Firefighter Heroes by Laura Scott

 

Good morning! As many of you know I'm a retired registered nurse turned full time author. 

As a nurse, I was blessed to care for many wonderful patients and families. I am grateful to have had an awesome career. You may or may not know that each year there is a survey about which professions the general public trusts the most. And for many years, nurses were always Number one at the top of the list. Except for the year 2011which is obviously when firefighters took a well deserved lead. 

When I began writing my Finnegan First Responders series, I knew I wanted to have a firefighter as one of the siblings. I have a great respect for those who put their lives in danger to protect the rest of us. Cops, firefighters, paramedics, EMT's and of course nurses too. While nurses may not face the same danger as the other professions, I have had more than one patient hit, kick, threaten and/or swear at me so I believe they deserve to be included.

Back to firefighters--my next Finnegan book features paramedic/firefighter Colin Finnegan. Scorched Secrets will be available on August 1st. If you haven't tried my Finnegan First Responders series, you will want to give them a try!

Scorched Secrets by Laura Scott $3.99

Threatened by an arsonist…

When Dr. Faye Kimble finds her car on fire, she believes it to be a teenage prank. But when her house is also torched, she realizes that someone has targeted her, on purpose. And as the arson attempts escalate, she turns to her high school crush, Colin Finnegan for support.

Colin Finnegan became a firefighter largely because of Faye’s father’s influence. Fire Chief Dorian Kimble believes the attacks against his daughter are related to his terminating a firefighter. Colin is determined to keep Faye safe, a difficult task as the arsonist seems to know their every move. The danger surrounding Faye, threatens her love for Colin. Will they uncover the truth in time to plan a future, together?

Amazon B&N Apple GooglePlay Kobo Laura’s Website

Until next month...Laura Scott

A Fun Fact by Pat Simmons

 What would June, July, and August be without summer fruits? Here's something you might not know about pineapples. I didn't.

This is a reprint from an article I read on Interesting Facts:

Pineapples were once so valuable people rented them for parties

If you’re planning to throw a party, you might need to rent extra tables or chairs, perhaps even a tent or a tux. But in the 1700s, party hosts and guests looking to make a statement were in the rental market for an entirely different accessory: pineapples. And the message they were trying to send? That they were extravagantly wealthy. Prior to the 20th century, when pineapple plantations made the fruit widely available, pineapples were incredibly expensive imports to Europe (and most other places). In the 18th century, a single fruit bought in Britain could cost upwards of $8,000 in today’s money.

It's amazing the stuff I learn online. Have you ever used whole pineapples as table decorations or skipped them in your fruit salads? Although I enjoy them, recently I realized they are an acidic fruit, and I have to stay away from them. Bummer.

Enjoy the rest of your summer and have a slice or chunk of pineapples for me.

______

Pat Simmons is a multi-published Christian romance author of forty-plus titles. She is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She is a five-time recipient of the RSJ Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance and recipient of the 2022 Leslie Esdaile Trailblazer Award. Christmas Dinner was also an Emma Award winner for Book of the Year. Christmas Dinner and Here for You were featured in Woman’s World Magazine.

As a Christian, Pat describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as a life-altering experience. She has converted her sofa-strapped sports fanatical husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, and GPS-guided chauffeur. They have a son and a daughter. Pat holds a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, and has worked in radio, television, and print media for over twenty years. Visit her at www.patsimmons.net.

Sweet Regency Romance ebook sale

Hi everyone! This is Camy Tang, who also writes as Camille Elliot.

For the entire month of July, books 2 and 3 in my Lady Wynwood’s Spies series are on sale for $2.99 each!

The books are part of a huge Sweet/Clean Regency ebook sale, and there are lots of other Regencies available. You might find a great new series!

Check out the Sweet Regency Romance ebook sale.

Summer Luvin by Janice Lynn

Did my title have you hearing John and Olivia belting out? :) Over the years I've written a few books set at the beach. I always feel a bit of longing each time I do or when I go back to reread them as I generally write beaches that I'm familiar with. My latest release, Heart Doctor's Summer Reunion, is set on Fripp Island, South Carolina. I spent a week there working on a Wrapped Up Hallmark books and took breaks to explore the island to research for this story. At the time, I didn't know my hero or heroine, just the setting for their story and let that setting drive their characterization and their storyline.

