Vicki Batman's Blog, page 38

Travel and Book with Vinnie Hansen #Cubatravel #mystery #noStarbucks

Travel and Book with
Vinnie Hansen
 For those who like all the creature comforts of home, Cuba may not be for you. The long-standing embargo has created many shortages, compensated for by great resourcefulness. Cuba is a country for those who like destinations precisely because they don’t have a Starbuck’s on every corner. That would be my husband and me.  
My husband and I enjoy cultures that are different than ours. However, we don’t necessarily relish the arduous process of getting there. Cuba beckoned us—a non-stop flight to Cancun and then a simple hour hop to Havana. Fairly simple travel to be in one of only two places in the world without Coca-Cola.
When we ventured to Cuba in 2010, there was one hitch—it was illegal. Cuba had no restriction against us entering the country (although the government keeps close tabs on where one stays). Reentry to the United States was the sticking point as it is against the law to lie to a Customs Official about one’s travel. Fortunately, when we returned—Danny sporting his new Cancun cap—no one asked us where we’d been.
The two of us traveled in Cuba for a month, staying in casas particulares, private homes that rent out rooms and provide breakfast.
If visiting Cuba appeals to you, now is the time. As I write, a small window remains before President Trump’s new restrictions go into effect.
 
The island provides the backdrop for Black Beans & Venom, the seventh book in my Carol Sabala Mystery Series.
November, 2001 
I liked J.J. Sloan better as a practicing alcoholic. At least then, I knew where to find him, right down to which stool he would occupy. Now that he had renewed his commitments to running and recovery, he was not only less reachable, but also more insufferable, which I had not thought possible.
 “That’s the glory of cross-country running,” he crowed, as he stood in the office, dipping one knee and then the other to stretch his Achilles tendons. “Your legs can take you anywhere.” He pronounced this as though he were Neil Armstrong, taking the first step on the moon on behalf of all mankind. Next he stretched his hamstrings by bending at the waist and reaching for his shins. He had good legs, I would give him that, but they could not compensate for the crooked nose and acne-scarred skin.
“File that pile, Carol.” Without further ado, he trotted to the door and down the hallway.
I fumed in our windowless office. Even though J.J. had taken me on as a favor to my boyfriend David and had invested hundreds of hours training me to be a private investigator, it felt insulting to have him continue to treat me like a peon. Yet Sloan’s Investigative Services was his business, if you could call it that. The office existed as a place to receive messages and to burn coffee.
Find Black Beans & Venom at: Amazon
Find Vinnie at: Vinnie Hansen    Hi, Vinnie! So nice to read about your trip. What was your favorite sweet treat you ate there?
 
 
 

Handbag and Book with Beverley Oakley #historicalromance #RLFblog #newbook

Handbag and Book with
Beverley Oakley 
Thanks so much for the chance to tell the story of this gorgeous handbag which cost much more than I'd ever dreamed of spending. So I was touched and amazed when, after admiring it in a shop in a country town north of Melbourne, it was gifted to me that night.
I'd been showing the sights to elderly friends of my parents (from the days we lived in Lesotho, Africa) and Pat had said I was like the daughter she never had. (She had four sons.) She said she'd been watching me to see what I showed a particular interest in so she could buy me something I'd really like. And I certainly love the elegant shape and feel of this leather bag with its unusual treatment.I also feel really lucky that our family had such good friends whose friendship has endured over more than half a century.
A duchess disguised as a lady’s maid; a gentleman parading as a highwayman.She’s on the run from a murderer, he’s in pursuit of one…In a remote Norfolk manor, Phoebe, Lady Cavanaugh is wrongfully accused by her servants of her brutal husband’s murder. There’s little sympathy in the district for the duchess who’s taken a lover and made clear she despised her husband. The local magistrate has also vowed revenge since Lady Cavanaugh rebuffed his advances. When Phoebe is discovered in the forest wearing only a chemise stained with the blood of her murdered husband, she persuades the noble ‘highwayman’ who rescues her that she is Lady Cavanaugh’s maidservant. Hugh Redding has his own reasons for hunting down the man who would have Phoebe tried and hanged for murder. He plans to turn ‘the maidservant with aspirations above her station' into the 'lady' who might testify against the very villain who would see Phoebe dead. To her astonishment Miss Redding promptly burst into tears. Again. Phoebe shook her head as she watched Miss Ada bury her face in her hands, rocking her shoulders as she shook her head, the green feather of her bonnet threatening to snag on the spikes of the hedge. Miss Redding was perhaps fours years younger than Phoebe. Perhaps just a year or so out of the school room when she’d met Wentworth. “Stop behaving like an emotional child,” Phoebe muttered putting her hand awkwardly on her shoulder. “First you accost me and then you insult me and say you’re not supposed to be speaking to me. I think it’s time to bid you good day, Miss Redding before your brother sees us and accuses me once again of upsetting you.” Miss Redding looked up at her through reddened eyelids. “Don’t go,” she pleaded. “I know I was rude even though there’s truth in what I say – you surely must admit it. But my situation is so much worse than yours. I have lost everything!”“Your virtue, which you so foolishly offered?” Instead of another angry outburst, Miss Redding merely nodded sadly. “My virtue…and then…” She took a deep breath. “That which I cannot speak of. So much worse. And now my will to live.” She began to cry again but this time with such heart-rending sobs that Phoebe was moved. She gripped Ada by the shoulder and drew her deeper into the garden where there was no chance of being observed and asked, “There was a child?” Find The Duchess and the Highwayman at: https://www.books2read.com/u/38Dw6d/  Find Beverley at: http://www.beverleyoakley.com/

