THE PLEASURE OF TEA By Kathleen Lawless @kathleenlawless #romancegems

Someone once wrote a book about my home town called More English than the English.  With that reputation, it’s no wonder several establishments here pride themselves on serving traditional “Afternoon Tea”.

 In today’s frantic world of coffee-to-go as we rush about our business, Afternoon Tea is a nice step back in time.  No tea bag dunked in a Styrofoam cup of lukewarm water; loose tea leaves are carefully measured into a real, pre-heated tea pot where it is stepped to perfection and strained into a bone china cup set atop a saucer.  Tea always tastes better in a real tea cup.   

 Next, out comes a three-tier china plate of tasty treats; sandwiches with the crusts removed or rolled into pinwheel slices rest alongside gently warmed savories of pork and turkey.  The sausage roll has a slice of pickle and a dash of mustard rolled inside its flaky, over-warm pastry. The two-bite turkey pie comes with a side of cranberry.  These savory treats are not to be consumed hastily, but nibbled daintily between sips of fragrant tea and gentle snippets of conversation.  Life slows right down, and so does my blood pressure. 

 The scones are my favorite, and the day’s offerings include one flavored with Earl Grey and one pumpkin, served with the prerequisite sides of cream and jam.   Last but not least are an assortment of sweets, a tiny peach pie, a macaroon, a slice of banana upside down cake, and a layered chocolate mocha cake. 

 There is something about tea that can’t be hurried.  Perhaps it’s the time-tested ritual I learned from my grandmother; heating the pot, measuring the leaves, waiting for the fragrant beverage to steep.  Since Afternoon Tea is a ritual associated with ladies, I often have my historical heroines enjoy a pot of tea together as they mull over the mulish behavior of the hero. 

 In 1773, the British imposed a heavy tea tax on the American Colonies, and American tea drinking habits began to change.  Once independence was gained, the US traded directly with China and forward-thinking farmers introduced tea among their crops.  With tea once again more widely available, the 19^th Century Afternoon Tea ritual seeped across into North America, although I doubt my heroines had the selection of teas we enjoy today.  I have long been an Earl Grey fan but on this memorable, laid back day, I select a black tea with mango and floral notes.  Do you drink tea?  Do you have a favorite? 

Thanks for being here.  I hope you manage time this busy month to slow down, enjoy your favorite tea or hot beverage of choice, and curl up with a good book. 

I’m part of an exciting, new, highly-secret series that will debut in the new year, so secretive all I can leave you with is this teaser.  But I’ll be back next month with all the details.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Kathleen

Anyone who joins my VIP Readers Group receives a complimentary novella and is first in line for news about upcoming sales and new releases.  

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The end of a series...I think not by Peggy Jaeger

 I've got a holiday post all ready to go on my usual date of the 27th of the month, but I wanted to take an extra day this month to let you all know a few exciting things coming down the pike for me in 2021.

First, yesterday, the third - and supposedly final - book in my Match Made in Heaven series, BAKED WITH LOVE, released. This was by far my favorite book in the series to write because the friends to lovers trope is my end-all, be-all favorite romance trope to read and, therefore, write.

When I sent it off to my editor I actually cried because I was already missing the O'Dowd sisters, their feisty grandmother Nanny Fee, and all the men who found an HEA with the sisters. I was truly in a funk because I wouldn't be seeing them anymore. I had two more series I had to write the second and third books for, plus my indie book series. I was sure to be so busy I wouldn't really miss the O'Dowds and the New England town of Heaven, right?

Yeah, no. Turns out, your favorite characters really are like your children and you miss them terribly when they're not around.

I found that out after I finished the WILL COOK FOR LOVE series. Kandy Laine still had 4 sisters left to find their HEA.

So, I concocted a new series titled A PRIDE OF BROTHERS, which not only features Kandy Laine in cameo roles in each book, but also lets me delve into at least one sister's life - Abby, who starred in APOB: RICK, the first book. The brothers in the series are Josh Keane's brothers - and Kandy's brothers-in-law. Book two, which I am almost finished with is titled APOB: AIDEN, and features the youngest Keane bro.

So, since I couldn't let go of the Laine's and Keane's and was able to reintroduce them in a brand new series, I figured I could do the same with the O'Dowds. 

Makes sense, no? Heehee

Drumroll please....As soon as the third APOB book is completed, I'm starting a brand new series set again in Heaven, New Hampshire, titled HEAVEN'S MATCHMAKER and staring Olivia Joyner - whom we met in book 2, TODAY, TOMORROW, ALWAYS. 

Olivia is a third generation professional matchmaker and I've already got 4 books plotted out. It pays to be a hermit during a quarantine, folks!

