I’m beginning to write my next romantic suspense in my Northern Shore Intrigue series. My heroine is an early fifty-something widowed grandmother. That’s why I asked my question in the subject line. Here’s the first page of the book. Does it grab your interest? Do you mind that Lois is not in her twenties?
Chapter One of the First Draft of Uncertain Spring
Driving north late at night, Lois blinked to keep herself awake. Just a few more miles. I shouldn’t have been surprised by the snow. But she’d never come to the shore of Lake Superior in March, early March at that. The familiar ache clutched her heart. Florida had been…different, odd-feeling this year. All her usual activities, even golf, had palled. Evie’s twelve year old voice played in her mind, “Grandma, I wish you were here.” That phone call had instantly made everything clear—at last.
A sudden blast of wind and snow caught her car and her attention. She slowed and kept her focus on the yellow line in her headlights. The wind batted her car as if it were a rowboat in a storm, not a Lexus SUV. She drew a deep breath as she glimpsed landmarks that said her lake home waited just ahead. She turned down the long lane to her house, her headlights illuminating the triple garage doors ahead. She sighed and slowed, aiming her door remote. The door rose.
Something leaped up against her window. She shrieked in shock. Slammed on the brakes.
Outside her window, a dog barked with something like panic in his tone. The large black lab braced his front paws against the edge below the window, and continued barking. She noted the panic and the frenzy in his tone. Something clicked in her memory. Her own childhood dog had barked just like this, summoning when her little sister had fallen out of the tree and had been knocked unconscious.
Lois turned off the car and cautiously opened the door. “Hey, fella, what’s up?” she said, automatically slipping into her speak-to-dog voice that she hadn’t used in years.
The dog sprang away and then halted. And then looked back and with his body beckoned her to follow.
****
So what do you think? Does a grandmother deserve a second chance at love? If you leave a comment, I’ll enter you into a drawing for the ebook, Precarious Summer where Lois first appears as my heroine’s mother. Thanks for the feedback!—Lyn Cote
My “The American Journey” series is what’s new on Kindle Unlimited!(FYI~Kindle Unlimited is Amazon’s subscription service for ebooks)
The series of four books begins in 1775. Book 1, Journey to Victory is the story of Christiane Pelletier who survives the chaotic Revolution.Daughter of a French courtesan to frontier wife to companion of Lady Washington, Christiane moves into the heart of the American rebel elite.
Book 2, Journey to Honor 1795-1805 is the next generation, Sarah Eastham, Christiane’s only daughter. A scandal she doesn’t deserve forces her to leave the thirteen states along the Eastern coast and settle in French colonial New Orleans. There she carves out a life that wins respect that lasts long after her death. And a love with honor.
Book 3, 1825 Journey to Respect, is the story of Sarah’s stepson, Rafe McKuen. Does Rafe belong with his mother’s tribe or on his father’s plantation? As he chooses between two lives, Eastern lady Eve Holcombe prepares for an unexpected journey west — but God soon leads them to each another…
Book 4,1827 Journey to Peace, is the story of Rafe’s twin half-brothers, Callum and Johnny McKuen. Identical twin brothers-stained and separated by an unjust scandal~Two young beauties in jeopardy~Will they learn to trust before it’s too late?
What one reader had to say about Book 1:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful piece of work.
I am not sure I know the words to describe this beautiful piece of work it has to be one of the most well-crafted historical I have read this year. Christiane life is recorded in detail in a well written an amazing book. In this story, there is love, death, fear, sorrow, and happiness all mixed in a page-turning story. I also have the second book in the series and I cannot wait to start it. This book is so complex that I can see it as a great movie project. The characters are a rich blend of appealing and complicated natures that portrays the emotions of the people during this time in history. I am so glad I read this work and I am delighted to recommend it for your collection.”
Three generations
A family’s saga
A young nation’s story
If you subscribe to Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited, you can read these for free. If you’re not a subscriber, you can try Book 1, it’s on sale for only 99 cents. Click here for more information.–Lyn
YES, I READ ANOTHER CHARLOTTE MACLEOD MYSTERY! And what a title, THE CONVIVIAL CODFISH!!!–a colorful, unique mystery featuring the savvy couple Sarah Kelling and her new husband, the interantional art investigator, Max Bittersohn. As usual, Sarah’s prominent Boston relatives provide another cousin who draws the newlyweds into a murder. (I’m so glad my family doesn’t have this knack.) This time it’s cousin Jem Kelling, the distinguished Exalted Chowderheadof this group of Codfish–older men who like to get together, drink a lot and act like fifteen-year-olds. Harmless enough–until one of this decides to murder…indescriminately. NO one can think why. Exciting moments. Scary moments. And then Max solves and unmasked the killer–literally. Highly recommend this and the other in the series!
Now for the September question: School days, school days, dear old Golden Rule days—Now that’s a blast from long past. Anyway any memories of a favorite teacher and what she or he did to make you like to go to school?
I remember many good teachers–Miss LeFevre, Mrs. Greene, Mrs Williams, Mrs. Crawford. Mrs. Crawford made the biggest impact on my life.
