Confessions of a Christmasholic by Joss Wood

What's the best way to find your holiday romance??  

Sutton hates Christmas and shows it by falling down drunk after tripping the electric to the hundreds of lighted decorations on Gus Langston's, AKA Mr. Christmas's, lawn and breaking the reindeer, snowmen, and elves.  This all happens in concert while Gus beats the "effing shite" out of the blow-up Santa with shouts of hatred for Christmas.  

The charming Lake District of England is covered in glistening snow, holiday decorations, and mostly good cheer.

The morning after Sutton and Gus had equally vented their frustrations of the season on his lawn, a massive, out-of-character hangover and embarrassment are partially explained.  

Sutton is out of money and needs a place to stay for a few weeks until she moves on with her OT carrier in London.  Gus is strapped with being the number one "Mr. Christmas" as a widower with four-year old twins and a dog named Pig.  He also owns two businesses, one being the year-round Christmas store.  

Both needing some good cheer, they make a deal to help each other out for the few weeks prior to Christmas.  

With an ear to listen and sort out misgivings, Sutton and Gus do their best to remain solely friends.  The more time they spend together, the closer they become.  A quick fling with no strings attached might just release more tension, so why not try it?

Some unintentional flings turn into love.  Can Sutton and Gus allow this or even admit it?  Can they mesh their lives, or should they simply enjoy the couple of weeks?  I have a vote for this one and hope you enjoy the read to find out the answer!

Happy reading,

Dawn 

 

The Writing Flows

         Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

        Well, it was as I suspected. I had a lovely week off for Thanksgiving, but boy, did I pay for it when I went back to the day job. I’m still paying for it! I hate to admit that it’s been a week and I’m still not caught up (at this rate, I’m not sure when I will be) but it’s all good. I love my job. It keeps a roof over my head and food in my belly… 

        And allows me to follow this passion of mine, which is, of course, the writing. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed my week off. I wrote a lot! Of course, it wasn’t enough (never seems to be enough, not when this is what I want to do full time…come on retirement!) but I definitely made a dent. I am more than halfway through The Marshal and Mrs. Morgan (first draft). It usually takes me about a year to write one of my stories, but this one seems to be flowing a little faster. That’s a good thing. I really like my characters and yes, I will admit, that I’ve fallen in love with my hero. And why wouldn’t I? He’s exactly who I’ve written him to be (although I will admit, he has surprised me, doing and saying things I hadn’t expected). I like my heroine, too. She’s spunky and feisty but still kind and if you’ve read my blog before, you know I’m all about that kindness (even when it’s hard to be).  

        And that’s about all for me. I still have more time this morning (it’s Monday, by the way) to see what mischief Devlin and Tresia can get into before I head to the day job. 

        Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie

Christmas Inn Trouble by Brooks Wright

 Cora loves her work as a financial analyst.  She breezes into a town, crunches numbers, and makes the burger and fries chain restaurants pop up.  She leaves town and moves to the next.

Her current location, Starville, Kentucky, happens to be her childhood hometown.  It'll be a nice visit until she is shuttled on to her next work location.

Walking up to the local and very charming Inn, Cora pauses after entering and feels the warmth and cheer of Christmas in every nook of the establishment.  It's like walking into the past.  Everything is warm and glowing with a tasty smell wafting in circles.

That means a burger and fries place is needed.  It will work well in a town with so many friendly faces needing a quick dinner instead of always waiting for a table at the one busy Inn.  

Levi owns, cooks, serves, and hosts the Inn.  He loves his town and loves his Inn.  

When he learns that Cora wants to okay the finances for building the franchise, he's devastated and his friendly demeanor toward her diminishes.

Cora has one issue developing.  Her quaint childhood hometown is so perfect already.  Yet, she wants to be successful in placing the fast-food restaurant.  Oh, yeah, and Levi does have a wonderful charm that she is reticent to destroy.  

With this in mind, Cora agrees to help the town with a Christmas charity.  

