Christmas Inn Trouble by Brooks Wright

 Cora loves her work as a financial analyst.  She breezes into a town, crunches numbers, and makes the burger and fries chain restaurants pop up.  She leaves town and moves to the next.

Her current location, Starville, Kentucky, happens to be her childhood hometown.  It'll be a nice visit until she is shuttled on to her next work location.

Walking up to the local and very charming Inn, Cora pauses after entering and feels the warmth and cheer of Christmas in every nook of the establishment.  It's like walking into the past.  Everything is warm and glowing with a tasty smell wafting in circles.

That means a burger and fries place is needed.  It will work well in a town with so many friendly faces needing a quick dinner instead of always waiting for a table at the one busy Inn.  

Levi owns, cooks, serves, and hosts the Inn.  He loves his town and loves his Inn.  

When he learns that Cora wants to okay the finances for building the franchise, he's devastated and his friendly demeanor toward her diminishes.

Cora has one issue developing.  Her quaint childhood hometown is so perfect already.  Yet, she wants to be successful in placing the fast-food restaurant.  Oh, yeah, and Levi does have a wonderful charm that she is reticent to destroy.  

With this in mind, Cora agrees to help the town with a Christmas charity.  

The snow, warm lights, decorations, smiling faces on children, and nostalgia soften Cora's one-tract business mind.  Levi allows his heart to grow toward the lovely lady invading his town, hoping for a truce in romance and business.  

The romance and business are intertwined, so can they budget for both?  

'Tis the season for peace and love!

Happy reading,

Dawn

For a few days only, 4 Lexi Post books on sale for 99¢ plus a bonus!

 

Between a Rock and a Cowboy (Rocky Road Ranch: Book 1).

The Dunns and Haydens have been fighting for the last twenty years. So when Amanda Hayden shows up on the Rocky Road Ranch as his father’s new therapist, Tanner Dunn has something to say about it…and none of it’s good.

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Painting the Earl (Marrying Mabry: Book 2)

Lady Amelia Mabry is determined to paint her masterpiece before marrying, but she’s struggling with the male form. So when the Earl of Sommerset surprises her with a marriage proposal, she counter proposes that he pose nude for her first. But she never expected him to accept!

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Desires of Christmas Present (A Scottish Christmas Carol: Book 2)

Kentucky born and bred Coco Baker has just been given the assignment of her spirit guide career, but she’s forced to partner with a Scottish upper class snob who thinks he knows what’s best for their living client. Despite him, she’s determined to do well on this case and find out what the arrogant man is hiding. Unfortunately, she discovers that sometimes not knowing is better…for everyone.

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Unexpected Eden (Eden Series: Book 2)

Jahl, Khaos and Sandale easily save their chosen one on Earth, but convincing pyrotechnics expert Serena Upton to stay on Eden is going to be a lot harder.

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Thanksgiving 2024

   

     Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

        Thanksgiving is upon us. It’s my favorite holiday and full of tradition! At least in my house.  

        So, what am I giving thanks for? Everything. I’m feeling very fortunate. I have a job I love (even though it’s crazy busy) that keeps a roof over my head and food on my table. More importantly than that, there are good people in my life and I’m grateful for each and every one of them.  

        I’m taking a week PTO (Paid Time Off—will I pay for that when I get back to the office? Oh, you bet!) so I can do all the things I love to do—you know, the cooking (love a nice turkey dinner, especially the leftovers) and baking and such. I started on Saturday by making a big batch of spaghetti sauce with meatballs and sausage (I freeze most of it). It’s simmering on the stove as I write this (the second part of the process…this stuff simmers for over sixteen hours…the DH likes a thick sauce). The house smells wonderful!

        Most of all, I will have more time to write (is this what retirement will feel like? I hope so! Only three years one month to go!). I do write every workday morning, but that’s only an hour or so but yeah, with some time off, I can write to my hearts’ content (taking time out, of course, for making a cheesecake and other delectable goodies). 

        The Marshal & Mrs. Morgan is moving right along (hahahaha, I’ve already started plotting out The Madam & Mr. MacLean, the next story in the series, too). Would it be odd to say I’m in love with my hero? I don’t think so! He’s a good guy! I’m at 54K words right now, but you can’t really go by that because I hopscotch all over the place then puzzle it all together. And that’s not to say I haven’t run into road blocks (I have…I have an uncanny knack for writing myself into corners!) but it’s all good. I call it exercising my brain for lack of a better term. 

    Speaking of having time to write, I should get to it. As we all know, time flies by very quickly! Have a wonderful holiday. I hope you get to spend it with people you love!

        Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie

Pumpkin Spice and Not So Nice by Becky Monson

 Lighten up a little and enjoy this romcom with more pumpkin than spice!  All the scents, flavors, tastes, and energy of fall bringing us to a plentiful Thanksgiving.

Jenna loves her family, and the pumpkin patch attached to it.  This includes a lot of work and little time for substantial relationships.  When autumn comes it's everything pumpkin, which includes pumpkin pies, drinks, painting, games, rides, clothing, and a field of pumpkins to sell.  Besides, her relationships with men are one sided.

Her side of the deal is as follows:  He's all perfect except he has communication problems with feelings.  Once Jenna shows her date how to be more open, communicative, and confident, he thanks her by finding a new girlfriend and inviting Jenna to their wedding.

She ponders giving up on men.  She must concentrate on helping to save the pumpkin farm from foreclosure.

