Caught Between the Moon and New York City

The most enjoyable part of choosing the setting for my Going to the Dogs Series was the research I had to do into the City my gals and their furry pals call home.  New York City has some of the best panoramic views, which not only awes New Yorkers, but also entices visitors from far and wide. The best you can do is fall in love with this charming city during your visit.  These top five places will be the building blocks to your affair with the Big Apple. Check them out at night and get caught between the moon and New York City.

Empire State Building
There is no comparison to the sheer rush of being on top of this architectural wonder.  It’s the perfect perch to showcase  the beautiful view of lively Manhattan. Visiting the Empire State Building at night is a breathtaking experience, and you can also enjoy an equally stunning view of the city after day break, preferably at 8 a.m. so that you can avoid the long lines. Tickets to the 86th floor cost $16 and if you choose to go up higher to the 102nd floor it is $15 extra.

Hoboken Ferry Terminal
Most people don’t know that one of the most charming hotspots of the city that affords the viewer an unexpected, but fantastic view of the New York City skyline from across the Hudson River is in Hoboken.  It’s just a ferry ride from Manhattan. Savor the stunning view of the piers that edge the West Side of Manhattan from New Jersey.  A picturesque experience worth the travel time. The ferry tickets to Hoboken cost only $8 each way for adults and the visit to this city is worth your time.  So if this is the experience during the day, the nighttime view is simply breathtaking.

Statue of Liberty and Liberty Island
No New York trip would be complete if you miss the majesty and emotion of the Statue that proudly stands as a beacon of peace and hope.  The soaring monument consistently tops the list of tourists’ must-see sights. In addition to its impact and distinctive appeal, the island on which the statue calls its home features some of the most spectacular views of New York City. There are no words to describe being up-close to the statue and experience the NYC skyline views from Liberty Island.  It’s one of the gotta-be-there-moments that will last a lifetime!   But at night, it is even more magical.

Top of the Rock
For completely stunning  skyline views, one of the best venues to enjoy is Top of the Rock. The best part about connecting with the city via its skyline from Top of the Rock is that it’s relatively an unknown feature.  So, lines are shorter than for the Empire State Building. You have the choice of three observation decks at the Top of the Rock.  Soaring to the top nets you fantastic views of Manhattan's major architectural landmark, the Empire State Building. Tickets cost $17.50 for adults. If you are only in  NYC for a short period of time, definitely squeeze in some time to soak in the city from the Rockefeller Center observation deck that boast the most brilliant view of the NYC skyline, especially during the night.

Brooklyn Heights Promenade
Simply one of the oldest and most beautiful neighborhoods in Brooklyn, it is populated with gorgeous brownstones, gourmet restaurants and fun specialty shops. If you are looking to experience some diversity from Manhattan’s bustling energy, Brooklyn Heights is a great place to visit outside of Manhattan.  Taking a stroll along the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, a charming waterfront walkway along the East River will be one of the highlights of visiting Brooklyn Heights.  The Promenade offers incredible views of the city and is quite romantic when you take a midnight stroll hand in hand with your true love.

The Piano Guys

A couple of weeks ago, I got an email from Youtube.  Since I subscribe to several channels, they send me videos they think I will like.  Well, they sent me this video:

(Okay, this link isn't working and no matter how much I cut and paste, it doesn't seem to give me a viable link, so here's the direct one:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzGgX1DihPw&feature=em-subs_digest-vrecs)

Pirates of the Caribbean - Incredible Piano Solo of Jarrod Radnich Filmed by ThePianoGuys

I love Pirates of the Caribbean and especially Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow.  So here's a picture of him for no other reason than to just look at him.

And I love piano and symphony music, so I clicked on it to watch.  Jarrod Radnich is extremely good with the keys and plays the piece superbly.  Certainly enjoy the video.  But that's not where my blog post stops.

I saw the link at the bottom of the video for The Piano Guys.  Intrigued by the name, and after seeing the entertaining video above, I clicked on that link.  I'm so glad I did.  Since it was close to Christmas when I got the video, The Piano Guys had a music video for one of my most favorite Christmas Carols - Carol of the Bells.  I clicked on it immediately.  OMG! I'm a writer, and I have no words to describe how beautiful or versitile a cello can be or how much joyous rapture the man who played the cello could show on his face.  It's definitely his passion.  Here's that one.

Steven Sharp Nelson is that cello player and not only do I love to listen to him play, but I love to watch him as well.  Thank you Steven for doing such a beautiful job on my most favorite Christmas carol.  It will now become a season tradition to watch this video each year.

I want to share one more music video with you that I just got in my Just for You from Youtube:  Daily Update.  Steven Sharp Nelson and Jon Schmidt offer some wonderful comedic moments.  This video is just as amazing as the other ones they've produced, but the featured performance by Lindsey Stirling almost steals the show as she lends a stylized, ballet-dance-cool to her wonderful violin playing.  Check out her channel Lindsey Stirling  and her website.  This girl plays the violin like an angel and her moves that are briefly showcased in the Mission Impossible video only gives you a small demonstration of how awesome she is. 

