There are so many wonderful places to visit in this world. This week on the Blog Hop, we’ve been asked:  

Which summer setting do you love most for yourself or your stories: lakeside cabin, vineyard, small-town fair, or coastal inn?
​
We don’t usually travel far from home during the summer. These are beautiful months in Northern British Columbia – just hot enough, with mostly sunny days. Our favourite locale is our travel trailer at any one of the beautiful lakes within an hour's drive of home.

As for my romances, I’ve written several scenes at lakeside cabins, but none at any of the other locations listed, so I guess that’s my go to, LOL! You’ll find them in Secrets Under the Covers and Too Good for Words. Titus, the male main character in Richly Deserved lives at a house on a lake, and in Gateway Crescent Jo and Luke have a steamy interlude while canoeing.

Lakeside cabins feature in winter scenes, too, in After Words, When Time Falls Still and The Promise of Frost. There is something especially romantic about curling up by a fire in a snowbound cabin, don’t you think?

What’s your favourite summer setting? I’d love to hear about it. Then be sure to hop over to Leslie Hachtel!

Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians!

This week on the blog hop, we’re sharing our go-to summer read when we want heat, heart, and happily-ever-after.

Umm – well there’s – and of course there’s – and I really like – oh, crap. How can I pick one book?

Instead, I’m going to give you three of my favourite authors when I’m looking for steamy, intelligent romance.

Courtney Milan: Victorian romances with women in science, business, and politics. Her more recent books draw on her Asian heritage. Always superb.

Jill Shalvis: Any of her books are a solid choice for strong alpha heroes who aren’t a-holes and clutzy but well-meaning women battling through the troubles life can throw at you.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips: When I want a romance I can sink into for a longer chunk of time, SEP always delivers.

What’s your go to summer read? I’m always looking for book recommendations!
Now hop over to PG Forte for her favourites!

For my Canadian readers ONLY...

TAKING HIS MEASURE: THE COMPLETE BENDIXON SISTERS SERIES is on sale for JUST $4.99 as a Canada Day Special!🍁

Three steamy, open-door, full-length contemporary romances and a bonus epilogue you can't get anywhere else.

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.

CROSSROADS 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.

AMAZON CANADA 
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When I finish reading a great story, I sometimes take a moment to imagine what the characters’ lives will be like in the future. So this week’s topic is a fun one for me!

Let’s talk about summer vacation! Would the characters in your most recent work rather take a solo trip or join a family reunion? And what might they discover in their travels?

My newest release is the later-in-life romantic mystery, Suspect Attraction. The main characters are Ginnie Blynde and Seth Updike. Both have suffered recent tragedies, and both have thrown themselves into the businesses they own as a way of dealing with their grief. I think they would find it hard to break that habit, so any vacations they might take would be short. Camping at a nearby provincial park or visiting Seth’s daughter who lives in another city would fit their lifestyle. Ginnie is more outgoing than Seth, so I can see her wanting to attend a family reunion, but he’s more of a solo trip guy.

Travelling is a great way to get to know someone, and since Ginnie and Seth’s relationship is so new, I am sure they would discover a lot of about each other. For example, Seth doesn’t know that Ginnie is impatient with slow traffic and hates waiting in lines, while she would be surprised to learn he doesn’t like flying and will drive hours to avoid taking a plane.

What’s your preferred summer vacation? Let me know in the comments, then hop over to Leslie Hachtel!

SUSPECT ATTRACTION
A steamy, later-in-life contemporary romance mystery
 
A silver-haired charmer with a shameful secret. A broken-hearted matchmaker with a guilty burden. And a bewildering disappearance that could wrench them apart.
 
Regina Blynde knows Seth Updike is trouble the minute he strides into Blynde Dating Agency. That’s trouble with a capital T—tantalizing, tasty, and tempting.
 
Resolved never to risk loving someone only to lose them again, Ginnie keeps things strictly professional and matches him with a wealthy widow.
 
Who promptly goes missing.
 
Ginnie’s search for the truth makes it impossible to avoid Seth. And when he sets out to woo her, she finds him too hard to resist.
 
