Tag Archives: Vermont Inn

April 1, 2021 · 12:45 am

#backlistthursday 4.1.2021

SO today’s backlist book isn’t very old or backlisty- it’s from November 2018, but it’s a good little story and I wanted to garner some press for it.

HOPE’S DREAM  is part of the Deerbourne Inn Novellas from the Wild Rose Press. It’s a story of lost dreams and career disillusionment set in a tiny Vermont town during the winter ski season. The h/h, Hope and Tyler, are two people that in the real world would never have met and fallen in love. Thank goodness for fiction! heehee.

Enjoy HOPE’S DREAM 

Hope Kildaire gave up her dream of becoming a nurse practitioner when a car accident killed her father and left her mother an invalid. Working two jobs and caring for her mother leaves the twenty-seven-year-old with no time for fun or relationships. When a law firm representing her paternal grandparents sends her several letters, Hope ignores them. She despises the family who disowned her father and wants nothing to do with them.

Lawyer Tyler Coleman’s job is simply to obtain Hope’s signature on a legal document. Getting it is harder than planned, though, when an unexpected attraction blossoms between them. If Ty is honest with Hope about why he’s in Willow Springs, he’ll fulfill his assignment but may risk hurting her.

The opportunity to have everything she’s ever desired is at Hope’s fingertips. Will her dream come true at the expense of Tyler’s love?

The story is also avialable in audiobook form

As he started back toward the inn, his hands secured in his pockets against the night chill and his neck burrowed under his scarf, he realized he needed to tell her who he was before this went any further. He should have done it tonight, as he’d originally planned. Why he hadn’t was as clear to him as the night sky above: he was frightened once she knew the truth she’d want nothing to do with him.

Could he blame her? While he hadn’t outright lied, he hadn’t told her the truth, either. Which was worse? An intentional fabrication or a lie of omission? Both felt equally wrong right now.

Disappointment had clouded her face when he’d broken their kiss. She felt something for him. That look proved it. He could only hope once she knew who he really was and why he was in her home town, she’d be able to forgive his subterfuge.

Intrigued? here ya go: HOPE’S DREAM

Advertisement

2 Comments

Filed under Writing

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

July 31, 2019 · 12:10 am

A new #DeerbourneInn Release from #Author Eve Dew Crook

Today I’ve got another fabulous Wild Rose Press sistah, Eve Dew Crook, and her newest book, an addition to the Deerbourne Inn Series, A Bean, a pea, and a Mammoth Tusk. Come and read a little about her, and her life, and then read an excerpt from her Deerbourne Inn addition.

Funny account of our wedding day.

I still laugh whenever I recall my wedding day. Okay, it was warm and wonderful, too, but it tickles me to recall it, and tickle is the key word.

 After a Christmas holiday visit to our accountant, hubby-to-be and I were advised to marry before the year ended. My guy had changed jobs that year with a sizable salary bonus, something a newly married couple could really use. Our wedding was planned for the end of January, too late to change the reception. The actual ceremony, however, was held on New Year’s Eve, on the porch of my in-law’s home, with Ken’s father, a retired minister, officiating. Present were our two closest friends, Ken’s mother, and the family dog, Lassie. The ceremony was lovely, while the most excited member of the wedding party, Lassie, kept running around and between our legs as we stood before his father. I wore a gauzy cocktail dress and sheer stockings, and the swish of the collie’s tail every time she ran between us tickled. What a time to hold back a giggle!It’s many many years later now, and we’re still married, so adding a bit of unexpected humor to the solemn ceremony worked its magic!

My books and incidents about the titles.

I’ve published four books for The Wild Rose Press, mostly romantic suspense, and had fun with the titles on all of them. My first, TAKING THE TUMBLE, was fun because of the different meanings for Tumble, both as “falling for you” and as “taking the fall.” Before final acceptance, my editor suggested building up the villain a bit more. Once I got into the mindset, it was fun to do, and in the process I wrote a poem in six limericks, called “A Writer’s Plight.” It’s on my website along with other limericks I love to write. http://evedewcrook.

