Living the Dream

There are thunderstorms in the forecast, the air quality isn’t the best, but getting to spend the day with four of my five grandkids before they go off on their summer adventures is absolutely priceless. We’ll see the fifth when we go to Norway this summer.

Today is Canada Day, the day we celebrate our nation’s greatness. Canada Day, first celebrated on July 1, 1868 is a commemoration of July 1st, 1867, when the British North American Act (now known as the Constitution Act) united Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada into a single country. Before that, we were all separate British colonies. After the initial unification, we gradually grew into the ten provinces and three territories we are today. Canada occupies the largest landmass of the twenty-three sovereign countries occupying North America, including the protected French territory of St Pierre and Miquelon, and Greenland and 60% of Hans Island which are Danish territory.

Canada has the third largest population in North America and our official languages are English and French. King Charles III is our King and he’s represented here by the Governor General, the Honourable Mary Simon, an Indigenous person. We have universal health care, social programs to look after the elderly and the poor, and a top-notch education system. We aren’t perfect, but we do try to do better.

Canada is a mosaic of cultures. With the exception of the Indigenous people, we are all the descendants of immigrants. When you think about it, even the Indigenous people came here from somewhere else. Most archaeologists believe the first peoples of Canada, who belong to what is sometimes called the Amerindian race, migrated to western North America from east Asia sometime between 21,000 and 10,000 B.C. (approximately 23,000 to 12,000 years ago), back when the two continents were connected by a massive land bridge known as the Bering Plain.

My paternal ancestor arrived in what was then New France in 1665. He was French with a touch of Basque. My maternal ancestor arrived some fifty years later, also French but with a dab of English. They and thousands like them helped make Canada the great country it is today. We strive to do the best we can, offering help to the oppresses, opening out arms to the refugees, and seeking to make amends for the sins of the past.

We are a relatively young country, and like any youth, we tend to want to do things our own way since of course, like any headstrong young person, we know better than our elders. As a writer, I’ve come to appreciate the differences among British English, American English and my own English. Canadian English is a weird mix of Amercian and British English with a dash of French thrown in. But that isn’t the only place where we tend to mix things up. Take measurement.

I grew up with the Imperial system. Gas was sold by the gallon, but even then, a Canadian or an Imperial gallon wasn’t the same size as an American one. Distance was measured in miles. When Canada made the formal switch from imperial to metric units on April 1, 1975. Many did not take kindly to the change. After all, our indoor thermometers were in Fahrenheit as were our ovens, refrigerators, and freezers.

In time, most of us accepted what we couldn’t change, like the Loonie replacing the one dollar bill, and then the twoonie replacing the two dollar bill, and then the loss of the penny and the introduction of rounding … we’re accommodating like that, but measurement? We still pretty much do our own thing. If you work in a hospital or a lab, it’s all metric. If you work in carpentry, it’s mainly Imperial, and for everyone else well–here’s a chart to help you understand the unique ness of Canada.

Enjoy your pint as you celebrate the wonders and mysteries of this great land of ours.

Want to know a bit more about my ancestors on the challenges they faced coming here? Check out my historical romance Canadiana Series available from Amazon. The Price of Honor and The Price of Courage, a fictionalized history of the times. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085NJ1ZFD

It’s Tuesday Tales’ time and here we are at the end of June. Half the year has gone by in the blink of an eye. This week’s word prompt is FINISH. I’m continuing with a scene from It’s a Match.

“Fine, Knightsbridge it is, but we will talk, Marissa. Count on it. You can’t leave without giving me an explanation. Not this time.” He turned to Aaron. “I have my own car, so I’ll meet you at the restaurant.”

Aaron had been standing next to me and could hardly have failed to notice the tension between us, but he simply nodded. “We’ll see you there.”

I was about to get into the car when Zak reached out to me and took my hand. His gaze fastened on my eyes, he raised my hand to his lips, and kissed it, sending shivers and coils of heat warring through me.

“We aren’t finished, Marissa, not by a long shot. It was wonderful to see you again. I’ve missed you more than you’ll ever know.” With that, he turned and left.

Seeing me again? The damn fool hadn’t even recognized me, and as far as being finished went, we were way past finished.

“Such a nice young man,” the Duchess said, her eyes twinkling, a tiny smile on her lips. “He seems quite fond of you, more than fond, yet I sense something happened between you that remains unresolved.”

