Holidays
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Five Things to Enjoy in July
Welcome, July! Summertime is supposed to mean vacations and getaways, maxin’ and relaxin’. I don’t know about you, but summer is just as busy as the rest of the year, maybe even busier with friends to see, family to visit, trips and travel to coordinate, and so much more.
Still, given the choice between frigid gray winter days and warm sunny summer days, I’ll take warm, sunny, busy!
I hope you have events and activities you are looking forward to in July. If your list is looking a little thin, add these five things for a fun, festive month.
1. The Dog Days of Summer. Technically, this term refers to the hottest, muggiest days of summer. I prefer to think of it in terms of four-legged friends having fun in the sun.
2. National Ice Cream Month. Vanilla, chocolate or…dill pickle?! Keep your cool by whipping up a batch of homemade ice cream. It’s easier than you think! Try Mason Jar Ice Cream – just four ingredients and no special equipment!
3. International Kissing Day – July 6. Celebrate with smoochies, pecks, butterfly kisses and the global favorite, French Kissing.
4. Capture the Sunset Week. Someone–not sure who–proclaimed the third week of July as Capture the Sunset Week. Whoever they are, a big thank you! Summertime is the perfect opportunity to pause and appreciate wonderful days that end with one of nature’s most magical moments.
5. Mission: Impossible to Love. Book 3 in my Impossible Mission series releases July 25. Preorder your copy today so you can start reading as soon as Sten and Izzy’s story is available.
She’s in over her brilliant head…
Elizabeth “Izzy” Benson has the brains to rival some of the best IT minds out there. Unfortunately her genius is going to get her killed—or worse, tortured. The Artificial Intelligence drone she’s developed is drawing all the wrong kind of interest, and the one man she thought she could trust is the one man selling her out. Now on the run, she’ll have to roll the dice on a stranger—a very angry Marine—who makes it obvious he doesn’t believe her or want her around.
He’s not buying her innocent act.
Sten Jenkins was a Marine on a mission. That is until Miss High IQ ruined his plan. Now, instead of going undercover as a “Black Hat,” a criminal hacker, to the biggest hacker convention in Las Vegas, Sten has to babysit Izzy while she tries to draw out those who are selling her IT work on the dark web. But it all sounds a little too convenient to Sten when he realizes Izzy’s boyfriend is a global tech wizard, known to have dealings with North Korea.
Now Sten and Izzy will have to decide who’s playing whom and who’s being played in this high stakes game of international security roulette.
How to make the most of summertime readin' and relaxin'
Ask a bookworm what they most look forward to during summertime and they will undoubtedly answer: More time to read! If your idea of the perfect summer day includes relaxing with a good book and a cool drink, here are a few tips to make the most of summer reading.
1. Organize
Create a TBR list and prioritize which books you most want to read. It can also be helpful to organize books by length, genre, standalone vs. series, etc. You can write out this list or organize content on your ereader.
2. Diversify
There are lots of ways to enjoy books nowadays and each form offers a different experience. Mix it up with print books, ebooks, audiobooks and reader apps on your smartphone.
3. Indulge
Treat yourself to a bookish delight, along with a double scoop of pistachio ice cream! Maybe that’s a visit to the bookstore with an extra $20 to spend. Maybe it means rereading your childhood favorites. Maybe it’s a subscription to Audible or Kindle Unlimited. It could even be a new hammock or beach tote. Whatever makes reading more enjoyable for you!
4. Connect
Some of my best friends are readers and readers are some of my best friends! Share your love of reading by starting or joining a book club, attending a reader/author event, participating at events hosted by your local library or organizing a book swap.
If you haven’t started your summertime TBR list, here are a few suggestions from my list.
The Bride by Julie Garwood
By edict of the king, the mighty Scottish laird Alec Kincaid must take an English bride. His choice is Jamie, youngest daughter of Baron Jamison—a feisty, violet-eyed beauty. Alec aches to touch her, to tame her, to possess her…forever. But Jamie has vowed never to surrender to a man she considers a highland barbarian.
Alec is everything Jamie’s heart has warned her against—an arrogant scoundrel whose rough good looks speak of savage pleasures. While Kincaid’s scorching kisses set fire to her blood, she is determined to resist him…until one rapturous moment quells their clash of wills, and something far more dangerous than desire threatens to conquer her senses…
Hot Addiction by Lynn Raye Harris
When Dex “Double Dee” Davidson was abandoned at the altar by the woman he loved, he threw himself into his military career, training hard enough to get accepted into the elite Black Ops unit known as HOT. The love he felt for Annabelle Quinn burned to ash in the face of her betrayal—so when she crashes back into his life and begs him to save her, he has no problem laughing in her face.
Blackmailed into jilting Dex and forced into an abusive marriage, Annabelle never thought she’d escape the hell of the last five years. But her husband died a month ago and she’s finally free. Except she isn’t. Someone claims that Eric stole a fortune—and they want it back. If she doesn’t return it within twenty-four hours, she’ll be dead—and so will her young daughter. With time running out, Annabelle has no one to turn to. No one except Dex.
When Dex learns that Annabelle’s husband committed treason against the US by selling a top secret military project to the Russians, he has no choice but to get involved. He’ll protect Annabelle and her child, and he’ll find out who’s threatening her. But he won’t fall for her intoxicating sensuality ever again. And if he discovers the secret she’s been hiding from him? It’ll be game over for good…
Mackenzie’s Mission by Linda Howard
Night Wing—the revolutionary test plane with a top secret weapons system—is Colonel Joe “Breed” Mackenzie’s number-one priority—and weapons expert Caroline Evans his number-one distraction. When someone on the inside sabotages Night Wing, Caroline’s late hours and expertise come under suspicion, forcing Joe to choose between allegiance to his country…and love for his prime suspect.
