Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Let's Do It by Merri Maywether

 Many of the activities my story characters encounter are either things I’ve done or hope to do at some point in my life. In 452 Memory Lane, the characters go on a short retreat in northern Montana. While on this retreat, they learn about themselves, each other, and how they interact with the world around them. 


Most of the activities were in the “I hope I get to do this one-day” category. I watched YouTube videos, read blogs, and talked to people who visited places like the one I’d written about in the book. 


Well, we drove by one of the “I hope” activities this month.  I looked over at my husband and said, what do you think about stopping there on the way home? 


In the twenty-five years we’ve been married, I’ve been the adventure seeker, and my husband has been the one to inject pragmatism. When he said, “Let’s do it,” I didn’t give him a chance to reconsider. I bought tickets on my phone. 


It changed the tone of our conversations for the rest of the weekend. Before we knew it, we were standing in front of two instructors explaining how to zip line. I felt empowered, brave, daring, and all the positive words that accompany adventure–until I was on the platform. 



That was when my analytic brain kicked in. When was I supposed to twist the rope? What would happen if my legs hit the ramp too hard? Could a bug fly up my nose? Why did I ask Randy if we could do this?


My husband, the pragmatist, had a blast. Every challenge our instructors gave he embraced. 


We were in the forest's canopy, admiring the Montana mountains in a way I had only seen through pictures. The beauty surpassed hesitation; my husband’s wide grin told me I was right to have made the suggestion. 


By the seventh zip line, the swirl of butterflies in my belly triggered delighted giggles, and my husband declared himself ready to embark on another adventure I’d written for my Ashbrook, Montana characters. 


In the next book, they’re going on a Pacific coast cruise. I don't know how I feel about that.


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Faith Alexander ran away to Paradise Hills to hide from her past. Back home she has a mother that wants to run her life and the ruins of a marriage that never happened.

A week before they were supposed to get married, Clark Grayson called off his wedding to Faith. By the time he figured out he made a mistake, it was too late to right the wrong.

She was gone.

Clark and Faith are brought back together as bridesmaid and groomsman for a wedding, but neither knows it until they are set up for a blind date.

Sparks fly and love will be tested. Friends and Family in Paradise Hills will watch with bated breath for the outcome. What will it take for Clark to regain Faith's trust?


Paradise Hills Summer is available for 99¢ at your favorite retailer. 

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Who is Merri Maywether? By day she’s a school librarian. Once she’s left town, she drives down the dirt road to her home on the family farm and writes sweet romance stories. The characters and plot lines are a mixture of real life and her imagination.  

3 comments:

  1. I've never ridden a zipline, but the hero and heroine do in my No Brides Club book No Time for Adventure.

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    1. I love it when characters do daring things together.

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