SPLASH! Interview with Valerie Comer, author of Sweet Serenade

Sweet Serenade

Book Description:

Canadian river guide and canoe builder Reed Daniels stands by as his lifelong friends pair off. After all, he’s waited this long for the right woman… what’s a little longer? But when newcomer Carly shows up at the gang’s bonfire, he’s mesmerized. Could she be the answer to his prayers?


Water-sport enthusiast Carly Thorbergsen is starting over in Riverbend. Hired as a canoeing and hiking guide, she’s ready to focus on work and leave the personal stuff behind. That is until the competition, Reed Daniels, offers her a ride in his cedar-strip canoe. No resisting that!


But no matter how much they have in common, Carly can’t erase her past, and Reed is bound to discover the truth. When a date finds Carly and Reed running rapids on the outside of the canoe, they come face to face with the real reasons their new relationship might capsize.

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Narelle: Welcome, Valerie. Can you please tell us more about the setting for Sweet Serenade.

Valerie: Sweet Serenade is set in Riverbend, British Columbia, Canada, near where I live. At least, it would be nearby if it were a real place! Instead, I took the best features of various communities in this region and combined them into the quaint little town you wish you were from, where seasons are celebrated, and love is in the air.

Narelle: I’d love to visit Canada one day. How does your novella fit with the SPLASH! water theme?

Valerie: The town of Riverbend is on the banks of the Sandon River, but that wasn’t enough to meet the water theme for the Splash! collection. Both of my main characters are avid canoeists and enjoy the outdoors, so quite a few scenes are set on or beside rivers and lakes. Also in the river when they capsize the canoe. Carly and Reed definitely made a splash that day.

My husband and I have enjoyed many hours in our canoe, including a nine-day trip on the Bowron Lakes Canoe Circuit in Canada a number of years ago. Several of our experiences found their way into Sweet Serenade!

Narelle: It’s years since I’ve been canoeing, and I do remember capsizing more than once. Thankfully the water was warm! Is your novella connected to a series?

Valerie: Yes, Sweet Serenade is the third novella in my Riverbend series. Each is a standalone, so readers don’t need to worry about getting lost entering via the third story. My goal is to show the seasons in the community of Riverbend. Secretly Yours is a winter/Valentine’s tale. Pinky Promise takes place in spring, and Sweet Serenade is the summer story. Two more, for autumn and Christmas, will round out this novella series later in 2015.

Narelle: A seasonal novella collection is a fun theme. Valerie, thanks for visiting today and sharing more about Sweet Serenade with our blog readers.

Valerie-Comer-300x300

Valerie Comer’s life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow much of their own food and are active in the local foods movement as well as their creation-care-centric church. She only hopes her creations enjoy their happily ever afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters.

http://valeriecomer.com

http://facebook.com/valeriecomer.author

http://twitter.com/valeriecomer

http://pinterest.com/valeriecomer

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NINE Refreshing Romances Filled with Faith!

Releasing June 23 and available for pre-order on Amazon Kindle for 99 cents.

ACRBA Tour Mirage by Jeanette Grant-Thomson

8 – 12 June 2015

is introducing

Mirage

(Ark House Press)

By

Jeanette Grant-Thomson

About the Book

Miraim is desperate. Her mind is a fog of drug-induced forgetfulness. She has forgotten her past, her family, even who she is. But who is the disturbingly familiar girl in the shopping centre?

Enmeshed in Soleternity, a cult in the Queensland outback, Miriam is pregnant. She believes her future – and that of her baby – lies with the cult.

Bronwyn is determined to rescue Miriam. She has not bargained on falling in love with the journalist helping her.

Away from Soleternity, Miriam faces conflicts. Sol . . .Soleternity . . .and now Anna and Christianity. How can she know the truth? Who is to be trusted?

About the Author

Jeanette Grant-Thomson has been writing since she was a child, having short pieces published. Her first book was Jodie’s Story (Anzea 1991 and two later editions), followed by two more biographies and two novels. She is a teacher and a writer, living in Redlands.

