Quotes about Reading by Merrillee Whren

Today I'm sharing quotes about reading from famous authors.

1.  “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.” – George R.R. Martin

2.“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” – C.S. Lewis

3. “The man who does not read good books is no better than the man who can’t.” – Mark Twain

4. “You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.” – Ray Bradbury

5.  “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss

6. “I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

7.  “The person who deserves most pity is a lonesome one on a rainy day who doesn’t know how to read.” – Benjamin Franklin

8.  “We are of opinion that instead of letting books grow moldy behind an iron grating, far from the vulgar gaze, it is better to let them wear out by being read.” – Jules Verne

9. “Books to the ceiling, Books to the sky, My pile of books is a mile high. How I love them! How I need them! I’ll have a long beard by the time I read them.” – Arnold Lobel

10.  “Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all.” – Henry David Thoreau

11.  “Some books leave us free and some books make us free.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

12. “If you are going to get anywhere in life you have to read a lot of books.” – Roald Dahl

13.  “To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.” – W. Somerset Maugham

14. “If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book.” – J.K. Rowling

15.  “Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” – Emilie Buchwald

16.  “Books are good company, in sad times and happy times, for books are people – people who have managed to stay alive by hiding between the covers of a book.” – E.B. White

17.  “I intend to put up with nothing that I can put down.” – Edgar Allan Poe

18.  “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! — When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” – Jane Austen

19.  “Fools have a habit of believing that everything written by a famous author is admirable. For my part I read only to please myself and like only what suits my taste.” – Voltaire

20.  “Of course anyone who truly loves books buys more of them than he or she can hope to read in one fleeting lifetime. A good book, resting unopened in its slot on a shelf, full of majestic potentiality, is the most comforting sort of intellectual wallpaper.” – David Quammen

It is hard to choose just one quote as a favorite, but I like the first one. Which one of these quotes is your favorite, or do you have a quote of your own?

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.

 

 

Brain-weary? What now?

What do you do when you're brain-weary? You know the feeling: you're sleeping enough at night; your daily workouts, if you have them at all, aren't enough to wear you out; still, because of the mental work you're trying to do, you feel exhausted, and it isn't even bedtime yet.

I realized I must have hit that brain-weary, unable-to-think-anymore level recently when I found myself watching a TV documentary about the development of kittens. Not that kittens aren't fascinating, but I had a mound of work stacked up, just waiting for me to get to it, and I was watching kittens.


Somewhere between the four-week-old silver tabbies and the seven-week pure-bred Bengals, I got the hint. I could almost hear the TV whispering to me: Susan, your brain has done enough work for the day. You're done. Give up and enjoy the kittens. Feeling guilty about the work that still needed to be done, I kept trying to push myself to get busy again, but when the brain has gone on strike, well, it's kittens for me.

One of our sons, a mildly crazy entrepreneur who will one day be worth multiple millions, simply because he won't take no for an answer, has hit brain-weary regularly of late. When he just about lost it at work one day, his staff suggested he visit his doctor, just to be sure he's okay. The doctor's prescription: an evening of The Simpsons or Laverne and Shirley reruns. He said, "Give your brain a rest. Do something mindless for a while." Yes, The Simpsons or the L&S reruns may be adequately mindless, and maybe even fun, but the kittens are definitely cuter.

Besides, I love cats, but having recently lost the brother-sister pair we had for 14 and 16 years, and not yet feeling ready to watch real cats play in my home again, I get my kitten-fix from a TV documentary. For someone not yet ready to bring another kitten home, watching them on TV is clearly safer than visiting the local animal shelter, just for a kitten fix.


So what do you do when you're brain-weary? And do you need a doctor's prescription to keep you from feeling guilty when you settle down to let the brain wander aimlessly for a while? I'd love to hear your answers.

Susan Aylworth is the author of 20 novels. Her newest series, "Seasons of Destiny," explores romance in every season of the year in the small town of Destiny, California.  Paris in the Springtime, Sunny's Summer, and Amber in Autumn are all available now. Look for Winter Skye, coming early in 2020 in e-book and paperback. Find her at www.susanaylworth.com. 

Dance Like a Chicken Day by Merrillee Whren

These quirky holidays are fun to talk about. Who knew there was a special day to celebrate this crazy dance, which is often part of the dancing at a wedding reception?

