Romance Writers Weekly ~Which Character Would You Be?~ #LoveChatWrite

 This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked "If you could be any one of your characters, which one would you choose?"

So hard! While I love all my characters dearly, as an author, I tend to put my characters through some pretty tough times. That's kind of the job. Would I want to trade places with them? No, not really.

Gabby is the exception that proves the rule, I guess. She'd like that. She's a Pisces, so am I. Her hero is a Scorpio, as is my husband. She walks dogs for a living, I nearly did and still think it's an awesome job! We both lived in Los Angeles--I even gave her my first apartment there! AND I gave her a cool backstory (in the sequel, Going to the Chapel) in which she got to grow up on a farm in Oberon! 

Plus, she and Derek each get cool cameo appearances in the other LA Love Lessons books, AND there's a Christmas sequel in the works. So, yeah...if I had to be any of my characters, I think I'd want to be her.

Now, hop on over to Leslie Hachtel's page to learn which of her characters she'd like to be. And don't forget to check out her book, Come Back to Me.

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!

And coming soon: the sequel “Follow Me”!

https://amzn.to/3thW8BR

Waiting for The Big One

https://books2read.com/b/the-big-one

One girl, two guys and a quest for ultimate satisfaction.

Aspiring actress Gabby Browne refuses to consider her best friend, and personal trainer, Derek Novello for the role of soul mate fearing sex will ruin their beautiful friendship. When she meets Zach, she's convinced that he could be The One. Too bad Derek isn't willing to share-leaving Gabby forced to choose between two sexy co-stars.

An early morning earthquake provides Gabby with the impetus she needs to stop waiting for the stars to align and finally cast her leading man.

Going to the Chapel

https://books2read.com/b/GoingChapel

In Waiting for The Big One, Gabby and Derek went from being friends to being lovers. Now, they're waiting for their "big day". But will it be the wedding of their dreams? Or a bride's worst nightmare?

 

A quick trip to Gabby's hometown turns into the wedding from hell when Gabby and Derek are plagued by hailstorms, lost reservations, voracious goats, angry bees and enough family drama to fill a barn.

 

Guess it's true what they say, "The course of true love never did run smooth." But can the happy couple hold it all together, or will their Big Day turn into a Big Mess?

 

***A slightly different version of this book was previously released as part of the Sapphire Falls Kindle World program***

Musical Monday: Beyoncé Texas Hold 'Em

 Today's song is yet another in honor of the Texas Heat shared-world series, which is due to release next January but is available for pre-order now!

My story in the series is Fall For You (which will also be the first book in my new Heartwood, Texas series). 

I didn't actually like this song when I first heard it, but it's been growing on me. If you want to know what's happening with this book, you can sign up for my newsletter for updates. 

Links

Texas Heat

Heartwood Texas

PG's newsletter

Heartwood Playlist (work-in-progress)

Romance Writers Weekly ~A Family Gathering ~ #LoveChatWrite

 This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked to "Describe a typical family gathering - a birthday celebration, a nothing special dinner, Thanksgiving, Christmas or other holiday. Whatever gathering you like!"

I take issue with the word "typical". lol I'm not good at forming habits. What's "typical" for my family now, is different than it was a few years ago; which was different from a few years before that.

Recently, the holiday hosting mantle has been passed to my son and daughter in law. At least for my family. My sister and brothers haven't ceded their control. And, I have to say, I do miss hosting gatherings. However, my son and daughter in law have a beautiful home and it's not exactly a hardship!

My daughter in law grew up in England and Sweden, so we get a proper Roast Dinner. And because my son loves pie, and my daughter in law does not, she'll bake a pie for dessert (for him) and I'll typically bake something else (madeleines, meringues, sticky toffee pudding) for her...most of the rest of us have both, of course. Lately, I'll also bring a vegetable dish and/or sourdough bread.

It's usually very low key. We'll sit and talk and eat.We might take a walk before or after dinner. Their home is set in a very forested area and it's only a short walk to a river. Sometimes they have guests, or my daughter will fly in to visit. And my grandson usually has some new Lego creation he'll want help with. Apparently, that's a new area of expertise for me!

Anyway, that's what most of our gatherings look like, at the moment.

