Several Valentine Day’s ago, I was in the midst of writing a
book. In order to get the right pace, patter, and passion I had Word read
several iterations of the same paragraph. Every once in a while, my resident
hero would walk by my office and recite what he heard and comment. He made me
laugh.

As we got
close to dinner time and my pots were all cold (creative credit to Santana), we
went out to dinner at our favorite hamburger joint.

When I put
the menu down there was a card in front of me. My hero is thoughtful, witty,
supportive, and so much more, but Valentine’s Day is just not his thing. The
card really made me smile and I hadn’t opened it. When I did, I was full out
laughing.

What do you
think?

Love of the Sweetest Kind

“Here?” she
whispered to him sweetly.

“We’re
alone,” he said discreetly.

“I’ve been
good till now!” she sighed.

“But you’re
human!” he replied.

“It’s so
big!” she hesitated.

“It’s all
yours,” he proudly stated.

“Oh, I
shouldn’t!” she protested.

“If you
love me -!” he suggested.

And so, losing
all resistance,

she gave in
to his insistence …

 

and ate
every single chocolate in the box!

Happy
Belated Valentine’s Day!

 

A special
thank you to my hero and Hallmark Cards.

More heart
throbbing dialogue can be found in my stories.

The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea

Welcome
to Sommer-by-the-Sea, a vibrant village nestled on the rugged northeast coast
of England, 15 miles north of Newcastle upon Tyne. Here, the world is centered
on the country village and the lives of the landowning and professional
families. Sommer-by-the-Sea is populated with aristocrats, gentry, self-made
men, shop owners, local workers, and servants, a cross-section of the people of
the time. Steeped in history dating back as far as the Vikings, the villagers
are proud and celebrate their heritage.

Everyone
from the elite summer residents to the year-round residence keep businesses
flourishing and gossip thriving. As with any small town, there are challenges
and successes, secrets, disagreements, and feuds. There is no shortage of
romance, mystery, drama, and even a murder or two.

Graduates
of the Sommer-by-the-Sea Female Seminary have a unique education. Along with
the usual studies available, the head mistress has nurtured each woman’s innate
ability and helped them develop into the women they are today. This shared
unique experience has kept the graduates close.

Each
lady has her own story to tell as she is called to action and must demonstrate
she is smart, strong and sensible and must challenge the accepted definition of
a “woman’s place.” For these women, arranged or political marriages will not
do. If she chooses a husband, it will be for love, on her own terms, and with a
man who will accept her as a partner. 

It is with pleasure I introduce you to The Ladies of
Sommer-by-the-Sea, and their stories.