Happy Ever After by @BonnieEdwards #RomanceGems

 We always hear about how life is not like a romance novel. That romances are pure fantasy and not at all “real.” Well…here’s the real deal…

There was once a teen in high school who enjoyed the company of a very pretty girl. Every day during lunch period they’d walk the grounds of the school and she was so nice that she would point out lots of other girls that he could ask out. She knew there were plenty who wanted to see more of her friend. Nothing came of their good friendship because the nice, pretty girl was spoken for and had a long-term boyfriend who went to another school.

They went their separate ways, she to a college far away, and he to university, where they both excelled. They launched their careers and the pretty girl lived in a different city with her long-term boyfriend. The man returned to their hometown and succeeded in business.

Sometimes, the old friends would chat the night away at parties hosted by old friends in town, while the long-term boyfriend was the life of the party.

Eventually, after the pretty girl realized her boyfriend was still a boy and not a man, they broke up. After years of being attached, the pretty girl saw that she’d been looking at the wrong man to share her future. The real man she wanted had been there all along, kind, considerate, and patient.

At a wedding of old friends, the man waited for the pretty girl to arrive. He paced and worried about if she was bringing a date. (Buddies reported he was in a heck of a state.) Of course, she didn’t. She went, hoping that he’d be there alone and maybe, just maybe, something would spark to life between them…

And here we have three standard romance tropes: Friends to Lovers, Second Chance at Love, Small Town Reunion (at a wedding no less) with a happily ever after ending. And it’s all true! My daughter and her husband now have two little boys, two thriving businesses, and life is grand.

In my romance Finding Mercy (Return to Welcome Book 1) failed actress Mercy Talbot returns to her small town, Welcome, WA where memories are long and grudges are fresh as daisies. Gossip is the stock in trade and returning only feeds the rumor mill and brings up old animosity. But Mercy finds a purpose in her motherless niece and decides to help the child be herself. To do that, she must do battle with her own mother who's doing the best she can for her granddaughter.

What doesn't work is her startling attraction to her brother-in-law, a widowed single father who struggles to be the best daddy he can be...but Clay Foster needs help and he knows it.

Falling for Mercy would be a bigger mistake than marrying her sister had been...and when her career takes Mercy away again, she'll take his little girl's heart with her and leave him broken. 

For the month of September, Finding Mercy is available for only 99c. If you haven't read it yet, please do...it's a different take on small town life and the cast of characters are well-rounded and real. Including Dilly, who saves worms and hates dancing lessons. 

Finding Mercy Return to Welcome Book 1 is an Amazon exclusive title and can be enjoyed through Kindle Unlimited if you're a subscriber. OR you can purchase for the low price of 99c for the next two weeks.

Happy reading!

A Little Bit of Bloomin' Luck by Nora LeDuc #RomanceGems

I'm a fortunate person. No doubt about it. After graduating from college, I rethought my career choice. While pondering, I decided to take a teacher's aide position in Brattleboro, Vermont. I had one acquaintance in the town. She gave me the number of a local dentist who had a great apartment for rent. So sight unseen, I took it, thinking I'd be like Mary Tyler Moore (MTM). I'd make it on my own.

Brattleboro

I quickly found out that I'd rented a third floor, two-room attic space and wasn't a clone of MTM but of her unlucky in-love sidekick, Rhoda Morganstern. I earned $200 a month. My rent was $100. I stretched my check to pay my electric bill, my groceries, and a little entertainment. I had no car, cable, or phone since they would be too expensive. Internet was in the future. But I enjoyed working with the kids and had landed in a hip town. If you're familiar with Bratt, you know this is true. Main Street is composed of unique stores. An artsy vibe permeates the atmosphere. I was there for the opening of one of the first vegetarian restaurants. When people visited, this is where we ate. They loved it. We sat at community tables. Large potted plants decorated the corners. Waiters with long hair (the style then) waited on us with a smile. Throw in the night life of bands and dancing, the downtown movie theater, with cheap rates, a beautiful library, and all was good.

My downstairs neighbors were a couple from New York. They often invited me to watch TV with them. They also introduced me to a handsome, six-foot young man. He'd recently moved to Brattleboro and was waiting for his rental to open up. Our first official date was at the Winter Carnival. We cheered for the ski racers and jumpers on Harris Hill. We've been together ever since. 

Often I wonder what if I hadn't taken that job, or if I hadn't moved out of state, or if I hadn't rented the attic nook? Sometimes, My Friends, you take the path with the curve in the road, and you are blessed with luck.


Please stay safe. If you're feeling lonely, I'm on Facebook. I would love to hear from you! And keep reading.
Love, Nora

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I'm giving away two free e-copies of Trail of Secrets. The heroine Mia McGuire is down on her luck, but that changes when she meets the hero Lucas Davis. Simply email me noraleduc at yahoo dot com with Free in the subject.

Also enter our Rafflecopter on our Monthly Giveaway page. This might be your lucky month. Here's our Quicklink if you're in a hurry. Take care and see you next month!