I smiled and shrugged. “As far as I’m concerned, what we had ended a long time ago.”

The Duchess pursed her lips and shook her head. “Young people. Have you heard the expression, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater?”

I chuckled. “Of course, but it’s never made much sense to me.”

“That’s because you don’t understand it. Years ago, bathing was a time-consuming and difficult process undertaken infrequently. The tub would be filled with hot water, and the head of the household would bathe first, then the eldest son, and so on according to age and status. By the time the youngest got into the bath, the water was usually quite cloudy and dirty. One had to look carefully to make sure no one was left in the tub. Today, it applies to anything that is set aside without careful investigation. Relationships fall into that category. Marissa, that young man cares deeply for you. I can see from your eyes that he did something that hurt you deeply, but before you throw love away, remember things are not always as they seem.”

That’s it. Stay safe, and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.

Happy Summer Solstice! Celebrate the coming summer months with pre-covid prices on fantastic novels.

Think about it! 30 box sets of full-length novels for only 99 cents each (USD) You won’t find a better bargain anywhere to kickstart your summer reading. There are Unforgettable Suspense box sets, Unforgettable Romance box sets, and Unforgettable Christmas box sets. This is your chance to read over 250 novels from International and NY Times bestselling authors at a fraction of the cost you would expect for so many wonderful and compelling stories. You’ll definitely find stories to cherish! I’m pleased to be part of this select group.

Check out the sets here. https://authorsbillboard.com/book-bites/ You’re sure to find something that’s right for your reading pleasure. May I suggest:

Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales. I’m continuing with It’s a Match, my contemporary romance with a touch of comedy. Imagine going from an everyday life as an electrician, competing in a man’s world to spending three weeks hobnobbing with the aristocracy. Anything can happen. Our word this week is MIRROR.

At the back of my mind, forcing its way out despite my determination, was the thought of how Ken would react to seeing me all gussied up as we used to say. On the heels of that notion was another. How would Zak react? Dressed the way I would be at the wedding, I wouldn’t look like the electrician he’d tossed aside for a nurse, but then she would be there as well, so it might be a moot point. As the saying went, you couldn’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.

I spent most of the afternoon at the beauty spa with Mom, Marley, the Duchess, and Solange. Once again, the level of pampering had been intimidating. Before the hairstylist took me in, I had a manicure and a pedicure. Gel nails turned my worker hands into objects of beauty with a gorgeous garnet polish that matched the dress I would wear. Hands and feet suitably decorated, I moved along the assembly line to the hairstylist. My hair had been washed, conditioned, and highlighted in spite of my objections. It had been trimmed once more and now flowed down my back from the crown in a cascade of curls held in place by enough hairpins to have me avoiding magnets. When the hairstylist finished, the makeup artist took over. I found it hard to believe that some women went to these lengths each day. It would take me a couple of hours and I would come off looking like the clown from It.

The cosmetician added another layer of pain to my lips and smiled. “You’re very beautiful, Miss Kimble. Thank you for allowing me to make you shine.”

Mirror, mirror in my hand, who’s the fairest in the land?

When she held the mirror up in front of me, I gasped.

“That’s me?” If I were to meet myself on the street, I would never recognize myself. The blue-gray eye shadow, eyeliner, and black mascara gave size and depth to my sapphire eyes. The creamy peach foundation hid the marks on my face and my freckles, while the pink blush highlighted cheekbones I didn’t even know I had. She’d used a deep garnet lipliner and then a garnet lip paint with a coat of clear lip shine on top. I was … I was … beautiful and hot … and fake.

That’s it. Stay safe, and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.

Unforgettable Love: Unforgettable Wonder. Grab your copy today!

If you’re looking for a light, fun, contemporary romance to kickstart your summer reading, why not pick up a copy of Tequila Sunrise, free this weekend.

She left him in stitches before pulling a Cinderella and disappearing. Ten years later, she wants a second chance.

Kelly Winters, an up-and-coming recreational facilities designer, is excited to be part of Conway Enterprises’ latest resort reconstruction in Mexico.
Discovering Liam Conway, a blast from the past and sexier than ever, will be her seatmate on the flight thrills her, especially when he’s willing to forget parts of their first encounter and start fresh.
When Liam shows up at the Mexican restaurant where she and her coworkers are enjoying lunch, she can’t believe her luck. Sun, sand, and sex. Who could ask for more?
But when she realizes Liam is Conway’s CEO and her new boss, her hopes plummet. Can they make their renewed attraction work, or will it be another short-lived office romance?