Recipe and Book with Norma Huss #Guppies #SINC #leftovers

Recipe and Book with Norma Huss         I wrote the following scene for Jo Durbin in my book, thinking about how I often cook in my own kitchen—gathering together whatever I find for a meal.
         “You’re taking advantage of my good nature.” Of course he wasn’t, and he knew it. In my customary life I was an innovative but often haphazard cook, however, Mel was such an appreciative audience. And face it, I did need a break from outdoor research now and then.
            I found a package of ramen noodles, a few nuts, a can of mushrooms, and a half jar of peanut butter. I lined up his spices, decided which bits of veggies from the crisper in the bottom of the refrigerator were usable, and did my magic.
         Then I invented the recipe to fit the book, tweaking it until it tasted quite tasty. It’s one way to deal with leftovers.
Garlic Chicken with Peanut Sauce, Noodles and Vegetables
Leftover rotisserie (barbecue) chickenNoodles (rice noodles, egg noodles, ramen noodles or any pasta of your choice)Veggies (broccoli florets, onion chunks, carrots sliced thin, mushrooms, celery, or any others of your choice)  Note: You won’t find any peppers in Jo’s recipes because she doesn’t like them - but feel free to use them as well.Garlic - 1 clove minced, or ½ tsp of canned chopped or minced (or more if you prefer).Peanut Sauce - see recipe belowPeanuts - unsalted dry-roasted - may be chopped
1.  Whisk peanut sauce ingredients together.2.  Cut bite-size chunks from left-over barbecue chicken.3.  Prepare veggies.  (Peel &/or chop.  If necessary, zap in microwave until done to tenderness you prefer.)  Note: many veggies, especially frozen peas and mushrooms, may not need extra cooking.4.  Break noodles into 2 to 4 inch lengths then cook according to box instructions (rice noodles, egg noodles, ramen noodles, etc.)5.  Cook garlic in the peanut sauce for 2 or 3 minutes.  Add chicken and heat for another 2 or 3 minutes.  Add cooked noodles and veggies.  Stir and heat through.6.  Stir peanuts in before serving, or sprinkle a handful of peanuts on the topafter serving. 
Peanut Sauce - 2 servings (all measurements are approximate) Whisk together:

1 TB creamy peanut butter1 tsp hazelnut oil (or any oil)1 tsp Worcestershire sauce3 shakes ground red pepper 6 twists of pepper mill3 shakes onion powder3 shakes ground ginger

