She Plays a Mother on TV by Nora LeDuc #RomanceGems

TV Moms are one of my favorite subjects. Take your pick, you can find all kinds of mums on the small screen. I've chosen a few for us today.

Every Wednesday, we can tune in to "The Goldbergs." Here we have a prime example of an embarrassing, meddling smother-mother. Beverly Goldberg. She's the kind that's always at the school, making sure her children are treated fairly and perfectly because her kids are...perfect. (I bet we've all known a few women like Bev.) Although Beverly learns a lesson about parenting from her misguided efforts, she can never quite cut those apron strings. I've always been more intrigued by the history behind the scripts that are inspired by Adam Goldberg's video recordings of his family's lives. Yes, Beverly is his mother who occasionally makes an appearance in the show. More than once I've read the true-life happenings of the clan had to be toned down for a G audience. Darn.

Another popular TV mom is Marie Barone of "Everybody Loves Raymond." Marie is the parent of two grown men, Raymond and Robert. Raymond, the oldest, continues to be Marie's obvious favorite. This does not go over well with his younger brother Robert, but doesn't stop Marie. She also feels free to give unwanted advice to her sons who are often too afraid of her to cross her. As a mother-in-law, Marie knows little about boundaries and often barges into Ray and his wife's home without a knock and usually at inconvenient times. If you think about it, Marie might remind you of a relative or a friend who means well but is a little too close. And here's a trivia fact for authors-the actor who played Marie's husband, Peter Boyle, was a cousin of Kensington Editor Kate Duffy.

Don't you dare open your mouth when I'm asking you questions.

Before I finish, I must add Clair Huxtable from the former "The Cosby Show" to this list. (Forget Bill.) Every Thursday night, I loved to see what Clair was wearing. Her colorful style of clothing fascinated me. She seemed able to put on anything and look wonderful, but the character of Clair was so much more. As the stable center of the family, she was a wife, a lawyer, and a mom of five who actually talked to her children about their problems. Then, she gave them good advice. She could be funny, but stern when needed. Clair showed us that although mothers worry about their children or make mistakes with them, they will turn themselves upside down to love and guide them into happy, well-adjusted adults. That's a mother.

I have written two stories with moms. My latest, Christmas at the Easy Breezy, takes places in the White Mountains of NH. If you're looking for a happy uplifting book this story is for you. The main character, Darcy Malone, is divorced and a mother of a five-year-old. Darcy is desperately seeking to connect to the family she's never known. Little does she realize what she'll find when she arrives at the Easy Breezy Diner and meets the sometimes-grumpy owner Leo Homes.

Please Follow Me on Social Media and Stay Healthy, Nora.

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CHCH CHANGES by Nora LeDuc # RomanceGems

As the August days grow shorter and cooler, I grow excited for the upcoming season. September is a strange month in New England. Summer will make a teasing comeback, while autumn lurks in the chilly evenings and mornings. Despite our hopes, fall will win the battle and bring us fresh opportunities.

Sweater weather means digging out the warmer wardrobe and hoping it still fits! I look forward to apple picking and the delicious odor of baking pies filling my kitchen. Each day, I'll check for the first glimmer of the turning leaves. Mother Nature's oranges, reds and yellows always astonish me. It's also time when we say goodbye to our vacation plans. My husband and I will savor one last bittersweet trip to the beach. We like to head to the Seafood Festival. For one price, you can eat to your heart's delight or just enjoy walking in the main street closed to traffic. You can take in the sights of the pop-up tents lining the walkways and sporting crafts, food, or clothes. Maybe while you're browsing, you'll run into a friend or two.

Another fun trip is going to the fair. In my imagination, I can already catch the pungent odor of fried onions. hear golden crisp french fries sizzling, and the taste of the chicken grilled or barbecued. You can grab a ride on the Midway, but beware the spinning types if you just ate. I love to wander through the 4-H exhibits to discover who won ribbons this year. Then there's the flute man selling his CDs, the man hawking knives that cut through soda cans, and of course the beef jerky. When you'd done with the booths visit the barns. Seems every year a cow or pig has her little ones with her. Who can resist them? And don't forget the shows. The Axe Women of Maine is a favorite and truly unusual.

The Axe Women of Maine

So as as the daylight decreases, we can spend more hours reading. I'm happy to report my book TRAIL OF Secrets is free today and tomorrow. This is the first story in my new series: Love & Lies in Paradise, a Romantic Suspense novel set in a small town in Florida.

Who killed the vivacious Emily McGuire and laid out her body at the town water tower? Orderly, rule-follower Mia McGuire is the least likely person to answer this question. Mia's life has taken a downward spiral with her sister's murder, the breakup with her boyfriend and losing her editor position. But when the homicide investigation crawls, Mia can't stand by doing nothing. She hires ex-cop and daredevil Lucas Davis to her her find the truth. Together they being a journey that puts themselves and their hearts at risk.

Don't forget to get your copy!! Happy Reading, my friends.

THE CALL OF NATURE by Nora LeDuc #RomanceGems

I often run into people who tell me, “I just drove through your town. Looks like the aliens landed there.”

What are they talking about? In case you don’t know, here’s a picture.

Yes, I wear one of these nets. I have the head version, and a few years ago, I bought my dream outfit—the jacket. What can be more stylish? What has caused people to adopt this snazzy clothing? Simple. Those little annoying black flies sometimes called the May fly. They first appear at the end of April and grown into swarming blood suckers or mini vampires.

If you’re unconvinced, look at the next photo.

Okay, this might be a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much. Ah, spring. The birds have returned and are singing. Flowers bloom. Trees bud. The weather warms and tempts you to throw caution to the wind. You abandon your coat and long pants. You put on shorts, but beware. The insects are lurking, and the population is ready to explode.

Unfortunately, sprays or lotions often have no impact on the horde of bugs all interested in YOU. What should you do? Well, you can stay indoors or visit your local entomologist for advice or become one of us with our net attire. BTW, there’s a rumor a little old lady in town started sewing bug outfits and made millions of dollars. Easy for me to believe.

Now as I sit inside, I start writing my chapters slowly trying to weave together characters, plot, setting and then the words swarm onto the page until I reach the conclusion. However, my sentences are much prettier and have a nicer effect than those winged pests.

So, if you plan to visit New England this season, check out the extraterrestrials or better yet, grab a book and enjoy it on a screened porch. Here are my most recent. Available on Amazon.

Until we meet again, Happy Reading, My Friends. ~Nora

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