Maybe it just seems that way, but doesn’t it feel like this season has already been on a long time and they still just keep coming down those stairs every week?

So, I was wrong. I thought for sure Chuck’s fan base would keep him in over Irvin, and possibly even Louie. However? Thank you America for at least getting the Aaron placement right. Wow, can we say sore loser? I mean, I do get, given he’s technically not a bad dancer, comparatively speaking especially, why he’s confused with the drudging they took. But did he not watch the tape back between last night and tonight? Because he still seemed stumped. And that’s why voters aren’t voting, Aaron. It’s not about the skill set. And the Osmond crack came off a lot more whiny than endearingly funny. You’re just digging a deeper hole, my friend. And you don’t have a popular partner. Or haven’t you figured that out?

Also, Louie? On that same track, wow, I kinda lost some love for you with the not crying crack. Didn’t come off as particularly funny, either. I think you’ve hit the wall and since you can’t improve, it’s starting to get more frustrating than fun, which I totally get, actually, as that would so probably be me. If I were a star. And on the show. Which I’m not. But you are, and you’re the cuteness. Or were. Hang on to that, will ya?

Happy for Kelly, who seems sincerely thrilled with all of it, including being very self aware of the work that is in front of her. Liked how excited she was for the group dance next week. Happy for Donny, Mya, even Joanna was likable after hearing she was safe, in her own Joannable way. Melissa earned her safety and her routine was just as joyous in the encore, well deserved there. Mark was cool, too. Natalie left me kinda meh though. Sorry. She has to muster up the romance for Alec? Are you kidding me? Though it was nice to see him dancing with his wife in the pro performance.

Shocking that Irvin wasn’t even in the bottom two, but wow, Aaron, there’s a heads up for ya, huh? Pay attention.

Sorry to see Chuck go, only because at least he was adorkably fun to watch. And we lose the Good Anna as well. Kinda wrong.

Next week? Paso, Argentine Tango (my two fave dances in one night…I wish we had couples that excited me more going into this week. Where’s the Mel/Maks combo when you need it?) I hope Dmitry/Mya get the tango, I will say that. And we get Group Hustle. That should be hilarious fun, in a good way.

Tonight we have the cooking! And the Other Dancing! Should be interesting, as the eliminations continue. On both shows, actually.

So, what did you think of Irvin’s placement? Of Aaron’s? And Chuck! Sob. Still feeling the Love For Louie? Can Kelly maybe win this thing and bring the absolute happy? Nobody deserves the mirror ball trophy more - a true statement of achievement - no ringer, no Olympian, no football player. Just a formerly self conscious teenager realizing her true potential for us all to see and reveling in every second of it.

And yes, she totally DOES look like Mary Lou Retton when she smiles. Whoa! How wild is that?

Oh, and? DISH!!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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So, this week on DWTS, it’s Lambada, Charleston, Two Step, and the Bolero. (I know, whytheface??) What’s interesting is watching the pros teach and perform dances they don’t know. A leveler, to a big degree.

And none were so obvious as the first pair, Chuck & Anna. He was having a fine ol’ time (he’s so inadvertantly adorably bad, isn’t he?) but Anna, wow…she has no country in her. At all.

Now, with Aaron and Karina. I know he’s twenty-one, but is it just me, or do you get that squicky feeling when you watch them dance, like he’s fourteen and getting his freak on with his super hot babysitter. It’s just uncomfortable, and not just this week. Yikes, you two.

That said, I enjoyed Mark and Lacey. He’s not at home in a country western bar, and he’s certainly no Gilles Marini either (Hi Gilles!) but this was a more enjoyable performance from them than we’ve seen before.

Kelly Osbourne is just pure happyhappyjoyjoy for me. I don’t care what she’s doing, or how well she’s doing it. I’m just enjoying the journey. We might have lost the pureness that was Zev on Sunday, but we’ve still got Kelly. You go!

Alec and Natalie….yeah, this is the first time the Olympian just isn’t going to find her way to the glitter ball trophy. She has all the elements, but she’s just too jock like, despite the fact that she’s ridiculously gorgeous. Alec, however, brings the pretty. And we can’t have too much pretty. (Umbrella drink, anyone?)

I enjoyed Mark and Sabrina the Teenage Witch more than I ever have before. It wasn’t that it was all that and a pair of tap shoes, but it was definitely entertaining and fun to watch. And I realize, that with the two of them, I actually watch her. Which means I don’t notice Mark’s mugging face as much as usual. And that’s a win in my book.