The building was vacant, the keys were almost a gift. Vacant, sure—except for the body. Now Jo knows one downside of acting the homeless bag lady. No one will believe she just happened to find the very dead Francine.
         I turned on my phone for Sylvie’s call, but she must have given up trying. As I relaxed on a bench overlooking the boats in Ego Alley and thinking about my next meal, the call came.         “Hi, Sylvie,” I said.         “Not Sylvie.” It was Mel. “Thought you’d like to know. The police are looking for a woman. Description, five, five. Weight, one fifty. Medium brown hair. Blue plaid coat.”         “Well then, it’s not me. At least ten pounds too much.” But of course, it was me, or my identical twin, and we both knew it. I jerked my head to the right to watch a woman walk by.         “I didn’t say it was.”         Not a police woman. I looked to the left. A waddling duck took to the sky. Wish I could do the same. He added, “Heard it on the police scanner, not the radio.”         At least the whole population wasn’t in on the search. “Where are they looking?”         “It was an alert to all patrol cars.”         Which meant the cops were looking for me everywhere. Me and my blue plaid coat. Mel didn’t ask questions. I didn’t explain.         My two extra days were up tomorrow. Sunday. Always a good day for travel. Except—there must be a few of my fingerprints at the scene, and with a witness who saw me, how could I leave? I had to find the killer.
Find Yesterday’s Body at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006HJLFHU
Find Norma’s Author Facebook page at: fb.me/writerNormaHuss
How wonderful to have you today, Norma, and thank you for sharing your recipe.   So what is your favorite kind of cake?
 

How many weeks til Christmas? #holidaybook #RLFblog #handbag

Handbag and Book with Loretta Wheeler
 Le Handbag The handbag I’ve chosen to post isn’t necessarily my favorite, but it is the one I most often select when running out the door. Why? Because it can be carried on the arm or the shoulder and the color is a brushed metallic gold. I like to keep a copper, bronze or gold purse readily available because they go with anything. And unlike beige, (another favorite color), they add a little “pop” to your outfit.
I picked this Fossil bag up at Steinmart when they were having a sale on their name brand bags, and I can say I’ve drug it everywhere. Of course you know that means the hand sanitizer gets a frequent workout too. I’m going to rub the bling right off the bottom of that bag before long!
This winter, Savanna Burke has found the Galveston winds are bringing change, for her, and for Terence Whittaker, the island’s well-known clairvoyant. 
Come visit Galveston Island with Savanna during Christmas and find the magical wonder of dreams coming true in Christmas on the Strand.
Savanna was only half-listening to the couple in front of her and Roth. She was trying to find a polite way to excuse herself. She wanted to find Terence before the ladies dressed in red took the floor. She definitely didn’t want to dance with anyone but him when the song played.An unnerving feeling washed across her and a slow tingle slid its way down her spine. She felt as though someone was watching her—intently. Slowly turning around, Savanna felt as though she was being pulled by a magnet, everything inside her quivering in response. When she faced the opposite direction, she breathed out a soft laugh and her lips parted in the beginning of a smile. Terence was walking toward her, smiling at her in return. His smile broadened and he did a little Samba move at her. Savanna laughed, loving that he wanted to play, tease her. She stepped forward, her hips swaying, matching Terence’s moves.Terence held out his hand as he reached her, capturing hers in his own. Slowly, he raised her hand to his lips, kissing the backside, then turning it over, he kissed the inside of her palm, his mouth lingering.Savanna’s heart raced, and her breath caught in her throat. Terence drew her close, his body molding against hers, the Samba moves slowing. Whispering against the shell of her ear, his breath teased at her. “Savanna, I presume?”She nodded. Her breath so tight she couldn’t speak.“Then, may I have the next dance, when the pale white circling the floor gives way to the passion of red?”Savanna leaned back and looked up at him. Where on the face of God’s earth had this man come from? What man spoke this way and looked like Gable? This only happened in the movies. And Gable, only happened once in a lifetime.Terence lowered his arm to her waist, his fingers resting at the base of her spine, stroking her in a light up and down movement. He brushed his lips across hers and murmured in between the caress of his mouth. “Follow me...we’re going to the center of the ballroom to dance. We’re going to give the photographer his heart’s desire, something that’ll light up tomorrow morning’s papers.”  
Find Christmas on the Strand at: booksiteFind Loretta Wheeler at: website   I have to admit, Loretta, I don't have a metallic handbag, except for a gold evening one my mom gave me. Readers: what's your favorite color of handbag?
 
