***
Recently, I had a the amazing opportunity to visit Aulani.
What is an Aulani, you say? It’s Disney…in Hawaii. A
bazillion star resort smack dab in the middle of Honolulu where the water is a
misty shade of turquoise and the sand is soft and warm.
As soon as we entered the private gates—they might have been
pearly—we were home. I could have left the resort to explore the island and the
sites, but the moment I got leied, there was no other place I wanted to be.
Aside from the beautiful accomodations and the infamous Disney touch, there’s a
boatload of hidden Mickeys and water. My biggest decision each day was whether
to float on the lazy river, cool in the pool, or soak up golden rays on the
private cove beach.
On the Honolulu walk of fame, I met Mickey and Minnie,
Donald, Goofy, Moana, and Stitch of the famous Experiment 626 Stitches. Within
the resort there are luaus, gorgeous, but expensive restaurants, shopping, and
live music lit by the stars and tikki lights. Did I mention that I had the
daylights scared out of me by a real mongoose as I sat fireside? Only a slight
heart attack.
Finally, and by no means the least, there is FREE childcare.
Amen. Your welcome.
I’d recommend Aulani any day of the week. If you do decide to
go, I have five tips to make your stay even better. 1) Make reservations for
restaurants, activities, and excursions ahead of time. The concierge is the
best 2) Visit the grocery store across the street on day one and stock the
in-room fridge. Your wallet will thank you. 3) If the forecast says rain, don’t
fret. There’s always a morning drizzle, then the rays come out. 4) Sunscreen
like nobody’s business and 5) Don’t pack your schedule so tight that you miss
the chance to soak it all in.
***
Title: It’s Got A Ring To It
Author: Mia Heintzelman
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Levi Lynn Books
Date of Publication: 10/17/15
ASIN: B015VJ2QCY
ISBN: 978-0692504239
Number of pages: 266
Word Count: 91,677
Blurb:
Laila Smart was took a
shot at the sweet life as a candy boutique owner, when the news of her ex's
engagement sent her into a frenzied tailspin. Somewhere in between
the dating and dashing, Laila must ultimately decide whether to keep
looking back, or push on for love.
Buy links:
http://miaheintzelman.com
Excerpt:
As Lena and her entourage headed my way, I ducked under the
fluffiest tulle contraption I could find, which looked more like a tissue and
cotton ball storm than anything resembling a dress. As itchy as it was, I
thanked my lucky stars for the cover.
Still in her comfort zone, she blabbed about her reception
plans, “…and after the cake-cutting, it’s on to the candy station, followed by
more photos, and a video montage before the dancing starts…” She trailed off
again, but for some reason, the candy station stuck in my mind.
When she asked me to design the whole table for the
station, I just figured I’d do it because she’s my sister. It hadn’t dawned on
me that it could be another selling point.
I couldn’t believe it. To my annoying little sister’s
credit—the one whose diet once consisted of paste and mud pies—I owed a debt of
gratitude. The pieces to my presentation started coming together.
First, I would talk about my shop and all it has to offer
then go into the whole candy station feature, and end it all with a bang when I
pitched a color-coordinated candy line for brides.
Ooh, I wanted to do the happy dance right there in the
middle of the bridal abyss, but the words that I had just heard the saleslady
utter stopped the reel dead in its track. Rewind. What did she say?
“Myles Donovan called to say he’s on his way. He’s with the
woman who’s in dressing room three,” she said to another consultant.
His name breezed nonchalantly from her as if it meant
nothing. The man who has terrorized my life was going to be in the same place
at any minute? My luck had never been that timely, or favorable.
I didn’t know whether to hide or stand at the storefront
ready for combat. Settling for discretion, I pretended to be checking out shoe
clips and tiaras, as if they interested me at all.
Their voices were low, but I heard them hemming and hawing
about his rugged good looks. Not only was it completely tacky for them to be
swooning over someone else’s fiancé, but they were clueless to the nightmare of
outlandish harassment he’s put me through. What type of sicko would want to
marry him?
As if on cue, a woman floated out of dressing room three—to
request a smaller size, no less. Not only was she mind-numbingly gorgeous, she
was a skinny twig, too. For heaven’s sake, it was Barbie, anatomically correct
in all her splendor. In pink and black lace trim La Perla, I was practically drooling.
At her beck and call, someone rushed in with clamps to
cinch her dress. Once she was out of earshot, Wilma and Betty—the saleswomen—jabbered
on about their hopes of seeing him again.
My mind was fixated on what I’d actually say to him. “Hi,
I’m Laila, the woman, whose phone number you’ve given to every creditor in the
world and personally asked to call me daily at the wee hours of the morning.”
Something short and sweet perhaps, “Die.” Better yet, “I hate your guts, have a
nice day.”
Right at a good part in the gossip, the chitchat stopped,
and I knew he arrived. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Wilma losing all
consciousness. Her arms fell to her sides. Her entire face turned red with
embarrassment. By the time Betty clued in, they became drones. Slowly, I turned
my head in the direction of their attention.
“Hi, I’m Myles Donovan,” the words sashayed from his mouth
rhythmically, like a songbird. Could he be the same Myles Donovan? Betty and
Wilma mentioned good looks, but I figured their taste in men would be directly
related to their mediocre ratings in the looks department.
Author bio:
Mia
Heintzelman (Neat), a Chicago native, has penned four books: The Black
Words of Green Eyes (2000), Banana Split (2006), It's Got A
Ring To It (2015), and most recently, The Boogie Bear (2016). Heintzelman
has written editorially for local Las Vegas magazines, including The Las
Vegas Weekly and Pulse Magazine. Currently, she is working on a
romantic suspense novel to be release in later 2017.
Author website and social media
links:
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