Chunks of our beach were closed off last year since the threatened piping plovers were making a comeback in our area along with seabeach amaranth. These little birds nest in the sand and their offspring are really small. I mean like tiny at first! This year there seems to be more of them and I think this is a flock on one of the jetties off the beach.
#TeaserTuesday – An Unexpected First Night
As first nights together go, Carlo and Emma’s first time together is both unexpected and touching. It’s one of my favorite scenes in NEVER A BRIDE. I hope you’ll enjoy this read as well and take a moment to check out NEVER A BRIDE.
Teaser
Emma woke to tempting warmth and a teasing tickle against her cheek. Half asleep, she tried to smooth away whatever was causing it and encountered a wall of hard muscle and crisp chest hair. She groaned and screwed her eyes shut as memories of the night before pummeled her brain.
“You okay?” Carlo said and his deep voice rumbled through her, awakening other parts of her body.
“I am so so sorry,” she said and met his amused gaze.
“I have to confess that in all the dreams I had about our first night together – ”
“You dreamed about us being together?” she asked and her heart pounded, rushing blood to all those already alert parts.
With a half-grin, he shifted so they were face-to-face on the pillow and covered the hand she had splayed on his chest. “I never imagined our first night together or the morning after would be quite like this.”
There was no mistaking the look in his eyes and what he had expected, but that didn’t keep her from saying, “What did you imagine?”
Order
Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/2MLZRyK
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/38Mje4b
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1482927575
B&N: bit.ly/BN_Bride
Kobo: bit.ly/kobo_Bride
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/437777098
Additional Retailers: https://books2read.com/b/b6kYWx
#ThrowbackThursday – 4th of July Fireworks
I love the 4th of July! I love the parades and most especially the fireworks. I also love knowing that I’m in a country that where I have freedom and rights I would not have had in the country of my birth. It’s why I get choked up every time I hear the national anthem or God Bless America. I know I am the one who is blessed. For today, some photos of the fireworks from the Jersey Shore. Nothing is more fun than sitting on the beach and watching all the different fireworks shows. If you’re in the area, here’s a link to a list of fireworks in NJ: https://bestofnj.com/jersey-shore-fireworks.
After Hurricane Irene
First of all, to all those who suffered damage or injury during Hurricane Irene, my thoughts and prayers are with you. I hope things get back to normal for you soon!
I hope you all had a fine Labor Day weekend. We had fairly nice weather along the shore and spent lots of time out of doors savoring the last “official” weekend of summer.
Hurricane Irene took its bite out of the towns I visited this weekend. Lots of erosion and sand pushed up beyond where it normally is. The dunes in Bradley Beach and Ocean Grove held up and seemed to have kept the waters from the boardwalk areas. Belmar, Avon-by-the-Sea and Asbury Park, where the waters rose up quite a distance, seem to have already gotten things back in shape for the big Labor Day weekend.
Here are some photos of what things looked like. The water was relatively clear and not too cold. Shells up on shore, but not as many as you would expect. I did pick up some nice bits and pieces that I plan on using to create some memory boxes to giveaway to you guys. I am going to get to work on them as soon as I finish up some writing deadlines.
Anyway, here are the photos of the Jersey Shore this weekend! If you can’t see the slideshow below, you can click here or use this link:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150292972395913.332073.178249385912&l=7c803da088
Friday Five – Things to Do Down the Jersey Shore
I think you all know by now based on the locations for SINS OF THE FLESH and STRONGER THAN SIN that I love being down the Jersey Shore. There is something about being close to the water that just does my Piscean soul a world of wonder, plus there’s the laid back pace. So different from my everyday hustle and bustle when I go to work in Manhattan.
That’s why I’m looking forward to a long weekend at the shore and I thought I would share five things to do down the shore on this Friday Five!
1. Ride a wave, whether with a surf board, boogie board or a teeth-rattling body surf (conditions permitting of course).
2. Spread your blanket beneath the stars and just lay back and enjoy the peace and quiet. Do it on the 4th of July and experience the excitement and wonder of some amazing fireworks.
3. Stroll along the boardwalk and catch the sights. My favorite strip is from the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park down to the Shark River in Belmar, just a few miles of a nice mix of different towns.
4. Satisfy your hunger with a Windmill hot dog loaded with the works.
5. Work off that hot dog with a walk through Ocean Grove and stop for an ice cream at either Days or Nagles, or head to Bradley Beach for ice cream at Beach Plum or an amazing freshly-filled cannoli at Del Ponte’s Bakery.
Hope you all have a marvelous and blessed Labor Day Weekend.
Thoughtful Thursday – Summer is Here!
We seem to have shot straight from winter to summer in New York City, going from nights in the thirties to days in the eighties overnight.
But I’m not complaining because I am so not a winter girl. I live for the spring and summer months because I love being outdoors. Whether it’s working in the garden or taking long walks along the beach, there is something about being closer to nature that energizes me.
I took this photo a couple of weeks ago during one of those walks. It’s of a huge kite that was flying in Belmar, New Jersey during a weekend kite festival.
That’s another thing I love about being down the shore. There is always something going on and its usually within walking distance! What could be better?
How about you? What is your favorite season and why do you like it?
This is a photo of boats entering the Shark River Inlet located between Avon-by-the-Sea and Belmar
Also, if you’d like some thoughts on how to deal with a day job and a writing career, take a moment to visit with me at the Savvy Authors blog!