When a Song Turns Into a Love Story ⭐ by Merri Maywether

 
Let’s take a trip back to July 2017.

I was running down a dirt road through patches of farmland, listening to a playlist my running app had curated.

It was all eighties music, and I felt like nothing in the world could break my stride.

Then Jessie’s Girl came on.

I stopped and had a moment. In the quiet of the Montana prairie, a short, sweet second-chance romance came to life.

I decided the storyteller would finally get his chance. His name was Noah, and Jessie’s girl was Annie.

Of course, they would live in our community.

A week later, I wrote a short story and posted it on my blog. Not long after, I received a note from a reader:

When are you posting the rest of the story?

Welp.

So I made a cup of tea, sat down, and gave Noah and Annie the proper happy ending they deserved. That version came to life in 2018.

One of the things I love most about that story is how much of our small town found its way onto the page.

When it’s cold, we walk the halls for exercise.

The pictures on the walls tell our history.

Our town is so small that the coffee shop is within walking distance of nearly every house.

And this week especially, the spirit of community is everywhere as our high school basketball teams head toward the district championship.

Moments like these always remind me why I write the kinds of stories I do—stories rooted in real places, real people, and the quiet magic of everyday life.

So I thought… why not invite you to visit our little slice of the world?

From Thursday through Saturday evening, the story inspired by Jessie’s Girl —For A Visit—is available at a reduced price.

👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GFL4TMT

I’d love to hear from you—what song has stayed with you long after it ended and made you think of a story?

Sometimes stories begin with a song, sometimes with a memory—but the best ones always come back to the heart.

Celebrating 50 Years of Marriage by Merrillee Whren

What do you do when you've been married for 50 years? Some people have a big party with family and friends. Some people renew their vows. My husband and I are sharing a beach vacation with our daughters and their families and my husband's niece, the only daughter of his deceased brother, and her family. When you read this, I'll probably be sitting by the pool, maybe with a tropical drink in hand, or I might be walking on the beach in my bare feet. Since I'm writing this before we go, I'm not sure exactly what we'll be doing. 

Here's a little snippet from the long bio on my website. "Then I went on for more schooling at Milligan College in Tennessee. After graduating, I got a teaching job near Cincinnati, Ohio, where I met my husband two years later. We were married on Valentine’s Day and had our wedding reception in Loveland, Ohio. No wonder I became a romance writer."

We have arrived and are awaiting our anniversary on the 14th when some of our family will join us. They will be arriving at different times because of obligations at home. When we're all here, there will be eleven of us. It was an experience going shopping for groceries for the week for that many people. 

Here is a view from our balcony just outside of our bedroom.

 Happy anniversary to us! What will you be doing this Valentine's Day? 

Merrillee Whren is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award presented by Romance Writers of American. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of forty-plus years, and has two grown daughters. Connect with her on her Facebook page and sign up for her newsletter.

 

A February Treat, From My Heart to Yours: A Recipe + a Free Romance by Josie Riviera

February always shows up at my home in the Carolinas with a mix of chilly days coupled with reasons to smile. Bright red candy boxes line the store shelves, and people seem quicker to hold doors open this month. Love often looks like everyday kindness—checking in on a neighbor, sending a text to someone who’s had a rough week, or sharing a laugh with a loved one. Those moments matter, and they’re what inspire so many of the stories I write.

To bring a little warmth into your kitchen, here’s an easy treat I’ve been making on repeat: 

Raspberry Chocolate Swirl Squares. 

Stir together 1 cup of melted chocolate chips, 1/3 cup butter, 1 egg, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 cup flour. 

Pour into an 8x8 pan, then drop spoonfuls of raspberry jam over the top and lightly swirl with a knife. Bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes.

 They’re simple, rich without being heavy, and perfect with a cup of tea.

And because this month feels like the right time to share something special, I’m offering my inspirational Valentine romance for free for a limited time. If you enjoy stories filled with hope and second chances, I think you’ll like A Valentine to Cherish.

