Happy Fourth of July to my American friends! I’m looking forward to visiting San Antonio in a few weeks time for the Romance Writers of America conference. It’s winter in Australia and I can see snow on the Brindabella Ranges from the front of my house in Canberra. I can’t wait to visit Texas and enjoy a brief taste of hot summer weather.
Today I’m sharing photos from some of the places I visited during my 2013 USA trip. Enjoy your weekend!
My second fiction book release with Harlequin’s Love Inspired Heartsong Presents line, The Nurse’s Perfect Match, was released in May 2014. Today I’m posting information on the new Heartsong Presents releases for July.
Four Heartsong Presents books are released each month under the Love Inspired brand: two contemporary inspirational romances and two historical inspirational romances. The Love Inspired range of books include contemporary romance (Love Inspired), historical romance (Love Inspired Historical) and romantic suspense (Love Inspired Suspense).
North American readers can purchase books from the Harlequin Reader Service. International readers outside the USA and Canada can purchase the print books online from Amazon and The Book Depository (free international shipping). If you’re looking for inspirational (Christian) romances to read, please check out the Heartsong Presents and Love Inspired books.
ISABELLA ROMANO HAS GIVEN UP ON LOVE
Between her demanding work as a nurse and her father’s poor health, Isabella has no time for distractions. So when a handsome firefighter practically falls at her feet, she keeps him at arm’s length. But Ethan Carter is determined to win her over.
Orphaned at a young age, Ethan longs for a family of his own—and he’s sure Isabella is his match. But when he opens a café near his firehouse, Isabella is less than thrilled. She knows firsthand the strain of being a restaurant owner, and she wants no part of that life. Can Ethan convince the busy nurse they can overcome any obstacle and have their happily ever after together?
Read a FREE sample at Amazon.com
DAVE DUCHARME IS A MAN OF MYSTERY
Dave’s heart is captured from the moment he lays eyes on Ashley Kruger. Too bad it’s while he’s saving her from a bank robbery! When Ashley is injured, Dave promises to stay close. He’s determined to take care of her—and to win her trust.
Ashley can’t believe she was rescued by such a gentle and handsome man. As she gets to know her dashing hero, hope grows that he may be the one for her. But when dangerous secrets from his past come to light, Ashley will have to choose between safety…and love.
Read a FREE sample at Amazon.com
LOVE ISN’T IN CAPTAIN WYATT DARLING’S LOGBOOK
After a violent robbery, Wyatt is left bereft, broken and looking for answers. Solace comes in the form of beautiful Mercy Hastings, who insists he must recuperate at her family’s home. Mercy doesn’t anticipate her pure act of charity will endanger both their lives.
Wyatt’s always been married to his first love: the sea. Resigned to forever being alone, his resolve is severely tested by his captivating rescuer. As Wyatt works with Mercy to identify his attackers, will he find a way to make her his first mate forever?
Read a FREE sample at Amazon.com
KATIE GAMBLE IS ON THE RUN
After her unscrupulous stepfather accuses her of being a thief, a horrified Katie hopes to hide out until she can prove otherwise. But slipping into obscurity in a small Texas town isn’t so easy. Not with Texas Ranger Ward Alston on her tail.
Ward’s used to getting his man—or woman. But he’s not used to the accused being so resolute in her innocence or so beautifully appealing. As he uncovers the truth, Ward realizes this Harvey Girl isn’t all she seems. Together, can they evade danger and obey the law of their own hearts?
Today we’re escaping for the weekend to Mt. Britton in Queensland, Australia, with my author friend Rose Dee. Rose is giving us a tour of a historic outback mining town in her home state of Queensland and sharing one of her family camping spots with us. Enjoy!
Today I am taking you to the Mount Britton Township Flat. Situated in central Queensland, Australia, this historic place is a wonderful spot to visit or camp. We have a mining camp close by, so we spend a lot of time up here in the bush.
It’s hard to imagine that this flat piece of land was once a thriving metropolis. The gold rush era in Australia saw towns popping up all over the country. When the gold dried up, the towns died.