Enjoy these videos.  I'm sure you'll be as much of a fan of The Piano guys and Lindsey as I am!  Here's their website in case you'd like to read more about them.  The Piano Guys.

That Special Magic

And they lived happily ever after.  Almost anyone who's either seen a Disney movie or read a fairytale knows those words.  That's what romance books are all about and if you're here at my blog you can see that I'm all about the happily ever afters! And it looks like you are, too!  We romance writers thank you! (We...ahem...love romance, too!  But I guess you already know that!)

Once upon a time there was this young girl.  As it goes with young girls, they often try to find out where they belong in the world.  What are their strengths and weaknesses.  Well, this young girl loved to read.  When she was sixteen years old, her grandmother gave her a book to read.  But this wasn't just any ordinary book.  This book glowed with a special kind of magic.  A magic that permeates every part of the world.  The girl wanted to know about the special magic and even as her anticipation rose and her fingertips tingled, she read the book.  And something wondrous happened.  She started to see where she might fit into the world, where she might make her mark.  She discovered something inside herself that she didn't know existed.  She discovered a passion and the determination to make special magic on her own.  Of course, that girl was me.  And the special magic?  You already know.  That's the power of love.  My happily ever after was discovering that I wanted to write books about happily ever afters.

Please comment and leave your email address  Tell me, what is your special magic, your passion?

Discover the magic of my novels:

Going to the Dogs Series:

A New York City dog whisperer, a reluctant, sexy bad boy, amorous great Danes, and the unexpected puppy pregnancy. Where to Buy: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords

A savvy entrepreneur, a seriously ridiculous lawsuit that leads to a very serious murder, an enticing and hard-as-nails lawyer and a lovable bulldog.   Where to Buy:

 
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords












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A $5 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of Leashed.


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Monday Inspired

I want to share inspirational words with you.  So each month, I'll do a inspirational words feature.

Nadine Ramelb (c) all rights reserved (TropicalDayStar.com)

The  Future belongs to those who

BeLiEvE in the BeaUty of their DReamS

Eleanor Roosevelt

Can a Dog Have a Bad Hair Day?

Yes, when it's Kristen Wright-Davis's poodle Mimi.  Here is an excerpt from my newest release.  Enjoy!

Chapter One

“You stupid cow!”

Brooke yanked her gaze away from the computer screen, her heart plummeting to her toes like a stone. Kristen Wright-Davis. Not again. With a surge of adrenaline, she raced out of the office toward the grooming room, where her nemesis shrieked in short, staccato blasts, punctuated by the yapping of her hyper toy poodle, Mimi.

“I have asked you repeatedly to sedate Mimi, Mrs. Wright-Davis.” Her groomer’s voice wobbled and Brooke moved faster to stave off disaster.

 Pushing the door open, Brooke wasn’t surprised to find that Kristen—a life-sized, hard-gloss, Barbie-zilla—had backed poor, disheveled, worn out Rachel into a corner physically as well as verbally. Her groomer was buckling under the pressure and looked like she was about to burst into tears. Kristen loomed over Rachel, her tanned, pampered skin in stark contrast to the groomer’s pale face.

The hair on the back of Brooke’s neck popped up like porcupine quills. How dare that self-absorbed witch attack poor Rachel!

“Kristen—”

Kristen Wright-Davis - Trophy Wife

"Don't talk back to me, dog groomer girl. You are nothing but a service provider, and you aren’t entitled to an opinion!" Kristen snapped, wagging her head like Mick Jagger on steroids.   “Look what you have done to my Mimi!” She pointed a trembling finger at her noisy dog for emphasis. “This is outrageous! She has a show this weekend! You have ruined any chance she had to win. You stupid, stupid cow.”

Brooke stepped forward, summoning her most soothing manner. “Kristen, why don’t you and I discuss how we might solve this problem to your satisfaction?”

The woman’s head snapped around and homed in on the new target, just as Brooke hoped she would. As smooth as silk, Brooke maneuvered herself between Kristen and a cowed Rachel, squeezing her groomer’s shoulder reassuringly as she ushered her out of the room with a quick whisper. “Go hide in my office.”

“Look at what she’s done to my baby. It-it-it’s intolerable,” Kristen screeched, pointing again with a blood red-tipped finger, then settling her fists at the waist of her tight leather pants with a huff. Her collagen-puffed lips evolved from a pout to a nasty snarl.

She would have looked so pretty if she had stayed still.

Brooke looked down at the spoiled furball that still yapped and growled and snapped the air, straining to reach Brooke and sink in her needle teeth. The tension inside the small room scraped against Brooke’s skin.  Obviously Mimi was simply reacting to the tension and to her owner’s state of mind. 

