22 November 2012

Black Friday Blog Hop-



For Americans, Thanksgiving Day is a time to reflect what we are thankful for.  In school children are taught the first thanksgiving supper between the Pilgrims and the Natives.  A cornucopia represents all we’re grateful for, whether it’s a bountiful harvest or having a day off work.  It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the War Between the States, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens”, and celebrated the final Thursday in November.

The day after Thanksgiving…well, that became known as black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year and the official start of the Christmas/Solstice/Holiday season.  The name originated in Philadelphia where it described the heavy and disruptive pedestrian and vehicle traffic that came the day after Thanksgiving.  Some say it also denotes the day retailers operate in the “black”, or start turning a profit. 

I absolutely, positively, irrefutably, refuse to shop on Black Friday. 

The lines alone are enough to make me shudder in horror.  I’m the kind of person who starts Christmas shopping in July.  I make note of items friends or family really like and go back later and buy it for their present.  If, for some reason, I can’t find a gift then I resort to gift cards, but luckily I haven’t done that too often.  By the time Black Friday rolls around, I usually only have one or two presents left, and those are usually for Little Boy (AKA: son). 

But as I started to think about what I was going to write for the Black Friday Blog, I kept thinking about one of my favorite characters that I’ve written…Heather Hart.  Heather, from A Silver Lining, is a very broken woman.  She is summoned to her dying grandfather’s bedside because he wants to see if she’s worthy on inheriting his ranch.  She’s pitted against the foreman, Tristan Rogers, who loves the land fiercely.  She decides she wants the ranch, not because of family loyalty or pride, but because she knows it will make her rich when she sells it.

Heather has nothing to be thankful for.  I can’t reveal why she is the way she is, of course, because her journey from spoiled, selfish girl into a mature and nice woman is the story.  Many people have told me that they hated Heather and that’s good, because she’s not a nice woman.  If she was nice or likeable then her transformation wouldn’t have the same impact.  But something powerful made her the way she is, and only the gentle, compassionate love of Tristan can heal her.

I will reveal one little tidbit about the story.  Chapter One starts out when Heather was fifteen and the entire scenario where she meets a twenty-one year old Tristan actually happened to me.  And before most of you can go “Eww”, nothing happens to the teenager!  When I was fifteen, my parents and I went traveling the States one summer.  We ended up at this place called Hart Ranch in South Dakota and everything that Heather endures with a twisted ankle and a knight in shining armor rescuing her, happened to me.  My cowboy was named Damon, and we’re still in touch today.  But that’s where Heather’s story and my reality ends.  I did not go through the trials and tribulations that she went through, thank goodness! 

I am so thankful for the most important parts of my life: the health of my son, the ability to put food on the table, and wonderful family and friends around me.  Everything else is gravy.  And I rally appreciate all readers of my blog.  Thanks so much for visiting with me today and be sure to visit the other blogs in the hop!
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To win a PDF ebook, winner's choice, just leave a comment on if you shop on Black Friday and what's on your list!  Winner will be notified on Sunday (because I'm out of town till then!)  

40 comments:

  1. I haven't shopped on Black Friday for years.
    bituin76 at hotmail dot com

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  2. I hate the crowds so I'm thankful for this blog hop! Thanks for joining and for the chance to win!

    ehaney578 at aol dot com

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  3. We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here I live, so no Black Friday for me either. But it must be fun to go shopping :)

    verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com

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  4. I do not like crowds so BF shopping is not for me! I will be spending my day hopping and then snuggled up reading! Well that is after I decide on what new book I have just added to my to be read list! It gets longer every hop! Thanks!

    grapeapril75(at)gmail.com

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  5. We don`t have Black Friday sales here (I`m an international reader), so I`m just attending giveaways like this one,lol.
    Thanks! :)

    dita(dot)skarste(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. Oh i'm staying home this black friday!!! Nothing in the sale ads could make me go today. i do like to look them over and usually can find a better deal online.thanks you for joining the hop!
    miriam.whitewolf@gmail.com

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  7. My Mom and I were crazy enough to be at Kohl's at midnight but we got some great deals on blankets and sweaters :-) Happy Thanksgiving!

    smaccall AT comcast.net

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  8. I only shop online on black Friday I hate crowds LOL Carin
    mawmom at gmail dot com

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  9. I went out for a few things for the first time in years on Black Friday and it was so crazy we bought the Wii system and ran home! Thanks for this offer, Beth. Happy Thanksgiving!!

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  10. Nope. No black Friday shopping for me. I'd much rather stay home and play around online. :)

    Thanks!

    jinni_james@yahoo.com

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  11. I skipped Black Friday shopping this year. Hopping.

