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Good morning Samantha!

The Secret Passion is sold out everywhere where I live--aggravating for me, great for you!

I’ve had a number of wonderful surprises in my life (the fates have been very kind to me) but my best was finding out I was pregnant with daughter number three--after trying for four years, giving up, and selling all of our baby things.

I laughed until I cried.  Life is gloriously ironic sometimes.

Golly, now that I think about it, I’ve led a life that is abysmally low on the surprise meter. LOL!

Probably the biggest surprise of my life was my hubby’s surprise and his call to me to share it:

We’d had a horrible ice storm here in Atlanta and the city was all but paralyzed, but Yours Truly still had to go into work.  Dh, however, had the day off.  He got bored and decided to take the car down Mt. Everest (our driveway) and run up to the nearest convenience store and buy a scratch-off lottery ticket.

I’m at work on my lunch break, and the phone rings. I answer and it’s hubby. He asks me “are you sitting down?”

“Why?”

“Are you sitting down?”

“Yes. Did you wreck my car?”

“No. I just won $50,000 on a lottery ticket.”

“You did not.”

“Yes, I did.”

“Yes, Mom, he did!!” (my daughter yelling in the background)

This was where my knees gave out and sank to the chair in back of me. LOL!

We had a great time with that money...paid off some bills and took the kids to Europe for a great vacation.

Good morning Samantha...from what I hear about the book, I think I’ll be getting it for my trip to New York this weekend.

My greatest suprise was when I found out I was pregnant with my third (and last) child.  I was on those Depo-Provera injections and they weren’t agreeing with me.  My doctor told me that I would still be “safe” for about six months.  Well....I guess I wasn’t!  I started feeling nauseous and couldn’t understand why I was so tired! (Depo causes your periods to stop, so that didn’t alarm me) Well, one day at work someone was popping popcorn and I got violently ill.  That confirmed it for me (because my other two pregnancies, the smell of popcorn gave me a particularly STRONG reaction).  I went home and took a test and bingo...baby was on the way!

First of all, CONGRATS ON MAKING #13!  (Do we have a WOOT-WOOT emoticon?) Now I know what I am going to be doing after I go to the gym---I’m going to Dis....I mean Borders!

Biggest surprise for me that was scream worthy?  I’d have to say it was when we learned my cousins, who struggled for years and years to have children, were finally pregnant.  Well, she was anyway.  They told us while we were vacationing with them in Canada.

BTW Cyndi....does your DH still have those numbers?  I wonder if they would work in NY.....

I remember being told I made the New York Times list.  I was in my office at the university.  None of my colleagues knew yet that I was a writer; I was keeping it a secret until I got tenure.  I called home and my son answered.  “I’m on the New York Times list!” I shrieked.  “Didn’t you do that before?” he said, with complete disinterest.

That’s one thing non-writers find hard to understand—it is SO different to be on the New York Times extended list versus being on the Times itself.

And you know the most wonderful thing about Samantha’s NYT showing?  It came because readers loved it!  It wasn’t because the publisher pushed thousands of copies out there for $3.99—because it came in the second week of sales!  We call that having legs—that book climbed right up the list.

GO SAMANTHA!!!!!

hugs,
Eloisa

I guess I’ve led a relatively calm life, my pregnancies were no surprise, but happy wonderful occasions.  But I guess recently, my dh told me he is going to sell his motorcyle, and I couldn’t help but be thrilled but not outwardly. I screamed on the inside because I’ve wanted him to get rid of it but would never ask him to give up something he claimed gave him so much joy.  But I guess the biggest surprise came when I asked him why?

Why would you give it up?

dh:  I guess I realized if I wanted to drive in the hill country (I live in San Antonio, TX) I would rather take the convertible, get you to go, put the top down and spend the day with you.

I cried!
We’ve been married 25 years, and the days just get better and better.

Oh Samantha, what an amazing and wonderful story!  My heart was pumping with excitement even as I read it.  To pop onto the list like that unexpectedly in the second week is nearly unheard of in the industry and it means that the book was flying off the shelves and getting incredible word of mouth. 

Oh, how I love it when the good gals win!