And then Brooke finally took a close look at the poodle’s cut. What a disaster.  Fur was missing in clumps scattered throughout her otherwise precise and professional show cut.

Brooke mentally threw up her hands. Half of this animal’s problem was that she had such an indulgent, spoiled, pretentious woman for an owner. The other half was she had an indulgent, spoiled, pretentious woman for an owner.  Maybe Kristen should be the one to take a sedative before coming into Pawlish.

“I’m so sorry this happened just before a show.” Brooke cleared her throat, reaching for a more mollifying tone.  “I sympathize with your disappointment. I would be happy to offer you six months of grooming for free, and I’ll refund the full amount of the entrance fee as compensation.”

Kristen’s eyes narrowed and her face darkened. “Six months free? Entrance fee?  My baby looks like this, and…and you insult me with six months of grooming free and money? That’s a slap in the face. I will never use your cut-rate joint again.”

She grabbed Mimi and stuffed the yapping, snarling bundle into her Louis Vuitton dog carrier. Mimi shoved her head up over the zipped closure and snapped at Brooke again as Kristen swept past her toward the door.

Brooke’s first line of defense and strongest skill was her ability to defuse tense situations, to turn snarling lions into pussycats. It was definitely time to put her lifetime of practice to work as skillfully as she could. Fast.

As the young wife of an older, wealthy, and prominent lawyer, Kristen had a great deal of influence in New York City, especially in the social circles where Brooke found most of her clientele. It would be all too easy for this woman to bad-mouth Pawlish to all her friends and sabotage the business Brooke had made successful by providing unparalleled and skillful service.

Staying calm and thinking creatively should do the trick.  “Kristen, my policy is that no client leaves Pawlish unhappy.  Let’s work together to make that happen.”

Kristen turned around and stared over Brooke’s shoulder. Brooke looked behind her, frowning.  What was she looking at?  Rachel stood at the office door, tear tracks marking her face.  She was the sweetest, most helpful girl, and was the only one at Pawlish who would work with Kristen’s unruly poodle. Brooke’s heart turned over, and she wanted to go comfort her, but she had to deal with Kristen first.

With a hard-edged, steady gaze at Rachel, Kristen snarled, “Fire that stupid cow.”

Brooke’s head whipped around, her face stiff with shock, her jaw slack.  Rachel’s sobbing and the slam of the office door struck her heart with a hard, painful thump.  Was this woman serious?  Fire Rachel, an employee who had been with her since she’d started her business, who took on any task that was asked of her, who worked so hard that Brooke had to shoo her home to her kids?  Brooke had no words—well, she did, but those words weren’t professional.  Kristen’s callousness was simply mind-boggling.

Fire exploded in the pit of her stomach and flashed up her torso, heating her face.  It wasn’t enough that Kristen insisted on bringing her nasty, fidgety, contrary little dog for grooming without sedating her first. Noooo, this woman—who had more money than she could spend—wanted Brooke to fire a hard-working, very competent employee just to satisfy her spiteful whim.  Kristen’s smug look only fanned the flames of Brooke’s determination.  Rachel wasn’t going anywhere.

For the first time since she’d opened her doors, Brooke decided this particular customer was not right.

“Oh, Kristen, there’s no need for such drastic action.” Brooke waved her hand in dismissal.  “We can come up with something much more palatable.  Like a yummy basket of homemade, totally organic doggie treats for sweet Mimi?  How does that sound?”  She needed to unclench her jaw so the next words she spoke sounded more calm and self-assured.

Kristen tilted her head.  “Ahhhh…you’re placating me, and usually I’m all for that.  A little groveling always makes my day.  But in this case, no.  I insist you give me what I want. And I always get what I want.” Her smile was full of sunny, self-satisfied condemnation.

 “I’m trying to make amends.  Please, let’s put this behind us.” Brooke smiled, too, trying to extend an olive branch without wishing at the same time that Kristen would choke on it.

Kristen wrinkled her nose in mock cheer, but her eyes projected just plain mean girl.  “Ooooh, you’re so cute when you’re insolent.”  Kristen took a step closer, getting right into Brooke’s face.  Her eyes narrowed, her voice low with a steely calm.  “You’ve made a big mistake, Brooke. I’ll ruin you any way I can. Just wait and see if I won’t.” With that, she flipped her unnatural blonde hair and flounced out.

Oh, shit, that chick was scary. 

Brooke took a deep breath to calm her pounding heart.  Surely she could find a way to win Kristen over.  She’d been able to convert cranky old Mr. Witherspoon into a fan when she was a kid. If she could do that, Kristen should be easy. It was just a matter of time. 

Brooke dragged her hands through her hair, rolling her eyes. Turning to her receptionist, she said, "Really, can a dog have a bad hair day?”

 

“Maybe," her receptionist laughed softly, “but I'd wager that poor Mr. Wright-Davis didn't get the first place trophy with that wife.”

Go here to buy:  Groomed for Murder