Signs are positioned all over the township flat. Each one details a building that stood on that particular spot. This is my son, Tully at the Mt. Britton School of the Arts sign. Apart from the usual town businesses – hotels, butcher, doctor and school, the town had a photographic studio, and an apiary (bee hives) that doubled as a very well attended church.
This huge fig tree is one of the few reminders left of the townsfolk. The tree was planted to honour the first baby born in the community. These days it makes the perfect camping spot.
Apart from learning all about our rich history, the children had fun exploring the old mining equipment and digging up forgotten treasures the town had left behind. Tully found an old horse buckle, some pieces of china from a Chinese tea set, and the rims of an old pair of glasses.
There is even a cool creek to sit by. We took our chances panning for some gold here, but unfortunately the ‘diggers’ (miners) had beaten us to it over 130 years ago.
ROSE DEE, who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, was born in North Queensland, Australia. Her childhood experiences growing up in a small beach community would later provide inspiration for her first novel, Back to Resolution.
Her novels are inspired by the love of her coastal home and desire to produce exciting and contemporary stories of faith for women.
Beyond Resolution, and A New Resolution are the second and third books in the ‘Resolution’ series.
Rose’s debut novel Back to Resolution won Bookseller’s Choice at the CALEB Awards 2012. A New Resolution won the Fiction Prize, CALEB 2013.
She has also released The Greenfield Legacy, a collaborative novel, written in conjunction with three other outstanding Australian authors.
Rose resides in Mackay, North Queensland with her husband, young son, and mischievous pup, Noodle.
Her novels at available at DeeperShopping and you can learn more about Rose at her website. http://rosedee.com/
Bay Anders is lost. She enjoys every privilege a wealthy upbringing affords, but the void in her soul refuses to be filled. Her mother’s dying revelation drives Bay to the brink of self destruction, before a move to Australia changes everything.
She embarks upon a search for her father that leads her to his island home, into a hazardous melting pot of hostile locals and a mystery – her father’s disappearance. The only person who can help her is a strong, self-assured and intensely magnetic man. Bay must fight an overwhelming attraction to stay focused on her goal.
Flynn McKenna is hiding from the world. A past filled with mistakes drove him to withdraw from society and live in seclusion. But the arrival of a woman he cannot avoid shatters his solitary existence. As the search for Bay’s father unites them, can he resist his desire for her?
Bay Anders is lost. She enjoys every privilege a wealthy upbringing affords, but the void in her soul refuses to be filled. Her mother’s dying revelation drives Bay to the brink of self-destruction, before a move to Australia changes everything. She embarks upon a search for her father that leads her to his island home, into a hazardous melting pot of hostile locals and a mystery – her father’s disappearance. The only person who can help her is a strong, self-assured and intensely magnetic man. Bay must fight an overwhelming attraction to stay focused on her goal. From the glittering streets of L.A, to the beautiful Daintree rainforest of North Queensland, to the idyllic tropical island ‘Resolution’, Back to Resolution is a romantic mystery that shows how far a little faith can go.
Originally published by Even Before Publishing in Australia, 2011. Revised and edited for US market, 2016.
I enjoyed reading this book. Bay and Flynn are fascinating characters who you’ll want to get to know as their relationship develops throughout the story. There are a number of humourous moments as city girl Bay adapts to life on a remote North Queensland island. There was also an honesty in the way the author portrayed the growing attraction between Bay and Flynn and this book could be considered ‘edgy’ by more conservative readers.
The setting is gorgeous and I became absorbed in an idyllic tropical island setting that I didn’t want to leave when the book ended. Back to Resolution is Book 1 in Rose Dee’s series, followed by Beyond Resolution and A New Resolution. I recommend this book to those looking for a fun and romantic contemporary story set in Australia.
Today we’re escaping for the weekend to Colorado, USA, with my author friend Brandy Bruce. Brandy’s giving us a tour of her home state of Colorado and sharing her love of romance set in the Rocky Mountains. Enjoy!
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Romance in the Mountains
After growing up in Texas and then going to college in Virginia, work brought my husband and me to Colorado, which is where I promptly fell in love with the mountains. There’s nothing quite like the majestic snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains or the deep red rocks of Garden of the Gods. Below is a picture of my husband and me at the Garden of the Gods when I was pregnant with my son! It’s a tourist hot spot so we go there nearly every time we have friends or family come visit us.
