برچسب: First

  • First Kiss Friday with Deb Marlowe and a Giveaway! – Sherry Ewing

    First Kiss Friday with Deb Marlowe and a Giveaway! – Sherry Ewing


    Welcome to my First Kiss Friday bog. We’re thrilled you can join us today. Today’s guest is Deb Marlowe who a first kiss scene between Niall Kier and Kara Levett, the two main characters in her Kier and Levett Mystery Series—Victorian Mysteries with a Slow Burn Romance. Deb is also offering a giveaway so be sure to read all the way to the end. Leave a comment to be in the running and enjoy this excerpt. Happy reading, my lovelies, and good luck!

    Excerpt:

    When they pulled up before the house, Niall craned to look out, but there was no sign of Turner or any of the other servants. The hour must be late indeed. Gently, he reached out to wake Kara.

    She came awake slowly. Turning her head, her eyes opened. She caught sight of him and gave a sleepy, contented smile.

    It made his heart twist painfully.

    The bond of their friendship ran deep. How much better might it be, if he were he free to take it further? What might it be like, to open his eyes every morning to that smile? To know the day ahead—all the days ahead—would be full of her wit and laughter and talent and beauty?

    He longed to find out. And his urge to follow that thread was growing as strong as the worries that prevented it.

    He climbed down and turned to assist her. The bracing night air prodded her awake, although she gave a great yawn that left him smiling.

    She squeezed his hand. The carriage moved on, heading for the stables. They stood alone in the dark, with the sky full of the sparkling beauty of a multitude of stars and his heart full of conflicting emotions.

    “Thank you, Niall.”

    It was thanks offered for more than his help out of the carriage. He heard the breadth of her meaning in her tone.

    He smiled in answer, returned the squeeze and let her go.

    With a sigh, she began to move toward the house. He watched her for a moment, before turning toward his forge and the loft above.

    The sound of her footsteps in the gravel stopped.

    “Niall?”

    He turned around. She faced him, her hair coming down a little on one side and wafting in the night breeze. He drank in the beauty of her. She was a mad combination of exuberance, stubborn determination, extraordinary vision and the lovely sweetness of her soul. It almost hurt to look at her.

    And suddenly, she was moving. Lifting her skirts and racing toward him. As she drew closer, she let go and reached out—and leapt into his arms.

    He caught her. Staggered back a step. And her lips were on his and he was lost.

    Her fingers were in his hair. Her legs wrapped around his waist. He braced one hand across her back to hold her close and the other beneath the curve of her bottom, to keep her, high and hot and pressed against him, with her mouth locked to his.

    She’d gone soft and pliant. Need sprang to heated life in his chest and he felt the answering sensation in her. Together, their longings rose and combined, whirling between them, spiraling higher and fueling the fervent, dangerous beauty of their kiss.

    She was inexperienced. He showed her subtly, delicately, how it was done. An enthusiastic pupil, she let him coax her mouth open. Their embrace deepened, transforming this encounter into something more demanding and desperate. Something that fought and railed against the cold knowledge of its fleeting nature.

    She moaned, a low sound of aching want, and he clutched her closer still, wishing he could pull her right inside, so that this might never end.

    But end, it did. She pulled away and looked down at him, her face filled with sorrow.
    Slowly, he let her drop, felt the forbidden slide of her down the front of him. But he could not let go, not yet. He bent his head so that their lips hovered close.

    “I wanted to know,” she whispered. “When you are long gone and I am lying awake, making myself miserable with what might have been, I want to know exactly what I will be missing.” She ducked her head, pressing against his chest and gripping him tightly for a moment, before looking back up, her expression gone stern. “Perhaps I wanted you to know, too.”

    She whirled, then, and was gone, running for the house.

    Links:

    The Kier and Levett Mysteries take place in Victorian London. Miss Kara Levett is an artist and creator of automatons and case clocks. Niall Kier is a forge artist from the Highlands with secrets in his past. Follow them to Victorian London as they explore art, science, their own romance . . . and murder.

    www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTRP6LVM?binding=kindle_edition&r

    https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22The+Kier+and+Levett+Mystery%22?Ntk=P_Series_Title&Ns=P_Series_Number&Ntx=mode+matchall

    About the Author:

    USA Today Bestselling Author Deb Marlowe grew up with her nose in a book.  Luckily, she’d read enough romances to recognize the hero she met at a college Halloween party—even though he wore a tuxedo t-shirt instead of breeches and boots.  They married, settled in North Carolina and raised two handsome, funny, and genuinely intelligent boys.

    A Golden Heart winner and Rita Nominee, Deb writes Victorian Mysteries, Regency Romance and Regency Fantasy Romance.  A proud geek, history buff, and story addict, she loves to talk with readers!  Find her discussing books, movies, TV, recipes and Men in Boots on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky and Pinterest.

    Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/deb.marlowe

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debmarlowewrites/

    BlueSky: debmarlowe.bsky.social

    Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/DebMarloweWrite/

    Giveaway!

    Deb will give away an autographed copy of A Killer in the Crystal Palace and some fun Kier and Levett swag.  Just comment and tell us:  If you could be a professional artist, what kind of art would you create?

    Giveaway open through the weekend.  Winner chosen on Monday!





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  • Planning to visit National Parks in 2025? Read This First!

    Planning to visit National Parks in 2025? Read This First!


    Visiting National Parks in 2025? Read This First.

    There’s something deeply grounding about stepping into a national park—the hush in the canyons, the scent of sun-warmed trees, the sound of birds calling from beyond the bend in the trail. It’s where many of us go to breathe a little deeper and to appreciate the gift of God’s creation.

    But if you’re planning a trip in 2025, you may be worried that things will look a little different. Staffing is down in many parks. Visitor numbers are still high. Services that used to be a given might not be available. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go—quite the opposite, really. With a little extra preparation and a healthy dose of grace, you can still experience the wonder that drew you there in the first place.

    Here’s how to plan ahead and visit with both wisdom and wonder in your pack.

    1. Do Your Research Before You Go

    In years past, you might have strolled into a visitor center and picked up a paper map, chatted with a ranger about trail conditions, or signed up for a program. With lower staffing, those luxuries might not be available.

    Before you leave home:

    Visit the park’s official website for current conditions, alerts, and any reservation requirements.

    Download trail maps and directions—you can’t count on cell service.

    Look into apps like AllTrails or the NPS app to cache your route.

    If it’s your first time to that park, read up a bit. A well-loved guidebook or a ranger-led YouTube talk can add layers of meaning to your adventure.

    2. Expect Limited Services

    With fewer hands on deck, you might find closed restrooms, limited hours at visitor centers, and fewer trash pickups. It’s not ideal, but it’s manageable if you plan ahead.

    What to bring:

    • Your own water, snacks, and lunch (just watch out for the ravens and chipmunks—they’re clever).
    • A small bag to pack out your own trash.
    • Extra toilet paper and hand sanitizer for backcountry or vault restrooms.

    A little preparation here can turn a frustrating moment into just another story for the campfire.

    3. Be Your Own Naturalist

    While ranger talks and junior ranger programs might be on hold or scaled back, that doesn’t mean you can’t dive deep into the natural world around you. In fact, learning on your own might make it feel even more personal.

    Bring along:

    • A field guide or plant ID app
    • A nature journal (even a pocket notebook will do)
    • Curiosity, always

    Let the forest be your teacher. Let your questions lead you.

    Podcasts and audiobooks about your park can also make for great pre-trip or on-the-road listening. You might even want to check out Guide Along, which offers audio tours for various parks via your phone. We really enjoyed the Yellowstone one on our last trip.

    4. Stick to Designated Trails

    Trails are the threads that weave us safely through wild spaces. And in times of low staffing, it’s harder for rangers to keep an eye on fragile habitats and off-trail wanderers.

    Staying on marked paths:

    • Protects delicate plant life
    • Keeps you safe from hidden hazards
    • Makes it easier for search and rescue to find you—if that need ever arises

    Remember: your footprints matter.

    5. Pack Your Patience

    You may wait a little longer at the entrance gate. You might find the shuttle bus full or the trail a little more crowded than expected. And you might not see a single ranger on your entire visit.

    But you’re still there. Among the trees, beside the river, under the open sky. That’s the gift.

    When things get frustrating, take a deep breath and offer grace—to others, to the park staff doing their best, and even to yourself

    6. Essentials for your 2025 Adventures

    Here’s a quick checklist to help you feel confident and prepared:

    • Reusable water bottle
    • Layers for shifting weather
    • Trail map (downloaded or paper)
    • Snacks and a meal
    • First aid kit
    • Flashlight or headlamp
    • Small trash bag
    • Sunscreen, bug spray, hat
    • An open heart

    ✅ Bonus: Bring an extra map and share it if you see someone looking lost.

    7. Seek the Quiet Moments

    While the crowds gather at famous overlooks, try a lesser-known trail, a picnic by a creek, or a sunrise walk through the trees.

    It’s in those quiet, unscripted moments when you’ll discover a park’s unexpected blessings.

    Final Thoughts

    Things might look a little different for our national parks in 2025, but the trails are still calling, the trees are still standing, and the parks are still worth the effort. With a little preparation and a good attitude, you’ll walk away with something unforgettable.

    Curious which parks show up in my stories? Browse my collection of national park novels and see where the trails take you!

    Karen



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