I lived in NY for over twenty years before moving to Texas.  At the ripe old age of sixteen, I worked one spring break in Brooklyn with my mother.  All I saw of Brooklyn was the view from the Whitestone Bridge to the workplace.  So this week I made my first real trip into Brooklyn!
 
We – my maid of honor and I – started at the Ripped Bodice bookstore. A bookstore that only sells romance novels. What a cool place. The original bookstore opened in the Los Angeles area. The Brooklyn location opened recently. The thing that impressed me most, the number of neighborhood people wandering in and shopping. We weren’t there long, but the place was hopping the whole time. They don’t sell my books, but I did give a few business cards to a few shoppers LOL. 

​Next we took a short detour to what I call the Blue Bloods house.  One of my favorite television shows is Blue Bloods. I think it’s why the Farradays always have Sunday dinner LOL.  Anyhow, I couldn’t resist hunting down the family home when I was so close. It was kind of cool !

​From there we went a few blocks away to St. Ephram’s church. On 9/11 someone posted a photo of a statue with the twin towers. When I realized it was in Brooklyn, I wanted to go.  From what we could decipher, the little garden area is a memorial for the parishioners who lost their lives that day.  The part that always cuts me deeply is seeing that most of them were under 30 years old.  I found the garden area very peaceful and a wonderful memorial. 

Do you watch Blue Bloods? Have a favorite character? Episode? 

This week I'm in Florida for a conference and working on book six of the Barons -  hope everyone has preordered the next Baron - Just One Take releasing next week! 

This week I am in New York for my high school reunion. As everyone in the USA knows September 11 is a difficult day for many people.  I freely admit, as a Native New Yorker, it's almost surreal being in NY on this day. 

I've had a wonderful few days visiting with old friends, enjoying my favorite foods - for reasons I never understood (though some say it's the water - lol) why carrot cake in NY is better than carrot cake in TX.  There's simply no comparing pies baked in NY with baked goods back home. Tell me if this doesn't look scrumptious? And of course, being near the water means fresh seafood!  Never the same in land locked north Texas ! I was too busy eating the pizza to remember to take a photo! LOL. 

We scooted down to the Jersey Shore for a couple of days - the weather stopped us from taking out the boat - isn't the name the cutest! LOL.  But we did get in one beach day - also a challenge in landlocked north Texas ! Miss the nice white sand - we don't have that in Galveston.  But I most appreciate that these little pop up canopies are so popular to stay in the shade - so different from big floppy hats, tilted umbrellas, and towels on the shoulders! 

All of which brings me back to today - 9/11 - twenty two years later and the sadness is still so very heavy.  

Words are never enough. My heart breaks for all the people whose lives changed that day. My heart breaks for all the lessons we as a country had to learn the hard way. I still cry on this day remember my world on 9/10 and the difference on 9/12 - Our innocence as a nation, our sense of security as a super power, was stolen that day and can never be returned. 

For anyone who lost a loved one that day, for anyone who lives with surviving that day, for those whose heart and soul will never be whole again, my heart is with you this day and always.  It's important to remember that every day is a gift and we need to remember to let friends and family know how important they are to us.

Well, I'm back in Texas and thank heavens the 100 plus degree heat is slipping.  As long as it's less than 98.7 degrees outside I'm content. 

We have had lots of things happening since my return. Lots of shopping but we finally bought a car for hubby. Some of you may remember that over a year ago Handsome was t-boned by a driver who ran a red light. Getting the insurance company to cough up enough money to purchase a suitable replacement has been hard -- even with a lawyer.  Still need to settle another portion of the battle, but at least hubby has a car!  A nice 2019 Ford Edge. 

Handsome is delighted with the comfy seats and great stereo system. Me? I'm thrilled it's red so I can spot it in a parking lot! LOL

The Barons released and y'all have been wonderful!  Book one is free but book two and three made the bestseller lists at Barnes and Noble! YAY! 

The reviews have been lovely - I am so flabbergasted by the kind words from everyone!  I'm actually working on the edits for book five : Just One Taste - that releases in October. 

