Tag Archives: Romance Series

A Visit to Vietnam

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For most Americans the word Vietnam evokes painful memories, a cherished person gone too soon, and a hateful war we’d rather forget.

Our welcome committee in Nha Trang, Vietnam

I probably would have never visited Vietnam if our cruise ship hadn’t put it on its Far-East itinerary that included five days in China, Beijing and Shanghai, a stop in Okinawa (Japan), a visit to Taiwan, two days in Hong Kong, and two days in Vietnam, before we reached Singapore to fly home.

NHA TRANG is one of Vietnam’s most popular seaside destinations. It offers white-sand beaches, azure and turquoise waters, coconuts palms swaying in the breeze, and gaily painted fishing boats in the harbors of small villages. We took a guided tour to visit the Long Son pagoda, the Reclining Buddha, the Cham Tower complex and a couple of factories.

Long Son pagoda, or White Buddhist Pagoda as called by the locals, is a beautiful Buddhist temple built in the 19th century, on top of Trai Thuy hill. A pair of dragon mosaics stands firmly at the entrance, while lush topiary lines the main grounds.
On the way to the top of Trai Thuy hill, we admired the reclining Buddha statue made of marble. People say that The Reclining Buddha represents the potential that all beings have to release themselves from suffering. The serene and smiling expression of the reclining Buddha statue portrays the compassion and calmness that come with the enlightenment. 
Po Nagar Cham temple complex was built between 8th and 11th centuries by the Cham people who once ruled the central plain of Vietnam. They are renowned for their skills in sculpture and architecture, and left behind a legacy of artifacts and temple settlements not only in Vietnam, but also Cambodia and Thailand.

 

The towers of Po Nagar Cham are square red brick structure with protruding support frames and tapering roofs. Their towers are shrines to different deities. The tallest building, the Po Nagar Kalan, is the most impressive. 
Cri Cambhu, goddess of fertility.
Vietnamese women practicing the art of picture embroidery, at a local workshop for embroidery..

 

A lacquer factory where I bought a gorgeous jewelry box

Our second day in Vietnam was spent in the capital, Ho Chi Minh–or Saigon– a bustling metropolis where bicycles, motorbikes and cars fly down at dizzying speed. We took a walking tour around the downtown.

Ho Chi Minh City Hall
Independence Palace
Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon
Pedicab is a special type of transportation for Vietnam. 

Unfortunately I haven’t cruised for two years. Now I spend my time writing. My latest book is released today. I hope you will celebrate with me and enjoy RESCUE PLANS, book 3 of Love Plans Series.

RESCUE PLANS

To forget the drama that shook his life years ago, Captain Rafael Lopez dedicates himself to his career as a helicopter pilot, transporting patients in need of urgent care. His new flight nurse holds his attention with her gorgeous face, sassy mind, and indomitable spirit.

With determination and a lot of guts, Arianna Garcia survives life in the slums, learns to conquer her fears, and fights for herself. Rafael gives her the courage to break from her past. And Arianna is delighted to be Rafael’s flight nurse by day and passionate companion by night. After meeting a few jerks, she doesn’t believe in crazy promises and sex-driven hypocrisy.

Will Rafael discover the skeletons in her closet, gain her trust, and restore her faith in love?

Rescue Plans is book 3 of the Love Plans Series

A Pandemic Story?

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We have been in a pandemic state for more than a year. Wearing a mask, keeping distance, avoiding crowds, working from home is our new reality. Should we, authors, set our new books in this new reality? Here are a few difficulties if we try to be realistic:

1-Love at first sight would be out of the question, unless we have our heroine remove her mask for a minute—maybe to sneeze or blow her nose—long enough for the lucky hero to catch a glimpse of her lovely features.

2-We still can describe a handsome hero, his tall frame, wide shoulders, and solid chest. But how will you describe a heroine’s gorgeous features when half of her face is covered by a mask? Will the eager hero fall in love just by admiring her long, silky hair and her sky-blue eyes?

3- Where would the hero and heroine meet if they work from home, avoid public transportation, and stay away from gatherings?

4- Assuming they manage to overcome the above obstacles and start a relationship, where will they meet to sustain their flame if they can’t go to restaurants, theaters, or gym? Maybe they can stroll on the beach if we set their story in summer or if they live in Florida.

5-We should remember to have them wear their masks every time they leave the house.

6- More importantly, would my hero or heroine feel comfortable kissing a partner they met during pandemic? Should they start a romantic moment with, “I’m dying to kiss you. Did you test negative? Did you get the vaccine?

We authors have a wide imagination. I’m sure we can get around any problem when writing a great story. How about having our hero/heroine meeting during a Zoom meeting? I saw my son and daughter-in-law working from home. He donned a serious button-down shirt, but didn’t bother to change his shorts, no one could see. She wore a fashionable blouse, combed her hair, put makeup on and earrings. If these virtual meetings occur often, my hero and heroine may manage to get attracted to each other.

Still, I am not comfortable enough to write a Pandemic story. Too many people —twelve so far— I personally knew, from among my family, extended family and friends died within the past thirteen months and one is on life support. I am trying hard to forget last year and its depressing moments and wouldn’t want to relive it through my writing. So don’t count on me to offer you a Pandemic story.