Also free on Kindle Unlimited.

What do you love about February? Please leave your comments below.

Josie Riviera is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, historical, and inspirational romances that read like Hallmark movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully supportive husband. They share their home with an adorable Shih Tzu, who constantly needs grooming, and live in an old house forever needing renovation.

Sign up for her newsletter and get a FREE ebook on her website: josieriviera.com

On to the 2020s ~ Jean C. Gordon

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2020 was another year of multi-author series for me with my Sweet Tidings released as part of the Indigo Bay Christimas Romance series and No Time for Detours and No Time for Adventure as part of the No Brides Series. 

The Series

The Indigo Bay Christmas Romance series features heartwarming stories set in the charming beach town of Indigo Bay, focusing on themes of love and second chances during the holiday season. Each book in the series showcases different characters and their romantic journeys, making it a delightful read for fans of sweet romance.

See them all HERE.

The No Brides Club is a series of sweet and wholesome, contemporary romances that let you escape to the Big Apple without leaving your favorite reading chair. What happens when you meet MR. RIGHT at the WRONG time?

See them all HERE.

My Books

There’s nothing like a wedding to bring people together, but family dynamics can be complicated, especially newly blended ones.

Sonja Cooper is thrilled that her daughter Lauren is marrying Jesse Brewster and giving her a ready-made granddaughter in the irrepressible 3-year old Shelley. The fact that Jesse is also Sonja’s business partner in the launching of the Morrison Mansion B&B is just a bonus.

Custom bike shop owner Jeff Brewster is also delighted that his son Jesse is marrying Lauren and building a new family. The one awkward aspect is the unexpected attraction he feels towards Sonja. For although Sonja feels the same spark, having been burned in her divorce from Lauren’s father, she’s determined never to be dependent on a man again.

Then the Indigo Bay Business Association pits Sonja and Jeff against each other by having their businesses compete for the coveted “New Business of the Year Award.” All’s fair in love and war, but hearts don’t always listen!

This is the 1st novel in the Indigo Bay Christmas Romance series, but all books can be read as standalones.

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Sweet City Romance

Ava Lewis can take care of herself. That's what she's been determined to prove to herself, and her well meaning, but sometimes overbearing family, her entire life. And now that she's been provisionally accepted into NYU's law school, she's on her way to making all of her dreams come true. But in order to afford these dreams, she has to make ends meet. And she gets an unexpected job offer in the form of Nick Jansen. When five-year-old twins are left in hiscare while their guardian goes off on a month-long honeymoon, he knows he can't handle the rabble-rousers on his own. And that's where Ava comes in.

After a broken engagement, and some words of dis-encouragement from his jaded mother, Nick has accepted that he's meant to be alone and the world would be better off for it. But as the kids warm to Ava, so does he, and he starts to feel some of the ice around his heart melting away.However, when Ava's law school admission is jeopardized, Nick's need to fix things threatens her independence and her dreams of carving out the life she wanted. But if there's one thing Ava and Nick both have to learn, it's that they might not get the life they want, but they have the love they need.

Read an Excerpt

BUY: Amazon | B&N

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Victoria Hambersby is a charter member of the "No Brides Club" and that's given her plenty of time to focus on her career. She's even on the verge of creating a VA program that will help vets with physical and mental challenges stretch their abilities. But that dream hits a major road bump when she's informed that she must combine her program with that of Joshua Lewis, the owner of “No Limits” extreme adventure company.
Since two of his sisters are also members of the No Brides Club, Josh is aware of the no romance before career goals motto. So while he finds Vic attractive, the focus needs to stay on finding a way to blend their proposal ideas. But with baggage from their pasts coloring their viewpoints, that's not going to be easy.
To get a better idea of what Josh’s company has to offer, Vic agrees to a weekend adventure, which, despite herself, stirs her inner thrill-seeker. Surprisingly they may have more in common than they believe, but can they overcome their defensive barriers to let go of the past and reach for the future?