The snow, warm lights, decorations, smiling faces on children, and nostalgia soften Cora's one-tract business mind.  Levi allows his heart to grow toward the lovely lady invading his town, hoping for a truce in romance and business.  

The romance and business are intertwined, so can they budget for both?  

'Tis the season for peace and love!

Happy reading,

Dawn

For a few days only, 4 Lexi Post books on sale for 99¢ plus a bonus!

 

Between a Rock and a Cowboy (Rocky Road Ranch: Book 1).

The Dunns and Haydens have been fighting for the last twenty years. So when Amanda Hayden shows up on the Rocky Road Ranch as his father’s new therapist, Tanner Dunn has something to say about it…and none of it’s good.

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Painting the Earl (Marrying Mabry: Book 2)

Lady Amelia Mabry is determined to paint her masterpiece before marrying, but she’s struggling with the male form. So when the Earl of Sommerset surprises her with a marriage proposal, she counter proposes that he pose nude for her first. But she never expected him to accept!

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Amazon CA 

Desires of Christmas Present (A Scottish Christmas Carol: Book 2)

Kentucky born and bred Coco Baker has just been given the assignment of her spirit guide career, but she’s forced to partner with a Scottish upper class snob who thinks he knows what’s best for their living client. Despite him, she’s determined to do well on this case and find out what the arrogant man is hiding. Unfortunately, she discovers that sometimes not knowing is better…for everyone.

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Unexpected Eden (Eden Series: Book 2)

Jahl, Khaos and Sandale easily save their chosen one on Earth, but convincing pyrotechnics expert Serena Upton to stay on Eden is going to be a lot harder.

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Read more for a Bonus

For Oliver Heber's 99¢ sale click the image below  

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Thanksgiving 2024

   

     Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

        Thanksgiving is upon us. It’s my favorite holiday and full of tradition! At least in my house.  

        So, what am I giving thanks for? Everything. I’m feeling very fortunate. I have a job I love (even though it’s crazy busy) that keeps a roof over my head and food on my table. More importantly than that, there are good people in my life and I’m grateful for each and every one of them.  

        I’m taking a week PTO (Paid Time Off—will I pay for that when I get back to the office? Oh, you bet!) so I can do all the things I love to do—you know, the cooking (love a nice turkey dinner, especially the leftovers) and baking and such. I started on Saturday by making a big batch of spaghetti sauce with meatballs and sausage (I freeze most of it). It’s simmering on the stove as I write this (the second part of the process…this stuff simmers for over sixteen hours…the DH likes a thick sauce). The house smells wonderful!

        Most of all, I will have more time to write (is this what retirement will feel like? I hope so! Only three years one month to go!). I do write every workday morning, but that’s only an hour or so but yeah, with some time off, I can write to my hearts’ content (taking time out, of course, for making a cheesecake and other delectable goodies). 

        The Marshal & Mrs. Morgan is moving right along (hahahaha, I’ve already started plotting out The Madam & Mr. MacLean, the next story in the series, too). Would it be odd to say I’m in love with my hero? I don’t think so! He’s a good guy! I’m at 54K words right now, but you can’t really go by that because I hopscotch all over the place then puzzle it all together. And that’s not to say I haven’t run into road blocks (I have…I have an uncanny knack for writing myself into corners!) but it’s all good. I call it exercising my brain for lack of a better term. 

    Speaking of having time to write, I should get to it. As we all know, time flies by very quickly! Have a wonderful holiday. I hope you get to spend it with people you love!

        Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie

Pumpkin Spice and Not So Nice by Becky Monson

 Lighten up a little and enjoy this romcom with more pumpkin than spice!  All the scents, flavors, tastes, and energy of fall bringing us to a plentiful Thanksgiving.

Jenna loves her family, and the pumpkin patch attached to it.  This includes a lot of work and little time for substantial relationships.  When autumn comes it's everything pumpkin, which includes pumpkin pies, drinks, painting, games, rides, clothing, and a field of pumpkins to sell.  Besides, her relationships with men are one sided.

