Cozy Winter Nights: Holiday Traditions and Comforts

December 6, 2024annabowling Leave a comment

Today is bright, clear, and cold. I am writing stream of consciousness today, so we may be in for a wild ride. Lately, I have been watching 1970s/80s Afterschool Specials on You Tube. I stinking loved those back in the day, and it’s fun to revisit them, as well as catch the ones I didn’t get to see. Not any holiday themed so far, but it’s doing the right thing to help the holiday spirit.

Sometime this weekend, we will be putting up our Christmas trees. There will be two this year, one in the kitchen, which will be the tree, and one in the office, on my desk, which will be Storm’s. Unbreakable ornaments only, and it is okay if she wants to knock it over. It’s one of the big reasons we are doing it this year. The other one is that I have always wanted a pink tree, and my desk is the perfect place to put it.

We technically have a third option, a tabletop rose gold tree, but Real Life Romance Hero and Housemate are voting in favor of the traditional tree-colored tree, and we have a cozy apartment. IF Housemate were to have a tree in her room, she would want a white one, with blue ornaments. Maybe a white tree with black and orange ornaments would be more Storm-accurate, but pink with pastel will do. I will share pictures when they are up and lit.

No matter when we put up the trees, I do have two strings of lights that need to go up somewhere, as I like having fairy lights around all the time. In the winter nights, being cozy under a warm, weighted blanket, in the dark but for the lights, with a hot beverage and eBook, audiobook, or paper book with book light, is something special. Feline companion is of course a must. If she can get a belly rub out of it, so much the better.

Right now, I am also planning on getting some seasonal flavors into the house, as well as scents. Our current wax melts are pumpkin pie, with a pine tree scented candle for added atmosphere. I’ve always loved the holiday season, and this year, I feel like leaning into it more than usual, so I am steering into that skid. Anyone with sugar free hot chocolate recommendations, feel free to drop them in the comment section. Cinnamon, eggnog, gingerbread, sugar cookies, anything Real Life Romance Hero cooks, for savory additions. I may try baking some of those sugar cookies, as it’s a core memory of special time with my mom when I was little.

There’s also the reading aspect of things. I am craving historical romance in the holiday spirit. Though I am not much of a nineteenth century person, I remember snapping up the Signet Regency Christmas anthologies the second they hit the shelves, back when I worked in a bookstore. I’m guessing Kindle Unlimited may be my place to do that in the here and now. Actually, a post with my favorite holiday romance recommendations might be fun. I’ll make a note of that.

What are you doing to prepare for your favorite winter holiday?

My 2024 Reading Goal: 25 Books and Beyond

November 12, 2024annabowling Leave a comment

My reading goal this year is down to twenty-five books, which is down from forty, which is down from fifty-two, which is down from, well, you get the picture. These things happen. The thing is that I would prefer they not happen again. That is where I want to take the reins early, and that means now, before 2025 is upon us and I have new releases and two blogs to manage and all of that good stuff.

Enter the current iteration of reading journal. The cover is by Dyan Reavely, and made of canvas. It fits very nicely into a small canvas bag, along with whatever paperback I am reading at the moment and has two inserts at present.

Insert one (needs cover embellishment, but the faux leather cover is textured) is from Pen + Gear, and is for my daily logging. Right now, that is date, title, and what page I started reading. If needed, that’s also where I can put notes. The faux leather cover is refillable, so when I fill this insert, I can slip another right in there. I haven’t decorated these pages yet, but I know me, so I probably will at some point.

Second insert is a hardcover notebook by Archer and Olive (similar) and is for long-term planning. I find I work best visually for this aspect, so here is how I am keeping track of my long term TBR:

My goal here is to group books that I want to read together: series, the works of particular authors, specific settings, etc. I am still working out the exact information I want to record for each book, but this is not a place for in depth reviews; more like the essentials I want when I need to jog my memories. So far, this is working pretty well. I want to say the book tape is from Paper Studio, but it might be Archer and Olive. Having a visual representation of future reading probably does scratch some of the browsing a bookstore shelf itch.

These days, I get most of my books electronically or from a similarly inclined bookish friend. I still want to dig my books out of storage, because yes, I can get most of the books I want elsewhere, but there is something about having one’s own books on hand in physical form. I am working toward that. I will also be leaving space for group reads chosen by some of the historical romance reading groups I follow on FB. Discussion is a good motivator.