Until then, I hope you gift yourself and the romance readers on your holiday gift list a copy of BAKED WITH LOVE. It's available at all retailers, plus the print edition is available at my website store at the drastically reduced price of $ 10.00. There's still time to get it by Christmas, peeps.

I won't see you again until after the 25th, so I want to wish everyone a Happy Hanukkah, A Merry Christmas, and a Blessed Kwanza!!!! See you on the 27th and I hope you get a lot of great books as presents this year ( with mine included, heehed!)

Looking for me? Here I am: Website: ~ Facebook~ Twitter~ Goodreads~ BookBub~ YouTube

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Going Back in Time by Hannah Rowan #RomanceGems

 On one of our almost-daily hikes, the man of the house and I returned to the scene of the crime, or more accurately, to Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, the place where we met.

No, we weren’t patients, though our children love to shock their friends by saying that’s where we met.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mclib/2222739491/
Main Building on a sunny day

He had just come home from the army and spent his first summer home there working in recreation before transferring to the children’s unit in the fall so he could attend college.

I worked in recreation for three long years, my first full time, not-a-summer-job job. Then I went back to school part time and worked in personnel. Finally, when I was in grad school and ready to do my psychology internship, where did they assign me? Of course, Greystone. I couldn’t seem to escape the place.

Working there was…well…insane. We met people from outer space and many, many versions of the Messiah. We made life-long friends and had so many experiences that wouldn’t have made sense to people who didn’t work there.

No idea what this is!

  The grounds were gorgeous and we had our own farm with pigs        and chickens. The building we called Main Building was a historic      Kirkbride building with the second largest footprint in the country,        after the Pentagon. We had a bowling alley, a movie theater,              baseball fields, basketball courts, and a bandshell.  We had a big      auditorium/gym where we held dances or played bingo.

  The place could get pretty spooky. Dark, damp, and scary tunnels    ran from building to building with an atmosphere that would have      felt at home in a horror movie. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was just a routine day at work for us.

The State of New Jersey gradually removed most of the patients and let the buildings fall into disrepair. And due to various political machinations, the beautiful Main Building that had been the centerpiece of the hospital eventually was knocked down in spite of the efforts of a “Preserve Greystone” group.

Maybe it’s natural to grow nostalgic as the year draws to a close, but as we walked the paths we once followed many years ago, we’d point out landmarks that used to be part of our daily lives. The grounds are still beautiful, but now they’re home to a huge county park with soccer and baseball fields, a dog park, a hockey rink, and a handicap-accessible playground.

All that's left of the Main Building

On a gray day in December the grounds didn’t seem so beautiful and I felt as though the sadness of former patients had soaked into the very soil.

But pretty soon the days will start to get longer and the sun will shine and the grounds will be beautiful again.  And this year will finally be behind us.

The Gift of Romance Novels by Jan Scarbrough

A romance novel or romantic novel is a type of novel and genre fiction which places its primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and usually has an “emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending.” Wikipedia

A Central Love Story: The main plot centers around individuals falling in love and struggling to make the relationship work. A writer can include as many subplots as he/she wants as long as the love story is the main focus of the novel. Romance Writers of America

I don’t want to concentrate on the plot of a romance novel, but an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending. We all know how the novel will end—the guy gets the gal. We feel good about their struggles when they end “happily ever after.” My first editor told me to make my ending more emotionally satisfying. I went back and wrote another ending.

In Kentucky Flame, Mel and Jake reunite after ten years. During the story, Jake learns Cory is his daughter.

“We need to tell Vanessa. Cory is her responsibility.”

Jake frowned. “Isn’t that a cop-out?”

“It may be,” Mel said with a shrug. She climbed down from the fence. “But maybe we can’t make a happy ending out of this.”

Looking thoughtful, Jake put a fingertip under her chin and lifted it. “I don’t know about that. I’m all for happy endings, remember? Dreams do come true.”

“If you make them come true,” Mel finished for him and walked away from him toward the barn.

He hurried to catch up. “I think we can begin to make this turn into a happy ending if you’ll say you’ll marry me.”

She stopped and turned to face him. “This is not time for one of your jokes, Mr. Hendricks.”

“I’m not joking.”

“You can't say that to me in the middle of the driveway.”

“I can ask you to marry me anywhere I please. Remember, I love you.” Jake laughed and cupped her face into his hands. His lips descended upon hers in a liquefying kiss. “I love you, you stubborn woman.”

“Oh,” Mel sputtered, hardly able to think.

Jake lifted his head. “I’m assuming you love me too.”

Mel’s response was breathless. “Of course.”

“And I'm assuming you’ll finally marry me.”

Mel threw her arms around his neck. “Of course, I will.”