But as the evidence mounts up and mysterious circumstances multiply, Ginnie must face a shocking fact—she’s falling in love with the prime suspect.

Amazon-Kobo-Nook-Apple
Paperback also available​

As I write this, I am sitting in my back yard in a tank top and short skirt, soaking up the sun. Temperatures are hitting summer marks, and I am loving it.

Which is a lead into this week’s blog hop topic:

What role does setting play in creating steamy summer chemistry?

There’s a reason reality shows are predominantly (if not exclusively) filmed in warm locations. Bundling up for winter weather isn’t nearly as sexy as a bikini or boardshorts! The same thought process applies to summer, which has plenty of opportunities to amp up the heat between characters.

While having sex on a beach has never seemed comfortable to me (who wants sand in delicate place, LOL!), making out in water, whether it is lake, river, ocean, or waterfall, has plenty of romance about it. I’m not sure what it is in the human psyche that attracts us to the sight of someone wet. The only scene in the BBC adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice” I thought gratuitous was the one where Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth) meets Elizabeth dripping wet after diving into his pond—but I can’t deny the sensuality of it!

Being out of doors definitely adds spice to sexy scenes. The possibility of being discovered can be arousing. A picnic, a hike, a concert in the park…all of these locations can lead to exciting times!

What about you? Do you prefer your romance in the heat of summer or the coziness of winter? Let me know in the comments, then hop over to PG Forte for her take on this subject.

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This week’s topic on the Blog Hop is…

The weather is getting warmer! Share a favourite recipe that says "Spring" to you.

While the weather is definitely warmer than, say, February, we haven’t had a good stretch of really warm weather yet. That’s not unusual for this time of year, to be honest. But the blue skies and green grass have me thinking of warm weather recipes – which means, salads!

I love salads of all kinds. This one is my go-to dishes when we have guests over, as it makes quite a large bowl. While some people may not like it the day after, as the spinach can get a little squishy, I don’t mind it as leftovers. And, of course, bacon!

Spinach Salad with Mushrooms and Bacon
(from 365 Great Barbeque and Grilling Recipes)

2 lbs fresh spinach
.5 lb mushrooms
.5 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled
3 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
.5 lb cherry tomatoes, halved if large

1.5 tbsp. vinegar
1 tsp. Dijon or other grainy mustard
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
.25 cup light olive oil

Combine first five ingredients in large bowl.
Combine remaining ingredients and whisk to blend well. Just before serving, add dressing to salad and toss.

Trust me, it’s yummy! Now, hop over to Leslie Hachtel and see what deliciousness she has to share!

All Jemma Hedge wants to do is care for her ailing grandmother, and a job behind-the-scenes on a reality show is the second chance she desperately needs. There's one unbreakable rule—no fraternizing with the cast. Easy enough, until she meets the show's sexy bachelor, the smouldering restaurateur she's already had the displeasure of meeting.
 
Paul Almeida risked more than money when he opened his dream restaurant. To give his fantasy a fighting chance he accepts the role of Chef d'Amour on a brand-new reality show. Flirting with the women vying for his heart should keep him too busy to worry about overstepping boundaries with the crew, until he spots Jemma.
 
Now the only woman Paul wants is the one he can’t have.
 
Start cooking with this forbidden love, workplace romance today!

I’m back! Our month in Portugal was all we could have hoped for, but it’s great to be home with family and friends and get back to our usual schedule. Which includes the Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop, of course! Here’s this week’s topic:

It's May. Do certain flowers or scents inspire you? Tell us how.

The first thing I noticed on our first dog walk after our return was the scent of spring. When we left, there were still pockets of snow and nothing had quite budded out yet. What a difference a month makes! I love the sweet yet peppery scent of rising sap in the willows and birches. Then there’s the scent of newly mown grass. The only better fragrance than that is the May trees (which I think are a type of hawthorn). Their blooms give off my favourite spring-time perfume. It signals the end of winter and beginning of the warmer months, and is sweet and enticing.

When it comes to flowers, I love hyacinths and lilacs (in small doses). I find rose-scented perfumes and soaps overly cloying, but a rose in a garden is wonderful. My all-time favourite is lavender, though. I find it so soothing.

