Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Want to Win a Whole Lot of Books???

 












Today, I have a fun surprise to share with you...

 

I’ve teamed up with 30+ fantastic authors to give away a huge collection of Sweet Contemporary Romances to 2 lucky winners!  Sweet Contemporary Romance   

 Contest Dates: October 30, 2023 – November 8, 2023

 

Oh, and did I mention the Grand Prize winner gets a BRAND NEW eReader? 😁  


You can win my novel Hannah's Hometown Hero, plus all the books in the graphic above from authors like Suzanne Woods Fischer and Laura Haley-McNeil. You'll be asked to follow me on Bookbub and/or Amazon. That's all!

 

Enter the giveaway by clicking here 👉 https://www.booksweeps.com/giveaway/oct23-win-a-bundle-of-sweet-contemporary-romance/

 

Good luck and enjoy!--Lyn




Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Bringing My Book Character to Life by Pat Simmons



Let me introduce you to Mrs. Beatrice Tilley Beacon aka Grandma BB. Since book 1, Guilty of Love, in the Jamieson Legacy series, she has brought comic relief in the world of her neighbors.  Over the years, fans wanted to know the story about her fancy dresses and Stacy Adams shoes. In Contempt: Grandma BB's Shenanigan, Grandma BB tells all.  This series is about romance, inspiration, Black American history, and generation research is Grandma's shenanigans. She is the neighborhood busybody, a tough cookie on the outside, but the sweetest old woman on the inside. Since Grandma BB is a standout character, I don a costume whenever she is making an appearance at an event. LOL. Readers love her antics and I love to entertain them when I wear my gray wig, pearls, and....Stacy Adams shoes.

If you're looking for a family saga, then grab your copy of Contempt.


Grandma BB, the unofficial matriarch of the Jamieson clan, is getting her house in order for the perfect homegoing celebration. After all, she’s eighty-something.
She summons Parke Jamieson VI, his brothers, cousins, and their families to play a part in the practice funeral program—only if they follow her instructions to the letter.
Since the Jamiesons are at her house with bodyguards Chip and Dale, they might have an impromptu family game night.
The evening is full of surprises, especially when an unexpected visitor shows up to steal the show. With more work that needs to be done, Grandma BB plans to put her funeral on hold and stick around for a couple more generations.




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 the 2022 Leslie Esdaile Trailblazer Award recipient. 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.






Sunday, October 22, 2023

Preorder Summer Suspicions and get a free ebook every month!

I have a new Contemporary novel included in the multi-author box set Summer Suspicions: Ten Christian Romantic Suspense Novels, and if you preorder now, you’ll be able to subscribe to a special Reader Club Newsletter. Every month from now until June 2024, you’ll get a free Contemporary Romantic Suspense ebook from one of the authors in the box set.

1) Preorder Summer Suspicions

2) Fill out this form with your order number

3) Get the secret link and subscribe to the Summer Suspicions Reader Club Newsletter

4) Get your first free book

The sooner you preorder, the more free books you’ll get!

You’ll also be alerted when the Summer Suspicions box set is available to read.

The newsletter will end June 2024 and you will NOT be automatically subscribed to the authors’ individual newsletters. You can sign up for their newsletters yourself if you wish.

Preorder Summer Suspicions

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Making Friends by Merri Maywether

Today is National New Friends Day. The reminder of the holiday tickled this sweet and true story about how friendships begin. 

For two hours a day, I get to teach kids aged five to twelve the nuances of reading. Because I am the librarian, they can be honest and tell me if they don’t like a book, or a genre, or the magazine I selected for the year. 


In turn, they teach me the little things I forgot. I was shelving books when I overheard this conversation between two seven-year-old boys. 


The setup. They are the only boys in the class and are working on a puzzle of the map of the United States. I set it out as a primer for when they have to learn it when they are in third grade. I also wiggled a map reading lesson in there. 


Boy one: I like working with you. 

Boy two: Yeah, it’s easy to talk through my problems. (The current problem was where is New Mexico?)

