Coffee and Conversation with the #RomanceGems

It's time for Coffee and Conversation with the Romance Gems! So, grab a cup of your favorite beverage and join us for some fun. This month's topic is: What’s your idea of the perfect Autumn date…as in a romantic endeavor? (for all you jokers out there 😂)

It’s autumn in the northern hemisphere, and that means cool, cozy nights and warm, sunny days. Perfect for fall-themed outings and romantic evenings. So, tell me…what’s your ideal autumn date? Would you snuggle by the fireplace with your honey, go apple picking, or maybe watch a scary movie together? Let’s talk!

"On a warm and sunny fall day, don comfy but stylish clothes for an easy hike through an apple orchard or a winery tour. Order a sumptuous takeout dinner for two and enjoy it in front of a roaring fire with candlelight, wine and of course fresh apple crisp for dessert.

"After dinner is over curl up next to your sweetie and watch an old classic movie like Casablanca or Some Like it Hot… oh and yes the fire is still roaring.” ~ Lucinda Race

“I can’t deny that autumn is my favorite season. The temps are cooler, the air is clean and crisp and the colors are eye catching. Plus…there’s apple picking. For as long as I can remember, hubby, darling daughter and I have gone to one of our local orchards in September and picked a peck or two of sweet, ripe apples. It’s a fun day out in the fresh air and sunshine that culminates in pie making, jam cooking, applesauce canning, and—of course—eating! Many a family Christmas card photo has been snapped while apple picking! I love autumn!” ~ Peggy Jaeger

“My idea of a perfect fall date is spending a day apple picking. It needs to be sunny but with a slight breeze in the air. The apple orchard would preferably be on a hill or have beautiful vistas in all directions. As we pick, we'd snack on a juicy fresh apple, then take our bags to the counter and add a few freshly baked apple cider donuts to the mix with a warm cup of apple cider to go with it. Ahhh, I can taste it now!” ~ Kari Lemor

“I love crisp autumn air, especially in the early evening. And when autumn comes in Texas, that means football has started. I adore curling up against my husband in the bleachers, drinking hot chocolate and rooting for my favorite high school team. That's probably not too romantic, but I love it so much.” ~ Kara O'Neal

“A nice fall “date” is a trip to Huber’s Orchard & Winery in Southern Indiana. You can pick pumpkins and other homegrown produce, taste wine, and buy yummy goodies from their country store.” ~ Jan Scarbrough

"Crisp fall days mean local farms and orchards to me. I love shopping for pumpkins, mums, cornstalk, and fall decorations. And don’t forget the apple pie! On the flip side, those same days are perfect for visiting historic New England locations such as Salem, Old Sturbridge Village, or Plymouth Plantation. Outside in the cool breeze and crunchy leaves during the day, inside by a crackling fireplace at night. Chinese take-out, cold white wine, Halloween candy, and a classic horror movie. Love it!” ~ Kathryn Hills

“My favorite Autumn date: an early morning 45 minute drive to Oak Glen in the San Bernardino Mountains for apple picking and a thermos of hot coffee is a must. Breakfast at Apple Annie’s before standing on tiptoes to reach the best apples in the orchard and sharing a crisp, tart apple.

"Afterwards, it’s the pumpkin patch in Yucaipa for a couple stand-in-photo as Mr. & Mrs. Frankenstein before it’s playtime with the goats at the petting zoo. If my date joins in the fun—he may just be a keeper!” ~ Connie Vines

“I’ve always been fascinated by wine country. So much so, that years ago, I set one of my books; First Crush in wine country. On weekends, in the fall when I lived in New York, I headed upstate to my favorite wineries. In Seattle, there was nothing better than a leisurely drive to Portland with a stop at every winery on the way. Now, when I think of fall, and the perfect date, I think of wineries. Tasting! Pairing! Sharing a kiss or two around a crackling fireplace. This to me is amore!” ~ Marcia King-Gamble 

“My ideal autumn date would be a weekend away at a secluded, high end resort with great views-mountain or ocean- a roaring fireplace, and an in-room couples massage as part of the package. The weekend would include breakfast in bed, a hike through the crisp autumn air, and gourmet dining in a private dining room for just the two of us. Either that, I’d be whisked away on his private jet to an exclusive resort in the Maldives. I’m versatile that way.” ~ Kathleen Lawless

“Ah, the perfect Autumn date. Leaves rustling underfoot, a cozy flannel shirt, a crackling fire and roasted marshmallows. Maybe a crisp late afternoon breeze, a fishing pole, and an able-bodied man to bait my hook. Dare I mention stolen kisses behind the big oak tree? A big harvest moon and hand holding by the lake. The two of us wrapped up in a quilt on the swing. Falling asleep on his shoulder.” ~ Maddie James

“For the chillier evenings in autumn, I love to walk the darkened streets, kicking at fallen leaves as we go. Then, a steaming cup of hot chocolate by the fireplace with my love. Nice dream...the reality is after all this time, we're lucky to collapse on the sofa to catch up on the new crop of TV shows. It isn’t that we’re not romantic, it’s just that the weather here is dark and rainy, so the leaves are sodden, the wind off the nearby ocean is icy and once I get cold, it’s hard to get warm. Autumn life!”

