Do you have a passion? by Jan Scarbrough #RomanceGems

I’ve known people who don’t have a passion for something, and I’m sad for them. I’m not talking about an obsession for ice cream or pizza, but something that colors your life and makes it better.

For me, one of my passions is horses. If you know anything about me, I wouldn’t have to tell you that, would I? My love of horses began in the fourth grade with the Black Stallion Books. A year or so later, my parents gave me riding lessons—hunter jumpers. I fell off a few times and got scared. My passion was hidden for a while until my nine-year-old daughter asked for riding lessons. Six months later, I started riding lessons too, deciding I wouldn’t live my life through my daughter.

That began my obsession with American Saddlebreds. Over the years, I’ve owned three of them, but I don’t own one now. I continue to take riding lessons so I can get a weekly horse fix. My favorite is a big boy named Calloway’s Aspiration—or barn name Dan. I even own 1.5% of a Thoroughbred racehorse named Fire Marshall Bill. He was second in a race at Churchill Downs September 1^st. He’s only three, but no, he didn’t run in the Kentucky Derby.

So, it was only natural that one of my first books was about American Saddlebred horses. Kentucky Flame finds two trainers, the hero and heroine, competing against each other at a big horse show. For another book, I toured Kentucky horse country for the setting of Kentucky Blue Bloods.

Do you have a passion for something? Maybe it’s not a living creature, but something you like to do—playing golf, cooking, ball room dancing, gardening, sewing, fishing. Whatever it is, does it make your life better?

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Don’t forget to grab your copy of LAST CHANCE BEACH: Summer’s End, where Dreams go to live again. Find true love at #LastChanceBeach. 14 all-new #Romance #ShortStories from bestselling, award winning authors. 

Advice from A Fictional Character by Kathryn Hills #RomanceGems

"Mother says girls can't be doctors,
but I intend to prove her wrong."

She’s my favorite character to date. A young woman from a privileged background, trying to navigate her way in a difficult world. Emphasis on “her way.” You first meet Amelia Pennington as a rambunctious child in Haunting Highland House, romping through the woods with her brother, Charlie. Much to the dismay of their ever-proper, ever-watchful mother. It’s the late-Victorian era, you see, and society has clear expectations of how women and girls must behave.

Yet, like many women of the time, Amelia is challenging the notion of who she must be. For as long as she can remember she’s dreamed of becoming a doctor, not a wife or homemaker. A scandalous notion, according to Mother and most of society. But Amelia has big dreams, and she’s not willing to give them up.

Male Dominated Medicine

I love writing about this period in American history because women’s rolls changed and evolved rapidly. They discover there is much more to life than pretty gowns and husbands. Technology advanced alongside their movements. The “New Woman” was emerging – well educated, strong, independent, even athletic. It wasn’t so far-fetched for Amelia Pennington to challenge herself and the male dominated medical community to capture her dream.

I won’t give away her story. I will say she’s my heroine in book two of the Time Traveler’s Journey Series – Hellfire and Handbaskets. Just by the title you can presume Amelia hasn’t lost any of her pluck. In fact, she’s taking on more challenges.

What does this feisty heroine teach us? Never give up on dreams. Amelia may be the product of my imagination, but she’s based on strong woman I’m blessed to know. Whatever your dreams—and they can change, don’t get stuck in that rut—go for it! There’s only one surefire way to fail. Don’t try.

If you’d like to meet Amelia Pennington in person, check out my books HERE.

Thanks for reading! Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!

~ Kathryn

November is the month for Gratitude, Appreciation, and counting your Blessings. Grateful, Thankful, Blessed—that's what we Romance Gems Authors feel.

Join us this month in celebrating the Life Lessons we all learn.

Enter our November Rafflecopter now for a chance to win 1 of 5 Amazon Gift Cards.

You can also enter by going to the Monthly Giveaway Page

From This Day Forward by @karilemor #RomanceGems

Whenever asked how long my husband and I have been together, we always answer, “We’ve been married for 32 years. At least 14 of them happily.”

We always get a laugh. But the truth of the matter is, we haven’t had 32 years of marital bliss. And his 14 years and my 14 weren’t necessarily the same 14 years. Would I give him up and do it over again with someone else? Probably not.

Even though I write romance, I know that even a couple who are deeply in love are not going to see eye to eye all the time from this day forward. You are two separate people with two separate lives and different opinions and beliefs.

What have I learned from 32 years of marriage? Marriage is hard. And it takes two people who are BOTH invested in being together for their lifetime. It can’t be one person doing all the giving and the giving in. It has to be a team effort. One both of you need to be determined to see through.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, everything is disposable. Marriage has fallen into that category for some. When my husband and I got married, we wanted it to be forever. We even put the inscription ‘Forever and Always’ on the inside of our wedding rings.