 
 

Hotel LaBelle and the Making of Tallulah Thompson #WRPBooks #RLFBlog #Traveltips

Hotel LaBelle and the Making of Tallulah ThompsonAfter sharing numerous travel horror stories with a writing friend, she said, “You should write a book about this!” Ta-dah!! I drew from these experiences to create Tallulah Thompson, Hotel Inspector and her partner and pug, Franny. My husband and I travel a lot for business and pleasure. Over the forty years of our marriage, we have stayed at everything from a stunning boutique hotels to fabulous bed and breakfasts to corporate chains. We even stayed at a Motel 6 in a blizzard in Davenport, Iowa in the late 1970s. It was so cold, my husband had to keep going out and starting the car every two hours so it wouldn’t freeze and we had to put towels at the door to keep snow from blowing in (you may see a theme here). I will share Good, Bad and Ugly hotel experiences we have had and ask your readers if they have good, bad or ugly hotel experiences they’d like to share. I will give away one (1) Kindle e-copies of the Haunting of Hotel Labelle to a random commenter.The Good is Really Awesome: Here are the reasons why this stay with a family run bed and breakfast, the Foster Harris House is always a slice of heaven. The roomsElegant and cozy, each spotless room has its own unique personality. We prefer the Mountain View Room which has a sitting area and a shower with about six showerheads, maybe more. I lost count. When you arrive, a covered dish with homemade cookies await you.


The owners: As you can see from the photos, breakfast alone is worth the trip, with creative and exciting combinations of taste and visual delight. Dinners are a lovely, leisurely affair. This is not fast food. This is divine food. The area: Washington, Virginia was George Washington’s (yes, that one) first planned city. Now, not to be too critical, but the town is pretty small and boasts about two stop signs. Don’t let it’s petite stature fool you. It is filled with artists, great cuisine, and is nestled at the base of the Shenandoah Mountain range, right outside the National Park. It is also a short distance to Luray Caverns if you want to see how our earth began. Breathtaking on both counts!


The Bad was Pretty Bad: Here are the reasons why this stay with a large corporate chain was a bad experience (no name because after I launched a letter writing campaign to the corporate customer service department, we did receive a refund).The room: One of the basic things a human needs in a home, car, or hotel room is heat. When we arrived in Chicago on a windy day in the perpetually windy city, it was overcast and chilly. We were put into a room on the 41st floor that had a sloooooooow flushing toilet and no heat. The next day, we complained and were moved to a newly renovated room on the 45th floor. Soon we discovered the new room (furnished by IKEA, without even dresser for your clothes) also had no heat. We called and were told by "at your service" (not) that there would be no heat forthcoming, and that “you are the only ones complaining.” They would turn the heat on only after receiving sufficient complaints from the entire hotel. What that magic tipping point was for a majority vote, I do not know, however, the entire hotel system it seems had two settings: hot and cold. And all we got was cold and colder. The thermostat in the room was a fake for show as it did not workshow, as it did not work.  In shades of Motel 6, we obtained extra towels to block the draft coming under the door and while in the room had to wear overcoat and blanket to work at the computer. I had no gloves sans fingertips, so to keep writing I had to get up and warm my hands under the hot water in the bathroom. The staff: With few notable exceptions, the staff were indifferent and condescending. Where ever we went in the hotel, the lobby, the elevator, the Concierge Lounge, the gym, people complained bitterly about how cold their room was. When I asked for a heater, the same person who said I was the only one complaining said they were all “checked out to guests.”

