Sunset at Myrtle Beach

A couple weeks ago, my daughter said to me, “i want to go to the beach.” I was all, “I hate the beach. Sand gets in unmentionable places. We don’t have the money. The ocean is too far.” Etc. Etc. Etc. (Ha! Identify the musical!)

She brought her father in and started on the both of us. I was sure he would brush her off because of the expense, but he took her seriously. We’ve gone tot he beach before, we usually visit his family in NJ and visit the beach for a few hours. It’s a production, food must be sourced and packed, towels, sunscreen, and other necessities must be packed. We go there for a few hours getting beaten by the sun and waves and then go home, exhausted, sticky with salt, and even though there’s a shower at the beach, the tub back at wherever we’re staying is covered with sand and even pebbles 😳 that escaped the shower due to their, eh hem, — inaccessible position. So I threw a spammer in the works. “If we’re going tot he beach,” I said. “We have to stay on the beach. No driving in and driving out.” There I thought, there’s no way they’re are hotels in our budget available directly on the beach!

Guess, what. Challenge accepted. My husband found the Hampton Inn Myrtle Beach. Fast forward to last Monday. We all piled into the car and head for Myrtle Beach.

I have to say, the drive wasn’t that bad. My husband drove the whole way like a champ. The kids, my son 14 and daughter, 16 didn’t fight too much. We started later than we usually do. We typically leave while it’s still dark for long road trips so the kids sleep part of the way, but My husband had flown back from a trail race the night before and his plane kept getting delayed so it was after midnight when he finally got home. We got in time to see a gorgeous sunset and a big yellow moon.

I, the beach grinch, now I have to eat. my words. It was awesome! The water was warm, (yes, the sand got everywhere but it’s a small price to pay). The hotel had lovely pools and complimentary breakfast. We hung out in the water, laid on the beach, and generally relaxed. Believe it or not I had never had a rum punch so I ordered one from the little bar in the pool area one day. I also enjoyed frozen drinks like frozen strawberry daiquiris, mango somethings, and the like.

The only downside is, despite my absolute devotion to re-applying sunscreen and badgering everyone in the family to use it, I was the one who got sunburned! Just my back and the back of my upper arms, but it kind of put a damper on the last day for me cause I wasn’t feeling too well.

It’s healing now, but yikes! It’s itchy! Where did you o for you vacation? Do you like the beach?

The moon was gorgeous every night. The last night it was so red it looked like a giant mars. This picture is from day two.

I had assumed the fun for the beach was all about the day, but after it got dark, people, mostly with kids, were down on the beach with flashlights. I was like, “What are they doing?” Apparently, they are looking for crabs, seashells, shark’s teeth, anything that gets washed up on the beach after the tide comes in. My husband, trailrunner guy, always takes a headlamp everywhere, so the last night he and my son went down. They didn’t find much other than shells, but they enjoyed it.

And the firework restrictions in South Carolina are apparently pretty loose, so all along the beach people were setting off fireworks.

Even just sitting out on the balcony, at night reading and watching the moon and few visible stars was fun.

Now to get ready for the RWA National Conference! Come and see me if you’re at the Conference or live in NYC or environs. There will be big name romance authors and the whole thing is for charity. I’ll have this guy with me.

This dragon can be yours! All newsletter subscribers will be entered!

So you can see it in person. I have free swag, dragon and lion pendants and my new book! But don’t worry, there’s no pressure to buy my book, I’m happy just to chat! Stop by and say hello, you’ll make my day!

Beast…

Stolen off the street as a teen, tortured for months, altered into a monster, and dumped with only vague memories of his past, Ronan found refuge in the sideshow of a traveling carnival. It’s a lonely life, but it’s all he’s known for years—until he finds himself transforming further day by day, his temper becoming more and more volatile, his body changing into what he can only label as a beast.

Beauty…

Sofia Flores always knew what she would do when she grew up, help run the family-owned carnival. She’s been studying for years, first as a scholarship student at boarding school, then college, and finally getting her MBA. Now, at last, it’s time to take up the reins. But she never bargained with her own fascination for her Tia’s star attraction, Ronan. Not only does he appear not to return her interest, he seems to actively dislike her.

Nothing could be further from the truth, however. Ronan is immediately captivated by the carnival’s curvy new business manager, but he knows the score—beautiful women like Sofia aren’t meant for men like him. 

Unfortunately, Ronan has more to worry about than unrequited feelings. Since meeting Sofia, his body reshapes more each day. He’s losing himself to the beast. And the shadowy remnants of the people who did this to him are hot on his trail. 

The path to a Fairytale ending is never smooth…