Regular People Books

I like romances that feature regular people. I like them so much that's what I write. Written in the Cards is a delightful book about an artist who becomes a runaway bride and then an art teacher. She is working through grief. The main male character is the school custodian! I don't think I've ever read a book where the love interest was the custodian. 

The book is a perfect weekend read. A five-star treat. The next book in the series is on my TBR ready to go! 

 Have you read any good books lately? Next up is another book that features a tarot card reader, "Play The Fool"

While we were in Georgia my argula went to seed. At least it looks really pretty when you can't eat it anymore!

Vacation to the Hospital

 My father had his colon surgery on 6/23 and we planned to visit my parents for the beginning of July and then travel for a couple of days to the Outer Banks. However, right before we were going to leave, my dad developed blood clots and was air lifted to a hospital a couple of hours away from my parents' house in the mountains. So our vacation was a vacation to the hospital. I do not recommend.

My dad is home now and doing well. We need a vacation from our vacation. While I was in various waiting rooms, I read physical books. The Trip was the first book I finished. I bought this because I liked the cover, and I took it on 'vacation' because of the tag line: "A perfect vacation. A perfect crime." It's a good take on vacation book, the plot is not difficult to follow. It is a slow-building story, and some of the twists you'll figure out quickly.

Over all I'd say it's a 4 star book. 

The pizza at the hospital in Gainesville, GA is decent if you ever find yourself there. After spending about a week there, I'll be happy never to have to go back! I'm sure my dad feels the same way.

Tomorrow Only A Huge Stuff Your EReader Day!

 Set your alarm clock and get ready for a bunch of free books to fill up your Kindle! My book "It App-ened One Night" is part of this big promotion done with a huge group of romance writers. In my graphic, you can see some of the other books! 

Now, just so you know, my book is actually free right now. I set it up to be free from 7/21 to 7/24. I also put my first two books on sale for 99 cents each! Get em while they're hot!

And if you do happen to read any of my books, please give it a star rating and/or a review. Unless you read it and decide it's not for you. 

Happy free reading!!!!

More Hot, Hot, HOT Days ahead. #TheSundayPost

 

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

This summer has been a real hot one in Chicagoland. The forecast is calling for temperatures to be nearly 100 degrees (35 Celsius). I don't even want to know what the humidity level will be. 

I hope my cucumbers survive!  Recently on a cooler day I went on an art and garden tour in Beverly Shores, IN. The community is on the shores of Lake Michigan, so there are dunes and wetlands. 

Here are some pictures: 

Have you done anything interesting this summer? Tomorrow I have a post about a big free book event that takes place on Tuesday! 

Whoa What a Summer!

 

Ready for some June recapping?  If you recall, I had diverticulitis right after Easter and landed in the hospital. I hope you live all your days without having that experience. I do not recommend! So in June, I had to have a follow-up colonoscopy. That was super triggering for me since I have a ton of medical PTSD. 

In the second half of May, my father had a colonoscopy, and they found a mass that was very suspicious for colon cancer. That dialed up my anxiety to an eleven. June 10th, I suffered through prep, then on the 11th, I had the dreaded procedure--and I'm all good! No more inflammation and most importantly, no lurking colon cancer! 

The whole experience was so draining and stressful, I did some retrospective review of 2025 and decided to ask my primary care doc for a prescription for depression medication. 

June 14th my whole family--plus middle kiddo's lovely girlfriend and a bunch of youngest child's friends did the Imerman Angels Brunch Run. It was just a couple of days before Anna turned 21, so I had T-shirts made for the occasion. They feature an old picture of Anna dressed as Medusa. The weather was gloomy and chilly, but it was so great to have everyone together--especially after the stress of the previous few weeks. 

School's Out For Summer! #TheSundayPost

  

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

The last day of school was on Thursday, and I can say with certainty that the staff was more excited than the students to start summer break!  Some of the kids were crying, how sweet! The staff was jumping for joy. 

In the garden, my sugar snap peas are growing! I'm going to have a good crop! I've been able to start harvesting lettuce. Yesterday I planted cucumber seeds and basil seeds. This year I'm trying direct sowing. Next weekend, I feel confident the soil will be warm enough to plant zucchini seeds and green beans. Will gardening from seeds work this summer? We will see! 

Today I was part of a book fair at a library. My first time in a library as an author! A dream come true and we didn't take pictures! Arg! All I have is a picture of my table.

This week I have a dental appointment, an annual medical exam, and a colonoscopy. After those tests and appointments, I made an appointment for a facial. 

