Gale Stanley: December 2024

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

CURVEBALLS by Gail Taylor #SelfHelp #Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Gail Taylor will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Here you are on the brink of a journey all about self-discovery and chasing dreams. With personal stories and tools that shaped the author's path, she focuses on embracing authenticity. You'll explore how living with purpose and passion is achievable. This personal-growth book combines cutting-edge technology and music interaction, reflecting the author's belief that music can transform and positively impact individuals and communities.

Read an Excerpt

If we could look through the ideas swimming around in virtually any person’s head, we would likely find a few limiting beliefs. We can all relate to harbouring these self-defeating thoughts; however, you could build awareness around where limiting beliefs show up for you, and remove them from your mind like gardeners remove weeds from their cherished crops.

Before we talk more about defeating the beliefs that hold you back in life, we will define “limiting beliefs.” First, the adjective “limiting” is not one you would want to use frequently if you are striving to become your best self. We can focus on perceiving our possibilities and abilities as having few limits. The second word, “beliefs,” is also important to consider. We are not talking about facts when we discuss limiting beliefs. They are not necessarily logic or fact-based thoughts, such as two plus two equals four. Beliefs, limited or not, are simply ideas you have based on your past experiences. Unfortunately, they can manifest as a thought or state of mind that you think is the absolute truth and that is what can stop you from doing certain things. They can also be formed by well-meaning people trying to protect you from hurt or embarrassment.

Limiting beliefs are something you might have adopted at an early age, accepting them as facts. You didn’t do well on a math test so decided you couldn’t work with numbers . . . ever. Nerves got the best of you during a class presentation, so you avoided public speaking for the next three decades. A Grade 3 music teacher told you you couldn’t sing, so you never sang again. This is NOT cool, but I actually met a young woman in vocal classes that experienced this, and she had a beautiful voice.

Obviously, beliefs can wield enormous power over your life. The people who have mastered the power of belief are the ones who have learned that self-fulfilling prophecies often manifest in their lives. This explains the optimistic nature of the predictions they make. I fit squarely into the optimist box, and I am constantly and affectionately informed by my husband, Harold, that I wear rose-coloured glasses. Heck, I sleep in them!

I came across this saying early in my journey: “If you think you can, you’re right, and if you think you can’t, you’re right.” How can both possibilities be true? Both possibilities consider the incredible influence your beliefs have over the outcomes. Limiting beliefs can have the power to shut down your dreams before you even start to chase them. The upside is that, once you learn to recognize these adverse beliefs, you can challenge them, which results in their losing their ability to interfere with your growth.

I have found over the years that people have limiting beliefs of various types. They tend to contain phrases like, “I cannot,” “I will never,” “There is no point in trying,” and “I tried that before and it didn’t work, so no use trying again.” They often grow stronger when they are allowed to take up permanent residence in your head. Repeated enough, they become part of you. I have one I’ll share. “I grew up in a family that had no desire for material goods, so I must be damaged for wanting a sports car or a luxury coat.” You can become so attached to these limiting beliefs that you feel threatened when something or someone challenges them.

Imagine your optimistic friend is encouraging you to go back to school (for my friends, the optimist would be me). “You would be great at operations management,” the friend says. “Think of everything you could do with that degree.”

About the Author: Gail Taylor, a Canadian songwriter, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and author, is celebrated for inspiring others to take charge of their lives. With forty years of studying personal growth and peak performance, she proves that designing your own life is possible, regardless of your beginnings. Her expertise has made her a sought-after guest on numerous podcasts.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Curveballs-Unlocking-Potential-Personal-Inspirational/dp/1779622015/ref=sr_1_1

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The Best Man by Willa Okati #Gay #Romance @Changelingpress

Gay Romance Novella

Date Published: December 6, 2024

Taking chances is what Alexander lives for – especially when it comes to love.

Alexander’s a man of uncommonly happy disposition. His luck always holds true, and he takes chances with cheerful abandon. When he sees a Christmas Eve wedding running amok and a hot best man in need of help before Bridezilla goes boom, it’s second nature for him to step in and lend a hand -- especially with regard to the delectable best man, Noah. He’ll offer that one anything he needs -- a hand, a mouth, an… ahem.

And why not? The way Alexander sees it, he’s having fun and earning good karma -- and he might just already be falling in love.

Excerpt

If a man acted as if he belonged in any given place, people usually didn’t ask questions. Alexander took the steps at an easygoing pace and casually strolled to the lovely man’s side. “Need a hand?”

“I could use three, to be honest.” Pretty eased a double stack of linen napery on a bare table and stretched his arms, pulling each at the wrists to release the cramped muscles. Alexander could massage those for him, but… later. “Do I know you?”

Beauty and brains. “Not in the least,” Alexander replied, twinkling at him. “I was passing by and thought I’d see if Good Samaritans were still in style.”

