Monday, October 14, 2024

Cruising by Merrillee Whren

When you read this post, I'll just be ending a cruise through New England and the eastern part of Canada. We've been watching an Amazon Prime show called "Still Standing." We started watching it because Jonny Harris, a comedian and actor, who played George on the "Murdoch Mysteries," another Amazon Prime feature, is the host of the show. In "Still Standing" Harris takes the viewer to small towns in Canada that have gone through hard times due to plant closures, industry changes, or severe weather events. It tells how the small towns managed to survive. That led us to a desire to visit Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in Canada. We thought of driving, but our daughter mentioned a cruise, and that sounded much easier than hours of driving from the Boston area, where our daughter and her family live. So we booked this cruise along with friends we have known since we got married nearly fifty years ago.

We've gone on a lot of cruises through the years. It is a fun and easy way to see a lot of places. We've done numerous Caribbean cruises, two Mediterranean cruises, one to the east and one to the west, a cruise that took us to the fjords of Norway, a Baltic cruise, a Panama canal cruise, and a Danube River cruise. The photo above is from the Panama Canal cruise while we were going through the locks.

What do cruises have to do with my writing? I'm glad you asked. On several cruises we got to know some of the crew, and I was able to ask numerous questions about what it is like to be a crew member on a cruise ship. I learned that they sign a contract for a certain number of months to do whatever job they have. Some of them were in the shows while others worked with the children's programs or in the ship's library. So when I wrote my book, Hometown Proposal, I made the hero a former cruise director and the heroine a singer in the shows. The relationship they started on the cruise ship didn't last, but now that they are both not working with the cruise industry, the hero is determined to win her back.

Often when we take cruises, we also add some travel before or after the cruise. Our cruise to see the fjords in Norway started in Amsterdam, and we took full advantage of visiting that city several days before the cruise. After the cruise we traveled to other parts of The Netherlands and Belgium. I feature some of these places in my book, A Place to Find Love. The hero and heroine take a business trip together to The Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, which we visited before and after our Danube cruise.


 Have you ever been on a cruise? If so, what was your favorite part?

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.


 

Friday, October 11, 2024

Enjoying October's Cozy Moments and Whispers of Maple Memories by Josie Riviera

October is finally here, with its crisp air, colorful leaves, and the scent of autumn spices. It's the perfect month to slow down, reflect, and enjoy the simple pleasures that bring us joy—like diving into a new book or enjoying a stack of pancakes drizzled with rich maple syrup.


I'm thrilled to announce the release of my newest sweet romance cozy mystery, 

Whispers of Maple Memories in Sweetwater Springs. 

This is the second book in my Sweetwater Springs series.

In this book, librarian Nora Winters finds  a mysterious map hidden in an old book. The unexpected discovery sends her on a journey with her former flame, Elliot Fitzwater, to uncover long-buried secrets about their hometown. As they dig into Sweetwater Springs' past, they not only unravel a tale of love, sacrifice, and redemption but also confront their own unresolved feelings and dreams for the future.

The Sweetness of October

October is a month of transformation, much like the journey of Nora and Elliot. For many of us, it's a time to reconnect with our roots and cherish the sweetness of life's simple pleasures. There's something truly comforting about enjoying a warm meal with maple syrup.

Embracing Second Chances

One of the key themes in Whispers of Maple Memories in Sweetwater Springs is the power of second chances. Nora and Elliot's story reminds us that it's never too late to rediscover old loves and uncover new paths. Their journey through Sweetwater Springs is filled with small-town charm, making it a story about healing, growth, and the bonds of love and friendship.

Join Me in Sweetwater Springs

Whether you're snuggled up with a cozy blanket, enjoying a cup of tea, or indulging in a plate of pancakes with maple syrup, I hope Nora and Elliot's adventure brings a touch of magic to your autumn days.

In the comments below, please share a story that celebrate the beauty of change, the importance of connections, and the sweetness of second chances.

Whispers of Maple Memories in Sweetwater Springs is now available on pre-order on Amazon and all your favorite ebook retailers. Grab your copy today!



If you prefer episodic reading, Whispers of Maple Memories in Sweetwater Springs is also available on Kindle Vella.

And, the first ten episodes are free.