That's when she finds a fifty-dollar bill in the tip pumpkin.  Wonderful!  Except the personal message written on it clues her in that someone may have deposited the bill on accident.

Aiden believes in being generous.  Jenna locates him and returns the money.  That should be the end of their communication and nearly is because he is at a loss for a meaningful discussion.  

As usual.  A good-looking man who can't open up.

For some reason, they keep being pushed together, that's called fake dating, and he advances from the two-word (noun and verb) sentences.  Maybe there's hope, but he also has to stick around after he can speak a whole paragraph.  

There's hope for the pumpkin patch and there's hope for Aiden and Jenna!  The farm flourished in its fall festivities, and after Aiden opens up, he is still at her side.  Does Jenna decide that her counseling is done or is she willing to spice up her season?

Happy reading,

Dawn

The Return of Yellowstone

         

        Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

        Well, I am off my schedule. I knew it would happen, but that’s all right. Sometimes, breaking out of your routine is a good thing. So, how am I off my schedule? I didn’t write this blog on Sunday, which I usually do…I’ve been a bit busy. Distracted. Off my game, so to speak.

        The day job is crazy busy (when isn’t it?) but it seems to have become more so and for the first time in a long time, I find myself behind on the things that need to get done. It’s all good though. I’m thankful I have this job…it allows me to pay the bills so I can write (and I will admit, I’m looking forward to retirement. At last count, it's three years, one month, two and a half weeks before that day happens, but as we all know, time flies). 

        The Marshal and Mrs. Morgan, book two in the Matchmaker Mischief series is coming right along. That’s not to say I haven’t written myself into a corner. I have. Several times, but I’m able to get myself out of that corner. Sometimes it’s a struggle and I find myself cutting a bunch of words (yes, there was a whole chapter that I ruthlessly cut because it took me in a direction I didn’t want to go). I usually just write on weekday mornings before the day job, but find myself, more and more often, writing on the weekends, too, which puts me behind in other things but that’s all right (and the reason I am late writing this blog).

        Anyway, I finally sat down Sunday night and watched the season premier of Yellowstone. I’ve been waiting for a while…and it was worth it. Definitely worth it. At least, I think so. In my opinion, this is such a good show and I am totally hooked on it. I do miss Kevin Costner not being in it, but that’s all right. The writing is still good, the other actors are wonderful (I have a special fondness in my heart for Rip), and the camera action is fabulous, especially when they pan over the beautiful countryside. Yeah, it was worth the wait, I think, and continues to give me inspiration for my own stories. 

        Speaking of which, I should get back to it. Marshal Devlin Goodrich and Tresia Morgan are waiting. I think I left them in the middle of a kiss! 

        Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

 Kya Clark, known as the "Marsh Girl", is an astounding person.  With the desertion of her mother, father, and siblings, it's amazing she survives and eventually thrives in the marshland of North Carolina circa 1969.

Kya is left on the crumbling homestead, fending for herself by finding food, fishing for money, and studying the birds in the marsh.  The townsfolk know about her but keep their distance.  It's when she becomes a young woman, and her exotic beauty is evident that Tate watches her and dares to meet her.

Tate teaches her to read and is captivated with her self-taught knowledge of marsh birds.  He leaves for college with a promise to visit, a promise delayed for years.

Another teenage male, Chase Andrews, wants her attention.  It amazes me how patient Chase is with approaching her.  It takes a long time for her to trust his offered friendship.  During this time, Kya continues her studies in the marsh while logging all rare information.

Heartbreak happens in many ways, and when Chase is found dead at the bottom of an old watchtower, the town turns on Kya.  

Not sure if the death is murder or an accidental fall, Tate returns from college and gives Kya his trust once again.  

A very rich and colorful setting allows survival, love, and trust to grow slowly and solidly.

Happy reading, 

Dawn

Countdown to Christmas

 

        Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

Well, it’s that time of year (I know, not even Halloween yet) but Hallmark has started their Countdown to Christmas…and I love it!

        Yes, you can call me a romantic (I do write romance novels) but I absolutely love these Hallmark Christmas movies. I think it’s mostly because—no matter what has happened throughout the story—everything turns out the way it should in the end. It’s the happily-ever-after that always gets me and gives me hope. Always.

        I will admit that, sometimes, that happily-ever-after brings a tear to my eye (well, maybe not tears but my vision does get a little fuzzy and my throat constricts). And let’s not forget about the big, dumb smile on my face. Yeah, I get that, too.

        Fortunately, I’m not the only one. My DH likes these movies, too. He says they’re addicting and they are. I explained to him that, no matter our backgrounds, no matter what we do in life, we ALL want that happily-ever-after. Some of us need it.

Funny, even though there’s a formula to the story….meet cute (or not so cute), get to know each other, the Big Black Moment when you think all is lost, and then…sigh…that kiss at the end. Yeah, gets me every time. I’m a big softie. Or maybe I’m not. Maybe it’s knowing that the ending will be happy that draws me to these romances.

        My late mother-in-law would have loved these them (I so miss that woman!). She was a big, old softie, too, and read romances by the thousands. Her all-time favorite movie was An Affair to Remember. No matter how many times she watched it, she cried (I admit, I get all kinds of misty-eyed, and to borrow from Linda Richmond (Mike Meyers of Saturday Night Live fame) I get a little verklempt when I watch it, too).  

        Hmmmm, I think I’ll go watch a Hallmark movie right now.

        Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie