with Intercepted (Book #1) and you’ll fall in love with Marlee’s voice and wit. (And bonus points! Alexa is a former professional football wife herself! Hear my chat with her on Women With Books here!)

And speaking of WAGS, Naima Simone’s WAGS series should be required reading for anyone who loves a seriously swoony football hero. Start with Scoring With The Wrong Twin and enjoy the sexy, witty, sweet ride.

And uh…  While I was making up this list I kept remembering one more book… and I realized, it was mine!

Yeah, my debut novel has some football-related shenanigans in it: Know When to Hold Him. So, you know. Read it!

Or, pick up my NEXT book, which is definitely NOT football related but it’s just as good.

The Royal Bodyguard!

More info coming VERY soon on that! I can’t wait to share it with you!!!

Some links on this page may be affiliate links, which means I could receive a few coins for posting them. As always, thank you for your support and encouragement!

Best Books to Read Now - September 2016

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

Dream a Little Dream

by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

dream-a-little-dream

This is the first SEP book that made me cry. Again. And again. And over. and over.

Let me back up a few. When I join a book club, I lay down my first rule: no hurting kids stories. I don't care how uplifting they turn out, if there's an abused or murdered kid, I'm out.

So it should be no surprise that it was the KID in this book that made me sob.  And really, it wasn't so much the kid as his mother, who loves him so desperately that she's willing to go to desperate measures to provide him food, shelter and clothing.

Even with the tears, do I recommend it? Yes. It has more pain than most SEP books (with a widower hero, to match the widow heroine), but it also has all the feels, the funny and a few Chicago Stars - my favorite.

A Scot in the Dark

, by Sarah MacLean

scot-in-the-dark

The first few chapters of this book were fine. And if you think I'm speaking badly of this book, please remember that it's written by Sarah MacLean and a "fine" Sarah MacLean novel is better than 98% of all books.

I'm just warning you. It's a fine story about a forgotten ward and the Scottish duke who discovers he's her guardian. And then. ...Slowly, deliberately, artfully, Ms. MacLean began to slice and dice my heart with a Scottish broadsword and stuff it into a sheep's intestine and call it haggis, #romancelandia style.

A SCOT IN THE DARK comes very close to my favorite Maclean (That would be

NO GOOD DUKE GOES UNPUNISHED

) (and yes, savvy Sarah Mac fans will note similarities between the Diluted Duke and the Killer Duke and therefore deduce my preferences in heroes - growly, damaged and often violent.)  I also loved the bright spots of humor and banter that balance the torturous haggis o'heartbreak. Also? SESILY NEEDS A BOOK, SARAH!!

That's me plying Sarah with alcohol so she'll write me a Sesily story.

The Governess was Wicked, by Julia Kelly

book-1_-the-governess-was-wicked

As observant readers will remember, Julia Kelly is a friend of mine and I was able to scoop up an exclusive advanced reading copy of this book in July at RWA.  Observant readers will also recall that I've been devouring non-traditional historical romance for this whole year, and THE GOVERNESS WAS WICKED fits right into that.  The heroine is a governess, of course. The hero? A doctor.  And a whole heck of a lot of clandestine sexual tension between two people who are supposed to be very good role models.   Scoop this one up quickly (it's on sale for $.99!), because the next two in the Governess series (Wild and Wanton) will be released in the next TWO months.

Julia Kelly is unique among historical romance authors because she has dual citizenship in both the U.S. and U.K. She graciously agreed to provide my readers with this exclusive, insightful and delightful quick BRITISH Q&A w/ Julia.

Austen or Bronte?

Tough one, but I’m going to have to say Austen. Although it feels like I’m betraying governesses by picking her over Charlotte Bronte and Jane Eyre, Persuasion has been one of my favorite books since I read it in high school. Every time I go back to it I find some other insight that fits another stage of my life.

Sherlock or Poirot?

Another hard one! I was raised on both series of books and TV shows. Choosing one feels wrong. Kind of like this:

sherlock

If I have to choose, I’d say it’s Sherlock by a hair. He’s a fascinating character, and I really enjoy watching how different actors have interpreted him in so many different ways.

Sorry Poirot.

poirot

Afternoon tea or ale at the pub?

This is a little easier. An ale at the pub, please. I love pubs and the little communities that surround them.

