Host a Chocolate Tasting

"We've got hot chocolate. Chocolate mousse, chocolate drops and chocolate-covered  pretzels."

"Julia chose the menu," Laura put in.

"Butch did." Setting the box down, Julia opened it. "And he's going to really go for these. Have a seat, Naomi, and pull up some calories."

Ian @ MacGregor's Grooms

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Gather your closest girlfriends for a sweet weekend. Sip, swirl, and savor new takes on an age-old classic -- chocolate. 
Follow our no-fail tasting guide to kick-start your sweet escapade.  

BHG

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 Oh, she would treasure that, Naomi thought, closing her eyes. She would remember this single foolish afternoon all of her life.

Ian @ MacGregor's Grooms

Compliment Your Mom

Jackie grinned and blew her hair out of her eyes. "I love you, Mother."

Instantly, and in the way Jackie had always adored, 

Patricia's eyes softened. "I love you too, darling." 

Loving Jack

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By I, Alvesgaspar, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2502964

20 Simple Ways to Compliment Your Mom

MSN

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 “My family is important to me. Three Willows is important to me. And so are you.”

 “Well.” Naomi reached for the glass herself, and her hand was unsteady. “Thank you.”

 Kelsey resisted, barely, the urge to kick a pot of geraniums. “It’s hardly a matter for gratitude. You’re my mother. I care about you. I admire what you’ve been able to do with your life. Maybe I’m not satisfied about all the years between, but I like who you are. I’m certainly not going to go scrambling back and pretend you don’t exist because Milicent would prefer it.”

 To keep herself from buckling into a chair, Naomi braced a hand on the table. “You can’t imagine, can’t possibly imagine what it’s like to hear from a grown daughter that she likes who you are. I love you so much, Kelsey.”

True Betrayals

Always Be With Someone Who Lets You Eat Cake

"Want dessert?"

"Damn right."

"Okay, but don't order the tiramisu, because then I'd be forced to beg you for a bite, then two, then I'd end up stealing half of it and go into a coma."

Keeping his eyes on hers, he signaled for the waitress with the casual authority of a man used to giving orders. It made Cybil's brow crease.

"Tiramisu," he told the waitress. "Two forks," and made Cybil weak with laughter.

The Perfect Neighbor

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By Danielle Tsi from Mountain View, CA, USA (Profiterole montage) 

[CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

2- Always Be With Someone Who Lets You Eat Cake

The right man or woman will let you eat cake. Lots of it.

I went out with someone, a very great and kind person, who seeing me struggle to decide on dessert, (really, is it fair to choose between chocolate mousse and cheesecake? I don’t think so) let me order both.

HUFFINGTON POST

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He sampled the chocolate himself. "This is very well named. 'Sin.' " He tormented himself by imagining the taste of her mixed with the chocolate.

It made her stomach jump. "You're going to have to sin by yourself." She picked up her coffee. "I'm resisting."

"One more," he murmured, sliding the fork into the dessert, lifting a tempting bite to her lips. And he was pleased to see, when she took it, that she could indeed be tempted.

IAN @  MacGregor Grooms

Jump-Start Your Collection

"Actually, Naomi, I have a little business proposition for you."

"Business?" She gave him a blank look as their appetizer plates were removed and the entrees served.

"One I hope will be as much a pleasure for you as it will be for me. I want to remodel one of my spare rooms into a library. I have a design in mind that I wanted you to look at and offer suggestions on. Then I'd hoped you could give me some help with setting up my collection."

"Yes, of course." She fought off a wave of disappointment, telling herself it was better this way. Of course he was interested in her on a professional level. What else could she expect? "You're interested in rare books, for investment purposes?"

"No, not necessarily. I want a library, not a museum. I want a comfortable room, and I want the books varied. I don't want anyone to feel as if they should sign a waiver if they take a book off the shelf. I'd want to start with my personal favorites—most of which I own already. Then I'm willing to explore."

Ian

- MacGregors' Grooms -

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© Jorge Royan / http://www.royan.com.ar, via Wikimedia Commons

Recommendations for a well-rounded bookshelf

Spring is a time for starting that project you’ve always wanted to do. What better reason to finally put up that shelf and start your book collection? While we don’t discriminate over how you read (your phone or eReader are perfectly acceptable!), let’s just say we’re partial to cracking a spine and turning the pages. Call us old-fashioned.

Those who have been out of the book-buying game for a while (or have never bought a physical book since high school) may be thinking that the bookstore is so extensive you don't know where to start. Fear not, reader. We’ve come up with 15 categories that will help you find your way in the world of endless books, as well as some personal recommendations to christen your bookshelf with renewed style.

THE READING ROOM

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"Oh, Ian, it's wonderful. It's more than wonderful." 

Eyes shining, she turned to look around the room, where the beautifully 

trimmed,  built-in shelves were lined with books. 

Old worn spines, new glossy ones, embossed leather and tattered covers.

Ian

(MacGregors' Grooms)

Grooms' Amazing Reactions to Seeing Their Brides

My grandson took him a wife last week. And I can tell you the scents in the air of the church, the colors of the light that streamed through the windows, the full rich sound of the music that swelled when little Naomi stood at the back in her glittering white gown, with a bit of MacGregor tartan showing and the MacGregor veil covering her shining black hair.

Brides glow. They say that as well. And so she did. It's love that brings that shining beauty to a woman's face. And one more in love I've yet to see.

And Ian, handsome as a prince as he waited for her. They don't say a man glows, but perhaps they should. I can't think of another word for the look on his face as he watched her walk to him. And not being such a pinhead after all, what did he do? He took her hand, and the other as well, and as the music died off, and before the priest could open his mouth to start the business of it, Ian said, "I love you, Naomi," his voice as clear and strong as the bells that rang after the deed was done.

And if there was a dry eye in the whole of the church at that moment, well, it wasn't Daniel MacGregor's.

MacGregor Grooms - Ian

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Burke stood with his hands at his side and his face carefully blank and wondered what in the hell he was doing.
Then he saw her.
Her hair was glowing, warm and vibrant under layers of white tulle. She seemed pale, but her eyes met his without hesitation. How was it he'd never noticed how small she was, how delicate, until now, when she was about to become a permanent part of his life? Permanent. He felt the quick sliver of panic. Then she smiled, slowly, almost questioningly. He held out a hand.
Her fingers were icy. It was a relief to find his equally cold. She held tight and turned to face the priest.

Irish Heart