Vacation Books by Merrillee Whren

 

 

This time of year in the United States, many people are on vacation. I like to take books to read when I travel. Vacation time is reading time to me, especially on long plane or car rides. It used to be a pain to bring books on vacation because they were heavy and took up too much room in my suitcase like the top picture. Now with the convenience of an ereader or an app on a tablet, I can take hundreds of books with me. There is never a problem running out of something to read. These days when hubby and I travel, we travel light. A roller bag and a backpack with suffice for weeks of travel. We learned the hard way that taking big suitcases can be a drawback if you are using multiple modes of transportation, changing from planes to cars to train or buses. It is much easier to travel light. 

 

How do you like to travel?  

 

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.

Mutiny of the Heart, Windswept Weddings book 1 by Vickie McDonough

 

The first release in an exciting series:

Mutiny of the Heart

Windswept Weddings 1

A proud Loyalist and a jaded patriot are bound by a child and a shared loss—but as sparks fly, they must decide if love is worth trusting the enemy.

Heather has no reason to like Lucas Reed. He is an American, who's fight for liberty from England led to Heather's family's financial ruin and the death of her father. But her cousin's dying wish was that Heather take little Jamie to his father in Charleston, and she's determined to honor that wish, even if it breaks her heart to do so.

Lucas Reed knows the boy at his door cannot possibly be his, but there's no denying that Jamie has the trademark Reed blue eyes, black hair, and dimples. Still, Lucas is ready to close the door to the boy and his escort until Miss Hawthorne presents him with a letter. He instantly recognizes the writing he thought he'd never see again. The contents of the letter shatter his resolve, forcing him to open his door—and his carefully guarded heart—to the boy and his steadfast guardian.

As Heather and Lucas work together to create a new life for Jamie, can they resist their growing attraction? Or will mutinous hearts finally admit their love when an enemy's desperate plot threatens their lives?

What a reviewer says:

This kind of historical romance is perfect, it has all you desire. A cast of characters, political and international intrigue, conflicting romance and heartwarming feelings evoked with the relationship that developed that between Heather, Lucas and little Jamie. A must read for historical bluffs. Accuracy was key and this book delivered. I look forward to reading all of this authors books. Crysmisty

Release August 5th. Pre-order here:

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Books to Read

The 10-Minute Summer Dessert That Tastes Like Christmas (Plus a Free Holiday Romance!) by Josie Riviera

July might bring hot and humid temperatures here in the Carolinas, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a taste of holiday cheer! This month, I'm sharing my favorite no-bake peppermint icebox cake. It's refreshing, festive, and perfect for those "Christmas in July" moments when you need a midyear dose of holiday spirit.

Recipe for Quick Peppermint Icebox Cake:

• 1 package chocolate graham crackers
• 2 cups whipped topping
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 3 tablespoons crushed peppermint candies or peppermint baking chips (available in the baking aisle year-round!)

Layer graham crackers with the peppermint-infused whipped topping in a small dish, refrigerate for two hours, and enjoy! It's simple enough to make with grandchildren on hot afternoons and festive enough to bring holiday magic to summer days.

Speaking of holiday magic, I'm celebrating Christmas in July by giving away my sweet holiday romance Candleglow and Mistletoe completely FREE for the next few days. In this story, talented pianist Noelle Wentworth finds unexpected love with charming stuntman Gabe Waters in the picturesque, fictional town of Snowing Rock. I am a pianist, though not as talented as Noelle! :)

Grab your free ebook copy here.

Do you celebrate Christmas in July? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

P.S. The newest bird to visit my backyard bird feeder is Brewer's Blackbird.

If you're looking for your next great read, the complete Sweetwater Springs series is my newest release and now available in a boxed set. These three sweet romances will transport you to a charming small town filled with hope, heart, and the kind of community we'd all love to find.

The three books in the boxed set include:

WHISPERS OF LOVE IN SWEETWATER SPRINGS
One mysterious letter. Two childhood friends. A love story decades in the making.