ACFW New Releases: June 2015

ACFW New Releases: June 2015.

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.

Contemporary Romance:

Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Beth K. Vogt — A couple who eloped during spring break during their senior year of high school — and then divorced — have to decide whether they should take a second chance at love. (Contemporary Romance from Howard [Simon & Schuster])

A Pinch of Promise by Elizabeth Maddrey — To escape a painful negative image created by her father, physical therapist Rebecca Fischer has constructed an identity completely separate from her past. Helping Ben Taylor, her long lost love, to rehabilitate his knee threatens to shatter her intricate illusions. As Ben digs to uncover the truth of who she is, Rebecca must decide if she will trust any man with her wounded heart. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Rodeo Reunion by Shannon Taylor Vannatter — Slade Walker, the bronc riding rodeo chaplain breaks all of widowed Raquel’s rules-find a father for her son with a safe occupation, who’s home every night. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Cozy Mystery:

Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman — Amber Bowman, manager of The Amish Artisan Village in Middlebury, Indiana, and her young Amish friend Hanna Troyer must find a killer in order to clear an employee’s name. The only clues they have are cryptic poems and pies from the “Poison Poet”-an individual who has been sending notes containing bad poetry to warn of poisoned baked goods. (Cozy Mystery from HarperCollins Christian Publishing [Thomas Nelson and Zondervan])

General Fiction:

Two Roads Home: A Chicory Inn Novel, Book 2 by Deborah Raney — Can Corinne and Jesse pick up the pieces of what was once a wonderful life before an innocent flirtation and trumped-up charges of harassment crumble it all beneath them? (General Fiction from Abingdon Press)

Historical Romance:

Beyond the Ashes by Karen Barnett – In 1906 San Francisco, a city rising from the ashes, a young widow joins her brother in his cancer research, but Ruby Marshall doesn’t anticipate finding new love. Dr. Gerald Larkspur dreams of filling his empty home with family, but when his friend’s widowed sister arrives to help research, the close quarters seem close indeed. Ruby and Gerald’s fledgling romance is challenged when Gerald develops symptoms of the very disease they’re striving to cure. When time is short, is love still worth the risk? (Historical Romance from Abingdon Press)

Love’s Rescue: A Novel (Keys of Promise) by Christine Johnson — When her mother dies, Elizabeth Benjamin heads home to Key West, determined to transform herself into the perfect Southern belle her parents always wished her to be. But nothing goes according to plan. As family secrets come to light, Elizabeth is faced with a difficult choice: to do her duty and abandon her dreams, or to leave her life of privilege behind to chase the man her father sees as little better than a pirate. (Historical Romance from Revell [Baker Publishing Group])

Family of Her Dreams by Keli Gwyn — A headstrong housekeeper who longs for a family of her own must convince a withdrawn widower she’s the right person to care for his children-and help him learn to live again. (Historical Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

A Flying Affair by Carla Stewart — Daredevil Mittie Humphreys navigates her heart as well as the skies in this beguiling adventure of grit and determination during the rollicking Roaring Twenties. (Historical Romance from Faith Words [Hachette])

Undercover Bride by Margaret Brownley — Pinkerton operative Maggie Michaels travels to Arizona Territory as an undercover mail-order bride to track down the notorious Whistle-Stop Bandit. If she doesn’t prove the suspect guilty before the wedding-she could end up as his wife! (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Now and Forever by Mary Connealy — An accident in the wilderness results in a Matthew Tucker, a solitary mountain man, finding himself hitched to a Shannon Wilde, a woman with a passel of relatives, a homestead, and a flock of sheep to care for. Someone clearly wants to drive Shannon off, but whoever it is apparently didn’t count on Tucker. Trying to scare Matthew Tucker just makes him mad–and trying to hurt the woman he’s falling in love with sets off something even he never expected. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker Publishing])

To Win Her Favor (A Belle Meade Plantation Novel) by Tamera Alexander — A gifted rider in a world where ladies never race, Maggie Linden is determined that her horse will become a champion. But the one man who could help her has vowed to stay away from thoroughbred racing forever. (Historical Romance from Zondervan)