Boy one: thank you for unfreezing me at recess.

Boy two: no problem. I know how to zig zag so the girls don’t catch me. 

Boy one: I’d like it if you were my friend. 

Boy two: That would be nice. Let’s do it. 

The conversation continues to discuss mutual friends and their goods and bads. (i.e. he or she helps me with my homework but  talks a lot on the bus and gets us in trouble.)


It was one of those lessons that I needed to relearn. I just assumed because of the circumstances that they were already friends. 



They taught me that friendship entails conversations that define the relationship. In years to come, they’ll have stories of shenanigans, working through problems where the puzzle piece won’t be as easy to find, and insights to share. 


The two new friends left the library with books in hand. However, they left me with a sweet reminder of those moments when I saw someone-or it could be the other way around- and we decided, “Hey, that’ll be my companion, and we’ll….” 


Do you have any I remember the day we became friend stories? Give the friend a call or tag them in one of those you-are-my-friend posts. I bet it'll make both of you smile.


***


I’ve also figured out why all of my books have a lot of friend moments. My recent release, Cottage Cove Homecoming, begins with a reunion of two people who didn’t have that conversation when they were kids. Whitney helped Conrad pass high school. He moved on and became famous. When Conrad returns to Cottage Cove, he’ll discover that friendships (even the ones we leave behind) nurture the seed of who we were meant to be. 


****


Cottage Cove Homecoming

In the small town of Cottage Cove, Conrad returns after years away, seeking help from the one person he's always trusted: Whitney. But he's taken aback when he encounters a remarkable change in her. No longer the shy and awkward girl he once knew, Whitney has blossomed into a sassy, sweet, and stunning woman with an impressive talent for baking.

When Whitney takes charge of a special project that could bring attention to the retired football pro, yearning to reconnect with his humble beginnings, Conrad finds himself drawn to her. However, Whitney, having learned from her past, is hesitant to embrace this newfound connection and allow herself to trust again.

Their collaboration on this important venture holds the key to either rebuilding broken bridges or destroying them completely. Working side by side reveals some surprises. 

Join Conrad and Whitney on their heartwarming journey of love, forgiveness, and self-discovery in a sweet and enchanting tale that will leave you yearning for love's sweetest embrace.

Cottage Cove Homecoming is available at 

| Amazon |

Saturday, October 14, 2023

Be Bald and Be Free by Merrillee Whren


 October 14th is Be Bald and Be Free Day. This day was created to celebrate the millions of people who are affected by baldness due to natural causes or medical treatments. Do we often see a bald hero gracing the cover of a romance novel? I haven't seen all the romance covers in the world, but I haven't seen any. Actors and sports figures such as Evander Holyfield, Michael Jordan, Telly Savalas, and Bruce Willis, who embraced the bald look. 

In the third book in my Front Porch Promises series, A Love to Call Mine, my hero Max Reynolds is diagnosed with cancer. Max isn't excited about the prospect of losing his hair, but he eventually embraces it by shaving his head. I've had some readers who were reluctant to tackle a book with a character who has cancer, maybe because they or a loved one has dealt with cancer. 


What do you think about reading a book with a bald hero or a character that is dealing with a difficult disease? What is your reaction to such a story?

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.

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Romany Gypsy-Inspired Spiced Apple Crumble: A Delicious Fall Recipe by Josie Riviera

For me, Fall equals comfort, and this season offers the perfect opportunity to embrace cozy traditions. I love curling up with a good book by the fireplace or taking leisurely walks through rustling leaves. I also love the simple pleasures of pumpkin carving, apple picking, and sipping spiced cider or pumpkin lattes. 

Writing stories about the Romany Gypsies in Regency England is a fascinating topic that takes hours of research.

Here's a delightful recipe inspired by the Romany Gypsies:

 


Romany Gypsy Spiced Apple Crumble Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 4 medium-sized apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

For the crumble topping:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a baking dish or individual ramekins with butter or cooking spray.