Would you like a peek?  Here's a snippet from Chapter One of Paige's story. : 

“Find anything today you didn’t see yesterday?”
When Paige Baron took over the family’s interest in a large but failing Texas winery, the best part of the whole deal was Clay, the manager. Bless his heart, he’d done his best to hold the vineyard together for the former owners, but without the proper support, there hadn’t been a chance in hell that he’d be able to keep up, never mind prosper.
“Maybe,” she muttered, giving herself another moment to be sure.  
“Do tell?” A man of few words, Clay was as old as the dirt beneath her feet, but worked harder than any two men half his age. Maybe three. 
“I’m thinking it’s time.” She’d been staring at a barren strip of land adjacent to Baron property. Shortly after Baron Enterprises had purchased the old vineyard, Paige had been approached by a neighbor looking to make a killing on land no one else wanted. Being a woman, too many made the mistake of thinking she was a pushover. But more important than her gender, she was a Baron. Good business instincts were part of her gene pool. On the other hand, her ability to negotiate came from years of watching her older brothers wheel and deal the family’s fortune from something already impressive into something bordering on obscene.  
It had taken a good deal of playing cat and mouse with the arrogant neighbor, but in the end, they’d agreed on a price less outrageous and very reasonable. Every year as she implemented the next stage in her five year plan, she’d survey the land and think, not yet. This morning, when she stood on the veranda outside the new pavilion, her gut shouted at her for the first time. Dragging her gaze away from the untouched land, she looked to the guy who had been her right hand man since day one. “It’s been three years.”
Clay nodded at her. There was no need for her to explain, he knew she was talking about her prize hybrid grape. Or what she hoped would become an award winning new blend for the Baron Winery.
In her mind’s eye she could see the bare acreage covered with rows of delicious plump grapes waiting to be turned into a fine wine. “We could do a limited edition.” That was another thought that had been kicking around in the back of her mind as she considered the wine.
His gaze had drifted to the bare rolling hills. “We could.”
Some days, she really hated that male tendency to barely utter a word. “Or?”
“No or.” He shook his head and turned once again to face her. “It’s a good plan.”
That’s what she wanted to hear. She trusted her gut more than anything, but a word of encouragement from Clay went a long way when it came to keeping her eye on the prize. “We’ve got multiple new bookings coming up for rather large weddings.”
“Miss Eve’s was a beautiful party.” The older man hadn’t known her sister for much longer than he’d known Paige, but he’d taken a shine to the whole family.
“I think there will be enough in the coffers to plant the new grapes.”
“The French grape?”
She bobbed her head. Years of traveling the French countryside had brought her in contact with a good many vintners. Some more friendly than others. A few, fearing no competition from the young American female, shared their secrets. One in particular, an aging man who made her grandfather look like a spring chicken, and who swore Paige was the spitting image of his long deceased daughter, promised her when the time was right she could bring his cuttings stateside. If all went as she hoped, in a few more years she’d have sturdy vines and then, given a little more time, she could present the world with a new stellar Baron blend. The mere thought gave her goose bumps. 
Okay - that's it for today's update - tell all your friends about the new series - and remind them that the first one is FREE in ebook format! 

Turns out that no matter how you slice it - I'm a city girl.  I had a wonderful time in the French countryside. The hills, the food, the quiet, the tranquility, all of it did wonders for my blood pressure! LOL. 

But back in Paris for the trip home, a night out to eat with all the tourists bustling around us, yep, that was my comfort zone.  If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm a good old extrovert. My energy comes from the crowds around me - it's why writing is such an odd job for me. Most authors enjoy the solitude of their careers, I love working with people.  But, with or without people, you're getting my new series TOMORROW ! Is everyone ready? 

The whole idea for the series came from an old unpublished story and a family trip to Galveston. My dear friend author Kellie Coates Gilbert suggested the family name, and the rest will be available for everyone to read as early as tonight if you've preordered. 

Now  - back to my last night in Paris.  Here are a couple of photos of dinner. Of course, it wouldn't be France without food - the escargot, which I love, are a little different in France. Less butter and garlic and more herbs, but still tasty - and a bit larger than US escargot I think. 