  My second book, PERIL, PASSION, PERU, had a wonderful moment for me. I described a scene that included the husband treating himself to an expensive briefcase, without really knowing why. Imagine my amazement as I got near the end of the story to find out the briefcase turned into a key element in the plot! So much of of writing is intuitive.

I did a quick switch for my third book, SEX, LOVE, & THE SPACETIME PINCH, a sexy sci-fi adventure under the pen name of Vee Bentley. The concept of pinching spacetime was used to get my characters to a fascinating new planet. Guilt-free shenanigans there.

  My current book, releasing today under my own name once more, is part of a series of books by different authors, all taking place in or about a historic inn in Vermont, the Deerbourne Inn. The title, A BEAN, A PEA, AND A MAMMOTH TUSK, is a teaser for a sweet romance between a rookie sheriff’s deputy and a middle school principal. The bean and pea are part of a Twelfth Night celebration, while the mammoth tusk is unearthed in a nearby forest and causes enough commotion to warrant the hiring of another deputy. The two events tie up in the lovely inn.

Writing for a series had both Pleasures and Pitfalls. I loved combining characters and am using some on my next book. My pitfalls included bringing a character to town via the covered bridge while the airport was in the other direction! Happily my editor caught it in time.
 A Bean, a Pea, and a Mammoth Tusk

They would never have met without the mammoth tusk.

Middle school principal Stephen Lathrop loves winning marathons. Rookie deputy Megan Snow delights in her Criminal Justice certificate. But when a 12,000-year-old tusk is found buried in Vermont, everything changes. Reporters and TV crews take over the town.

To celebrate, the Deerbourne Inn plans a Twelfth Night feast and festival. The events include serving slices of the fabulous King cake and crowning the King and Queen of Mischief. Though mischief does follow, romance, too, is in the air.

Rookie Megan is added to the sheriff’s crew. Principal Stephen gets involved at the Inn. Notorious TV chef Pierre Chasse arrives with Celine, his “hostess.” She and Megan form an unusual friendship. Then, mysterious strangers appear. A child goes missing. Teens try to steal the tusk. Clamor and mischief ensue.

Is this the time to plan a wedding?

Excerpt 

“I’m here to confess.” Stephen Lathrop’s soft voice floated across her desk in the sheriff’s office.

Startled, Megan looked up. She took a deep breath, smiled. “What are you admitting to?”

“A desire to find out if you’re free next Sunday.”

“But…you know I’ll be back in Middlebury.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’ll pick you up there.”

“It’s nice of you to offer…” She sighed. “I usually work weekends, Stephen. Now that school is back in session…our schedules don’t mesh.”

“Too bad.” He pretended to pout, but she could tell he hadn’t given up.

After a second’s pause, Stephen tried again. “Well, how about some evening? Dinner and a movie? Kings and queens do have to keep up appearances, you know.” He couldn’t hang on to his earnest pose for long. Megan watched it disintegrate into chuckles.

“Of course, I wouldn’t want to disappoint the town…” Her lashes fluttered. “But seriously, some nights I work. Other times, Ma isn’t feeling well…”

“Tell you what.” He sat down on the corner of her desk, leaned over and wheedled. “Suppose we plan a night out, but if you have to stay home, I’ll come over and bring carry-out.”

She reached for the hand he’d braced on the desk, ran her fingers over his knuckles.  “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Not at all…well, maybe a little.” He tipped his head to the side, grinned. “We can get to know each other better…”

Buy Links:

Amazon  //   Nook

A little about Eve…

Eve Dew Crook is the author of romantic suspense novels, sassy and sexy, sweet and scary. The Wild Rose Press has published TAKING THE TUMBLE and PERIL, PASSION, PERU, both available on Amazon in both print and e-book.

Her short stories have been published in romance magazines and her poem, “The Painted Caves,” in the Nassau Review. Eve also writes funny poetry. You’ll find “The Song of the Lovesick Siren” on the author’s page at the end of Peril, Passion, Peru. On her website is a limerick about Goya’s Maja, “in clothing or nude,” a poem-computer parody, “Apple Pied Beauty,” one on Writers and Villains, and more.