~ Bonnie Edwards

Okay, it's your turn to join the conversation! Add your comments below or send via email through the "contact us” link on the bottom of the left sidebar. You can also make suggestions on what you'd like to discuss here in the future.

Thanks for joining us!

~ The Romance Gems ~

You've Been Booed! by Kathryn Hills #RomanceGems

 

Ahh, autumn. It’s my favorite season. I love the warm days and cold nights. Sweaters, pumpkins, scary fun. Plus, living in northern New England, Mother Nature is all about showing off her vibrant fall colors here. But what would life at Camp Hills be without some humor? Sit back and let me tell you a story.

It was a dark and stormy night. Kidding. I just love it when a story starts like that. It all began when Darling Daughter was a tween...

For as long as I can remember—and certainly for her entire quarter of a century life—we’ve celebrated Halloween. In a BIG way! Hayrides to pumpkin patches where you pick your own. Trips to Salem and theme parks with haunted events. Parties, decorations, festive foods, you name it. Don’t even get me started on the shows and movies we watch every October. So, when a neighbor introduced us to “Booing”, we wholeheartedly embraced the fun experience as a family.

Are you familiar with Booing? For those who aren’t, it’s when you assemble a bunch of fun Halloween-themed treats (candy and trinkets) and deliver them to an unsuspecting neighbor. I say “unsuspecting”, because you pull a “ding-dong-dash” maneuver. Ring the doorbell, leave the goodies, and dash away before you’re seen. Your “Boo” is a surprise for the occupants of the house, an anonymous gift of Halloween cheer, typically for the children. (Although, I have heard of adults partaking, delivering alcoholic beverages along with chocolate. Totally onboard with this idea if anyone wants to play!)

Once you’ve been “Booed”, you place a sign on your door so participating neighbors will know to skip your house and go to someone new. Then you Boo two other households, and the fun grows.

Charming, you might think, and it is! Super-fun, too, since you get to shop for someone else with the sole intention of delighting them. Plus, you get to speculate who Booed you.

So…where did we go astray? Because you KNOW we did. Darling Daughter, being the sweetheart that she is, didn’t just want to leave treats for her close friends. She knew there were two kids, living only part time in our neighborhood because their parents were divorced. No one really knew them; they came and went so often. “Why not Boo them?” she asked. “Make them feel welcome.” I was a proud mama when she shared her idea.

It was a real crock-pot bubbling, wood stove crackling, frosty fall evening when Mr. H volunteered to help our girl with the ding-dong-dash part of the plan. They bundled up, took the gifts and the corresponding “You’ve been Booed!” printed message that explains it all, grabbed a couple of flashlights, and headed out into the spooky darkness.

Time went by as I prepared our supper and fed the dogs. I glanced at the clock several times, wondering why they were gone so long. Just ring the bell and run. It’s easy. Half an hour later, they finally came home, laughing so hard they were crying. Apparently, the neighbor Darling Daughter decided to Boo was home alone with his wife. No kids that night. When the doorbell rang and no one was there, the dad whipped on all the spotlights, thinking he’d been pranked. My two hid behind the neighbor’s car, trying not to be discovered. The man inside began yelling, “It’s a package. What the hell? It’s a God damned package. Who did this?”

“I don’t know,” the wife said, obviously concerned. According to my two hooligans.

What's the moral of this story? I suppose it’s…sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty to be nice. Santa definitely will understand.

And the neighbors who initially Booed us? The dad in that family eventually admitted he took out our fence when he tried to dash away in the dark. Ouch! We were wondering how that happened. We live in a fun place. What else can I say? 😊

If you’d like to Boo your neighbors, family members, or friends this Halloween season, head to Pinterest for some great ideas and free printable signs for the gift bag message and for your front door. Just don’t mention me, okay? We Hills are notorious troublemakers. *wink*

If you enjoyed this story and would like to learn more about my books, know that Halloween is exciting for my characters as well. Whether they're attending a costume ball in the past—as in the late Victorian era—or they're on the streets of Boston in modern times, thrills and chills are just the beginning. Visit my Amazon Author's Page to embark on A Time Traveler's Journey!

