Labor Day Sale!!

All Romance Ebooks is having a Labor Day Sale, and Bluebonnets for Elly is included. So if you've been thinking of reading my book, now's a good time to buy it.

Here's the link: BLUEBONNETS FOR ELLY

Peace Arch - Saturday Snapshots

Peace Arch State Park is a unique 20-acre day-use park that lies on the boundary between the United States and Canada. The 67-foot Peace Arch monument sits on the border of the two nations at the 49th parallel. The arch was constructed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the treaties that were a result of the War of 1812 with Great Britain. This was the first structure in the world to celebrate lasting peace, planned and developed in conjunction with the Canadian Peace Arch Provincial Park. 
- http://www.parks.wa.gov/562/Peace-Arch

Almost a year ago, my nephew and his fiancé held their wedding at the gazebo in Peace Arch Park (on the U.S. side). The foggy day didn't dampen the ceremonies or the beautiful surroundings. Here are some photos I took of this lovely setting. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

The bride's and groom's families sat in chairs.
The rest of the guests gathered around behind them.

The officiant stood at the entrance to the gazebo,
and the bride and groom stood at the entrance,
flanked by their attendants.

The reception was held in this charming building,
called "The Kitchen"

Here's a sample of the surrounding landscaping.
Gorgeous!

And here's the Peace Arch.

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.

To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world, 

click HERE or on the box below. 

The Mermaid Garden - Teaser Tuesday and First Chapter/First Paragraph

The Mermaid Garden by Santa Montefiore is such an engrossing book! Montefiore tells two stories--one set in Tuscany in 1966, the other in Devon, England, in 2009--and they eventually come together in the end. The author's lovely descriptions make the scenes come alive (you can tell that from the beginning paragraph), and the characters have depth, each one with a unique voice. I believe this is the first book I've read where the author let me inside each character's head, so I had an idea where everyone was coming from. You'd think that would be confusing, but Montefiore handled it well. I recommend this book as a good read for anyone who enjoys a story with substance that spans decades.  


Beginning:
Prologue, Tuscany, 1966
The little girl stood outside the imposing black gates of Villa La Magdalena and peered up the drive. A long avenue of cypresses cut straight through the grounds, climaxing at the end in a tantalizing glimpse of a primrose-yellow palazzo. La Magdalena sat with the dignity and poise of a grand empress. Her tall, shuttered windows were an elegant teal green, her crown a decorative balustrade built along the top of the facade, her walls as resplendent as silk; she belonged to a world as enchanting and inaccessible as fairy tales.

Teaser (from Page 70 of trade paperback):
She was always neatly dressed, with crisp white shirts and slacks, or pretty dresses in summer, never jeans. Being short, she always wore heels to give her height. He felt paternal towards her, a feeling he relished, having never married or fathered children.

Genre: Women's Fiction / Saga
Length: 418 Pages (Trade Paperback)
Amazon Link: The Mermaid Garden
More From Santa Montefiore: Amazon Author Page

  

Share the first paragraph (or a few) from a book you are reading. Here's the link: Bibliophile By The Sea

Post two sentences from somewhere in a book you're reading. No spoilers, please! Here's the link: Should Be Reading

Houseboats in Seattle - Saturday Snapshots

Everyone has seen the movie "Sleepless in Seattle," right? But maybe you haven't been to a houseboat neighborhood like the one where Tom Hanks and his on-screen son lived. Several years ago a friend visited me and asked if we could see the houseboats on Lake Union. So off we went! Here are my photos from our adventure.
(Click on photos to enlarge.)

Access to the homes is via ramps like this one or by boat.
Can you imagine walking out your back door and
hopping on a boat to go out to dinner?

View of the Lake Union houseboat community from the opposite shore.

Taken from a kayak on my one and only kayaking adventure on Lake Union.

    Photo of me, taken by my friend Gina, who took me
kayaking as a thank you for feeding her pets.

The houseboat community is on the east side of the lake, off of Fairview Ave E. -- those little rectangles jutting out into the water on the map.

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.

To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world, 

click HERE or on the box below.