I want to take a moment to honour Remembrance Day. It’s a time to reflect on all the Canadians who have and continue to serve the cause of freedom. Never forget.
​
Now, on to this week’s topic:

Evening is falling sooner, and the dark days of winter are near. What do you do to keep yourself busy?

I’m just going to say it. I greatly prefer a -20C day with fresh snow and bright clear skies to pretty much any day in November. It is one of the darkest months, as there is no snow to reflect any light, and this month we’ve been getting lots of rain and wind, which makes getting outside rather unpleasant.

Because of the early dark, we tend to eat dinner earlier than in the summer. This makes for long, long evenings. That’s why the jigsaw puzzles come out. It’s a great non-screen way to pass the time. We listen to music while sipping a beverage, and an hour can go by in a flash.

While I do crochet all year long, I do much more of it in the colder months. Sitting and listening to an audio book while creating something is true relaxation for me (even when I have pull stitches out because I lost my concentration, LOL).

And, of course, there’s game nights. Since the little grands have come along, it’s become more difficult to find time for that. But this may be the winter we start up again.
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How about you? What do you do to pass long, dark evenings? Comment below, then hop over to Jill Haymaker!

WHEN TIME FALLS STILL
A Winter Romance

An ex-NHL hopeful and an ambitious academic battle their own hearts—and a vicious stalker who strikes much too close to home.

​This is what we’re discussing this week on the Blog Hop:

What’s your take on the “enemies-to-lovers” trope? How do you make this dynamic feel fresh and believable?

I quite enjoy enemies-to-lovers…with one caveat. It has to be realistic. And that's a really fine line to navigate.

New guy that moves in and she hates because he won’t say hi to her on the sidewalk? Nah.

Two people blinded by their own false beliefs that keep them from seeing themselves and the other clearly? Sign me up! (Pride and Prejudice, anyone?)

The conflict that makes them enemies not only has to be believable, it has to be equal. One of them can’t be less invested than the other. They must both stand to lose something critical in order for the enmity to make sense.

In Crossroads Corner, Camryn Bendixon is struggling to cope with losing both her financial security and her career. She’s determined to seek validation by saving her grandfather’s construction company from a takeover bid. The man in charge of the takeover is Will Danson. To a single dad with a blind daughter, not achieving his goal could jeopardize everything he has planned for his daughter.

To be honest, they are very polite enemies (Canadian, eh?). But their conflicting goals provide another layer of tension between them – even though he falls fast and hard the first time he meets her.

You can find out more about Crossroads Corner below. Then hop over to Jenna Da Sie for her take on this topic.

Here’s this week’s topic:

What real-life experiences have inspired your romance writing?

Wow. What real-life experiences haven’t inspired me?

Before I even knew what a meet-cute was, I loved to hear about how people met their partners. Some of those stories you just can’t make up, LOL. It was hearing some of those that made me want to write my own.

And then there are the people I meet. I’ve never used a real person as one of my main characters, but I have certainly used them to inspire me. Sometimes it starts by wondering “Who is their perfect love match?” That can set off all sorts of interesting ideas.

I think my biggest real-life inspiration for my stories are locations. I live in a beautiful part of the world, and my characters enjoy visiting many of my favourite places. But the story that was heavily influenced by a location is No Life But This.

Sao Miguel is an island in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. My husband’s parents emigrated from there to Canada in the 1950’s, and in 2013 we were lucky enough to visit. We attended a religious festival at their tiny parish church, and I couldn’t help but include that experience in the book. It gives Abigail a deeply personal insight into Santos, and I greatly enjoyed reliving my own memories when I wrote the scene.

Now hop on over to Jenna Da Sie to find out what real life inspiration she has to share.

Sure, a beer in the backyard on a hot summer afternoon is wonderful, but there’s something extra speacial about a warm drink on a chilly day.

This week on the Blog Hop, we’re sharing our favourite cold weather drink. I’m even providing the recipe. 😊

Mr. C and I love to walk in the winter. The air is crisp and clear,  there are no bugs...and the bears are sleeping! We often pack a snack and find a handy log so we can sit and enjoy it. Our favourite drink to bring along is a hot toddy.

There are many ways to make hot toddies, but this is our recipe. Mr. C is a master at it.

2 oz rye whiskey
.5 tsp honey
1/3 cinnamon stick
Slice of lemon
Hot water to fill mug

Enjoy!

Now hop over to Leslie Hachtel to discover her favourite cold weather drink!

​LOVING BETWEEN THE LINES
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A one-night stand neither will forget.
She wanted a final fling before choosing science to make her a single mom. He needed an escape from the regret grinding him into dust. Her baby isn’t his…but maybe family is more than DNA.

Get the sexy bonus prologue when you sign up for my newsletter!

This week’s question is:

How do you approach creating conflict in a romance novel without losing the emotional connection between characters?

Conflict comes in many forms. It can be subtle or overt. It can be physical or mental. One thing is for sure – the people that can hurt us the most are the people we love.

That means, for me, that conflict in a romance novel is directly related to the depth of the character’s emotions. So, the question answers itself. Conflict should be designed to increase the emotional connection, not sever it.