Of course, the view of the Eiffel Tower through the tree tops was just plain fun.  I enjoyed the little bit I could see as the sun set - and then the lights came on - My last goodbye was good old-fashioned butter and sugar crepes for dessert and then a stroll passed the Eiffel Tower. 

And on that note - I leave Paris, and return to Texas.  I hope everyone loves what we did with Just One Date (FREE for everyone at all vendors - so tell your friends) and the rest of the Baron family too! 

​Happy Almost Release Day! 

​ 
As the trip comes to an end, I had a lovely afternoon visiting Toulouse.  In order to get from where I was staying in the land of sunflowers (LOL) we had to take a train to Toulouse to catch the flight to Paris.  Well, I didn’t know what to expect, but I found it very charming and wouldn’t mind going back some day with more time.
 
There are so many old and interesting churches. They all looked different based on what century they were built. I wish I’d had time to walk through all of them.  Then I noticed that the French must have a thing for merri-go-rounds.  There’s a lovely one at the foot of the Eiffel Tower near the Trocadero, and there’s this beauty in Toulouse! 

​The streets were all different. Some reminded me of Paris or Buenos Aires with the old buildings and tree lined streets. Other streets made me think of New Orleans French Quarter. Then there were the more modern buildings along the tree-lined streets. It was fun to see. Due to the pinkish terracotta brick everywhere, Toulouse is nicknamed the Pink City. I really enjoyed the plaza – it just took me back in my mind to the Plaza Mayor in Madrid when I was in college. They don’t really look anything alike, but it reminded me of it just the same. 

​ 
I wish I’d taken photos of the arts college – the massive columns in front were impressive, but the thing that really surprised me was when I heard they were moving the wounded warrior memorial to build a new subway line.  It seemed to me to be a lot of work, perhaps easier to move the subway lol, but what really stunned me was when I realized they were not only moving this massive monument thirty yards across the park, but after the subway is finished, they’ll be moving it back! 

As you can see - the thing is huge! 

​What I didn’t get photos of was the lovely parks. The big round park (I think that’s actually it’s name!) was my favorite. At that point we were just driving back to the airport so I couldn’t walk around for photos, but it was truly lovely. Lots of bright flowers, plenty of green space, and so many fountains!  I really enjoyed my afternoon in Toulouse.
 
Do you have any place you’ve been through quickly and want to go back to?

Oh, and are you ready for the new series releasing next week? 

Books one through three will be available next week, but they're available now if you don't want to wait, direct from my website! 

Okay, that's it for a Monday morning update - let me know you saw this and we'll visit again net week! 

Where I grew up there was a nice big bridge that took you from one side of the Hudson River across to the other side.  I never gave any thought to who designed it, who built it, or how well it was built. I assumed, that like the Brooklyn Bridge, it would easily last 200 years and then some. And yet, I was wrong.  Recently a new bridge was christened to replace the 50 year old bridge that had become too dangerous to continue using. FIfty Years Old.  

It's easy to assume that with the passing of time and the increased advantages of tools, education, and technology, that we should be surpassing the skill set of our ancestors. Apparently not. 

Now if you're wondering why am I thinking about dilapidated bridges today, it's because I stood in a market square today staring up at a town center that was built - SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS ago - and is still in use.  It makes the brownstones of New York City look pretty recent lol. 

What actually got me thinking was looking up at the shutters while my friend was purchasing something in a store.  I love how the French actually use their shutters daily.  At night all the homes are closed in to protect from burglars, noise, and light.  At ten oclock this morning I was still sound asleep with no clue if the sun had risen or not. The perfect - and I mean perfect - black out curtain. 

I noticed the people on the left had probably not opened their shutters to keep the market noise out.  Today is a holiday of some sort in France and the market was bigger than usual and cram packed.   

