Getting past the "Nope." Lessons in Love and Second Chances by Merri Maywether

When I was in the classroom, I used to tell the kids that failing is better than not trying at all. When we fail, we move forward. It may not be as far as we’d hoped, but moving forward is better than being stagnant. 

Most of the time, that’s all they needed to try. There were instances where they looked me in the eye and gave me a big nope. “Sorry, ma’am, it’s not going to happen.” 

Then I had to unravel the jumble that created the resistance. 

Sometimes it was fatigue. 

Then there was fear. The disappointment of trying and not getting what we hoped for can get heavy. Why carry it? 

For others, it was distraction. Joking around with a friend is far more interesting than fixing misplaced modifiers. 

Or, they didn’t understand. They had enough tools to know what they were supposed to do, but not the right tools to do the work. 

At this point, you’re probably asking, what does this have to do with sweet romance? 

These principles also apply to characters that are being offered a second chance. Sometimes it’s a second chance at receiving the love they know exists because they’ve seen it. Other times, it’s a chance at the life they’ve always wanted. 

Why would they put up so much resistance? 

Let’s revisit the reasons I used to see daily: fatigue, fear, distraction. 

That’s when we hear someone say, I’m sick and tired. 

Then there’s fear. I don’t want to get hurt again. I don’t want to get my hopes up. 

Distraction—they’re too busy. 

The big one. They don’t know what to say or how to accept what’s being offered. 

And that’s why so many of us love second-chance romance. We get the chance to live vicariously through a fictional character and find an ember of hope, or the strength to get up one more time, or the friend who snaps in front of our face, insisting that it’s time to pay attention to what’s in front of us. 

Anyone who has read my books would see in an instant that my characters always have a community that shows them how to believe in love. This help could come via a wise older person, a sassy friend, or the grumpy guy who just wants to lock them in a room until they figure it out. They are not only given what they need, but they’re also shown how to apply it. 

Then we get to my favorite part of the story. We get to celebrate because love wins. 

Our character had a good reason to wallow in bitterness. Instead, they did the work, and because of how hard it was, the happy ending is S-W-E-E-T.

It’s your turn to share. What is it about the characters in second-chance romance that makes you look forward to their happy ending? Or do you have a different reason why they would be hesitant to try again?

Let me know in the comments. I’m excited to read your answers. 

National Tattoo Removal Day by Merrillee Whren

 The photo above shows someone getting a tattoo, but today is National Tattoo Removal Day. Do you have a tattoo? Do you love it, or do you wish you could get rid of it? The art of tattooing can be traced back to 3000 BC. However, today one in seven adults who have tattoos regret getting them. There is good news for those who wish to be rid of the tattoos they regret getting. Laser removal of tattoos started in the 1990s. The technology for removing tattoos has improved over the years. Astanza, a leading company in tattoo removal founded this day. 

It takes thirty days for a tattoo to heal. Tattoo removal can't be done before that, so the date for National Tattoo Removal Day is set for at least thirty past National Tattoo Day, which fell on July 17 this year. So if you're looking to remove a tattoo that you got on National Tattoo Day this year, it's time. Also the date is six months after Valentine's Day if you got a tattoo to celebrate a valentine who is no longer your valentine, today is the day to get rid of that tattoo.

So what do tattoos have to do with my writing and my books? I have only one book with a character who has tattoos. Even the character on the cover of this book doesn't have a tattoo. When I first wrote this book for Harlequin Love Inspired, they did not put any tattoos on my hero's arms. When I reissued this book on my own, it was very difficult to find a photo with a male character with tattoos. So the cover still remained without any visible tattoos. I suppose these days, one could create a cover using AI to create a character with tattoos. Here is the cover from my reissue.

 Below is an AI generated picture with the tattoos. I kind of like it. What do you think of AI generated book covers? He certainly has tattoos.

Here is a short excerpt from Kirsten's Mission.

“Now there’s a fine-looking man, wouldn’t you agree?” Jen leaned on the counter.

Kirsten shook her head. “If you like tattoos and the scruffy unshaven look.”

“I was concentrating on those golden-brown eyes and that tousled brown hair.”

Kirsten frowned as she shook her head. “He looks like he’s been sleeping in his clothes, and that tousled brown hair hasn’t seen a barber in weeks.”

“Looks good on his six-foot-plus muscled frame.” Jen let out a low whistle. “I think somebody needs an attitude adjustment.”

“I suppose you mean me.”

“Uh, yeah.”

Kirsten sighed as Jen came back around the counter. “I know I was rude, but he made me angry. He was impolite not to let us know he was coming or that he’d arrived.”

