I grew up on a farm in the middle of Canada's breadbasket. Under the canopy of crisp blue prairie skies I read books. Lots and lots of books. Occasionally, I picked up a pen and paper or tapped out a few meagre pages of a story on a keyboard and dreamed of becoming a writer when I grew up. One day the inevitable happened and I knew without question the time was right. What to write was never the issue - romance and the gut wrenching journey towards forever.
I’m a sucker for a romance with a big old house that’s falling apart. Victorian, Queen Anne, Classical Revival, Arts and Crafts, Tudor Revival. You get the idea. I even have an old house in the book I’m writing. A Queen Anne that my heroine is converting into a bed and breakfast. Hopefully Darcy house is as much of a character as the two main protagonists, Charlotte and Ridge.
Moving with my three best friends and our seven kids into a dilapidated brownstone in Boston may have seemed like the most insane thing I’d do this year. Apparently the universe said hold my beer.
Because last night I got drunk and married my boss.
Don’t worry, it’s all fake. Or at least everything after ‘I Do’ will be.
Beckett Langfield is grumpy, rich and hates kids. I’m an overworked, overstressed, and overweight single mom. The only reason we’re getting married is because he needs to fix a PR disaster and I am available. As in sitting next to him, in a bar, when he has this brilliant idea.
Considering I just got divorced, I’m not looking to do that again. But Beckett makes me an offer that I literally can’t refuse, so I don’t.
He’ll help fix up our broken house and all I have to do is take a few pictures and pretend we’re happily married.
Easy peasy.
Now if someone could just remind him that it’s all fake.
Thoughts:
Mother Faker is the first book in the MomComs Series. Four best friends who are also single moms move into a crumbling brownstone. Each book in the four part series is written by a different author. I listened to them all on Audible and they were all good but Mother Faker is my favourite of the four. I love plus size heroines and the author does a great job with Liv’s character. Also, there is plenty of always-been-you vibes in this one, and that’s another of my favourite tropes.
I love the friendship and sense of family the four women have and likewise the banter between the Langfield brothers. Spot on. And the seven kids…so adorable. Let’s face it, this would never work in real life but that’s what makes it such great escapism. And the notion that these rich men (I know we’re over the billionaires!) would do anything for their women is kind of swoon worthy. I mean who doesn’t want a man who appreciates lots of pillows on the bed. IYKYK.
The writing is good. It’s cute. It’s steamy. It’s fun. But it’s the sense of community they create for themselves that’s really the appeal. And let’s be honest, we need that now more than anything.
The one thing all romance novels have in common is the developing emotional connection between the main characters, but the details of their physical relationship differ from book to book. Heat levels or intimacy ratings of romance books are often very subjective and can depend on the reviewer, reader, or a writer’s own preferences.
Heat level, like tropes, the setting and character archetypes, is one way readers choose books. You usually find a hint of those things in the back cover blurb. A good blurb lets the reader know the amount of sexiness to expect while the characters explore their emotional relationship. In this post I’m talking about my take on Tender vs Warm romances.
I’ve talked about my take on Steamy and Spicy here.
Tender vs Warm
*I use tender and warm as descriptors for my heat level ratings. Lots of time you will see clean and wholesome used. I don’t use those because, to me, that implies sex is somehow the opposite and is dirty or unwholesome.
Tender
I’d love some recommendations for tender romances as I don’t have many to make.
I would place my own books in the steamy category. To me, steamy romances fall somewhere between PG-13 romances, where sex might be implied but not described, and spicy romances, where the main characters physical relationship is as important to the story as their emotional bond. So know that if you read one of my books there will be a couple of sex scenes woven into the story. As a reader, if the intimacy matches the tone and mood of the story, I’m happy.
Until next time…
I’m always looking for book recommendations. I would love to hear other examples of tender or warm romances?
I might be Canadian but doesn’t mean this week’s US presidential election didn’t deeply disappoint. Just this morning at the mention of a known anti-vaxxer and conspiracy theorist possibly being put in charge of a major health portfolio had a someone from my home town hoping more of that nonsense makes its way into Canadian politics. Sigh.
