 Who: I’m a country girl living life in the city. For the last twenty years, I’ve been a New York City actress, audiobook narrator, teaching artist, and mom, but my heart is in the corn fields and green ridges of Central Pennsylvania where I grew up. I’ve played leading ladies and saucy maids on Broadway and around the country, I’ve served time with Jessica Biel (on television of course), and a Broadway fight director once said I drove a cop car as well as any stunt woman. Interests: My favorite new hobby is stand up paddleboard! I discovered it at a friend’s lake house in way northern Michigan and fell in love. Last year, I got two used boards online, and my family and I love nothing more than to drive up into the mountains to spend a lazy afternoon on the water. I also enjoy crafting, gardening, and roaming New York City for the tastiest cupcakes in every neighborhood. Network: I am lucky to be supported by an amazing family, a network of friends from childhood, and a crew of inspiring women who I met in graduate school and hang out with as often as possible. During the pandemic, I also became a part of some online groups. Meeting friends virtually seemed daunting, but through a writers’ group and a neat podcast app, I now have lots of new friends all over the country to bounce ideas off and to support in their work. Desk: Covid caused a big restructuring in our lives just as it did for so many families around the world. My husband now works from home three days a week, so I needed to create a second office space in our Manhattan apartment. Carving out room for another desk isn’t easy in a city flat, but I’m pleased with my new bedroom workspace. My desk is small, just big enough for my laptop, a few notebooks, and a jelly jar of pens. It faces a windowsill, lined with pictures of my husband and daughter and topped with a pie basket my cat loves to sleep on. Outrageous talent: I am crazy good at estimating anything to do with time. I can usually guess the time of day within about ten minutes, and I am never, ever late. My friends joke that I time travel. Think it’s impossible to get to midtown for that lunch date in fifteen minutes? Hop on the subway with me, and don’t worry, you’ll make it. Window: The view from my workspace inspires and thrills me every day. We live on the sixteenth floor, and my desk looks out over Morningside Park and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Hawks nest in the statuary atop the cathedral and regularly buzz my window. Afternoon storms roll in from the west and the sunsets are magnificent. As Anne Shirley said, “lots of scope for the imagination.” Wendy's Room With A View   Hometown: Book One of the Hearts of the Ridge Series
by Wendy Rich Stetson When Tessa's big-city plans take the A Train to disaster, she lands in her sleepy hometown, smack in the middle of the most unlikely love triangle ever to hit Pennsylvania's Amish Country. Hot-shot Dr. Richard Bruce is bound to Green Ridge by loyalty that runs deep. Deeper still is Jonas Rishel's tie to the land and his family's Amish community. Behind the wheel of a 1979 camper van, Tessa idles at a fork in the road. Will she cruise the superhighway to the future? Or take a slow trot to the past and a mysterious society she never dreamed she'd glimpse from the inside? Peek inside The girl entwined her fingers in her skirt and tugged the fabric tight. “Your hair is the same color as my cat, and she’s the best cat in the world.” In a heartbeat, she fled and buried her face in the man’s lap. “My goodness. What a compliment. Thank you.” She fumbled with the clasp of her wallet, discovering only then she smooshed her thumb deep into the whoopie pie. The elfin child giggled and bounced on bare toes. Standing, the man swept her into his arms and smiled down at Tessa. “Rebecca has not seen many women with ginger hair.” Ginger hair. For years, she was tormented by boneheaded boys shouting, “Carrot Top” and “Flame.” No one ever called her mane ginger. Beneath his candid gaze, her curls heated like embers, warming her from top to toe. Who was this man? The girl wriggled, knocking askew his straw hat. He tossed her under one arm like a sack of flour and righted it, loosening a tawny curl that escaped the wide brim and fell over one brow. His gaze passed over Tessa’s face. Her unruly hair and short shorts tweaked at her consciousness. What did the Amish call outsiders? English? She was definitely dressed like an English woman. And not one from a Jane Austen novel. He deposited the giggling girl right-side up on the floor and approached the table. “I’ve rarely seen hair that color myself. Like a copper penny.” She stared at the mangled whoopie pie and blushed even deeper. For a brief moment, she felt his gaze trail down her body like a caress. Or did she? Peek Further Wendy Rich Stetson is a New York City girl who still considers the Central Pennsylvania countryside to be her home. She grew up road tripping in a 1979 VW camper van, and she keeps a running list of favorite roadside attractions from coast to coast. Now an author of sweet, small-town romance, Wendy is no stranger to storytelling. She’s a Broadway and television actress, an audiobook narrator, and a mom who likes nothing more than collaborating on children’s books with her teenage artist daughter. Wendy lives in Upper Manhattan with her family of three and rambunctious Maine Coon kitty. Follow Wendy’s journey at www.wendyrichstetson.com An in depth Peek Twitter: https://twitter.com/StetsonRiches Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WendyRichStetsonRomance Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyrichstetson_author/?hl=en Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/wendy_stetson/_saved/  Who Hi I’m Judy Kentrus. I write contemporary romance, romantic suspense, romantic comedy, later in life stories and historical romance. In June, I released my 25th book. I’ve always been a romantic at heart and married my high school sweetheart. I make my home in the Poconos of Pennsylvania. After raising our two children, I followed my dream to publish my books. I love to travel and include