Romantic Suspense:

Permanent Vacancy by Katy Lee — When Gretchen Bauer begins to renovate an old Victorian house with the help of a home improvement TV show, “accidents” start to happen. Could it be a harmful ploy to boost ratings? With many neighbors disgruntled about the inn bringing strangers to their shores, Gretchen has a list of likely suspects. Should she trust the TV show host, handsome Irishman Colm McCrae? She must if she wants to keep her new business venture from turning into a five-star death trap. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Speculative Fiction:

Stealthy Steps by Vikki Kestell — My name is Gemma Keyes. Other than my name, I am utterly forgettable-so those who never paid much attention to me in the first place aren’t likely to notice that I’ve disappeared. Vanished. Oh, it’s much more complicated than that. (Speculative Fiction, Independently Published)

Supernatural Thriller:

The Tuning Station by Chris A Crawford — Atheist Ted Duncan finds himself face-to-face with a copy of himself from a parallel universe; his counterpart, however, is Christian. The pair are given controls to the Tuning Station, a machine that allows them to observe their pasts, and assigned a deceptively simple task: discover the exact moment their lives diverged. Ted believed that it was inevitable he’d leave faith and family behind. But his twin stands as a denial. What single event could have changed everything he knows to be true? (Supernatural Thriller, Independently Published)

Heartsong Presents June New Releases

My sixth contemporary Christian romance book with Harlequin’s Love Inspired Heartsong Presents line, Seaside Proposal, was released last month. Today I’m posting information on the new Heartsong Presents releases for June. The June books are also the final books being published under the Heartsong Presents imprint. I’ve appreciated the opportunity to start my publishing career with Harlequin and the Heartsong line. My agent, Steve Laube, wrote a lovely tribute last year on Heartsong’s Publishing Legacy.

Rodeo Reunion

RAQUEL MARRIS NEEDS A MAN WHO’LL STAY PUT 

And Slade Walker’s not a likely candidate. Even if the former major league pitcher just agreed to coach her son’s little league team. The single mom can’t risk everything on a bronc-riding chaplain who’s only passing through Raquel’s small Texas town.

Slade is taking a hiatus from the rodeo circuit to meet the sister he never knew he had. But the pretty widowed nurse next door is making him think twice about hitting the road again. He can’t turn his back on the cowboys who need him, but Raquel and her boy need him, too. Can Slade fulfill his calling and finally find a place to hang his hat?

buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Read a FREE sample at Amazon.com

Small Town Bachelor

VERITY CLARK DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE 

The struggling single mom is doing her best to raise her three kids. But when her eldest son is caught skipping school, she needs help. Thankfully, truant officer Garrett Sawtelle is on her side. Soon Verity is turning more and more to the caring educator, who’s awakening tender feelings she can’t afford to act on.

Garrett wants to make a difference. He knows it’s against the rules to get too close to the families he counsels. But the spunky widow and her children are fast becoming part of this bachelor’s dreams for the future. Can he convince Verity that, together, they can build something real and lasting?

buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Read a FREE sample at Amazon.com

 Love's Daring Risk

AARON HARRIS LIVES A SIMPLE LIFE 

He’s always been most at home with the sea—not with beautiful, sophisticated women like reporter Madeline Casey. So Aaron can hardly believe it when the newspaperwoman from the big city seems smitten with him. But soon he begins to suspect she’ll do anything to get a scoop—even feign love.

Madeline’s desperate to save her family’s newspaper. And a breaking story about two secretive brothers and their flying machine could be just the headline she needs. But as she chases her lead with Aaron’s help, Madeline just might find herself sailing toward a happily-ever-after with the rugged seaman.

buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Read a FREE sample at Amazon.com

Winning Olivias Heart

TROY MORRISON IS THE BIGGEST CATCH IN TOWN 

Olivia Bradshaw has loved Troy since childhood. And now is her chance with the handsome banker. But when every other woman on San Juan Island is also charmed by his easy manner and good looks, Olivia worries he’ll be just like her philandering father. No matter how often Troy professes his love for her alone.