FANTASTIC!  Congratulations.

That’s fantastic, and I am happy to say that I helped with your number 13!!

Myself, I love surprises. My son came as one of the best surprises of my life, and I’ve never been so happy as on that day.

Just this weekend I got another great surprise. I submitted my novel to a writer’s competition here in Ontario, and was surprised to find out this weekend that I had WON!!

Now, my next surprise isn’t going to be the NYT bestseller’s list, but I’m on my way!

Whoot Whoot!  After reading that I’m incredibly happy for you.  All the ladies have been raving about this book over on Eloisa’s (and Julia’s) bulletin board and I’ve had it in my hand to buy twice.  Twice! and put it back.  The TBR shelf is over 100 and I felt guilty.  But no more.  I’m getting this book ASAP!

No big surprises I can think of.  In HS maybe when I found out our band (yes I was a band geek) was going on a cruise.  That was pretty exciting.  Then maybe when that little stick showed a positive and told me I was going to be a mommy.  Other than that, nothin’. 

I need more surprises in my life!

Congratulation Samantha!!!  and #13 is my lucky number so I am happy that it is being good to someone else.
No big surprises in my life, but with the little ones I get those butterflies.
My word is weeks99 and I hope that is how long you will stay on the NYT list.

Ms. James--how wonderful for you! I’m only 23--yet I think I already understand how fickle, but also how rewarding the business can be.

2yrs. ago I was struggling to find a romance publishing internship so I emailed the coordinator from my previous intership, even though things had ended awkwardly.  No response!  By now it was late summer, and I decided to start interviewing for lit. agency internships (no financial reimbursement or college credit, unlike big publishing house internships = bottom of barrel). So it was the day before my first lit. agency interview and I was at the local nail salon getting a manicure when my phone rings. I somehow answer the phone with my gooey, hot-mitt covered hands.  It was my old coordinator, admiring my persistance and offering me a shot in romance! 

“Take this down, take this down!” I squawked to the baffled manicurist/secretary.  It was quite a picture.  Me, flailing around with burning hot oven mitt thingies on my hands, and the manicurist following me around with a pen and paper as I paced the shop.  I got the job, but I loved getting that call.

I’m so glad you haven’t given up, Ms. James and I’d love a copy of your book.

I picked up my copy a week ago I’m a new reader of about a year now and LOVE it i can’t belive i had to turn 41 before i realized what a joy reading is. I chose the book after reading the discription and had intintions of reading it after i was done reading the series i’m on but now i think the series will have to wait!!

Well I’m going to try and post a pix of my latest surprise for mother’s day..a 1972 volks bug!  He he, I get a lot of stares when I drive it..hope the link works!
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/6015/dscn1012bj9.th.jpg

Oh, my best surprise was i had gone to the dr. to see what was wrong with me why after 4 years i hadn’t gotten pregnant i thought maybe i could not have children well they done some blood work and came back and they told me I was pregnant!!! I did not have trouble having the second one, however.

Congratulations!!!  I loved what you said about having a reality check and yes - the part about moving mountains too but isn’t the reward so much sweeter because of the trial and wait?? haha (don’t you love it when people tell you - nothing ever worth having comes easy talks!).  I have been wanting to get my hands on this book because it’s been raved over at Eloisa and JO’s BB but all my grocery stores copies are always sold out (even Walmart).  Looks like I have to make a special trip to B&N for this (I have 2 little ones and B&N is just not a place for a bulky stroller and sticky hands, LOL!) I’m sold on getting it now though.

Welcome, Samantha! Congratulations on the NYT list—you deserve #13. Heck, you deserve #1!

I guess my wonderful moment was getting published. I’d been writing for so long and when I finally got the call, I was so happy. I treasured that happiness and I can still dip into the well when I need it.

And Bethany—what a great story. Your persistance, and the manicure mitts. 

Congratulations. Your book was great..My best surprise was finding out I was pregnant. I thought I had a ulcer..

Congratulations!  I was one of those who read your book right away and loved it.  Thanks for a great story and bringing us Simon. 