In the meantime, the next float in this parade is to make a regular, consistent reading routine. I am looking forward to that. My reading nook is almost ready for its closeup, and it’s pretty darned comfortable. I don’t know yet what my reading goal for 2025 will be, but I do want to set one. I am fairly confident I won’t need to move the goal posts any more before the end of this year, especially as I am trying out audiobooks to multitask with when doing other things. I’ll decide closer to the start of next year.

How does your 2025 reading look?

Typing With Wet Paws: Now It’s November Edition

November 9, 2024annabowling 1 Comment

Tails up, Storm Troopers! I’m Storm, you’re awesome, and this is Typing With Wet Paws. There is exciting stuff to share this week but first I must address a horrible injustice that has befallen our household. I am no longer allowed to be unsupervised around Mama Anna’s mugs.

Now that we have the new desk setup, and I am sure it is staying (I am in favor of that) I am bolder about exploring it. For example, sometimes I sit behind the laptop and look at Mama Anna over the screen. Sometimes I like to sit on the end of the desk that is next to the window, because sunbeam. I would like more room on that end. Mama Anna says that is where her planner case goes, so I guess I will adapt. Anyway, on to the Unjust Ruling.

If you know me, you know I love my Mama Anna. I love her a lot. She is my favorite person. I like to give my favorite people presents. (Papa still has the hair tie I gave him, which I greatly appreciate. That man knows how to receive a present.) It is now tea weather, and Mama Anna’s superpowers are back. She drinks tea at her desk. I figured I would give her a present in a place that she would definitely find it. So, mug, right? First, I gave Mama Anna my absolute favorite thing to hoard, a silicone earbud cover. I guess she kind of liked it because she kept it. Then I tried supplying a snack to go with her tea. By that, I mean a few pieces of my crunchies (I mean kibbles, not what I put in my poo sand.) She did not know I had done that, so she was surprised when pieces of crunchies floated to the top of her tea. She made different tea, and that’s when she passed the No Unattended Mugs law. I did get a reward, though.

Mama Anna found movies that I want to watch. I love watching her screen no matter what she is doing (I really like when she plays Sims) but this takes it to a new level. This is a game that Big Sister Skye used to love, and I love it, too. There are different kinds: mousies, fishies, lasers, and other things I haven’t seen yet. There are also other ones that are movies of real life squirrels and stuff. This one is mousies. I love watching them do their mousie things and then when they least expect it, POW! Bam! My lightning paws smack them out of existence. Mama Anna says that turns them into crunchies and then she feeds me, so that checks out.

I said exciting things, and they are indeed happening. Mama Anna has received the formatting proof for A Heart Most Errant, and then she needs to do the uploading form. Some parts of that are scary for Mama Anna because anxiety, but that is part of what I am here for, so it is okay. Right now, she is thinking early 2025 for a release date, and then it is time to put Drama King through the same process. The next two books in the Ravenwood series (the medieval novellas) will be A Heart Most Ardent and A Heart Most Wicked. She will also work on Her Last First Kiss, and then she and Aunt Melva will also work on getting Queen of Hearts out to readers.

Rest assured I will be here with her every step of the way. I am also excited for a future post on MelvaAndAnna.com, where Aunt Melva will introduce my new co-workers, aka her two cats. That will be up soon. Make sure that you are subscribed over there so you don’t miss a thing.

How was your week?

Celebrating Birthdays and Indie Publishing Updates

November 5, 2024annabowling Leave a comment

New week, new blog post. I voted early this year, by mail, and that was wonderful for my anxiety. Wonderful Therapist suggested I may want to avoid news and social media today, or keep it to a minimum, so that is what I am intending to do. (By literally posting on social media, ahem?) My reading nook is up and functional, though not yet ready for a photoshoot, but it’s there and it’s mine, and it’s a comfy place that is only for relaxation.

Updates on A Heart Most Errant:

I have final cover art, though I want to wait a little while to share it, Suffice it to say it is gorgeous, and captures exactly the scene I wanted for the cover. I have submitted the manuscript and formatting form, and the formatter has assured me it is in her work queue. All I need to do is decide on a publication date (looking at 2025, either January or February) fill out the uploading form and then that will be that. For anyone looking for indie publishing services, I highly recommend the Killion Group. I look forward to working with them again, which I will be doing because next up is Drama King, the second Love By The Book title, contemporary romance co-written with Melva Michaelian.