Eve was an editor at Newsday and taught writing in college. When she’s not working on her new novel, a sci fi romantic thriller, dreaming up more limericks, or trying to figure out how to work with the (expletive deleted) social media, Eve enjoys desert living.
You can connect with Eve here:
Website //  newsletter //  goodreads // facebook

THE DEERBOURNE INN SERIES ( to date)

By Reservation Only   by Barbara Edwards

Hope’s Dream   by Peggy Jaeger

Freedom’s Path   By Linda Carroll Bradd

Lyrical Embrace  by Amber Daulton

Spirited Quest     by Julie Howard

Soul of the Storm By Jean M. Grant

Lion Dancing for Love   by Laura Boon

Forever In A Moment  by Charlotte O’Shay

Witches’ Cliff   by Peggy Chambers

Mystic Maples by Tena Stetler

Love Calls You Home by Donna Simonetta

Love Proof by Luanna Stewart

3 Comments

Filed under Deerbourne Inn, WIld Rose Press AUthor

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

June 26, 2019 · 12:24 am

A new #DeerbourneInn book from Wild Rose Press #author #LuannaStewart

 


 

I’m so excited! Another wonderful DEERBOURNE INN novella has been released. This one’s called LOVE PROOF and it’s by ubertalented and multipublished WRP sistah LUANNA STEWART.

Luanna dropped by recently to give me a little peek at what she does during her favorite season, Summer. She’s an active gal, for sure.

Luanna, take it away…

Summer at last!

Summer has finally arrived in my neck of the woods, both officially and according to the outdoor temperature. A long, cold, wet spring gave us all cabin fever. But now we can open the windows, slip on the flip flops, and soak up a bit of Vitamin D – after the proper application of sunscreen, of course.

In no particular order, here are my favourite summer activities:

 

Camping – every summer we camp at least once in our favourite campground, Kejimkujik National Park. From before we were married, through our boy’s childhoods and teen years, and including last summer, we’ve enjoyed hiking, paddling, and listening to the call of the loon.

 

Long walks in the neighbourhood. We live toward the end of a dead end country road and there is little traffic – the perfect route for walking. The only neighbours I see on a regular basis are a small herd of cows.

 

 

Sitting on our beach watching the osprey and bald eagles fish for their supper. We are blessed with our own little piece of heaven and enjoy the quiet and solitude every evening at beer o’clock, provided the weather cooperates.

Exploring other beaches – we can be at any number of lovely, sparsely inhabited beaches within an hour’s drive of our house. Long stretches of sand or pebbles are the perfect spot to hunt foe beach glass.

Hanging the wash on the clothesline. You may think I’m silly, but I love, love, love making use of sunshine and wind (free to everyone) to dry the clothes. Nothing beats the scent and feel of line-dried sheets on the bed.

Kayaking – since we have water frontage, it’s a simple matter to carry our boats to the water’s edge, climb in, and paddle away. We can circumnavigate a large island off the coast, or explore nearby coves and inlets. We enjoy watching he shearwaters dive for fish, and have even been kept company by a couple of seals.

What is your favourite summer activity? Or, if you live in the southern hemisphere, how are you spending your winter days?

 

 

 

 

Blurb:

Unemployed photojournalist Raynor Elliot stops at a bakery near the famous Deerbourne Inn. Not only does he get a lead on a job but the bakery’s owner is that awkward kid he knew in high school, only now she has fabulous curves and an irreverent sense of humor. The cozy bakery, with its aroma of sugar, vanilla and spice, has more to offer than tasty cookies.

Fiona MacLeod has been plagued for years by the need to make amends for telling The Big Lie. When the lie’s victim strolls into her bakery with his icy blue stare and killer charm, she feels like she’s standing too close to a hot oven.

Between running her bakery and frosting cupcakes for the Mad River Garden Party, she’s pretty sure she’s falling in love with this infuriating, sexy man. Can Fiona dredge up the courage to confess, face the consequences, and hope for forgiveness?

Excerpt:

“I remember those days.” She pushed the calculator to the side, too tired to worry about planning the week’s baking schedule. “Why’d you study journalism?

