Romance, Suspense, Mystery Author
This inspirational quote really hits home! There is a difference and eventually it’s easy to see. May we all be convinced and not stubborn. 🙂
There is a difference between being convinced and being stubborn. I’m not certain what the difference is, but I do know that if you butt your head against a stone wall long enough, at some point you realize the wall is stone and that your head is flesh and blood.
–MAYA ANGELOU
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Life has been crazy, full of good things, hard things, trials, learning, growth, and did I mention learning?
My good friend, Connie Sokol, writes an amazing blog and sends out uplifting newsletters. I was so inspired and validated by a thought from a post she did that I asked if I could share it.
Here it is:Â
“But as women, wives, and mothers, there will be times when a “no” is not only right but necessary. In order for us to preserve the time and energy needed to care for our families, we are going to have to disappoint someone, even daily. We just need to be sure we’ve disappointed the right one.”Â
—Connie Sokol, author, speaker, and amazing mother of seven
 I love that and wanted to share it as much as a reminder to me as anyone. Lately I’ve had to say no a lot and there continues to be so many opportunities–wonderful things that I could do.
My first priority will always be my family.Â
The second is my writing, because when I take time to nurture my creative side, it makes me more able to complete my first priority.Â
I love writing, crafting a story, getting inside a character’s head–it’s all so fascinating and invigorating! I also love how writing has opened so many doors for me and my family. I cherish the moments I’ve witnessed of my children enjoying a book because I recognize the importance of instilling a love of the written word to my children.
Part of that writing is taking a few moments to update my blog with book reviews, inspirational thoughts, guest posts, and the occasional ramble from me.
Thanks for reading. I hope you have many opportunities to say yes, and more importantly to say NO, so that you keep what is most important central in your life.
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I love the little slices of summer that make each one special. Today, I have some sweet romances to share with you that will hopefully give you an enjoyable slice. These clean romances are fun escapes for the hot, busy, and crazy summer days and will hopefully warm your heart. Learn more about these clean reads below!
![Suddenly Matched: Forbidden Romance by [Higgins, Marie, In Heaven, Match Made]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51I8V2PV3rL.jpg)
Suddenly Matched by Marie Higgins
There was only one major drawback to being a rich man’s secretary… Samantha Hathaway could not fall in love with the Oil Tycoon’s son, Jett Masterson. At least she knew how to hide her feelings around him. As long as he never knew how she really felt, she could continue to be his friend. But all it took was one dance under the night stars, and one passionate kiss at a masquerade party to mess up her whole world.
![The Billionaire Doctor: A Clean Romance (The Billionaires of Gramercy Book 2) by [Goodman, Deb]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51VJwdhcp3L.jpg)
The Billionaire Doctor by Deb Goodman
After a failed engagement, an argument with his grandfather, and a promise to his sister, Owen finds himself face-to-face with Natasha, a beautiful former schoolteacher. But he has to ignore his feelings for her—he doesn’t trust himself in love anymore. Besides, he’s immersed in saving the struggling county hospital—his last big work before he’s forced to leave the medical profession behind.
Natasha Campos quit her job to open a learning center, only to find that running her own business isn’t as easy as running a classroom. When Owen brings his niece in for tutoring and he and Natasha work at a business fair together, they discover their feelings are deepening. But soon, Natasha’s instinct to run when things get hard is affecting not only her learning center, but her relationship with Owen, as well.
Will they set aside each other’s pasts and grow in love? Or will the expectations of others come between them?
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I was really excited to read another book from the Mayfield family series by Josi Kilpack. I am really enjoying the Proper Romance novels and this one fit the bill perfectly. The characters of Timothy Mayfield and Maryann Morrington are so much fun because they are great friends who can’t see what’s right in front of them.
Here’s more about the book:
Timothy Mayfield has nearly given up on his search for a wife. Though he is the picture of a fine, social gentleman, Timothy wishes his finances provided a more stable foundation. Then his Uncle Elliott presents to him a solution: participate in his “marriage campaign,” and upon approval of his choice for a wife, Timothy’s inheritance will be his.
Freed from the constraints of having to marry for money, Timothy is ready to marry for love instead. And he knows exactly what he wants in a wife: youth, optimism, beauty, blonde hair, fine-boned features, shapely shoulders, small waist, blue eyes, button nose, solid fashion sense, a light laugh, low voice, arched eyebrows, fair skin, elegant fingers, quick wit, calm manner, and a dazzling smile.