Her side of the deal is as follows:  He's all perfect except he has communication problems with feelings.  Once Jenna shows her date how to be more open, communicative, and confident, he thanks her by finding a new girlfriend and inviting Jenna to their wedding.

She ponders giving up on men.  She must concentrate on helping to save the pumpkin farm from foreclosure.

That's when she finds a fifty-dollar bill in the tip pumpkin.  Wonderful!  Except the personal message written on it clues her in that someone may have deposited the bill on accident.

Aiden believes in being generous.  Jenna locates him and returns the money.  That should be the end of their communication and nearly is because he is at a loss for a meaningful discussion.  

As usual.  A good-looking man who can't open up.

For some reason, they keep being pushed together, that's called fake dating, and he advances from the two-word (noun and verb) sentences.  Maybe there's hope, but he also has to stick around after he can speak a whole paragraph.  

There's hope for the pumpkin patch and there's hope for Aiden and Jenna!  The farm flourished in its fall festivities, and after Aiden opens up, he is still at her side.  Does Jenna decide that her counseling is done or is she willing to spice up her season?

Happy reading,

Dawn

The Return of Yellowstone

         

        Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

        Well, I am off my schedule. I knew it would happen, but that’s all right. Sometimes, breaking out of your routine is a good thing. So, how am I off my schedule? I didn’t write this blog on Sunday, which I usually do…I’ve been a bit busy. Distracted. Off my game, so to speak.

        The day job is crazy busy (when isn’t it?) but it seems to have become more so and for the first time in a long time, I find myself behind on the things that need to get done. It’s all good though. I’m thankful I have this job…it allows me to pay the bills so I can write (and I will admit, I’m looking forward to retirement. At last count, it's three years, one month, two and a half weeks before that day happens, but as we all know, time flies). 

        The Marshal and Mrs. Morgan, book two in the Matchmaker Mischief series is coming right along. That’s not to say I haven’t written myself into a corner. I have. Several times, but I’m able to get myself out of that corner. Sometimes it’s a struggle and I find myself cutting a bunch of words (yes, there was a whole chapter that I ruthlessly cut because it took me in a direction I didn’t want to go). I usually just write on weekday mornings before the day job, but find myself, more and more often, writing on the weekends, too, which puts me behind in other things but that’s all right (and the reason I am late writing this blog).

        Anyway, I finally sat down Sunday night and watched the season premier of Yellowstone. I’ve been waiting for a while…and it was worth it. Definitely worth it. At least, I think so. In my opinion, this is such a good show and I am totally hooked on it. I do miss Kevin Costner not being in it, but that’s all right. The writing is still good, the other actors are wonderful (I have a special fondness in my heart for Rip), and the camera action is fabulous, especially when they pan over the beautiful countryside. Yeah, it was worth the wait, I think, and continues to give me inspiration for my own stories. 

        Speaking of which, I should get back to it. Marshal Devlin Goodrich and Tresia Morgan are waiting. I think I left them in the middle of a kiss! 

        Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

 Kya Clark, known as the "Marsh Girl", is an astounding person.  With the desertion of her mother, father, and siblings, it's amazing she survives and eventually thrives in the marshland of North Carolina circa 1969.

Kya is left on the crumbling homestead, fending for herself by finding food, fishing for money, and studying the birds in the marsh.  The townsfolk know about her but keep their distance.  It's when she becomes a young woman, and her exotic beauty is evident that Tate watches her and dares to meet her.

Tate teaches her to read and is captivated with her self-taught knowledge of marsh birds.  He leaves for college with a promise to visit, a promise delayed for years.

Another teenage male, Chase Andrews, wants her attention.  It amazes me how patient Chase is with approaching her.  It takes a long time for her to trust his offered friendship.  During this time, Kya continues her studies in the marsh while logging all rare information.

Heartbreak happens in many ways, and when Chase is found dead at the bottom of an old watchtower, the town turns on Kya.  