“Truth is important to me. I was tired of all the lies in government, at every level. I wanted to change that. Ultimately make the world a better place. Easy peasy, right?” His lips quirked and he shook his head.

“That’s why I decided to be a baker. Brighten someone’s day with a special treat.”

He scooted his chair closer and pointed at the column of numbers on the page. “You want me to do the rest?” His arm, bare to the bicep, lightly tanned, dusted with blond hair, a little lighter than on his head, rested less than an inch from her own spindly pale arm. Not spindly compared to other women, hefting bags of flour and moving trays of baked goods did take some muscle power. But spindly compared to his manly toned muscles flexing under skin that she’d bet her last jar of sprinkles was smooth and warm. She clenched her hand.

No touching allowed.

“We have cupcakes to frost.” She bounded from the chair and rushed into the kitchen.

Holy moly, the guy oozed sex. In a good way. A very good way. She pulled a clean apron off the shelf and cinched it around her waist. An extra layer of armor between her and temptation in the form of Raynor. The seeker of truth. The man whose mission in life was to expose lies. The reporter who thought liars were not decent human beings.

Get your copy here:

Amazon US // Amazon CA // AMazon UK // Amazon Au // Nook // Kobo

A little more about Luanna…

Luanna Stewart has been creating adventures for her imaginary friends since childhood. At the tender age of twelve she discovered her grandmother’s stash of romance novels, after which all plots had to lead to a happily-ever-after.

Luanna spends her days writing sexy romantic suspense, steamy paranormal romance, and spicy historical romance. When she’s not torturing her heroes and heroines, she’s either in her kitchen baking something delicious, or protecting her garden from the chickens. She lives in Nova Scotia with her incredibly patient husband and two spoiled cats.

You can connect with Luanna here:

Website // Twitter // Instagram // Facebook // Pinterest // Goodreads // Amazon  

And don’t forget to read all the other DEERBOURNE INN books already out in the book reading world! There are more to come in the next year, and I’ll be promoting them all.

 

THE DEERBOURNE INN SERIES ( to date)

By Reservation Only   by Barbara Edwards

Hope’s Dream   by Peggy Jaeger

Freedom’s Path   By Linda Carroll Bradd

Lyrical Embrace  by Amber Daulton

Spirited Quest     by Julie Howard

Soul of the Storm By Jean M. Grant

Lion Dancing for Love   by Laura Boon

Forever In A Moment  by Charlotte O’Shay

Witches’ Cliff   by Peggy Chambers

Mystic Maples by Tena Stetler

Love Calls You Home by Donna Simonetta

By Reservation Only (Deerbourne Inn) Hope’s Dream (Deerbourne Inn)Freedom’s Path (Deerbourne Inn)Lyrical Embrace (Deerbourne Inn)
Spirited Quest (Deerbourne Inn)Soul of the Storm (Deerbourne Inn)Lion Dancing for Love (Deerbourne Inn Series)Forever in a Moment (Deerbourne Inn)
  Witches’ Cliff (Deerbourne Inn Series) Mystic Maples (Deerbourne Inn Series)Love Calls You Home (Deerbourne Inn)Love Proof

13 Comments

Filed under Deerbourne Inn, WIld Rose Press AUthor

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

April 10, 2019 · 12:03 am

A new #DeerbourneInn novella & visit from #author Charlotte O’Shay

I am so pleased to have another Wild Rose Press sistah with me today and her newest release, an addition to the  Deerbourne Inn series. Please welcome , an uber-talented author and my friend, Charlotte O’Shay and her new book FOREVER IN A MOMENT ( Deerbourne Inn).

Hi Peggy,

Thanks for inviting me to visit your busy blog. Today is release day and I’m so excited to share my new release Forever in a Moment.

Why did you write this story?

Perfect question. There are a million stories out there aren’t there? and so many romance tropes.

Forever in a Moment is my take on some age-old questions: Is there such a thing as love at first sight? What role does fate play in our lives?