Housekeeping: The Housekeeping staff were on the floor, bright and early at 8 am, shouting down the hall to each other, music BLARING (not in earphones), and slamming carts into walls and doors. About a quarter of the rooms had PRIVACY signs on them. My guess is those people wanted to SLEEP. With the cacophony in the hallway, I doubt they could. I know I tried, but the noise woke me up.The area: Downtown Chicago, IL, a great WINDY city. We lived there for over a decade. I recommend visiting only during summer and early fall, as the weather is either HOT or COLD, just like the hotel thermostat.
The Ugly is Hideous: A business trip to St Louis took us to yet another corporate hotel which boasts a low price, free WIFI and complimentary breakfast (powdered eggs, but we won’t go there). When we arrived, my husband dropped me off with the luggage and took off. He did this so I could take a desperately needed nap—and I checked in to Hotel Hell.The hotel was under construction. Not just a minor renovation, we’re talking jack hammers on every floor, going from 9 am to 7 pm. When I approached the desk, I gave my name, received room key and a bag of goodies: ear plugs, a water bottle and a granola bar. The clerks at the desk found it amusing when I said I really needed a nap. They LAUGHED at me and suggested I put a pillow over my head to go with the ear plugs.But wait, there’s more…. The room:Had heat and a comfy bed, which was all I really wanted at that point in time. I put on my leopard pajamas, put ear plugs in my ears, eye mask on my face, played my white noise app and dozed off—only to be awoken by the claxon of a FIRE ALARM, lights flashing and instructions to exit the building via the stairs. I leaped out of bed, into my boots, threw my down coat over my leopard pajamas and raced down the stairs of the closest exit, which was somewhere in EAST NOWHERE behind the hotel. I wandered about a half-mile to get to the front entrance, searching for signs of fire engines, smoke, or any other hotel guests outside. There were NONE.The staff:Remember being in high school when the girls in the clique made fun of you and laughed at you? No? I do. I found out who employs these teenagers: Hotel Hell. Exhausted and upset, I went to the front desk AGAIN and asked what happened to the fire. Fire? What fire? They LAUGHED at me. Again. The Fire Marshall was there and because of the renovations, they had to TEST the fire alarms. When I asked why they hadn’t called guests to alert them it was only a test, they said, “Well, there weren’t that many guests in the rooms, so it really wasn’t a big deal.” To THEM. Out of my mind with fatigue and anger, I went back to my room to discover my room key had been DEPROGRAMMED with the drill. I could not get into my room! If it hadn’t been for a sweet maid who let me into my room with her pass key (she was also not told about the fire drill!) I think I would still be in jail on homicide charges. No jury in the world would have convicted me.Not only did I complain, the company we came out to do business with complained and I also posted a one star review on Trip Advisor. Many apologies later, a refund was offered, but no one could refund me my sleep or anxiety or frustration. The area: St. Louis is not one of my favorite parts of the country for this and other reasons. So, please, don’t ask me to give you tips on travel there!
When hotel inspector, Tallulah Thompson, is called in along with her pug, Franny, to investigate renovation delays, she meets an extremely annoyed and dapper turn-of-the-century innkeeper. The only problem is he’s in limbo, neither dead nor alive, and Tallulah and the pug are the first to see him in a hundred years. Cursed by a medicine woman, “Love ‘em and Leave ‘em Lucius” Stewart is stuck between worlds until he finds his true love and gives her his heart. When he first sees Tallulah, he doesn’t know what he’s feeling. Yet, her stunning beauty, and feisty attitude pull him in. With the fate of Hotel LaBelle on the line, Tallulah with the help of a powerful medicine woman turns Lucius back into a flesh and blood man. She and Lucius team up to save the hotel, but Tallulah can't help but wonder if he will ever let go of his past love and learn to love again.      A book flew at his head—and sailed through him, bouncing off the wall and landing on the floor.      Mouth agape, the woman stared from him to the book and back to him again. “You’re a ghost.”      “Not exactly. Shall we start over?” He leaned against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. “After a hundred years of being invisible to everyone except you, I’d like to know who you are and what you’re doing here.”       “Of course. Why not? Could today get any weirder?” She sank into the desk chair, shook her head, and sighed. “My name is Tallulah Thompson. I’m a hotel inspector, hired by the current owner as a consultant to find out why the renovations are delayed and what he needs to do to fix it. He’s teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.”       “What tribe are you?”       She jerked her head up and those doggone lapis lazuli eyes of hers sparked as if she’d strike him with lightning and kill him with one look. “No one asks that. It’s not politically correct.”       “Well, I guess you haven’t been talking to the right people. And I don’t know what you mean by that last part. I’ve never been involved in politics.      “Nowadays, it’s considered rude to ask about another person’s national origins.” She threw her hands up. “Why am I giving a ghost an etiquette lesson? What am I thinking?”
Find Haunting of Hotel La Bell at: The Wild Rose Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance | iBooks | Kobo | Bookstrand

Now available from Audible
Find Sharon at: http://www.sharonbuchbinder.com/index.html

  So, dear readers, if you’ve made it this far (!) tell us about your hotel experiences, Good, Bad, and Ugly to be eligible to win one Kindle e-copy of my new release, The Haunting of Hotel LaBelle.
 


 
 

Hotel LaBelle and the Making of Tallulah ThompsonAfter sh...

