Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati, Xavier University and Ohio University are all in the NCAA SWEET SIXTEEN! Also within a few hours of us, three other teams made it, too…Indiana University, University of Louisville, and University of Kentucky.

There are several celebrity alums from each college.

I’ll give the writers first - Sue Grafton (author of detective novels) graduated from University of Louisville. Are there any Sue Grafton readers? I haven’t read her books yet. From OSU, we have Jenny Crusie, New York Bestselling Romance Author. In 1986, Jenny went to Ohio State University to complete her Ph.D. in feminist criticism and nineteenth century British and American literature. Today, Jenny lives on the banks of an Ohio river. I’m sure many romance readers enjoyed Jenny’s book, Getting Rid of Bradley which won the RWA Rita Award for Best Short Contemporary. I’ve attended a few workshops where Jenny’s been a dynamic speaker! OSU alum, R.L. Stine, author of children’s series Goosebumps, graduated from OSU. Speaker of the House, John Boehner, is the famous alum from Xavier University and William Howard Taft, US President, graduated from University of Cincinnati. Matt Lauer (Today Show host) graduated from Ohio University. Jane Pauley (TV journalist host) graduated from Indiana University.

Congratulations to these seven teams within two hours of Cincinnati making it to the Sweet Sixteen.

Okay, I’m happy that University of Cincinnati played so well on Sunday night and won, but they play Ohio State University tomorrow night. My husband Tom worked at UC before retiring plus our children, Christina, April, and Bart, all graduated from there. Obviously, there is a conflict in our family. I want OSU to win, of course. I graduated from there so will root for the Buckeyes. Otherwise, I’d be rooting for UC too. If UC should win, I will never hear the end of it from two relatives, for sure! Btw, I’m also invested in OSU because the pt. guard graduated from the same high school I did. His name is Aaron Craft - he’s no. 4!

GO BUCKEYES!

Our adorable grandson, Dillon!

May love and laughter light your days
And warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours
Wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your home
With joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
Bring the best to you and yours!

Ohio State University plays tonight at 10 o’clock. I wish it would be on earlier because I get up at 6 a.m. I have two great reasons to root for the Buckeyes tonight - I graduated from OSU in Columbus and I graduated from Liberty-Benton High School, which is close to Findlay, Ohio. I won’t give the years I graduated from either school. The point guard for OSU’s basketball team is Aaron Craft. He graduated from Liberty-Benton in 2010 and was valedictorian of his class. By the way, if you have read A CHRISTMAS GIFT, then you might recognize the name Liberty-Benton. My character, Debby Reeves, also graduated from LB. It’s a small world. Now you know, I can’t do a blog post without mentioning one of my books or something about writing.

Craft’s mind-set was rewarded recently when he was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, joining Greg Oden and Ken Johnson as Buckeyes who have won the award.

“It all starts with him,” OSU coach Thad Matta said of the team’s defense, which ranks among the best in the country. “The majority of the time he’s pointing the ball. He’s disrupting.” I love watching him play defense - he’s great at stealing the ball.

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During Lent each Thursday evening, Amanda serves at Mass and carries the cross for Way of the Cross. She does a great job and loves doing both things! So tonight will be busy!

My question and answer is posted today only on The Romance Reviews site. It’s an easy question to answer and you’ll have a chance to win my women’s fiction, NEVER THE SAME! Scroll down on this page, http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php

BLURB for NEVER THE SAME:
They walk away from the wreckage of an airplane, but their hearts and lives will never be the same.

When fashion buyer Kimberly Collins and high school senior Tori Moorhead escape a burning plane, both women make radical decisions that intertwine their lives forever.
Kim’s priorities change, especially in the bedroom. She’s thankful to be taken to another world—one of love and romance, not of smoke and death.

When she decides she wants another child, her husband reveals his own shocking plans for their family.

Pregnant teenager Tori is on her way to get a secret abortion when the plane crashes. The baby’s teen father wants to get married. Her dad insists they consider adoption. Caught between the two men she loves, Tori struggles to make the right decisions for her baby and the future she dreamed of.

Buy the print from Amazon.
Or buy the Kindle edition.
Buy from B & N.
Also available from Samhain Publishing.

What fun it was this morning to read a new review for one of my favorite stories. Btw, I’m giving a signed print copy of A Christmas Gift for the March Bonanza at LASR this month! Click here to learn about all the cool prizes! Believe me, it’s worth visiting LASR to have a chance to win one of their prize packages.

REVIEW:
A CHRISTMAS GIFT by Diane Craver is an inspirational fiction that is based on true life memories. It is a story of love,faith,hope,which is told from real-life experiences and memories. What an amazing journey for a father-daughter. One from shame to victory,the love and pride shared and the secret revealed.”A Christmas Gift” is a wonderful story to be read and shared. Written not only from an writer’s view but from the view of a beloved child about her father. A must read. A story to enlighten your heart and one that will influence you forever. Quick read full of love and memories. Received for an honest review from the author. Details can be found at Whimsical Publication,LLC.,the author’s website, and My Book Addiction and More.

RATING: 4.5
REVIEWED BY: April for My Book Addiction Reviews