At the Beach - The Perfect Setting for a Romance

Paul, Me, Eloise, Alan, Anya and Joe

During one of our long frigid winters my writing partners and I longed to escape to some place warm, the Virgin Islands. Soft warm trade winds, the sweet smell of tropical flowers, the pungent taste of island cocktails. Ah... if only we could. But wait! There was.

If we couldn't actually escape to the islands we could take a virtually trip and that's exactly what we did. We created Star Island, a fictional place off the coast of St. Thomas. The small island became the setting for our short story romances.

I decided to take my story from real life. My brother and sister-in-law, Alan and Eloise, were married in 2004 in Atlanta. It was a beautiful wedding. Eloise's brother, Joe and I were witnesses. It was not the first marriage for either of them but this is truly a love match.

Alan was retired and Eloise was a Vice President of an all girls college in California responsible for student affairs. In getting their paperwork together for the California benefits program they found that their Atlanta marriage was never registered!

Alan, always the jokester called to ask me to reprise my role. What? You have to know Alan to understand that if this was going to happen to anyone it would be him. Of course I said yes.

So in October of 2014, the Sunday after the NJ conference, I flew to California for their second wedding. I spent a week with them and had a great time.

When Lita, Emma, Nicole, Julie, and I started to brainstorm our summer read, Timeless Escapes, I knew Alan and Eloise's story had to be part of my story. I used their situation but that was all. Their story is one of true love and devotion and a very happily ever after.

By the way, I made sure their wedding was registered!

Second Chance by the Sea 

Alan and Eloise Stuart are a power couple. Alan’s company, Stuart Associates, is on the brink of releasing new software that will make his company the pre-eminent financial software provider.

Eloise has worked hard for the North Star Project, the not-for-profit agency against human trafficking. She’s their executive director and is responsible for the agency’s outstanding growth in both public recognition and financial contributions.

Over the course of their ten year marriage, Alan and Eloise have been focused on their careers and have grown a part.

Life takes a drastic turn when they travel to the Virgin Islands, the venue of their destination wedding, for Aunt Lil’s funeral. While going through Aunt Lil’s papers they find that their marriage was never registered. Will an impending natural disaster be the final straw that breaks them up or will it rekindle their love and send them back to the altar for a second chance?

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Here is an excerpt from Second Chance by the Sea from Timeless Escapes.

She put on her bathing cap, her goggles perched on her head, and waded into the shallows. The familiar gentle lapping eased her mind. She pulled the bright pink goggles down from her forehead and put them in place. She dove into the water. Her arms reached out and she settled into her pace. The strong current and consistent rhythm of her stroke propelled her across the water. The buoy, the halfway marker and the point of no return, loomed in front of her. She glanced at her watch. Fifteen minutes ahead of schedule—but time wasn’t a factor. Completing the challenge was her goal.

She estimated another ninety minutes, give or take, to get to the other side. She filled her lungs, pushed off the buoy, and kept on swimming.

After an hour her pace began to slow. Her kicks got sloppy and her arms were like lead weights. The shore must be close. A time check indicated she’d be on the beach in ten minutes but a glance toward land told her a different story. The shore was not as close as she’d expected. She checked off her options. There weren’t many. She could stop and float but her muscles would tighten and she’d be in bigger trouble. She treaded water to get her bearings. Her anxiety built to a full-blown panic but she swapped it for determination. She focused her energy and continued swimming.

“Stroke,” someone yelled alongside her. “Stroke. You’re close. Keep up the tempo and you’ll be home free.” Doing the back stroke, the swimmer stayed next to her, maintaining the cadence until they reached the shore.

She stood in the shallows, the water up to her knees. The muscles in her arms and legs screamed from overexertion. Her adrenaline plummeted and left her exhausted. Through her large gulps of air she smiled the type of smile that would last a week. She swam the channel. She met the challenge.

“That was quite impressive.” He stood next to her and sluiced the water off his body.

She leaned over, her hands on her thighs, and held up one hand. One gulp of air, then another.

“Has anyone ever told you that you have a terrific smile?”

Still bent over, she turned her head and squinted at the lean, muscular physique planted next to her. Her eyes traveled from his powerful legs, up to his ripped abs and came to a screeching halt at his Paul Newman–blue eyes.

Her breath under control—well, at least from the swim—she straightened.

Ursula at the Beach

This week, in the dog days of summer (named because the star Sirius is high in the sky), we're celebrating the beach! For those of us who are landlocked, we write about it instead of going.

In my most recent Twelve Kingdoms book, I had the delicious fun of sending my very intense warrior heroine to the beach for a bit of downtime. If you haven't read THE TALON OF THE HAWK yet, this might be a bit spoilery as it happens pretty far down in the story. But there aren't huge plot reveals you wouldn't expect from the blurb. Fair warning!

*************

            Funny that he called it play—just as Andi had—because the afternoon felt that way. It took a while for me to banish the nagging sensation that I’d forgotten something, so rarely did I go without my sword. In the light gown, going barefoot because boots would not do, I also felt more free and unencumbered than—well, maybe ever.

            We followed the road down the cliff face, discovering ladders here and there that let us cut through some of the endless loops. Harlan spotted them, seeing children clambering up and down and goading me to try it also, whooping in delight when he discovered a rope one that worked like a pulley system, dropping him quickly down an entire level.