Fripp was a really neat island to visit as it didn't have a commercial feel to me, but more a relaxed family vibe. Many of the things around the island that the characters did in the story were things that my friend, Susan Sands, and I did during our writing retreat on Fripp. Because this story didn't come out until two years later, I almost got myself into trouble with my readers, though, as an abandoned research facility that had been damaged during a hurricane had since been torn down. Last minute, I had to go in and make some changes to reflect that. (Kayaking in the bay)

(abandoned research facility)

(remaining pieces of the dock)

(exploring around the old facility that has since been demolished)

When visiting the beach, are you a quiet and relaxing and the less people the better? Or do you prefer the crowds with your laughter and sunshine? Are you an active beachgoer (walking, jogging, frisbee, volleyball, swimming, etc.) or a soak-up-the-rays while relaxing kinda person? I'm not one for sunbathing--too pale and redheaded--but I do love to walk on the beach with the water lapping at my feet. And if I have an umbrella to give me shade, a good book, and the sound of the waves as my music, I'm a happy girl. 

What's your favorite way to experience the beach? Did you grow up having a special summer/beach vacation you went on with family?

On the summer luvin title, well, I could totally picture Linc and Lottie playing in the surf as teens the way that Danny and Sandy did in Grease. It sure was fun to write their story of them coming back together at Fripp more than a decade later as successful adults ready for forever luvin. 

Looking for a Christmas in July read? Check out Janice's Wrapped Up in Christmas books from Hallmark Publishing.

Buy Your Copy HERE

USA Today, Wall Street Journal, & Publishers Weekly Bestselling author JANICE LYNN lives in Tennessee with her Prince Charming and their princes and princesses, her vivid imagination, an adorable Maltese named Halo who's the true royalty of the house, and bunches of unnamed dust bunnies that moved in after Janice started her writing career. In addition to writing romance, Janice is a nurse practitioner, a quilter, an exercise queen, a military mama, and an avid supporter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Just kidding on the exercise queen. www.janicelynn.com  The WRAPPED UP IN CHRISTMAS books are available at AMAZON Barnes & Noble WALMART & many other place where you buy books. WRAPPED UP IN CHRISTMAS LOVE is coming Christmas 2024.

Taking A Mid-year Look At Those New Year's Resolutions

July is a good month for a reset. It’s a little more than halfway through the year. So I looked at what I’d hoped to accomplish in January to see if I had a chance of making it.  

Some of the things I wanted to accomplish were:

❤️Keep track of the books I read.

❤️Read ninety-six books. 

❤️Enjoy a non-literary hobby (which is funny because it contradicts the aforementioned goal LOL) 

❤️Run three times a week.

Well, when I sat down to assess my progress. I had to laugh because my book tracking lasted until March. The last quarter of school passed by faster than a blink. 

So you see where this is going. Yes, I enjoyed my literary hobby and didn’t track it, and I did it in the comfort of my favorite sweats in the corner of the couch with lots of hot cocoa. 

Not knowing where to start to resume my good intentions, I turned to my favorite resource. The Sweet Romance Reads Authors.

It started with listening to Laura’s Christian Suspense books on YouTube. (psst they're full-length books) the suspense is at the perfect level. It’s enough that I feel like I have to move, so I listen to her stories when I am out on a  run. 

Then as a reward, I tried some of Donna’s recipes, beginning with the Lemon Curd Cake. I didn’t have lemon curd, so I used lemon pie filling. I topped the cake with sugared berries because it’s summer, and I wanted to be fancy. It was more than my husband, and I could eat. So I brought the cake to share with our Uncle Elmer. Whatever we didn’t eat, he
shared with the nurses. 

Before I left, I asked Uncle Elmer if he had any requests for our next visit. He asked for the lemon cake. So I’ll have to find other friends to sample the other recipes Donna has shared on the blog. 

Here's the link to Visit Laura Scott’s Page . Remember to subscribe so you know where to find all of her stories and get updates.

If you try Donna's Lemon Curd Cake recipe can you share in one of the comments or in the Facebook group how it turned out. Have you kept any of those good intentions from January?

Share in the comments. We can celebrate if you made it and laugh together at what past us thought the future would look like.

Vacation by Merrillee Whren

 

This time of year in the USA, it is vacation time. We recently vacationed on the east coast. We spent a week at the beach in New Jersey. I guess the natives say they are going "down the shore." We just said we are going to the beach. We spent a week at the beach with a walk every morning and ice cream at night and lots of fun in between.

The beginning photo is a picture I took in Bruge, Belgium. Why did I choose this photo to share? Because sometimes I use vacations for book ideas. In the last book in my Front Porch Promises series, A Place to Find Love, my characters go on a business trip. One of the places they visit is Bruge, where they talk to a chocolatier about doing business with their company.