Pretty rubbed his arms as he gave Alexander a once-over of bemusement and perhaps a bit of appreciation. “At least you’re honest. If you promise not to take off with a box of table favors or hit on one of the bridesmaids, then be my guest. I’m serious about the bridesmaids. I love my sister -- the bride -- but if one more thing sends her off the deep end --”

Alexander laughed. “Don’t worry. About the bride or the bridesmaids.” He winked. “They aren’t what caught my eye.”

“Is that a fact?” Pretty’s cheeks turning faintly pink, and the appearance of a small smile gave him away. “That makes two of us.”

“You’re honest, too. And beautiful.”

The pink darkened to crimson. “And you’re a flatterer.” That would have been worrisome if he hadn’t grinned at him and pushed one-half of the napery Alexander’s way. “If you’re sure you want to get involved in the madness… then you can be my guest.”

“You can trust me,” Alexander said, ripe with confidence. “Watch.” He took the top cloth off the stack and gave it a good snap, meant to send a long cloth billowing out.

It would have been more impressive if said cloth hadn’t turned out to be a dinner napkin.

Pretty burst into laughter. “I have to keep you now. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I turned you out to wreak havoc on general society.” His cheeks remained pink and his blue eyes lambent. He offered his hand. “Noah McMasters. Call me Noah.”

Alexander took Noah’s hand. A very nice hand it was, too, slim and smooth but firm. “Alexander.”

A hint of dimples enriched Noah’s smile. “Just Alexander?”

“I have a surname, but I’ll make you work for that one.” Alexander winked at Noah -- the name fit him as well as a tailored glove, small and lovely -- and draped the napkin over his arm. He clicked his heels together and bowed from the waist. “Right now, I await your command. Tell me what you want from me and I’m yours.”

Noah ran him over with an assessing gaze, and no, “ran him over” wasn’t hyperbole. Technically, yes, but the sense of his taking Alexander’s measure left Alexander feeling as if he’d been subjected to the tender mercies of a steamroller with amorous intentions.

Amorous, though, that was good. And clever. That was better.

“What would you have done if I’d told you that I didn’t need help?”

Alexander gave that the consideration it was due; precisely half a second. “I’d have tried my luck down a different road that led to the same place, because if all this has to get laid out before the wedding, which I’m guesstimating is less than an hour or two away --” he waited for Noah’s nod --”you need the help. So why not? And if you want me to hit the road instead, all you have to do is say. I’ll wish you well and be on my way.”

Noah snorted delicately. “I actually believe you, and that makes you different from at least seventy-five percent of the guys I’ve known.”

“Wait.” Alexander dropped his handful of cutlery with a clatter. “How many of those guys --?”

“One ‘no really means yes, doesn’t it?’ was all it took,” Noah said. “I push the rest out at arm’s length as soon as I know what I’m dealing with. I’m pretty and I’m small, but I learn quickly, I’m sneaky and I’m fast and I don’t fight by the Marquis of Queensbury rules.” He laughed. “Look at you. I can tell what’s going through your head right now, you know. Where do I find them and how do I hurt them?”

“If you’d ever let me finish a sentence, I might confirm that.”

“I find preempting the obvious saves time and I take it as a personal challenge.”

Noah hefted the crate that looked far too heavy for him onto his hip and nodded toward the tables. “I’ll say leave the linens alone, but if you’re determined to lend a hand, then get lending. Follow behind me and lay out the candles and other claptrap. Deal?”

“Aye, aye, sir.”

“Sir. I could get used to that. Come on, this way. We’ll start at the end and work our way up. I like to take my time and do it right.”

“No sense in not bringing your A-game if the situation calls for it.”

Noah chuckled. “You’re adorable when you try to flirt.” He separated the napkins from the tablecloths and handed Alexander half. “Are you coming?”

Yes, and probably very soon.

About the Author

Willa Okati (AKA Will) is made of many things: imagination, coffee, stray cat hairs, daydreams, more coffee, kitchen experimentation, a passion for winter weather, a little more coffee, a whole lot of flowering plants and a lifelong love of storytelling. Will's definitely one of the quiet ones you have to watch out for, though he -- not she anymore -- is a lot less quiet these days.

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

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Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Max's Christmas Bunny by Wanda Violet O #Erotica #BDSM

Billionaire Daddy Doms -- Bunny (#1)

Erotica / BDSM

Date Published: November 29, 2024

I never thought Bunny ears and a Bunny tail butt plug would be the start of a grand adventure.

It’s Christmas, and money’s tight, so I asked the agency for a new assignment. Still, I didn’t expect to wind up in a gilded Bunny cage in the home of an eccentric billionaire. While I’ve never met Daddy Jacob, he knows me -- he owns the Agency that sent me out on this assignment. Now I’m to serve as a Christmas present for a man in his household -- a Christmas present for Max.