 Until next time, thanks for reading. Stay safe and go spread some magic!

~ Kathryn

The More Things Change... 5 Things I Miss Right Now by @MaddieJames

Lately things seem to be all about changing—even while staying the same.

I say that because there hasn't been much new going on in my life during this age of Covid. I've followed all the safety guidelines, limited my social contacts, and lived/worked within my bubble for oh...about five months now. Each day is pretty much the same. I rise, write, market my books, garden, cook, clean, and if I'm lucky, maybe write some more.

So, it’s same-old/same-old every day. And that, in and of itself, is a change. 

Things I miss doing though:

• Browsing a store like Home Depot or Sam’s Club. I haven’t been in either of those stores since the panic began.
• Grocery shopping. I’ve been inside my Kroger store once since May. I long to pick out my own vegetables and choose my own packages of meat. 
• Seeing my children and grandchildren. They live a state away. And they have active lives. Since I care for my elderly father, I worry about bringing the darned virus back to him should I visit them, and vice versa. 
• An occasional dinner out. Since we’ve graduated to take-out, we have enjoyed some meals from our favorite restaurants, but wouldn’t it be nice to linger again over a meal and have actual dinner conversations? 
• Traveling. As much as I hate to admit it—because for years I traveled so much for my day job and for the longest time, didn’t care if I ever saw an airport or hotel lobby again—I’m getting itchy travel feet. I find myself thinking about that drive I’ve been wanting to take through New England, or a long weekend at my favorite beach. And then I stop myself. 

Maybe subconsciously, I’m longing for change.

But fall is approaching. And to me, fall always signifies change. New beginnings. Fresh starts. As a student and then a teacher for many years, September and a new school year was a chance to start over—you know, new clothes, new shoes, new pencil box. I guess I've never shaken that sentiment, even though I haven't stepped into a classroom for some time. 

Click image for Giveaway link! 

Still, I’ll take advantage of the seasonal attitude change and spruce up my life a bit. My garden is waning. I have some tomatoes left to ripen, and some turnips nearly ready to eat. Soon, it will be time to put the garden to bed until spring. The yard needs some attention too—flower beds need cleaning out, and I need to create a few new beds where I had some shrubbery removed a few weeks ago.

In the meantime, I'll also give the house a good fall cleaning, and perhaps throw a few coats of paint on some furniture I’ve been threatening to upcycle. I’ll break out my cowgirl boots (ahem, all 9 pair...) and give them a good polishing before winter and begin thinking about retiring my flipflops (maybe). Probably wouldn’t hurt to wash some windows, too.

As much as things stay the same, we often need change—and change can be good—even if we make the change happen ourselves. I'm grateful for the cool mornings and pleasant afternoons lately. Later, I'll be happy to exchange mowing the yard for salting the front porch steps. I love fall, and I don't mind winter. I'll just hole up and write more.

In my book, SAFE HAVEN, Rebecca McCauley goes through a number of life changes. She returns home after years away and works on healing herself from her past. She's not the only one, she discovers, when Collin Kramer bursts into her life. 

A recent Amazon reviewer had this to say about SAFE HAVEN.

"There's lots of anguish, danger and suspense in their story. The losses they suffer only bring them closer together, which escalates the attacks against them. I had a hard time putting the book down until it was done. I thoroughly enjoyed the story."

Rebekah McCauley is back home after ten long years of living and working in New York City. She left the Big Apple under circumstances she’d rather not share with her family—not yet, anyway—and wants time to heal and recover from the mess she’s made of her life. Luckily, her grandparents’ Kentucky bluegrass farm, Wind Ridge, provides the safe haven she craves and the solitude she needs to heal.

Collin Kramer, the foxhunter next door, seems determined to infiltrate her peace and invade her safe haven—not only with his noisy hounds running amok over her land, but with his Alpha male, take-charge attitude running roughshod over her wounded heart.

But as Bekah softens to Collin’s conquest, Collin realizes his own toughened heart needs mending. And just when he thinks he has that conquered, as well, all hell breaks loose. Poisoned horses, a gutted hound, and a barn fire are only the beginning. When Bekah’s farmhouse burns to the ground too, they know someone is serious about destroying their lives. But who?

Whose past, Bekah’s or Collin’s, has come back to haunt them?

You can find SAFE HAVEN at all ebook retailers by CLICKING HERE. 

And before I leave you, don't forget about our Last Chance Beach: Summer's End box set! Grab yours now, before summer ends....

****

Maddie James writes to silence the people in her head... 

Visit her at www.maddiejames.net. 

What do you make with APPLES?