Hotel LaBelle and the Making of Tallulah ThompsonAfter sharing numerous travel horror stories with a writing friend, she said, “You should write a book about this!” Ta-dah!! I drew from these experiences to create Tallulah Thompson, Hotel Inspector and her partner and pug, Franny. My husband and I travel a lot for business and pleasure. Over the forty years of our marriage, we have stayed at everything from a stunning boutique hotels to fabulous bed and breakfasts to corporate chains. We even stayed at a Motel 6 in a blizzard in Davenport, Iowa in the late 1970s. It was so cold, my husband had to keep going out and starting the car every two hours so it wouldn’t freeze and we had to put towels at the door to keep snow from blowing in (you may see a theme here). I will share Good, Bad and Ugly hotel experiences we have had and ask your readers if they have good, bad or ugly hotel experiences they’d like to share. I will give away one (1) Kindle e-copies of the Haunting of Hotel Labelle to a random commenter.The Good is Really Awesome: Here are the reasons why this stay with a family run bed and breakfast, the Foster Harris House is always a slice of heaven. The roomsElegant and cozy, each spotless room has its own unique personality. We prefer the Mountain View Room which has a sitting area and a shower with about six showerheads, maybe more. I lost count. When you arrive, a covered dish with homemade cookies await you.


The owners: As you can see from the photos, breakfast alone is worth the trip, with creative and exciting combinations of taste and visual delight. Dinners are a lovely, leisurely affair. This is not fast food. This is divine food. The area: Washington, Virginia was George Washington’s (yes, that one) first planned city. Now, not to be too critical, but the town is pretty small and boasts about two stop signs. Don’t let it’s petite stature fool you. It is filled with artists, great cuisine, and is nestled at the base of the Shenandoah Mountain range, right outside the National Park. It is also a short distance to Luray Caverns if you want to see how our earth began. Breathtaking on both counts!


The Bad was Pretty Bad: Here are the reasons why this stay with a large corporate chain was a bad experience (no name because after I launched a letter writing campaign to the corporate customer service department, we did receive a refund).The room: One of the basic things a human needs in a home, car, or hotel room is heat. When we arrived in Chicago on a windy day in the perpetually windy city, it was overcast and chilly. We were put into a room on the 41st floor that had a sloooooooow flushing toilet and no heat. The next day, we complained and were moved to a newly renovated room on the 45th floor. Soon we discovered the new room (furnished by IKEA, without even dresser for your clothes) also had no heat. We called and were told by "at your service" (not) that there would be no heat forthcoming, and that “you are the only ones complaining.” They would turn the heat on only after receiving sufficient complaints from the entire hotel. What that magic tipping point was for a majority vote, I do not know, however, the entire hotel system it seems had two settings: hot and cold. And all we got was cold and colder. The thermostat in the room was a fake for show as it did not workshow, as it did not work.  In shades of Motel 6, we obtained extra towels to block the draft coming under the door and while in the room had to wear overcoat and blanket to work at the computer. I had no gloves sans fingertips, so to keep writing I had to get up and warm my hands under the hot water in the bathroom. The staff: With few notable exceptions, the staff were indifferent and condescending. Where ever we went in the hotel, the lobby, the elevator, the Concierge Lounge, the gym, people complained bitterly about how cold their room was. When I asked for a heater, the same person who said I was the only one complaining said they were all “checked out to guests.”