Birthday was really fun this year. Housemate took me out to lunch, and Real-Life Romance Hero had my all-time favorite local food, pizza from Paesan’s, and pressies that made me feel exquisitely loved. Nothing like when your family gets you. Subbed coconut cream pie for cake, and settled in for a comfy evening at home.

This past weekend, out of state friends visited to keep the party going, starting with a visit to the New York State Museum. I will probably go back later in the month, as I want to take advantage of the special exhibits and talks for Indigenous People’s Month. A talk on contemporary Indigenous art was starting as we arrived, and I’d like to catch that another time. I did get to peep some of the art, and it is gorgeous. The big attraction for friend, Housemate, and I was an exhibit of early 20th century wedding attire (was that made for a historical romance writer or what?)

Currently, I am endeavoring to forget that one of the bikes in the antique bicycle exhibit was made in 1978. #genxproblems. Also, the gift shop was closed, which was a bummer and another reason to go back ASAP. Double also the fact that I got pictures of my friends in the vintage train car which is probably my favorite permanent exhibit, (okay, apart from the forensic reconstructions of skulls from centuries past) the vintage train car. The trains my mom and I rode into the city were a little after the time of this exhibit, but I never get tired of visiting it.

Storm does owe a blog, which she will get up this week. She has lots to say about all that’s gone on here, including some exciting holiday news. For now, here’s her review of the new weighted blanket cover :

That’s about it for this week. How are things going for you?

Indie Publishing Journey and Current State of the Desk

October 29, 2024annabowling Leave a comment

Right now, there is a possible cover for A Heart Most Errant sitting in my in-box. Am I writing this blog to postpone actually looking at it because it is exciting but scary? Yes. Absolutely. Wil it be okay? Also yes. It is an intermittently blustery day here in NY’s capitol region. There is a cat (Storm) on my desk, formatting and uploading forms sitting in my hard drive, and have hauled our grocery delivery upstairs and put it away. The only thing left on my schedule today is publishing prep and this blog.

My birthday was last week, and it went really well. Many expressions of love both in person and online. I had lunch out with Housemate, received some lovely stationery gifts, and Real Life Romance Hero got me both a glass dip pen (yes, with ink) and a gorgeous hourglass with black sand, perfect for timing breaks when using a Pomodoro inspired schedule.

Keeping nothing but the necessities on my desk is working well. Cup is for tea. Today it’s vanilla chai. The new addition is an unfinished wooden crate turned desktop bookshelf for my most used planners and notebooks. Though I love the A5 rings format, I am mostly in disc bound right now, because folding them in half makes it a lot easier to prop open the particular page and refer to it as needed. Right now, this is the lineup for planners and notebooks:

daily planner
household planner (month/week)
writing planner (month/week)
Poison box contains 20 count Crayola Supertips, pastel edition
Current historical projects notebook
??? Love the cover but still need to decide on fillings and purpose.

I am planning some Anna Log videos to go through the above and my favorite pen pouches and the like. I find what works best for me is when I can pick up everything I need for whatever project, so if I need to pick up and take my show on the road, it’s one thing, and I don’t have to reach or search for anything.

Now that I am effectively my own (and my and Melva’s) publisher, there is a learning curve and a lot more work, which means it’s an excellent thing I am good at organization. It’s fun. Taking something from chaos to order, it’s not that different from taking a bunch of wild squirrels of ideas and snippets of scenes and turning it into a kickline of chorus dancers. Maybe that’s not the best analogy, but I am sticking with it.

One of the things on the forms is the name of the series. While Melva and I plotted out the ongoing Love by the Book contemporary series together, this is the first time I have intentionally set out to write connected historical romances. I had decided that all stories in this series will follow the pattern of A Heart Most _______. Picking “errant” for the first blank-filler was easy, as the hero is a knight errant. After that, though? :blink blink blink: Ummm….