Not sure if the death is murder or an accidental fall, Tate returns from college and gives Kya his trust once again.  

A very rich and colorful setting allows survival, love, and trust to grow slowly and solidly.

Happy reading, 

Dawn

Countdown to Christmas

 

        Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

Well, it’s that time of year (I know, not even Halloween yet) but Hallmark has started their Countdown to Christmas…and I love it!

        Yes, you can call me a romantic (I do write romance novels) but I absolutely love these Hallmark Christmas movies. I think it’s mostly because—no matter what has happened throughout the story—everything turns out the way it should in the end. It’s the happily-ever-after that always gets me and gives me hope. Always.

        I will admit that, sometimes, that happily-ever-after brings a tear to my eye (well, maybe not tears but my vision does get a little fuzzy and my throat constricts). And let’s not forget about the big, dumb smile on my face. Yeah, I get that, too.

        Fortunately, I’m not the only one. My DH likes these movies, too. He says they’re addicting and they are. I explained to him that, no matter our backgrounds, no matter what we do in life, we ALL want that happily-ever-after. Some of us need it.

Funny, even though there’s a formula to the story….meet cute (or not so cute), get to know each other, the Big Black Moment when you think all is lost, and then…sigh…that kiss at the end. Yeah, gets me every time. I’m a big softie. Or maybe I’m not. Maybe it’s knowing that the ending will be happy that draws me to these romances.

        My late mother-in-law would have loved these them (I so miss that woman!). She was a big, old softie, too, and read romances by the thousands. Her all-time favorite movie was An Affair to Remember. No matter how many times she watched it, she cried (I admit, I get all kinds of misty-eyed, and to borrow from Linda Richmond (Mike Meyers of Saturday Night Live fame) I get a little verklempt when I watch it, too).  

        Hmmmm, I think I’ll go watch a Hallmark movie right now.

        Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie

ONCE UPON A HAUNTED HAVEN by Lexi Post has Re-Released for only 99¢!

Once Upon a Haunted Haven 

by Lexi Post 

has re-released at only 99¢!

This novella was originally part of the Once Upon a Haunted Romance Anthology.

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA | Amazon DE

Widow Lady Juliet Finch Hastings of Abercorn has nowhere to go when her brother-in-law forces her to leave her late husband’s home. Plagued by sexy dreams of a mysterious man, she now must travel to haunted Brambling Cottage, her inheritance from her great-aunt. Generations of Finches have avoided the cottage for a reason, yet it’s her only haven. Or rather, it and the man from her dreams who greets her upon her arrival.

Noah Kingman has been caring for Brambling Cottage since he turned sixteen, taking over what his father and grandfather had done before him. As a friend of the ghost that resides there, he’s excited when his dreams fill with images of a young woman of the exact likeness of the past occupant, for he knows a Finch will finally return to the nest, an event he’s waited for since a young boy.

Lady Juliet is grateful and not a little attracted to Mr. Kingman. As she learns more about him, the cottage, her ancestor, and herself, she begins to adjust to life on her own. But making life-changing decisions is a new experience for her. Sooner than she expects, she must decide whether to follow in her ancestor’s footsteps or forever embrace the past, a decision that will greatly impact them all. 

About Lexi

Lexi Post is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of romance inspired by the classics. She spent years in higher education taking and teaching courses about the classical literature she loved. From Edgar Allan Poe's short story “The Masque of the Red Death” to Tolstoy’s War and Peace, she's read, studied, and taught wonderful classics.

But Lexi's first love is romance novels so she married her two first loves, romance and the classics. Whether it’s sizzling cowboys, dashing dukes, hot immortals, or hunks from out of this world, Lexi provides a sensuous experience with a “whole lotta story.”

Lexi is living her own happily ever after with her husband and her two cats in Florida. She makes her own ice cream every weekend, loves bright colors, and you’ll never see her without a hat.