WHISPERS OF MAPLE MEMORIES IN SWEETWATER SPRINGS
A century-old secret. A stolen chronicle. Could unearthing their past cost them their future?

WHISPERS OF HOLIDAY MAGIC IN SWEETWATER SPRINGS
A struggling baker, a determined financier, and a small-town mystery where secrets spark holiday magic.

Grab your copy of Whispers of Sweetwater Springs today.

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

It's 2017 ~ Jean C. Gordon

The year 2017 marked the last of my Love Inspired books and my decision to concentrate on writing sweet, rather than inspirational, stories. Reuniting His Family released in summer 2017 and A Mom for His Daughter in December.

Writing/Publishing Tidbits

When I later got the rights back to these two books, I decided not o reissue them from Upstate NY Romance. BUT, when I looked at the books to write this blog, I was reminded of how much I like the stories. So, I'm reissuing them with A Mom for His Daughter renamed Sharing His Daughter, one of my original title suggestions submitted to Love Inspired.

~~~~~~~~~~

A Father's Dream

Rhys Maddox wants nothing more than custody of his two sons. Released from prison after a wrongful charge, the widowed dad will do anything to bring his boys home where they belong. But that doesn’t include falling for their former social worker. Now leading an outreach program for families in transition, Renee Delacroix can’t escape the tall, dark and intriguing single dad…or his adorable little boys. But Rhys is determined to go it alone. Until one incident that may cost him what he wants the most. Now it’s up to Renee to save him…if she can make him see she’s just what he needs to complete their forever family.

PREORDER NOW or BUY July 15: Kindle | Apple | B&N, Kobo, and Other Vendors

Finding Her Family

Widowed single dad Marc Delacroix doesn’t have time for surprises—especially one like Fiona Bryce. Finding out that she’s the biological aunt of his adopted daughter, Stella, is a big shock. While Fiona’s commitment to the little girl appears to be genuine, Marc wonders if he can truly trust her—or his own heart, which he vowed never to risk again. Fiona’s eager to connect with the sweet young niece she never knew she had, but Marc seems determined to keep her at arm’s length. Could Marc and Fiona’s shared love of Stella be the bond that transforms their fragile connection into a real family?

PREORDER NOW or BUY July 15: Kindle | Apple | B&N, Kobo, and Other Vendors

Welcome to Paradox Lake

Any fan of sweet romance will love the stories of small-town love in the Paradox Lake Sweet Romance series. Grab your tea or coffee, settle into your favorite chair, and be swept away into the cozy Adirondack town, where complex characters navigate challenging situations as they find their way to love. Whether it’s love at first blush, old flames reuniting, or second chance romance, you’ll find pure reading enjoyment and satisfy your craving for sweet, wholesome romance.

Part of an ongoing series full of familiar faces, each story will stand on its own. With novel and novella lengths available, there’s something for everyone. Paradox Lake is written by USA Today Bestselling sweet romance author Jean Gordon, who’s penned stories for the Hopeless Romantics of Willow Ridge, No Brides Clubs, and Indigo Bay multi-author sweet romance series—as well as her own series and Harlequin Love Inspired.

Fireworks, a birthday, and a baptism ---and a free book

 I hope you had a wonderful Fourth of July!

We traveled an hour south to spend time with our son and his family, as well as his wonderful in-laws. Good food, great conversation, and the Fourth of July parade in their small town is a lot of fun.

By the time we got home, night had fallen. We live on a hill in the country, and from our back deck, I watched fireworks displays from seven locations along the horizon. I love those bright, beautiful lights! Do you go somewhere to watch fireworks?

We got home from the south just last week. Our granddaughter was baptized in a lovely little church south of Baton Rouge. 

The party afterward at her Godparents' home was amazing, and so different from what we would have in the Upper Midwest. The food was regional, including a crawfish boil (fifty pounds of crawfish, done in batches), which was amazing. That was new to me! 

After that special occasion, we spent time in New Orleans during Restaurant Week, before heading for the relative peace and quiet of the Gulf Coast for a while. My birthday is today (July 5th), but I got to celebrate a little early with family at G.W. Fins, a restaurant in the French Quarter.