  2. In a mixing bowl, toss the sliced apples with lemon juice, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well coated. Spread the apple mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish or ramekins.

  3. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, rolled oats, and brown sugar for the crumble topping. Mix well to combine.

  4. Add the cold cubed butter to the flour mixture. Using your fingertips or a pastry cutter, gently rub the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

  5. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apples, covering them completely.

  6. Place the baking dish or ramekins on a baking sheet to catch any potential drips. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown.

  7. Remove from the oven and allow the apple crumble to cool slightly. Serve warm, optionally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. Enjoy!


This month, I have a 99 cent Kindle Countdown for my inspirational Regency romance, 
Seeking Charity. (US Residents only.)


Will the truth set her free…or keep her forever a prisoner of the past?

When Charity ran away with the Romany Gypsies, she left everything behind. Her name. A way of life constrained by English rules. The punishments her cruel father meted out in the name of God. And the young man who made it all bearable.

Certain things she can’t hide, even in wild, remote Wales. A secret longing for the ease of English life. The wisps of faith that still linger. And her reaction to a handsome face she thought she’d never see again.

Daniel Hayward would recognize that voice anywhere. That unruly, copper-colored hair. Those piercing blue eyes. But what is Charity Weston doing wearing Gypsy garb in Wales…when she died years ago?

For a moment, the grief that never quite left him is transformed into joy. But the walls between them now are built from bricks of culture clashes, bitter memories, and fear. To find his way, Daniel will have to trust as never before that God will guide their hearts home at last.

Does he love the girl she was…or the woman she has become? 

Grab Seeking Charity today before price goes up. 

Available in ebook, paperback, large print paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

FREE on Kindle Unlimited. 


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


Monday, October 9, 2023

It's Exercise Time! by Christine Bush

                                        

It’s exercise time!  

I am lazy. I am not fit. I have severe arthritis. But I’m determined.

I see ads for various at home exercise programs on the internet, on Facebook, on YouTube.

I select one that proclaims to be excellent for those “just getting started”. 

Get fit in seven minutes a day.  At home. Even I can handle that. I begin.

 Stretch!

Exercise #1.

Let’s stretch! Stand at the kitchen table. 

Balance on one leg, and put your other leg up on the table.

Lean forward and stretch.

Are you kidding?  If I could stand on one leg, I’d be proud. Once, attempting to balance on one leg, I was nicknamed a "drunken flamingo." If I could lift a leg (without aid of a crane) up onto the table, I sure wouldn’t need this exercise program.  I sigh.  But I don’t quit.  I ignore #1 and go to #2.

Squat!

Exercise # 2.

Let’s squat!  Stand with your back against the fridge.  Ok so far.

Slowly lower yourself to a seated position (mind you, without a chair), and hold for 60 seconds.

Slowly stand up again.

I lower myself.  And then I keep going. Going.  Soon I am sitting on the floor instead of in the imaginary chair.  I am there for MUCH more than 60 seconds, because getting up is quite a challenge.  But I make it, mostly because I realize I’m stuck against the fridge, and there’s no way I can open the door until I get up.  I sigh, but I don’t give up.

Once up, I go to Exercise #3.

Plank!

Exercise #3.

Let’s Plank! Lay on your stomach. Bend your elbows.  Prop yourself up on your toes and your elbows, keeping your body stiff, like a plank.  Hold for 60 seconds.  Then relax.

Lay on the floor? See #2 above.  I just about killed myself getting up from there before.  But I try. In ten seconds, my toes hurt.  My elbows are shaking.  My plank must be warped because it seems my belly is touching the floor.   Relax? Actually, I collapse.

Again, I get up.  And I give up. This “easy workout program” isn’t working for me. There's got to be a better way! This lazy author needs help.  I think I need physical therapy, and a willing helper to get me moving again. I am thinking about this.

How about you?  Any suggestions for exercise that have worked for you? I’d love to hear!  Just don’t use the word plank.