All these scents give me a boost of energy and help focus my thoughts. I wouldn’t say they inspire me to write about them, but they do inspire me to write. Does that make sense?

What about you? Are you inspired by scents? Let me know in the comments, then hop over to Leslie Hachtel so find out what fragrance motivates her!

Suspect Attraction is getting 5 Star Reviews!

"I loved this book!" Stacey, GoodReads Review

"So many twists and turns plus some very interesting characters make this a thoroughly enjoyable story!" Kym, GoodReads Review

🩵Kidnap/Murder mystery
🩵Later-in-life contemporary romance
🩵Amateur female sleuth
🩵Dating Agency
🩵Widowed main characters
🩵Steamy, open door, slow burn
🩵Silver-haired, good with his hands, MMC (51 y/o)
🩵Resourceful and resilient FMC (54 y/o)
​
Get your copy today in print or e-book.

For the Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop, we have a sign-up every week so we know who is joining. Posting that sign-up is my job, so sometimes I take a few liberties and make sure the topic is a skewed to what is going on in my life. Take this week, for example:

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

Considering we leave today for Portugal, doesn’t this subject seem apropos? 😊

I am very privileged to be able to travel – and to have a husband who enjoys it as much as I do. We’ve been to Disneyland and San Francisco, Mexico and Kauai. We travelled with my parents to Belgium/France and his parents to the Azores. We spent six unforgettable weeks driving across Canada and the northern United States. Spain was a highlight last year.

We are very excited about Portugal. We will be spending time in Lisbon and Porto, doing a one week walking tour, have a week on the beach in the Algarve, and rent a car for a few days to make sure we don’t miss anything.

Maybe as you can tell from my list of past destinations, we like to mix things up. So when it comes to a direct answer on this topic, it was so hard to choose!

I ended up picking Petra, in Jordan. This ancient city, lost to the world for centuries, is utterly fascinating. It doesn’t hurt it was a location for one of the Indiana Jones movies, either. (Harrison Ford 🔥🔥🔥 ) It’s history and construction would be so amazing to explore.

What about you? Is there somewhere special you’d like to go? Let me know below and then hop over to Jill Haymaker to find out her destination.

I'll be back on the blog hop in one month. Talk then!

Have you picked up my new release yet? Get it here!

SUSPECT ATTRACTION
A steamy, later-in-life contemporary romance mystery
 
A silver-haired charmer with a shameful secret. A broken-hearted matchmaker with a guilty burden. And a bewildering disappearance that could wrench them apart.
 
Regina Blynde knows Seth Updike is trouble the minute he strides into Blynde Dating Agency. That’s trouble with a capital T—tantalizing, tasty, and tempting.
 
Resolved never to risk loving someone only to lose them again, Ginnie keeps things strictly professional and matches him with a wealthy widow.
 
Who promptly goes missing.
 
Ginnie’s search for the truth makes it impossible to avoid Seth. And when he sets out to woo her, she finds him too hard to resist.
 
But as the evidence mounts up and mysterious circumstances multiply, Ginnie must face a shocking fact—she’s falling in love with the prime suspect.
 
(Ginnie 54, Seth 51)
 
E-book only $2.99. Amazon-Kobo-Nook-Apple. Paperback also available

Laptops make writing so much…well, I don’t want to say easier, because the process of writing often isn’t. But their portability does make it more convenient. This week on the Blog Hop, we’re sharing about our favorite writing environment.

I love to write outdoors. Maybe it’s the fresh air. Maybe it’s the feel of the sunshine on my skin. Maybe it’s the sounds of neighbours or the wind or birds. Whatever it is, writing outside always invigorates me.

I’ve written on the rocky shore of a river while salmon fishing. I’ve written on our boat while trout fishing. I’ve written next to a campfire, beside our backyard pond, and under our patio roof while rain patters down. I love them all.

When I can’t write outdoors (which in northern BC is more than half the year, LOL) I still have a view. My desk is next to a window and in a room with large French doors, so I can always take a small “nature” break when I need it.

What about you? What location inspires you to creativity? Let me know below, then hop over to Leslie Hachtel to find out where she loves to write.

Have you read my newest release yet?

