What I'm Reading Wednesday

I was given Rachel Rassano's new book Honor: Second Novel of Rhynan yesterday and I've had such a hard time putting it down! She creates this amazing world that is familiar, and yet not, with intrigue and treachery and romance. I really loved the first book in the series and the second one is just as good so far! I definitely will do a full review of this one when I finish.

***Edited to add:

I loved this book! It was layered with action and decision, romance and intrigue, and topped with treachery and treason. The author transports us to a somewhat medieval world with regency undertones, but grounds the reader so well, it feels real. I loved the depth of the characters and how their emotions intertwined with the events that shaped their relationship. It was easy to root for Dentin to find love after being so long denied and Elsa was his match in every way. So well done. I can't wait for more in this series!


Here's the back copy:

The Earl of Dentin excels in his position as Securer of the Realm. But the king's order to pluck an orphaned child from a loving home unsettles Dentin. When a dark-eyed woman challenges his honor regarding the mission, Dentin finds himself unable to justify his actions or get her out of his mind. Something about her lack of fear intrigues him.

Lady Elsa Reeve attempts to avoid the marriage of convenience her brother and mother demand of her. She understands the need to pay off her brother's massive debt. She only wants her family to consider her wishes in the process.

As Elsa becomes further entangled in a snare of her brother's creating, only one man defends her. But can she trust Dentin, her unlikely champion, and his motives? With a murderer on the loose, Elsa's fate in jeopardy, and a traitor plotting against the king, Dentin finds his priorities shifting in an unexpected direction.

You can get your own copy here

My Apricot/Pineapple Jam Brings Out My Inner Domestic Goddess

I have been a domestic goddess today. I canned nearly seven quarts of apricot/pineapple jam! There is just something awesome about getting fruit freshly picked, cutting it up, and making it into jam. And it tastes so good!

Here's a picture of the first batch:

Someone recommended on Facebook to put the apricot/pineapple jam on grilled chicken so that's what we had for dinner tonight. It was SO GOOD! I highly recommend it. We also put it on pancakes. (And sandwiches. There are so many way to use it!)

Here's the recipe I used:

12 cups apricots, pitted and chopped
8 cups sugar
1 can crushed pineapple

Combine all three ingredients in a large pan. Cook on medium heat until it boils, then reduce heat and let simmer 3 to 4 hours. Stir often.

Do you can fruits and vegetables? What's your favorite recipe?

Book Review: Road Trip Collection

I loved the new Timeless Romance Anthology: Road Trip Collection. Each novella has the central theme of a road trip, but they are all so different!

The first one, What Falling Feels Like by Jolene Betty Perry, has a cute divorcee who refurbishes trailers while trying to get her life back together. She meets up with her best friend's younger brother that always hung around with them in high school. They take a little road trip to his sister's house and realize that maybe the feelings from high school weren't quite all resolved. Quite emotional for a short novella.

The second one is Antiques Road Trip by Sarah Eden. This one is about a reality show where the contestants dress like 19th century ladies and gentleman and have to get through challenges from the time period in order to win a trip to England and $100,000. There were so many sweet moments between Devon and Kelsey. I didn't know which one I wanted to win until near the end. This is one that you might need a tissue for, however, with a heart-tugging ending.

The third one is Wouldn't It Be Nice by Ranee Clark. Jacqueline's neglectful boyfriend lets her down and she's done. Leaving on a road trip with her friends, her old neighbor and childhood friend Hudson suddenly takes her boyfriend's place in the van. During the trip he tells her he has always had feelings for her, but things gets complicated when the boyfriend suddenly shows up. Who will she choose? Loved the characterization in this one and I definitely had a preference as to who I wanted her to pick!

The fourth one is Head Over Heels by Annette Lyon. This one was a fun and flirty meeting at a convention that leads to a road trip to Las Vegas. I loved all the witty banter between these two sprinkled with the romantic tension, especially with the feigned engagement. (Singing the 80s song together made me smile. I loved that part!)They were adorable while they were "pretending" and it was fun to see when the lines got blurred between what's real and what's not. Loved the ending!

The fifth one is Two Dozen Roses by Heather Moore. I was a little surprised to see a mother/daughter duo, but it totally worked. Dayna is driving her mother up the coast to her brother's home and they keep running into Garrett and Roman who are also traveling the same route to honor their sister's memory. I loved the emotional undertones and how kind Roman was. There was a really sweet energy in this one.