Now, hop on over to Brenda Margriet's page to see what she has to say. And don't forget to check out  Secrets Under the Covers.

Secrets Under the Covers

 

Start the Silverberry Seduction Seasoned Romance Series for FREE!

 

(Helen and Nathan are both 55)

 

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.

https://books2read.com/SecretsUndertheCovers

Welcome to Oberon

Oberon Omnibus #1

Three connected tales of love, murder, mystery...all set in a mystical small town where anything might happen.​

​

This volume contains the first three books of the Oberon series:

 

Scent of the Roses

A Sight to Dream Of

Sound of a Voice That is Still. 

Second Chances, Friends to Lovers, Opposites Attract, Hurt-Comfort, Age Gap, Betrayal, Suspense.

Buy Links: https://books2read.com/welcome-to-oberon/

Movie Monday: The Fall Guy

 So I saw the movie The Fall Guy last week and I enjoyed it very much. I love books and movies that combine different genres and this certainly fits that criteria! It's an action adventure, mystery suspense, romantic comedy. 

I loved how there'd be a throwaway line (or a random post-it note) in one act that would eventually turn out to be a set-up (or maybe even the punchline) for a joke that doesn't occur until the next act. I love how they repeatedly nudged at the fourth wall within the context of their  "movie within a movie". I loved how over the top it was--every trope, every cliche, every plot twist and complication...well, okay, they might have missed a couple of twists, but not many. I loved all the movie references and the way that some of the characters communicated almost entirely by quoting lines to each other. I loved how I could see everything that was coming, and they still managed to surprise me.  It was a very charming, epic, madcap, screwball, slapstick farce. 

I personally would have been just as happy if a good percentage of the fight scenes-slash-stunts had been left out, but I understood that the sheer, absurd superfluousness was kind of the point. You've probably heard that it was designed to be a love letter to the stunt industry, so it made perfect sense that they just threw everything they had, everything they could think of doing, into this movie. 

It was joyful and playful. It looked like the kind of film that everyone had a blast making. I saw one review that complained that the chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt wasn't that good. And all I can think is that we must have been watching two different movies. Because I completely disagree with that assessment. I think they're an amazing comedic duo.

It's snarky, ironic, clever and very meta. The actors in the film-within-the-film are frequently asked to do another take--and another, and another--to the point where the audience (or maybe just me?) was saying, "enough already. we get it!" But, aside from it sometimes being a point that "the director" or "the movie star" was making (and/or an important plot point, or an excuse for another stunt) it was also very true to life...which made it a very self-aware, intentional, commentary on the movie making experience. 

I enjoyed it a great deal. HOWEVER, if you go and see it, don't be like me and leave during the credits. I knew it was exactly the kind of movie that would have an additional scene and I was right, but I let myself get talked into leaving. 

Now I suppose I'll have to watch it again. Oh, darn.

I'm giving this movie a rating of four popcorn buckets. They lose one due to the fact that they made Aaron Taylor Johnson SO unlikable. It's similar to how I reacted to Julia Roberts in Notting Hill. The way she played the role, she really sold the whole "just a girl standing in front of a guy" thing so well that it was hard to take her seriously as a famous movie star. Even though, at the time, she was the most highly paid female actor in the world. 

Which, I know, sounds like a me problem. But it's my popcorn. 

And also...I was hoping for a little more of a payoff for the missing mouth guard bit. 

Romance Writers Weekly ~A Letter to Lucy and Dan Cavanaugh ~ #LoveChatWrite

 This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked to "Write a letter to one of your characters, either from yourself as author or from another of your characters."

Oy. Okay so, my characters haven't been speaking to me all that well recently. And they don't seem inclined to speak to each other very much either. So I guess I'll have to write a letter to them. In this case, I've chosen to reach out to Lucy and Dan Cavanaugh for reasons which will likely become apparent. (sigh) Anyway, here goes:

Dear Lucy and Dan,

Well, it's been awhile. I hope you've both been keeping well. I suppose you're wondering when I'm going to get around to re-releasing your book (A Taste of Honey) which I'd originally planned on releasing this month, ie April. Yeah. That's not happening. I'm hoping for May but we'll see how it goes.