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Hex Appeal by Kate Johnson

 Yes, this is my salute to Halloween! 

I love the characters; they are quirky, fun, and have such real emotions and habits.  The atmosphere, or setting as you may call it, is divine.  A village called Goodwinter in Essex oozes funny, witchy, creepiness.  

It all starts with Essie Winterscale and her love of doing magic and living however she wants.  She shares her house with a goofy group of other witches, all having their own specialties in magic.

The coven of witches has an enemy- no surprise, I'm sure.  Essie is the one who keeps the enemy at bay because she can freeze him at every start to winter.  Granted this story is in the autumn coming up on Halloween.  Winter is right around the corner and Essie needs to practice her talent.

In comes Josh, the new owner of her Victorian and ever changing and growing house.  Apparently, he inherited nearly the whole village and needs to collect back rent from the last couple hundred years.  

Essie's home is impossible to find without help.  Maybe because Josh is so sweet and handsome, she allows him a visit.  She does not trust herself to have a boyfriend.  Had to state that fact.  But she really likes him.

Josh could easily spend many hours with Essie, if she allows him.  

When the coven enemy rallies to take over the house and the land, Essie confides in Josh.  As long as he can handle that her and her coven are witches for real, he has an in.  He also has to help destroy the enemy to open the door to her heart.

The amount of trust and magic used to free the heart is grander than a magic carpet ride, and I hope you're all aboard for a fantastic trip!

Happy reading,

Dawn

It's Here! The Maverick & Miss Miller

 

        Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

It’s here! It’s here! And I’m so excited! Tuesday, October 15, was release day for The Maverick & Miss Miller!

        Believe it or not, this story had been sitting in my computer for over four years (I wrote it the first year of the pandemic even though I didn’t feel much like writing at that point). And it just sat there for the longest time, not doing anything. Just…waiting…while I wrote three more stories. But it’s here now and I couldn’t be happier!

The Maverick & Miss Miller

Who ever heard of a mail-order husband?

Evie Miller certainly hadn’t until Jake Hannigan showed up on her doorstep thanks to an advertisement her niece placed in papers all over the country, unbeknownst to her. Evie has absolutely no need for a husband. She has managed Montaña del Trueno, the Silva family ranch, and raised her late sister’s children to full-grown and married. Now, she plans to spend her days enjoying the fruits of her labor. But the man did come a long way, so rather than send him home, she offers him a job. Though she has no use for a husband, she can always use another ranch hand.

        Jake Hannigan, a former gambler, has no desire to marry either—not really—he’s just looking for a place to hide until the gambling kingpin in San Francisco stops looking for him, and what better place to do it than this ranch in New Mexico? He’s happy to accept the position as ranch hand even if he knows nothing about cowboying or how to ride a horse. He’s a fast learner, though, and it could be entertaining to see who else answers the husband-wanted advertisement.

        It doesn’t take long for Jake to catch on, even discovering he has a special talent with horses. He’s also quick to understand what a catch Evie Miller actually is. As their friendship blossoms, he finds himself dreading the next suitor to come to the ranch and the possibility Evie will accept an offer of marriage. How can he reveal his growing feelings to her when he came under false pretenses, especially now that word from San Francisco says the kingpin is close and his life is in danger? He has only one choice. To protect Evie and her family, he must leave and quite possibly break both their hearts. 

        

        I hope you like this story! Now, on to book two: The Marshal & Mrs. Morgan.

Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie

Boss Witch by Ann Aguirre

 Clementine Waterhouse.  What a perfect witch's name.  The name of her local business, Fix-It Witches, is perfect, too.  

Or is the name a dead ringer for the best place to locate a witch? 

Gavin Rhys, a traveling witch hunter, wonders if the names are obvious clues.  Gavin hates his job and his father who forces it on him.  He wants nothing more than a place to call home versus constant traveling.

When Clem realizes Gavin is looking for her and her fellow witches, the only way to keep him away is to get close to him. 