The best surprise came when my parents decided to move out of the big family house I grew up in and they gave ithe house to me.  My husband and I are both teachers and would never be able to afford this type of house on 4 acres.  Dad said that he wanted to see my children play where his children played.  He died of cancer 2 years later, I’m just so happy he was able to see the boys play.

Kathy

Wow! Congratulations Samantha!!  It always surprises me when I hear people talk about having never read your books before.  I mean, how is it that I could have discovered such an amazing author (having read every book since picking up Gabriel’s Bride, back in....um.... a while ago).  I mean, I’m not that smart, am I??  I guess I am, because I’ve loved all your books.  Simon & Annie’s story was amazing.  I don’t think I’ve read a book that touched me quite like this story did.  I can only imagine how it must have been to write it!  Sigh!  My moment must have been when I found out I was pregnant again after MC my first pregnancy.  It was an amazing feeling.  9 months + 13 months later = total and complete chaos...but a good chaos!!

Congratulations, Samantha James! Wow, I was astounded to learn that this is your first time on the Bestsellers List! I’ve been reading you for years, and always assumed you were on there.

Surprises? Child number two was a shock, I had decided not to have anymore kids, was even on the Pill. I was not a happy camper. I took the test, it came out positive, and I stormed out to where my hubby was helping my dad work on a car and threw it at him, screaming “I hope you’re happy!” He just grinned like an idiot, the test bounced off of his head and landed by Dad, who picked it up and said, “yes, I am.” and they went back to working on the car! Not my best moment.

Turns out that was the easiest pregnancy and child birth EVER, and I have a beautiful daughter because of it.

I went to college 1500 miles from home.  When I graduated, I expected my parents to be there, and they were, but I thought that they would be the only family members there.  Much to my surprise, they didn’t come alone.  Following them off the plane were my two sisters, my niece, and my great niece, and the information that yet another niece and my brother would be flying in later that day!!!!  I would indeed be surrounded by family on the most important day of my life!!  I had felt their complete love and support throughout my college career, but this one magnificent gesture meant more to me than anything else.

Gillian, what a heartwarming story.  And ask your local bookstore to order Passion.

Cinthia, my husband would be so envious--wow, $50,000.

KC, LOL !

Bethany, oven mitts! OVEN MITTS!!!??

Lots of new baby moments. Kids are so precious. Congrats to all! Now, the later years may be a bit more trying…

KC - thank you, ma’am!

Susan and Goatkat, geez, you almost made me cry (doesn’t take much for that to happen)

Ms. Mary, love the color on that VW. The first car the DH and I bought together was a VW.

To the Squawkers--those moments are unforgettable.

All of these are! 

Wow, what an amazing story. It is nice to see that it is important to follow your dreams and never give up, until you reach for it !

Congratulations on your new book, and it must be wonderful to have your name on such a great bestsellers list…

I have to agree with everyone that I have had a very surprise filled life, and have actually been very blessed.  Samantha, Simon’s story was wonderful.  Congrats on #13, now that is a nice surprise!  I think that when my husband proposed on Valentines Day, that was a surprise.  I really didn’t think that he was ever going to do it.  I knew it was jewlery, but when I opened the box and saw the ring, I didn’t say anything.  No screaming or crying...LOL He looked at me and said “It’s an engagement ring”, and I said, “I know.” He then asked, “So will you?”, and I said"Yes." I then kissed him hard on the mouth and ran to call my sister on the phone!!  Then I screamed!!!  Oh and I also turned on the computer and told everyone on the Avon board!!!...LOL So that was a wonderful surprise.  Hope you all enjoyed the story!!!
Amy

Samantha…

Let me just say that I LOVE your work and I am so happy for you and your success with this book!

As for a surprise… never say never is a wonderful concept! Last year after a horrific ordeal- I decided to change my major and become a nurse.

Long story short… after people telling me that there was no way that I would ever be accepted at one of the top nursing schools in the nation, I realized that I would never get in. After school one day, the day I was going to finally get my letter- my mom called and she told me that she was on her way home to check the mail. I was a nervous wreck- I knew a rejection was coming but I just could not prepare myself for it. About 30 minutes later, there was a knock on my door and there stood my mother- tears running down her face and a smile as bright as the sun holding up-- my ACCEPTANCE letter!!! I was in!! I screamed, I jumped around, I screamed again, I started crying and shaking. People told me that I would never get in… but you should really never say never! I started nursing school a week ago and I have never been happier!!