some of the places I’ve visited in my books. My stories are fun, sexy, romances that will make you laugh, cry and fall in love. Interests When I’m not at my computer giving couples their happily-ever-after, you can find me in the kitchen, baking, especially cookies. I’ve been dubbed the cookie queen by my family and friends. At Christmas time, I bake at least fifteen different kind of cookies. No, we don’t eat all of them. I make up cookie plates and share them with my neighbors, the veterinarian who takes care of my dog, the girl who cuts my hair and not to forget the UPS guy who makes frequent stops at my house. I post a recipe on my website every month, but change things up from cookies to comfort foods. Network I'm a member of Romance Writers of America and New Jersey Romance Writers. Desk description I have two desks. One is in my office that I share with my daughter who works from home. I leave her alone and she ignores my muttering when I’m talking to my characters who take over the storyline and go in their own direction. The only interruption is Gracie, our lab-mix rescue dog who goes ballistic when she sees the deer, squirrels, and an occasional black bear in my back yard. My other desk and laptop are in my bedroom. It’s true, stories run through author’s minds even when they’re sleeping or can’t sleep. I’ll get up and open my laptop to jot down a thought about my current WIP. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in what I’m writing, I never do go back to bed. Outrageous talent or something fun like that. Do I have an outrageous talent? No, but I love to garden, when I have time. The growing season in my area starts around May. I must be very selective of what I plant because the deer eat everything. My chipmunks are very healthy because they eat the vegetables before I can pick them. Window What's outside yours. My view is a beautiful, wooded forest, but I have a favorite tree. My husband and I planted a small pine tree in our back yard fifteen years ago. It’s at least 14 feet high. Four years ago, the winter was wicked, and we got dumped on with tons of snow. The tree was covered with so much snow it literally bent over in half. I was afraid the trunk was going to snap, but she stood the pressure. Spring arrived and she was still bent over. Friends said to cut it down, but we couldn’t do that. The persistence and will to survive was strong in that little pine tree. With the coaxing rays of the sun, it’s almost standing up straight. I guess the moral of what’s outside my window is, never give up.  Spirit of the Winds by Judy Kentrus This is my first historical romance and it’s gotten wonderful welcome by the readers of historical romance. “All I want is my ship and the sea. No woman will ever run my life. I don’t need love.” ~ Cadell Leighton No man is going to tell me how to run my life. All I want is my freedom. I’ll marry when I’m ready and only for love." ~Katherine Jameson, Boston 1849 Cadell Leighton’s dream is about to come true. He’s worked hard to gain the knowledge to captain a new design in sailing ships. Spirit of the Winds, the latest addition to Leighton Shipping, will prove his claim to deliver cargo in record time. Wagers are heavy against him that he won’t make it back to Boston harbor alive. His only regret is that his father, a ship’s captain, couldn’t share in the Wind’s maiden voyage. He was forced to leave his homeland under mysterious circumstances. Cade is determined to get answers to his many questions. His command of the ship is contested by a Boston society chit who causes unforeseen calamity in his life. Backed into a corner, he’s forced to sacrifice his cherished freedom. The different moods of the sea won't be the only thing that will challenge his command and his heart. Katherine Jameson hates the prim and proper life of a society deb. She’s being pressured into honoring a marriage contract that her mother has arranged to an undesirable clod old enough to be her father. Her dream has always been to go to sea, following in the footsteps of her father, captain of a sailing ship. When she discovers her late father, who died under mysterious circumstances, made her part owner of a magnificent clipper, she sees it as a chance to fulfill her dream. When these strong-willed characters are forced into a marriage neither of them wants, the storms won't only be confined to the seas. They’ll also have to work together to get answers to the questions behind their father’s past lives before they can get their much deserved, happily-ever-after. Grab a Peek here Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ai4MmI Apple: http://apple.co/3kj1y78 Kobo: http://bit.ly/3bFRIbh Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/37MrGCl A Peek Further Website: http://www.judykentrus.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judykentrusauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudyKentrus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judykentrus/?hl=en Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/judy-kentrus Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/jkentrus/_saved/  Who I am: Hi, I’m Marie Tuhart and I write sexy to steamy to super hot contemporary romance sometimes erotic romance. Interests: I love to read paranormal and alien romance. My hobby is my two dogs, they fill lots of my time and keep me busy. Network: My critique group and local writing friends. They keep me grounded and help me brainstorm and are just fun to hang around. Desk description: Right now I’m at what I call my summer desk, it’s a desk in the family room because it’s the only place the portable air conditioning unit fits in the summer. My normal desk is in my office, it’s L-shaped and littered with papers, notes and to-do lists. Outragious talent or something fun like that: The only one I can think of is that animals love me. I’ve been told I have the touch when it comes to animals. Window Outside my office window is a couple of trees, and then my lawn, then the street. Outside the summer office, is my backyard where I watch the dogs run and play.  Ravish: A Wicked Sanctuary Novel