Anyhoo…
Food.
Remember one way to stick it to the patriarchy is to feed ourselves. We’re going to need all the energy we can get to fight against governments that want us to shrink and become as small and docile as possible. So, if you like to bake then bake. When you bake your focus and concentration is on the recipe and you are staying in the moment. Destress. Clear your head. Feed yourself and others. Find the joy in whisking up a little something and get creative with your food.
They really are so easy to make and simply delicious! I’ve made them twice now and each time they’ve been great. This recipe is probably versatile, as I think you could probably use any fruit in it. I’m going to have to give it a try with strawberries or apples.
Who else is a fan of cross stitch? If you are a fan, you’re on to something. Cross stitch has many benefits. It’s creative, it’s soothing, it helps reduce stress, and it improves your focus. There are lots of benefits to this mindful activity that has a range of patterns for everyone’s taste and time constraints. And you have something pretty to show for your efforts.
I think the easiest way to get started is with a kit that includes all the things you need. I was lucky enough to get a wide range of threads from my Mom who didn’t want them anymore. That means I can just buy patterns like this Mini Masterpieces collection of 60 patterns for $15. You can also find patterns for free on Pinterest, like the little Jeep above.
So, that’s what I do in the evening while my husband watches sports. I have to say, I hardly watch television anymore. Cross stitch has become an important part of my effort to unwind in the evenings before bed, along with trying not to look at my phone after 8:00 pm.
So, if you’re finding you need a way to refocus and refresh during this time of shorter days and longer nights, you might want to give cross stitch a try.
Until next time…
What have you been doing to refill your creative well? I’d love to hear your adventures.
Hands up if you, like me, are a bird fan? I haven’t always been as enamoured of our feathered friends. But when my daughter took a liking to birds I somewhat overcame my fear of them and now I love watching them. We often see chickadees, nuthatches, house finches, and sparrows at our feeders. We also get juncos, flickers, woodpeckers, and bluejays, depending on the seasons. Robins in the spring. Partridges year round. The occasional hummingbird flits through too. And the other night we heard an owl in the park area by our house.
There is something very calming about watching the birds. I read somewhere that watching or even hearing a bird can improve your mental health for hours. And it just so happens that my province of Saskatchewan is home to an exceptional number of birds. Whether birds live here seasonally, year round or migrate through the province, Saskatchewan is an excellent choice for a birdwatching holiday.
Saskatchewan Birding Tips from Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation organization. You can get advice, book tours and find out what birds are where.
Newly-divorced, almost-empty-nester Celeste is finally seeking adventure and putting herself first, cliches be damned. So when a friend asks Celeste to “partner” with his buddy John for an event, Celeste throws herself into the role of his temporary girlfriend. But quiet cinnamon roll John isn’t looking for love, just birds—he needs a partner for Tucson’s biggest bird-watching contest if he’s ever going to launch his own guiding business. By the time they untangle their crossed signals, they’ve become teammates…and thanks to his meddling friends, a fake couple.
Celeste can’t tell a sparrow from a swallow, but John is a great teacher, and the hours they spend hiking in the Arizona wilderness feed Celeste’s hunger for new adventures while giving John a chance to practice his dream job. As the two spend more time together, they end up watching more than just the birds, and their chemistry becomes undeniable. Since they’re both committed to the single life, Celeste suggests a status upgrade: birders with benefits, just until the contest is done. But as the bird count goes up and their time together ticks down, John and Celeste will have to decide if their benefits can last a lifetime, or if this love affair is for the birds.
Thoughts:
This fake relationship book is a lovely read. And also pretty steamy! I love books were characters’ passions are forefront. That is certainly the case in this book. Birds, birdwatching, and the benefits of it play a large role. Also refreshing, were the ages of the characters. They both are 40ish and starting the next chapter in their lives. Celeste is recently divorced and her daughter is leaving for collage and John, who recently lost his job is at a fork in the road. When they end up as a team in a birding competition, they become friends then lovers but with an expiry date. I did feel like there was a lot of repeating the same internal dialogue, especially with Celeste’s character. But despite this, their path to together is paved with entertaining antics and heartfelt experiences.
