Pucker up: National Kissing Day

If you haven’t already puckered up, you can still observe National Kissing Day, which was June 19th. This fun holiday celebrates the joy of smooching and reminds us of the power of a simple kiss. Whether you’re in a long-term relationship, or just starting out and single, National Kissing Day is the perfect occasion to share some love with your lips.

National Kissing Day

National Kissing Day has become a global celebration of affection and romance. Although the exact origins are unknown, some people think that the holiday may have emerged from ancient cultures that believed kissing had magical or spiritual properties. Then, it evolved into a tradition around the world. Today it’s a perfect excuse to celebrate the power of the kiss and show your loved ones some extra affection.

Here are some benefits of kissing:
  1. Stress Relief: Kissing triggers the release of feel-good hormones like dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin, which all help reduce stress and anxiety.
  2. Immune Boost: Believe it or not, kissing can boost your immune system. When you exchange saliva when you kiss, you expose yourself to different bacteria, which can help strengthen your body’s defense mechanisms.
  3. Calorie Burner: A passionate kiss can burn 23 calories per minute.
  4. Facial Workout: Kissing involves a range of facial muscles and gives them a mini workout.
  5. Bonding: Kissing promotes intimacy, trust, and bonding between partners. It’s a way to deepen your connection and keep the romance alive.

Want a tip sheet to make your lips absolutely irresistible? Stay tuned in August for a continuation of this blog post.

In the meantime, Happy Kissing!

Featured Book: A Summer To Cherish: A Heartwarming, Small-town Inspirational Romance

A Summer To Cherish

Get ready to be swept off your feet with A Summer To Cherish. This delightful romance will warm your heart and fill you with faith.

Join David and Ashley in the small town of Cherish as they navigate love, healing, and the power of connection.

Perfect for June reading, this RONE finalist is a must-read for National Kissing Day and beyond. Grab your copy today!

Available in ebook, paperback, Large Print paperback, Hardcover, and audiobook. Free on Kindle Unlimited.

 

Celebrate the Season with Sweet Romance

As April showers bring May flowers, they also bring a sense of hope and renewal. There’s no better time to celebrate the season than with romance. Here are some ideas to help ignite a spark in your relationship.

Sweet Romance

One of the best ways to get out of a rut is to go on an adventure together. It could be something as simple as taking a walk in the park or going for a drive in the country. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can plan something bigger like a weekend getaway or an international trip. A trip together creates shared experiences and lasting memories.

Plan Date Nights

Just because you’re already in a relationship doesn’t mean date night should end. In fact, it should be just as special now as it was when you were first dating. Plan regular date nights where you can spend quality time together without any distractions or interruptions. Taking time to share sweet moments or express physical affection. In these ways, you’ll show your partner that they are special no matter how long you’ve been together.

Spring is here, and love is in the air. So, take advantage of the season by planning adventures with your partner and having regular date nights. These gestures will show them how much they mean to you.

I have a New Sweet Romance Release this month:

1 800 Series Volume Two

The 1-800-Series Volume Two

Cozy up with your favorite beverage and lose yourself in these delightful, sweet romance stories.

This collection includes the following 3 books:

1-800-SUMMER

The last thing she can fix is her own life. Until one man’s offer changes everything.

1-800-NEW YEAR

Her lost love is back in town. Is he back for a second chance…or closure?

Christmas in the Air

What if you told your innermost secrets to a guy you assumed you’d never see again?

Grab your copy today, of the 1-800-Series Volume Two today.

FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

Available in ebook and paperback. Audiobooks for each book sold separately.

The Magical Balm of Friendship #RachelleAyala @mimisgang1 #mgtab

Photo by Matheus Ferrero: https://www.pexels.com/photo/four-men-sitting-on-ground-1974927/

Why do we like friendship fiction so much?

Think about it. What would your favorite story be like if the hero or heroine had no friends? Think about Frodo without Samwise Gamgee, or Harry without Ron and Hermione. I’m betting your favorite romances have at least one friend character, either the hero’s or the heroine’s or one of each. I like to write romances with a friendship group, such as the Bumblebees in my Bad Boys for Hire series or the Girl Crew in my Not Mine romantic comedy series.

Having friends is one of the most basic joys of being human. A friend is someone who wants to be with you because he likes you and enjoys spending time with you. It’s a voluntary association and it makes you feel special and recognized. Friends help you celebrate the good times in your life as well as support you through the bad times. They provide you with social cues and help you understand yourself, and of course, they give you a chance to care about them too. They also reveal things about your personality, either directly through feedback and counsel or indirectly as a foil or contrast or comparison of how they would have handled a situation.

Having a group of friends provides even more feedback. The love and caring as well as fun times and sometimes, friction, bring out the best in group dynamics. That’s why books and TV shows about friendship groups are so popular. We enjoy the drama, the loving, the hijinks, and even the support during sad times. When we read about friends and relationships, we learn how to relate to other people and we can vicariously feel the love and emotion, as well as taste the strife that sometimes breaks up a friendship. Of course, we root for the characters, individually and as a group, and when they are back in harmony and celebrating, we get to go along and party with them too.

These are some of the reasons I enjoy friendship fiction. It invites me into the group as a participating member and also allows me to hone my friendship skills by experiencing the drama and angst the characters go through. Do you enjoy friendship fiction? If so, please check out my Bad Boys for Hire series, where my group of Bumblebees met in preschool dance class. They’re all grown up now and still dancing together, and as each one of them finds their bad boy, the others are there to support them and celebrate and give advice. The boys become friends too, but only after meeting the girls. Check out all seven Bad Boys for Hire.

Bad Boys for Hire: Complete Collection

Visiting An Old Friend by @PatriceWilton

I have moved around a lot in my life which makes it difficult to have an old friend. Started off in Vancouver, Canada, which I loved very much and always will. I was a flight attendant in my twenties and my favorite route was Vancouver to Hawaii and back. That became my second home.

Old Friend

I married later in life, at the age of thirty and my husband’s job took us to Toronto, Melbourne Australia then Sydney. Our final stop was England, where we spent three years before coming back to the United States.

We never had a chance to put down roots or develop longtime friendships. It was difficult for the children, but I adapted well, and enjoyed the new places, the people I met and the adventures I had.

Forever Friends

I have come to realize that the friends I made on this journey would always stay with me, but the communication would stop.

The real, true friends that you’ll never forget are the ones you meet as a child, and the tender years of growing up. I envy those who have had the chance to stay in one place and develop a long-time, forever friendship that will stand the test of time.

Yes, I do have a few, less than a handful of people from my past—the kind you don’t see in twenty years, but can start back where you left off.

Patrice and Friends

Over the years I have developed thousands of friendships, nearly all that I’ve never met. They are very special to me, a bond that will never break. Those amazing, wonderful people who read books, and those who write them.

Paradise Cove

Revisiting Paradise Cove

I am now revisiting a family, an old friend, that I quit on years ago, but returned to in the last few months. My Paradise Cove friends, the family I created in the first of six books. It is wonderful to be back with my old friends, who are still as engaging and adventurous as they were eight years ago. The new book will be a novella, but it will have the same characters and mishaps as the previous stories with a new cast of characters as well.

Hooked On You

Come back to PARADISE COVE and see for yourself how amazing and welcoming the Florida Keys can be!

Paradise Cove 6-Book Bundle