I love to include weddings in my books. In my latest book, HOMECOMING BLESSINGS, there are two weddings. The heroine's father, who has been a widower for years, gets married. This book was originally published over 10 years ago by Steeple Hill Books, which is now known as Harlequin Love Inspired. As I updated the book for reissue, I decided to add an epilogue to the story that included the wedding of the hero and heroine, since this is the last book in the Dalton Brothers series.

I also added a connection to my previous series about the little fictional town of Kellersburg, located in southwest Ohio. The new connection is Caroline Keller, the sister of Nathan Keller, the hero of Hometown Dad, the third book in the Kellersburg series. I'll be adding to the Kellersburg series with Caroline's story. How is Caroline connected to Homecoming Blessings? She is a friend of Ashley Hiatt, the heroine of Homecoming Blessings.

Here's where you can preorder HOMECOMING BLESSINGS. 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R81Z5N1

B&N: http://bit.ly/2Llx7PD
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1462683094
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2DXFkDK

Have you ever done the chicken dance at a wedding? Do you like to have two different book series connected in some way?

I will give away an ebook copy of the first book in the Kellersburg series, Hometown Promise, to one person who leaves a comment. I will draw the winning name on May 16 at 9 PM MST.

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.

It's all subjective by Julie Jarnagin

I just had a fun exchange with some of my author friends. We were talking about our favorite books of last year. Several of the authors mentioned loving a romance novel that I had started twice but never finished. Another author and I both loved a different series that another writer said she hated!

These are fellow writers who write similar genres and who all know a lot about the craft of writing, but we had dramatically different reactions to the books. It just goes to show that reading is so subjective. Even when the writing is strong, everyone has different views about what makes a book great.

As we talked, we realized that a couple of things really made the difference in how we felt about the books. Sense of humor is different for everyone. We all like to laugh, but we each find different things funny. Certain things that make some people laugh out loud simply make me roll my eyes. Something about the humor in the books we liked worked for us.

We also noticed regional differences. The book I loved was set in my neck of the woods. I related to some of the off-the-wall characters, but my author friend didn't relate.

To me, these are the reasons that this is a great time to be an author and a reader. We have so many options at our fingertips! Want to read about Amish vampires in space or fairy tales re-imagined with cowboys, there's a book for you. It also makes it possible for a group of sweet romance authors to exist. We're able to connect directly with readers who love the types of books we enjoy writing.

So have fun! Read the books that make you happy and keep you turning the pages!

Julie Jarnagin is a USA Today bestselling author of sweet and inspirational romance. She grew up in a small Oklahoma town where her family farmed and ranched. These days she lives in Louisiana with her amazing husband and two young sons who tolerate all her nerdy quirks. Julie earned a B.A. in Journalism / Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma. 
www.JulieJarnagin.com

Meg - Beach Brides Series: Meg Mullen's community theater is on the verge of closing if she can't raise the money to save it, but she's running out of time and needs a miracle. Television producer, Elliot Campbell, finds a message in a bottle from the perfect female contestant for his reality dating show. All he has to do is talk Meg into taking the job, convince her to choose one of the contenders, and figure out how to keep from falling in love with her himself. 

Have you signed up for Sweet Romance Reads newsletter? It's full of great info and fun stuff from our authors. 

Free Book in the Matched Online Series / Posted by Julie Jarnagin

Hi Readers! Julie Jarnagin here. Today I wanted to tell you about a free book!

You can get How to Lose a Guy in 10 Dates free for a limited time (expires Saturday!).

10 Dates is the first of four love stories in the Matched Online anthology

*How to Lose a Guy in 10 Dates by Lacy Williams
*A Package Deal by Robin Patchen
*Rival Hearts by Susan Crawford
*Engaged by Friday by Julie Jarnagin (Me!) 

Download now at your favorite online retailer.

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With their ten-year high school reunion on the horizon, four girlfriends make a pact to find the perfect guy—online. But nothing about online dating is simple…

Single mom Angela Hudson thought she was ready to dip her toe in the dating waters again after her marriage imploded, but as dates #1, #2 and #3 turn out disastrous, she wonders if this is really worth it. Especially when she’s more attracted to the handsome coffeeshop barista than any of her dates...