Then I started looking at the building itself and wondering - how old is this.  I found the carving on the support beams fascinating. Though a little difficult to see from this photo - there were dogs, and lions and who knows what animal eroded over time.  Once I got home I looked up the city of Mirpoix.  Shocked was an understatement when I learned most of these center square buildings were built in the 1200 and 1300s.  Holy Cow!  And we modern engineers couldn't build one little old bridge to last more than fifty - insane. 

Construction skills aside - I did take a few photos that to me seemed terribly French.  A woman had come out of the butcher shop and was packing up her goods and her dog (in the rear basket) to go home.  A crowd had formed over a marionette street performer. I stopped for a photo outside the original city wall.  A fitting morning for my last week in France. 

The weather here is finally heating up in time for me to get ready to go home. I won't lie, I'm going to like sleeping in air conditioning again, but nothing else will be the same. 

​Are you ready for summer to end? 

​This week we took a short drive to a nearby town for dinner out.  It was especially fun for me because we drove through wine country.  I snapped a couple of photos of vineyards as we rode passed.  It reminded me of how I imagine the vineyards in Baron’s book five Just One Taste – where sister Paige runs the vineyard. 

​At the end we arrived at this lovely former home that is now a marvelous restaurant. Walking up the hill, I freely admit, was very impressive.  Inside was even more entrancing. I felt like I’d stepped back in time. Right down to the antique dishes. 

​Of course, there’s no reason to mention how delicious the food was. In France, it’s pretty much a given that nothing tastes awful. Although I’ve heard the natives complain about the food served a time or two, for me, it’s always delicious.  And hard to resist. Every time we go out I gain a pound or two and then I have to be diligent the next day or two to lose those same pesky pounds! Even their colorful cocktails are very different and quite tasty (don’t ask me what’s in it I can’t remember LOL) 

​For anyone who cares – if you want to see a Frenchman have a heart attack, put cheese or fruit or crackers (either or all) on a charcuterie board.  The word itself in French means – very loosely- cold cuts.  As you can see, their version of cold cuts is way different than what I get at a sandwich at Subway LOL.  The cured meats are always tasty and they have a million versions of sausages/salamis (don’t call the salami or that Frenchman will have a second heart attack!  And of course, to go with the charcuterie board you have to have bread (not crackers).  The thing is, I’d never seen how a restaurant might cut the loaves. Well I watched. It was fascinating to see them hand slicing bread on what looked like an office paper cutter on steroids! Do you know what it’s called? Yep – a guillotine! LOL. 

​Now I’m off to work on the next Baron book – as soon as Just One Taste is back from the editor, I will let y’all know so anyone who is interested can pick up an early copy from my website.  Except first it’s time for a lunch of leftovers !!!
 
I’m curious are any of you guys cooks? Are you enjoying all these food posts LOL? 

​I do. A lot. Though I’m partial to big dogs – sometimes REALLY big dogs.  My favorite German Shepherd I owned was Rabb, he was 100 pounds of pure love and protection. Smart as a whip too. (wonder where that expression came from lol)
 
While here in the South of France I’ve run into a lot of different dogs. My friend’s daughter is a veterinarian who also breeds Chihuahuas.  They’re awfully cute when they’re babies – she had a couple of litters but I didn’t take photos—but I find them too fragile for my taste. One day on the back porch a strong wind blew through and the poor little dog was blown across the porch and onto the grass!
 
While out at the local town market / fair one evening last week, we ran into all sort of dogs, but one caught my eye. A little long haired blonde dachshund. The owner called her ‘cream’ which made sense. The night time market with food, drink, and music was very entertaining. But the walk from my friend’s home to the field felt a bit like I was in Kansas looking for the yellow brick road LOL.

 Now, while we’re on dogs, we ran into a beautiful Belgian Shepherd at the market at a nearby medieval town last week. I’m used to black Belgian Shepherds, but this one had lovely colors. And the pup was so sweet too!   