If you’ve read any of my historicals and many of my contemporary stories, you know that I write books with many different kinds of people.That is due to Mrs. Crawford. My first writing mentor was my Junior-year English teacher, Mrs. Doris M Crawford, one of my first African-American teachers, who spent an hour after school every day that year teaching me how to write. I had asked her at the end of the first class—“I want to be a writer. Will you teach me how?”
Her gift of time and taking an interest in me made all the difference. I just wish she’d lived to read my first published book but she died of cancer when I was in college. But I often feel as if she is standing at my shoulder as I write.
So what teacher made a difference in your life–or do you have a particular favorite fun memory of school days? Either is good. And as usual, those comments I choose will appear in my next newsletter and be offered a free ebook. I waiting to hear from you!–Lyn
PS: My book BITTER AUTUMN is on sale for 99 cents through Aug 18th.
Vengeance can be dangerous~Grey Lawson returns home after serving a seven-year sentence for vehicular homicide while under the influence. Trish Franklin, the first female deputy in the county, is the niece of the man Grey’s reckless action killed. Then a rash of copycat accidents in the eerie fog-shrouded evenings mimic Grey’s original crime. People wonder is Grey acting out some sick compulsion of his own. How can Trish solve this series of near fatal accidents before someone is seriously injured or killed? And sort out her feelings for the man her father hates?
The late Charlotte MacLeod has become one of my new favorite authors. I’m so happy her family (i think) has made her wonderful mysteries available. Written around 50 years ago, these books bring back the era of the 70’s. But with a twist. Sarah Kelling, the main character, is one of a long-respected, well-heeled family of Boston–Beacon Hill even.
However, she is not wealthy and is a new widow. So she decides to make her imposing Beacon Hill house into a genteel boarding house. Against her family’s wishes. Anyway just as in MacLeod’s Peter Shandy mysteries, the cast of characters is COLORFUL to say the least!
And her fellow in solving mysteries, Max Bittersohn is the opposite of the social world that Sarah came from and lives in.
It’s a story with so many surp,rises and unexpected twist–my goodness!!! Highly recommended for those who enjoy something a bit different and page-turning.
We’ve been very serious during this pandemic and turbulent time in our nation and world. So I decided—let’s do something fun!
Will you relate a FUNNY SUMMER memory or an endearing one? Let’s share a feel-good moment in time.
I’ll go first: When I was about eight years old, my parents took us on a road trip around Lake Michigan. At that time we lived on the western shore of that Great Lake. We drove up through Wisconsin to Upper Peninsual Michigan (the U-P) where they were building the Mackinac Island bridge (pronounce Mackinaw).
I remember standing on one of those round steps and looking through the binoculars to see them building this long bridge spanning the shore betweetn Upper Michigan and the Island. WOW. Then we took a ferry over to the Michigan “Mitten” or Lower Michigan and drove down stopping at ALL the wonderful fruit stands. Michigan grows delicious peaches, cherries, grapes and more–YUM! I can remember the juices dripping down my chin as my big brother and I chowed down! The bridge and fruit are what I recall and the time sitting beside my brother in my dad’s Chevy. 🙂
My July question is: (NOTE: I discuss “Harry” toward the end.)
Have you come to any new realizations or truths over the past months, such as what is really important in life?
Or how can I make life better for myself and those around me?
I’m going to give that some thought myself. I think it’s a good question to ask from time to time. And now’s the time!
SO WHAT ABOUT HARRY???????????
I’m writing a holiday novella, titled BENEATH NORTHERN LIGHTS, I’ve named my hero Harry. One of my critique partners objects and says it’s an old man name. My Harry is third in the line of Harry’s so it’s a family name.
So my second question is: Should I stick with Harry or change his name and if so, what? Remember I’ll be giving away ebooks to a few commenters.
And don’t forget, I’ve been writing hard and here’s my latest book.
You like books, right? Then head over to LitRing’s Splash Into a Series Giveaway which rewards one lucky reader with goodies like a Turkish cotton towel, a water bottle, and a $25 Amazon gift card, too! Get the details and your chances to win here https://www.litring.com/series
I love Professor Shandy and the Balaclava Agricultural College characters. Ottermole, President Svenson, Harry Goulson and so many more. This story begins with, of course, Edmund, the cat who brings in something to Mrs. Lomax (Professor Shandy’s cleaning lady). She thinks at first it’s a mouse but it’s really retired Professor Ungley’s toupee. This professor sadly will not need it any more. Charlotte MacLeod combines humor and murder once again in this intricate tale of political hijinx. Ms. MacLeod has gone to her reward but left behind a legacy of humor that still delights. (Warning: a few swear words included but mild by today’s standards–I just read them as blankety-blank. ‘-)
Every month I ask a question because I want to know what readers are thinking. So what’s my question for June, you may ask? Here it is:
Do you always finish a book whether you’re enjoying it or not? Or do you put it away? Or throw it against the wall? ‘-)What kinds of thing causes you to stop reading or dislike what you’re reading?
This should be very interesting to me as an author! I try to write books that stick to your fingers, meaning you find it hard to put them down. I like to write books that call to you when you do put them down. So think over the question and let me know your thoughts! BTW, I guarantee that the majority of my readers will be not be able to put my latest book down. Why not look at it and see what you think.
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