I could write today about New Year's resolutions, but since I don't believe in making them, I decided against it. I feel like there's no time like the present if I need to make a positive change in my life, so if I do decide to set a goal for the new year and it happens to be January 1st, it's a coincidence. Besides, Esme's post about songs that irritate kind of inspired me. I went back through all my pictures, trying to find art that irritated me to stay with the same theme. However, I found more pictures that made me smile than those that didn't, so for my last post of 2011, I'd like to share some pictures that lighten my day.

The first picture is the book cover to the side here. I posted it because it's one of my favorite covers and one of my favorite books to write. A Stranger's Desire is a twist--no pun intended--on the standard BDSM story, light-hearted on the surface but with undercurrents of grief and the desire to be loved. Yes, it contains extremely graphic content, but at its heart it's about a woman healing from loss and learning to live and love again. Lilly and Beau are two of my favorite characters to work with, and I hope readers enjoy hanging out with them as much as I did.

This next image is on the list because it's quirky and fun. I use it on my blog in my logo.These sexy lips made an appearance in a post about kissing. Ooooolala!This pic you've seen a couple of times before because I love the sexy lace and what's hiding behind it. Makes me wanna play hide and seek. lolNo explanation needed for this one, is there? I love pictures depicting happy, loving couples, and this fits that description to a T. Also, on a serious note, it always reminds me of breast health: self- or partner- breast exams and mammograms. Yet another good friend of mine has discovered she'll be fighting breast cancer in 2012, so I'm using this picture to promote the cause. I've scheduled my mammo for next year. Have you?This is one of the first images I used in my book trailer for my Dragon Song series. I love my dragons!This snake made his appearance in the book trailer for Second Nature. I selected him because he gives off a vibe of wisdom. Don't you agree? It's almost like he can read your mind (and knows what you're thinking about that guy behind the lace. lol)I can't remember why I originally downloaded this, but every time I see it, I think, "Dude, you're in the desert. Why are you in swim briefs?"This cat picture always catches me off guard because I can't figure out what it's doing with its mouth right away. It's probably just yawning, but he looks maniacal. I imagine the Santa hat has something to do with its attitude. lolThis hunk made an appearance in one of my posts about the military. Hooorah!I love the indifference the subject shows in this Portrait of a Lemur. I downloaded it because I have a running joke in a couple of my books about shape-shifters, one a lemur and the other a domestic cat. Does anyone remember which books?Every time I see this, I think how lucky some people are to be able to rock the color lavender. Man, does this guy make purple look good!Here's the model from a few pictures above, still in swim briefs and still in the desert. However, now he's on the right track--he's trying to climb out and find a pool. Or perhaps he just goes rock-climbing in swim trunks. Doesn't matter to me as he looks awfully fine either way!So there are a few of my favorite images from the year 2011. I actually found tons more, but I don't think there's enough space for all of them. Be assured, though, that I'll definitely be scoping images for 2012's post. It's gonna be a GREAT year!

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!