What’s my advice for a long and happy marriage? Make sure to spend lots of time apart.  Remember, absence makes the heart grow fonder!  LOL

But seriously, you don’t need to be attached at the hip to show you love someone. Find time for yourself and to be with your friends and do what you love, while your partner does the same. If you happen to have all the same friends and all the same interests, that’s even better. My husband and I don’t, but we allow each other time to do what we love. And then when we spend time doing something we both love, it makes that time so much more special.

~~~

In my book, Elusive Dreams, Erik and Tessa have a marriage of convenience and they have to figure out how to make their marriage work, without the perk of being in love. Check it out and see how they make this fake marriage into something real and lasting.

ELUSIVE DREAMS

Comment below to share your life lesson with others.  And as always, don't forget to enter our rafflecopter draw to win an Amazon gift card. 

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LEST WE FORGET By Kathleen Lawless @kathleenlawless #romancegems

As you read this I am basking on a small island in the Caribbean, celebrating “birthday week”. 

This getaway marks more than just a vacation.  For the many years I worked in corporate sales it was understood no vacation days were granted in October, November, or December.  Instead, we were to be in our sales territory doing whatever it took to ensure healthy Christmas sales. Best case scenario; every few years my ‘lucky 13’ birthday would fall around the Remembrance Day stat and I would get a long weekend.  After giving my notice last year in order to write full time I can now go away whenever I feel like it.  I love being my own boss.

Today at 11 am will be no different from past years as I bow my head and observe a moment of silence in remembrance for the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country.

November 11^th is the day the Commonwealth nations chose, because the First World War ended on the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month.  Other countries have selected different dates and different names to pay respect to their forces.  In the US it is observed on this same date as Veteran’s Day.  I remember my Grandmother always referred to this day Armistice. As kids we called it “Poppy Day”, because we bought a poppy made by veterans to pin on our lapel. 

I was surprised to learn not all Canadian provinces have today earmarked as a statutory holiday.  If you are reading this in Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Ontario or Quebec, you are likely heading off to work or school. 

In recent years as I attended the service at the war memorial, I have been heartened to notice that the crowd is growing each year.  And while there are noticeably fewer veterans from the First World War still with us, the memory of their sacrifice is being carried on by younger generations.  It makes me proud.

It also makes me proud to have time to write more books and bring more stories into the lives of my readers.  A huge shout out to readers who buy my books, leave reviews and drop me an email.  It means more than you will ever know. 

My new series, Secret Seductions isn’t for everyone. As the name suggests these books are  extremely evocative and sexual.  If you enjoy a heated, sexy romance where the intimacy plays an integral part in the character’s life lesson, you can check it out here.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Z87VS6W

And here.                                         https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZBL5271

This month is about life lessons.  I know mine is “patience”.  I loathe waiting in line-ups, detest traffic lights, and am not terribly gracious when scheduled appointments don’t run on time.  And while practicing patience should be easier now that I’m not driving around making sales calls all day on a tight schedule, the telephone has added to my frustration with the invention of automated service. I don't appreciate having a computer tell me which buttons to push before I am eventually put on hold with some terrible music or ads to listen to, when I just want to talk to a real person!   

At any rate, I am blessed to be inspired by a partner who was gifted with an abundance of patience.  He sets a great example for me follow.  He’s also a huge supporter of our veterans and wears his poppy proudly.  Today it looks especially nice on his bathing suit.   

Comment below to share your life lesson with others.  And as always, don't forget to enter our rafflecopter draw to win an Amazon gift card. 

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The Big Picture by @SatinRussell #RomanceGems

This month’s Romance Gems topic about Life Lessons got me thinking about how perspective helps shape our worldview. There are people who excel at focusing on all the little details and lose sight of the bigger picture.

And then there are people like me who are good at seeing the larger whole, but sometimes forget all the little details that are needed to make it happen. Thank goodness we have both types of people or nothing would ever get done!

Photos are a wonderful way of illustrating this point about perspective. Take this top photo for example. What could she be looking at with such intent? Grasping the ropes so tightly, with her blue jacket flapping in the breeze around her hips.

Is she at the zoo staring at some exotic animal?

Is she on a balcony looking down at a crowd? Observing the people from afar, slightly above and slightly removed.

Or, maybe she's on an overpass somewhere, watching life and traffic flow past her.

Actually, she was a travel companion of mine in Ireland. We were crossing the Carrick-a-Rede Bridge. I remember the fear and trepidation reflected in her face as she stepped out onto the creaky planks.

She got about halfway across when suddenly her knees stiffened and refused to carry her any further. She stood there, eyes wide, breath suspended...and faced the true realization of her mortality.

With much coaxing and prodding, we managed to convince her to finish her journey. As her foot touched solid ground, her face broke out in a wide smile. Her cheeks flushed with an overwhelming sense of joy and relief — she was ALIVE!

That's how life can be. We can get caught going through everyday motions: get up, brush your teeth, take a shower, get dressed, go to work, drink coffee, answer phones, curse the traffic, eat dinner, watch TV, brush your teeth, go to bed...then rinse and repeat.

Little details. Mundane steps. All the while forgetting to remember the bigger picture. To stop and take it in. Hold on with both hands until your knuckles turn white and you have no other choice but to notice — you're ALIVE!

Be joyful!

Be thankful!

How about you? Do you have an example of how changing your perspective helped you though a moment in your life? Do you consider yourself more of a "Big Picture" or "Detail-Oriented" person? Let me know in the comments.

November tends to be a month to focus on anything good in your life, whether that's family, friends, experiences or all of the above. It's a time to take stock and give thanks for what has brought you to this moment.

Grateful, Thankful, Blessed—that's what we Romance Gems Authors feel. Join us this month in celebrating the Life Lessons we all learn. Click the link and enter our November Rafflecopter now for a chance to win 1 of 5 Amazon Gift Cards.

OR, check out our Monthly Giveaway page for more details.