Colorado is such a beautiful place that I decided to make it the setting for my three-book series with Heartsong Presents. Books one and two take place in Denver, the mile high city. My heroine rides the train from Union Station to her office in the tech center. Downtown Denver is such a fun and vibrant place. (By the way, this photo was taken downtown on my tenth wedding anniversary! I donned my wedding dress and we did an anniversary photo shoot. So much fun!)
Book three takes place in Estes Park, Colorado, a little town up in the mountains right by Rocky Mountain National Park. I absolutely love Estes Park. My hero in that novel is a chef who likes to fly-fish in his spare time. The rivers here in Colorado are wonderful for fly-fishing (or so my husband tells me! He loves to fly-fish). The picture below was taken of my sister and me near Estes Park at Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s a gorgeous place for hiking or camping.
In book two of my series (which releases this July!) one of the main characters purchases a café. I was inspired by the cafés in Manitou Springs, Colorado. From Manitou Springs, you can take a train ride up to Pikes Peak. There are gift shops and restaurants and an old outdoor arcade for kids in Manitou; it’s a super fun place right by Colorado Springs. Speaking of the springs, I love Colorado Springs because there’s so much to do! From the building where I work, you have an incredible view of the mountains, including Pikes Peak. Below is a picture I took on my way into the office. It was a dark, stormy day and I love the look of a storm brewing over the mountains.
There’s something soothing and peaceful to me about looking out and seeing the beauty of the mountains. I so enjoy living in Colorado with my family. And there’s plenty of inspiration for romance! A night out in downtown Denver—perhaps dinner on Sixteenth Street and then catching a play in the theater district. A hike up to a river and a picnic for two, with the sound of water rushing and wind blowing through the Aspen trees. The stars looks endless when you’re in a small mountain town. Ideal settings for a Heartsong Presents novel!
BRANDY BRUCE holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Liberty University. She’s worked as a book editor for more than eight years. Looks Like Love is her first novel. Brandy makes her home in Colorado with her husband and two children. When she’s not editing manuscripts or writing, she’s usually reading–anything from books about vampires to quiet Amish life. She also loves watching movies, talking on the phone with her sisters, blogging, or baking any kind of cheesecake.
Visit her website at http://brandybruce.blogspot.com
ISABELLA ROMANO HAS GIVEN UP ON LOVE
Between her demanding work as a nurse and her father’s poor health, Isabella has no time for distractions. So when a handsome firefighter practically falls at her feet, she keeps him at arm’s length. But Ethan Carter is determined to win her over.
Orphaned at a young age, Ethan longs for a family of his own—and he’s sure Isabella is his match. But when he opens a café near his firehouse, Isabella is less than thrilled. She knows firsthand the strain of being a restaurant owner, and she wants no part of that life. Can Ethan convince the busy nurse they can overcome any obstacle and have their happily ever after together?
‘Dear God It’s Me and It’s Urgent’ provides prayers for private devotion and meditation, or for sharing with other women. Inspiring and challenging they are rooted firmly in everyday life. Topics range from A Bride’s Prayer on the Eve of her Wedding,Reluctant Hospitality and After Chemotherapy, mixing wisdom and compassion with a touch of humour.In a world where people often seem too busy to listen or care God is always available. No appointment is required.
Marion Stroud has written 3 children’s books, and 23 non-fiction titles. She lives in Bedford UK the town in which John Bunyan wrote his famous Pilgrim’s Progress. She is a cross cultural trainer for Media Associates International [www.littworld.org] which works to help Christian writers, editors and publishers write and publish culturally appropriate material in the ‘spiritually hard places’ of the world. You can contact marion at www.marionstroud.com
Narelle: My book recommendation can be found at the following link:
Today we’re escaping for the weekend to Arkansas, USA, with my author friend Cynthia Hickey. Cynthia’s giving us a tour of her hometown of Atkins (great name!) and sharing her vacation with her family. Enjoy!