Fall is a time for pumpkins and apples. Personally, I prefer apples.
Apple pie, apple crisp, candied apples, apple jelly, and best of all, apple Whoopie Pie Cookies.

  Apple Whoopie Cookies

Years ago, we had a parent of one of my students who was the most amazing baker. She used to bake the teachers all sorts of goodies and send them in for us. But the absolute BEST thing she ever made was Whoopie Pies but with Apple Cookies instead of the typical chocolate. And the frosting inside was a buttercream, not a whipped cream frosting. 

Thankfully she gave us the recipe and I have made them several times. So good, though they do take a while to put together.

Fair warning: there is nothing low fat or low calorie about these. But they are so amazingly delicious!!

Whoopie Apple Cookies

By Lauren

Cookies

1 ½ cups peeled and grated apples                        ¼ cup apple jelly

1 tsp ground cinnamon                                          ½ tsp ground nutmeg

2 cups all-purpose flour                                         ½ tsp baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks) lightly softened butter                   1/8 tsp salt                                                              

¾ cup packed light brown sugar                            1 large egg yolk

*Cream butter and sugar until well blended and fluffy.

*Add egg yolk, apple jelly, and apples until blended. (Tip: place grated apples on a paper towel to absorb some of the extra moisture before you use them)

*Then add dry ingredients; cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and baking soda.

*Mix until all ingredients are well blended. Do not over mix!

*Scoop and place onto lightly greased baking pan to make cookies.

*Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10 minutes. Let cool a bit before placing on rack.

Buttercream Frosting

½ cup Crisco                                                            ½ cup butter

1 tsp pure vanilla extract                                          4 cups confectioner’s sugar

2 - 4 tbsp milk - add more or less for desired consistency

*Assemble cookies: Put frosting in the center of two apple cookies. If desired, drizzle tops with

2/3 cup powdered sugar                                       ½ tsp light corn syrup

2 - 3 drops pure vanilla extract

I am offering one fabulous reader a digital copy of my newest release, ELUSIVE DREAMS. Simply tell me in the comments what your favorite way of eating apples is. Don't forget your email address written out ( so and so at this dot com).  I will choose a winner by October 24 and let you know by email and in this post. Good luck! 

DON'T FORGET THE GEMS HAVE A MONTHLY GIVEAWAY ALSO:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/21df08a230/

Click here to enter our No Tricks—Just Treats Rafflecopter today for a chance to win Amazon Gift Cards. Enter often and tell your friends! (You can also click Monthly Giveaways on the Menu Bar of the blog to see details of the current month’s Rafflecopter and to enter it.)

October 3rd by Karen Whiddon

So much is going on in the world, sometimes it's difficult to concentrate.  I have to walk to find my quiet space, and then lose myself in the world I've created inside my books.  I just turned in a Harlequin Romantic Suspense that will be out in 2020 and started my next one that's due 12-15-19.  I adore writing for this line.

I'm also slowly getting up books for which the rights have reverted to me.  I just had covers made for The Wolf Prince as well as The Wolf Princess.  Look for them on Amazon soon.

I love October.  Halloween decorations, fall colors, and lower temperatures (soon, please, soon!)  It's the last quarter of the year, which happens to include my favorite holidays - Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas!  Decorations, parties to attend, lots of good food.  Yumm!  There's little I like better than curling up in my recliner next to the fireplace, with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book!  I can't wait.  But first, summer has to let loose of Texas!

CHECK OUT OUR VIDEO -- https://youtu.be/-H1auoGa30A -

I'm giving away a paperback copy of my Harlequin Romantic Suspense book - Texas Ranch Justice. (Unless winner is outside of the continental United States, in which case I'll send an ebook)  The deadline for entering this Giveaway is Sunday, October 5th.

NO TRICKS—JUST TREATS

Every Day is Treat Day in October. Each author will give away a prize of her choice on her posting day. That's 31 days of prizes! 

To be entered in the random drawing for a paperback copy of  Texas Ranch Justice, leave a comment with your email address written out (not as a hot link) on this post.

The deadline for doing this is Sunday night at 8:00pm Central time. I’ll draw the winner's name Monday, October 7, and notify the winner by email and by leaving a comment on this post.

By the way, in case you wonder why Authors give away books, it’s simple. We want to introduce new Readers to our writing.

If you want to say thanks to the Author, please post a review of the book. Just a few sentences saying why you liked the book is all that is needed! Do this, and Authors will adore you!

But Wait, There's More

Yes, indeedy! We're not just doing a daily random drawing for a prize. We're also doing a Rafflecopter with 4 Amazon Gift Card Prizes. Whoop! Big money! Visit our Monthly Giveaways Page for all the details.