Congratulations on the book and I cannot wait for the next!!!

-Juliana

There have been many surprises in my life and even though I am not a screamer, the remembrance of them still brings much happiness to mind.
The big ones were a surprise 50th birthday party with 67 people inside my house, the unexpected announcement of a coming grandchild, the sale of my first painting and the eventually win of the regional division in a state-wide competition for the year’s best amatuer artwork.
However, there are many small surprises in life equally worthy of note.  Joy in life is a special quality we can take pleasure in whether it is an event that makes us want to scream or merely a moment here and there that brings delight we didn’t have before.  The main point is to enjoy them.
As I have done with the reading of Simon’s story.  The title intrigued me first, the publicity I’d read added to the appeal and once I’d finished it, I was impressed with the human (imperfect) qualities of the characters It was a joy to read and a book I placed on my keeper shelf with great satisfaction.
It is great writing, Samantha, and definitely worth screaming about.  It makes me look forward to reading the next one.

Welcome and Congratulations Samantha!

I have to say my most wonderful moments are when I marry off one of my cousins and we are done with the wedding. The last month of the plotting and planning is a little intense but it’s great when it’s finish and then we plan the babby showr.

Congratulations for making the NYTimes short list, Ms. James!!  I, too, was one that thought surely you had already been there!  I love your books.  And #13 has always been lucky for me, and I hope it is just as lucky for you!!

I must live a pretty boring life.  I knew it, I just hadn’t realized how boring until reading some of the stories above!! 

I loved Simon and Anne’s story and can’t wait until the Aidan’s book comes out. 

--dorothy

WELCOME, dear Samantha, and I so agree, thirteen is a wonderful number!!! My daughter was born on the thirteenth, and so was my brother.

May I confess to absolute teeth-gnashing cover and title envy? I CAN’T WAIT to read this story, I know it’s going to be wonderful. Moi wants to know all about Simon and his secrets!

Congratulations many times over!

--Lisa

The day a big box came in the mail and I couldn’t figure out what in the world it was.  Dh brought it to the van and I said who is that for.  He said ‘you’.  I said it can’t be there must be a mistake.  We opened it and inside were 6 board games; I still didn’t understand and then it hit me.  I had entered a contest and I had won.  No correspondence telling me I won so this came as a big surprise(big as in big box, lol, and big as in I’m so surprised.  I kept on saying to dh ‘I can’t believe I won’!

Juliana, my daughter is just finishing nursing school. She thought she wouldn’t get in either. She was shaking so much she made me open the letter. And she had a surprise proposal, too. Her (now) husband had been in Iraq for a year. She told me she’d give him a year to propose and if he hadn’t by then, well . . . Six months later they were at a hilltop overlooking the ocean when he got down on his hands and knees and asked her--she told him to stop joking! Then he pulled out the ring. Turns out he’d bought it the day after he got back from Iraq but the unit had been told not to make any life-changing decisions for at least 6 months, so he waited.

Another daughter was proposed to in London’s Hyde Park by the Peter Pan statue. He lifted her over the fence and he’s not a six-foot muscle-man! It’s cool to see that men are just as sentimental as we are!

We knew about it beforehand with all three of our girls, because their guys all asked our permission first!

And birthday parties are just plain fun.

Samantha, I just have to say that your novel was absolutely wonderful!  I loved Simon and Anne’s story.  They were wonderful characters.  Your book was one of the best ones I have read this year.

Congratulations to you Samantha on your NYT spot.. and 13 is one of the BEST numbers (I was a 13 baby too). 

One of the best surprises? (other than the assorted family ones of course). 
At another authors blog they had a contest over the year; four winners would become a ‘Book Club member’ and would receive a copy of each authors book published in 2007....well, when I got the totally unexpected email I did scream and jump up from the chair...and I couldn’t stop talking about it.
Suffice it to say my family was “okay, that’s nice” and just couldn’t get why I was soooooo excited.  And stiil, when I get one of those books in the mail, it all comes back and I do my little happy dance… and ~ quietly ~ scream.  The surprise that keeps on giving… ‘cause I get to read the books over and over again… I’m in clover!