Drew Scheffield is only in town for the summer. He hoped working in his brother’s coffeeshop would distract him from the grief of losing his young wife. But as he gets to know Angela and sees her dating guys #4, #5 and #6, he discovers his heart isn't as dead as he thought it was...

As Angela’s dates #7, #8 and #9 go wrong, she and Drew get close--even though she knows he’s leaving. Can Drew open his heart to love again, or will Angela lose the perfect guy in 10 dates?

Julie Jarnagin is a USA Today bestselling author of sweet and inspirational romance. She grew up in a small Oklahoma town where her family farmed and ranched. These days she lives in a not-so-big city with her amazing husband and two young sons who tolerate all her nerdy quirks. Julie earned a B.A. in Journalism / Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. 
www.JulieJarnagin.com

My latest novel, The Vegas Proposal, is now available! 

A celebrity wedding would save her family’s Las Vegas chapel—as long as she doesn’t fall for the groom.

And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter. Scroll down the right side of our blog and enter your email address under Newsletter Signup. Remember to join the Sweet Romance Reads Cafe too.

The Vegas Proposal Cover Reveal by Julie Jarnagin

Hey Sweet Romance Readers! I'm excited to reveal a brand-new cover.

I'm so happy with how it turned out, and I hope you love the story. It will be here just in time for Valentine's Day.

If you click on "Follow" under my photo on my Amazon page, they'll send you an email alert when it's available. Or you can sign up for my newsletter for updates - http://eepurl.com/5y5k

Have you ever been to Las Vegas? What did you think? 

Here's a little about the book:

A celebrity wedding would save her family’s Las Vegas chapel—as long as she doesn’t fall for the groom.

The Traditions Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas has been in Claire Grigg’s family for three generations, and she dreams of restoring the struggling chapel to its original glory. When Claire discovers the chapel’s financial problems and the strain it’s putting on her parents’ marriage, Claire commits to doing whatever it takes to save the business.

Vegas is the last stop on Ben Karr’s tour, and he’s afraid he’ll soon be added to a long list of one-hit wonders. He’s determined to prove that his talent deserves to be taken seriously and all the sacrifices his grandmother made were worth it. He’s known more for his frequent break-ups with famous women than his music. Until he can repair his public image, Ben’s label refuses to invest in another album.

Ben devises a radical plan to save his career—a fake wedding to his starlet ex-girlfriend—but the adorable chapel director and her talk of true love and commitment is making him rethink the scam. Will Claire and Ben let go of their dreams and risk it all to grab onto a shot at true love?

Julie Jarnagin is a USA Today bestselling author of sweet and inspirational romance. She grew up in a small Oklahoma town where her family farmed and ranched. These days she lives in a not-so-big city with her amazing husband and two young sons who tolerate all her nerdy quirks. Julie earned a B.A. in Journalism / Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. 
www.JulieJarnagin.com

Sign up for her newsletter to be the first to learn about new clean romance and Christian fiction releases and free books: http://eepurl.com/5y5k

And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter. Scroll down the right side of our blog and enter your email address under Newsletter Signup. Remember to join the Sweet Romance Reads Cafe too.

Books! and Prizes! - by Magdalena Scott

My local library does a summer reading program. When my son was young, he participated each year. What fun it is for the kids to be rewarded at the end of summer. Read a few books, get a few rewards. Reach the big goal and receive a nice bag of goodies.

Sometimes the goodies are super awesome, like a coupon for a free ice cream at the local soda fountain (my favorite). There was usually a free swim night at the local pool too.

This year I decided (thank you, nice library desk lady) to join the adult version of the summer reading program. In order to "win," I only have to read six books and write reviews of each of them. I'm halfway to the goal.

The books don't have to be from the library, so I'm reading some books I've purchased as well as some from the library. Stephen King's On Writing fits both those categories. First, I read the library's copy, and then I decided to buy one to keep. (I think I gave away a first edition when we downsized, but--oh well--now I have the Tenth Anniversary Edition.)

I'm enjoying a nice mixture of fiction (romance, mystery) and nonfiction (writing stuff).

It's cool to get rewarded for reading, but of course the best prize of all is the reading itself. (Though I wouldn't turn down a coupon for ice cream.)

Do you and/or your family participate in a summer reading program? If so, is it through your library, or a bookstore? Is there ice cream involved?

