How Charity Sunday works: for every comment made on this blog post, I will donate money to the charity named. The same promise is made for every blog site listed in the group–click the Linky Links link at the bottom of this post to see the list of participants and read/comment on any of them to see a donation go to that blogger’s charity. We’re all different! Thanks for your help and your participation!
This month’s charity is one near and dear to my heart: the Shriners Hospitals for Children. https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/ Charity Navigator has awarded Shriners Hospitals “with its prestigious Four Star Charity award. Such distinction recognizes Shriners Hospitals for Children for its sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.”
When I was ten-months-old, a polio epidemic struck Sioux City, Iowa and the surrounding area. Polio was not at all uncommon in the early 1950s, but this epidemic was horrible. I had been walking at nine-months. Then one morning I woke up crying. When Mom came to get me, I couldn’t stand. We have never figured out why I contracted the disease. Lots of public places—like swimming pools—were closed, and I wasn’t going to school or day care yet. Another strange thing is, Mom didn’t get it. No one has ever been able to explain it, but I have my opinion. All things really do happen for a reason. God knew that I would need a strong, loving mother to see me through the recovery I had ahead. He kept Mom well and the Shriners helped keep me well..
The Shriners Hospitals never charge a family for any medical care. When I went into the hospital for surgery, I was generally there for at least a month, usually two or more. During that time, they housed me, fed me, schooled me, entertained me, and provided all medical care, before and after surgery—all for free. Our only responsibility was to get to the hospital and home. I received the very best of care in a safe and clean environment, with the best medical staff, and I will be forever grateful. If not for the Shriners, I might not have been able to walk—or to run, to dance, to drive a truck, to live a life I’ve thoroughly enjoyed and loved.
Please leave a comment and I will make a donation to an organization for which I have lasting gratitude. Thank you!
Do you like adult-styled fairy tales? A little sexy, a little sweet, this tale tells the Cinderella story in a whole new light! The Cinderella Curse.
Not all men are princes—except to the women who love them.
Buy link:
Amazon KU https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R1YSQ8S/
Blurb:
One evening, in a land far away, a wife spins a story for the amusement of her husband. Like the original tale, this contemporary Cinderella is definitely for those who love romance and a HEA. However, she adds a few touches of the erotic. For her husband, you understand.
In this tale, Charlotte dreams of her prince, James, but learns about beauty and love from her fairy godfather, Cooper. She might not lose a glass slipper, but her heart is in danger of being left behind. Who rules her heart—Cooper or James? One thing for sure, by the time our Charlotte arrives at the ball, she’d sure like to know which man is her real Prince Charming.
Excerpt:
Katherine walked into her daughter’s bedroom with a warm smile for the little girl. “And who do I find here?” she asked. “Is it a rock star, a fashion model or an award-winning actress?”
“Oh, mommy, you know who I am,” the girl said with a giggle. For just a moment Katherine’s breath caught and her heart overflowed with love for this four-year-old person. She and Cole had made this child, had conceived her in love, trust and respect, but it still seemed incomprehensible that she was as beautiful as she was, as sweet and wonderful as she was. Katherine could so clearly see Cole’s eyes and her mouth reflected in their daughter’s face, but there was more there that was a combination of them both, and therefore all Alyssa’s. Katherine had to remind herself that probably all parents felt their children were perfect and wonderful, but with their little Alyssa, she knew it was true beyond any doubt.
“Yes, I know who you are, my little love. You are queen of my heart, princess of my mind, ruler–”
“–of all I hold dear.” Alyssa finished the oft heard phrase in triumph. She had bouncy curls of brown hair that hung down to her chin, gleaming blue eyes and a pert nose. Her mouth was most often formed around a smile.
“You’re getting too smart for me, Munchkin. What story would you like to hear?” Katherine settled her daughter under the covers, and positioned herself at the head of the bed next to Alyssa’s pillow, so that the child could see the pictures in the book and also be in place to fall asleep.
“Cinderella!”
“Okay, Cinderella it is.” Katherine reached for the book from the stack of those on the bedside table and opened it to the first page. “Once upon a–”
“No, mommy. You’ve got to start with the title.”
