Romance Writers Weekly ~Which Character Would You Be?~ #LoveChatWrite

 This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked "If you could be any one of your characters, which one would you choose?"

So hard! While I love all my characters dearly, as an author, I tend to put my characters through some pretty tough times. That's kind of the job. Would I want to trade places with them? No, not really.

Gabby is the exception that proves the rule, I guess. She'd like that. She's a Pisces, so am I. Her hero is a Scorpio, as is my husband. She walks dogs for a living, I nearly did and still think it's an awesome job! We both lived in Los Angeles--I even gave her my first apartment there! AND I gave her a cool backstory (in the sequel, Going to the Chapel) in which she got to grow up on a farm in Oberon! 

Plus, she and Derek each get cool cameo appearances in the other LA Love Lessons books, AND there's a Christmas sequel in the works. So, yeah...if I had to be any of my characters, I think I'd want to be her.

Now, hop on over to Leslie Hachtel's page to learn which of her characters she'd like to be. And don't forget to check out her book, Come Back to Me.

What would you do if you could go back in time to find your soulmate? For Skye Blaine, the answer is clear: she would do whatever it takes to be with the one she loves. 

Follow her as she travels through time in search of her heart's desire, finding that the path to true love is never easy, but always worth it. Will she find her happy ending? This page-turning story of love, sacrifice, and courage is sure to captivate and inspire. Don't miss out on this unforgettable journey through time!

And coming soon: the sequel “Follow Me”!

https://amzn.to/3thW8BR

Waiting for The Big One

https://books2read.com/b/the-big-one

One girl, two guys and a quest for ultimate satisfaction.

Aspiring actress Gabby Browne refuses to consider her best friend, and personal trainer, Derek Novello for the role of soul mate fearing sex will ruin their beautiful friendship. When she meets Zach, she's convinced that he could be The One. Too bad Derek isn't willing to share-leaving Gabby forced to choose between two sexy co-stars.

An early morning earthquake provides Gabby with the impetus she needs to stop waiting for the stars to align and finally cast her leading man.

Going to the Chapel

https://books2read.com/b/GoingChapel

In Waiting for The Big One, Gabby and Derek went from being friends to being lovers. Now, they're waiting for their "big day". But will it be the wedding of their dreams? Or a bride's worst nightmare?

 

A quick trip to Gabby's hometown turns into the wedding from hell when Gabby and Derek are plagued by hailstorms, lost reservations, voracious goats, angry bees and enough family drama to fill a barn.

 

Guess it's true what they say, "The course of true love never did run smooth." But can the happy couple hold it all together, or will their Big Day turn into a Big Mess?

 

***A slightly different version of this book was previously released as part of the Sapphire Falls Kindle World program***

Musical Monday: Beyoncé Texas Hold 'Em

 Today's song is yet another in honor of the Texas Heat shared-world series, which is due to release next January but is available for pre-order now!

My story in the series is Fall For You (which will also be the first book in my new Heartwood, Texas series). 

I didn't actually like this song when I first heard it, but it's been growing on me. If you want to know what's happening with this book, you can sign up for my newsletter for updates. 

Links

Texas Heat

Heartwood Texas

PG's newsletter

Heartwood Playlist (work-in-progress)

Romance Writers Weekly ~A Family Gathering ~ #LoveChatWrite

 This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked to "Describe a typical family gathering - a birthday celebration, a nothing special dinner, Thanksgiving, Christmas or other holiday. Whatever gathering you like!"

I take issue with the word "typical". lol I'm not good at forming habits. What's "typical" for my family now, is different than it was a few years ago; which was different from a few years before that.

Recently, the holiday hosting mantle has been passed to my son and daughter in law. At least for my family. My sister and brothers haven't ceded their control. And, I have to say, I do miss hosting gatherings. However, my son and daughter in law have a beautiful home and it's not exactly a hardship!

My daughter in law grew up in England and Sweden, so we get a proper Roast Dinner. And because my son loves pie, and my daughter in law does not, she'll bake a pie for dessert (for him) and I'll typically bake something else (madeleines, meringues, sticky toffee pudding) for her...most of the rest of us have both, of course. Lately, I'll also bring a vegetable dish and/or sourdough bread.