His friend, Maryann Morrington, an heiress in her own right, tells him outright that his expectations are ridiculous—no such woman exists. Maryann had considered Timothy as a potential suitor for a time, but then their relationship shifted to friendship and she has avoided allowing herself to have feelings for him again.
She agrees to help him find his “perfect wife,” because she’s certain that the search will render nothing. Until it does. Miss Shaw appears to fulfill every single item on Timothy’s list—unlike Maryann who has brown hair, brown eyes, lacks delicate features, and possesses a laugh that is definitely unladylike.
But when Timothy and Miss Shaw begin courting, Timothy realizes something profound. He’d rather spend his time with Maryann. But can he trust his judgment when his heart has led him wrong so many times before?
It is only when Maryann leaves the London season early, that Timothy realizes that he had truly fallen in love with her and that his list of requirements were nothing but fantasy. If he hopes to build a strong relationship, Timothy must convince Maryann that she is the very woman he’d been looking for all along—before it is too late.
Other books you may enjoy:
 
 
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I think today’s inspirational thought was written just for me…and you! 🙂
Of all the diversions of life, there is none so proper to fill up its empty spaces as the reading of useful and entertaining authors.
–JOSEPH ADDISON
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Learning from others is a great way to find new tips and tricks to what works for you as an author. I was lucky enough to chat with Laura Bingham years ago to celebrate the release of one of her books. Laura was kind enough to give us a delightful interview and I wanted to share some of her tips with you:
Okay, Laura, tell us who you are and what you do.
Nearly a native of Idaho, I was born in Iowa and moved to Idaho at age four. I graduated from Ricks College with an Associates degree and from Boise State University with a Bachelor degree in Biology as well as certification to teach all science subjects in secondary education in the state of Idaho. In my backyard stands a dance studio where I teach youth of all ages clogging and Irish dance. I live in Boise, Idaho with my husband and five young children.
I knew I liked her! I’m from Idaho also–born and raised!
What type of writer are you? Do you plan ahead/plot or do you simply fly by the seat of your pants?
I have a general idea of what the story line is, and then I write in the rest. I love finding out new dimensions of the characters and stories as I write. Always, something unexpected turns up as I go.
Do you write best at a certain time of the day?
Whenever it’s quiet. I’m not picky.
Now that answer is a sign of a true writer, huh? We have to take those writing minutes whenever we get them, especially with little kids running around.
What food or snack keeps the words flowing?
Dark chocolate is the food of life. I don’t really snack while I write, but sometimes I bring hot chocolate to the computer.
Dark chocolate is my bosom buddy–but it really needs to be Dove. 🙂
What sparks a story?
Alvor was the first novel I wrote and it comes with its own story. I wanted to write a book, not a burning need or an unmet goal in life, just a desire. I told my husband that I wanted to write one, and he asked me what I needed to start. I said I had to know what the story was going to be about. This was late at night after we were already in bed. I’m a night owl. He fell asleep five seconds after our conversation. Then the story of Alvor spilled into my head. The characters and the plot- I somehow had a story laid out in front of me. That’s where it all started for me.
What was it about your genre that interested you enough to choose to write in it and not in another genre?
I guess I never grew up. I love kids. I used to teach 9th graders at school. I still teach kids clogging. I love fantasy realism where the story mixes real life with some kind of magic or super power.
What’s the best advice you ever received?
There is more than one story. You have as many opportunities as you create for yourself.
That is a fantastic piece of advice. Thanks for sharing it!
I believe good writers read a lot. What do you use to mark your page when reading?
That depends on where in the house the book is located. I read while I work out (a perfect motivator) and I have a book holder on my elliptical fitness trainer where I use binder clips to hold the pages down while I work out. Then there’s always a book behind the sofa. Right now the page is held by a power company’s lightening bug bookmark/ruler that my second grade son brought home from school a couple months ago.
What one thing do you like most about writing? Least?
I love losing myself in the story and feeling like time has no meaning. It gives me such a happy boost to write several pages in one sitting. What I like least- not getting enough uninterrupted time. I can’t write if I don’t have enough time to get my head back into the story.
What advice would you pass along at this point in your career?
Don’t stop writing. Always move forward.  Don’t give up in the face of rejection.  Seek help through writers groups, writers conferences and the internet. Find other authors and read their stories of how they got published.
Thank you Laura for your great advice and insight into your author world.
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