“Did he tell you why he never responded to your messages?”

Kirsten lowered her head and put a hand to her forehead. “He implied my messages were curt and unfriendly.”

Shrugging, Jen frowned. “I thought you sounded okay when you left messages.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t hear them all. Maybe my anger came through even when I was trying not to let it show.” Kirsten raised her head. “Oh well, he’s here now, so I don’t have to worry about it. I hope his presence will make Cora happy. That’s all I care about.”

An unsettled feeling washed over Kirsten as she tried to concentrate on her work. She didn’t want to spend time defending her reaction to the smooth Mr. Hewitt. The man had waltzed in here thinking he could flash around his good looks and charm and make everything okay. Nothing about a cocky guy appealed to her, especially one with a plethora of military and animal tattoos decorating his arms. She suspected there were probably more that couldn’t be seen.

Jen raised her eyebrows. “Did Cora seem happy to see him?”

“Don’t know.” Kirsten shrugged. “She was sleeping, and he was sitting there beside her bed when I looked into the room. All that matters is Cora’s happiness.”

“You’re right.” Jen nodded. “But I was thinking he might be a good candidate for your date to Annie and Ian’s wedding.”

With incredulity screaming through her mind, Kirsten turned to Jen. “You’re joking, right?”

“No, I’m as serious as can be.” Jen tapped her fingers on her keyboard. “Taking Brady would show your dad you can get your own dates.”

“My dad would have a fit if I showed up with a guy sporting tattoos.”

“And the plot thickens.”

Kirsten shook her head. “There’s no plot, and the only thickness is in your skull.”

They worked for several minutes in silence until Jen craned her neck to see down the hallway. She chuckled. “The hero of our story is on his way back.”

“Will you please behave?” Waving a hand at Jen, Kirsten stared at the computer monitor and hoped the man would pass by without a comment. “Don’t say a word to him.”

“Can’t be unfriendly.”

“We have work to do.” Kirsten tried to concentrate on the scheduling chart on her monitor and not be tempted to see where Brady was. Why was she letting him bother her? She had to admit Jen was right. Underneath the tattoos and scruffy appearance was a good-looking man, but she couldn’t let that interest her. Charm and good looks didn’t undo bad character. What kind of man would ignore his grandmother for years?

If this story intrigues you, you can find the book by clicking on this link to take you to my website. 

I don't think Brady should get rid of his tattoos. What do you think?

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.

Once Upon a Time, a Nonnie and Her Granddaughters Wrote a Princess Story by Josie Riviera

 It started the way the best stories always do, with children who had questions and a grandmother who couldn't say no.

My granddaughters wanted a princess. Not the kind who waits in a tower. The kind who figures things out, who is brave without being loud about it, who discovers that what she thought was nothing might be the most important thing of all.

So we wrote one together.

The Princess of Nothing grew out of a long car ride home from Durham to Charlotte, NC. My granddaughters were my collaborators, my editors, and the most honest critics. If illustrations and parts of the story didn't ring true to them, it didn't stay in the book. 

If you have a young reader in your life, I hope this book finds its way into her hands. And if you read it yourself, you'll understand why we wrote it.

The Princess of Nothing is available now.

Did you have a favorite princess story as a little girl, and which one do you still love 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 supportive 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

Labors of Love by Liz Flaherty

Writing is work, and it's hard. Even 20-some books in I have trouble with tenses, trouble with apostrophes, trouble with commas. I still spend time with The Chicago Manual of Style when I use em dashes and ellipses because I never remember where and how to use them.

But reading, now ... reading is pure pleasure, isn't it? Even if the book ends up being more meh than wow, we still have the anticipation of starting a new one. Chapter One is surely one of the most beautiful phrases anywhere. Am I right?

I never thought of reading as work. I have judged contests. I have read manuscripts for other writers that--no matter how good they likely were--didn't work for me. I've never been in a book club (I've never been invited. Sigh.), but I know from friends that sometimes they truly hate the selection their club is reading at a given time. Usually they finish the book anyway. I read The Scarlet Letter in high school and am still whining about it 50-some years later. 

Well, yes, it is work. But, although I hated Nathaniel Hawthorne's writing, I still remember Hester Prynne's story. I think Hawthorne was brave to write it in that time period.

I remember that my favorite contest entry of all time was never published. It was a rollicking frolic of a Regency story during a time that Regencies were in great demand. I know that publishers asked for the complete, but Grass for Breakfast never appeared. Sherrie Holmes, the author, wrote for Word Wenches blog, but I never saw if she had books published. I looked for years. 