A Spicing of Birds: Poems by Emily Dickenson
A Spicing of Birds is a unique and beautifully illustrated anthology, pairing poems from one of America’s most revered poets with evocative classic ornithological art. Emily Dickinson had a great love of birds—in her collected poems, birds are mentioned 222 times, sometimes as the core inspiration of the poem. However, in existing anthologies of Dickinson’s work, little acknowledgment is made of her close connection to birds. This book contains thirty-seven of Dickinson’s poems featuring birds common to New England. Many lesser-known poems are brought to light, renewing our appreciation for Dickinson’s work.
The editors’ introduction draws extensively from Dickinson’s letters, providing fascinating insights into her relationship with birds. The illustrations, by late 18th century to early 20th century artists/ornithologists, are often so apt as to seem to have been created with the poems in mind. Included are beautiful watercolors by Mark Catesby, engravings of John James Audubon’s paintings, illustrations by Alexander Wilson, chromo-lithographs by Robert Ridgway (curator of birds at the National Museum for some fifty years), paintings by Louis Agassiz Fuertes, and some of the earliest bird photographs by Cordelia Stanwood. The editors also discuss the development and growth of birding in the nineteenth century as well as the evolution of field guides and early conservation efforts. Brief biographies of the artists are included in an appendix. This book is an eloquent tribute to the special place held by birds in our lives and imaginations, and will make an ideal gift for both birders and poetry readers.
Need more suggestions? I can help. Check out my Code Breakers series for Regency romance and intrigue. Like military heroes? Download my Impossible Mission series. Want a combination of military romance, romantic suspense, dogs and an incredible cast of characters? The Grayce Walters series is just what you need!
What’s on your summertime TBR list?
The History of Memorial Day
Memorial Day, a U.S. holiday observed on the last Monday in May, honors and remembers those men and women who died while serving their country. This year, Memorial Day falls on May 27.
Those who observe Memorial Day visit cemeteries or memorials, gather with family and friends, and participate in parades. For many Americans, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer.
The origins of this meaningful observance date back to the Civil War, which ended with General Robert E. Lee’s surrender on April 9, 1865. In the years following the war, Americans paid tribute each spring to fallen soldiers. In 1868, this tradition officially became known as Decoration Day.
After World War I, the observance eventually evolved to commemorate all American military service members who died while defending their country. In 1971, more than a hundred years after the tradition started, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act went into effect, establishing the last Monday in May as a federal holiday.
As an author who writes military romantic suspense, I offer my gratitude and respect to all service members and their families, especially those who gave their lives.
Tips from Jack Bonnington on creating a romantic sanctuary
In A Holiday Code for Love (The Code Breakers, Book 7) coming May 1, Jack Bonnington wants to create a luxurious, intimate sanctuary as a Christmas gift for his wife, Abbie. Here is a description of his renovations to the rustic hunter’s hut where he and Abbie first tasted passion.
A large bed was at the center of the space with a small table and chairs placed in front of the fireplace. Covered in red damask, with the creme linens and silk pillows, the bed was fit for the finest courtesan, not for an aristocratic arranged marriage. Opulent Persian rugs covered the floor and candles were spread throughout, giving the room an exotic and sensual air.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to spend an indulgent afternoon or weekend in such a place? While most of us cannot afford our own “love shack”, here are some tips on creating a romantic boudoir. Whether it is your space alone or shared with someone special, the key is focusing on sensual details.
- Create a sumptuous ambiance with textures and layers. For the bed, add plump pillows, silk sheets, a super-soft throw. For the room, add a thick area rug that tickles the bare feet, billowing drapes and maybe a dramatic canopy.
- Lighting is one of the most important elements of creating a romantic boudoir. Candlelight is wonderful, and if you go with flameless LED candles, you never have to worry about safety. Avoid harsh overhead lighting; instead, opt for bedside tables or floor lamps with pearl/pink bulbs no higher than 60w.
- Use fresh flowers, pillow mists, scented candles, fragrance plug-ins, etc. for a sweet-scented boudoir.
- Declutter the space of unwanted, unnecessary items so your sanctuary is always ready to welcome you.
- Add a comfortable chair or chaise lounge for a few minutes of indulgent relaxation.
- Set up a station for your iPod or other device to mood music is just a touch away.
Do you have tips for creating a romantic sanctuary? Share them here!
Click here for more information and and excerpt from A Holiday Code for Love.
Past and Present Easter Customs
During the Regency era, the Easter season was a time for celebration, much like it is nowadays. Here are three customs that were observed back then and are still popular today.
New Clothing – Roman tradition launched this custom to greet springtime and Easter with something new to wear. During the Regency period, white or pale gowns and bright bonnets were a change from the somber tone of Lent.
Colored Eggs – Eggs are a symbol of fertility and many cultures give eggs as gifts during springtime. Dying eggs was a common custom during the Regency period. In addition, decorated eggs, such as those created by Faberge, also became popular.
Celebratory Feasts – After observing Lent, the Easter meal was a time to savor a wealth of savory foods. Lamb and ham were customary, as were hot cross buns.
What is your favorite Easter tradition?
Source: Jane Austen’s Easter