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In June of 2014, I visited my home town of Atkins to visit my family. While there, we attended Homecoming at the town of Appleton, where my father grew up. The church was built in 1912.
We also hiked my favorite mountain, Petit Jean, where I found my grandfather’s name carved into a rock. We estimate the year to be 1917, right before he shipped off to war. Me and my granddaughter are pointing out his name.
Here is a picture of my great grandmother’s name, carved the same year. I love history, don’t you? Many of my historical romances have a trace of my family history in them.
When we left the house cave where these photos were taken, I managed to fall and hurt my leg pretty severely, but that did not stop me from heading to one of the most beautiful waterfalls. This is also on Petit Jean Mountain.
This picture shows my son, grandchildren, and niece and nephew in front of the falls.
And the real reason we head home to Atkins, Arkansas … family. Here is my mother, me, and my two sisters.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse into my vacation.
Multi-published and Best-Selling author CYNTHIA HICKEY had three cozy mysteries and two novellas published through Barbour Publishing. Her first mystery, Fudge-Laced Felonies, won first place in the inspirational category of the Great Expectations contest in 2007. Her third cozy, Chocolate-Covered Crime, received a four-star review from Romantic Times. All three cozies have been re-released as ebooks through the MacGregor Literary Agency, along with a new cozy series, all of which stay in the top 50 of Amazon’s ebooks for their genre. She has several historical romances releasing in 2013 and 2014 through Harlequin’s Heartsong Presents, and has sold more than 160,000 copies of her works. She is active on FB, twitter, and Goodreads. She lives in Arizona with her husband, one of their seven children, two dogs and two cats. She has five grandchildren who keep her busy and tell everyone they know that “Nana is a writer”.
Visit her website at www.cynthiahickey.com
ANNIE ROLLINS LONGS FOR ADVENTURE
But her strict mother keeps her close to home, working as a Harvey Girl waitress. Until Dallas Baker shows up in town and takes the job Annie really wants—leading tours through the Grand Canyon. Annie’s frustrated, but finds it impossible to ignore the handsome outdoorsman.
With her split skirts and modern hairdo, Annie challenges Dallas’s old-fashioned notions of what makes a lady. To his surprise, he finds her delightful, until he learns she has no interest in settling down. Dallas is ready to win her heart, but is Annie willing to fall in love?
On Friday I’m blogging at the Australasian Christian Writers group blog, and talking about our changing book buying habits. Hope to see you there!
http://australasianchristianwriters.blogspot.com/2014/06/our-changing-book-buying-habits.html
Today I’m blogging on the International Christian Fiction Writers blog, talking about writing for a North American audience from an Australian perspective. Hope to see you there!
Today we’re escaping into the mountains, and visiting one of my favourite places that’s only a short drive from Canberra, my home town. Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is located on the south-western side of Canberra, Australia, in the Brindabella Ranges. The southern end of the Brindabella Ranges adjoins the Snowy Mountains, the setting for my Snowgum Creek contemporary romance series.
There are a number of walking trails to choose from, ranging from easy to hard. The Sanctuary is a wetlands ecosystem, and an easy walk in the bush around a pretty lake.
The rangers hand feed the pelicans who live in The Sanctuary. During my last visit, a ranger provided a commentary on how Australian Pelicans usually live around coastal and inland waterways, and can fly long distances in search of food. The two pelicans in the photo below have unfortunately had their wings clipped in the past, which means they can’t fly and survive in the wild.
The pelican’s favourite food is fish. The ranger threw a number of whole fish, which the pelicans caught in their large bills. I learned that the pelicans have a hook on the end of their bills. This enables them to hold onto and manoeuvre the slippery fish into their bill pouch before they swallow it whole, longways. If the fish is swallowed sideways, it could get caught in their throats and cause the pelicans a lot of distress.
A large number of eastern grey kangaroos live in the nature reserve. They graze in the open grasslands, and are usually found in groups.
The mountains views in Tidbinbilla are gorgeous, and a definite highlight.
I hope you’ve enjoyed hiking around Tidbinbilla, and exploring the native flora and fauna. Enjoy your weekend!