When Olivia’s family falls on hard times, Troy will do anything to help. Even wed for the sake of their good name. But he knows Liv balks at being forced into marriage. Though Troy’s never wanted anything more than to have Olivia by his side, must he set her free to finally capture her heart?

buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Read a FREE sample at Amazon.com

Introducing SPLASH! and HIS PERFECT CATCH novella cover reveal

I’m excited to reveal the cover for my seventh book release. His Perfect Catch, a spin off story from Seaside Proposal, will be independently released on June 23 in SPLASH!  – a box set collection of nine contemporary Christian romance novellas.

I’ve really enjoyed learning how to indie publish on Amazon Kindle. My friend, Karinne Campbell, did the cover art for His Perfect Catch and I’m thrilled with the result. I also contracted my friend, Iola Goulton, to edit my novella. I’ve loved working with the talented group of ladies who have contributed novellas for SPLASH!

HPC final

Sydney girl Mia Radcliffe borrows her cousin’s beach house in Sapphire Bay, Australia, to escape the scandal surrounding her ex-fiancé. Her new neighbor is her secret crush from years ago… and she’s still captivated by the handsome builder who was a youth group leader at her church.

Living next door to Mia wasn’t part of Pete McCall’s plan when he started renovating his beach house. The blonde beauty inspires thoughts of settling down, despite her high maintenance ways and big-city dreams.

Love kindles during their time together and Mia’s heart is set on returning to Sydney with Pete. When new opportunities arise, Pete and Mia must decide if their love is for keeps.

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NINE Refreshing Romances Filled with Faith!

Available for pre-order on Amazon Kindle for 99 cents

Nine beloved authors of contemporary Christian romance have banded together to offer this limited-time collection of all-new romance novellas perfect for your summer vacation reading pleasure. Come visit Scotland, Zambia, Australia, Canada, and several American states, including Alaska, in these inspirational romance novellas. You’ll love each refreshing contemporary romance as the characters enjoy the water on hot summer days, whether it be in a river, lake, ocean… or a swimming pool!

His Perfect Catch by Narelle Atkins, author of the Snowgum Creek series
A holiday romance isn’t part of the plan when Mia Radcliffe temporarily moves to Sapphire Bay and lives next door to Pete McCall, her secret crush from years ago. Pete prefers the simple life. Can Mia leave behind her big-city dreams and settle with Pete in the seaside town?

Sweet Serenade by Valerie Comer, author of the Farm Fresh Romance series
Carly and Reed thrive on the rush of running rapids in a canoe until they capsize in both river and romance. Will secrets from the past drown their future, or can this idyllic summer romance lead to a lifetime of sweet serenades?

More than Friends by Autumn Macarthur, author of the Love in Store series
When nurse Catriona asks for help with her Vacation Bible School for disabled children, she never imagines how much could go wrong on a simple seaside day out — or that the colleague she’s secretly loved for years might come to see her as more than his best friend’s little sister.

Love Flies In by Heidi McCahan, author of the Emerald Cove series
He’s a seaplane pilot determined to honor his convictions. She’s a kayak guide who mocked his faith for sport. One small lakeside cabin in Alaska can’t house them both.

Testing the Waters by Lesley Ann McDaniel, author of the Madison Falls series
After breaking up with her ultra-critical boyfriend, Teresa decides to reinvent herself. She meets a nice guy named Curt on the beach in Crescent Cove, Oregon, and tells him she’s Terése from Paris. Pretending to be someone else is fun until the unthinkable happens — she starts to fall for him.

The Lifeguards, the Swim Team, and Frozen Custard by Carol Moncado, author of the CANDID Romance series
Lifeguard Alivia Collins looks forward to another summer on the guard stand at the Serenity Landing Aquatic Center. This year, she’s going to have to keep herself from falling for the cute, new guard – or realize it’s time to give love another chance.

Time and Tide by Lynette Sowell, author of the Lone Star Hearts series
When out-of-work fashion journalist Karyn Lewis uses the summer to regroup on the coast of Virginia, she plans to lie low at Pine Breezes campground. She doesn’t plan for her heart to be on a collision course with old friend Brodie Reed. They must decide if the past that looms between them will be too much for them to have a future together.