Derek made me laugh with his deadpan “I have the greatest job in America” comment. And I want to like Bikini Model Partner, I really do! But seriously, did you really have to take the animal shelter t shirt and make it into an off the shoulder ensem? Honestly? You want us to believe you’re all Regular Girl, but that? Lost my vote. The dogs you’re helping don’t care if you’re hot. And during that segment, neither did I. Save it for the dance floor. Speaking of which, um, wow, Derek. Shirtless. Which, hey, I’m never going to turn that down, but maybe it’s because we have Dmitry and Maks…it wasn’t exactly Aaron Hot-For-Teacher, but it was a little…not doing it for me. Just me? Possibly. But next time? A vest would go a long way. They certainly lambada’d their little tushies off (and around….and around) but it didn’t have me looking for an umbrella drink.

However, Tom’s comment afterward? Rocked. HA. Love him. Pay him more money, show.. He earns it.

That leaves Donny, Mya, and Louie left to perform. Now that? Is the way to end the program, show. Not like some other amazing bathmat shows. Just sayin.

Donny and Kym were really in their element, but what I really loved was that he didn’t overplay it. It was my favorite dance of the night, overall, for both entertainment and skill. I thought the scores could have been a teensy bit higher.

I hope Michael gets some love this week from the judges. He’s getting so shafted. And I also hope Anna doesn’t come back next season. She really does not fit. If Irvin was with Cheryl? Yeah. Exactly. That said, I hated that he got the Bolero. With Anna. And, more specifically, Anna’s choreo. My hopes, they are not high.
And yeah…her choreo costs him again. I think he’s better than that. I’m thinking he’s gone this week. So the football player and the Olympian, prolly not gonna repeat past successes.

Come on Louie! I love that they got two step. Yay! (Hi Ty! That? Was hilarious. My love, it grows.) Chelsea certainly did about all she could do to make the choreo work, and he is so adorkable, and they bring the ridiculous cuteness, I heart them. Not a good dance, truly, but I was smiling the whole time. I’d like to keep them both around. They make me happy.

Mya and Dmitry get the lambada. Oh yes! Pass the umbrella drinks, baby! Now that? Was a two fan dance. Wow! And shew! Yes, Bruno, that is a dance I want to ride again. And again. Only I ain’t lookin at Mya. And word to Uncle Lenny, um sir? If they’d given us any more, they’da been nekkid out there and, um, you know. Yikes. More? Seriously?

All in all, entertaining show. Who goes home? I’m afraid it’s gonna be Michael this week. Who else is in the bottom two? Could it be Louie? Could be Natalie. Or (be still my hopeful heart) Aaron. Hard to say. Right now Donny and Mya, along with Kelly, stay in my personal top tier. Louie slipped a bit to the middle, with Joanna and Mark, though his dancing alone would put him well further down the scale. Natalie and Melissa are a notch below that. Then comes Chuck (who isn’t going anywhere, yet) Michael, and, for me, Aaron.

What say you? Who do you want to see succeed? Who goes home? Who would you rather see go home? And have you entered this week’s contest? See Monday’s blog post… But right now? DISH!

Oh, and also? Castle rocks. Much love for Nathan “pass the big umbrella drink” Fillion.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Well….that sucked. Fun leg, thoroughly enjoying the various tasks, lovelovelove Zev & Justin, easily one of my favorite teams ever on this show. And then they go an lose a passport and never do figure out where they lost it. (Even the cameraman had no footage showing…) I was so hoping it was in Thierry’s taxi, weren’t you? They came in first on the leg, and were then sent home. Truly one of the saddest exits ever. Dammit.

However, Lance? Still in the race. Truly, where is karma when you need it?

There are some good teams I’m rooting for - still enjoying Dad & Son, love the Globetrotters, Team Blonde is doing very well, as is Team Jungle Love (hey, their term, not mine.) On the other side, Team Angry Impatient Gay Bros have lost me, Team Spiritual Singers aren’t grabbing me (though I did love how much he got into the monkey thing), we won’t even discuss Lance & Co (stop scaring Phil with your crazy horrible martial arts, LANCE!) and Team Poker Players….wow. No words, except, I’d really rather be watching Justin & Zev.

Also - am I that old or was it cuckoo that hardly any of the teams recognized Jackie O - even later when they had time to really study the photo? Yikes.

Next week looks like Most Extreme Opposites Leg ever. (And don’t you wish the producers would just let Zev run the rest of the race anyway, not actively competing, but just for the experience? Man, I do.)

Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday…how about a free book to go with that? Just send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “I need a good read!” in the subject line. Winner will be chosen from the stack of entries and announced here this Friday! Good luck, Blog Babes!