Marie Tuhart Contemporary erotic romance Amazon 5 Star Review This book about Lara and Colby was well written and very enjoyable. The characters were well written. Lara’s family and Ex were written as excellent adversaries. The bikers were also a great addition to the story. Lara’s character is not a follower but a leader of her own life, one in which she is trying to build on her own. She is a very upbeat character yet she stands up for herself. Colby is a very sweet guy who is a fixer of things. He owns his own leather goods shop and works at Wicked Sanctuary as well. All the additional characters definitely added to the story. Lara and Colby’s connection starts slow and continues on that slow pace. The angst in the story was pretty much there throughout the entire story and I really liked how things were resolved. Aunt Tammy turned out to be a bigger surprise than I anticipated. I really enjoyed reading this story, its HEA and am looking forward to the next book in the series. Back Cover He wants nothing more than to ravish her for the rest of their lives. Easygoing leather store owner, and whip-maker Colby Durham embraces whatever life throws at him. Now, he wants café owner Lara Meyer bound to him in every way possible. When Lara’s hired to cater an event at Wicked Sanctuary, Colby finally gets his chance. He’s tired of being alone and has wanted to start a relationship with Lara for a while. But will she understand the need for kink in his life? Lara’s world has been filled with wealth and status, not that she cares. She broke away from her controlling family years ago and defied them again when she opened her café. When Colby enters her life, Lara finds herself entranced by this unusual man. He dresses leather, owns a leather shop, and knows and occasionally rides with bikers. But as much as she might want to get into a relationship with Colby, her family won’t leave her business and love life alone. If they discover what’s going on between her and Colby, it could ruin her chance at future happiness. Together, Lara and Colby must negotiate a bond that can stand the test of outside forces. A further Peek Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VRQ4BDM Barnes & Novel: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w?ean=2940162401865 iTunes/book: https://books.apple.com/us/book/ravish-a-wicked-sanctuary-novel/id1574593889 Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/ravish-13 Universal buy link: https://books2read.com/Ravish Social Media Links: Website: www.marietuhart.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarieTuhartAuthor/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4190063.Marie_Tuhart Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/marietuhart Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/marietuhart Book Bub:https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marie-tuhart Amazon Author Page: http://amazon.com/author/marietuhart Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marietuhart/ Sign up for Marie’s Newsletter at: http://bit.ly/32cZtiM  Who: I’m an almost retired divorce lawyer who lives in central NJ – about ten miles from where I grew up. I write contemporary romance/women’s fiction which I love much more than going to court. I’ve been married to the most amazing husband for 33 years and I’m a mom to two beautiful daughters. I’m the product of a Catholic school education (so many tales to tell from that experience!). Maybe that’s why I’m still friends with the my high school posse. Interests: I love to listen to music while walking along the surf an any NJ beach, but you will usually find me in Bradley Beach. I love to dance, and if I’m not walking or writing, I’ll be reading. Network: My critique group, which currently consists of two people, is a wonderful help to me, especially when they point out what isn’t working in a manuscript. I also belong to NJRW (New Jersey Romance Writers) and I can count on them if I have a question on anything writing related. I’m published through The Wild Rose Press and that loop of authors is so supportive that without even having met them, I think of them as my friends. Desk: My desk is usually very messy. Whatever manuscript I’m working on is printed out and to the right of my laptop. I edit on paper, then make the corrections in Word. There are notebooks with all my marketing efforts for each book, contests entered, and assorted other nonsense. I have The Emotion Thesaurus, Newsletter Ninja, and Bartlett’s Roget’s Thesaurus within reach (because the computer’s Thesaurus is just not enough). I have two non-working clocks to the left (they just need batteries but who has time?), a few plaques and trophies from contest wins (to prop me up when I tell myself I don’t know what I’m doing), and a Lladro statue of a ballerina. Outrageous talent. Not sure it’s outrageous but I can waltz, jitterbug, polka, and chacha since my mom taught me all those dances when I was little. One of my law school friends announced to me one day in the cafeteria that the reason why we were in law school was because we didn’t have a creative bone in our bodies. Harsh. Hopefully I proved her wrong when I took up my second career as an author. Window. Outside my window is a wall of evergreen trees on the far side of the yard keeping our space very private. There is also a pool and hundreds of knockout roses and other colorful flowers, some in pots around the pool, but most of them are planted.  Sworn To Fly (Sworn Sisters Series Book 3) by Maria Imbalzano Sparks fly, but will they ignite? 