With a small smile Katherine turned to the title page and started over. “Cinderella.” She flipped back to the story. “Once upon a time…”
Minutes later, long before the clock had struck midnight and the glass slipper had been lost, Alyssa was sleeping. Katherine stood and moved her slightly, so that she was in the center of the bed. She smoothed Alyssa’s hair from her face and kissed her forehead, making sure that her stuffed bunny was firmly secured in her arm and that she was warmly covered. As Katherine turned, she saw Cole leaning against the doorjamb, watching her with a tender expression.
“You know that I think you’re the most beautiful woman on the face of the earth, but when I see you with Alyssa, it’s almost too much. You two are the most important things in my life.” Katherine turned out the bedside lamp and walked into Cole’s arms, stretching into him as he stroked her back and nuzzled her hair.
“As the two of you are to me,” Katherine responded. “Let’s go downstairs.” With Cole’s arm wrapped around her shoulders they made their way to the living room.
Cole had started a fire and the room was warm and softly lighted by the flames; crackling of the burning logs and popping as sap hit the heat of the fire were the only sounds.
Cole poured glasses of wine and they rested, Katherine against his chest in the circle of his arm, Cole leaning against the rounded arm of the sofa. They sat peacefully for several moments, staring into the fire. With his hand over her shoulder, Cole caressed Katherine’s breast; she rested her hand on his leg, with her elbow covering and lightly putting pressure on the bulge in his pants.
“Are you going to tell me a bedtime story now?” asked Cole.
“Would you like one?” He kissed the top of her head and nodded. “Okay, do you like Cinderella, too?”
“Sure. The adult version, however. I didn’t mind the children’s version when I was a child, although I always thought the prince was too much of a sissy. I thought she should find a good warrior to marry.”
“You would, you blood-thirsty man.”
“Now, I think the prince would be looking for a bit more in a wife than simple beauty and strange taste in shoes.” He looked at Katherine’s platform shoes. “Although unusual taste in footwear isn’t always a negative.”
“Thank you,” she said smartly.
He chuckled. “So, make sure that Cindy has all the requisites to be the wife of a prince.”
“And what might that entail, do you think?” Katherine sat up and turned so that she could see her husband.
“Make her like you.”
Reviews:
“The Cinderella Curse was just perfect for hopeless romantics like me. Even if you’re not a hopeless romantic, Charlotte and Cooper’s sweet and emotionally charged banter will definitely warm your heart. I definitely recommend reading this modern day Cinderella… with a twist!”
“I had forgotten how enjoyable it could be to read a fun and easy read with a perfect ending, a happily ever after. Don’t expect though to be the usual read, the story is full of witty and funny repartee and Ms. Knight does know her men. She knows their sense of humor and their foibles, and the banter between good friends that become lovers. There is something so solid and balanced about this couple, her innocence vs. his knowledge, and he is a knight in shining armor. As I finished I smiled …”
A little about me:
A few years ago, Dee S. Knight began writing, making getting up in the morning fun. During the day, her characters killed people, fell in love, became drunk with power, or sober with responsibility. And they had sex, lots of sex.
After a while, Dee split her personality into thirds. She writes as Anne Krist for sweeter romances, and Jenna Stewart for ménage and shifter stories. All three of her personas are found on the Nomad Authors website. And all three offer some of the best romance you can find! Also, once a month, look for Dee’s Charity Sunday blog posts, where your comment can support a selected charity. Sign up for my newsletter and have access to free reads.
Author links:
Website: https://nomadauthors.com
Blog: http://nomadauthors.com/blog
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeeSKnight
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeeSKnight2018
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/265222.Dee_S_Knight
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B079BGZNDN
Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/h8t2y6
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/dee-s-knight-0500749
Sweet ‘n Sassy Divas: http://bit.ly/1ChWN3K
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Hello Dee,
Thank you for joining Charity Sunday today.
Wonderful cause, and a fantastic excerpt.
Shriners Hospitals do such amazing work. Thanks for picking them.
I too am grateful for the Shriners. We adopted a little girl who lost her leg to an infection. the Shriners helped her with so much. From new legs to many, many surgeries, we spent a lot of time there. They paid for everything. There was even a bed for me if needed. I remember playing bingo with all the kids and how happy they were to wine. I also remember arriving to find my daughter on a gurney with a bunch of kids arranging her gurney so she could play pool against a young man in a wheel chair. If you ever want to see resiliency, visit the Shriners.
Debra, thanks for sharing that! No kid likes to spend time in a hospital, but I have to say, there’s no better place to do than the Shrine hospitals. They’re a wonderful organization!