The covey of witches cast spells to disguise the magic streaming around their homes and facilities.  

Clem treats Gavin to creative outings.  He can't detect any witch waves, yet he does like hanging out with Clem.  The feeling is mutual, and neither wants to admit or fall for the other.  It's against both their interests.  

Although, Clem notices the loneliness surrounding Gavin.  A pet mouse can be his new BFF.  Along with a pet, their outings are getting closer and closer to being called dating.

Let's remember the secret each has...Clem is a witch and Gavin is a witch hunter.

How do you propose they get over this problem?  It's tricky, or maybe a little magical!

Happy reading,

Dawn

Oh My Gosh! It's So Early!

 

      

        Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

        It’s early Sunday morning as I write this (yes, really early…I was up at four!). I’m not sure why that is….it is Sunday, after all. I could sleep in…but that doesn’t seem to happen much anymore. My idea of sleeping in is sleeping until six. I know! When did all that happen?

        I remember being a teenager and having the capacity to sleep ALL day (much to the aggravation of my mother, who frowned upon such things and forced me out of bed). Of course, at that point in my life, I didn’t get to sleep until after three or four in the morning. I was too busy reading (hahahahaha, yes, I was one of those who read into the wee hours of the morning with a flashlight under the covers). Here’s a hint…don’t read anything by Stephen King at that time! You’ll never get to sleep at all…I learned that the hard way!

        Now? I find it difficult to stay up past ten (I do, on occasion, but boy, do I pay for it because no matter how late I stay up, I’m still awake by four-thirty—no alarm necessary)! I guess, over the years, I have trained myself to be a ‘morning’ person (and a cheerful one at that, which annoys my DH no end. Ah well, the dogs like it). My brain seems to function better in the morning AND it’s prime writing time for me. I actually wake up with words in my head, ready to work on my current story which is good, because after the day job, my brain doesn’t want to function at all.

        Speaking of working on my current story, I just finished the proof for The Maverick & Miss Miller and submitted it back to my publisher. Whoooo-hoooo! Now that that is done, I can go back to The Marshal & Mrs. Morgan. The story is coming along pretty well, I think. 

        And that’s about all for me. The Marshal & Mrs. Morgan isn’t going to write itself so I need to get to it (hahahahaha, before I run out of words).

        Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie

CONFOUNDING THE EARL by Lexi Post has Released!

Confounding the Earl

Confounding the Earl

(Courting a Curious Lady: Book 2)

by Lexi Post

has Released!

He made her successful. So why does he feel like he’s failed?

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA | Amazon DE  

Lady Dorothea Ansley knows she baffles her mother and annoys her father with her prattle. Luckily, her fellow Curious Ladies are patient with her and great company during the season. But the season is coming to a close, and she is still without an offer of marriage. She needs a proposal quickly before her mother’s wandering eye causes a scandal and all chances of marriage disappear. As she stands alone at the final ball, she unwittingly catches the attention of Lord Harewood, but in a very different way than she expects.

Lord Felton Ambrose is quite good at predicting what will occur next whether it be in parliament or the next couple to be betrothed, but he never would have predicted Lady Dorothea’s conversation at the season’s final fete would be of any interest to him in the least. Curious if the moment was simply a serendipitous occurrence, he ensures that she’s invited to his family’s upcoming house party. She is the perfect lady for whom to find a suitor and achieve his goal of improving the reputation of the Belinda School for Curious Ladies to best honor the woman after which it was named.

Though his social experiment is a success and multiple men become enamored of Lady Dorothea, he is not at all happy. The lady has changed according to his sage advice, and she has taught him a few lessons on happiness in the process. By all rights, he should be basking in the glow of a goal reached, a victory hard won, but for the first time in his life, he fears he may, just possibly, have been wrong. Has he done the greatest disservice to Lady Dorothea, to the school, and to himself? More importantly, will he be too late to rectify his mistake?