5.0 out of 5 stars Amazon Review Grab a copy of this page turning, beautifully written steamy romance novel Risk-averse ER nurse, Alyssa Beckman, is about to lose her job because of yet another bad decision. In order to put her life back on track, she books a week at a rustic mountain resort to ponder her next steps and rejuvenate. But when she arrives, she learns she’s enrolled in boot camp, an adventure program far out of her comfort zone. While there, she meets Gabriel Sutton, a world-travelling high fashion photographer who is in danger of losing his clients as well as his status if he doesn’t start following the rules. While hiking, kayak racing, and participating in team challenges, sparks fly between Alyssa and Gabe as they encourage each other to take different life paths. But will those paths lead them farther apart or bring them closer together? Universal Link https://books2read.com/u/mejO5g Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Sworn-Fly-Sisters-Book-ebook/dp/B093XJB2QW/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=Maria+Imbalzano&qid=1619971396&s=digital-text&sr=1-8 OR https://amzn.to/3vHgD73 Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sworn-to-fly-maria-imbalzano/1139402479?ean=2940162311744 Apple Books https://books.apple.com/us/book/sworn-to-fly/id1566983093 Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=l8swEAAAQBAJ Kobo "Sworn to Fly by Maria Imbalzano" | eBook and audiobook search results | Rakuten Kobo Paperback at Target https://www.target.com/p/sworn-to-fly-sworn-sisters-by-maria-imbalzano-paperback/-/A-83388067 Goodreads Sworn to Fly by Maria Imbalzano | Goodreads BookBub Sworn to Fly by Maria Imbalzano - BookBub A Further Peek Maria Imbalzano is a retired matrimonial lawyer who now writes full time. Instead of drafting motions, legal memoranda, and briefs, although fascinating, she now spends her days creating memorable characters and taking them on their emotional journeys through her contemporary romance novels. In addition to writing fiction, Maria is on the Friends of Thomas Edison State University Foundation Committee and is still involved with Dress for Success Central Jersey, having been a founding Board member. She also serves on the finance committee for The Present Day Club. She has received the distinguished Family of Edison Award for her work with The Thomas Edison State University Foundation, the Iron Mike Professional Achievement Award from Trenton Catholic Academy, her alma mater, and was inducted into the Italian American National Hall of Fame. Her novel, “Unchained Memories,” won the Wisconsin Romance Writers Write Touch Readers’ Award and the ACRA Readers’ Choice Heart of Excellence Award. “Sworn to Forget,” the first of the four-book Sworn Sisters Series was a finalist for the illustrious RONE award as well as the Book Buyers Best Award. And you can find out more at https://www.facebook.com/mariaimbalzanoauthor http://www.twitter.com/mariaimbalzano @mariaimbalzano https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00FG9RI5K http://www.mariaimbalzano.com/category/blog/ http://www.mariaimbalzano.com https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7276749.Maria_Imbalzano https://www.bookbub.com/profile/maria-imbalzano Mailing List Sign Up form https://mariaimbalzano.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/ The Wild Rose Press Blog Interview May 2020 https://thewildrosepress.blogspot.com/2020/05/welcome-maria-imbalzano-to-our-garden.html  Who: I am Melody DeBlois. Currently, I live in Sacramento (the City of Trees), and I write Women’s Fiction/Romance. Besides California, my late husband and I lived part-time in a condo in Oregon overlooking the Pacific. That gave me a love for beach towns and whale-watching and sunsets—all the things that inspire the Love is a Beach series. Interests: The writing process fascinates me, the alchemy of layering drafts and developing characters, the tinkering with language. I can’t decide what I love the most, writing or reading. If I love a book, I’ll read it more than once. I’m doing that now with One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid. It’s about a woman who loses her husband in a helicopter crash over the ocean. Years later, she’s about to marry another man only to discover her husband is still alive. Network: When I get stuck, I call my forever friend. We brainstorm until I’ve come up with a solution to my roadblock in the story. The Wild Rose Press has made me a better writer by providing weekly chats and offering classes. In addition, my editor helps me create the best book I can write, and she’s always there for me. Desk: In the past, my desk has faced the ocean. It has looked out on the Arizona desert for six months out of the year. Today it is turned away from the window. Keeping the room dark and having no view keeps me focused. Other interests: I swim daily laps in our local pool. When I am gliding through the water, my waterproof iPod shuffling through songs, I’m in Heaven. Window: I see the ranch-style and custom-built houses. This suburb is a 1950s throwback where everyone gravitates outside on warm nights to talk, laugh, and dream. I don’t know what I would do without my neighbors after a day of working long hours. I am also grateful for the folks at the pool who are like family to me. And how can I not include my biological family, who lives close by?  Undercover in Venice Beach
Love is a Beach Book 2 by Melody Deblois By trading places with her twin, Audrey Powell has the opportunity she’s always wanted, running her late mother’s teahouse. When she fails to create food that delights the palate, she hires Liam James—a sexy as sin Brit with a flair for cooking. He tries to seduce her with titillating dishes and his charm, but she’s vowed to steer clear of romance. Working undercover, Liam’s mission is to keep an eye on the teahouse. He poses as a chef to catch the traitor who is leaking UK security secrets. The last thing he wants to do is fall for a suspect, but when sparks fly, the romance starts to feel all too real. Buy Links: https://www.amazon.com/Undercover-Venice-Beach-Love-Book-ebook/dp/B0951ND3PJ https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/undercover-in-venice-beach-melody-deblois/1139530476?ean=9781509237029 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58230724-undercover-in-venice-beach https://www.bookbub.com/books/undercover-in-venice-beach-love-is-a-beach-book-2-by-melody-deblois Peek Further Melody lives in Sacramento (the City of Trees). She writes romance novels. She's partial to poetry, sun, rain, strong coffee, and her writing room surrounded by books. Besides California, she and her late husband lived part-time in a condo