Your book has always been one of my favorites (and no, I'm not just saying that) so I don't want to just things and make a mess with the annotating. Also, your playlist is a godawful mess--I have no idea why--and I'm having to deal with that now, too.

Remember those days, back when I was writing book two in the series, how you used to show up in my head late at night and pester me to get your story down right tf NOW, even though you were supposed to be book four and I still didn't even know how book three was going to turn out? Yours was the book I worried about the most. I loved the story so much and really wanted to do it justice.

Remember how (because you were both such PITA) that I ended up writing your story early (ie out of sequence) and then gave you really big parts to play in books three, five, and seven as well? And, yes, those big parts did involve you both almost dying, and I know I put your kids in danger several times as well...not to mention the Christmas short story where I messed all your lives up AGAIN...but along the way you got to dance and romance and everyone loved you...

But okay...I guess, now that I think of it, I can understand why you'd maybe be a little salty. Still. I wish you'd try and have a little patience and work with me. All right? Maybe go and have a talk with my muse or something and convince her to come back from vacation. Or maybe visit some of the other characters. There are a couple in New Jersey that are really holding things up right now. They could probably use a pep talk. M'kay?

Also, just so you know, I have another Christmas story in the works that features you both, so that's something to look forward to, isn't it? That's a good reason for why we should be working together, instead of working against each other...don't you think? 

And no, it's the story that's coming out this year, but...I dunno...it could maybe be next year?

Just think about it, all right? It'll be better for all of us if we can work together like we used to...well, less the nighttime visits, that is. Sleep is important, after all.

All right. That's all I have to say at the moment. Love you, miss you, mean it.

Yours affectionately,

PG

 

Now, hop on over to Brenda Magriet's page to read her character letter. And don't forget to check out her book, Taking His Measure.

TAKING HIS MEASURE: The complete Bendixon Sisters Series

 

Three steamy, open-door, full-length contemporary romances with all your favourite tropes!

 

* Second Chance * Grumpy/Sunshine * Forced Proximity * Best Friend’s Younger Sister * Virgin Hero * Forbidden Love * He Falls First * Enemies to Lovers * Single Dad * Starting Over

https://books2read.com/TakingHisMeasure

Such Fleeting Pleasures

A FREE Oberon Prequel Novella

Download Link: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/5xxljdbblb

Love wasn't always strawberries and cream for Lucy and Dan Cavanaugh...or was it? In this Oberon prequel, we travel back in time to see how it all began. 

​

Most of the material in this prequel novella (set some eighteen years before the series begins) also appears as flashback scenes in A Taste of Honey, which will re-release next month.

​

A rivals to lovers, workplace romance.

Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/61xbi1LMskkfXaYLhIV0Cr

Btw, if you'd ALSO like to read a very short (free) story in which I go to Oberon and interact with several of my characters (including Lucy) check out this link:

Going Back To Oberon

A Very Short Story

 https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/tFfHiT3M

This story started out as a feature on Cabin Goddess’s “Fourth Wall Friday” blog. Authors were invited to put themselves into a scene where they interacted with their characters. I had a great deal of fun imagining myself returning to the scene of my very first series. It started me thinking about all the stories I hadn't told yet. And it really motivated me to start getting some of those ideas out there.

Musical Monday: The Grass Won't Pay No Mind ~ Neil Diamond

 

Today's song is one that I currently have on my A Taste of Honey playlist (link below, if you're interested). I don't recall listening to it when I was writing the book, and it doesn't fit the time period, but it kind of fits the characters and I've always like Neil Diamond, so there you have it.

I've been listening to the playlist a lot lately and I have NO IDEA what I was thinking when I put it together. Or, more likely, what I was DRINKING. Because most of the songs are completely wrong for the book. The Sting songs are the only ones that I actually remember listening to during that time. And Tupelo Honey, of course. 

But this song is nice and I've been humming it to myself a lot lately, so now maybe you will, too. 

I've also attached the link to Such Fleeting Pleasures. This is the A Taste of Honey prequel novella, which is free when you sign up for my newsletter. You can listen to the playlist while you read that too, if you want. It doesn't work any better for it, but it's kind of an interesting collection...I guess.