Now, I have settled on “Ardent” and “Wicked” for the next two , which do capture the spirit of the respective stories. The plan is to put all three together in an omnibus, with a bonus short story, probably holiday themed, when they are all out, which will be another project altogether. All together, they are the Ravenwood series. Trust me, it’s better than “Heart Most” series or “Medieval Hearts” because I am new at this series naming thing. Right now, I am looking at what is on my plate at this moment, which is The Forms. Organization is essential for me to keep track of this sort of thing. I know what I need to do and when I need to do it. One thing at a time, not DO ALL OF THE THINGS RIGHT THE HECK NOW.

Yeah. Long story short (hah, pun unintended) I am entering new territory here. Do I know what I am doing? Ehh, sometimes. That’s okay. Everything anybody is good at, they did for the first time once. This, for publishing, is mine.

Indie pubbed writers, share your wisdom. Readers of indie pubbed romance, what are your favorite aspects/pet peeves? Drop them in the comments for possible discussion in future posts.

July, Week One

July 2, 2024annabowling Leave a comment

Oof. It’s been a while. Everybody was sick in June, with a couple of heat waves thrown in for the challenge of things. The days kind of blended, and mental health, well, ahahahha. Anyway, it’s July now, one day after Canada Day, two days before Independence Day, and the only way out of a blogging slump is to blog, so here I am. Warning, I am going to babble.

At times, the dishes, trash, and laundry took on epic proportions, which we are conquering. Present tense. My beloved rose gold laptop developed a crack in the casing around the touchpad, resulting in her filling line after line with an endless stream of commas any time I tried to use her. While I am sure there is a way to rescue her, my research says that would mean welding or epoxy, which right now is a no. So, I now have a new lipstick red laptop, named Miss Scarlett. She can’t run Sims 4, but can run Sims 3, which I don’t mind because A) color wheel and B) open world.

One would think that a month of sick would be great for reading. It was not. It was great for watching YouTube. We will try again on reading this week. I definitely have enough books, both paper and electronic. Right now, I am sitting in front of a gorgeous turquoise retro-style fan, near an open window, in my comfy office chair. The desk is kind of chaotic, because this TV tray thing has reached the end of its usefulness, so I am small desk shopping.

But the writing, Anna. Are you doing any of that? In a word, yes. Last week, Melva and I roughed out the very loose outline for a romantic suspense we plan to pitch. I did indeed hit my Camp NaNo goal in April and outline a historical romance, which is still simmering. Next up is to whip A Heart Most Errant, my first post-apocalyptic medieval romance, into publishable shape. It’s surreal that I wrote the first form of that story ten years ago, but it’s been a wild ten years. Her Last First Kiss is slightly younger than that, but that’s up next. It feels like I’ve been on a loop of that for, well, forever, which is part of the reason I have been hesitant to blog.

So, what changed? My first indicator is to say I don’t know. The second is therapy. My therapist is awesome, and she’s a big reader. One of the first things we did was swap book recommendations. She is also very helpful when I want to bounce a story’s emotional dynamic off her. She’s also great at reminding me how far I’ve come from where I was when I figured therapy might be worth a try. In short, it’s a lot, and yes, it is worth writing about.

Journaling and planning have been an absolute rock for me in this time. I did not think to prepare pictures for this entry, so will share pictures later, but photography and photo editing are also newish interests. I am very much looking forward to pretty leaf season. We are 33% of the way through summer, so that is encouraging.

Anyway, that’s the interesting stuff for the first week of July. What are you all up to?

Typing With Wet Paws: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re At Edition

June 14, 2024annabowling Leave a comment

Tails up, Storm Troopers. I’m Storm, you’re awesome, and this is Typing With Wet Paws. It has been a while since the last entry here, so let me bring you pretty much up to date. First, I am still cute. Here is proof:

Let’s focus on the last couple of weeks. Here are the big points, bullet style:

There was a heat wave.
Aunt Linda got sick (big cold)
Then Mama Anna got sick
Then Papa got sick.
Then Mama Anna’s laptop died.
Then the plug for her earbuds broke off inside her tablet.
Then the fire alarm battery beeped for a long time. (Fixed now.)

Needless to say, there was not a lot of writing during that time, let alone blogging, but Mama Anna is optimistic, not to mention stubborn. She got a new computer pretty much right after the other one died (and she may look into getting the first one fixed if that is possible) and it comes with a year’s subscription to MS Word, which will make it easier for her to share documents with Aunt Melva. That is going to be a big help as they work super hard at getting books out to all of you. Well, the ones who want to read them. They aren’t going to force the rest.