            No one bothered us. In fact, they gave us the studious inattention we’d encountered everywhere. A Tala version of privacy in close quarters, I suspected. The kids showed more open curiosity, tagging along behind us and then, once they grew bolder, showing us more of their shortcuts, including a final dripping series of tunnels that opened onto the shimmering sands of the beach.

            It burned my feet some, having absorbed sun all day, and sucked at my leg muscles, forcing me to work harder just to walk. “I might not be doing much running,” I commented, feeling the burn already. “This is more of a workout than climbing that road.”

            “Very good for leg strength, yes.” His powerful legs churned through the loose sand, thigh muscles working easily. “In Dasnaria we have beach running as part of our training program. It weeds out the…less committed.” He grinned and I nearly felt sorry for those soldiers. “However, we need not go through that today.”

            Instead, he showed me how to run where the waves had wet and dampened the sand, at the edge of the gentle surf. It felt odd, with my breasts unbound, but they weren’t large, so they didn’t bother me overmuch. We jogged companionably for some distance, passing more and more of the extensive cliff city. The soft, moist air made for easy running, flowing gently in and out of my lungs, as nourishing as the sunshine on my skin. After a time, however, my feet grew sore.

            Ruefully, I examined the reddening sole of one foot, holding my ankle in my hand as I looked over my shoulder. “Clearly I have worn boots too much—my feet need toughening.”

            Harlan traced the arch, where my skin looked as pale and wrinkled as a fish, making me jump. “Ticklish? At last I’ve found a weakness, a chink in your formidable armor.”

            “Don’t even think about it, or I will cut your throat as you sleep.”

            “Is it any wonder I’ve fallen in love with you?” He took my hand and guided me into the shallow water. “The salt will help.”

            The sun lowered toward the horizon, the sea darkening from that brilliant aquamarine to a deeper violet, as we walked back. Other people walked as we did, some holding hands. Others in family groups, chattering and enjoying the evening. A shouting group of kids cut directly in front of us, running at top speed for the water and shape-shifting in midair into brightly colored fish that plopped into the water, leaping and swimming.

            Harlan shook his head in bemusement. “I wonder when I’ll become accustomed to such sights.”

            “I’m sure I never shall.”

            “If the enemy we chase possess similar abilities, they’ll pose quite a challenge. I’m envisioning trained fighters with your speed and flexibility, plus the ability to shift into a lethal predator.” He huffed out a breath. “I wish I had more men with me.”

            I felt much the same, missing my Hawks and being able to count on them. “It sounds as if Andi and Rayfe plan to accompany us—and they’ll bring loyal fighters of their own.” I hoped.

            “I’m sorry I said anything. You weren’t worrying for a while there.”

            “Tomorrow will bring what it will. This has been a nice afternoon. Relaxing.” Something I’d never seen myself doing. “I’ve liked spending it with you.”

            He stopped and tugged me into an embrace, smiling. “I’ve liked it, too. An unexpected treasure.” He kissed me, softly at first, then deeper when I wound my hands behind his thick neck and opened my mouth to him, to the deep, drugging sensations that swam through me. His hands roamed over me, carefully keeping to my back, my waist, the outside line of my hips, but in the thin fabric of the Tala dress, every caress penetrated to my skin as if I wore nothing at all.

            Though people occasionally passed, talking softly, one man singing, their presence didn’t bother me. It seemed that Harlan and I existed in an amber bubble of sunshine and heat, untouched by the rest of the world.

The Talon of the Hawk

A HEAVY CROWN

Three daughters were born to High King Uorsin, in place of the son he wanted. The youngest, lovely and sweet. The middle, pretty and subtle, with an air of magic. And the eldest, the Heir. A girl grudgingly honed to leadership, not beauty, to bear the sword and honor of the king.

Ursula’s loyalty is as ingrained as her straight warrior’s spine. She protects the peace of the Twelve Kingdoms with sweat and blood, her sisters from threats far and near. And she protects her father to prove her worth. But she never imagined her loyalty would become an open question on palace grounds. That her father would receive her with a foreign witch at one side and a hireling captain at the other-that soldiers would look on her as a woman, not as a warrior. She also never expected to decide the destiny of her sisters, of her people, of the Twelve Kingdoms and the Thirteenth. Not with her father still on the throne and war in the air.

But the choice is before her. And the Heir must lead…

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Freedom! It's A Coastal Thing

I love writing beach romances and have a number of stories set on Australia's coast. Living on an island (even if it is a BIG island) Australians have a strong attachment to the sea. Our cities are generally on the coast, and our holidays often have a beach theme. For me, the ocean symbolises freedom. Whether we're sailing away from it all, or merely watching wistfully as others do (as I was when I took this photo), the sea promises an escape from the everyday and a chance to be our most adventurous selves.

I'm trying to think of my favourite coastal romance, but really, how can I pick one? Jayne Ann Krentz writes beautifully of the Pacific North West, and I'm a fool for almost anything set in Cornwall (now there's a place on my bucket list). I guess if I have to pick one book, it's my own short story, "No Rescue". Honestly, who can go past a sexy sergeant in the Water Police and the incredible setting of Sydney Harbour? Not me!

The sea is inspiring. My critique partner and I have our monthly set-the-publishing-world-to-rights sessions at a beach cafe. It's the perfect place to kick back, laugh, chat and re-charge.

So I'm wishing you all a happy beach escape -- even if it's via a book!

Jenny