Such Fleeting Pleasures

An Oberon Prequel Novella

Download Link: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/5xxljdbblb

Love wasn't always strawberries and cream for Lucy and Dan Cavanaugh...or was it? In this Oberon prequel, we travel back in time to see how it all began. 

​

Most of the material in this prequel novella (set some eighteen years before the series begins) also appears as flashback scenes in A Taste of Honey, which will re-release next month.

​

A rivals to lovers, workplace romance.

Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/61xbi1LMskkfXaYLhIV0Cr

Wine Wednesday: Coppola's Director's Cut Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

 The first thing you'll notice about this wine is the label, which wraps around the bottle like a strip of film. It's clever and eye-catching and I'll admit I spent way too much time wondering it they made a special machine to apply the labels, or whether they were all put on by hand. Either way it seems like a ton of work for a mid-tier wine. But, then again, I'm equally unimpressed by the current trend of producing special edition books, so perhaps that's just me.

Don't get me wrong. I think sprayed edges and metallic accents, etc, are gorgeous, and I love me some gorgeous covers, but at the end of the day the words on the page and the wine inside the bottle are what I'm most interested in.  

(That's my grandson's hand in the picture, btw. He's attempting to remove the bottle. Because, as you can see, I'd plunked it down in the middle of his Legos.)

Anyway...this was a 2018 vintage from Sonoma County. 2017 and 2018 were two of the worst fire seasons in recent California history. I was living just outside Napa at that time and I swear I could smell a very familiar smokiness as soon as I opened this bottle. 

I don't think it's smoke taint, which is a thing that apparently makes wine undrinkable, because this was a very good wine--complex and layered with good legs and soft tannins--but it's smoky, for sure. 

I suspect it's a matter of terroir because I taste ash (call it minerality, if you like) and wild fennel and maybe some hints of lavender and sage and I can remember how the scent of cold ashes lingered everywhere. And how, after the fires of 2017 the bare, burned hillsides turned green with renewed life in the Spring of 2018...only to burn again the following Fall.  

It's an opulent wine, but not jammy at all. It's dry and a tad acerbic with notes of cocoa and cassis. My mother used to make a dish of Cornish game hens stuffed with wild rice that she served with a flaming, tart cherry and brandy sauce. It was the seventies, what can I say? This wine would've paired perfectly with that. Or with a dark chocolate dessert. Mousse, perhaps. Or, dare I say it?  S'mores. 

It's true, but yeah...it's probably still too soon for that.

Romance Writers Weekly ~ Favorite Photo ~ #LoveChatWrite

 This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked to " Choose a photo that you’ve taken and that you love. Tell the story behind the photo."

This was unexpectedly easy. I took this picture of my five-year-old grandson last September at his first ever soccer game. Which took place three days after his first ever soccer practice.

It looks like an ad for Nike or something, doesn't it? I mean, if Nike sponsored kindergarten-aged athletes. He looks all serious and intent, like he knows what he's doing...

Yeah, not so much. Although he did manage to score a goal. woo-hoo! And his team, the Hypno Toads (gotta love it) won the game.

But here's the back story. This photo wasn't actually shot during the game. It was taken while the team was on a break. Half time maybe? I don't know the nomenclature. But the kids were seated on the other side of the field and since my eyesight sucks I was using the telephoto lens of my phone's camera to see what they were doing. When the kiddo started running towards me, I quickly fired off a couple of shots, of which this was one.

Where was he going? What did he want? Easy. The game was about to resume, but he had just learned that there was a snack stand selling snow cones. So he was rushing over to ask me if he could get one after the game.

Five-year-olds. Am I right? 

Now, hop on over to  Jenna Da Sie's page to view her favorite pic. 

Scent of the Roses

For years, Scout Patterson has tried to run from the mistakes in her past.  Now, she's coming home--to face the ghosts she's never laid to rest, and the love she thought she'd lost forever. 

Memories and dreams are the only things that have gotten Nick Greco through the past twenty years.  Memories of the girl he loved and lost, and dreams of what his life would be like, if he could only find her again.   And if he can bring himself to believe that anything she tells him is true.

 

 Can the star-crossed lovers put aside the hurt and distrust they still harbor toward each other?  Or will the evil which already nearly destroyed them once, triumph yet again?

https://books2read.com/ScentRoses