Finding the Right Name by Merrillee Whren

Character names are important when writing a story, but place names are also important. I've created fictional towns for many of my books. The first series I wrote was set in my fictional town of Pinecrest, Washington, a small town near Spokane. I picked the name because there are lots of pines in the area and hills and mountains.

I also have my Kellersburg series set in a small fictional town in southwest Ohio, not far from Cincinnati. I patterned it after a couple of small towns I lived in for several years after I got married. I picked the name because the town was settled by the Kellers. 

My Christmas novellas are set in Hallburg, a small town in Maryland, not far from Baltimore. One of my daughters lives in Baltimore, so my characters find their way to Baltimore on occasion. I didn't have any particular reason for picking the name other than it wasn't a real place in Maryland. 

I'm currently working on a book set in Arizona, and I needed a name for the ranch where most of the book will be set. I asked my Facebook friends to help me with the name for the ranch. They gave me a lot of suggestions. Many of them I couldn't use because they were actually real places. Two of the suggestions were for Crooked Saguaro Ranch and Bent Saguaro Ranch. That gave me the idea for Twisted Saguaro Ranch, but I used the Spanish translation for the name because the original owners of the ranch were of Hispanic origin. The name in Spanish is Rancho Saguaro Retorcido. Here is a photo of the a twisted saguaro, the inspiration for the name. 

 If you owned a ranch, what would you name it? 

Merrillee Whren is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award presented by Romance Writers of American. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of forty-plus years, and has two grown daughters. Connect with her on her Facebook page and sign up for her newsletter.

 

Secrets of the Heart by Vickie McDonough

Wild Heart books is re-releasing my exciting South Carolina series about the Reed family. Don't miss this swashbuckling, heart-warming series that spans over sixty years of a southern family's legacy.

SECRETS OF THE HEART

Windswept Weddings book 2

Vickie McDonough

A Southern belle nursing a wounded stranger must choose between family duty and a love that defies everything she’s ever known.

Hannah Madison’s life is comfortable, well-ordered, and safe. She knows what to expect. Including her mother’s plans that Hannah marry Jamie Reed, the heir to the neighboring plantation. But her sheltered life is disrupted when she stumbles upon a seriously injured stranger in the Reeds’ barn. He seems to need her help. As she nurses him back to health, Hannah is drawn to the handsome man with amnesia that she calls Adam. And as her feelings for him grow, Hannah must decide whether to follow her heart or honor her family's expectations.

Adam remembers nothing prior to the day he met Hannah. Nothing of his true identity or the dangerous secret he carries. All he knows is he can’t help falling for his graceful and kind caretaker. But when his memories return, he's faced with an impossible choice— pursue his love for Hannah and betray his family, or sacrifice his own happiness to preserve his family's unity.

Can Hannah and Adam find the right path when duty and love collide?

Secrets of the Heart releases on October 7th. Be the first to read it by pre-ordering it now. Just $3.99 for ebook / $15.95 for paperback.

Pre-order on Amazon now

Mutiny of the Heart, Book 1 in my Windswept Weddings series, releases on August 19th. You'll love this story complete with a charming little boy, a woman with no one to call her own, and a swoony hero you can look up to. Oh, did I mention pirates?

Snag a copy here

The Midnight Garden Secret That's Changing Neighborhoods (and why I'm thinking of doing it, too) by Josie Riviera

Have you heard about the "Midnight Garden" trend? It's sweeping through neighborhoods this summer. The concept is simple—people garden in the cooler evening hours, often with landscape lighting, creating spaces that become gathering spots for impromptu neighbor meetups.

What started as avoiding the August Carolina heat has turned into a fun activity, while neighbors share gardening tips. Evening primrose, moonflowers, and night-blooming cereus are just a few flowers that open after dark, making nighttime gardens surprisingly beautiful.

Have you tried night gardening? Or found another way to connect with neighbors during these hot summer months? Please leave your comments below.

P.S. My video bird feeder captured a fascinating nighttime visitor this week. A crow!

If you're looking for your next great read, the complete Sweetwater Springs series is my newest release and now available in a boxed set. These three sweet romances will transport you to a charming small town filled with hope, heart, and the kind of community we'd all love to find.

The three books in the boxed set include:

WHISPERS OF LOVE IN SWEETWATER SPRINGS
One mysterious letter. Two childhood friends. A love story decades in the making.

WHISPERS OF MAPLE MEMORIES IN SWEETWATER SPRINGS
A century-old secret. A stolen chronicle. Could unearthing their past cost them their future?

WHISPERS OF HOLIDAY MAGIC IN SWEETWATER SPRINGS
A struggling baker, a determined financier, and a small-town mystery where secrets spark holiday magic.

Grab your copy of Whispers of Sweetwater Springs today. FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

Josie Riviera is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, historical, and inspirational romances that read like Hallmark movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully support husband. They share their home with an adorable Shih Tzu, who constantly needs grooming, and live in an old house forever needing renovation.

Sign up for her newsletter and get a FREE ebook on her website: josieriviera.com

Sunny days, great reads, and a free book! .....Roxanne Rustand

 Are we already in August? This summer is flying by! I hope you have been enjoying lots of great books under the shade of a leafy tree, with a lemonade in hand.

I am SO excited to share that I have a new book releasing on September 16th.

DANGEROUS DECEMBER is part of my Northern Pines Suspense series, and I so loved writing this one. Here's the Amazon link!  It's FREE on Amazon's Kindle Unlimited (KU.) 

It's a heartwarming, small-town novel meant for those who love to read a good, clean romance with suspense:

A CHILLING SECRET. A SECOND CHANCE... 