It's usually very low key. We'll sit and talk and eat.We might take a walk before or after dinner. Their home is set in a very forested area and it's only a short walk to a river. Sometimes they have guests, or my daughter will fly in to visit. And my grandson usually has some new Lego creation he'll want help with. Apparently, that's a new area of expertise for me!

Anyway, that's what most of our gatherings look like, at the moment.

Now, hop on over to Brenda Margriet's page to see what she has to say. And don't forget to check out  Secrets Under the Covers.

Secrets Under the Covers

 

Start the Silverberry Seduction Seasoned Romance Series for FREE!

 

(Helen and Nathan are both 55)

 

Two long-time friends…one impulsive seduction…zero percent chance their lives will ever be the same again.

 

The peace Helen Mansfield struggled to achieve after the death of her husband is threatened when she discovers a lump in her breast. Determined to keep the alarming news to herself until the biopsy results are revealed, she sets out to wring every drop of delight from her days.

 

Nathan Spieth stood by his wife while she fought and ultimately lost her battle with cancer. Since then, he’s devoted his energy to rebuilding the career that he neglected during her final years, and all his hard work is about to pay off.

 

As neighbours and friends, Helen and Nathan’s lives have been woven together for more than twenty years. One impetuous, impassioned night might destroy everything they share—or prove to this fiercely independent woman and determinedly solitary man that love is always worth the risk.

https://books2read.com/SecretsUndertheCovers

Welcome to Oberon

Oberon Omnibus #1

Three connected tales of love, murder, mystery...all set in a mystical small town where anything might happen.​

​

This volume contains the first three books of the Oberon series:

 

Scent of the Roses

A Sight to Dream Of

Sound of a Voice That is Still. 

Second Chances, Friends to Lovers, Opposites Attract, Hurt-Comfort, Age Gap, Betrayal, Suspense.

Buy Links: https://books2read.com/welcome-to-oberon/

Movie Monday: The Fall Guy

 So I saw the movie The Fall Guy last week and I enjoyed it very much. I love books and movies that combine different genres and this certainly fits that criteria! It's an action adventure, mystery suspense, romantic comedy. 

I loved how there'd be a throwaway line (or a random post-it note) in one act that would eventually turn out to be a set-up (or maybe even the punchline) for a joke that doesn't occur until the next act. I love how they repeatedly nudged at the fourth wall within the context of their  "movie within a movie". I loved how over the top it was--every trope, every cliche, every plot twist and complication...well, okay, they might have missed a couple of twists, but not many. I loved all the movie references and the way that some of the characters communicated almost entirely by quoting lines to each other. I loved how I could see everything that was coming, and they still managed to surprise me.  It was a very charming, epic, madcap, screwball, slapstick farce. 

I personally would have been just as happy if a good percentage of the fight scenes-slash-stunts had been left out, but I understood that the sheer, absurd superfluousness was kind of the point. You've probably heard that it was designed to be a love letter to the stunt industry, so it made perfect sense that they just threw everything they had, everything they could think of doing, into this movie. 

It was joyful and playful. It looked like the kind of film that everyone had a blast making. I saw one review that complained that the chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt wasn't that good. And all I can think is that we must have been watching two different movies. Because I completely disagree with that assessment. I think they're an amazing comedic duo.

It's snarky, ironic, clever and very meta. The actors in the film-within-the-film are frequently asked to do another take--and another, and another--to the point where the audience (or maybe just me?) was saying, "enough already. we get it!" But, aside from it sometimes being a point that "the director" or "the movie star" was making (and/or an important plot point, or an excuse for another stunt) it was also very true to life...which made it a very self-aware, intentional, commentary on the movie making experience. 

I enjoyed it a great deal. HOWEVER, if you go and see it, don't be like me and leave during the credits. I knew it was exactly the kind of movie that would have an additional scene and I was right, but I let myself get talked into leaving. 

Now I suppose I'll have to watch it again. Oh, darn.

I'm giving this movie a rating of four popcorn buckets. They lose one due to the fact that they made Aaron Taylor Johnson SO unlikable. It's similar to how I reacted to Julia Roberts in Notting Hill. The way she played the role, she really sold the whole "just a girl standing in front of a guy" thing so well that it was hard to take her seriously as a famous movie star. Even though, at the time, she was the most highly paid female actor in the world. 

Which, I know, sounds like a me problem. But it's my popcorn. 

And also...I was hoping for a little more of a payoff for the missing mouth guard bit.