I think of teachers, from probably third grade on, who give writing assignments. From book reports to "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" themes, to short stories, to essays, to journals,  to term papers. They know when they assign them that they will have to read them. Every year of their career.

So, labors of love fits, doesn't it? Hawthorne wrote a brave story. Sherrie Holmes wrote (at least) one lovely one that I remember 20-some years later. Reading them initially was labor, but worth it. So very worth it.

And then there's the writing. I know it's work. Anyone who's ever sat in front of a blank page or a page full of irredeemable dreck knows it's work.

So is every other worthwhile thing I can think of. Relationships--especially the marriage and parent-child ones--are work, collecting things is work, playing any kind of sport is work, taking care of animals is work. And they're all labors of love. 

Every single one. 

Sometimes, I just really feel lucky. As writers, I think all of us here are lucky. Work on. 

P. S. Speaking of writing ... and books ... and me ... Shades of Green, Book 3 in the Harper Loch Trilogy, is available for pre-order. I am just embarrassingly excited.

Buy links:

Amazon: https://a.co/d/0dKnw8fA

D2D: https://books2read.com/u/3RRAgL

Last Day or Mega Sale!

 

FOUR BOOKS FOR 99 CENTS! REGULARLY $9.99!

June 28^th through August 3^rd!

The Carlyle Women Complete Series Books 1-4: Gripping and emotional historical fiction inspired by true events

Four generations 

each facing the challenges of her time, 

each harboring her own painful secret~ 

Meant for Me, 1917-1929

Had to Be You 1930-1945

To Love Somebody 1960-1979

What Love Is 1980-1990

“Lyn Cote hooked me from the very beginning, then expertly reeled me across the pages full of romance, suspense, heartbreak, forgiveness, acceptance...absorbing and satisfying-a rich journey with meticulous historical detail." 

“This is…a glorious story of hope and redemption. The plot is delicious, full of characters that come alive and draw you into Chloe's world. The story lives and breathes history, brings it home in ways that evoke our deepest emotions. This is a must read, a delightful story that will keep you reading until the last page. Don't pass this one by.”

The twentieth century displayed in the rich tapestry of one family’s saga~

Click here for more info: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D8GF2ZNK 

Why not tell a friend?—Lyn

At the end of my book Meant for Me, some readers have left reviews saying that they wanted more about the hero and heroine--something about their lives together--so I’ve written an Epilogue that gives an important scene with an important decision in Chloe’s life. Click here This is free!

 

Lyn Cote:What Readers Asked For and More!

 

At the end of my book Meant for Me, some readers have left reviews saying that they wanted more about the hero and heroine--something about their lives together--so I’ve written an Epilogue that gives an important scene with an important decision in Chloe’s life. Click here This is free!

And if you haven't read Meant for Me, how about this???

FOUR BOOKS FOR 99 CENTS! REGULARLY $9.99!

June 28^th through August 3^rd!

The Carlyle Women Complete Series Books 1-4: Gripping and emotional historical fiction inspired by true events

Four generations 

each facing the challenges of her time, 

each harboring her own painful secret~ 

Meant for Me, 1917-1929

Had to Be You 1930-1945

To Love Somebody 1960-1979

What Love Is 1980-1990

“Lyn Cote hooked me from the very beginning, then expertly reeled me across the pages full of romance, suspense, heartbreak, forgiveness, acceptance...absorbing and satisfying-a rich journey with meticulous historical detail." 

“This is…a glorious story of hope and redemption. The plot is delicious, full of characters that come alive and draw you into Chloe's world. The story lives and breathes history, brings it home in ways that evoke our deepest emotions. This is a must read, a delightful story that will keep you reading until the last page. Don't pass this one by.”

The twentieth century displayed in the rich tapestry of one family’s saga~

Click here for more info: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D8GF2ZNK 

Why not tell a friend?—Lyn

 

Text Messages Gone Wrong by Pat Simmons

I'll admit I can be lazy when it comes to responding to texts--I call it me being busy. But AI should accept responsibility when it'a not smart enough to deceipher what I mean when it does the voice dications. Here's one from today. My mom was actually looking for an old friend to come with me. She told my sister who said, "It's probably Kerry. You know how that AI is."