I do believe in love at first sight, that instant connection that tells you this person, this guy or woman, is the one. And yet what we know as people and as authors is: nothing is ever that easy. If you asked Sam, my heroine, she’d tell you she didn’t believe anything, especially love happens that fast. Then she meets Jed…and wow. Now I think she’d say, “when you know, you know.”

What was your favorite part about writing this story?

My favorite part of this story was writing it in first person POV, which was the only way to write Sam. She’s a fish out of water in rural Vermont whose natural optimism is squashed when she’s jilted. Sam was like a friend who called me up to say: you’ll never believe the week I just had. She told me her story and I wrote it down. Fastest I’ve ever written a book.

I also Ioved the way our publisher’s series bible gave me an array of people like Jared Crawford who works at the inn and Karla Payne to work with. I met those characters and my imagination took off.

Favorite moments in the story?

I love the way Sam got to know the people in Willow Springs as individuals. She came up to the inn to lick her wounds but she’s a natural optimist and people person. I loved seeing the town and the people of Willow Springs through her eyes. She’s the quintessential empathetic person who’d give you the shirt off her back. I loved watching everyone warm to her…especially Jed *wink*

Now about you. What drove you to become a romance author?

Reading and writing were my companions at all levels of school and beyond, in spite of the fact that I have a large family. I fight my introverted personality and I’m always happiest deep into book whether someone else’s or my own.

I love the escape reading provides and the feeling I get in the hands of an author who can tell a good story well. It’s transportive. I strive to be that author.

Do you write in other genres?

Not yet. I do sometimes feel otherworldly or spiritual elements creeping into my stories. I talk about fate in the dedication to this book.

Here’s the Dedication:

I believe in destiny. I believe we drive the car but fate takes us on uncharted roads. I believe in the hope and fresh start of every New Year.

I love history too. But so far the stories that come fastest are the contemporaries and I’ve focused on them.

What’s next?

Book 3 in my steamy City of Dreams series, Their No Strings Affair will release on May 29th. You can find that blurb on my website.

Thanks Peggy!

Totally my pleasure, Charlotte. ~peg

 

A stormy encounter… 
Samantha DeMartino’s Christmas wedding is two weeks away when her fiancé calls the whole thing off. Word on the street: his cold feet are being heated by an old flame. With her well-ordered world in complete disarray, Sam’s friends convince her to go on her honeymoon—alone. A week at a charming Vermont inn away from the city and her demanding corporate career could be just what she needs to figure out her next steps. 
Between his twenty-four seven work schedule on his family’s dairy farm and teaching tourists to ski, Jed Armstrong’s too busy to think about how lonely he is…until Sam sings her way into his life during a Christmas blizzard. Now he has to figure out a way to convince her to stay. 
Can a vivacious city girl find forever with a reclusive farmer? 
Will her secret keep her from trying?

Forever in a Moment Buy links

Amazon // Kobo // Google Play //

A little more about this wonderful author…

Author Charlotte O’Shay was born in New York City into big family and then married into another big family. Negotiating skills honed at the dinner table led her to a career in the law. But after four beautiful children joined the crowded family tree, Charlotte traded her legal career to write about happily ever afters in the City of Dreams. Charlotte loves to challenge her heroines and heroes with a crisis and watch them figure out who they are while they fall in love.

You can connect with Charlotte here: 

WEBSITE//INSTAGRAM//TWITTER// PINTEREST //  FACEBOOK PAGE

// BOOKBUB

My review of FOREVER IN A MOMENT is here ( Hint: I loveloveloved it!)

By Reservation Only      Hope’s Dream     Freedom’s Path   

      

Lyrical Embrace     Spirited Quest       Soul of the Storm

              

Lion Dancing for Love

10 Comments

Filed under Deerbourne Inn, Romance, WIld Rose Press AUthor

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

March 27, 2019 · 12:18 am

A new #DeerbourneInn release by #Author Laura Boon

 

Today, another wonderful Deerbourne Inn book releases. This one is titled LION DANCING FOR LOVE and it’s by WRP sistah, Laura Boon.