in Oregon overlooking the Pacific. That gave her a love for beach towns and whale-watching and sunsets--all the things that inspire the Love is a Beach series. The writing process fascinates her, the alchemy of layering and developing characters, the tinkering with language. There's so much to treasure in the world: family, friends, and those random, everyday moments that make life grand. She hopes to give her readers all of that. Social Media https://www.facebook.com/melodydebloisbooks https://twitter.com/DeBloisMelody https://www.pinterest.com/deblois0181/ https://www.instagram.com/meloday.deblois/  The Hundred Trilogy by Jean M. Grant Healing with water, feeling with fire, and seeing with wind. Scotland The MacCoinneach family is gifted but afflicted. Deeply rooted powers of healing, feeling, and prophecy run in their bloodline. Descended from the Norse and mystical Ancients of the Isles, they must each face the curses associated with their ability…they must each find the path to love. A Hundred Breaths 1263 Gwyn of Uist is a merciful Healer but loses breaths of her life with every healing charm. She barters an alliance with a Scot bent on revenge against her Norse kin, in the hopes to save her brother from their abusive father. But can she and Simon MacCoinneach outwit her betrothed and bring an end to the Norse-Scottish bloodshed when it will take all her breaths to save Simon on the battlefield? A Hundred Kisses 1296 Deirdre MacCoinneach feels the lifebloods of everyone around her…but vows to discover if her gift killed the men she married. Under the facade of a trader, Alasdair Montgomerie travels to Uist with pivotal information for a claimant seeking the Scottish throne. A cruel baron hunts him, leaving little room for alliances with the lass he meets along the way. Amidst ghosts of the past, Alasdair and Deirdre find themselves falling together in a web of secrets and the curse of a hundred kisses… A Hundred Lies 1322 Rosalie Threston’s fortune-telling lies have caught up with her and she’s on the run from a ruthless English noblewoman. Rosalie finds refuge in the halls of Eilean Donan castle deep in the Highlands, and in the arms of the laird’s mysterious son, Domhnall Montgomerie. Terrible visions plague Domhnall and he avoids physical contact to temper them. When an accidental touch reveals only delight, he wonders if Rose is the key to silencing the Sight. Mystical awakening unravels with each kiss. But can Domhnall embrace his gift in time to save her life, even if it means exposing her lies? Norse invasions, Scottish fights for independence, and the plights of the mystical isles’ people come together in The Hundred Trilogy. Amazon Barnes and Noble Universal Link Bonus material With the encouragement of a few readers, I added supplemental material on my website to those interested: a genealogy/lineage chart of the family over three books, a glossary of people, places, and things, and medieval Scotland map. Check it out: https://www.jeanmgrant.com/extras  Jean's Travel Tips
Abbeys are poetic, serene. We walked among ancient gray and rose ruins at Dryburgh and Melrose. It’s hard to not visit an isle while in Scotland. There are many: Lewis and Harris, Shetlands, or my beloved Uist. We visited Isle of Skye on a dreary day and could not even see the Black Cuillin in the torrential rain. Like isles, lochs, many glacial, are a must-see and hard to miss whether it is the deep blue Loch Ness, expansive Loch Lomond, or the inspiring Loch Awe. High and low crags abound…the Trossachs, Cairngorms, or the five sisters of Kintail are impressive mountains. With crags, come glens (valleys). Glencoe is not one to skip. Standing stones are one of the few places we couldn’t visit on our trip as most are on the isles. Note to self for next time! Scots are pleasant people and we had a great time chatting with the locals. And yup, there are plenty of the other kind of locals: sheep! The lowlands often get overlooked, but they are green and lush with undulating hills. The Highlands are rich in clan history and natural beauty and oh so many hikes. Up for putting the stone, caber tossing, tug-o-war, music, and dancing…oh yes, and lots of kilts? Get thee to a Highland Game. We visited one in Pitlochry. Castles, last but not least! I visited over a dozen on my trip. My favorites: Eilean Donan (seat to Clan MacCoinneach in my books), Kilchurn (we kayaked to it), Threave (we took a rowboat across a river to it), and Borthwick (we stayed overnight in this 14th century tower house that is haunted). Scotland—be prepared for rain, be prepared for beauty of nature and people. Top 10 Things to See in Scotland What to see if you visit Scotland? Here is my list of must-sees, which might be biased because of my love for nature and history. I visited most of these places while on a trip to Scotland in a rainy September…
Jean’s background is in science and she draws from her interests in history, nature, and her family for inspiration. She writes historical and contemporary romances and women's fiction. She also writes articles for family-oriented travel magazines. When she's not writing or chasing after children, she enjoys tending to her flower gardens, hiking, and doing just about anything in the outdoors.  