Thursday, March 23, 2023

5 Stars for Trickster by Darlene Fredette

 




     Trickster is included in the Mortar & Pestle series which is penned by various authors. However the story is set in Redford Falls so fans of that series will enjoy this fun read as well. There is a delightful touch of myth and magic and the Redford Falls rabbit also makes an appearance.
   This well thought-out story has believable and relatable characters and the pacing keeps the story moving. The relationship between Jade and Eric is a beautiful reminder of all those exciting feelings that are so special and unique when meeting and being with someone for the first time. 
  As with all of Darlene Fredette's books, I enjoyed this one and recommend Trickster and all her books for a satisfying read that will leave you smiling. 

                       Available here...
                                  
   Blurb:
    Working for a top modeling agency is Jade Parsons’s dream job, until her boss suffers a heart attack, and his son temporarily fills his position. Eric’s push-pull approach fuels her frustration. While anticipating the troublemaker’s imminent departure, Jade’s destiny is revealed through a magical mortar and pestle, leaving her heart tormented by whispers of a different fate. 

  World-renowned photographer Eric Martini returns home to restore his relationship with his estranged father, but wounds from the past haunt him. Enchanted by his father’s feisty assistant, he masks his heart and refuses to give into desire. Convinced his destined future is already written in the stars—and doesn’t include Jade, Eric’s only choice is to walk away.
   Will Jade and Eric find the courage to trust the mythical and smoky signs before their paths are severed forever?
#contemporaryromance #romancemagic

    Darlene resides on the Atlantic Coast of Canada where the summers are too short, and the winters are too long. Retired from a career as Director of Administration and Marketing, she now has eleven published contemporary romance books and is an artist at heart. When she isn’t researching her next book or having a pencil, paintbrush, or a cup of hot chocolate in her hand, she’s with her husband, daughter, and one-hundred-pound yellow Labrador.
     
               Trickster  Available here...

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Break Heart Canyon 5 Stars from Literary Titan.

 




 Una MacLaren is a fiercely independent woman and widow. When her beloved husband suffers an accident in Break Heart Canyon, she concludes her life is just another story to add to the depressing legacy of the canyon. Preferring the company of her goats and her dog MacTavish she works her farm and keeps to herself for the most part. That is, until a relic hunter appears uninvited and unwanted on her property. Ryker is unlike the other bone hunters who try to pilfer the spirit cave on her property. Slowly the two of them work their way into each other’s lives, with a bit of help from Whiskey Jim, the mysterious wonder that seems to know everything that goes on in this town.

   Break Heart Canyon by Gini Rifkin is more than a western romance novel. It is the story of Native American legends, Scottish heritage, and self-discovery. Ryker is the loner, never staying anywhere long, just long enough to get the job done and get paid. But, it is in the canyon and after meeting Una, he starts to realize there is more to life and adventure can come in many forms. Una learns that she doesn’t always have to be strong and it is ok to love more than once in a lifetime. Together they find the missing pieces of themselves and help solve a long-standing mystery that has plagued the town.

   Rifkin’s writing style pulls the reader in, giving them rich characters that, in order to get to know the real person, you have to keep reading. Even the minor characters are well-developed and are used to show added depth and personality to the protagonists. Intertwined in the story is the mystery surrounding the cave and the events that have happened in the canyon. The mystery plays out well and leaves some wonderful surprises for the reader to discover.

   Break Heart Canyon is a captivating historical romance filled with legend and lore that will have readers unable to put the book down. Each chapter gives the reader something new to think about, leading them deeper into a world they were not expecting. This is the perfect read for those that want romance with their adventure.

Available here e-book or paperback




Monday, March 13, 2023

Is there romance after marriage?



 Would you read an adventurous medieval romance where the hero and heroine are already married when the story opens? 

 Do we not have romance after marriage? There are still twists and turns in relationships, and those wonderful pesky outside influences which can temporarily separate the couple. Married life can be humorous as well as familiar.  

What is more exciting than standing by your man to save the castle and family? Married or not, fearing for one's life and fighting against the odds, still makes one hope for those Happily Ever After moments. 