BUY: Amazon | B&N

Lyn Cote Loves American History! Do you?

I love America and I love our history--so different from the histories of other nations. No lords, no queens, no emperors--just citizens who have rights and duties to their nation. Our history hasn't been one of perfect men and women. But of people who have over the years championed freedom and equality. I have chosen to write about Quakers because though they were a minority of Christians, they had the most effect on the shaping of our country as to both freedom and equality. 

Their three crusades from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries were: the end of slavery, the rights of women and prohibition. The first two of them proved vital to the country we live in now, but the third proved beyond their understanding. Alcohol addiction causes great harm but just outlawing liquor did not solve those problems. It created others.  (I portray this in another upcoming book later this year.)

My series "Three Women of Courage" tackles the first 2 of these. The three books are now combined into one boxed set. Which is on pre-order for $8.99 till Febrary 11th. Click here for more info:

 

New Series by Laura Scott!

 

Greetings from chilly Wisconsin! We have been in a polar vortex for two weeks now and I'm sick of being cold, lol. I have been praying for spring to come early this year. I hope that groundhog doesn't see his shadow.

The best way to pass time in these frigid temperatures is to read! I'm thrilled to be kicking off my new Grayson's Guardian's Series with the first book, Deadly Abduction. This book is available in E-Book, Print and Audio formats. I have a new narrator for this series and I think you'll love how Jason Kirkover brings this story to life! I always launch my books at a lower price point so this book will be at this price until March 1st when I raise the price to $4.99. 

Deadly Abduction $3.99

Former Army soldiers protecting the innocent…

A bodyguard for her daughter!

As the daughter of a billionaire, Lauren Chandler has lived through a kidnapping for ransom as a child and is determined to protect her daughter Lucy from the same fate. She doesn’t hesitate to hire a bodyguard through Grayson’s Guardians with the stipulation that Grady McFarland pretend to be her fiancé at the charity events she sponsors.

Grady McFarland isn’t impressed by Lauren’s wealth or her fancy penthouse apartment in Chicago, but when the bullets start to fly, he realizes the threat is worse than he’d anticipated. Despite taking Lauren and Lucy off the grid, danger follows. The more time they spend together, the more Grady is drawn to the woman who is his opposite in every way. And when Lucy is snatched right out from under his nose, he’ll risk his heart and his life to find her.

Amazon B&N Apple GooglePlay Kobo

A St. Louis Tourist at Home by Pat Simmons

I love history. I always have, which is why I weave historical tidbits into my novels, especially in the Jamieson series. I've researched other cities and countries, but there's nothing more fascinating then digging up dirt in my own backyard. I think St. Louis' Missouri Historical Museum in Forest Park is top tier and their amazing showcases are free. You never know what you might find or who you will see. That's what happened when my husband and I toured the Mill Creek Valley: A Black Metropolis exhibit. Mill Creek Valley was an impressive self contained city between between St. Louis and Mid-town with about 20,000 residents and more than double that number in homes, businesses, churches, and schools that serviced African Americans that were restricted in where they could live, work, and shop. In the 1950s, it was erased off the map but not from the memory of those who lived there. Mill Creek Valley became a victim of eminent domain, like many Black neighborhoods across the country. What's makes Mill Creek Valley revelant is that I had uncovered the history while researching one of my books, Contempt: Grandma BB's Shenanigans, part of the Jamieson Legacy. Although I have local history in these books, this was the first time I had to go back in time and learn that I didn't know about my city.

While admiring historic documents, photographs, fashions, I stumbled upon a film with Blacks folks on a night on the town. I can't believe I recognized a young woman who would later become a mother figure in teenage years. My first thought was she made the cut--she became part of St. Louis history. Black History month is days away. Get hooked on the Jamieson series that has American, Black American, and African history. It just might spark your interest is tracking down some of your ancestors.

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