Draw You Near by Jan Thompson, author of the Savannah Sweethearts series
Savannah artist Abilene Dupree keeps her personal life out of her commercial paintings except one. That one painting has now brought Londoner Lars Cargill back to the coastal town and into her art world. Can she hold him at bay before he invades her personal space and her heart?

Orphaned Hearts by Marion Ueckermann, author of the Heart of Africa series
His faith buried with his wife,  Simon devotes himself to raising his daughter and orphan elephants. Lady Abigail postpones an arranged marriage, leaving England to teach the children of Africa. Will his past—or her future—keep their hearts orphaned?

Grab a tall glass of lemonade or iced tea and dip your toes into a cool pool of water on a hot summer’s day while you enjoy the never-before-released Christian romance novellas in SPLASH! Snag your copy today.

http://www.amazon.com/Splash-Refreshing-Romances-Filled-Faith-ebook/dp/B00X4UEK0E/

ACFW New Releases: May 2015

ACFW New Releases: May 2015.

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.

Contemporary Romance:

Seaside Proposal by Narelle Atkins — Billie Radcliffe is only staying in the close-knit beach community until she finds the man who is the key to her rejection-riddled history. Her growing relationship with good-looking banker and youth leader Zach Montford could crumble when her deepest secret is revealed. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Bachelor to the Rescue by Lorraine Beatty — He made her a widow. Now she and her little girls need his help. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Firefly Valley by Amanda Cabot — Marisa St. George has lost her dream job and come home to manage the struggling Rainbow’s End resort in the small Texas town where she grew up. The only silver lining is Blake Kendall, a new guest who is making her believe in love at first sight. But is he really who she thinks he is? (Contemporary Romance from Revell [Baker Publishing Group])

Summer Brides: A Year of Weddings Novella Collection by Debra Clopton, Marybeth Whalen and Beth Wiseman — A June Bride by Marybeth Whalen: Wynne Hardy says “yes” to the perfect man on a reality TV show, then her ex-boyfriend walks back into her life. A July Bride by Beth Wiseman: Brendan Myers left Alyssa Pennington at the altar. Winning back his bride might prove much more difficult than he can imagine. An August Bride by Debra Clopton: Cousin to the bride, Kelsey Wilcox meets groomsman Brent Corbin at a Texas beach wedding. Brent is determined to change the pretty bistro owner’s mind about cowboys. (Contemporary Romance from Zondervan)

Whenever You Come Around (A King’s Meadow Romance) by Robin Lee Hatcher — Best-selling author Charity Anderson returns home to King’s Meadow to defeat a bad case of writer’s block. Then her dog causes an accident where longtime crush Buck Malone breaks his wrist and ankle. Charity finds herself caring for the handsome wilderness guide, since this calamity will keep him off the trail for weeks during prime tourist-season. Buck finds himself hoping to change this city girl’s mind about small town living. (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing [Thomas Nelson and Zondervan])

Safe in the Fireman’s Arms by Tina Radcliffe — Neither Maggie Jones nor widowed fire chief Jake MacLaughlin are interested in finding love. When they team up as a fake couple to avoid potential dates, sparks kindle and they might just find trouble in Paradise, Colorado. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

The Doctor’s Second Chance by Missy Tippens — When a bachelor’s wayward cousin leaves him with her baby to raise, he’s forced to seek help from the one woman he can’t trust, the town’s new pediatrician. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Can’t Buy Me Love by Beth K. Vogt — A bride-to-be discovers the true cost of love as she plans her uptown destination wedding using Pinterest. (Contemporary Romance from Howard [Simon & Schuster])

A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade — A scarred Texas marine and his vivacious childhood best friend find love and healing while training thoroughbred horses. (Contemporary Romance from Bethany House [Baker Publishing])

General Fiction:

As Waters Gone By by Cynthia Ruchti — Can a marriage survive when separated by hundred of miles and impenetrable prison walls? (General Fiction from Abingdon Press)