Hmmm, I think my most dramatic reaction to a surprise was when I was 17 and won a trip to Washington DC.  I had nailed the first part of the speech; and totally bombed with the second half--and being I was the dark horse contestant anyway, I thought that was it.  But the judges liked me anyway--and I won the trip to Washington DC.  I nearly fell to my knees when they announced my name--I couldn’t stand, and I immediately started crying like a Miss American winner. 

When I was 16, I got Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves--and I screamed down the house, leaping around like a maniac, waving my prize.  All caught on film.  (Totally didn’t think I was going to get it; was very psyched when I did.)

...and after those times...I’m not sure.  Occasionally I’ll get random surprise gifts with little pirate stuff, and I leap around like a 5-year-old, squealing and babbling in gibberish.  I’m kinda an exciteable person.  In fact, I’ve been bouncing around the last two days because I have sneak peak tickets to POTC3.

I think my most exciting surprise happened when I was in high school and my aunt called me telling me she got me tickets to the Garth Brooks concert.  I seriously was babbling like an idiot.  I was so excited that I would be able to see him before he stopped touring.

Congrats.  Wonderful news. My best surprise ever was for an anniversary present.  My husband decided to make this memorable with an Italian Vacation.  So special and the best time ever.  Unforgetttable.

The best surprise I can think of is when I graduated high school.  I was so in love with my boyfriend.  He had to work on the day I graduated and he worked at a dairy where you can’t just take off whenever, cows gotta eat, ya know?  Anyway, he was the only person I really, really wanted to see me graduate and I was so disappointed that he wasn’t going to be there.  They made us all parade around the football field to get to our seats, then we had to wait for our name to be called...blah,blah, anyway, after I got my diploma and was headed down the center aisle back toward my chair, there he stood, beaming at me, proud of me.  He had made it, he had watched me collect my diploma, and he had made sure to get in the exact spot that I would see him as soon as I headed back with my prize.  It was such a beautiful feeling, an amazing surprise, and made it all worthwhile.

Terry Jo, I love your pregnancy story.  That’s hilarious.  When I found out I was pregnant with my second one, I was in Dairy Queen (of all places).  I couldn’t wait until I got home to take the test, I was so worried.  That second pink line showed up and I thought I’d die.  I called my Mom and cried, “You have to get up here...now!” Mom thought something terrible had happened because I was so upset.  She got there and was like, “Is that all?” I just cried more.  lol I’m glad I’ve got my youngest daughter now, and Mom laughs at the memory, but I was so freaked out that day!

I have always believed 13 to be a lucky number.  When one isn’t suspicious, it is the best number.  I love Friday the 13th as it is one of my best days.
Congratulations.
The biggest surprise I had was when my church was praying for me a husband and at the same time praying for my husband a wife.  So since we both knew the same friends, God brought us both together.  I knew the moment I spoke to him I would marry him.  I went home and told my Dad.  He said the guy didn’t have a chance.  I knew I would marry him before year was out.  I told my boss to find someone to replace me as I’d be moving and getting married.  No one believed me at work.  But three months later I was married during the church service - didn’t even plan a special time.  Two weeks later my co-workers came to my reception given by my family.
No one still believed I would move but I knew it.  My husband was taking welding school.  As soon as he finished, he had to go where they sent him.  We got married in June, moved in August to Arizona.
My Mother-in-law died accusing me of stealing her son.

Congratulations, Samatha!  I had this book on my calendar when it would be released, so it’s great to know you’ve made The List.  And by the way, I loved this book and am looking forward to the next one.

I’ve had a lot of surprises in life but I think the best one was hearing “It’s a boy!” in the delivery room.  We didn’t want to know what the sex would be with our first child, and I’m glad we didn’t.  Words can’t describe how we felt at that moment.

Congratulations!! 

Simon and Anne’s story was Amazing!
I loved it!  I can’t wait for Aidan’s story.