SUSPECT ATTRACTION
A steamy, later-in-life contemporary romance mystery

🩵Kidnap/Murder mystery
🩵Later-in-life contemporary romance
🩵Amateur female sleuth
🩵Dating Agency
🩵Widowed main characters
🩵Steamy, open door, slow burn
🩵Silver-haired, good with his hands, MMC (51 y/o)
🩵Resourceful and resilient FMC (54 y/o)

E-book only $2.99. Paperback also available. Get it here!

What would you do if you could go back in time to find your soulmate?

For Skye Blaine, the answer is clear: she would do whatever it takes to be with the one she loves. Follow her as she travels through time in search of her heart's desire, finding that the path to true love is never easy, but always worth it. Will she find her happy ending?

This page-turning story of love, sacrifice, and courage is sure to captivate and inspire. Don't miss out on this unforgettable journey through time!

Come Back to Me is the first in a three book series.
Book 2: Follow Me 
Book 3 - Finding Me is coming soon!​

Have you ever heard the term “suspension of disbelief?” It’s one of the few writing analysis terms I remember from high school.

Suspension of disbelief is what a reader has to do in order to fall deeply into a story that they know is imaginary. When we read fiction, we know it is made up. But we ignore that in order to enjoy it. Most of the books I DNF are because I can’t get to that point. I can’t forget that I’m reading something someone else wrote. I can’t even pretend to believe the characters are real.

The reason I bring this up is because of this week’s blob hop topic:

Do you ever (or always) fall in love with your characters?

In order to spends months, often more than a year, writing and revising a book, I have to care about the characters. I have to believe that their story will resonate with readers – but more importantly, the story has to resonate with me. I have to forget they are people I conjured up out of thin air. I have to believe they are real in every way.

So I guess, yes, I do fall in love with my characters. I want them to get their happy ending, to feel love and fulfilment and joy. Even if they only live in one dimension on a page or in an e-reader, I care for them. It is both a privilege and a pleasure.

What about you? What characters have you fallen in love with? Let me know below, then hop over to PG Forte to read her response!

Speaking of falling in love with my characters...I hope you love Ginnie and Seth as much as I do!

RELEASE DAY FOR SUSPECT ATTRACTION!
A steamy, later-in-life contemporary romance mystery
 
A silver-haired charmer with a shameful secret. A broken-hearted matchmaker with a guilty burden. And a bewildering disappearance that could wrench them apart.
 
Regina Blynde knows Seth Updike is trouble the minute he strides into Blynde Dating Agency. That’s trouble with a capital T—tantalizing, tasty, and tempting.
 
Resolved never to risk loving someone only to lose them again, Ginnie keeps things strictly professional and matches him with a wealthy widow.
 
Who promptly goes missing.
 
Ginnie’s search for the truth makes it impossible to avoid Seth. And when he sets out to woo her, she finds him too hard to resist.
 
But as the evidence mounts up and mysterious circumstances multiply, Ginnie must face a shocking fact—she’s falling in love with the prime suspect.
 
(Ginnie 54, Seth 51)
 
Amazon-Kobo-Nook-Apple. E-book only $2.99! Paperback now available! Find all retailer links here.

It’s April Fool’s Day! Today on the blog hop, we’re sharing the best prank we’ve ever heard about (or done).

My mom is quite the prankster. It’s never anything cruel, but she delights in tricking people.

When I was a kid, a local dress shop went out of business and sold all their store fixtures. Unbeknownst to the rest of the family, my mom bought a mannequin and smuggled it home.

At the time we were living in a rural area on a small hobby farm. I came down from my bedroom one day and my mom asked me to call her friend inside for coffee. “She’s standing by the duck pond,” my mom said.

I opened the front door and called out. The woman didn’t move. “Maybe she didn’t hear you,” my mom said. “Go closer.”

I was embarrassing close to the mannequin before I realized mom’s “friend” was made of plastic!

Early reviews are coming in for Suspect Attraction!

**FIVE STARS**
"So many twists and turns plus some very interesting characters make this a thoroughly enjoyable story!"
Goodreads and Bookbub Review

Reserve your copy today! E-book only $2.99 on Amazon, Kobo, B&N, and Apple!