The Source Behind Mags’s Memorial Stones

Hearts of Stone 1 (3)

I used to see these stones and wonder what they represented. Were they memories shared by just one person? Did they represent those who had passed on? Or, those cherished times that you and that special someone never wanted to forget?

In my new small-town contemporary book, Hearts of Honeybrooke Cove, Margaret Ellington, affectionately known as Mags, kept similar stone towers. They weren’t just for herself, but for those who needed that little extra something to help them over the hump of despair that comes upon some of even the most courageous.  She made sure those in need invested blood, sweat, tears, and tender memories. Everyone who set their hand to the stone towers recalled the good with the bad, the sour with the sweet, and then the healing more often than not, slowly arrived.

Sadly, by the time Victoria arrived in Honeybroooke Cove, her great-aunt Mags had passed on. But not even death will keep the irrepressible Margaret Ellington down. She still reaches out from the great-beyond and nudges ever so gently those she cares about, to remember and perhaps change their direction. However, in her own caring, slightly meddling way, she may have fiddled just a little bit too much with the lives she’d left behind.

When the tornado hit Honeybrooke Cove, those notes blew up and out across the lakeside community, and settle in some unwelcome places. To Victoria’s dismay, the truth about Mags’s straightforward observations about her neighbors may be too much for the quiet, idyllic lake town. Thankfully, she has Barrett Collins, her new love, to keep her busy and steady her hand as she navigates small-town living.

And that, my friends, is how it all started…and will hopefully continue on.

Available in E-book and Print

 

Cha-cha-changes!

How has your life changed lately?

It’s been nearly ten months since my accident, and in that time I’ve learned to make a few changes. I’m excited to reveal the gorgeous cover for my latest writing endeavor. I can’t wait for the world to meet the wonderful citizens of Honeybrooke Cove!

Cover Reveal!

Welcome to Honeybrooke Cove!
The best darn place in Wisconsin!

Victoria Banning’s perfect California life falls apart when she loses her job and boyfriend, all in the same day. Finished with controlling men and broken hearts, she decides it’s time to rewrite her story. New Chapter. New life. All on her terms. When she learns of her great-aunt Mags’s financial distress, she decides to make a road trip. But she’s not in time, and trouble follows her every step of the way when she moves into her late aunt’s rundown cottage in Honeybrooke Cove. Thank heavens, there’s at least one capable handyman in the small Wisconsin lake town to help her put the house on the market. Too bad, he’s overly bossy for her tastes.

Surgeon, Barrett Collins, should have let someone else take his last case. When everything went wrong, he left the big city and rebuilt his life as a handyman in Honeybrooke Cove. He’s up to his tool belt in repairs on Mags’s house and everyone else who needs him. When Barrett learns Mags left her cottage to him and her headstrong niece, he’s ready to ship Ms. Banning back to California. But there is something to be said for sharing a cottage with a beautiful woman. Especially when she desperately needs his help.

Life in Wisconsin’s North Country can be harsh, and when someone wants Victoria out of Honeybrooke Cove, life is unforgiving. As Barrett helps Victoria navigate the elements, they learn to open their hearts and live again.

“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” Albert Einstein

 

The Fall

When a writer takes a tumble, we do our best to chant the mantra ‘tuck-and-roll’ then pop up and figure out a way to replay that scene in our next piece. Or is that just me? I admit that I’m easily distracted by the next task or flitting butterfly, resulting in a few bumps, bruises, scrapes, and stumbles. Until a few weeks ago, five to be exact, that is all they were.

Five weeks ago, I made the fateful decision to water a few ferns that I had recently planted before heading to my office to work on my manuscript, Duncan Graham’s Fallen Angel.

And then, Contact Gardening. Face. Head. Right elbow. On a collision course with the stone steps.

The main results? Concussion. Fractured right orbital shelf. And, per the wisdom of several of the hospital medical staff, they felt the need to advise me that I did a really good job of destroying my elbow. I’ll save the gory details for another day. Two days later, I have a partial elbow replacement.

Five weeks. Five weeks! This post is the first thing I’ve written since The Fall. Is it the concussion or pain meds slowing my brain down, or both?