Very compelling narrative, and I agree number 13 is a very lucky number. I got into med. school 3 years ago, after doing an interview the 13th of April. Getting there after graduating high school was my greatest achievement and greatest joy. When I got my acceptance letter, I was crying and shaking, so my mother had to open the letter to see if I had been accepted. And when I was sure that I had a place, well now I just had to call everybody I know… and it was stime to open a bottle of champagne !

Congratulations on getting your place on the la crème de la crème of bestsellers lists.

YAY!!! Woo-Hoo!!! LUCKY 13!!!
BIG CONGRATULATIONS to you Samantha!!!

WOW!!! THE SECRET PASSION OF SIMON BLACKWELL made # 13 on the NYT—that’s such fantastic news, and I can’t believe I missed it, but I’m so glad you blogged here today so I can offer my warmest felicitations to you—I’m so happy for you!   

As a long time reader, I know you deserve every bit of this success and much more; and like some of the other posters said…I’ve always thought you were a NYT bestselling author. And I have to say, I loved Simon and Anne’s story, and can’t wait for Aidan’s book.

Btw ~ the title and cover were great and I loved the stepback too (and it did look a little like Keanu Reeves *G*)

The birth of my son tops the list of wonderful things but now that he’s 19… my life’s just a bunch of continual surprises! 
(my word was for88 the year my son was born )

All the Best,
Irene M.

Ok, so smack me....I have never read a Samantha James book (I know, I know - but I’m so extraordinarily picky as I buy and keep every romance).  So, I think “well, the ladies turned me on to JR Ward (whose 4 novels I INHALED I loved them so much) so she must be good.” Well, I spent all day online yesterday reading EVERY EXCERPT on her website.  Don’t tell my boss.  I am now not only going out to purchase TSPOSB, I will be buying EVERY book of hers probably within the next few months.  Just from those short excerpts I am sold on you Samantha! 
And CONGRATULATIONS, by the way!!

What heartwarming stories of going down Memory Lane. Keep ‘em coming . . .

CONGRATULATIONS SAMANTHA

Hmmm, I honestly can’t think of any wonderful, fabulous surprises - not the kind that make you scream anyway. However, one of my flatmates sprung a surprise dinner on me when I left the UK. I thought I was going out for a curry (at Brick Lane) with my flatmates, but Luke had arranged for friends and work colleagues to be there. One flatmate even went so far as to text me and say she was too tired to come - Luke was in fits I’d be upset. (She appeared [with her partner] - they were running late.) I was so touched that all these people would bother to come to a dinner for me that I couldn’t say anything for ages

BTW, I’m loving everyone’s posts, especially your pregnancy story TerryJo.

orannia

Congratulations Samantha I think Simon’s story should be no 1 I just loved it so much and I can’t wait for Aidans story. My biggest suprises where of course my 4 children and then my grandson he is so special and we will have another grandchild in about 2 months and this time we don’t know what it is so it is going to be a big suprise. Again well done well deserved for all the hard work you have put into writing over the years to give us readers such enjoyment.
Have Fun
Helen
Australia

Congratulations Samantha!  How thrilled you must be!  I can’t wait to read Secret Passions.

Surprises?? not too much shocks me, but if you can imagine preparing a nursery for a girl after they told you it was a girl for months (including the ultrasound) and the the doctor says “it’s a boy!  well, you can imagine my response....."No it’s not, it has to be a girl!” In that moment, Emma changed to Andrew. And I had a lot of returns to make.

Oh well, 4 boys, 1 girl....and her name is Samantha!!

The best days of my life was when I learned i was pregnant.  Every time (I have 2 girls and 1) it was a blessing to me.  Even happier than that though was when my son told me that him and his girlfriend were going to have one and then right before my beautiful granddaughter was born my youngest found out she was pregnant too.  Both times I screamed, hollered, cried and jumped up and down.  Would have made a great Funniest Videos. LOL Now my granddaughter is 17 mths and my grandson is 7 mths. and they are the greatest joys of my life.

Congratulations, Samantha!