About Lexi:

Lexi Post is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of romance inspired by the classics. She spent years in higher education taking and teaching courses about the classical literature she loved. From Edgar Allan Poe's short story “The Masque of the Red Death” to Tolstoy’s War and Peace, she's read, studied, and taught wonderful classics.

But Lexi's first love is romance novels so she married her two first loves, romance and the classics. Whether it’s sizzling cowboys, dashing dukes, hot immortals, or hunks from out of this world, Lexi provides a sensuous experience with a “whole lotta story.”

Lexi is living her own happily ever after with her husband and her two cats in Florida. She makes her own ice cream every weekend, loves bright colors, and you’ll never see her without a hat.

Website

Lexi Post Updates

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THe Running Grave by Robert Galbraith

 Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott are back at it.  As partners in a private detective agency, they manage to do superior investigating while hiding the heart.

Strike and Robin have extreme feelings for one another, but there are always too many barriers.  One or another is dating someone else, work, timing, work, admittance, work, and anything else that can keep them from admitting their feelings at the same time.

The current case involves parents of Will who hire Strike and Robin to get him out of what they consider a religious cult.  Robin demands she go undercover to infiltrate the religious camp.  

More dangerous than expected, Strike keeps his promise to Robin, no matter how much it aggravates him, to update her boyfriend on her wellbeing.  Strike insists to himself that he'd be better at keeping Robin happy, but he hasn't found the right moment to reveal to Robin his thoughts.  He shouldn't, but he might.

Robin likes her boyfriend, but in times of danger and being exhausted on the low rations at the camp and scared at the same time, she first thinks of Strike.  

They have no idea of the deeply guarded romantic feelings they share.

The investigation keeps them from diving into their true feelings, but rather urgent on saving Will from his certain demise at the hands of the cult.

Strike and Robin both admit to themselves who they want in their life, but can they find a way to express their growing love?  Or is the case the only thing they solve?

 Each installment of the series brings love a touch closer, yet when will love be the final mystery solved?  

Happy reading,

Dawn

First Edits Done

 

        Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe! 

        So, I just finished a marathon editing session on The Maverick & Miss Miller. I’m tired and my brain hurts BUT I have to say, I’m thrilled with the result…even though I could continue on.  

        I’m one of those. Good enough is never good enough so even though my brain hurts, the longer I look at the manuscript, the more things I want to add, delete or rephrase (I also came up with some interesting things for future stories! How I did that, I haven’t a clue!).

At some point, though, you have to stop, take a moment, and submit. Easier said than done!

        I like my new editor. She’s wonderful—smart and funny and really knows her stuff! She gave me some very sage advice and quite a few helpful tips. She was also very good at pointing out some of the things I do that I hadn’t realized. Going through some of her comments, I just had to laugh (at myself…my gosh, my characters breathe. A lot! I’ve written several books and had several editors, but never realized it. That will be changing…oh, they’ll still breathe…but no one has to know!). I was also reminded that I tend to ‘run away’ from the hard things. I didn’t realize that, either. That will be changing, too (along with a few other things). 

All in all, this was a big learning experience for me and I’m taking those lessons to heart. In fact, I’m putting what I learned into practice—today—with the next book (The Marshal & Mrs. Morgan) in the series. I’m also going to go through Wife By Surprise and use the same editing techniques to make the story better. Yes, even though my brain is tired, I’m raring to go!

And that’s all for me. Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie

All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot

 A memoir with romantic elements will touch all your hearts for animals and love between people.  

James Herriot, newly graduated from veterinary school in the early 1900's, finds a local Yorkshire veterinarian to work with.  School is nothing like real life and most of his experiences can only be taught by doing.

Working in the English countryside, enduring the rain, winds, and snow, the farm animals are loved and in need of care.  This leaves James little time for a young woman he has his eye on when her father's stock needs attention.  

James doesn't enjoy a cow or sheep needing his care, but he feels a different type of adrenalin when visiting Helen's farm.  Pushing himself to get the nerve to ask her for a date, it doesn't end well.  Neither does his next attempt on another lass.  