Five weeks, and we’re thrilled that I bent my thumb. Because, hey, there are nerves, tendons, muscles, skin, and several broken bones that have to heal. My pen is forced to grow silent while I recuperate. Hunting and pecking the keys with my left hand is a slow and tedious job. PT hopefully can start next week. Holding onto a toothbrush or fork has now become a goal.

For now, my latest WIP will have to wait unless I learn how to write from voice to text. Any recommendations on how to get through this hump in the road?

Kindle Countdown Deal: Knight Dreams Only .99 cents for a limited time


Would you give up your vengeance to save someone you love? 

The skilled archer, Terrwyn ap Hew, lost her young brother to the English years ago. Now, her night visions reveal that he is alive and she intends to bring him home. But the English soldiers have returned to her Welsh village in search of the famed archer to take on their campaign against France. If Terrwyn is to reach her brother in time, she’ll have to outwit the soldiers and infiltrate their army. This time, no one is going to stand in her way not even King Henry V’s spy, Sir James Frost. 

The charming Sir James Frost captures the likeness of his prey with charcoal and parchment. This time, a plot to kill the king is uncovered, and it leads to Terrwyn’s family. When he discovers the maiden hiding amongst the archers, his attention is divided between protecting his king and the woman who pierced his heart with her passion.

Will their budding love overcome the danger that threatens to steal all they dare to dream possible? https://amzn.to/2QvnDnq

Utah RWA Welcomes Keynote Speaker ~ Best Selling Author SUSAN WIGGS! 

Utah Readers Luncheon is Almost Upon Us!

Come and join us, Saturday, October 13th at 11 a.m. at the DAVIS CONFERENCE CENTER, Layton, Utah.

Have you registered for the luncheon? Hurry! There are only a few seats left. Registration closes October 8th at Midnight!Join us!

Check out our participating authors here: http://www.utahreadersluncheon.com/special-guestsparticipating-authors.html.

And of course, there will be a great meal.

Utah Readers Luncheon.

Great Food

And glorious swag bags and books!

Stories are magical!

Because everyone needs a little magic and romance in their life!

“We, the hosting authors, are present to ensure you feel welcome, included, and enjoy your time with us as an honored guest. You’re Queen (or King) for the day. After all, we write fiction for readers. Without readers, we might still write, but we’d definitely miss out on the joy of seeing our creative work enjoyed by others. We write romance to be savored by romance readers. On October 13, 2018, we cherish the opportunity to meet you, a fan of romantic fiction, enjoy your company, and put on a party held in your honor.”

Get YOUR Tickets! http://www.utahreadersluncheon.com/

Hurry! Pick up Knight Quests for .99 cents

Why wait? Purchase at your favorite retailer while you can. I don’t know how long the publisher will keep Knight Quests: Knights of the Swan #2 at this discounted price. s5_8dead5137cf1452334a2d072e70ef151

For a Knight of the Swan in 15th century England, falling for the enemy is an act of treason . . .

Orphaned as a young girl, Brigitte de Marnier has learned to live by her instincts. Which doesn’t explain why she accepts protection from a soldier in the service of the enemy crown. But something about Drem Ap Dafydd has her leaning into his strength, and surrendering to his intoxicating kiss, even knowing he is duty bound to destroy her . . .

As a newly appointed Knight of the Swan, Drem is eager to prove his allegiance to the English crown in the battle against France. But in his sheltering arms, beautiful Frenchwoman Brigitte arouses in him another instinct—to love, honor, and protect. Then Drem discovers his beloved has a price on her head and he must choose between his vow—and his heart’s desire . . .

Amazonkindle  Apple Google Kobo Nook

Knight Furies is now available!

s5_0790f3d9157e12573e22712e67891cad For a Knight of the Swan, any mission might lead to fortune—but the chance for love comes once in a lifetime . . .
Margaret Grace is the lady of Fletchers Landing, earning what she can as a beekeeper and mead maker, and playing a nerve-wracking game with the mercenaries who demand payment to ensure her village’s safety.

When an unknown man appears on horseback one day, Meg knows she can’t trust him—especially when the dashing knight claims to be looking for fabled lost riches. But her desires are harder to control . . .
Tormented by the memories of his imprisonment at the hands of a vicious mercenary, Sir Nathan Staves is glad to be abroad on a quest for His Majesty. His task promises the chance to recover a legendary lost bounty, but also throws him into the path of the beguiling Meg. Their breathtaking passion awakens just as a familiar danger does, forcing Nathan to decide which is the greater prize—an elusive treasure, or the love of a woman he will die to protect . . .

