Wednesday, May 29, 2019

The Girl At The Beach by Nora LeDuc


Boars Head at Hampton, NH

Summer is approaching and that means vacation time. I flip through my memories of the places I love to visit and hit pause when I reach Hampton Beach. Flashes of sunshine and a glimmering sea flood my mind. This will be my first stop on my warm weather travels.
           
FYI the NH coast is about 18 miles long. Plenty for me. I’ve enjoyed many a perfect day lulled by rolling waves, daring to go up to my ankles in water that seldom reaches above 72 degrees, or reading under my umbrella. If you’re lucky, you can arrive during one of the beach’s big events such as the June annual Master Sand Sculpture Contest. Two hundred tons of sand are hauled into Hampton for the festivity that features a $15,000 grand prize. If you can only come after sunset don’t despair. The entire area is illuminated for night viewing for two weeks.
           
When you’re ready to explore, you can cross the street to the shops, the arcade, mini golf, and the casino that sponsors big-name events. Follow the odors of fried dough, pizza or onion to a large choice of kiosks.

Sometimes, I’ll eat at the Seaside Ketch Restaurant. I always sit on the second floor with views of the ocean. I remember a foggy afternoon—no view and rather chilly. My husband and I sat inside the glass seating area. As I debated what to eat, I noticed a brave soul, a young woman, on the porch.   
           
She was talking to the waitress. A menu lay in front of her and another by an empty chair. She was dressed in a blue sundress with a flower in her long brown hair. A date, I thought, but where was the missing dining partner? I was intrigued. Time ticked by. She often looked at her watch or swiveled in her seat to glance at the door. People came and went, but none for her. The server checked in with her twice more, and finally she ordered.

I felt a stab of disappointment for her. My husband and I ate our meals and left. We took a long walk down the boardwalk and back to our car parked below the restaurant. As I looked up to the porch, I caught sight of the brown-haired girl. She was still there and across from her sat a young man! He was nodding his head as she talked to him, and they held hands across the table.

My faith in love was restored. Often when I sit down to write about my characters struggling with their relationships, my thoughts wander and I remember the girl at the beach.

Happy reading, my friends. May all your dreams come true.  ~Nora.

Since May is our month to honor Mothers, here is my book Sweet Dreams, Baby with single mom Harper Buchanan.

Harper has devoted herself to creating the perfect life for herself and three-year-old Gracie until her life is turned upside down when her estranged father Judge Shaw Buchanan aka "the hanging judge" is shot on the day his wife’s funeral. Enter PI Finn O’Rourke. Harper finds herself drawn to his looks, smarts and self-reliance, but she’s fallen for the wrong man before and vows not to again.

Don’t forget our Monthly Giveaway page and enter for a chance to win one of the many great ebooks that spotlight our heroes and she-roes!


Be sure to visit our monthly giveaway page and enter for a chance to win one of the many great ebooks that spotlight our heroes and she-roes!


15 comments:

  1. I loved your story about the restaurant at the beach. Sweat Dreams, Baby sounds great, too!

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  2. My childhood is filled with memories of Hampton Beach also. The cold water, the sand, and playing Skeeball. And I'm so glad the girl's story had a happy ending. It's what we romance writers are all about!

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    1. A mini romance at Hampton. I'm sure there are more. I hope you have lots of good memories.

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  3. I love living by the ocean. Hampton beach sounds lovely to visit. And the girl? Makes me wonder how long she’d have waited.

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    1. I don't know Bonnie, but apparently he was worth it.

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  4. Love, love, love this post Nora! You paint an intriguing picture of this "girl at the beach." Now I want more hahaha Romance author! Hampton is super-fun, even in winter. Have you ever witnessed the Penguin Plunge? Hearty folk jump in the frigid Atlantic on/around New Year's Day as a fundraiser. Whoa...

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    1. I have not been to the Penguin Plunge. Watched clips on TV. Have you been?

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  5. Being a beach gal and a hopeless romantic, this really struck a chord.

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  6. New Hampshire sounds lovely! But I don't think I could dip a toe into the water. Too cold for me! Your books sounds great and filled with suspense, too. I liked reading about it.

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  7. Thank you, Kara. And I barely get past my ankles, but it's fun and beautiful here.

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  8. You make the New Hampshire beach sound so inviting. Love the story of the girl waiting for her boyfriend. Funny how we writers notice things like that, but our husbands are oblivious to those dynamics—or at least mine is. *LOL*

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  9. True, Joan. I pointed the girl out and then before we left I looked up expecting her empty seat. I was very excited that HE was there.

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