***

Magdalena Scott is a USA Today bestselling author of the Serendipity, Indiana series. Please visit her website, and sign up for her infrequent but somewhat charming newsletter.

What is it about a love story? by Julie Jarnagin

If you're reading this blog, it's probably because you love reading romance. Over the years, I've had people question why I choose to write romance. One person encouraged me to kill off the hero or the heroine halfway through the book. Someone else told me I need to come up with the next Harry Potter (Ha! Wouldn't that be nice!). But right now, my heart belongs to writing romance. Here are a few reasons why I love writing love stories.

* It's fascinating to me how two very different people with completely different backgrounds, fears, personalities...everything...fall in love. What is it about them that draws them together? How do they overcome all the things that pull them apart?

* There's a romance genre for everyone. When some people think about romance novels, they think of one kind of book--usually a regency paperback with Fabio on the front cover. That's just one kind of romance. There's contemporary romance, inspirational romance, paranormal romance, urban, western, suspense...the list goes on. And there are heat levels for everyone. Here at Sweet Romance Reads, we celebrate that romance doesn't have to mean a book is R-rated. There are romance novels for all different tastes.

* I get to focus on the relationship first and foremost. There are definitely non-romance books with a strong romantic thread and romance books with an action-filled plot, but with romance novels, the story focuses on the relationship between the two main characters--and that's my favorite part.

* I love a happy-ever-after. Some people enjoy a mysterious ending where they don't know exactly what happens. Some people love it when something dark and surprising happens at the end. I'm all for twists and surprises, but I want a satisfying ending where I leave the book with a happy sigh, and that's what romance gives me.

Why do you read romance? 

Paige Morgan’s career is in shambles. What kind of wedding planner gets left at the altar? So when a job planning parties on a ranch in rural Texas comes her way, she jumps at it. So what if the cowboy who runs the place isn’t happy she’s there?

Rancher Nick Reid risked his heart once… and lost. Who needs love? He’s got a great life on the family ranch—so long as Paige Morgan and her city ideas don’t ruin it all. If only his family didn’t need her help to save their livelihood. And if only he wasn’t so darned drawn to the woman. But no sooner does Nick start to believe in love again, than a socialite shows up looking for Paige. Asking her to plan an elaborate wedding. Back in the city.

Both Paige and Nick need a second chance at love. But what will it cost them to take it?

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USA Today Best Selling author Julie Jarnagin writes sweet and inspirational romance. She grew up in a small Oklahoma town where her family farmed and ranched. These days she lives in a not-so-big city with her amazing husband and two young sons who tolerate all her nerdy quirks. Julie earned a B.A. in Journalism / Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. www.JulieJarnagin.com. Sign up for her newsletter to be the first to learn about new releases and free books:http://eepurl.com/5y5k

Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter. Scroll down the right side of our blog and enter your email address under Newsletter Signup.

Dream Reading Spaces

My husband and I are currently in the midst of building a new home. I've worked in marketing for a home builder for over ten years, but this is the first time we've gone through the process of choosing all the details of our own home. While browsing through photos for ideas, I've come across some pretty amazing home libraries and reading nooks.

I love how cozy this one is:

Traditional Family Room by Pacific Palisades Interior Designers & Decorators Susan Jay Design

This one would be perfect for kids:

Contemporary Kids by San Francisco Architects & Building Designers Siol

A great use for under the stairs:

Farmhouse Staircase by Sherman Oaks Architects & Building Designers JWT Associates

What book lover wouldn't love this hallway?:

Traditional Hall

Ever considered sorting your books by color?:

Eclectic Family Room by Boston Interior Designers & Decorators Hudson Interior Design

This might be my favorite:

Farmhouse Living Room by Portland Interior Designers & Decorators Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

My home won't have anything this elaborate, but it's fun to dream! Which is your favorite? What is your favorite spot in your own home for reading?

Food, Cowboys, and Romance...Oh, My!

I'm often asked where I get the inspiration for my books. Writing my Taste of Texas series, the inspiration came from a number of places. 

1. Food: I love of the Food Network and cooking competitions, especially Top Chef. I'm not a big fan of most reality shows, but add some highly talented people into the mix, and I'm in. And in both of my pregnancies, I was obsessed with the Food Network. :)

2. Cowboys: I grew up around cowboys. My family farmed and ranch. Any time we were away from home and my dad wore his cowboy hat, people were always drawn to him. My mom, sister, and I would be shopping at the mall, and we'd come out to find some stranger telling him his/her life story. So I guess I have a soft spot for cowboys.

3. Texas: I live in Oklahoma, and absolutely love it (except for the May tornado outbreaks), but there is also something romantic about a story set in Texas. I grew up just across the Red River from Texas, and there are great people in Texas and plenty of story inspiration. 

Tell me about where you live? Would it make a great setting for a romance? 

Here's more information about my latest release, Kiss the Cowboy:

What if your competition for your dream job…was your dream man?

All Lucy Pickett needs to become executive chef in one of Dallas’s finest restaurants is to pull off the high-profile wedding she’s catering. So what if she’s forced to share duties with Dylan Lawson, a modern-day chuck-wagon cook? So what if he’s got rugged looks and cowboy charm? None of that is going to knock her off her game. Until she learns the restaurateur is considering Dylan for the position she wants. Game on–and it’s a winner-take-all event!

Dylan Lawson finally has the opportunity he’s been waiting for to prove he can do more than just be a ranch hand. The only thing standing in his way is the fiery chef fighting for the same position. Will the heated competition scorch any chance they have for love?

Available on:
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To get all the latest news, sign up for my newsletter at www.JulieJarnagin.com/connect

Julie Jarnagin is a multi-published author of inspirational romance. She recently released a novella, The Art of Falling, and the next book in the series, Kiss the Cowboy, comes out on May 19. Julie grew up in a small Oklahoma town where her family farmed and ranched. These days she lives in a not-so-big city with her amazing husband and two young sons who tolerate all her nerdy quirks. Julie earned a B.A. in Journalism / Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.  www.JulieJarnagin.com.

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And don’t forget to join the Sweet Romance Reads Café!

A Q&A with the Sweet Christmas Kisses Authors

The release of Sweet Christmas Kisses is tomorrow! To celebrate, this week will be devoted to getting to know the books and characters in this set! The authors of Sweet Christmas Kisses have joined us today to share what got them excited to write their story.

Every comment this week on our blog will earn an entry into a book prize package (see below), winner to be announced on Saturday! Comment every day to increase your chances of winning!

First up is Donna Fasano, author of An Almost Perfect Christmas. Hello Donna! What got you excited to write An Almost Perfect Christmas?

Donna: "Hello! The first character from An Almost Perfect Christmas to come to me was 8-year-old Izzie. She started chattering to me (as little girls often do) about how she wants her daddy to have Christmas all year long. I simply HAD to write her story."

Thank you so much, Donna, for sharing your story.


Next up is Ginny Baird, author of Mistletoe in Maine. Welcome, Ginny! Tell us a little about the inspiration behind Mistletoe in Maine.

Ginny: "Thank you! I'd spent some time on vacation with my husband in Maine, and really fell in love with its beauty. So many stories set in Maine take place on its rugged coast, but I was excited to write about a lesser known area... its isolated northwestern corner. It made the perfect romantic backdrop for a holiday tale, complete with skiing, dog sledding, horse-drawn sleigh riding, and of course lots, and lots of snow!"

Thank you, Ginny! That seems like a wonderfully romantic setting for a holiday story.

Helen Scott Taylor, author of The Army Doctor's Christmas Baby, joins us now. Welcome, Helen!  What led to the creation of this story?

Helen: "Hello everybody! Sean Fabian, the hero of The Army Doctor's Christmas Baby, is a hotshot army surgeon who operated on a child in one of the other Army Doctor books. A tall, blond, blue-eyed heartthrob, I knew the moment he stepped into the series he must have his own book."

I'm sure readers are glad you gave Sean his own book! Thank you for sharing!

The next author to join us today is Beate Böker, author of Stormy Times. Hello there, Beate! What can you tell us about your story inspiration?

Beate: "Hello! After a very exhausting trade fair in NYC, my fiancee and I took three days off to drive to Long Island. It was so beautiful and so serene that I fell for the area and immediately decided to set a book there!"

Thank you, Beate, for sharing that experience with us!


I would now like to welcome Melinda Curtis, author of The Christmas Promise. Thank you for being here today! Why did you write The Christmas Promise?