In the meantime, who are you loving on the Race? Who needs to be Philiminated next? DISH!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Thanks for all the great responses to the new releases - here and over on RomCon. I haven’t made much headway on catching up with the DVR load, hence a MAC-less week here, but I do finally have clean socks to wear! So things are looking up for next week….

Okay, time for Free Stuff Friday… Alls ya had to do was email me or comment on my guest blog over on RomCon to get an extra entry. One winner is being drawn from all the entries and will win free book of choice from my website bookshelf. And this week’s winning blog babe is? Dina!! Just email me at donna@donnakauffman.com with book title selection and where to send it, and I will get it in the mail to you. (Mea culpa, winners from the past two weeks - I am sending all out in a batch this weekend!)

Hope everyone enjoys their fall three day holiday weekend!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Yay, I’m back home and other than facing laundry mountain, all is well!

Today is a fun day for a few reasons…first the launch of my new Christmas anthology (along with Jill Shalvis and HelenKay Dimon!) Kissing Santa Claus is today! Also, the mass market reprint of To All A Good Night (last season’s holiday anthology, also with Jill & HelenKay) also hits the stands. This is fun for another reason, and that is because my novella’s in these two books are connected to one another. So for those who read Unleashed last fall, now you can find out the next layer in that story! (The stories stand completely alone, but there is a secondary plot line that connects them both.) I’ve had a great time with these!

DONNA KAUFFMAN
Lock, Stock and Jingle Bells
Holly hates the yuletide season more than ever since she inherited her mother’s Christmas novelty store, but her childhood pal Sean’s determined to warm her up—to Christmas and to him. When they uncover a diary concealing secrets involving both their families, this could be the Christmas that changes their lives forever…

JILL SHALVIS
Bah Handsome!
Behind on her bills, B&B owner Hope receives an unlikely guest—stranded solicitor Danny, who’s been threatening to put her out of business. Hope’s staff sees more fire than fight in the sparks that fly as they try and bring Hope and Danny together, but only a Christmas miracle can help these unlikely lovers see the light…

HELENKAY DIMON
It’s Hotter at Christmas
Hawaii’s no paradise for Marissa, who, thanks to a series of unfortunate events, can’t seem to get away from the sand to enjoy her Christmas East Coast style—with plenty of snow and slush. But tall, dark, and serious police officer Ted’s about to give this bad Santa in heels a Mele Kalikimaka she’ll never forget…

DONNA KAUFFMAN
Unleashed
When Emma Lafferty is hired by a billionaire CEO to watch his pets over the holidays, she expects to enjoy a quiet Christmas in opulent surroundings. What she doesn’t expect is to spend the week trapped in the mansion with the CEO’s sexy great-nephew¬¬—and heir—whose motives are as shady as his desire is crystal clear….

JILL SHALVIS
Finding Mr. Right
Brilliant chemist Maggie Bell has a knack for choosing Mr. Wrong, and with yet another lonely Christmas looming, she decides it’s time to alter the equation—and seek out someone who seems totally wrong for her. Enter Jacob Wahler, the rough and rippling contractor who’s about as far from Maggie type as he could get. But suddenly what’s wrong for Maggie seems oh-so-right….

HELENKAY DIMON
Can You Hand Me the Tape?
Natalie Pritchard is desperate. It’s a week before Christmas and she’s lost the naughty tape she made for her now-ex-boyfriend. She’s so desperate, in fact, that she’ll turn to her nemesis Spencer Donovan for help. The sexy criminal defense attorney would be only too happy to assist—but can Emma afford his price?

And, in a few short weeks….A Great Kisser hits the stands! Woo hoo, Fun Fall!

To help celebrate the launch of Kissing Santa Claus, and the launch of a brand new, fabulous website dedicated to all the things we love about romance novels. RomCon.com asked me to be a guest blogger today. Just click here to go check it out and read my blog for today.

But, while you’re here, don’t forget to enter this week’s Free Stuff Friday contest! Just send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “Yay! New Books!” in the subject line. Winner gets a signed copy of any book on my website bookshelf. Winner announced right here in Friday’s blog. AND! If you post a reply on my RomCon.com blog, you’ll get an extra entry in the contest!

In the meantime, what have you all been reading? What are you loving about the new fall season? Other than the obvious (Amazing Race, yay!) I’m still loving Castle, The Mentalist, and Grey’s…and The Good Wife is still on my DVR list. Eastwick has ended up back there, too. It’s kind of reminding me a little of what I liked in the first season of Desperate Housewives…back when I used to watch it. Only with witches.

So? DISH!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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