Housekeeping: The Housekeeping staff were on the floor, bright and early at 8 am, shouting down the hall to each other, music BLARING (not in earphones), and slamming carts into walls and doors. About a quarter of the rooms had PRIVACY signs on them. My guess is those people wanted to SLEEP. With the cacophony in the hallway, I doubt they could. I know I tried, but the noise woke me up.The area: Downtown Chicago, IL, a great WINDY city. We lived there for over a decade. I recommend visiting only during summer and early fall, as the weather is either HOT or COLD, just like the hotel thermostat.
The Ugly is Hideous: A business trip to St Louis took us to yet another corporate hotel which boasts a low price, free WIFI and complimentary breakfast (powdered eggs, but we won’t go there). When we arrived, my husband dropped me off with the luggage and took off. He did this so I could take a desperately needed nap—and I checked in to Hotel Hell.The hotel was under construction. Not just a minor renovation, we’re talking jack hammers on every floor, going from 9 am to 7 pm. When I approached the desk, I gave my name, received room key and a bag of goodies: ear plugs, a water bottle and a granola bar. The clerks at the desk found it amusing when I said I really needed a nap. They LAUGHED at me and suggested I put a pillow over my head to go with the ear plugs.But wait, there’s more…. The room:Had heat and a comfy bed, which was all I really wanted at that point in time. I put on my leopard pajamas, put ear plugs in my ears, eye mask on my face, played my white noise app and dozed off—only to be awoken by the claxon of a FIRE ALARM, lights flashing and instructions to exit the building via the stairs. I leaped out of bed, into my boots, threw my down coat over my leopard pajamas and raced down the stairs of the closest exit, which was somewhere in EAST NOWHERE behind the hotel. I wandered about a half-mile to get to the front entrance, searching for signs of fire engines, smoke, or any other hotel guests outside. There were NONE.The staff:Remember being in high school when the girls in the clique made fun of you and laughed at you? No? I do. I found out who employs these teenagers: Hotel Hell. Exhausted and upset, I went to the front desk AGAIN and asked what happened to the fire. Fire? What fire? They LAUGHED at me. Again. The Fire Marshall was there and because of the renovations, they had to TEST the fire alarms. When I asked why they hadn’t called guests to alert them it was only a test, they said, “Well, there weren’t that many guests in the rooms, so it really wasn’t a big deal.” To THEM. Out of my mind with fatigue and anger, I went back to my room to discover my room key had been DEPROGRAMMED with the drill. I could not get into my room! If it hadn’t been for a sweet maid who let me into my room with her pass key (she was also not told about the fire drill!) I think I would still be in jail on homicide charges. No jury in the world would have convicted me.Not only did I complain, the company we came out to do business with complained and I also posted a one star review on Trip Advisor. Many apologies later, a refund was offered, but no one could refund me my sleep or anxiety or frustration. The area: St. Louis is not one of my favorite parts of the country for this and other reasons. So, please, don’t ask me to give you tips on travel there!
When hotel inspector, Tallulah Thompson, is called in along with her pug, Franny, to investigate renovation delays, she meets an extremely annoyed and dapper turn-of-the-century innkeeper. The only problem is he’s in limbo, neither dead nor alive, and Tallulah and the pug are the first to see him in a hundred years. Cursed by a medicine woman, “Love ‘em and Leave ‘em Lucius” Stewart is stuck between worlds until he finds his true love and gives her his heart. When he first sees Tallulah, he doesn’t know what he’s feeling. Yet, her stunning beauty, and feisty attitude pull him in. With the fate of Hotel LaBelle on the line, Tallulah with the help of a powerful medicine woman turns Lucius back into a flesh and blood man. She and Lucius team up to save the hotel, but Tallulah can't help but wonder if he will ever let go of his past love and learn to love again.      A book flew at his head—and sailed through him, bouncing off the wall and landing on the floor.      Mouth agape, the woman stared from him to the book and back to him again. “You’re a ghost.”      “Not exactly. Shall we start over?” He leaned against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. “After a hundred years of being invisible to everyone except you, I’d like to know who you are and what you’re doing here.”       “Of course. Why not? Could today get any weirder?” She sank into the desk chair, shook her head, and sighed. “My name is Tallulah Thompson. I’m a hotel inspector, hired by the current owner as a consultant to find out why the renovations are delayed and what he needs to do to fix it. He’s teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.”       “What tribe are you?”       She jerked her head up and those doggone lapis lazuli eyes of hers sparked as if she’d strike him with lightning and kill him with one look. “No one asks that. It’s not politically correct.”       “Well, I guess you haven’t been talking to the right people. And I don’t know what you mean by that last part. I’ve never been involved in politics.      “Nowadays, it’s considered rude to ask about another person’s national origins.” She threw her hands up. “Why am I giving a ghost an etiquette lesson? What am I thinking?”
Find Haunting of Hotel La Bell at: The Wild Rose Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance | iBooks | Kobo | Bookstrand

Now available from Audible
Find Sharon at: http://www.sharonbuchbinder.com/index.html

  So, dear readers, if you’ve made it this far (!) tell us about your hotel experiences, Good, Bad, and Ugly to be eligible to win one Kindle e-copy of my new release, The Haunting of Hotel LaBelle.
 


 
 

May Freedom Wave #FourthofJuly #fireworks #RLFblog

Happy Fourth of July!




Long may our flag wave!
Long may we celebrate our freedom!
Long may we cherish those who served!

Grandmother's legacy - gardening #growingroses #gardeningtales #RLFblog

My aunt and uncle live fifteen minutes away. She loves to garden, particularly roses. About two years ago, she gave me a cutting from Grandmother's famous green rose plant. I put it in a pot and it grew!

A few months ago, we toured the garden and she showed me a rose plant in a pot with a giant pink bloom. She said she had two cuttings rooted and I could have one. She found her shovel and worked the ground with it. The grasped the main stem and pulled. It came out all right, but not with ideal roots. We both frowned and wondered if this one would make it. She said to try and if not, I could have the other one.