Melinda: "Hi! My friend Kim went to Ecuador to create an organic chocolate snack. Kim encountered bugs, downpours, and snakes-- nirvana for a comedy writer. A fish-out-of-water story was born!"

It sounds like your friend is having quite the experience! Thank you for sharing with us.


The next Sweet Christmas Kisses author to join us is Aileen Fish, author of Christmas in White Oak. Hello, Aileen, tell us a little bit of the story behind your story.

Aileen: "Hello! This was my first book in my Small Town Sweethearts series where a main character had a child, so I was eager to put the feeling of a family Christmas into a story. I love huge family gatherings, especially at Christmas!"

Thank you Aileen, Christmas is a wonderful time of year for family to come together. 


Mona Risk, author of Her Christmas Cruise, joins us now to tell what her inspiration was.

Mona: "Hello all! Vacationing on a cruise is heaven for me. I relax and watch the people around. Honeymooners in love, retired couples enjoying their free time, elders fulfilling a bucket list. Many love stories start in the romantic atmosphere provided by a cruise. Her Christmas Cruise was written during a Mediterranean cruise."

That sounds like fun! Thank you for sharing your inspiration with all of us!


Let's welcome Magdalena Scott, author of Small Town Christmas! Hello, Magdalena.  It's a pleasure to have you here. Can you tell us the story behind Small Town Christmas?

Magdalena: "The pleasure is all mine! The plot started as a brainstorming session when I was training my replacement at the day job. We both had a “goose bumps” moment when I suggested the final scene. I dedicated Small Town Christmas to her."

I'm sure that was a great honor to her! Thank you for sharing Magdalena!

Last, but certainly not least, let's welcome Kristin Wallace, author of By Christmas! Thank you for joining us Kristin, what was the motivation behind By Christmas?

Kristin: "The heroine of my book (Noelle Robinson) had a minor role in my first book. She was a jilted bride. I loved the idea of giving “poor little Noelle” a happily ever after. Adding the element of the Christmas holiday and her having to run the town’s festivities just made the story all the more fun."

By Christmas sounds like a wonderful holiday story! Thank you, Kristin, for sharing!


I would like to thank the authors of Sweet Christmas Kisses for joining us today and sharing such fabulous backstory! It's always interesting to see the inspiration behind the stories we read. Come back tomorrow for more fun with Sweet Christmas Kisses!

*****

Sweet Christmas Kisses, a bundle of PG-rated romance novels and novellas from USA Today, national bestselling, and award-winning authors.

Sweet Christmas Kisses takes you from small-town USA to England, Scotland, and even Ecuador; from the beach to snow-capped mountains, and to the wild--sometimes magical--west. The Sweet Christmas Kisses bundle will bring you laughter, tears, and always joy, for more than 1600 pages. Foreword by New York Times bestselling author, Brenda Novak.

~Available Now~

Amazon | BN | Kobo | iTunes | Google Play

Every comment this week on our blog will earn an entry into a book prize package shown here, winner to be announced on Saturday! Comment every day to increase your chances of winning!

Prize pack contains: 2 autographed sweet romances from friends of SRR (The Promise of Rain by Rula Sinara, Mountains Apart by Carol Ross), a book bag from Rula Sinara, an Alaskan key chain from Carol Ross, a purse-size first aid kit from Roz Denny Fox, a heart-shaped stress ball, a Sweet & Heartwarming bracelet, a bee set of salt & pepper shakers, sweet wooden embellishments (hello, darling, cute, friends, sunshine, lovely).

 

Library Cards by Merrillee Whren

Did you know that September is Library Card Sign-up Month? I have a daughter who is an academic librarian, so she works with college students, but students of all ages, as well as adults, benefit from having a library card. Libraries are important because they encourage reading and help people discover authors and books.

I belong to Romance Writers of America, and every year at the national conference we honor a librarian who has championed the romance genre in his or her library. As romance writers, we want to recognize people who help others discover our books. Although writers can do a lot of research on the Internet, libraries and librarians can be an invaluable resource when getting information for our books. 

Here's my library card.

Do you have a library card? How often do you use the library?


 
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 thirty-five plus year, and has two grown daughters. Her latest book, A PLACE TO CALL HOME, is available at all major ebook retailers.You can find the buy links at her website. Connect with her on Facebook page.