This one here---don't make promises you can't keep! I can't find the original text from years ago, but it was similar to this one to my son and daughter:

It seems like an encouraging text--and it is, but one morning, AI dicated as "God's gives us new Mercedes every morning." That prompted a call from my daughter who wanted to know if I had proofed my text. Of course, I hadn't. Needless to say, my son and daughter didn't hold God to what I promised. Let me just say first that one the next blooper. Somehow, my friends can tell when I'm doing voice dictation. I don't have any art friends, but I have plenty of author friends:

So what's the moral of my story. If I don't get back to you right away, expect a response within 48 hours. ---------------------- Pat Simmons is a multi-published author of fifty-plus Christian romances. She is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth, a five-time recipient of the RSJ Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance, and the 2022 winner of the Leslie Esdaile “Trailblazer” Award. Pat lives in St. Louis, Missouri, holds a B.S. in Mass Communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, and has worked in radio, television, and print media for over 20 years. She serves as a publicist on the board of the Christian Book Lovers Retreat (CBLR). Visit her at www.patsimmons.net.

Check out her Christmas in July titles:

When a Regency Wallflower Says Exactly the Wrong Thing

Miss Lissa Gardinier is determined to be a proper Regency lady. Unfortunately, she has a habit of saying exactly what she's thinking.

Excerpt

Last year during that first dance with Mr. Collingworth, upon seeing him excitedly discuss his dog breeding, she had been encouraged to also speak without restraint. So she had voiced her exact thoughts rather than hiding behind a vapid facade. “Why in the world would you name a dog Lickspittle Furrybottom?”

At Mr. Collingworth’s startled look, Lissa realized that she’d said that out loud now, in this dance with him.

“… Not that it’s not a lovely name,” she added lamely.

Mr. Collingworth didn’t believe her, and his conversation faltered. She regretted that, for she hadn’t intended to be rude to him.

“Er … did I speak of Lickspittle Furrybottom?” he asked.

Lissa did a mental shriek at her mistake. “We spoke briefly about her last year. You were worried about her compatibility with Snout Droolalot.”

About the Book

A Christian Regency Romance novella with secrets, suspense, and a dash of humor

In Regency-era London, Miss Lissa Gardinier enters her second Season seeking a marriage in order to escape her mother's constant criticism. So she represses her cheeky remarks behind a quiet, innocent facade.

The enigmatic Lord Jeremy Stoude is dismayed when a chance encounter with Miss Gardinier entangles her in his world of secrets and subterfuge. He cannot afford to be distracted by Lissa’s charming smile and unflappable demeanor.

As danger stalks them and true feelings come to light, can Lissa and Jeremy navigate the labyrinth of society’s expectations and their own insecurities to find love?

Ready to enjoy the full adventure?

Download Lissa and the Spy for free when you join my newsletter!

Romance Writers of America by Janice Lynn

 I just returned home from attending a wonderful conference. It was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This was my first time in New Mexico, so that was also a fun addition to the amazing time I had with people who speak to my very being--romance writers. 

The conference offered wonderful classes, connecting with industry professionals, and for me, one of the biggest bonuses, spending time with authors. I left the conference feeling reenergized to dive into my writing.

Several of us visited Old Town. I loved popping into the side streets and speaking with the shop owners and employees. There's an amazing vibe in those shops. My favorite was Smoke Signals, which is a shop that sells authentic items. The owner makes peace pipes. Gorgeous peace pipes. I don't smoke at all, but I was tempted. Very, very tempted. My friend talked me down. LOL. 

We also got fancied up to attend the award ceremony. Shirley Hailstock was acknowledged for the Lifetime Achievement Award. She has fought for the romance industry many years and

very much deserved this award. 

 It was a wonderful, inspiring conference. This organization made such a positive impact on my writing career and it was a pleasure to attend it's conference again. I hope to see you there some day.

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, a military mama, and an avid supporter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. www.janicelynn.com  

Wrapped Up in Christmas https://amzn.to/4gvI1wP

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy https://amzn.to/47wB8qW

Wrapped Up in Christmas Hope https://amzn.to/3Twuye

WRAPPED UP IN CHRISTMAS LOVE Amazon Barnes & Noble

Wrapped Up in Christmas Faith https://amzn.to/3K7n009

We Make Plans and Life Gives Us A Petting Zoo Parade by Merri Maywether

Life is messy. We make plans and backups for those plans. Even after we’ve thought of everything that could happen, we’re still surprised. And that’s what makes life fun and funny. 

For that reason, I love including small moments of chaos in my stories. Then my characters use those moments to fall in love. That’s my favorite kind of unexpected twist. 

Most of the time, the ideas come from real life. I’ll be in a moment, mentally preparing for what could happen. Then I think, if I write it, it did happen. 

My husband sits in his cozy chair and watches as I commit the story to paper. All the while, I am quietly giggling.

This week, I thought I’d share one of those imagined scenes that made it into One More Kiss. It’s a second-chance romance about how two people’s lives were affected by a delayed goodbye kiss.  