We know them. We love them. Them being our favourite tropes. And they might the reason we gravitate to certain stories. Within the romance genre there are many subgenres and many tropes. Just like in television and the movies.
It’s important to note that Enemies to Lovers or Hate to Love, although one of my favourites, can come with some challenging or problematic behaviours and scenarios. The power balance is very important in enemies to lovers stories. Unfortunately, there are storylines out there that don’t have that balance. I’m thinking of stories about women who are enslaved or captured and end up in a relationship with their captors.
Even though the main characters must be antagonists, they must both be seen as redeemable. As readers, we’re rooting for both of them even if they have a lot of work to do before they are ready to be in love. There must be tension and conflict but there must also be transformation. They must overcome their mutual acrimony to be able to develop their romantic relationship.
Some of my favourite stories with an Enemies to Lovers trope:
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe (One of my very favourite books!) Young Adult.
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid, Book 2 in her Game Changers Series. Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Swoon. One of my all time favourite romances and Ilya Rozanov is one of my all time favourite characters. The whole series is fantastic. And steamy! MM Romance. Contemporary Romance. Hockey Romance. Canadian Author.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry Contemporary Romance. Romantic Comedy.
My novel Off The Grid would be definitely fall under the Enemies to Lovers trope!
A committed doctor to Vancouver’s inner city, nothing fazes Sophie Monroe—until a pregnant teenager shows up at her clinic on Christmas Eve requesting sanctuary and claiming the baby’s father is one of the city’s most influential businessmen. Sophie is in over her head and thankful when aid shows up in the form of an attorney who’s a little too confident and a lot too sexy.
Family Law expert Caleb Quinn just wants a date, a chance to prove he isn’t the elitist jerk Sophie assumes. Helping deliver a baby is not what he has in mind. But before long protecting a traumatized teenager and her son become his first priority. Even if saving them pits him against the baby’s father, a childhood friend. A man who will do anything to keep his dark side private.
But justice never comes cheap. Will doing the right thing cost Sophie and Caleb their reputations? Or their lives?
Until next time…
Are you a fan of the Enemies to Lovers trope? If you are, drop any recommendations in the comments!
Acknowledging that we are on Treaty 4 Territory, traditional lands of the Nêhiyawak (Cree), Nahkawé (Saulteaux) and Nakota and homeland of the Métis, Dakota and Lakota.
“Realize that we as human beings have been put on this earth for only a short time and that we must use this time to gain wisdom, knowledge, respect and the understanding for all human beings since we are all relatives.”
I mentioned last week that I’d been reading a lot. The last ten months have been full of strife, stress and worry. Life often leaves us feeling depleted. It’s important to fill your creative well. And my well felt very, very empty. I couldn’t see my way to doing the things that I have always done to feel creative. And because my creative well fuels my writing, I haven’t been writing very much at all. But it’s time to change that and to be able to do that I have to once again fill my creative well.
My sister gave me a watercolour journal for my birthday. I cracked it open and feathered through all thee crisp clean pages waiting for colour. I love playing around with my watercolours. Nothing too serious. I find inspiration on Instagram and Pinterest and go from there. Lots of times I’m happy with the results. But mistakes will be made. There will be times when I don’t like the colour combinations I’ve used or the strokes or the idea anymore. Or a host of other things. But none of that matters because it’s all about the journey. It’s about exploring. Not about criticizing my efforts.
I’m also working on a very little something for my granddaughter. It’s something I’ve never tried before, a little attempt at a tiny magazine. She may like it, she may not. And that’s okay. It’s not something precious. It’s just a little something I wanted to try that might make her smile. What she does with it is up to her.
So there it is, a little look into my creative process lately.
Until next time…
How are you filling your creative well these days?
I have read a lot of romances in the last several months. A lot. And just like romances do, they helped me through a stressful time. They were an escape from the everyday. They gave me something else to concentrate on instead of worrying. They gave me hope.