Love,  Christine

I'm including some links for two sweet romance novellas that feature physical therapists, helping people to be the best that they can be. Because getting in shape is a GOOD thing, I must remind myself! Available in print and ebook.  Enjoy!


 
(print and ebook)

Meddling Mona - Kindle edition by Bush, Christine. Contemporary Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

(print, ebook, and audible audiobook)

 

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

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Can you help me with a book cover? Roxanne Rustand

 What season do you love the most?  For me, it's October, and it's finally here! I've been counting the days, looking forward to sweater weather and the beautiful autumn leaves we see in the Upper Midwest. The blazing colors can take one's breath away.

But as much as I want to be outside enjoying every second of that glory, I've been working long hours in my office and wondering why I ever thought that having three book releases this fall was a good idea. LOL!

DEADLY NOEL will be released October 18th.

DEADLY BETRAYAL will be released  November 14th. 


And both of them are now at a bargain pre-order price!

Just click on the book titles above to read more about them. 

The books in this series can be read in any order.

I have a question, though. 

My Christian romantic suspense and mystery books have underlying themes about family and faith, and often include a dog important to someone in the story. The dog then becomes an element on the bookcover. 

I goofed with DEADLY BETRAYAL. I really liked the cover and didn't realize until now that I'd forgotten to request the dog! 

Should I request a new cover? Do details like this matter to you? Would it hint at this romantic suspense having a warmer tone than a very gritty, hard-edged suspense?

I would love to hear your opinion. Leave a comment, and you will be in a drawing for a free e-book, your choice, from any of my series published in the last three years.  

Wishing you a lovely autumn,

Roxanne Rustand
USA Today Bestselling Author


Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Sometimes You Can Go Home ~Jean C. Gordon

 

I disagree with Thomas Wolfe. I think you can go home. Granted, if you take his quote as you can't return to a place at another time and find everything the same, I accept that he's right. I disagree from a more optimistic view that understands that while some things may change, some others remain the same, and yet other things might be better. 

In my writing, I've made a return home this year. I've picked up a freelance gig with a financial newsletter publisher. And I have my first Christian--rather than sweet-- romance release in six or seven years. I'll have another Christian romance for you in 2023, too. I feel very comfortable in both positions. But that doesn't mean I won't release more sweet romances. In fact, I'm currently working on another Hopeless Romantics of Willow Ridge story. Nor that I would want to go back to writing financial articles full-time. I'm simply finding joy in what was my past writing genres and my recent one.

How about you. Have you "gone home" successfully in any way in your life?

RELEASES TODAY

HIS CHRISTMAS STAR, Paradox Lake Romance, Book 7

Connor Donnelly is done with romance.

Five years ago, Natalie Delacroix, the woman he thought he'd spend forever with, turned down his proposal and left their small community of Paradox Lake to pursue her dreams. Dreams that didn't include Connor Donnelly. Since then, Connor has devoted himself to the community. Now pastor of the local Community Church, he's determined to make the first Christmas pageant he’s directed a success. If only he can avoid the matchmaking of his family and friends who don't want the handsome bachelor to spend the holidays alone.

Natalie Delacroix is back in Paradox Lake.

The successful broadcasting career she left the mountain town and Connor for hasn’t turned out quite the way she’d expected. This well-needed break that she’d intended to use to rechart her future is disturbed by family and friends pushing her to help the church—and Connor—with the holiday pageant.

With Natalie’s musical talents, long admired by Connor, the couple might just succeed in making it the success he wants. And because working so closely with Natalie stirs up old feelings, Connor starts to hope for a second chance with the one who got away.

As much joy as they've found working on the pageant together, Connor worries that Natalie will never be content with small-town life. Natalie knows she'll have to earn his trust.

Will the best intentions of family and friends backfire, or will Natalie and Connor find their love again under the Christmas Star? Find out in this heartwarming holiday reunion romance.

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.


BUY OR READ FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED

(His Christmas Star is an updated release of one of my Love Inspired books)