 I learned a lot about making chocolate when I wrote this book. Belgium chocolates are some of the best in the world. Here are some I bought while we were there. Not a bad one in the box.

I love sharing the places I've lived and the places I visited in my books. Do you like to do a little armchair traveling while you read?

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.

Embracing Whimsical Celebrations: Christmas in July with our Precious Pets by Josie Riviera

Hello, dear sweet romance readers, and welcome to Christmas in July!

This month, I'm exploring ways to celebrate Christmas in July with our beloved furry companions. So, grab a cup of cocoa or a glass of lemonade, curl up with your pet, and let the holiday spirit fill your hearts.

1. Create some festive Christmas memories. Bring out the twinkling lights, dust off the stockings, and deck the halls with ornaments and garlands. Embrace the holiday spirit by transforming your home into a summer wonderland.

2. Consider their safety and enjoyment. Opt for pet-friendly decorations that won't pose any harm, and decorate your house with pet-themed ornaments,

3. Take a stroll in the park or on a pet-friendly trail. Or organize a "Santa Paws" photoshoot...what fun!

4. Bake pet-friendly treats, using ingredients safe for your pets to enjoy. You can also spoil them with festive-themed pet treats available in stores.

5. Christmas in July is perfect for gift giving. Treat your pet to a new toy or cozy new bed.

Let's never forget the joy our precious pets bring into our lives every day. I hope that you and your pets enjoy celebrating Christmas in July!

I have a new release this month: Christmas Tails of the Heart: A Heartwarming Collection of Sweet and Inspirational Romance Books Featuring Pets, Puppies, and Horses.

                        This collection includes the following 3 books:

A Christmas Puppy To Cherish
You don’t need ears to hear God’s plan. All you need is an open heart…

A Christmas To Cherish

There’s nothing a Christmas kiss won’t cure. Except perhaps a shattered heart.

Sweet Peppermint Kisses

There’s no place like home. Until the heart gallops off in an unexpected direction…

FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Grab your copy of Christmas Tails of the Heart today before price goes up. Available in ebook, paperback, large print paperback, and Hardcover. Audiobooks for each book sold separately.

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

Today is National Strawberry Sundae Day and World Chocolate Day ~ Jean C. Gordon

Strawberries and/or chocolate. What could be better? For a strawberry sundae, Friendly's is our family favorite. As for chocolate, my husband and I are divided between Oliver's in Batavia, NY, near our home towns, and Krause's in Albany, near where we live now.

How is this related to romance or romance books? If you've read any of the Paradox Lake series, you know that my characters have a favorite soft-serve ice cream stand on the lake that they frequent. I'm sure they can get a strawberry sundae (or at least strawberry soft serve ice cream) there and know they can get chocolate soft-serve, or any other flavor of soft serve dipped in chocolate.

And this is all leading to a preliminary cover reveal of my next Paradox Lake book—an inspirational—coming this fall.

Do you have a go-to place for strawberry sundaes and/or chocolates? How about a favorite kind of holiday romance? His Christmas Star is a reunion story. My favorite.—

  For My New Releases

  Check me out on Facebook

  Follow me on BookBub

  Sign up for my Newsletter 

  Visit my Website 

New Book Covers, and a day of surprises! Roxanne Rustand

 

What a wonderful fourth of July holiday!

"Come up for lunch," our daughter said. We arrived and were just stunned.

All three of our kids and their spouses, five grands (the two oldest couldn't make it), my brother, and the boys' best friend from childhood, who spent a lot of time at our house while growing up, were there, setting up a big birthday cook-out!

Andy and his family had come all the way from Central Wisconsin, and my brother drove down from Minnesota. A surprise birthday party!! I was overwhelmed and overjoyed!

By the end of the afternoon, the eighteen-month-old babies, who were born 9 days apart, were exhausted. Such sweet treasures to hold! My heart was overflowing! I am blessed to be able to see Catalina often, but Sam not nearly enough. And to hold him in my arms while he napped was such a treasure.

Joe's birthday and mine are five days apart, on either side of the Fourth of July. Family is absolutely everything to me, and this gift of time with them was priceless. It was an incredible surprise for both of us!!!

Do you have a birthday celebration that you will always remember? Leave a comment and you will be in a free drawing for my LETHAL PURSUIT e-book!

Now another question.

Have you ever bought a product based on the name or its packaging, only to find that the item wasn't anywhere close to what you expected? Sometimes authors accidentally do that with covers or book titles that aren't exactly right. Well, I did that and it took me way too long to realize it!