These stories did have one thing in common, they were all contemporary romances. My favourites had another thing in common, they all entertained me. I read a lot of sports romances. Who am I even? I loved plenty of plus size heroine romances. These body loving heroines were a shining light. Some of them made me laugh out loud, and they all tugged at my heartstrings. But not too forcefully, which was good because my heartstrings were fragile.
And they gifted me with something else, they helped fill my creative well. The authors’ use of dialogue inspired me. As did their way of turning a setting into a colourful character. The way they worked all the emotion they could into a scene. The creative use of secondary characters. Their description of characters’ careers and how they used the work they did to serve the story. Sometimes in big ways and sometimes in small ones.
So, book recommendation time!
Here are four favourites the come to mind, but I had many.
How is Rose Barnes supposed to build the home (and life) of her dreams when her big, burly contractor keeps scowling at her?
Rose Barnes has got curves for days—and to Angus Drummond, the big, bearded contractor working on her new house, she’s the perfect thorn in his side. Little does she know Angus is perturbed on a daily basis by his attraction to this cheery, smart-ass woman with her sunshiny enthusiasm, her kindness, and her beautiful body.
Angus feels he has a debt to pay to the world and doesn’t deserve love until he pays it. Best to keep his mind on his work and his hands to himself. But the more Rose sees of Angus’s gruff, honorable thoughtfulness, and the more rusty laughter she surprises from him, the more she wants him too.
As their unlikely friendship becomes love, antagonism turns to partnership, and Rose’s house becomes a home. But Rose is keeping a secret that could blow up everything with Angus, and sure enough, it comes to light at the worst possible time…
I love a great plus size heroine. And I mean plus size, and not a size 10. Because, pfff! Also, people of all sizes and body shapes deserve love and adoration. Of course, there is plenty of conflict. Characters will always need to find a better way to navigate the world and improve their circumstances. What’s a book without conflict. Or goals. But they do it without losing weight. Storylines centring around weight loss makeovers are boring.
Curves for Days is far from boring! It’s heartwarming, sexy, and funny, while also tugging on your heartstrings. Rose is keeping a big secret. Because, reasons. So, when she arrives in a new town, Galway, and it strikes a cord with her, she decides to stay and start her life over. Angus would just as soon not have anything to do with Rose. He huffs and he puffs at her but he doesn’t scare her away. Worse, he’s starting to like everything about her.
But what is it Buddha said? Three things can’t remind hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. Then it’s up to Rose and Angus to decide if their relationship is worth saving.
A steamy read. Definitely recommend! I just finished reading her second book in the series, What She’s Having, and I loved it.
Those Three Little Words by Meghan Quinn (Book 2 in The Vancouver Agitators Series)
I knocked up my best friend’s sister.
Figured I would get straight to the point, because how it happened is a mere snippet of the story I have to tell. The real meat and potatoes is what happened after.
Let’s start with how she decided to inform me and Pacey the news…together. Imagine that nightmare. I was going into what I thought was a hockey marketing meeting, and then bam! I’m going to be a dad and my best friend/teammate is attempting to imprint my face with his fist.
It wasn’t pretty.
Threats were tossed around, friendships were revoked, and then I was marched up to her apartment, suitcases in hand, and forced to live with her so I could take care of her every need. Given how much I’ve pined for the girl, you would think that wouldn’t be a hardship. Wrong.
This is my one shot to win my teammate back. Pacey is the only family I’ve got, so hooking up with his sister isn’t a mistake I can make twice…despite the fact that she’s pregnant with my child.
But with every mood swing, every pair of pants that doesn’t fit right, and every late night run to find the perfect donut, I’m finding it harder and harder not to fall for my best friend’s little sister.
Especially when she kisses me….
This book is ridiculous. In the best way. As is the whole series. I laughed out loud. In the darkest hours of last winter, I laughed. Something I was very grateful for. Those Three Little Words is sooo funny, it’s also emotional and it’s hot. It’s also Eli’s meddling teammates. Love them and their group chats. It’s Penny. Penny is a one of a kind character, and the antics she puts Eli through? Priceless. I actually ended up feeling kind of sorry for him…when I wasn’t laughing.