Now that we're home, we're glad to be here.  😊
But I loved the chance to spend time with our family!

Are there special, regional culinary favorites in your part of the country? I would love to hear about them!

Leave a comment, and you will be entered in a drawing for a free e-copy of one of my books--any title of your choice except for my old Love Inspired novels.
You can see them all by clicking HERE.

Have a wonderful summer!

Love, Roxanne Rustand
www.roxannerustand.com

Lyn Cote's Summer "View and Sounds"

The Independence Day holiday has started here in the northwoods of Wisconsin. The boats are going by and people are talking and laughing--a lovely sound--after a silent winter.

Those are "manmade" noises, but have you ever heard a loon call? Here's a Mam and two chicks.

If you'd like to hear the loons, click this link.

And don't forget, my next historical romance is on pre-order till Septemeber 10th.

“Blessing fights love because she knows how it destroyed her in a previous marriage. Gerard fights EVERYTHING as he struggles to learn who he really is away from his domineering father.”

After being wooed by a wealthy and socially prominent member of Cincinnati society, Blessing Cathwell leaves her family and beliefs behind to marry him. Widowed young and determined to never to lose her independence, Blessing reclaims her faith and sets out to use her wealth and influence for women’s rights and abolition. 

Gerard Ramsey, scion of a wealthy Boston family, comes to Cincinnati to escape his father’s schemes to arrange an advantageous marriage for his heir. an angry Gerard stubbornly strives toward independence, his planning is soon complicated by Blessing’s tendency for speaking to him as his equal and 

Moreover, Gerard wants to break with his father—in a way that will anger him—while providing Gerard with independence. His planning is soon complicated by Blessing  and her tendency for speaking to him as his equal and challenging him to consider the lives of others over his own. 

As pre-Civil War racial tensions rise in Cincinnati, Blessing and Gerard struggle to find common ground as violence escalates. And a secret adversary to both tries to reach a lethal end game.

“Rich and rewarding! Blessing will captivate you from beginning to end. A unique and compelling plot and well-drawn characters will bring you back in history to Cincinnati, Ohio, where women’s rights were nonexistent and racial tension permeated the city. I couldn’t put this book down until I learned their fate. A must read!” Judith Miller, Author judithmccoymiller.com

Click here to pre-order. Lyn Cote

Summer Reading by Laura Scott

 

Summer Reading! 

I don't know about you, for me, these summer days are flying by. I can't believe it's almost July! Here in Wisconsin, we cherish our warm summers, spending time outside if possible. 

For some weird reason I don't read as much in the summer. Maybe it's partly because there are graduations, long weekends and other events (my FIL's upcoming birthday) to keep me preoccupied. Maybe it's just that the weather is so nice I'd rather just sit quietly in my sunroom.

There's something about staying indoors when its cold out, curling up with a good book. I estimate I read twice as much in the winter as I do in the summer.

So what about you? Are you a seasonal reader? If you are, you may want to give my Sullivan K9 Search and Rescue series a try. The fifth book in my series, Scent of Death releases tomorrow!

Whatever you choose do to, have fun, stay safe and enjoy! We all know the summer days won't last forever...

Scent of Death - Laura Scott $3.99

After Alexis Sullivan and her cadaver K9 Denali find the body of a dead woman in the mountains, gunfire rings out, indicating she is the killer's next target. She calls FBI agent Griff Flannery for help and when Denali finds a second body just two hundred yards away from the first, she's horrified to realize they're dealing with a serial killer. 

FBI Agent Griffin Flannery has been investigating missing teenagers from across the state and rushes to join Alexis in the Bighorn Mountains. Two of the three missing women are there, but he knows there are likely others. Time is running out. He needs to find the third missing woman before she's dumped like the rest. But when the killer turns his sights on Alexis, Griff will risk his own life to save hers.

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