Available  at Amazonkindle Apple  Google Kobo Nook

The Knight Dreams re-release is now in stores!

Knight DreamsThe holiday season might be over, but I still have one extra special gift for all of my dedicated readers; I can’t keep the secret any longer!

On January 22, I released a revised second edition of my book Knight Dreams. Although this story is not part of my Knights of the Swan series, it does have similar themes and features romance, historical fiction, and intrigue.

The book is available both on Amazon, Barnes & Noble’s NOOK  and Apple iBooks.

Here’s a brief synopsis of what you can expect:

Would you give up your vengeance to save someone you love? 

The skilled archer, Terrwyn ap Hew, lost her young brother to the English years ago. Now, her night visions reveal that he is alive and she intends to bring him home. But the English soldiers have returned to her Welsh village in search of the famed archer to take on their campaign against France. If Terrwyn is to reach her brother in time, she’ll have to outwit the soldiers and infiltrate their army. This time, no one is going to stand in her way not even King Henry V’s spy, Sir James Frost.

The charming Sir James Frost captures the likeness of his prey with charcoal and parchment. This time, a plot to kill the king is uncovered, and it leads to Terrwyn’s family. When he discovers the maiden hiding amongst the archers, his attention is divided between protecting his king and the woman who pierced his heart with her passion.

To order your copy of Knight Dreams just click on Amazon, Barnes & Noble’s NOOK  and Apple iBooks.I can’t wait for you to read it!

Don’t Miss the Newest Releases

Knight Treasures: Knights of the Swan #3

In 15th Century England, alliances can be deadly for a Knight of the Swan. Especially those made in the heat of passion…

Knight Treasures #3

Fleeing for her life after a savage attack on her homeland, Lady Sabine of Clearmorrow finds sanctuary on the windswept shores of southern England, praying that her family reaches her before her foes. When Sir Darrick of Lockwood shows up in a swirl of raging wildfires, Sabine is not willing to trust the dark knight, though he may be her last hope.  And when she learns of his urgent quest to locate his sister, she realizes she may be his, too…

Lady Sabine is the last woman who saw his beloved sister alive, which is the only reason Darrick demands she join him on the perilous journey to bring Elizabeth home. But even as he shelters Sabine from their powerful enemies—and savors the sweet passion between them—he wonders if the brave beauty will bring him all that he desires, or draw him deeper into danger….

Amazonkindle Apple Google Kobo Nook

Coming January 22, 2018: Knight Dreams

Would you give up your vengeance to save someone you love?

The skilled archer, Terrwyn ap Hew, lost her young brother to the English years ago. Now, her night visions reveal that he is alive and she intends to bring him home. The English soldiers have returned to her Welsh village, searching for the famed archer to take on their campaign against France. If Terrwyn is to reach her brother in time she’ll have to outwit the soldiers and infiltrate their army. This time, no one is going to stand in her way, not even King Henry V’s spy, Sir James Frost.

Charming, but dangerous spy, Sir James Frost, captures the likeness of his prey on charcoal and parchment. This time, a plot to kill the king is uncovered and it leads to Terrwyn’s family. When he discovers the maiden hiding among the archers, his attention is divided between protecting his king and the woman who pierced his heart with her passion.

Available on Amazon

Read, Review & Recommend!

 I’d love to hear from you. And, please, be sure to leave a review. 

 

Historical Romance Book Blitz & Giveaway!

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Hurry! Time and space is running out.

Silver Dagger Book Tours is taking blog signups for those interested in participating in the Historical Romance Book Blitz & Giveaway! It will feature 5 Lyrical Press historical romances including KNIGHT TREASURES.

Below is the link to sign up for the tour!

BONUS: Although Silver Dagger Book Tours isn’t accepting review requests, I would love to provide a review copy of KNIGHT TREASURES via NetGalley to any blogger participating in the tour. Just comment below or message me!

http://www.silverdaggertours.com/tour-sign-ups/historical-romance-blitz-sign-ups