Maybe he's only comfortable around the animals whose heart he knows how to mend.

Yet, he doesn't give up.  Slow but steadfast, he finds a way to interest Helen in another outing.  And then another.  Love blooms in the spring!

Happy reading,

Dawn

Another 'First'

 

           Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

This year has had a number of ‘firsts’ for me and it’s kind of unsettling, but also a bit exciting. I’ve never had a book up for Pre-Order so that was a first (and a very exciting one at that…check it out).

https://www.amazon.com/Maverick-Miss-Miller-Matchmaker-Mischief-ebook/dp/B0DB2QFV6P

So what new ‘first’ happened recently?

I took my car to the car wash. I’ve never ever done that before. I’m one of those….wash my car in the yard with a bucket, sponge and hose. I’ve always done it that way simply because I’m frugal (the DH would say cheap, but it’s not cheap to do things yourself…it’s spending money wisely…at least that’s the way I look at it).

Anyway, as you may know, I live in Arizona…Phoenix, specifically…and this year, the heat just…got to me. I’d much rather spend my time hibernating in the coolness of air conditioning than do anything outside. In fact, if I didn’t have to leave the house, that was just fine with me (although we all know it’s not possible…there are errands to run and the day job, too).

So I was looking at my car one morning as I was getting ready to go to work and noticed (no, not for the first time, but I was ignoring it) just how absolutely dirty it was so I decided: why not take it to one of the many, many car washes around here? I kid you not, in the space of a three-mile radius, there are at least eight car washes—two within a mile of each other. So I did and…

I didn’t like it very much. I’m a tad claustrophobic so being inside my car inside the building with all that soap and water and brushes coming at my face…well, my anxiety level shot up a bit…but that wasn’t my biggest fear. It was being pulled along by the conveyor belt, the sound it made…and rolling off at the end. That’s where my anxiety level really spike…there was a terrible sound as I came to the end of my journey and put the car in drive. I think it was just the sound of coming off that conveyor belt, but I’m not sure. All I know is that it startled me.  

I spent the next couple days worrying that I may have damaged my tire (my new one). I didn’t, of course, but that didn’t stop me from obsessing about it or checking a couple times a day.

Will I do it again? Maybe, but I think the next time, I’ll try a different location…maybe one of those where they wash your car by hand and I won’t have to go through that weird tube…and most importantly, roll off that conveyor belt.

Other than that exciting (and scary) experience, things here in the Patrick household are good. I’m working hard. Writing, writing, writing and taking care of everything, which is what I do. The Marshal & Mrs. Morgan is coming along pretty well. I so love it when my characters surprise me and they are surprising me! And I’m expecting edits for The Maverick & Miss Miller within the next few days. I’m excited about that, too.

And that’s about all for me. Still lots more stuff to be done and so little time to do it. Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie

The Witch is Back by Sophie Morgan

 I had to dive into a witchy book before the season because I love them!  I'm sure I'll have more for you this fall.

Emmaline Bluewater has left her witch family of her own accords.  Chicago offers her a new family of friends, including her mixed mutt familiar, a suave bar named Toil and Trouble, and purposefully not using magic- most of the time. 

Contracted to marry Bastian Truenote in order to bring hierarchy to her family, Emma wanted OUT after he left without a word, note, or any explanation.  That's when she found her new and very pleasing lifestyle owning a bar and running her own life without her meddling mother.

Always the cavalier and carefree warlock, Bastian left for Egypt and any other location he fancied immediately before the marriage was to take place to Emma, his BFF in childhood.

They both didn't know why he left, avoiding the nuptials.  

Curses and hexes played a part in both their naivete of the sudden change in course, but Bastian came back.  He had to marry Emma to save his mother.

And the story gets more tangled on who threw the last spell, how to undo them, and who's to really blame in the game of love and marriage.  

Choose this romcom as your start to the witchy season only a few short weeks away!  

Spooky reading,

Dawn