When a new character pops into my head, I immediately begin to imagine the worst person for them to fall in love with. Here’s a  example from Crossroads Corner. Camryn needs to save her grandfather’s construction company from a hostile takeover. Her love interest? Will, the man responsible for completing the deal – and if he doesn’t do it, he could lose his job. To add even more complexity, Camryn is a career woman who never considered having children. Will is a single dad whose daughter is blind.

All that leads to conflict that Camryn and Will have to work their way through to achieve their happy ending. But it is in dealing with the difficulties that they forge a relationship the reader believes will last.
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Now I invite you to hop over to Jenna Da Sie for her thoughts on this!

Does Crossroads Corner sound interesting to you? It's third story about the Bendixon Sisters - which you can get in the Taking His Measure box set today!

Three steamy, open-door, full-length contemporary romances with all your favourite tropes. Second Chance, Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers
 
Allegro Court
 
Determined to save her beloved construction company, Mattie Bendixon makes a reckless wager with Marcus Temple. All he has to do is stay in his hated hometown for one month. All she has to risk is her heart.
 
Gateway Crescent
 
Neither flighty Jo Bendixon nor steadfast Luke Donwell prophesies the temptation flaring hot and bright between them. It might scorch them to the heart…or spark a match made in heaven.
 
Crossroad Corner
 
Will Danson can't stop thinking about his captivating business rival. Camryn Bendixon won't be distracted by the sexy single dad standing in her way. They are competing for construction bids and career-making contracts—but it is her battered heart that he truly wants to win.

Okay, let's settle this! Pumpkin Spice - yea or nay?

I enjoy a piece of pumpkin pie and appreciate a pumpkin spice scented candle. But I certainly wouldn’t go out of my way to get a latte, and I am just as happy with lemon meringue pie and prefer vanilla-scented candles. So, I guess I fall into the “nay” category.

What about you? Do you love it, leave it, or simply don’t care either way?
Comment below, then head over to PG Forte to cointinue your hop!

SECRETS UNDER THE COVERS
Start the Silverberry Seduction Seasoned Romance Series for FREE!

Two long-time friends…one impulsive seduction…zero percent chance their lives will ever be the same again.
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🧡55-year-old widow & widower
🧡cancer threat
🧡tattoo artist
🧡strong, creative heroine
🧡caring, supportive hero
🧡steamy open-door sex
🧡standalone read
🧡friends-to-lovers
🧡she seduces him

We’re talking about tropes on this week’s blog hop. Specifically, the second chance trope.

Would you rather read (or write) about a rekindled flame or a brand-new passion? Is your choice influenced by the age of the characters?

I love reading about rekindled flames. A story that brings two characters together who’ve totally screwed up once and helps them heal, then shows them love is still there, is so much fun.

As for the second part of our topic question this week, my choice is influenced by the age of the characters. If the characters are younger than thirty, I have a little trouble buying a second chance romance between them. Not that it’s impossible, but I feel older characters are better suited for that trope, because they’ve seen what life can throw at them and understand how precious love is.

That being said, I think I’ve only written two second chance romances. And to be completely honest, one of them, Allegro Court, isn’t a true second chance, because only one of the characters thought their first relationship was long-term to start with. (Intrigued? Find out more here.)

But Turn the Next Page is true to the trope and features older characters. It also has one of my favourite mini-mysteries. You can find out more about it below!

Now hope over to Leslie Hachtel for her take on this topic.

Turn the Next Page

High school sweethearts, their marriage was shattered by tragedy. Thirty years later, a startling confession reignites long banked embers.

You can read an excerpt here! 

On the outside, politician Aubrey Windt is assured and assertive. On the inside, she’s a confused tangle of nerves and regrets. A lost election is the perfect opportunity to reset her life, and she’s going to take it, no matter what anyone says. This time, she means it.
 
Everything’s fine with Philip Church. Just fine. His second divorce was amicable, his twin sons are grown, and his landscape business runs itself. The fineness is driving him crazy. But reconnecting with his first love provokes an upheaval more potent than he’s ever imagined.
 
When Aubrey and Phillip learn a startling fact that will forever link their lives, they set out to find the brother Aubrey didn’t know she had. To do so, they must forge a new path, unexpectedly abetted by a stray cat and the eclectic members of a unique book club.

(Book Three in the Silverberry Seduction Seasoned Romance Series but can be read as a standalone. Aubrey is 52 and Phillip 53.)

As much as I enjoy the freedom and adventure of summer, I love routines. I am a planner, and a week where everything is laid out neatly is my golden time. That being said:

What do you do in September to reset yourself after the crazy days of summer? What routines do you restart?

From January to April this year, I took part in a weight-lifting program at a local sports centre. I enjoyed it immensely, so I’ve re-enrolled for the fall. We had our first two classes last week, and I’m looking forward to gaining confidence and strength as to weeks rolls on.

I’ve also started setting an alarm again. I enjoy getting up and doing some author/writing work while my husband sleeps a little longer. Then we have our coffee together and move on with our day.