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 support 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





 

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

The Next Stage by Christine Bush

                             

In the course of our lives, we often face many different stages. Childhood, Early adulthood,  parenthood, adulthood, and those challenging times we call “The Golden Years”. Change.

Sometimes, those life changes mean facing different occupations, different interests.  Sometimes those changes are not what we expect.  Sometimes they are not what we want.  There is growth in the adjustment.


Two of the male characters in my novellas enjoy the life of being professional athletes.  This brings money, excitement, and fame.


But then, injury changes the trajectory of their lives.  What do they find to bring joy back into their lives after the loss of their career. 

These, of course, are romances, so you can imagine that love is going to play a part. There are strong and interesting heroines in these stories. But there’s more.

I hope you enjoy their path to joy!

 


Lucy’s Laugh

Amazon.com: Lucy's Laugh eBook : Bush, Christine: Kindle Store

A sweet romance novella about love, hope, and community. Lucy is a dedicated teacher in an alternative school in Philadelphia. She's connected to community and the kids in her life. The new physical education teacher is trying to hide from his famous sports past as he rehabs a crushing injury. She's determined to fight the growing attraction. He can't possibly stay and put down roots in her simple life. Or can he?

 


Hannah’s Heart

Amazon.com: Hannah's Heart eBook : Bush, Christine: Kindle Store

 

A sweet romance novella. Grady O'Neill has led a fast paced life as a pro athlete and professional sports announcer, until a serious car accident followed by surgery leaves him stuck and resentful, needing to recuperate in his family's old vacation farmhouse in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. His physical therapist, Hannah, has no time for his grumbling or his bad attitude. Or his adorable blue eyes, which begin to sparkle again when he sets sights on her. He's her patient, and that's all. Her heart has already learned its hard lessons about love, and she wants no part of it. She saves her warm feelings for the pets works with as a volunteer at the local animal sanctuary. But then, the aggravating man decides to risk his life to save a newborn litter of puppies, and her heart begins to thaw. Sooner or later, he won't be her patient anymore. But then, he'll also be gone from her simple country world, back to glamor and bright lights. And what will happen to her heart?

I’d love to hear what you think!

Love, Christine

Christine Bush is a USA Today Bestselling author of romance, romantic mystery, and suspense.  She can be found living in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania with her husband and 2 lazy cats, and spending time with her 14 grandchildren.   When she’s not writing, she’s teaching Psychology at a local college, and working with clients in her private practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist. She loves to hear from readers and writers!

 

 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Bush-Author/213919128638762
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Bush/e/B001KHSLRG/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1392688497&sr=1-2-ent

Monday, October 7, 2024

Lyn Cote's LAST FREE EBOOK for 2024!

 


FATAL WINTER


Both a wounded hero and heroine face murder in their small town, where murders never happen.

She survived a childhood tragedy. 

Bookstore owner Sylvie and state homicide detective Ridge share a painful history — but when they discover the dead body of Sylvie’s cousin, they have no choice but to work together to unravel the truth…

Marked by the same tragedy, he’s forced to linger here in his hometown, 

aching for his still embittered parents. As he investigates, subsequent break-ins and odd occurrences plague those nearest Sylvie. So he’s constantly in contact with her, the woman intwined in the tragedy and the woman he can’t keep out of his heart.

Ridge touches her heart, 

but she refuses to believe there might be another murder—that she might be the next victim. Can Ridge stand to lose her too?

A Carol Award–winning author delivers a page-turning work!

“I loved this book that is exhilarating with murders, robberies, assaults, and romance for Sylvie and Ridge. It was nonstop action from beginning to end and a great addition to the Northern Shore Intrigue series. Each book is a standalone with no cliffhanger, and I highly recommend this book. Lyn Cote is one of my favorite authors because she keeps you wondering up until the end who the suspect is.”