When I knew the book was going to be released into the romance reading world, I asked Laura to write up a little sumthin’ sumthin. on research she did for the book because she’s not a native Vermonter ( the book’s locale). In fact, she lives outside the U.S. so I knew her research story was going to be a goodie! Allow me to let her tell it in her own words. Here’s Laura…

When The Wild Rose Press put out a call for submissions for their Deerbourne Inn series, I was intrigued. I liked the collaborative nature of the series which meant I would be working with other writers (such as the wonderful Peggy Jaeger who is hosting me today) as well as the team at WRP. In the story bible, I read about Corey Duncan, third generation business owner and a man widowed too early in life. I had found my hero. I just needed a heroine to pull him out of the bubble he had withdrawn into. Up popped Caitlin and Lion Dancing for Love was born. Time to get to work! There was just one problem. I live in Australia and have never been to Vermont. (Peggy here: yes, that would be a problem, hee hee!)

Fortunately, I was lucky enough to study in Kansas many years ago, courtesy of a tennis scholarship. The team travelled around a good bit, but mostly in the Midwest and South. I never got to New England. So, I knew something about America and Americans but nothing specific about Vermont.

Thank goodness for Google!

I started by researching the geography of Vermont. What was the weather like in February and March (the time period covering my story)? What drives the economy? What is its history? Is a particular architectural style favored? What transport is favored? Who are its people? What sports do they play? What do they do for fun? What are their values? One of my characters is half Chinese, so I wanted to know how people in Vermont would treat her.

I approached the Vermont travel board, who were extremely helpful and mailed me a package, which reminded me that Vermont is a foodie state, committed to local produce and so I disappeared down another, mouthwatering, rabbit hole, exploring the menus of Vermont restaurants. I downloaded images to create an electronic pin board so I could look at visuals and maps for when I need to imagine the Inn, Main Street and Town Square in Willow Springs. And I read books like Peggy’s Hope’s Dream to see how she portrayed Willow Springs.

Fingers crossed, readers will enjoy my interpretation of Willow Springs. My editor, who doubles as my first American reader, seemed to (more finger crossing). However, for me, the most important thing to remember is that people are people. We may differ on the surface in terms of accent, cultural backgrounds, education and ethnicity – all of which provide wonderful color and diversity to our world – but on the inside, we have the same hopes, fears and passions, the same conflicted relationships with our mothers, and the same appreciation for loyalty, kindness, strength – and a good-looking man in a pair of blue jeans. 😉

Peggy here, again: OMG! I love how you did your research. I live next door to Vermont in New Hampshire and I didn’t know they were considered a foodie state. I’m gonna have to spend more time in Vermont, for sure! Thanks so much for joining me today, Laura. Now, let’s hear about LION DANCING FOR LOVE and your wonderful characters!

 

 

Licking her wounds after a bad relationship, San Diego accountant Caitlyn Summers travels to Willow Springs to help her friend gear up for the annual Maple Sugar Ball. She isn’t planning on staying long, but one encounter with the delicious Corey Duncan has her re-evaluating her plans. 

Corey swore off love when his wife Annie died from breast cancer. Caitlyn is too young, too citified, and vibrates with a passion and energy that will upend the safe, comfortable rhythm of his life. Corey has to choose between playing it safe and taking a risk on love. Caitlyn needs to find the patience to let Corey lead. If not, the Maple Sugar Ball might end in a sticky mess, instead of a slow dance with the man who has captured her heart.

Will their fire burn hot enough to erase doubts and past hurts?

Excerpt:

“You don’t have to be good at it. You have to be able to follow and count to three.”

She put her hands on her hips. It was his turn to raise a brow. “I can follow—if I choose to.”

He chuckled. “Such sass. Prove it.”

He held out his left hand, and she moved forward and placed her right inside it. He twined their fingers and pulled her into position. A heady combination of scents rose from her, vanilla and pheromones and something uniquely Caitlin. Her skin was slick against his. “Rest your head against my chest,” he murmured.

“I don’t recall that as an official position.”

“It’s the one I favor. Stand on my feet. That’s it.” He adjusted her arm, so she had a good hold around his neck and drew her even closer. “Step with your right foot first…back across, together. Forward, across, together. Back, across, together. Forward, across, together.”