Enjoy!

Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales. Hasn’t it been a crazy month and we’re only thirteen days in. I feel as if someone told Mother Nature she couldn’t do something, and she answered “Hold my beer.” Heat, cold, and smoke have been the orders of the day. Who knows what the next seventeen days will bring?

This week, we’re working with a picture prompt, and I’m working on It’s a Match, a Contemporary Romance with a few laughs in it. Since we have a picture prompt. We’re limited to 300 words. Here’s the picture I chose.

“Are you telling me that Zak Mitchum is going to be staying in the same house as me? That I’m going to have to put up with him for the next two weeks until your wedding day? What other disastrous news have you been keeping from me? Let me guess. He’s part of the wedding party—maybe even the Best Man? Seriously, Marley. How could you keep this from me?”

“For the exact reason that’s happening right now.” She rolled her eyes. “Calm down, Marissa.”

Calm down?

As if telling someone to calm down ever worked.

“He’s not part of the wedding party, but since he’s Aaron’s special guest, he will be part of the festivities. Zak and the horse will arrive the day before we do. I’m not asking you to spend time with him. I simply expect you to be polite. Canadians are polite. It’s our shtick. Surely that isn’t asking too much?

The blood in my veins turned to ice. I hadn’t laid eyes on Zak in five years, not since …Now, not only was I supposed to share accommodations with him, I was expected to be polite to him? Polite to the man who’d broken my heart and had left it in tatters? That was like going up to someone with a nut allergy and handing them a piece of the most gorgeous almond cake in the world and saying to them, “It’s okay. Go ahead and eat your fill. It’ll only kill you once, but you’ll enjoy it.” This wedding might well be the death of me.

“You don’t know what you’re asking.” I swallowed the tears choking me. Even after all this time, the mere mention of his name turned me into a mess.

That’s it. Stay safe, and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.

If she isn’t Melinda Crites, who is she? And why is someone trying to kill her? Can she trust anyone? Especially the stranger who makes her heart sing.

When a family Christmas present among siblings backfires, Melinda Crites faces an identity crisis. Not only is she not a real Crites, but she also has no idea who her biological parents are, beyond the information in the DNA analysis.
Struggling with this new knowledge, Melinda decides to join the platform and see what comes of it. Within a month of retesting to make sure there hasn’t been an error made, she’s contacted by a man who claims to be her biological brother and invites her to visit him and the rest of his family in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Desperate to find herself once more and discover her roots, she agrees to go, hoping that by learning the truth, she’ll be able to find her center once more and get on with her life. What she doesn’t expect is to fall in love with her brother’s partner.

When Marc Mason, CFO for Mason-Scott Aquaculture, the largest seafood growing and processing enterprise on Cape Breton, learns that his business partner and best friend, Darcy Scott may have located his missing twin, he agrees to help his best friend discover more about the mysterious Melinda Crites. If she really is his sibling, Darcy plans to give her a share of the business and the family wealth. If she isn’t, then he’ll expose her for the fraud she is.

But not everyone is excited to welcome a long-lost relative, and when a car tries to run down Melinda outside her hotel, quick action on Marc’s part saves her life. The last thing he wants from her is hero worship. She may or may not be a fraud and has no reason to trust him, but how can he let anything happen to the woman who calls to his soul?

Finding Melinda is now available in eBook format from Amazon and is also available in Kindle Unlimited. Check out the free preview!

For those following my blog, this is the box set you’ve been waiting for! It includes Beneath the Ashes. Check it out below!

Celebrate the Big 30 with Romance!

Once again, the amazing writers of The Authors’ Billboard have come together to bring you a box set filled with amazing stories of Unforgettable Love: Unforgettable Wonder. The 30th in the Unforgettable Romance Series box set collection will give you tingles and set your heart atwitter.
Join these talented and award-winning ladies on incredible and diverse journeys, where lovers find each other for the first time – sometimes under difficult or seemingly impossible conditions – or are reunited by fate after being torn apart by situations or deceptions.

No matter what life throws at them, these strong men and women will discover that Love will prevail.