Do you like to read small town romance with a few steamy scenes? Would you like an ARC for my book "Your Mr. Brightside"?  

Click here for more info on the book and the form to sign up! 

I hope you have a great week! 

167 School Days Down, 13 to Go! The Sunday Post!

  

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

I don't know who is more excited for school to be over, the staff or the kids. If I had to pick, I'd say the staff. I am really looking forward to summer break, especially since we had summer weather this week. Now the upcoming week is going to be standard spring weather so maybe I won't have summer fever. 

I'm almost done drafting my latest book Your Mr. Brightside. Since I have already shared the cover reveal with my newsletter subscribers, I can now share it here! 

I spent Saturday at a bookstore lit fest in Ottawa, Illinois. The store is called Prairie Fox Books and it is located in the quaint downtown of this town which is near the state park called Starved Rock. I had a lovely afternoon and now I can say that my books are available in store for anyone who is visiting the area!  I hit some ridiculous traffic on the way home, but at least the weather was nice and I had good music to listen to.

How was your week?

Yesterday I watched the first two episodes of "Murderbot" on Apple TV and it was as good as I hoped it would be! Last week I watched the Kdrama The Trama Code: Heroes on Call. It is a great show! If you like medical shows, you practically have to add it to your list!

Next week is a 3-day weekend. We usually have crummy weather for Memorial Day Weekend, but my hope springs eternal. On Saturday, I'll be picking up my heirloom tomato seedlings! 

Happy Mother's Day 2025 The Sunday Post!

  

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

This year we get a real treat of a Mother's Day. It's going to be sunny and in the 70s (low 20s Celcius). My plan for the day is to go for a run, write 1,000 words in Your Mr. Brightside and enjoy carryout from a favorite local restaurant. Still working on dietary adjustments from having diverticulitis, I probably won't enjoy a nice crisp glass of white wine. I'm also planning to get some reading in. I won't be doing anything with the garden because I need soil and plants and someone needs to put together the new raised bed we got. That someone is not me. 

Do you have any plans for this Sunday? 

If you need more free books on your TBR here is the link to the small-town romance free book promo I am part of this month:
https://books.bookfunnel.com/freesmalltownromancereads/7iz7fven21

What are you streaming?  I am really enjoying "Friends and Neighbors" on Apple TV. Jon Hamm, the main character, does things each week that put him closer and closer to completely imploding his entire life and it's very interesting to watch. 

Here's a picture of me and the hubs with our youngest back in 2022. Since then I decided I'd rather pay to have my hair colored than to live the grey hair life. And our youngest is finishing her third year of college!

Free Small Town Books to Add to Your E-Reader!

 

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This is one of the many small-town romance novellas you can get for free this month! My novella Surprise Party is part of the free book promotion. Here is the link to check out all the books: 

https://books.bookfunnel.com/freesmalltownromancereads/7iz7fven21

I'm taking advantage of this promo to stock up on summer reads. May is here and I'm ready for summer loving!

If you get any books through this event, please let me know!

Mother's Day is coming up this weekend. I am hoping we have lovely weekend weather and I can spend some time outside gardening. It's time to add another raised bed to our front yard. How will you be spending your weekend? 

Talk About Escalating Quickly #TheSundayPost

  

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

I've had a craptastic time since I last posted. After Easter, I took myself to the ER because I thought I might have appendicitis. I didn't have that, what they found instead was diverticulitis. I've known I had diverticulosis for years, but I've never had a diverticulitis infection. I was admitted to the hospital and put on antibiotics. The recovery after the hospital has been exhausting. I am feeling a million times better now, and I'm still not at 100 percent. I'm also feeling my way around what foods are OK to have. I'm on a low-fiber diet for now, which turns out to mean I can't eat almost all the fruits and veggies I love. 

In mid-June I have to go get a colonoscopy to make sure the infection is gone and that nothing else is wrong. I guess it's good to get the follow-up and have biopsies taken and everything. However, the whole process is anxiety-producing. The weather around here has been more March than May, so at least I'm not stuck recuperating indoors while beautiful weather is outside. 

I did learn that if I am stuck in the hospital, it's easy to read a 500-page book. So there is that. In fact, if I ever go to the ER again, I'm bringing at least three books. I had two books at the hospital and I could have read another one. Physical books work best in this context. 

Garden update- the peas are growing!!!

How was your week? Read anything good? Stream anything interesting? I watched Last Breath which is streaming on Netflix or Hulu and was interesting. Diving stuff fascinates me because there is no way I would dive.