Would love to hear from readers regarding this idea of an adventurous Married Medieval Romance. 

 Is there a place for married couples romance      regardless of time period. 



Tuesday, March 7, 2023

Best secondary character!

                     Whiskey Jim, in Break Heart Canyon, 
                     wins best supporting actor! 

Whiskey Jim is one of my favorite secondary character. He helps the heroine Una, and also tries to keep peace in the canyon. While he fights to preserve the artifacts for which the hero is searching, it seems Whiskey Jim has secrets of his own. 

Available here

Blurb: 

Unearthing artifacts in Colorado sounded like easy money to Ryker Landry. Then he met the woman who owned the land. 

Una MacLaren vows no fortune hunter will desecrate the ancient relics of BreakHeart Canyon—even if the man is a handsome scoundrel. Fighting to keep her goat farm afloat as local cattlemen hatch deadly schemes to make sure she fails, she has enough to worry about. 

Captivated by the courageous redhead, Ryker joins forces with Una and her Deerhound, MacTavish. But what does he desire most, the woman or the artifacts? 

When the mythical white cougar again prowls the rocky cliffs, the legend of BreakHeart Canyon draws them into a web of danger. Now only daring and blind trust can save them. 




Friday, February 3, 2023

More weaving projects.

 Just finished a scarf for my niece in NYC. She loved it! 

             Made from alpaca yarn, color called boysenberry



This time, I tried a method that uses a pick-up stick so I could get a more varied pattern than plan weave. Really enjoyed using this technique although you have to pay attention, lol, or you can get lost. I tend to daydream when weaving so that can be tricky for me. 

Pick up stick course  Here is the course I took on-line from a fantastic weaver and instructor, Sara Goldenberg White.  

I learn something new with each project, and usually make a new mistake too, but I'm keeping a journal so hopefully won't make same mistake twice. 


       Already started a new project, a baby blanket for nephew and his wife in L.A. Using 100% organic cotton grown in USA.  Excited to see how this comes out. Warping the loom takes nearly all day, especially when you are working with a 32 inch loom and using about 300 strings!
                  

I hope you have something fun in your life about which you are passionate. 
  #rigidheddleloom #weavingandwriting 



Thursday, February 2, 2023

Happy Ground Hog's Day How it began.

 


The First Celebration

Punxsutawney Phil is the focal point of the oldest and largest annual Groundhog Day celebration, held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. According to groundhog.org, 1886 marked the first time that Groundhog Day appeared in Punxsutawney newspaper, but 1887 was the first time the official trek to Gobbler’s Knob took place.


   The date of the celebration coincides with the medieval feast of Candlemas, and its pre-Christian predecessor, Imbolc, a day also rich in folklore. An old Scottish prophecy foretells that sunny weather on Candlemas means a long winter. 


                      

How Does The Almanac Do It?

The Farmers’ Almanac uses a mathematical and astronomical formula to make long-range weather predictions, not folklore. They look at sunspot activity, tidal action of the Moon, positions of the planets, and many other factors to carefully craft a year’s worth of weather forecasts. Fans of the Almanac say our weather forecasts are accurate 80-85% of the time.




Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Free read at NetGalley Break Heart Canyon

 

                                
                               Available through January 2023

                                Go here to request review

Unearthing artifacts in Colorado sounded like easy money to Ryker Landry. Then he met the woman who owned the land.

Una MacLaren vows no fortune hunter will desecrate the ancient relics of Break Heart Canyon—even if the man is a handsome scoundrel. Fighting to keep her goat farm afloat as local cattlemen hatch deadly schemes to make sure she fails, Una has enough to worry about.

Captivated by the courageous redhead, Ryker joins forces with Una and her deerhound, MacTavish. But what does he desire most—the woman or the artifacts?

When the mythical white cougar again prowls the rocky cliffs, the legend of Break Heart Canyon draws them into a web of danger. Only daring and blind trust can save them. 


                                  Go here to request review





#freeread #NetGalleyreaders #Westernromance