Who: Most people look in the mirror daily and pay little attention to the person looking back at them. Making sure the face is clean, made up or shaved, they ignore the who behind the staring eyes. I take a closer look. I see the mother, daughter, wife, and sister. I am these things yet, there is more. I am a hopeless romantic, nature lover, and a dreamer. I find things either right or wrong with only a few shades of grey. Those gray parts are the most interesting. Here you find conflict, motivation, and flights of fancy. Interests: I love birds and spend much time watching them from my dining room window. My favorite places are the beach and mountains. I enjoy the sound of children’s laughter. I love animals (not snakes because my name means Eve). I like to play board games. Anything Science, grabs my attention. I love John Wayne movies-my favorites are Mcklintock and Hatari. Network-support system- My family is my support system along with my best friend. We text, talk, and face time each other all the time. We mostly live far apart and don’t get to visit often. When my sisters and I get together we finish each other’s sentences and laugh until we cry. My best friend is my strength. She’s always there for me in good times and bad. Desk description: One word could describe my desk—cluttered. I have files, books, loose papers, numerous pens and Diet coke. I’m addicted to it and can’t write without it. There’s an occasional cup of coffee and tubs of gum. I have eight thumb-drives and barely remember to use one. Outrageous talent: This is truly weird. If someone in my family is sad or angry and nothing cheers them up, I go all Southern on them, tilt my head and bat my lashes like a Southern Belle. I always get a smile or chuckle. I started doing this when my son was two. He’s still a sucker for it. Window outside: I have lots of bird feeders hanging outside my window. I have an abundance of cardinals, yellow and rosy finches, chickadees, and sparrows. I can see them from my dining room table. I often enjoy and meal while watching my winged friends. I also get rabbits, squirrels, and opossums beneath my feeders.  TIPONI by Evelyn Timidaiski Fantasy/Science Fiction Published by The Wild Rose Press Rated G Tiponi Two hundred years into the future, the world faces an impending and devastating event, the eruption of a super volcano beneath Yellowstone, home of the Kahoti Tribe. They are caretakers of a sacred pipe that symbolizes the ancient covenant between the tribes and White Mesa Woman—the matriarch of their tribe. She promises to return when she is needed. Powaqa, an albino child, is born, and when her mother dies Grandfather (The Great Spirit) sends Hania, her spirit warrior, a wolf, to protect the baby. Once she is twenty and renamed Tiponi, Hania learns she is destined to be his mate and is the reincarnation of White Mesa Woman. She must complete her own quests in order to enact the change, but will it happen in time to bring back the sacred pipe when it is stolen or stop the volcano from destroying all they hold dear? Grab a copy https://amzn.to/3o0JKiQ Tiponi | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com) Tiponi by Evelyn Timidaiski | Goodreads "Tiponi" | eBook and audiobook search results | Rakuten Kobo Peek Further https://www.evelyntimidaiskiauthor.com/ Okay, now you just want to stare so here's her Author Bio I’m still trying to get used to the title, “author.” I’ve just published my first book, with The Wild Rose Press, A Soldier’s Honor. I am a reader first, and as such, I demand a well written work that catches my attention and pulls me in. When I write, I like to picture myself in the book, with everything happening to me. I have a great sense of humor and incorporate this into my characters. Writing has given me the opportunity to tell the stories that keep popping up inside me. Whether it’s Romantic Suspense, Mystery, or Science Fiction, I love to dive right in and explore the possibilities. I taught Biology and Science for twenty eight years. In my novels, I call upon that experience when writing vivid descriptions of nature. Writing is very similar to teaching. You need to make a plan, keep it interesting, and use discipline for everything to work.  Who: I’m Judythe Morgan. If you read Judy – the, no worries. It happens a lot. The spelling has been a blessing and a curse all my life. I live in a small Texas town with my hubby dear. We had our first date on my fifteenth birthday, and we’re still in love. I’m a full-time writer, who pens sweet romances with military heroes (The PROMISES series) and preacher kids (Fitzpatrick Family series). I’m also published in women’s fiction romance (CLAIMING ANNIE’S HEART) and romantic suspense (SEEING CLEARLY). All are available in paperback and eBook. Interests: My interests are many and varied. I’m an avid reader and binge viewer of movies and series on Netflix, Brit Box, and Amazon Prime. I garden, mostly flowers, though the deer often enjoy the tender budding morsels before they can bloom. I adore Old English sheepdogs. The bearlike gait and silly antics make me smile. Mine is big—95 pounds. That’s why we named him Finnegan MacCool after the legendary Giant’s Causeway figure, Fionn mac Cumhaill. Network: I’ve been tutored and taught by so many outstanding editors and agents over my years. I hold those folks dear. I also work with the best-ever critique partners. I love the support and fellowship of like-minded people. Desk description: Picture an oval pedestal dining table with a large screen monitor and a laptop and you’ll be looking at my desk. Guests now eat in our kitchen. No one seems to mind. Our kitchen is large and you’re closer to the food. Outrageous talent or something fun like that: I adore Victoriana… collect tchotchkes… and stockpile ephemera from that era. I have hair receivers, figural napkin rings (which I use when folks come to dinner), a 1901 Northwood epergne, a basket of postcards from the early 1900s, and so much more. For years, I had an antique shop that focused on Victoriana. Hubby dear always said more stuff came home than went to the shop. Window: What's outside yours? From my front window, I see a 200-year-old oak tree that shades our little farmhouse yard. From the side window, which faces the driveway, I can see the red blooms on my Texas star hibiscus plant and a birdbath with yellow lantana circling the flower bed around it. Our house is a Certified Wildlife Habitat so squirrels, deer, and opossums wander through from time to time and birds gather for a cool dip at the birdbath or waterfall feature that’s in our back yard. Looking for a summer reading? Escape to Ireland with Claiming Annie’s Heart, the book of my heart:  An Irish Love Story Annie Foster stays in Ireland after boarding school to nanny a widower’s infant daughter. Five years later, the widower proposes. Weeks before the wedding, Chad Jones, her first love, arrives in Belfast on an undercover assignment probing her fiancé’s connection with IRA terrorists. Chad’s