Historical Romance:

The Most Eligible Bachelor Romance Collection by Amanda Barratt, Susanne Dietze, Cynthia Hickey,Shannon McNear, Gabrielle Meyer, Connie Stevens, Erica Vetsch, Gina Welborn, Kathleen Y’Barbo, and Jennifer Uhlarik – Nine historical romance novellas where love comes to the most eligible bachelor in town. (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Love by Design (The Dressmaker’s Daughters #3) by Christine Johnson — Jen Fox won’t let anyone keep her from joining the first flight expedition to the North Pole. Even if the person trying to take her seat is the dashing, world-famous stunt pilot Dan Wagner. Their strictly business relationship hits turbulence when both begin to wish for something more personal. (Historical Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Until the Harvest by Sarah Loudin Thomas — When family tragedy derails Henry Phillips’s college studies, he consoles himself with his fiddle and the family farm. His grandmother’s helper, Margaret Hoffman, is always around, ready to push his buttons, and it seems she doesn’t care about his troubles. But Margaret has her own problems. Henry and Margaret soon find themselves relying on each other as they face potential loss and find healing in the most surprising places. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker Publishing])

Medical Suspense:

Fatal Trauma by Richard L. Mabry — It began with Dr. Mark Baker facing a gunman who had nothing to lose, and it could end with him behind bars. (Medical Suspense from Abingdon Press)

Romantic Suspense:

Falcon by Ronie Kendig — When a deadly bombing separates Staff Sergeant Brian “Hawk” Bledsoe, from his team, he must make a choice: save his brothers-in-arms, or save the woman and children depending on him to survive a brutal snowstorm. (Romantic Suspense from Barbour Publishing)

Young Adult:

See No Evil (Rustic Knoll Bible Camp Book 3) by Mary L. Hamilton — Blindness didn’t keep Steven Miller from getting sucked into pornography, and with Dad’s death compounding his guilt, can he atone for his sin by keeping his friend from traveling the same path? (Young Adult Fiction, Independently Published)

Introducing Sapphire Bay (plus Seaside Proposal book giveaway)

Today I’m blogging with International Christian Fiction Writers and talking about Sapphire Bay, one of the settings for Seaside Proposal. I’m also giving away a print copy (worldwide) of Seaside Proposal. Hope to see you there!

http://internationalchristianfictionwriters.blogspot.com/2015/05/introducing-sapphire-bay-plus-seaside.html

 

ACRBA Tour Too Pretty by Andrea Grigg

4 – 8 May 2015

is introducing

Too Pretty

(Rhiza Press, August 2014)

by

Andrea Grigg

About the Book

Being beautiful isn’t easy – just ask Ellie Paxton.

Frustrated by a long string of empty relationships, Ellie makes a promise to God not to date for six months, a promise she’s determined to keep.

Tired of being continually misjudged because of her looks Ellie moves to Sydney for a fresh start. But when her path keeps crossing with the darkly handsome Nathaniel, that promise becomes much harder to fulfil.

As they battle with their attraction for each other, Ellie is not the only one to discover it takes more than simply looking in a mirror to find out who you truly are …

Could it be that God has a bigger plan? Could this really be one of those matches made in heaven …?

About the Author

Andrea Grigg grew up in Auckland, New Zealand, but has lived more than half her life in Australia.

Andrea lives with her husband on Queensland’s Gold Coast, where they have raised their three adult children – two daughters and a son.

Recently retired from teaching ten-year-olds, if she isn’t being a domestic executive or socialising, Andrea can be found in her cave, writing stories.

Narelle: My book recommendation for Too Pretty can be found here.

What Next? (plus Seaside Proposal book giveaway)

Today I’m posting on the Australasian Christian Writers (ACW) blog and talking about ‘What’s Next’ for me in my publishing journey. I’m also giving away a print copy of Seaside Proposal on the ACW blog. Hope to see you there!

http://australasianchristianwriters.blogspot.com/2015/05/what-next-plus-seaside-proposal-book.html