I loved the sweet titles and covers for my Northern Pines series (One More Kiss, One More Wish, One More Dance) but just a month ago realized they were all wrong. Readers surely wouldn't expect romance and suspense!

What do you think of this new book cover and title? Do they convey clean romantic suspense to you? What would you change?

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer!

Blessings,

Roxanne

Lyn Cote Reminds you that a Second Chance at Love

 Is always possible!

Abby’s Second Chance, Book 2 of “The Preacher’s Daughters” series by Lyn Cote

Contemporary Christian Romance

Their chance at first love slipped through their fingers—now a second chance, will they let their attraction grow to true love? 

Abby Kirkland, a successful fundraiser for a big city botanical garden, faces a life-changing decision. In order to make the right choice, she visits her beloved great aunt in Florida. Will she have to upend her life? Then unexpectedly she crosses paths with Dr. Marco De Palma. She knew him at university in Florida, almost a decade ago.

Marco never thought to meet Abby again. Even though now he is a MD, the chances of a lady like her falling in love with the son of immigrants from Santa Domingo still looks impossible to him. And besides, he has a goal he must achieve for the good of many and that needs all his attention. No time for love.

Yet as they work together on a charity project, they can't deny the re-igniting of their connection. Will old insecurities and mistaken perceptions keep them apart again? Or will they finally believe that they too have a right to a second chance at love?

An emotional sweet romance with the promise of a happily ever after you’ll savor by USA Today Bestselling Author of over fifty romances. Click here for more info.

SNEAK PEEK at Book 3 LUCY'S UNLIKELY LOVE:

What happens when a “thinker” and a “live wire” collide? Sparks? Or a 5-alarm fire? 

Late-May sunshine gilded the weathered wood fence around the farmyard. Lucy Hansen leaned against the railing on the wide front porch of the white-frame farmhouse. She wished she’d had time to linger over coffee this morning. But this wasn’t a pleasure visit to Pleasant Prairie, Iowa.

Three days ago, her cousin Sophie had called in tears over her husband’s continued hospital stay. So Lucy had promised she’d come as soon as she could pack. At that time, Lucy hadn’t yet taken in just how deep Sophie’s troubles were. Now, three days later, she realized that her cousin’s problems might keep Lucy at the farm longer than she’d expected—or wanted. She felt both sorry for her cousin and guilty over feeling selfish. But she had problems, too.

Lucy worried her lower lip. I’m almost broke. I’ve got to be looking for a summer job and a full-time job for the fall. Lord, You’re going to have to help me out here.

Sophie stood near Lucy, holding her baby daughter on her hip. The girl’s dark curls and olive skin matched her pretty mother’s.

A riff of heavy-metal music blasted from an open second-story window. Ordinarily, the sound wouldn’t have bothered Lucy, fresh from four years in a college dorm. But one glance told her that the raucous sound was upsetting Sophie. And her cousin didn’t need any more upsetting right now.

Sophie looked so forlorn, Lucy’s mood lowered even further. Should she offer to go along with her to the hospital?

“Lucy!” one of Sophie’s little boys called to her.

Sophie’s young sons already hung on to and twisted themselves around the door handles of Lucy’s battered old car. The longing in their expressions tugged at Lucy’s heart. The little guys couldn’t wait for Lucy’s promised treat of a trip to the town park, to be followed by Dairy Queen hamburgers, fries and cones.

Sophie forced a tiny smile. “Don’t worry about me, Lucy.”

The heavy-metal music overhead boomed a decibel louder, drowning out Sophie. Exasperated, Lucy looked upward. What was with Zoë, anyway?

Zoë was Sophie’s teenaged sister-in-law who’d been living with Sophie and her husband since the death of her parents. Yesterday Lucy had noted the drastic change in the teen from a year ago. Zoë’s lowcut, hip-hugging jeans and exposed navel hadn’t bothered Lucy. The desperate unhappiness in Zoë’s eyes had.

Shaking her head, Sophie leaned close to Lucy’s ear. “I don’t know what I would have done if you couldn’t have come for the summer.”

The summer? I came for the summer? Lucy swallowed this with some difficulty. When did I volunteer to stay the whole summer? She hadn’t even guessed that Sophie had assumed she’d stay for the entire summer. I’m broke! I have to find a job.

Another glance at Sophie’s worry-ravaged face made Lucy postpone mentioning this. Sophie was family and family came first. Lucy would have to figure out some way to both help Sophie and find a job. But how?

Click here for more info or to pre-order for only $1.99