This is bear season where I live. As they fatten up for winter hibernation, we see them a lot more often on our dog walks. We’re keeping to the wide open trails and neighbourhood streets for now, but as soon as the cold and snow hits we’ll be able to restart our routine of long afternoon walks in the woods.
​
Now hop over to Jill Haymaker to find out how she treats September.

LOVING BETWEEN THE LINESbooks2read.com/LovingBetweenTheLines

A one-night stand neither will forget.
She wanted a final fling before choosing science to make her a single mom. He needed an escape from the regret grinding him into dust. Her baby isn’t his…but maybe family is more than DNA.

❤ single older first-time mom ❤ hockey player now coach ❤ found family ❤ older woman younger man (five-year age gap) ❤ steamy, open-door, slow burn

(Book Two in the Silverberry Seduction Seasoned Romance Series. Lynn 40, Benjamin 35. Can be read as a standalone.)

MONTANA PINES SEARCH FOR LOVE
 
Lacey Westwood has given up on finding love in her small Montana home town. That is, until cowboy Tuf Brody happens into her bar. He’s not her type, and she doesn’t date strangers, but maybe he isn’t a stranger after all. Tuf is looking for his long lost brother, not true love which he doesn’t believe exists. But when these two find each other, they may find so much more.​

I really want to read your comments on this week’s blog hop. I think the topic is fascinating.

Do you think romance novels have a unique ability to explore emotions and relationships that other genres don’t?

For me, the answer is a resounding yes! Because the romance genre is all about the relationship between the main characters, it is expected to delve into all the nooks and crannies of what makes people tick. But what is unique about it is the expectation that there will be a happy ending.

Most fiction is about relationships. Even genres like mystery and fantasy are rooted in how people interact with each other. But there isn’t necessarily going to be a satisfactory resolution to those relationships in any genre but romance. And that’s what makes me come back for more.

I doubt you’re going to find a dissenting voice among all the other blog-hoppers, but be sure to continue on with PG Forte.

He's a concert cellist. She's a construction worker. When sparks fly between them, all bets are off.

ALLEGRO COURT, Book One in the Bendixon Sisters Series, is available FREE!

Seeking solace in his music, Marcus Temple fled his stifling small town to become a world-class cellist. Any lingering longings and regrets are safely buried beneath his successful career—until a family crisis compels him to return and brings him face-to-face with the woman whose heart he broke when he left.

More comfortable in overalls than orchestra seats, Mattie Bendixon has done her best to forget the boy who shattered her teenage dreams. She keeps busy and fulfilled as a carpenter with her grandfather’s construction company. But now a big city rival threatens his legacy.

Determined to save her beloved business, Mattie makes a reckless wager with Marcus. All he has to do is stay in his hated hometown for one month. All she has to risk is her heart.

This week on the blog hop, we’ve been asked:
What's your favourite season, both in real life and in your writing?
The easiest way for me to answer this is to tell you that spring is my least favourite. That may seem odd to those of you who know I live where cold, snowy winters are the norm. But spring is a terrible tease here. The days warm up enough that the snow melts (which reveals months worth of grime and garbage) but the nights are still too cold to plant until late May. The best thing about spring is that summer comes next, LOL! 
We had an up and down summer this year. We’d have a couple days of warm weather followed by a couple days of rain. The gardens loved it (apples, berries, and tomatoes are thriving!) but it wasn’t until the last week or so that we had a good long stretch of hot, sunny days. Still, we’ve camped, gone boating, swum in lakes, and done our best to enjoy every moment.
Fall here is wonderful, with crisp dry Septembers and Octobers. The weather patterns have changed over the years, as it was common for us to have snow (that was here to stay) by Halloween, but that happens rarely now. And cold winter days are fabulous. Our favourite dog-walking days are in the depths of winter, when the bears are sleeping. We pack drinks and snacks and find a place to sit in the snow and appreciate the wonder of having four seasons!
My books span all the seasons. Loving Between the Lines spans almost a full year (as it occurs during hockey season). Strictly By the Book, When Time Falls Still, and Suspect Attraction happen over winter months as well. And, of course, so does The Promise of Frost, which is my December holiday novella.
What about you? What’s your favourite season? And do you prefer books written in a one or the other? Let me know in the comments, then hop to Leslie Hachtel for her take on this topic!

An adventurous, go-with-the-flow historian…a scrupulous, stick-to-the-rules scientist…an attraction so wrong it’s absolutely right.

Strictly by the Book (Book Four in the Silverberry Seduction Seasoned Romance Series. Can be read as a standalone. Natalie 36, Rafe 42)

Natalie Minton’s cheerful exterior hides desperation. She’s been out of work for months when her estranged sister appears on her doorstep pleading for help. An offer to write the biography of a local political legend couldn’t come at a better time.

Rafe Talbot rejected family tradition and chose medicine over politics. When he stumbles upon evidence of a hidden scandal, his only recourse is to work alongside—and stay one step ahead of—the vivacious scholar hired to chronicle his mother’s career.

Natalie’s exuberance strikes sparks off Rafe’s steely severity, luring them to ignore the secrets shadowing their pasts…until the glare of the present exposes intolerable truths.