determined to change Annie’s mind because he’s never stopped loving her. But Annie still believes he deserted her. She’s moved on without him. Can he reclaim her heart before it's too late? Buy Links: AMAZON (US): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O6BOEPQ/ AMAZON (UK): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Claiming-Annies-Heart-judythe-morgan-ebook/dp/B00O6BOEPQ/ NOOK: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/claiming-annies-heart-judythe-morgan/1120481337 BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/books/claiming-annie-s-heart-by-judythe-morgan GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24238045-claiming-annie-s-heart A further Peek Learn more about Judythe on her website www.judythemorgan.com or her Amazon (US) Author Page https://amazon.com/author/judythemorgan or her View from the Front Porch Blog https://judythewriter.com/ Sign up for her newsletter at https://judythemorgan.com/contact/ One more Peek Connect with her on social media: Twitter https://twitter.com/Judythe2 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JudytheMorgan/ Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6450879.Judythe_Morgan BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/judythe-morgan  Who Although I grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA, and will always be a ‘Burgher in my heart, I have lived in southwest Florida for more than 20 years. Among Floridians, that makes me nearly a native. I earned an undergraduate degree in English at night school while working fulltime in the insurance industry. This was a square-peg-in-a-round-hole career choice. In my forties, I went back to school and got a master’s degree in educational psychology/counseling. The career change I hoped for didn’t materialize for quite a while. I worked as the editor of our town newspaper, the administrator at the chamber of commerce, and a shelver at the library before I finally landed a job at the local community college. At the college, I started tutoring remedial and non-native English speakers. Then I did academic coaching with first year students. Eventually, I became an adjunct professor and taught a class called Cornerstone. This is required for all first year students and covers study skills, time management, career development, working in groups, and the like. While all the above was happening, I started to write five or six romance books. In 2016, I finally finished one. This was the first novella in my Calusa Town Tales series. Interests Besides romance books, I read a lot of nonfiction of the self-help variety. I’m interested in theories about personality differences: Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, but also astrology and numerology. I also love to sing. Before Covid, I was a member of the chorus at the college. We never got to sing our spring concert, Mozart’s Requiem. I’m hoping the chorus is able to start again in the fall. I was able to perform with my previous chorus last December. We sang wearing masks outside on a baseball field. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, right? The concert raised money for the local food bank. Another interest that went by the wayside in the pandemic was my dance class taught at the Elk’s Club by a former Rockette for a class of four. Sadly, no sign that this will start up again. A few years ago, I danced with a senior women’s troupe called Calendar Girls Florida. They raise money to provide service dogs for veterans. I had such fun dressing up and dancing my little heart out. I really hope another dance opportunity presents itself soon. Network My network is online. I am a big fan of The Writing Gals who have a YouTube channel and an annual conference. Desk Confession time. My work habits are atrocious. I don’t have a desk. I do all my writing sitting on my sofa with my laptop on my lap. Worse yet, I generally have the television on. Outrageous talent I enjoy cooking, but I almost never make a recipe as written. I add, subtract, and substitute ingredients at will. I often take the basic idea of a dish from The Pioneer Woman and tweak it to suit what I have handy. According to my patient husband, I mostly succeed. What’s outside my window? I live in Florida, so I can see two palm trees and a frangipani or plumeria out my window.   Blurb for The Lady Is a Mayor: Her town is going broke. He plans to build a new hotel. It should be a perfect match. Geneva is relieved to be back in her tiny Florida hometown after her budding political career in the state capital and her romance with a big-city guy come to an end. She’s content to hold a seat on the local council until the mayor flees in the middle of the night, and the job of fending off bankruptcy falls in her lap. Pittsburgh-born Seth arrives in Calusa with architectural plans in his polished briefcase. His family firm already owns a prime piece of land, and he can hang with his college buddy while the building is erected. But what should be a slam dunk faces opposition from the quirky residents. Geneva is willing to partner with Seth to find a solution. What she won’t do is risk her heart. The Lady Is a Mayor is the first book in the Calusa Town Tales series. If you love clean romances filled with southern charm, you’ll love The Lady Is a Mayor. Buy on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GYUON8O Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07NPXFSDR Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/FranThomasAuthor Website www.FrancesOThomas.com  Who I am: A California girl at heart, I bid a tearful goodbye to the beach and laid-back San Diego to move to the Colorado mountains. My love for reading must have expanded my imagination because I constantly have stories playing in my head. The only way to stop it was to start putting these stories on paper, but that’s only a temporary relief as the stories keep coming so I keep writing. Interests: When I’m not reading or writing, I indulge in music, which is easy because my husband is a retired piano professor. We met many years ago, when I decided I wanted to start studying piano again. When I