Halfway through the song, he let her feet slip to the ground. At the end he kept a firm grip on her waist while he hit replay, then led her through a series of fast twirls, their bodies so close they were almost one. When the song ended, they collapsed in a heap against the wall. She was giggling.

“What?”

“I get why it was considered scandalous when it was first introduced.”

He smiled and tipped her chin toward him with a finger. “It’s only scandalous if you do it properly.” He brushed his lips softly across hers, then claimed her mouth as she breathed into him.

You can purchase LION DANCING FOR LOVE here:

Amazon // i tunes // Kobo // GooglePlay // Deerbourne Series ( WRP)

A little about Laura Boon….

Laura Boon stole her first romance from her father’s bookshelves as a teenager, The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss, and was immediately captivated. After holding a variety of positions in publishing, from bookseller to sales rep and publicist, she eventually found the courage to write her own stories. She was born in Zambia, grew up in South Africa, and went to university in America. She now lives in Australia with her husband and their fur babies Beau and Arro. When she is not reading or writing, she enjoys sleuthing for artisan chocolate and beautiful stationery, watching tennis, and walking alongside Sydney’s beautiful harbor. You can find Laura online via her blog or Facebook page and on Twitter, Instagram, GoodReads, Bookbub and Amazon.

Peggy here: click here to read my review of LION DANCING FOR LOVE.

Be sure to discover the other, already released books of the Deerbourne Inn series – and watch for more releases in 2019 and 2010!

By Reservation Only      Hope’s Dream     Freedom’s Path   

      

Lyrical Embrace     Spirited Quest       Soul of the Storm

              

 

 

2 Comments

Filed under Deerbourne Inn, WIld Rose Press AUthor

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

March 20, 2019 · 12:01 am

#DeerbourneInn Presenting #author Jean Grant and Soul of the Storm

The next installment in the DEERBOURNE INN series, SOUL OF THE STORM   releases today!!! And I’ve got its author, Wild Rose Press sistah JEAN GRANT with me, discussing the book, why novellas are the hot thing to read and she’s even sharing some of the research she did while writing the book. Sit back and join me in sharing how this great new addition to the series came to be.

Why read a novella in a series?

  1. You can read it in a sitting or two.
  2. You can read more than one in the series.
  3. Sometimes it’s “just enough” when our TBR pile is gigantic.
  4. Fewer characters to remember.
  5. Without committing to a larger novel, you can get a taste for that author’s voice.
  6. There is still a compelling plot and characters with goals, motivations, and conflict. Like Goldilocks, it can be “just enough.” Not too much, not too little.
  7. Less subplots and timelines to juggle. The story gets straight to the chase.
  8. You can get to the HEA (Happy Every After) faster.
  9. They tend to be less verbose.
  10. They are just fun.

Fun.

Really. I have soft spot for reading novellas. I adore Diana Gabaldon’s big tomes, but I must admit that some of my favorites are her “bulges” as she calls them. Sweet, shorter side stories that flesh out the Outlander world.

Stories are meant to pull us in, make us think, provide entertainment, nurture whatever needs to be nurtured. So why not give the Deerbourne Inn books a whirl? I know I’ve already read a few beside my own and plan to read a few more…

What did I learn while writing Soul of the Storm?

  1. Vermont is a LONG (tall?) state (I took a trip to the Mad River Valley for “research” and fun; it was my second visit there).
  2. It really is a green state.
  3. Mud season exists. And you better be careful on those hiking trails in the spring!
  4. The river water is still icy cold at the end of May.

5. A gleaned a lot of fascinating information about civil air patrol, search and rescue procedures, search and rescue dogs/canine units, and Vermont State Police jurisdiction and procedures. I spoke to authorities in all these areas to get my facts straight. Imagine those emails to VSP: Hey, I’m an author and I have some questions…

6. Ohh… I learned lots of cool New Zealand slang words. And a few corrected Maori phrases. (A big thank you to the New Zealanders and sensitivity readers for helping me with this!)