The last one was Try, Try Again by Aubrey Mace. Sarah has always loved Justin, and she might have a chance with him after he breaks up with his girlfriend. She doesn't want to be the rebound girl, though, and doesn't pursue it. After six months, though, the what-might-have-beens are kicking in and she takes a road trip (to a funeral!) to see him and figure out if they really have a chance or not. This one will pull you right in and hold you there hoping they'll get their happily-ever-after.

I love the Timeless Romance Anthologies because they are a sweet bite of romance. Each story is just long enough to pull you in and satisfy you like a slice of chocolate truffle. It hits the right spot every time!

Here's the back copy:

Six new contemporary romance novellas from bestselling authors:

WHAT FALLING FEELS LIKE by Jolene Betty Perry
High school was years ago, and Kendell is ready to admit that Tyler, her best friend’s younger brother, has matured into a good-looking man. But the once-popular Kendell is recovering from a marriage-gone-wrong, and she regrets turning Tyler down for high school prom. On their road trip to deliver a refurbished camper, Kendell rediscovers all the reasons she liked Tyler, but it might be too late to rekindle their friendship.

ANTIQUES ROAD TRIP by Sarah M. Eden
Kelsey is living out her dream for the weekend as she participates in a reality show contest by living on a 19th century film set. The contestant who wins the show receives a trip to England and $100k, more than enough to get her through grad school. When she meets Devon, who was coerced by his sister to participate, friendship blossoms. When things go wrong for Kelsey, Devon is there to help, and she soon realizes that winning the contest isn’t what she most desires.

WOULDN’T IT BE NICE by Ranee` S. Clark
When Jacqueline's boyfriend Colin drops out of their long-planned road trip with friends to put his job first—again—it's the final nail in the coffin of their dying relationship. But then Hudson, her best friend’s brother, takes Colin's spot for the road trip, and Jacqueline’s disappointment in her ex takes a back seat to the chance for reestablishing the close ties she once had with Hudson. When their friendship detours into romance, it forces Jacqueline to question her reasons for breaking up with Colin and her future with Hudson.

HEAD OVER HEELS by Annette Lyon
Tristan is proud to be an entrepreneur, running a popular singles’ lifestyle blog. So when she gets an offer to cover a singles convention in Las Vegas, she needs to find a way to get there from another freelance job in Salt Lake without breaking into her personal savings. Her friend sets her up with a co-worker who happens to be driving that way, and Tristan is more than surprised to come face-to-face with a man she has a lot in common with, not to mention seems to click with right away. The two decide to play a prank on Tristan’s friend, and pretend that they are smitten with each other, but soon, the lines between pretend and reality start to fade.

TWO DOZEN ROSES by Heather B. Moore
Dayna reluctantly takes time out of her busy work life to drive her mother up the Pacific Coast Highway from California to her brother’s home in Oregon. Strangely enough, they keep running into two brothers who are traveling the same route in honor of their sister’s memory. The older brother Garrett is a merciless flirt, but the younger brother Roman is who captures Dayna’s attention. Soon she realizes that the brothers are extremely competitive, and she’s just become their next target.

TRY, TRY AGAIN by Aubrey Mace
Sarah’s secret crush on Justin takes a sudden turn when he breaks up with his girlfriend and declares that he’s interested in Sarah. She believes he’s just on the rebound, and they slowly drift apart. Six months later, Sarah still can’t stop thinking about what might have been. She ropes her friend into taking a road trip to visit Justin, hoping for a second chance. When Justin sees her, he wants answers, and Sarah has to decide if she’s brave enough to finally tell him the truth.

You can download your copy here

Nearly Freebie Friday

If you haven't read any of Joyce DiPastena's historical romances, you've been missing out and now is your chance! Her novel, Loving Lucianna, is on sale today for only .99 cents!

Here's the back copy:

Sir Balduin de Soler gave up long ago on love. He never had the means to support a wife until an unexpected advancement in his fifties allows him to reassess his future just as the lovely Lucianna enters his life.

Lucianna Fabio harbors a secret, painful memory from her past that has kept her unwed, as well. Now in her forties, she thought herself too old to marry until she meets Sir Balduin. Now suddenly their lonely autumn lives feel very much like spring again . . . until Lucianna’s brother appears without warning and threatens to revive the secret that will destroy Lucianna’s second chance at love.