Also, although I’m a staunch tea drinker I’m actually not crazy about high tea (which is how I interpreted this question). It all stems from having been a waitress in a rather stuffy tea shop before going off to college. I used to have to wear a frilled cap and a pinafore that was a pain to keep clean, starched, and ironed. The one benefit was that developed asbestos hands that can still stand very hot water.

Favorite British historical period?

If you think about it, the Victorian era was an amazing period. You could have been born at the beginning of Victoria’s reign in 1837 and by her death in 1901 have watched the railways and manufacturing boom, the installation of electric lights on the streets of London, the explosion of print media like books and newspapers, and the invention of the telephone.

For a writer, it also is helpful that the Victorian era is a time of social shifts with the rising industrialist classes clashing with members of the aristocracy who struggled to maintain their fortunes in a changing Britain. It’s full of material to write about, and it doesn’t hurt that the frocks were pretty too.

Favorite British tourist spot?

Although I grew up in Los Angeles, my parents relocated to London and live right by Hyde Park. When I go there for the holidays I love taking the dogs for walks in the park. On some mornings you can still see riders exercising their horses along Rotten Row just like a Victorian gentleman would have.

Favorite undiscovered (by Americans) spot in the UK

There were two things I did on my last trip to Edinburgh that I thought were wonderful and I never would’ve known about if my sister and her boyfriend didn’t live there. One was taking a boat called the Maid of the Forth out to Inchcolm Island. There’s a ruined abbey you can climb to the top of if you’ve got a strong stomach for slippery, narrow staircases. There’s also World War I and II defenses on the island, but I went during nesting season for gulls. Here’s what happens when you try to walk by a gull’s nest:

img_5799

I also paid a visit to the Assembly Rooms on George Street. It’s an imposing Classical building with a grand Georgian interior. I actually gasped when I walked into the ballroom which still has its massive original mirrors and chandeliers. I desperately want to set a scene in a historical romance in that beautiful space.

Music you listened to while writing Governess was Wicked (or series)

I’m not much of a music listener while I’m drafting, but I rely on it to keep me on track while editing. For the Governess series I listened to a lot of dreamy ballads like Beyonce’s “Superpower” and Hozier’s “Work Song” as well as big, joyful songs like Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do” which is the stuff of happy endings.

Will Liverpool win the 2016-17 EFL Cup?

For those who don’t know, I’m a big soccer fan and wake up too early some Saturday mornings to Liverpool play.

To answer your question, Lindsay, I wish that Liverpool could pull out a league-winning season but, I think it’s too optimistic to believe the manager, Jurgen Klopp, can turn around a team that’s hovered at mid-table for so long. He needs time to reshape Liverpool to his own system, and I just hope that the club has enough faith in him to allow him the time he needs to pull it off.

For now, let’s just look at GIFs of the adorkable giant German nerd of a man that is Jurgen:

jurgen-3

jurgen-2

jurgen-1

Favorite Britishism

There are so many! I lived in Manchester while studying abroad which isn’t far from Liverpool where my mother’s family is from. I still miss everyone from bus drivers to the ladies in the school cafeteria calling me “love,” and starting off every conversation with “You alright?” (which sounds a lot more like “Y’alrite?”)

I also love (and believe) that the appropriate reaction to any crisis is to put the kettle on and make a cup of tea.

Favorite Royal

Is there really an answer other than Harry? Here, look at this BuzzFeed article of him playing with dogs and tell me I’m wrong.

So here’s the deal. The man is a former wild child who served in the military and now does a lot of high-profile charity work for children and wounded veterans. Harry’s also faces a lot less pressure than William who stands to inherit the crown — something I’m not at all interested in. He’s also handsome, seems intelligent, and fun.

Plus the man dances like this which just makes me giggle:

prince-harry

Thank you Julia! You answered all the questions correctly, especially the last.

Interested in winning Julia's book, mine, or tons of other prizes?  Julia (and friends) have put together a huge Rafflecopter giveaway to celebrate the release of THE GOVERNESS WAS WICKED.  Enter today and as always, let me know here, on Twitter or Facebook what books you're loving!

prince harry

All These Things That I Love - August 2016

A monthly round up of fabulous things that give me life

I'm obsessed... (5)

photo3 (1)

This month is all about the planner lifestyle. Alexandra Haughton and I decided to reinvent our

Get it Together Hop

and turn it into the #ReadWritePlan challenge on

instagram

.