    Jennifer Rote
    wildnmild4u at yahoo dot com

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  12. I no longer shop on Black Friday but I did enjoy it when I did. Have a safe weekend.

    bbabygirl1908@aol.com

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  13. I don't shop on Black Friday my sister does so if I want anything she pick it up for me
    crystaley73 at yahoo dot com

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  14. no BF shopping

    Thanks for participating.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  15. Hi! Happy Holidays to you! No, im not a shopper on black friday. I hate crowds. I like to stay home, spend time with my family and eat leftovers. :) Thanks for the awesome hop and giveaway! Best wishes and many blessings to you!
    shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

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  16. Thank you! christiethemom@hotmail.com

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  17. I no longer go Black Friday shopping. Too many crazy people out there. I don't have the patience I had when I was younger, LOL. So today I am staying in and blog hopping, instead of shopping! angadair@nwcable dot net Thanks for the hop!

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  18. I love Black Friday shopping, (I live in a small town and people are pretty friendly, no blood or bruising) but this year they started at 8pm on thursday so I decided to stay at home and read. I went out about 11:30, when the stores were almost empty and still got all the specials that I wanted.
    I got a $19 printer, $4 jammies for the grandkids and a dual screen dvd player for the car (again for the grandkids) for $49 (and my sanity! :D )

    proudarmymom32(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  19. I definitely do not shop on Black Friday. While I am not as organized as you, I do manage to get finished around two or three on Christmas Eve. I am fortunate (in this respect) that I do not have a large family to shop for so it doesn't take long at all.

    Thanks so much for being a part of this hop and for the giveaway.

    Happy Holidays,
    Marlena
    charmedpoms(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  20. I do shop on Black Friday and appreciate the general insanity that comes along with it. This year I picked up a bunch of cheap BluRays and DVDs.

    JYL22075 at gmail dot com

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  21. I avoid Black Friday, too many people and too much traffic. Thank you for being a part of the hop.

    cmucha319@yahoo.com

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  22. Thanks for the hop stop!

    melhalp at msn.com

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  23. I do some Black Friday shopping, but I'm more addicted to Cyber Monday. No lines, No rude people, free shipping.... how can you go wrong!

    angelheart618@gmail.com

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  24. No I don't do Black Friday , I stay away from the crazy crowds.

    vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com

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  25. I do my shopping online to avoid the crowds.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    nerdswillruleoneday@yahoo.com

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  26. I've bought a couple of ebooks this year, but the middle of the night shopping doesn't do it for me :-) thanks for the give away and stopping by my blog! katiejteller at hotmail dot com

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  27. I shop online on Black Friday for ebooks only. I do check out online specials and add things to wishlists.

    susanmplatt AT hotmail DOT com

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  28. I shop from home, I have a hard time dealing with rude people and lines. Makes me what to start drop kicking people (just the rude ones). I start with a list, but by the time i'm done I have bought enough for five lists. Thx for the hop stop.

    blinkysthebest at aol dot com

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  29. I love your mantra - let romance take flight. I don't shop on Black Friday. I was a sales associate during my college years -- never again. I hope your Thanksgivig was peaceful and pleasing. susan_francesny[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  30. Happy Holidays and thank you for the opportunity to win some great prizes. I can't do Black Friday shopping (unless it's online) - I don't have the patience or the stamina for the lines and the crowds. cfierstein@cox.net

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  31. Thank you for the lovely giveaway~ I love BF shopping on and offline! Got all my big ticket items out of the way last night and this morning so now it's time to just relax and hop! MostlyMisha [at] gmail [dot] com

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  32. I avoided the crowds at the mall today and went to the movies instead. Thanks for being in the hop!

    jochibi AT yahoo DOT com

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  33. I don't shop on Black Friday.

    Morganlafey86(at)aol(dot)com

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  34. Not a shopper in general, and especially not on black friday, way too many people for my liking! :) Thanks for your giveaway.
    oddball2003 at hotmail dot com

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  35. I only shop online.
    magic5905 at embarqmail dot com

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  36. Thanks for the hop!

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

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  37. Thank for the hop

    BeckeyWhiteATgmailDOTcom

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  38. Thanks for participating in the blog hop! Hope you have a happy thanksgiving. I stayed home this year for black friday because its a bit frightening in stores, I prefer shopping at home LOL! ;)


    swtlilangel4jc at yahoo dot com

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  39. I stuck to the web today instead of braving the crowds. ;) Thanks for the giveaway!

    fancie @ live. com

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  40. I did a little shopping. Thanks for the chance to win!
    natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

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