Mona Risk – Secret Kisses: Will the three friends manage to convince their families to let them marry for love or will tradition tear the lovers apart?

Rebecca York – Nightfall: Will the mail-order bride be able to introduce her virgin husband to the pleasures of married love, while hiding her secret, all while living on a nearly lawless planet where savage wildlife roams?

Susan Jean Ricci – Sharing Sea Glass: A summer adventure nearly turns tragic when a young woman almost drowns. Her gratitude morphs into something else entirely different when she gets to know her handsome savior.

Stacy Eaton – Sometimes You Win: Can Haley be lucky enough to win the lottery and Devon’s heart too?

Josie Riviera – 1-800-IRELAND: A strong minded Irishwoman pursuing her dream. A disillusioned businessman ready to retire. Can two determined people separated by years find true love at the end of a rainbow?

Susanne Matthews: Beneath the Ashes: Can the archeologist’s fantasies really be memories of a past life in Pompeii? And if she gives in to them, what will happen to the future she has planned?

Complete blurb:

Lucie Raines loves her job overseeing the Mediterranean Gallery at the Perry Foundation Museum. She’s always felt at home among the remains of Rome’s glory days, so much so that she frequently dreams of the era and most recently of a dream lover who makes her feel the way no flesh and blood man ever has. When she’s offered a chance to go to Italy and join an archeologist on a new dig in Pompeii, she jumps at it.
Her excitement is tinged with confusion when the advance items recovered from the dig arrive. While she’s always been able to get impressions from the artifacts she’s handled, these bits and pieces of the past aren’t simply relics, they belong to her, but how is that possible? A day in Rome spent touring the Roman ruins leaves her questioning her sanity, but when she arrives at the site of the new excavation and meets the archeologist, she begins to question far more than that. Her attraction to him is so intense that it frightens her. Can her fantasies really be memories of a past life? And if she gives in to them, what will happen to the future she has planned?
While archeologist Mario Tedesco is the first to admit that ghosts exist and frequently haunt his worksites, he doesn’t believe in reincarnation. When an earthquake reveals the ruins of a Roman villa in the nearby countryside, one that draws him as no other dig ever has, he begins to reconsider the notion, especially when his nightly dreams include Antonia, an imaginary wife who satisfies him as no other ever has … until she vanishes after a mild earthquake with a desperate plea to find her, to find them, before it’s too late.
When Mario meets Lucie, he’s convinced that she’s the reincarnation of the woman from his dreams, but if she recognizes him she doesn’t own up to it. He can tell she isn’t immune to him but refuses to allow him to get close to her. Is she afraid of him or of herself? Can he convince her to take a chance on love? Or will the rumbles from Mount Vesuvius tear them apart once more?

Rachelle Ayala – Longer Than: Storytelling and horses foil Desiree’s father’s plan to marry her off to Kyle’s cousin, the town’s most eligible bachelor. Desiree wants to please her father, but when Kyle weaves his magic with her as his muse, she’s drawn into a romance haunted by his dark tales.

Taylor Lee – All Gia’s Men: Fiercely independent, accustomed to controlling and managing every element of their lives, will this go-it-alone couple embrace or reject the joys of parenthood?

Mimi Barbour – My Cheeky Angel: In one sweet night of loving, everything changes friends. Due to an overabundance of nightcaps, his lady ‘buddy’ doesn’t remember the night he can’t forget!

Get Unforgettable Love: Unforgettable Wonders for only 99 cents USD or read it free with Kindle Unlimited.

It’s so hard to believe that it’s already June. Where has the year gone? This month our question is: June 7 question – If you ever did stop writing, what would you replace it with?

Honestly, I don’t know. I do some gardening in the spring, summer, and fall, but my body limits how much I can actually do. I travel, but that too is limited by finances and time, not to mention global pandemics, wars, and civil unrest. So, the short answer is, I have no idea. I suppose I would read more, but I can’t see anything filling the void that would be left if I stopped writing.

To be honest, it isn’t as if I haven’t thought of it. Sometimes writing seems onerous, as if it’s taking over my life, but when I climb over that particular hump in a story, I can move on to the next phase of the book or start a new one. At my age, I’m not about to look for another job. I’ve been there, done that, and can enjoy doing what I want to do when I want to do it, for as long as I’m physically able to do it.

How about you? What would you do if you stopped writing? Check out other answers here. https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html