learned that he had performed and had taught at the university level, I knew I wanted to study with him. Over the years, a friendship grew into love and now I have music in my life every day. Network: Over the years, I’ve developed a great group of beta readers and advance readers for my books. Because they’re readers, they can tell me right away when the plot and characters work or if something doesn’t ring true. It’s wonderful to have these great people in my life and cheering me on when I wonder why I’m still writing, but I love writing books for readers and as a writer knows, once you start writing, you can never stop. Desk: We live in a small house which seems smaller because of my husband’s grand piano. I’ve converted the family room into my “office,” but because I have an aversion to junk, the office is limited to a chair, a foot stool, my laptop and a music stand where I balance my writing notes. The family room is small and used to be the breezeway between the house and the garage. It has two large windows that look over a patio filled with flower planters. When I’m not writing, I like to spend time in the garden, weather permitting. As it’s a hot June right now, I’m look out at peonies and roses. The cone flowers, echinacea, and rudbeckia are sprouting but won’t bloom until later this summer, which is wonderful because with the crocus, tulips and daffodils blooming in the spring, I can see flowers for eight months during the year. Other: My husband and I are great lovers of nature. We’re happiest when we can escape the rat race and camp and enjoy the quiet. We’re both interested in ghost towns and drive the jeep along some of the old wagon trails. We’ve found a few ghost towns that are still standing with some household items the previous owners left behind. It’s fun for me to imagine what life must have been like back then. These miners worked hard as did their wives and children and sadly many had short lives, but their determination fascinates me. Window: Surrounding myself with the beauty of our back patio and the brilliance of my husband’s playing, I have a view inside and outside of the of the wonders of life that sparks creativity and imagination. I feel very blessed.  Beaumont Brides Boxed Set Books 1-3
Here come the brides! Book 1: Wherever Love Finds You It’s his game. He makes the rules. Rule number one – only he can break the rules. Zach Lowe lives his life without relationships in business and personally. Getting involved doesn’t work well when you’re the Black Knight of Wall Street. Ellora Duvall, the sweet kid who crushed on him in high school, waltzes into the world of corporate finance with the same wide eyed innocence she had in chemistry class. He hadn’t expected her to affect him the way she did, but he’s in control. A few weeks with Ellora will be pure pleasure, then he’ll move on. She’ll understand. He should, too. Who broke his rules? Book 2: When Love Whispers Sometimes, love comes in packages. As the top ranked student at Charleston’s military academy, Preston Lowe excels in class, in sports and with women. Only Willow Dockery, a barmaid at the city’s trendy nightclub, sees the pain in his eyes when he’s out with friends having a good time. But Willow doesn’t know how Preston inwardly struggles to forget a past that could derail the career he’s worked hard to achieve. Willow wrestles with her own secrets. After a disastrous relationship leaves her broke and disillusioned, she vows never to let anyone rob her of her dreams again. But as she gets to know Preston, it’s as if their tumultuous pasts meld together into something so startling it transforms their relationship and their lives forever. Book 3: Call It Love A kiss isn’t just a kiss … Struggling actress Addison Duvall hustles background acting jobs at the Hollywood studios in hopes for her big break. When she’s cast as the stand in for the lead actress in a blockbuster spy film, she can’t believe her luck. The surprises rush in―her first test shot is with Hollywood heartthrob Spencer Kingsley. Her even bigger surprise is when the director yells, “Action!” and Spencer presses his lips to hers in a kiss. Behind Spencer’s Hollywood façade hides the secret pain no one suspects. He’s the first to take a risk except when it comes to his heart. He can’t deny he and Addison have chemistry―chemistry onscreen and off―and he’s tempted to lower his guard. She seems real, not like the women he usually meets. Once Addison’s star rises, so do Spencer’s doubts. She’s no different than the others looking for the connection to catapult their careers. He won’t let another woman damage his heart. His decision made, Spencer wishes her success. But it’s already too late. How does he heal this Addison shaped hole in his heart? Should he risk more heartbreak for another chance at love? Beaumont Brides Boxed Set Books 1-3 Buy Link https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08HYB96RZ A further Peek A native of California, Laura Haley-McNeil spent her youth studying ballet and piano, though her favorite pastime was curling up with a good book. Without a clue as to how to write a book, she knew one day she would. After college, she segued into the corporate world, but she never forgot her love for the arts and served on the board of two community orchestras. Finally realizing that the book she’d dreamt of writing wouldn’t write itself, she planted herself in front of her computer. She now immerses herself in the lives and loves of her characters in her romantic suspense and her contemporary romance novels. Many years later, she lived her own romantic novel when she married her piano teacher, the love of her life. Though she and husband have left warm California for cooler Colorado, they enjoy the outdoor life of hiking, bicycling, horseback riding and snow skiing. They satisfy their love of music by attending concerts and hanging out with their musician friends, but Laura still catches a few free moments when she can sneak off and read. https://laurahaleymcneil.com/ @laurarmcneil https://www.facebook.com/LauraHaleyMcNeil/ |
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