(Jean in Queenstown, New Zealand)

7. Patagonia, Chile has moved up higher on my must hike/see list.

8. Novellas are amazingly fun to write AND read. I’m enjoying all the books in the Deerbourne Inn series.

9. Cabot Creamery is THE place to go if you adore cheese the way I do. Ben and Jerry’s has delish ice cream.

10. I learned about a new hike: the Long Trail, that spans 273 miles and runs north-south through the State. The part we hiked was muddy and fun with a fantastic view of the valley.

SOUL OF THE STORM (Deerbourne Inn)

Will love help her summit one more peak?

Charlotte MacGregor lost the thrill of conquering mountains five years ago when her sister disappeared on a hiking adventure without her. Still guilt-ridden, Charlotte heads for a vacation to rustic Vermont with a friend—where she’s surrounded by reminders of her devastating loss and plagued with unanswered questions.

Matiu Christiansen is an outdoors buff. He works multiple jobs to save for his dream of owning an outfitter in New Zealand. He’s never quite felt at home in the United States and he yearns for his Maori roots, but his attraction to Charlotte puts a kink in his plans to move home later this year.

Thrown together by coincidence, Charlotte and Matiu form a kindred bond through their shared love of the outdoors. Can Charlotte surmount her demons to assist Matiu on a rescue when a late-season snowstorm hits? And can Matiu help Charlotte heal from the pain of the past?

Excerpt

Charlotte sat on the top porch step instead of in a rocker. Her breath puffed in a misty cloud before her as she waited. Again, the scent of a fire from the back pit infused the air. She traced the knots in the planks of the porch with the toe of her shoe, ignoring her thudding pulse. Matiu shuffled through the side door. She rose to help him with the cups.

“Hi.”

“Kia ora,” he said, smile deep and teeth bright beneath the lamps. “It’s colder tonight.”

“You need a jacket,” she said with a nod to his thinner long-sleeved top that clung nicely to his muscles.

“I’ll sit closer to you. Nice quilt.”

“I’m always cold. I won’t have much heat to share.”

“Logging in my assessment file.” He tapped his temple.

She shivered from nerves as he settled beside her on the top step.

“Ya know, we could have tea inside,” he suggested.

“What about consorting? Besides, I like the clear sky and fresh air. Night is my time.”

He nodded. “Ah, clear skies are amazing. I prefer morning. Not sure about tomorrow. Neil’s sick with the flu, and so is Kelly. They work on the search and rescue team, and Kelly also does mucking with us for the US Forest Service. Seems like the germs haven’t left for the season.”

“Nor the cold temps. Both tend to bite us in the ass in April.”

“I was serious. You going to share that quilt with me?” He inched closer.

“Nope. Get your own.”

He pressed a hand to his heart. “Shot down!” Tea splashed as his laugh vibrated.

Her pulse quickened with the idea of sharing warmth with him.

He said, “I’m knackered. That paddle got me sore. Bit more wind today than I’d expected.”

“You’re not the only one.”

He was so close. She subtly inhaled his natural scent. She couldn’t place it. Probably his shampoo… combined with sweat and cooking oils. They sat quietly, unsure what to say next. His nearness upset her equilibrium. She drank the tea.

You can get your copy of SOUL OF THE STORM here:

Amazon // B&N // Apple // Kobo // Googleplay

A little about JEAN GRANT

Jean’s background is in science and she draws from her interests in history, nature, and her family for inspiration. She writes historical and contemporary romances and women’s fiction. She also writes articles for family-oriented travel magazines. When she’s not writing or chasing children, she enjoys tending to her flower gardens, hiking, and doing just about anything in the outdoors.

You can follow Jean here”

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Bookbub ~ Amazon Author Page ~ The Wild Rose Press

 

And please enjoy the other books in the DEERBOURNE INN series that have already been released ( with more to come in 2019 and 2020!)

By Reservation Only   Hope’s Dream  Freedom’s Path     Lyrical Embrace    Spirited Quest

      

     

YOu can read my review of SOUL OF THE STORM here.

 

7 Comments

Filed under Deerbourne Inn, Hope's Dream, Romance Books, The Wild Rose Press

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,