Click here to dowload for free. Why not tell a friend?--Lyn


Yes, I've Written One Historical ~ Jean C. Gordon



Although I write contemporary romance, I'm a history lover and more of a historical than contemporary romance reader. So in 2009, I tried my hand at writing a historical romance. It took me at least twice as long to write as a contemporary and I loved every minute. Maybe too much. I got myself so involved in the research, that I had to stop and make myself write or I would have never finished it. My Lady Viking was released by a now-defunct small publisher in early 2010 with the cover above. I rereleased it about a year and a half later as His Lady Viking with a new cover (below)

Inside Tidbits

At the time, I was writing, my daughter and her family were very active in a Viking reenactment group. In fact, they even volunteered to walk around the mall in costume for a signing I had. I declined. I did succumb to researching Viking settlement in Scotland and elsewhere in the British Isles--along with everything I could find about 10th-century Scotland. I chose that period partly because information is scarce and I felt could better avoid making blatant historical mistakes. Not getting the facts right in a historical bothers me as a reader. Also, this book isn't a sweet romance.

Originally, I submitted the manuscript to Harlequin Historicals and received a nice rejection letter in which the UK-based editor said, "You are a quite adequate writer," before saying why she wasn't interested. That tickled me so much much that I didn't feel bad about the rejection.

The 2011 Rerelease

I changed the title when I re-released the book in Summer 2011 and had an artist friend at work redesign the cover (below). I received some criticism that it doesn't look like a romance. I love it anyway.

Aedan Hakonson spent his childhood hating the Norse and his adult life fighting them. The son of a Norse warrior and a Caithness noblewoman, he’s never forgiven his father for abandoning his mother and him. Battle-weary and heavy-hearted, Aedan is wary of relying on anyone for anything.

Kara Thorddatter is a Viking warrior. For all intents and purposes, she’s her father’s second son and better suited for the world of a Viking warrior than her studious older brother. If only her father and stepmother would acknowledge that fact and let her lead the independent life she wants.

When Kara’s brother disappears in a storm off the coast of Alba, she and Aedan are drawn together into a mutual quest for a hidden Viking hoard—a quest that reveals love is the real treasure.

The later release in in ebook for Kindle only. But you might find a paperback copy of the original online somewhere,

GET YOUR COPY


Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Lyn Cote Asks: What's Wrong with Cats?

 I just saw on the morning news that they are going to start giving rats in New York City birth control pills or I should say pills that will sterilize them. I was just wondering where are the cats in New York City? I have a sneaking feeling that all the feral cats in New York City have been gathered up for their own good. But that means they can't do the job humans domesticated them to do! Or does anybody have any idea of why the cats aren't doing their job in New York City? The piece on the news said that they have over 3 million rats in town. I don't mind pet rats but wild rats-- I'm not a fan of them either. So does anybody have an answer for me?


Here's a shot of my late cat V-8 who liked to keep me company as I wrote. AND YES, HE WAS A GREAT MOUSER!!!





Monday, September 30, 2024

Favorite Romance Tropes by Laura Scott

 

Good morning!

I'm here to talk about romance tropes! These are those favorite hooks that help push our characters together when they normally would not be in the same room together, so that they may fall in love. 

Some examples of tropes are: 

Secret Identity

Friends to More

Secret Baby

                                        Amnesia

                                         Fake Engagement

                                         Bodyguard

                                         Best Friend's sister/brother

                                         Grumpy/Sunshine


There are many more, but do you see what I mean? These are all ways authors set up their stories to bring their characters together. Do you have a favorite trope? I'd love to hear them.

In all my years of writing (over twenty!) I have used most of these tropes, except for one. Fake Engagement. For whatever reason that one has not worked for most of my suspense stories.

Until now! I have written my first Fake Engagement story! I'm super excited that Zeke will be available tomorrow, October 1st. And Zeke will be in ebook, print and audiobook formats!


Zeke by Laura Scott $3.99



From USA Today Bestselling Author Laura Scott

Oath of Honor - To protect and serve...

Protecting his best friend's sister...

Tactical Police Officer Zeke Hawthorn does not hesitate to rush in to protect his best friend's sister. Especially when danger strikes too close to the beautiful single mom and her young daughter. He'll even go a step further when Sienna asks him to pretend to be her fiance'. Anything to keep them safe from harm.

After launching a new career as a Christian musician, Sienna Reynolds knows her abusive ex-husband is doing everything possible to derail her plan. Even going as far as to file for joint custody of their daughter, something she cannot allow to happen. But when the attacks against her turn deadly, Sienna fears the worst. Leaning on God and Zeke, she wrestles with what to do. Disappear forever? Or stay within the shelter of Zeke's arms?

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