For me, also, the biggest surprises have to be finding out about my pregnancies (all 3 of them).  I had a hard time getting pregnant so needed some intervention with fertility drugs for my first 2 pregnancies.  I maybe wasn’t quite as surprised with #2 since I’d kind of suspected it.  With the third child, I was more in a state of shock/amazement than anything, because somehow I got pregnant without the fertility drugs and I was nursing at the time that I conceived, too. 

Samantha, I get good use out of your books.  What I mean is that I read them, and re-read them, and re-read them some more.  I really get my money’s worth.  My favorites of yours are the earlier ones like ONE MOONLIT NIGHT and EVERY WISH FULFILLED.  I love all your books but the earlier ones in particular, because I’ve had more time to re-read and enjoy them over and over again.  I loved how THE SECRET PASSION OF SIMON BLACKWELL wasn’t a depressing book even though the hero was a tortured figure consumed by tragic events of his past.

The biggest & best surprise I ever got was when my ex-boyfriend surprised me with a trip to Toronto to see my favorite band, Radiohead. It was such an amazing trip & one of the few thoughtful things he ever did for me.

Never say never is now my motto - I learned the hard way lol. Congratulations on lucky 13! I think my biggest surprise was after waiting til I was 33 to get pregnant, that it happened the first month - husband was out of town so only the dog heard me screaming lol.

Congratulations, Samantha!  What a thrill for you!  I am so enjoying Simon and Anne’s story.  I haven’t finished it yet, but I plan on staying up and finishing it tonight!

I guess my biggest surprise was finding out I was pregnant with child #3 (our only girl).  My husband had just left a few days before for a 6 month deployment and we were not really planning this baby.  It was a very welcome surprise, after the initial shock wore off. Nothing like telling your husband you’re pregnant over the phone.  The second surprise was discovering she was a girl.  After 2 boys, I never expected that!  Our daughter is 7 1/2 now--going on 17--and thinks she’s the boss of everyone, especially her brothers.

I don’t remember being surprised to the point of screaming/fainting/babbling/whathaveyou, and if I have it wasn’t very memorable that I decided to remember it.

And Congratulations for being in the top 15 on the NYT bestsellers. I’m sure Aidan will be up there as well (even if I have to buy 20 copies myself *g*) And btw I can’t wait for Aidan! And I especially can’t wait for Alec, he’s sounds like he’s going to be a riot...a rakish riot :D

Samantha,

I am sorry it took me so long to blog--anywhooo CONGRATULATIONS!

I am looking forward to reading about Simon Blackwell’s secret passion, I just love secret passions.

I have 3 children and all of my pregnancies were welcomed with joy and shouts of delight, but four years ago when some of my devotionals were published in a compilation book, was a day I will never forget.

I laugh now, remembering how I thought I’d be rich (I later learned my payment was a free copy of the book )

I still write everyday and will seek publication for my historical romance when its finished and if I succeed, I’m certain you will hear my cries of delight!

Congratulations Again, and I too look forward to your future works!

Congratulations Samantha!

I think my biggest surprise was when I got my first dog. We’d seen him at the pet store and when dad and I walked out with the bird seed for our budgie I said I knew exactly what I’d name the cute little black and white shih tzu. After we picked my mom up from work and went out to eat, dad said we’d swing by to take a look at him one more time so mom could see him. The guy from the pet store put him in my arms and dad said ‘we’ll take him’. Definitely my best surprise

Judy, Aidan is a guy who . . . well, you’ll just have to wait and see (yes, I’m smiling a rather evil little smile). And Alec is--as the younger generation would say, he’s a hottie. Of course, aren’t all heroes?

And I’m jealous of the gals who were surprised with vacation trips--I want one! Maybe I need to drop a few hints . . . or a LOT of hints!

I went to Wal-Mart looking for The Secret Passion and it’s not there!  Waaaa!  I want to know all of Simon’s secrets.

Just wanted to thank everyone who took the time to post . . . and for those who can’t find The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell on the shelves, your local bookstore can order it. You can also order it online, at barnes&noble.com or Amazon.com.

What an amazing, funny, hopeful story! Mega CONGRATULATIONS, Samantha!

Lisa