I had a lot of fun writing it. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy reading it too. 

P.S. The picture of the bicycle came from an exhibit at the Phoenix Art Museum. The heroine in my story would have loved seeing it, so I shared it with you. And no chaos occurred while viewing it. 

💝 💝 💝

 “Do you have rats here?” Eric sounded as uncertain as Troy felt. Three Creeks was rural, and woodrats usually roamed in more isolated areas. Once, a curious bear roamed the halls of the high school building. There was the occasional mouse. 

A shadow shifted on the baseboard, and a chicken strutted across the hall like it had places to be and didn’t have time for the men in the auditorium. 

Brock was the first to react with words. “That’s not good.” With several long strides, he closed the gap between where they stood and the action in the hall. 

Troy was behind him, and the heavy footsteps of the men who had helped set up the auditorium followed. 
They stepped into the hall, and a fuzzy, long-eared bunny that had been following the chicken and whatever it was chasing froze. The duck that had been following waddled around. If there were people other than the men in the hallway, it could have been an animal parade. 

A beam of light shone through the open doorway at the end of the hall. That answered the first question. They knew where the animals had come from, sort of. But why? 

A woman’s scream from the end of the hall seemed to motivate the animals to go from parading to scurrying down the hall. Brock scooped the bunny and clutched it to his chest. “It’s the petting zoo.”

 
“What kind of rat is that?” Clearly, it was a woman who wasn’t familiar with farm animals. If Troy were to take a guess, he’d say it was Alana. 

“It’s okay.” Chloe’s authoritative voice echoed through the hall. “It’s a guinea pig.” 

That meant things had gone from bad to worse. The parade had diverted into a search-and-find mission.

💝 💝 💝

One More Kiss is available for preorder at Amazon  📚

Story Inspiration by Merrillee Whren

One of my writing goals is to write at least one book set in every state where I have lived. I have lived in eleven. I have written books set in nine. I still have Illinois and Arizona to add to my list. This latest book is set in Arizona, where I currently live. I still don't have a definite title for this book. For now, I call it Hannah's Story. Hannah was a secondary character in the last book of my Kellersburg series, Hometown Girl. This series is set in the small fictional town of Kellersburg, Ohio. The series features stories of faith, family, and love. 

Hannah is the friend of Samantha Dawson the heroine of Hometown Girl. I've taken Hannah out of the Kellersburg series and moved her cross country to Arizona. The hero and owner of the Arizona ranch, Mac, is a widower with grown children. In order to keep the ranch on a good financial footing, his kids have convinced Mac that they need to make the place a guest ranch. The ranch has been a part of his deceased wife's family for several generations, and he doesn't want to lose it. Hannah is hired by the main investor in the project as the hotel manager. The photo above of the saguaro was partly an inspiration for the book. This twisted saguaro is in my neighborhood. The ranch's name is Rancho Saguaro Retorcido, which translates to Twisted Saguaro Ranch. 

Near the area where I live, there are numerous guest ranches. A few years ago, I attended a weekend retreat at a guest ranch for a mission, Unite4Africa. They build schools, churches, and wells for water. They give orphans goats and sanitary products to young girls so they don't drop out of school. Besides learning about this worthwhile endeavor, we also had some fun. Staying at the ranch was definitely part of the inspiration for the book. Here are some photos I took.

Here is an AI produced picture of what I think my hero and heroine look like. I didn't find any real photos that did the trick, so I thought I would give AI a chance. What do you think?

This new book is a May-December romance. How do Mac and Hannah resolve all the issues related to this kind of romance? What do you think of May-December relationships? 

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.

Why Christmas in July Is the Best Reading Holiday Nobody Talks About and a free holiday romance. book by Josie Riviera

 Every July. I turn the air conditioning down to a temperature my electric bill will never forgive, I make a mug of green tea, I pull a blanket over my lap, and I read a Christmas romance novel. Outside here in the southern U.S., it is ninety-five degrees, and the cicadas are deafening. Inside, I am perfectly, contentedly pretending it is December.

There is a reason Christmas in July has become a genuine cultural tradition. Retailers figured it out years ago, but readers knew it long before the sales did. Christmas stories are all about slowing down, candlelight, and the sense that love might arrive before the year runs out.

Crank down the thermostat, and give yourself a Christmas in July. Along with several other great authors, I'm offering my sweet romance, Christmas in the Air, FREE with Newsletter signup.

Consider it my gift to you.

Are you a Christmas-in-July reader, or do you save your holiday romances strictly for December? Please tell me in the comments below.

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 supportive 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