I would rate this one as Spicy. Also, language warning. Definitely recommend!
Carter Beckett is the NHL’s best player—both on and off the ice. His career is at its peak, his friends are performing better than ever, and there’s no shortage of women to spend the night with. What more could he want?
Olivia Parker isn’t new to professional hockey players, thanks to her best friend’s boyfriend, but she has no interest in dating one herself—no matter how hot he is. And anyway, she loves working as a teacher and hanging out with her best friend, drama-free. Why would she want to spend her time stroking the ego of an arrogant athlete?
But once Carter meets Olivia, he can’t think of anything else. Too bad for him, Olivia is hellbent on keeping him at arm’s length, with no intention of giving into his charms. Perhaps it’s time for Carter to up his game…after all, nobody said he had to play fair.
Sparks will fly as Carter does whatever it takes for Olivia to consider him.
Consider Me is also ridiculously delicious. And so over the top, especially Carter Beckett’s character. He is…a lot. In a good luck Olivia you’re going to need the patience of saint kind of way. But I loved the heroine, Olivia, a high school PE teacher. She was the perfect foil for Carter as she had experience dealing with horny obnoxious teenagers. Thankfully, Carter’s character grows in a way that has him keeping the charm and losing the swarm. Also, the friend groups in both the hero and heroine’s life are strong and interesting and funny.
Definitely spicy. And definitely recommend giving this first book in the series a try.
Until her cocky best friend and his *ahem* rooster take charge.
Look, I’ve had it bad for the girl with all the curves next door forever. She turned me down in high school and since I’m not a total douchecanoe, I lusted after her all by myself in my shower, and we stayed just friends for years.
Now she’s the adorkable librarian next door and I’m the star quarterback of the best pro football team in the league. So when she asks me to be her fake date to her all-girls school reunion I am totally down to show her off to the mean girls who bullied her back then so they can see just how incredible she is. I’ll be the best boyfriend they’ve ever seen. The best fake boyfriend that is.
Until I find out from her slightly-stalkery classmates that she still has her v-card. I don’t see how that is even possible. Not with how sexy and sweet she is. Could it be because she knows she belongs with me?
It sounds like porn but it couldn’t be sweeter. Except for the sex which is definitely spicy. This book is excellent example of a hero who is a decent guy and a heroine who is confident and sassy and together they are developing a respectful and loving relationship. A lot of the conflict comes from outside the relationship. Not that The Cock Down the Block doesn’t touch on a some pretty serious topics like bullying and workplace harassment, it does. But in a respectful, lighter and often funny way.
Also, this was an audiobook for me and I LOVED the narrators: Stella Hunter and Christian Fox who did an excellent job!
So there you are, four contemporary romance book recommendations that are worth checking out.
Holy moly, it’s been a hot minute since my last post. What have I been doing? It’s already September and here I am looking back on the summer and marvelling at how those few short months flew by. It a nutshell, it was a low key summer. We enjoyed time with family (though not enough of that either) and spent time in our yard.
I grew some vegetables in my new raised beds. I finally have tomatoes. One of my absolute favourite late summer things. There is nothing better than toast, a little may and a fresh, warm from the sun garden tomato with a sprinkling of salt and pepper.
What else? I read A LOT of books. More on that next week. All romances. Many of them sport romances, which is not exactly my jam. We had a part of our yard landscaped. We’re so happy with the outcome. It will be fun watching everything grow and fill in over the next few years. It already looks different and it’s only been a few months.
It also set a writing challenge for August. 15 minutes a day. It was a gentle way to get back into the writing process. I’m not doing so well in September, but, now that those first two busy weeks of getting back into routine are done, I’m determined to jump back in again.
I also did a five day closet refresh. Updating my wardrobe and transitioning things from summer to fall and winter feels like a great way to ease into the cooler months. Not gonna lie, I also love organizing my closet. It’s a form of stress relief for me.
And there you have it. A little peek into my quiet, regrouping, feel the love and the warmth summer.