“Loving Lucianna" is a “Hearts in Autumn” romance, medieval romances revolving around heroes and heroines “in the autumn of their years.” Because love isn't only for the young!

Download your Kindle copy here

Summer Survival Writing Tips

I always think at the beginning of the summer that I'll be able to find time for writing because we'll have a more flexible family schedule. Somehow that never happens, despite my best efforts.

So, I've gone back to my summer survival writing. Which means, I'm using all my tips and tricks to get some writing in every day and stay on track.

• I can write in fifteen minute increments. Often, when I'm at the pool with my kids, or the library, or the park, I can be thinking of my next scene or the next piece of dialogue. Then, when I get home, I can head to my computer and spend the next fifteen minutes to half an hour writing down what I'd just imagined. I don't worry about editing at this juncture, I just get it down. 

     I also can write for fifteen, get my kids settled and busy for fifteen, and come back to the computer for another fifteen. Working that way can take some getting used to and finding your writing groove can be hard, but it keeps the scenes running through my head and the writing does flow once I've adjusted. Being a writermom takes balance and imagination, but it's worth it!

• I carry my notebook with me to jot down ideas, outlines, and character arcs. I'm always surprised by how much time I find to write in that notebook and how my creativity is different when I'm away from a computer.

• I almost always have a loose outline I work off of so when I do get to a computer I don't waste time and know exactly what I want to get down.

• I have a regular time that I do a word sprint with a partner. She keeps me honest and gives me accountability. I also meet regularly with my critique partner and those meetings give me a deadline and a reason to put forth a concerted effort.

And last, but not least, I don't get down on myself when I don't make it to the word count I wanted to for the day. My family always comes first and we will have some great summer memories. But, using these little tips keep me on track to get my stories on paper that are anxious to be told. 

Have you heard of any great summer survival writing tips?

What I'm Reading Wednesday

Today I've been reading Spotlight by Traci Hunter Abramson. It's been a sweet romance with a little behind the scenes look at the movie business.  Newly minted Navy SEAL Craig Simmons has been assigned to the Saint Squad and they are helping to protect movie star Sienna Blake. It doesn't take long before Craig's feelings for Sienna move beyond professional, but can he protect her from an unknown entity bent on killing her?

I always enjoy a good romantic suspense  and this one has hit all the right notes. Craig is a young hero, but sincere, and Sienna wasn't the diva that seems to be the norm in Hollywood circles these days. They had a nice connection and romantic build in between the "accidents" and misunderstandings. It has a lot of LDS elements in it that a national audience might not understand, but it was a nice summer afternoon read.

Here's the back copy:

Navy SEAL Craig Simmons has pledged his life to serve and protect, so when this newest member of the Saint Squad observes a stunning young woman on the beach being shadowed by an armed man, he leaps into action. It doesn’t take long to realize his mistake, but it also puts him in a position to meet a very well-known actress, Sienna Blake. For Sienna, the timing couldn’t be more perfect—she’s preparing for a role as a CIA agent, and who better to help her prepare than a Navy SEAL?

Craig and Sienna develop a lighthearted friendship, though both are aware of their growing attraction. Neither realizes, however, that a treacherous enemy is setting in motion a terrifying plan to destroy Sienna . . . A series of near-fatal accidents on set are too close for comfort, and Sienna has been lucky to escape with her life—so far. Despite the rising danger behind the scenes, the show must go on. When the Saint Squad is enlisted by the FBI to safeguard Sienna on the ill-fated film set, Craig is driven to protect the woman he is quickly growing to love. As the list of suspects and motives grows, Craig and the Saint Squad will do whatever it takes to track down the perpetrator—before things turn deadly.

We're Going On A Gnome Hunt

I took my kids to a local dinosaur museum today and we spent over three hours there. They have an ingenious program for getting kids to look at every single display and spend hours in the museum.

They've hidden thirteen gnomes.

Here's the sign you will see when you enter the museum:

And there are gnomes that are hidden in the mouths of the dinosaurs, in trees, and on the back of a massive shark, but the hardest ones to find were in the murals.  Like this one:

It took forever to find the hidden gnome here! But I must say, I learned a lot about dinosaurs while I was looking for the gnomes. And we were able to find eight gnomes! It was a fun day.

Have you done anything fun this summer?