Mama Anna is also researching both portable air conditioners and full room circulation fans (aka big fans) because she is not doing another heat wave like the last one, and guess what, another one is headed our way. It is summer and we live in New York. I am pretty comfy regardless, because I can find all the cool places. The bathroom floor tile is smooth and cool, and the bath mat is soft. Also, under the bed is pretty dark and chill.

Mama Anna is doing pretty good on the taking in story part of things. That means reading books and watching stuff on streaming services. Right now, she is liking the second season of From, and will be giving special attention to two of her favorite vintage historical romance authors, Valerie Sherwood, and Anita Mills, this summer. She is very much feeling the old school adventure and sweep and all that good stuff. Oh, also Yellowjackets. She is up to date on that TV show. Also the Walking Dead Universe. She is ready for more Dead City and Daryl Dixon.

That is about it for right now. Mama Anna gets to reward herself with a cool drink and a new episode for helping me with this blog, and she’s going to need a belly to rub.

What are you up to this summer?

Everyday Carry, Spring 2024 and Camp NaNo Progress

April 16, 2024April 16, 2024annabowling Leave a comment

Welp, it’s spring. I have the window open as I write this. My ensemble for the day is a sleeveless shift dress with an unzipped oversized hoodie over it. My home office is an absolute mess because of spring cleaning. Next week means a trip to the storage unit, to put away things we aren’t using a at the moment and get out some things we’d stashed for the winter. A couple of days ago I (finally) set up an actual bookcase to hold the vintage historical romance novels that are te focus of my current reading. I have a lot to say about the whole vintage romance thing, but that is another topic for another day.

Today is the day to share my everyday carry. It all fits in this pouch, which lives in my purse and can go out on its own.

The main pocket holds a traveler’s notebook with three inserts (agenda and two notebooks) and the zip compartment looks like this:

I am currently going with a green theme for spring. We’ll see if I want to make a change at the start of the new month. The flowered notebook has perforated pages, which makes it double as a notepad or come in handy when somebody needs a piece of paper out in the wild. There is an additional zip pocket in the back, which holds a selection of Crayola SuperTips in pastel colors.

Skinny washi tapes are from Tim Holtz. The two blue items are a correction tape runner and adhesive runner, and the tin with my favorite Golden Girl (Dorothy Zbornak is an integral part of my final form) holds ephemera, including tea tags, stickers, washi samples and miscellaneous things that catch my fancy. There is also a growing collection of enamel and pinback pins, not pictured, as I am still moving them around.

It’s not perfect (what is?) but it feels right for right now, as does this entry staying pretty much as it says on the tin (of the title, not the actual tin.) Camp NaNo is going pretty well at the halfway point. Not perfect but doing its job. Not at goal, but close enough. What I set out to do was to prove to myself that yes, I can (still) do it. So far, so good. Here, we see the puzzler in her natural habitat, dogpaddling in a sea of unset gelatin, grabbing onto floating ideas as they bob past on fickle currents, and…I like it.

I don’t know all of the story yet. Most of the characters have placeholder names. the stately home where most of the story takes place is still under construction in more ways than one but that’s fine . At this stage of the game I am shoveling sand into my sandbox with all the enthusiasm and precision of a toddler on her first day at the beach.

Typing With Wet Paws: Eclipse Edition

April 8, 2024annabowling Leave a comment

Tails up, Storm Troopers! I’m Storm, you’re awesome and this is Typing With Wet Paws. It’s been a minute, and Mama Anna is kind of busy with the actual writing thing. It was a Life Happened kind of week, but the good thing is that she is making progress with her Camp NaNo story.

Speaking of which, she is not sure what is going on with Camp seeming a lot less…camp themed this time. This probably happened in the Before Time, and she has been inactive a while. You should see the stuff she has on lists to research. I also have concerns about her musical playlist for this story. The songs are all pretty good, but a lot of the songs are from the New Romantic era of music, and she is writing historical romance, but I guess it all seems to be working out. I call that good.

Oh, and she has ugly cried to Billy Joel’s “Turn the Lights Back On” song. Like, a lot. I think that means she likes it. Anyway, she listens to it a bunch, and then she writes. Sometimes while it is still playing.

She is also back from a trip to see Aunt Mary and Uncle Brian in CT, and she went to the big bookstore that is outside. She got a bunch of vintage historical romances, and found out that she likes something called bangers and mash, which is apparently Irish food. I will stick with crunchies and gushy food.