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Every day is a new round of delicious peeks into the author/planner community's planning life. We're having so much fun sharing our favorites and Alexandra and I have a giveaway here:

bit.ly/bandoagenda

IMG_0776

I'm obsessed... (6)

photo4 (1)

This summer I've converted to Japanese sunscreen. I've read blogs and

reviews  

on the superior sun protection of these products and I when I used up the last bottle of good ol' American sunscreen (that my dermatologist recommended), I ordered two varieties that had near universal acclaim:

Biore UV Perfect Milk SPF 50

 and 

Biore UV Watery Essence

.

photo1 (2)

So far, so good. I love the lightweight, non greasy feel of these, they don't make me break out and I haven't gotten a sunburn!

I'm obsessed... (3)

photo2 (1)

Last summer I started seeing other soccer parents with these giant silver cups. Were they worth the price, I asked? They hold ice all day! I was told. They keep coffee hot all day! they said.

Well, in the thousand degree temperatures that Texas has been experiencing, I don't much care about coffee staying hot, but I can say that ice will stay solid in a

Yeti tumbler

for 12 hours, which is a freaking miracle here on the sun (Texas). It's a delight to stay hydrated with ice cold water (and maybe a slice of lemon) (or maybe an extra large gimlet.)

I got my Yeti cups as a gift, but my friend

Alexis Anne

 says the

Ozark brand from Walmart

are just as effective.

I'm obsessed... (2)

Maren_Morris_-_Hero_album_cover

This is one of the albums I've had on repeat the past few months. The more I listen to it, the better it gets and it's really good turned way up in the car.

If you have

Amazon Prime

 you can listen to the whole album or check out (one of) out my favorite song(s)

here 

.

I'm obsessed... (1)

hard knocks

Okay, it premieres tomorrow but I *will* be watching Hard Knocks on HBO. People are always a little surprised that I love a  reality show about football training camp, but if you love sports romance, you have to enjoy the behind the scenes drama. Last year's season featuring the Houston Texans inspired me to write a whole book!

If you watch Hard Knocks, I'd love to talk football and sports romance on

Twitter

,

Facebook

or down below in the comments. Or let me know if you're a planner addict or if you have Asian skin care recommendations!

It's Fall Y'all

I’m calling it. FALL. http://photos-b.ak.instagram.com/hphotos-ak-xpa1/1741049_1997988823675897_132302074_n.jpg

I know some of you in other parts of the world may not understand the seasonal uncertainty that we Texans have.  When the calendar says October and you’re still in flip flops and shorts and smacking mosquitos, it can be a bit confounding to the internal clock.

But I have a scarf on today, and I’ve got “closet change” on my weekly to-do list, the process wherein I pull out the knits and boots and long sleeves and box up the tanks and floaty skirts.  So that’s it. It’s Fall. Done. *mic drop*

And yes, I may still be smacking mosquitos at Thanksgiving dinner, but I’ll have boots and a scarf on, damn it.

TEXAS FALL TRADITIONS

So now that it’s fall, it’s time to share my favorite fall traditions.

1. Aggie Football – http://photos-b.ak.instagram.com/hphotos-ak-xaf1/10724904_772889306108089_1947678452_n.jpg We got to go down to College Station to soak up the Aggie/ Ole Miss game day atmosphere last weekend. A beer at a tailgate in Spence Park, a look at the new stadium remodel, and seeing the yell leaders and Aggie Band bring the football team into Kyle Field. There’s nothing better. (Ok, a WIN would be better, but I’m focusing on the positives, here.)
2. State Fair of Texas http://photos-g.ak.instagram.com/hphotos-ak-xfa1/10729349_1497252487223054_216507153_n.jpg Look at this guy. This is Big Tex and he's an icon here in Dallas. And this year, he’s telling everyone to wash their hands.  *Sigh* (Hopefully  incurable disease is not a new Texas tradition) My family spent a fun day at the fair, watching pig races, going to the car show, and eating fried foods.  My favorite? The Fletcher’s corny dog. Close second: fried collard greens from Chef Cassy’s. No pic because I ate them too fast.
3. Pumpkin Ok, this isn’t a Texas tradition. I just wanted to share my favorite pumpkin find this season – Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bar mix.It’s like a blondie with chocolate chips and pumpkin and spices. The PERFECT treat to enjoy with a cup of tea and a good book on a chilly 85 degree day.

I’d love to hear your favorite fall traditions in the comments or on Facebook  or Twitter.  Also, make sure you sign up for my newsletter!  I promise I’m only going to mail it out for the BIG IMPORTANT  BOOK ANNOUNCEMENTS (hopefully soon! *crosses fingers*)