“Terrific!” Laughing, Jake scooped her off her feet in a powerful embrace and performed an awkward pirouette.

Her blood rushing in her ears, Mel savored his exhilaration, the safety of his arms, the very thrill of the moment. When she came down to earth, she pushed away ever so slightly and turned her gaze up to touch his face.

“We still haven’t solved our problem,” she told him seriously.

Jake took a deep breath. “Yes, I know. You’re right about talking with Vanessa first, but I think someday Cory has to be told the truth. Besides, whatever happens from now on is our problem, one we work on together.” He hugged her. “Bargain?”

Mel nodded her head. “Bargain.”

With his arm around her shoulder, Jake drew Mel toward the wide entrance of the barn only for them both to be brought up short. High above them in the hay loft with her legs dangling over the side of the opening and an irrepressible smile on her face sat Cory. Had she heard them talking?

Jake squeezed her shoulder and grinned up at Cory. “What are you doing up there, kiddo?”

“Watching you guys.”

Mel’s breathing quickened. “Did you hear what we said?”

Cory’s face fell. “No. You all were too far away. But I saw you kissing.” She brightened. “Are you going to get married?”

Mel and Jake exchanged guilty glances. “Yes.”

“It’s about time,” Cory said with a matter-of-fact little nod.

Mel’s shoulders sagged with relief. “So, why would do you want us to get married?”

“Because you’re my family,” she told them.

Mel’s mouth went dry, and she really thought her heart would crumble. Once more Jake squeezed her shoulder for support.

“How do you figure that?”

“You’re part of my barn family. You know, Vanessa and Pop and Major.”

“I see.” Jake nodded his head.

Her blue eyes were serious. “Besides, if you get married, you’ll stick around.”

“You’d like that?”

“Yep.”

His gaze rested on Mel like a blessing. “We’d like that too, wouldn’t we, Mel?”

She looked up at him. “Yes, we would.”

Jake turned back to Cory. “Well, kiddo, if you plan to show in Kansas City this November, you’ve got a lot of work to do. Hop down and the two of us will give you a riding lesson.”

As Cory scrambled down from the hayloft, Jake kissed the top of Mel’s hair. “It’s going to work out,” he said in a hushed voice, so Cory wouldn't hear. “Thank you so much for giving me my daughter.”

Tears clouded Mel’s eyes and joy caressed her heart. Whispering close to his ear, her response was like a kiss. “You were right. Sometimes dreams do come true.”

I contend that romance novels give us hope.

Hope: desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hope

If you have hope, you think everything will turn out okay—something good is going to happen.

Without hope, we’d have despair.

Despair: utter loss of hope

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despair

I argue that without hope, we humans are lost. We’d be unable to survive the trials and tribulations of life. Sure, our earthly problems teach us lessons. There’s probably a reason for them in the long run, but without hope that life will get better, we’d be bogged down in our troubles. We’d have no optimism.

Right now, I’m optimistic Christmas holidays will be better than Thanksgiving. My husband and I ate dinner alone without our family. I have hope I’ll be able to see my grandchildren at the end of December. 

After all, my online shopping needs to be delivered!

 

A Change in Holiday Plans by Nancy Fraser #RomanceGems

I'd been thinking for the past week or two about the upcoming Christmas Holiday and the plans my family and I were making. Nothing extravagant. Just me, my two sons, their wives, and my five grandchildren. Easy-peasy. Ten people, good food, gifts for the grandchildren (maybe a few for the adults too), and a relaxed, semi-stressfree month. 

A couple of grandma/grandchildren cautious shopping trips, some family baking sessions. And, my older son's 50th birthday on December 16th! Another opportunity for celebration amid a horrible year.

I plotted out my post for today, and even had a few recipes to share so everyone could get a glimpse at what's in store for our holiday table. (Okay, so I'm still going to share the recipes below.)

But before I get to those I want to tell you how, this past Monday, our family plans were derailed by a "superspreader" event in a city nearly one-hundred miles away. Unfortunately, some of those who attended the event lived in different cities around the province, so all of New Brunswick was classifed "orange" ... meaning we had to return to single family bubbles.

As a person living alone, I'm allowed to "bubble" with one family. How does a mother choose which son, which grandchildren, to include and which to exclude? It's a hard decision for any parent/grandparent, but especially hard for someone who's life is so intertwined with both families. We all live within 10 minutes of each other. After talking with both sons, we decided I'd bubble with my younger son/younger grandchildren, and we'd keep our fingers crossed that the ban would be lifted in time for a subdued Christmas Day.

I wasn't going to share the crimp in my December because I figured we've all had enough bad news and broken plans to last a lifetime. Yet, something happened at 10:45 Friday morning that changed my mind.