What else? The inspector guys. Mama Anna’s anxiety does not get along well with inspector guys (though these were really nice; they even said hello to me.) She had a big anxiety night before they came, but when they did, it was only to check that our smoke alarms were okay, so they were gone in minutes. Mama Anna’s central nervous system was ready to take part in a live show of The Walking Dead. Good thing she has me and comfy pillows and lots of books.

That is kind of where I was when we had the eclipse today. Did you guys know about that? It was wild. There it is normal daytime, and then BOOM, it’s dark. Yeah, I did not like that. Like, at all. Mama Anna stayed with me and gave me cuddles and pets and then the sun came back and I was okay again. Then Papa came home. I made sure to tell him all about it. He’s a pretty understanding dude. He gave me crunchies and scritches.

I also helped Mama Anna take pictures of the stuff that is in her stationery pouches and everyday carry planner. I will let her share those on her own, because when I try to get near them, it’s all “stop clawing that” and “what’s in your mouth?” and my personal favorite, “get out of that pie.” Not that she always has coconut creme pie but I think it is super interesting smelling but she says it is Not For Kitties.

Anyway, Mama Anna is currently shoveling sand into her metaphorical story sandbox, and having a pretty good time oing so. Updates to follow.

How’s your week going?

Blabbity Blab Blab

February 26, 2024annabowling Leave a comment

We are currently calling the lobster, “Thermidor,” though we are fairly certain that is only his surname and his first and middle names will be taken from an appropriate eighteenth-century military source. I needed a starting point for this very blabbery blog, and the lobster pillow was as good a place as any. For those who are interested in acquiring any of his siblings, they come from the Mart of Walls, in the seasonal section when we found each other, so they have likely skittered over to clearance if they are still in the stores.

Apologies for the radio silence, though I would be the first to tell someone else not to apologize, but eh. It is what it is. Storm and I both plan to be more active on here (unless there is a sunbeam, in which case, she will nap in it.) She does have her birthday (observed) to recount, among other things, and there has been no history in the entire interwebs, as far as I know, where cat pictures were a deterrent.

Regular readers know by now how this sort of entry goes: Anna blabbers for a random amount of time and checks “blog” off her list, then feels better. Fair enough. Things have been relatively snow-free here in NYS, which was not what I had requested, but apparently, I am not in charge of weather. Go figure. Still putting in a request for cool and rainy summer in advance, just in case. I watched the series premiere of The Ones Who Live, the newest entry in The Walking Dead franchise, and I am already wanting to classify it as a romance first. That’s an interesting lens, and one I am wholeheartedly behind, because, well, Rick and Michonne. ‘Nuff said. Also, I am here for the cities and the lore and the whole darned franchise. I love how the whole thing is framed around Rick and Michonne’s bond and determination to get back to each other. I will be watching this one for sure. Also the dream sequences are lovely, a quiet reflection of the chaos of their everyday world. I will have stuff to say about this show.

Reading is still a sludge at times, but that’s a me thing, not a book thing. One step (page) at a time, like anything else. I did start a tentative Goodreads goal of forty books for this year. So far, I am four books in, and will be updating my progress here. Besides a reread of Eleanor and Park, by Rainbow Rowell, I am also re-reading Rapture, by Rosamund Royal, who is also Valerie Sherwood, who is also Jeanne Hines, who, besides epic historical romances, wrote gothics in the 60s and 70s. I’m not sure if the reviews are going to post here as well as on Goodreads, but I do intend to talk more about the books I’m reading because that’s an extrovert thing, and a me thing. Talking about X is vital to my thinking process.

Which comes to writing. Melva and I are going full steam ahead on finding the best path to bring Drama King and Queen of Hearts to readers in the coming year. The special talking people vet thinks Camp NaNo is a great idea, so I will be doing that. The question now is, shoot for a new novella and punt that out into the world before the Hypercritical Gremlins get a peek at it, or focus on something already in the works? The one thing I know for sure is that it will be historical romance. I have time before I need to know if I am prepping or pantsing the whole thing. Doesn’t have to be perfect; just has to be written. I may need to make a sign for that.

What’s going on in your world?

Typing With Wet Nails

for the love of romance

historical romance