Inspiration - Romance Writers Weekly - #lovechatwrite

This week on the Blog Hop, we’ve been asked to share what inspired our most recent book.

My most recent finished manuscript (sorry, no publishing date scheduled yet!) blends my love of adventure mysteries à la Rex Stout and Dick Francis with steamy contemporary later-in-life romance. In my younger years, I devoured mysteries of all kinds. When I decided to write my own book, though, I realized that my favourite mysteries had more than a hint of romance in them. Archie’s relationship with Lily always left me wanting more, and the Dick Francis novels where the hero teams up with his love interest to solve the crime are my favourites. Robert B. Parker’s Spenser series is another favourite, and I always enjoyed watching his relationship with Susan evolve, through good times and bad.

While there are awesome romantic suspense novels with police officers and FBI agents available (books by JD Robb and Toni Anderson are two favourites), I’ve always been drawn to ordinary people thrust into extra-ordinary scenarios. So that’s what I set out to write. Here’s a description. I’d love to hear your comments. Let me know what you think!

Regina Blynde owns Blynde Dating and Inquiry Agency. Since her husband's death in an unsolved hit-and-run two years ago, she's been lost in a haze of grief. Then Seth Updike, a sexy silver fox, walks into her office and the fog begins to lift.

But Ginnie's never going to risk loving someone only to lose them again. She keeps things strictly professional and matches him with wealthy widow Azalea Bickersley.

When Azalea goes missing immediately after her date with Seth, Ginnie is certain there must be an innocent explanation. Then Azalea's son receives a ransom call and Azalea's body is found shortly after the money is delivered. With Blynde Dating Agency clients unsubscribing in droves and suspicion centering on Seth (who Ginnie is increasingly attracted to), she decides to do some sleuthing of her own.

During her investigations, she discovers Seth lied about his marriage and that his wife died, suddenly and unexpectedly. Also, he may be having financial difficulties. Now the man she thought might resurrect her from her grief is the RCMP’s chief suspect.

Now hop over to Jill Haymaker and read about what inspired her!

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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.
The peace Helen Mansfield struggled to achieve after the death of her husband is threatened when she discovers a lump in her breast. Determined to keep the alarming news to herself until the biopsy results are revealed, she sets out to wring every drop of delight from her days.

Nathan Spieth stood by his wife while she fought and ultimately lost her battle with cancer. Since then, he's devoted his energy to rebuilding the career that he neglected during her final years, and all his hard work is about to pay off.

​As neighbours and friends, Helen and Nathan's lives have been woven together for more than twenty years. One impetuous, impassioned night might destroy everything they share—or prove to this fiercely independent woman and determinedly solitary man that love is always worth the risk.
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(Helen and Nathan both 55)

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The Boy in the Pink Convertible
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What secrets does a photograph hold? While cleaning out her parents’ old home, a dusty, old photo of herself and a small boy catches her interest. Why can’t she find a man to look at her that way? When she embarks on a cross country road trip in search of the boy, she soon realizes that her journey is more about finding herself.

Can one small photo change the course of her life?

Get it today!