I got a phone call from the New Brunswick Department of Health. I was being notified of a "contact trace" for Covid exposure during scheduled routine lab work at our local hospital.

My heart literally stopped beating for about thirty seconds until I realized ... I'd actually cancelled the appointment and wasn't there. I informed the woman on the phone of the cancellation. She explained she was working from the scheduling list and apologized for worrying me. I could tell by the crack in her voice she was as relieved as I was. Having to make those calls must take a toll on a person. My heart goes out to our healthcare workers.

To sum up would could have been an even crappier week....

THE VIRUS DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE ... PLEASE WEAR A MASK!

Now, on to more important things. Three recipes: my daughter-in-law's favorite side dish, my favorite turkey leftovers, and my grandchildren's favorite dessert.

Until next year ... stay happy, stay healthy (please), and stay well read. Happy Holidays, no matter which you celebrate.

Nancy

My Favorite Time of Year by Karen Whiddon

 It's December.  Finally!  As is our family tradition, we spent the three days after Thanksgiving decorating for Christmas.  Though it's a lot of work, I wouldn't have it any other way.  This holiday brings me joy!

So for this month's blog post, I'm sharing a few photographs of my decorations.

My tree

A table in the landing upstairs

My fireplace

And the really cool Christmas dragon I got last year

Our front door

When I was a small child, I used to lie on my back underneath the tree and gaze up in wonder at the lights and ornaments.  I've never lost that sense of wonder.  And now especially, I think we can all use a little beauty and joy.  

Ring in the Holidays by @JoanReeves #RomanceGems

Today is the first day of December. Hurray! Ring out the bells!

Our theme for December? The Gift of Romance.

Like nearly everyone in the era of Covid, I'm ready for some joy, good cheer, and happy times.

I want to bake cookies, make pralines, give presents, write Christmas cards, sing along with Christmas pop songs and favorite carols, watch Hallmark holiday movies, kiss under the mistletoe, and read holiday romance novels.

We all need this! The world needs this. That's one thing I love about romance novels. They truly are the optimistic genre. If you're feeling down, turn off the news and pick up a holiday romance. 

Santa's Book Shop

We're ringing in the Holidays in style. We have created a Book Fair just for you. Some of the books may be free; some may be bargained price. All are wonderful romances that give you the best of the season from comedy to suspense to drama.

Through the month of December, most of the Romance Gems authors will offer free and on sale books. 

These bargains come and go so fast that it's impossible to update the Book Fair page with them each day.

The best way to find out when a book is on sale is to subscribe to the Author's Free Newsletter.

I send my newsletter twice a month. My next one goes out this weekend, and I have a free book offer just for subscribers as well as sale books by me and some of my friends.

To become one of my Reader Friends, click to subscribe to my newsletter. 

When you confirm your subscription to my newsletter, you'll receive a link for a free ebook romance.

Now, hitch a ride on a sleigh and drop by Santa's Book Shop and pick out some books. Add some to your shopping list to give to a reading friend. It's easy and inexpensive to give ebooks. Instructions are on the Book Shop page to help you out.

December Author Spotlight

That smiling face you see to the left is Peggy Jaeger, who occupies the December Author Spotlight. 

Read all about Peggy and her new release, Baked With Love. The book cover is so pretty. You'll love it.

By the way, the link to Baked With Love is a universal book link so you can select the retailer of your choice. The book publishes December 9, but you can get it now on pre-order.

Be sure and visit every day or you may miss a bargain. Before I leave you to go make some pralines, I want to give you a free book offer.

LuvU4Ever—FREE on Kindle

If you haven't read this steamy holiday romance, pick up a free copy at Amazon today. 

Some Kindle shops outside the U.S. charge for this book so make sure it shows as free before you "buy" it.

Reviewers Say

I love a good short story with a beginning, middle and strong ending and LuvU4Ever delivers with no cliffhangers to cheat the reader.

LuvU4Ever is one short story I would recommend to all lovers of romance! —Jane Jones, Amazon Top 1000 Reviewer

Joan Reeves crafts a delightful and compelling romance. While it may be short, it is vivid and certainly hits home for many women. The characters of Noelle and David are quite 'real' and I found their story poignant. If you have never read a Joan Reeves romance before (where have you been!) this is a fabulous introduction to her romantic style! —eBookLuver Reviews

A lot of love, a touch of hate, and plenty of heat! —Loretta Wheeler Review

Makes you "awww!" and believe in true love! —Carol Iris K.T., Amazon Reviewer

Until next time, if you're looking for this guy in the Santa hat, forget checking under the tree.

Look in the pages of a Romance Novel!

Hugs and Holiday Wishes!  Joan

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