Instead, I’d rather talk about the eight romantic comedies and romance novels I wrote last year or the many boxes the ABB group put together.

BETWEEN BABIES AND GIRLFRIENDS: Romantic Comedy. He’s the serious Dr. Brian Dutton. His former girlfriend is the sassy, passionate daughter of the Governor of Buenos Aires, in Argentina, and she returns to the USA to play nanny for the twin babies abandoned in his office, but his fiancée doesn’t like the babies or the nanny. Can it get more complicated? Yes when his mother thinks the babies are his, and volunteers to take care of them.

HALF A DOZEN WITH LOVE: Romantic Comedy. The Foster Care system wants to separate Tammy’s five young siblings. Her grandmother’s surgeon, Dr. Jack’s unusual solution keeps the family together but complicates Tammy’s life and could bring her in his arms. https://www.amazon.com/DP/B08HKQSRYC

UNFORGETTABLE LOVERS
IRRESISTIBLE SPRING INTO LOVE
SEXY AND SEDUCTIVE

The Unexpected

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I will admit right off the bat that I am not a fan of surprises. Nope. They stress me out. Some people love them, but I’m not one of them. So when life throws a little unexpected at me, I have to figure out how to deal with that stress and keep going. We all do, don’t we?

In the last few weeks, I’ve had a whole lot of stress going on. My mother fell, she lives alone and laid on the floor for twelve hours before she figured out how to get a message to me. She spent a week in the hospital being treated for a variety of things, and now she is recovering at a rehab facility and doing much better.

But that’s a lot of stress and guilt. My life was put on hold in the middle of a very important project, and my focus was on my mother and what she needed. Then add in my husband having 2 COVID exposures at work, and being on quarantine here at home. My concern was that he brought it home with him and I took it to my mother at the hospital. Talk about overwhelming stress until I get my test back. Negative, as were both of his. Thankfully.

I spent almost two hours working on finally getting my husband, myself, and our daughter scheduled to get our shots, and I’m happy to report we all got them yesterday. No major side effects for hubby and me with the Johnson & Johnson shot. Just a headache for us both. My daughter got the Pfizer since she’s not 18 yet, and as far as I know, she feels fine. But she’s a teen with a late morning class so she’s still sleeping.

So there are some bad unexpected things that happen in life, but then there are some good! One of the series that I write is about the good unexpected things that happen, and the fifth book in the series, Unexpected Desires, releases on the 23rd of this month.

To find out more about the Unexpected Series, check out my website.

Working Heroines

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My heroines have guts. They are all career women who struggle and succeed. But their world is not centered around work only. They often carry a heavy load on their own. Single mother, or a woman hiding a physical handicap, or even one trudging despite an emotional turmoil, they often represent the strong modern women around us.

Once upon a time, I was the career woman who had to struggle to succeed in a man’s world for thirty years. And I made it. But I was lucky to have a supporting husband at my side. My heroines are alone and will find love after their long battle.

Three heart-warming Christmas stories in the Love You Doc Series.

LOVE ON THE SLOPES IS RELEASED TODAY. Book 3 of Love You Doc Series.

When novice skier Gabriella Levano finds herself stuck on a dangerous slope, volunteer ski patroller Dr. Nathan Dutton guides her safely down the hill and offers her lessons to improve her skills. Spending time together on the slopes, Nathan and Gabriella are attracted to each other. An orthopedic surgeon, Nathan promises to fix an old injury to her knee that afflicts her with pain and gives her a limp. Gabriella is afraid to let him examine her. So many men have mocked her in the past. So many doctors have assured her she may end up in a wheelchair if anyone touches the injured nerves of her knee. Can she trust Nathan with her love and her knee?

 

LOVE IN THE ER: Book 2 of Love You Doc Series.

Following a traumatic experience as an ER attending physician, Dr. Sophia Dixon vows never to set foot in that department again. After completing a new residency, she applies for a position in Internal Medicine (IM). When she receives an offer at St. Emmanuel Hospital, not in IM as she hoped, but in the ER, her first reaction is to refuse. Yet she badly needs money to support herself and her three-year-old daughter, help her mother, repair her parents’ crumbling house, and…

Dr. Ryan Todd is the perfect boss, professional and courteous, and Sophia easily adjusts to her new job. While multiplying their effort in the ER, Ryan and Sophia get closer. Over the next few months, they exchange passionate kisses and Sophia often ends the night in Ryan’s arms at his condo. A no-commitment situation that suits them both. But she doesn’t share the pain and the secrets of her past.

When the truth comes out, Ryan is frustrated by her lack of trust and her continuous guilt feelings. Yet he doesn’t hesitate to brave a hurricane for her sake. Will Sophia ever be able to redeem herself and reach a closure?

A COMPLETE FAMILY is Book 1 of Love You Doc Series.

Nurse Melody has an adorable four-year-old girl, a protective German shepherd, a meddling neighbor-nanny. But Dr. Aidan wants to give her a complete family.