I’m not certain how the rest of the week will go, but so far it feels like Max may just be the perfect Master for me. I have the feeling this assignment could be the start of the biggest adventure of my life.

Excerpt

Christmas has never been my favorite holiday. Having said that, the job that had just fallen into my lap -- to be a Christmas Bunny for some rich guy with a pet-play kink -- was the best Christmas present ever. The money was nearly obscene, the anticipation of adventure intense.

This job included the possibility of kinky sex. I had been given the standard safe word and signed a contract outlining my limits, both hard and soft. Was it the safest thing I’d ever done? Not in the least. But, again, the money was good -- really, really good. If I was ever going to get out from under the mountain of medical bills I’d been left with after the crash that had put me in the hospital for a month and killed my mom, I had to get drastic.

Now I found myself was sitting on a huge, plush, overstuffed red beanbag in a very large cage, wearing a headband with bunny ears and a butt plug with a fluffy bunny tail. The cage had a big red bow wrapped around the middle, and it sat under a massive Christmas tree covered with sparkling, colored lights. I had several red and green fleece blankets and soft pillows in the cage so I was comfortable, but the room was warm to me even though I was naked.

It was early morning and once I’d readied myself, before I got into the cage, I’d been told it would be an hour before I’d be needed. I’d been given an alarm to press if I needed help before the client came for me, or if I felt threatened. Standard for this type of job with the agency. It was run by the ultra-wealthy and catered to the obscenely wealthy. I’d been skeptical when I’d first started, but the agency had never failed to keep me safe.

None of that meant I wasn’t a bundle of nerves, and getting more nervous the longer I waited.

Just as I was getting ready to hit the panic button, I heard footsteps coming. A man wearing black silk pajama pants and nothing else stalked down the stairs. He had long, shaggy hair, and a heavily muscled, sculpted body, reminding me of a predator moving through the jungle.

This man was classically handsome, with a strong jaw, straight nose, and piercing blue eyes. His cheeks were wide and masculine with dark stubble where he hadn’t yet shaved.

When he turned his head, his gaze landed on me and his movements stopped. He stared at me for a long time, not moving a muscle except to breathe. When he finally started moving again, he was focused squarely, intently on me. “I sincerely hope you’re my Christmas present, little Bunny.”

I knew better than to speak unless I had permission. It had been drilled into me from the second I’d been accepted to the program. The clients the agency served had specific tastes. They tried to match us to clients with similar tastes, but there was always a learning curve if I were staying more than a few hours. This job was supposed to last a week and could seriously bail me out, but I had to follow the rules precisely if I wanted to get the big payday.

The man knelt in front of my cage to get a better look at me. Those ice-blue eyes of his seemed to caress me as his gaze roamed over my body. “Be a good little Bunny. Turn around and present yourself. Stick that ass up in the air so I can have a look at you.”

I did as I was told without hesitation, presenting myself with my legs apart, ass in the air, and my chest on the floor. I knew what I looked like because I’d admired the plush, fluffy rabbit tail butt plug before getting in the cage.

“Hmm, you are quite the gift, aren’t you?” he said, his voice a low growl. “Who were you sent for, little Bunny?”

“I’m not sure, Sir. Only that I was to stay in the cage and await the Master’s pleasure.”

“Ah, Max!” the deep voice called from across the room.

I wanted to turn my head and look behind me but didn’t dare.

“I see you’ve found your present.”

“Daddy Jacob.” Max’s tone was subservient but in a different way than I’d ever heard before. The man was clearly a Dominant, but differed to this new man? “She’s mine?”

“If things work out and she agrees, yes. She’s yours. A gift from me and Kitten.”

I couldn’t help but shiver at the implication. It was an unusual sensation between fear and… interest? OK, that was disconcerting. I didn’t know this man and there was apparently at least one more person here.

I’m not sure what I expected, but there was a long pause and what Max said next both hurt and confused me. “Have I done something wrong, Daddy Jacob?” Where before there was amused interest and a healthy dose of lust in Max’s voice and his eyes when he’d first looked at me, now it was devoid of emotion.

“Max…” There was a note of censure between them, as if Daddy Jacob wasn’t happy with Max.

“But Kitten --”

“Kitten knows you need a pet of your own. She loves you as much as you love her and Andromeda. So do I.”

This seemed like a private conversation and I felt horribly out of place. I turned my face to the wall next to where my cage sat and stayed perfectly still.

There was silence while I heard someone unlocking the cage. The door slid open with a small squeak. “Come out, little one.”

I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I knew without looking at him I didn’t want to disobey or ignore Daddy Jacob. Keeping my gaze lowered and my hands clasped in front of me, I scrambled to do as he’d ordered.

“Kneel and present yourself, sweet Bunny.”