​And I have not run out of dog greetings yet! Yesterday we went to visit some more horses on a different field. Because there are issues with wolves in the countryside, the horses have dogs guarding them. Kengals, or Anatolian Shepherds.  Talk about HUGE. My Rabb would have been dwarfed.  And this boy was SO sweet. Now if you're wondering - it's 43 inches to the top of his head! and that paw is the same size as the front of my shoe- I know it's not a good shot - It was windy and he kept nudging me for more pets lol - but basically his paw is half the size of my size eight running shoe! You'll have to click on the individual photo for a slightly better view ! 

​All right – that’s it for my report on French dogs – a far cry from the expected Poodle, don’t you think? LOL. 

​Yep – France seems to be all about food LOL.  Thankfully I love cheese and there’s more than enough opportunity to try different cheeses in France. I’m pretty sure that they have enough cheeses to eat a different one every day. Imagine – 365 + varieties of chesses!
 
They also have some phenomenal pastries – sigh.  Since, believe it or not, I’m trying to lose weight on this vacation, I have to say no to the pastries (sniff).  Though I admit, I’m spoiled by American pies. The French version of pie are more like a big tart and they don’t really appeal to me, so I guess that’s a good thing!
 
 
I did however learn something interesting. We have several French Cafes where I live and they all serve soups and sandwiches. One popular sandwich is a fancy grilled cheese called Croque Monsieur.  Well, apparently, while that is indeed a real sandwich in France, there’s another half to it.  If you fry an egg and put it on the sandwich, you now have a Croque Madame!  Who knew there were Mr. and Mrs. sandwiches anywhere in the world.  The difference of course between Americans and most foreigners, in this case including the French, is they eat their sandwiches with a knife and fork. Though I imagine if you stuck a Croque Madame in front of an American we’d go for the knife and fork too!  Can you believe the photo is of an 11 year old boy and he ate TWO of those suckers! They’re huge! 

​There was one more amusing thing I learned.  My hostess – the author Olivia Sands – looked up at the dad of the young boy and asked “what’s the word in French for the ice pops you gave the kids earlier?” He looked at her funny and then his eyes widened in a light bulb moment and he answered –in French of course – “You mean Mr. Freeze.”  It took me a very long minute to finally figure out that ‘meestehr freese’ was actually English!  Then later at the grocery store I realized why! LOL.  

​As for books – I can report that Just One Taste is almost finished. It’s been fun writing a book about a winery while in France. Though the part about hockey didn’t really fit the ambiance LOL.  C’est la vie! (That’s life)
 
Okay – I’m off for my daily swim. It’s taken three weeks to work my way up from two laps to four without gasping for air, but I’ll take any small progress and hope my cardiologist is happy with me!
 
Do you have a favorite lunch food?

I guess it’s tata for now! See y’all next week! 

​I have to admit there’s something very soothing to spend your days looking out the window at nature and not city traffic. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a city girl at heart and that will never change. Hanging out in the country is a wonderful change of pace, but not something I’d do well with permanently. 

​That said, this is turning out to be a wonderful summer break.  I don’t know that I’ve ever eaten so many fresh grown vegetables for so long at any point in my life. The neighbor grows and sells fresh zucchini and cucumbers and tomatoes and green beans and then has fresh eggs too. Every other day we walk over and pick our own. And let me tell you, those thick red tomatoes are amazing. We never run out, and never buy store bought. Did I mention the pretty colored carrots? They make a great salad! 

​I’m slowly losing a little weight, not quickly, and not enough, but as long as I don’t eat bread at every meal with the rest of the folks, I’ll do okay.  I do however indulge in one croissant every morning. It has to be the butter that makes them so much more delicious than what I usually buy stateside.
 
Enough on food –there are also animals !  My friend’s daughter has sheep and horses and lord knows what else. I learned several things.  I really do like horses. They’re so sweet. Also, it’s true. Sheep will follow anyone, anywhere. We were walking to the horses and I turned around and look who was following me! LOL. 

​If anyone wants book news – Honeymoon for Six is out everywhere now in both ebook and paperback form and for my German fans, Jamison in German will be out on Friday!
 
I’m still working on book five – Just One Taste – of the new Baron series but it will be done in a few weeks and then up for sale on my website – the official release will be at the end of October.
 
Well that’s it for now!