I took the plant home all the while thinking it would not grow. Most of my successful gardening ventures are centered around lantana where you can run over it with a car and it will still take off.

The area where I live had lots of rain which is ideal for cultivating new plants. In fact, we didn't water the yard until two weeks ago. Every now and again, I would toss some water on it. Then I noticed the plant was growing taller.

A couple of months passed, and then last Sunday, I found this bud:
 This morning, a beauty bloomed:  Thanks to my aunt, Grandmother's rose legacy continues. My brown thumb might be morphing to almost green. lol 
Love blossoms when a reluctant beauty queen finds her friend's brother is not the guy next door, but the one who opens her eyes to true love. Find it at: iTunes Amazon   What is a legacy from someone you love?  

Saying Goodbye to a bag #wornout #RLFBlog #MFRWorg #accessories

Handbag and Book with VB

I know it is hard to believe, but sometimes, I do purge handbags. I've had some wear out, especially the fabric ones (a favorite Margaret Smith which I hope to replace someday), or somehow, the interior lining is ruined. Some are smaller than my need. Right now, I am carrying larger tote style bags which come with a crossbody strap (think Kate Spade, but not exclusively that brand).

Today, I am saying adios to this one by Le Sac. I absolutely love the print. I carried it a lot when I first bought it. One day in Jazzercise, a friend had dumped my things out of it and had put hers in. I should have given it to her. LOL. The handles are reinforced and there are pockets inside on each side and one in the middle. Despite all the good things, it came down to not using every day because of the size.

Are you surprised I am tossing one? Don't be. We all do. Many of you who have guested on HBW have said you carry until it is worn out. In a way, this one has worn out it's usefulness.
What never grows old is a good book. "Raving Beauty," my romantic comedy short story, is part of the Just You and Me boxed set. Check out the fun at:  Amazon: http://amazon.com/dp/B06XCZWL6N  
Barnes BBBBarnes and Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-you-and-me…/1126423547/  Kobo:
Khttps://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/just-you-and-me-1  Google Play:https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Nicole_Morgan_Just_You_and_Me?id=MGckDwAAQBAJ/ 
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/just-you-and-me/id1238787633?mt=11/

Travel and Book with Iris Blobel #NewZealand #dreamvacation #RLFBlog

Travel and Book with Iris Blobel Thank you, Vicki, for having me on your blog. I like the idea of talking about our travels, especially when I booked a flight to NZ only ten minutes ago. We’re really looking forward to visiting this wonderful country again. 
Crater LakeI have to say, I am very blessed with a husband who loves travelling just as much as I do … and fortunately, so do my girls. With my family living in Germany, we have been to Europe a couple of times, but I think our favourite travels have been our trip to the USA, where we drove through five states in four weeks, and our trip to the south island of NZ.  Queenstown, NZ
   All my travels end up in a book in some ways. Fresh Beginnings (which will be released later this year) follows our itinerary in the US. My current WIP includes my experience in NZ. A few years ago, I spent a long weekend in Hobart, the capital of Tasmania – this is when I came up with the Beginnings series, of which MORE BEGINNINGS is the second book.   Flinders Ranges
 I love travelling, and now that I have finished with all the medical care, we can be found on the road again – next stop: Adelaide in beautiful South Australia. So many wonderful places in this world, which I want to see.  
Zach Taylor, an escort in Sydney, living in Hobart, enlists the help of Natasha Peterson when his teenage friend, Mia, runs away. And although Natasha is attracted to him as well, she has her own problems to deal with, not to mention her initial reaction to Zach's occupation.    Mia hurried down the streets with tears streaming down her cheeks. With no idea where to go, she ran on automatic until she came to the marina. Out of breath, she walked the last little bit right up to the water and inhaled a couple of times to clear her mind. From the first time Sophie had brought her down to the harbour, she’d loved this place. It was always busy with people walking everywhere, tourists taking photos, and the seagulls eagerly trying to pinch one of their chips. But it was a relaxing place to her — and home. There were yachts everywhere, and she knew the Salamanca Markets would be very busy that morning.  Mia looked around, taking everything in as if she’d been there for the first time. That was when she remembered why she was there. Making her dizzy, everything that had been said the previous hour caught up with her, and it was so confusing.  She had a dad.  Find MORE BEGINNINGS at: Amazon  Find Iris at:  Website   I have travel envy, Iris! What is your dream vacation?