After a painful divorce a year ago, small-town bookstore owner Beth Carrigan has rebuilt a quiet life in northern Wisconsin. The last thing she expects is her ex-husband Devlin—a decorated Marine—coming back to town on medical leave with life-changing news: his late mother’s will binds them together for six months with a shocking ultimatum.

To secure the future they each desperately need—Beth’s beloved bookstore and Dev’s inheritance—they must work together for six months. It's a daunting mission that requires compassion, cooperation...and staying under the same roof.

But someone doesn’t want them to succeed.

A string of "accidents" becomes increasingly dangerous. Sabotage, secrets, and a long-held grudge threaten not just their second chance at love—but their lives. 

This Christmas, healing a broken heart will be the least of her worries... 

                              ~~~~

What are your plans for the rest of the summer? I'd love to hear about what you'll be doing for fun, because I will be locked in my office working on my next book!

Leave a comment, and you will be in a drawing for any of my ebooks published within the past three years!  You can see them by clicking HERE.

Wishing you lots of happy reading!

Roxanne Rustand
www.roxannerustand.com
USA Today Bestselling author

Lyn Cote Asked her Readers...

 I received a few responses to my July question, asking readers to share a special summer memory. Here are a few:

Jenny Blake (aka ausjenny)

When we were younger we use to go to stay with mum’s brother and father (pop). Dad normally has 3 – 4 weeks so we would go a few days after Christmas cos we normally came home to a very dead Christmas tree. We would also spend times with cousins another 2 hours from there. But Pop lived on the main street at the end about a block from the botanical gardens where they had 2 playgrounds. one was with the caravan park which was right on the river but the same area. I use to love walking by the water lilies. I still remember them and loved seeing them. over the road was a trampoline place so we often stopped there and as they knew mum and dad and the owner was my uncles Godson we use to get double the time for our money if it wasn’t too busy.

Shirley Karr

I have several special summer memories. I fell in love with books at an early age, so summer reading programs are still a favorite (I take my grandchildren several times a week!). I became a Christian at Vacation Bible School, so VBS is a HUGE favorite. And last (but certainly not least), I grew up very poor, so selling a lot of Girl Scout cookies allowed me to attend some fabulous summer camps!

Gwen Larson

In the 1970s, my big sis and I were latchkey kids once we moved to the country. We lived on a lake, and a little general store to serve campers was about a mile from our house (across the field — who would take the roundabout way on the road?). We didn’t have an allowance, so we would scrounge the house for loose change (sofa cushions, Mom’s old purses, coat pockets). Then we would walk to the store and spend at least an hour deciding what we wanted to buy — a can of pop? Popsicle or Fudgsicle? can of Spaghettios? The proprietors were great — always keeping an eye on us, talking with us, letting us watch the minnows in the tanks in the lower level. Once we finally shared our adventures with our parents, I suspect Mom started hiding money for us to find!

Lyn here~I so identified with these responses. We lived in a new subdivision at the edge of town across the street from a farm so we had many places to roam and a drugstore a few blocks east where we shopped for treats and comic books. And I loved VBS and the bookmobile every Friday night! So many happy memories. Thanks for sharing. 

I hope this causes you to think of a summer memory!--Lyn Cote 

PS: The photo is of my husband driving our boat into the summer sunset!

LAST DAY OF SALE!!

 

Northern Shore Intrigue: Books 4–6

By Lyn Cote

Escape to Lake Superior’s pristine shores in this faith-filled box set from a Carol Award–winning author! These three Christian romantic suspense novels feature unforgettable characters, small-town charm, and gripping intrigue…

CLICK HERE.

Summer Reading or Listening By Laura Scott

Wow, the summer is flying by so fast! I'm not sure where the time is going, but I wish it would slow down just a bit.

I've just finished writing the second to last book in my Sullivan K9 Search and Rescue Series. I've recently uploaded the 5th and 6th books in audio format, as well. Which got me thinking. How many of you enjoy listening to audio books?

I never used to, so this is a new era of reading for me. I wish I had listened to audiobooks back when I was working full time and had a 45 minute commute to and from work each day. Think about how many books I could have listened to during that time? Hundreds. Maybe even a thousand! 

Alas, I am late to the party. But better late than never, right? 

For me, working on a screen all day writing, I have learned to embrace audiobooks. No squinting at a page or a screen. I sit back and listen. It's relaxing, except when I'm listening to romantic suspense. Then I'm trying to guess who the bad guy is. 

I now have 28 of my books in audio format with human narrators. It's expensive for me, but I love them so much I think it's worth it.

If you haven't tried an audiobook, you may want to consider it. Chirp features audiobooks on sale for low prices. I also have my audiobooks for sale on my website for $5.99 each. That's only one dollar more than most ebooks out there. What can it hurt to give one a try?

Here's my most recent audiobook. Isn't the cover amazing? If you love dogs you'll love my new series.

Mystery Stalker!

When Trina's nephew runs away from home, she doesn't hesitate to call former high school crush Joel Sullivan and his K9 Royal for help. But when gunfire erupts as they find Ben, she realizes someone is holding a grudge against her. And worse, they will stop at nothing to make her pay.

Joel Sullivan refuses to leave Trina and Ben until the mysterious stalker has been caught. Yet as the attempts escalate into a full onslaught of danger, he fears the worst. That the stalker who has Trina in the crosshairs will succeed in killing her. Will he and Royal discover the person responsible, before it's too late? 

Audio is up on my website!

This book is available in print and as an ebook, too! 

Amazon  B&N Apple Kobo GooglePlay