Tag: West Coast Romance

SEEKING THE FALLS – DELLA FALLS & LOVE LAKE

Della Falls is arguably the tallest waterfall in Canada, and I trekked there with my family this summer. Our adventure included a water taxi, 15 km hike, and Love Lake.

For the past few summers, since my twins became old enough to carry their own stuff in their backpacks, we’ve gone on some amazing family backpacking trips, and this year was no different.

Della Falls (with a day hike to Love Lake) was our destination, and I couldn’t have been more excited. My excitement was three-fold. First of of all, the thundering power of Della Falls is incredible to witness (although we had a little bit of a surprise on this front. More about that later). Secondly, an upcoming romance novel is set at Della Falls (also more about that later). And finally, fourteen years ago, I had my honeymoon at Della Falls.

This is the story of our adventure.

Continue reading “SEEKING THE FALLS – DELLA FALLS & LOVE LAKE”

Return to Bear Beach. A Romantic Setting That Doesn’t Disappoint

Bear Beach is a beach on the Juan de Fuca Trail on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It features stunning west coast views worthy of inclusion in a romance novel.

Wow! I can’t believe how long it has been since I added a new post to my blog. I must apologize for my absence. I have nothing to offer in the way of an excuse other than that life (and writing) has impeded me from searching out romantic settings for my romance novels.

Even my hiking boots conspired to keep me from adventuring. They fell apart at the most inopportune moment.

But the good news is that I have new boots with sturdier soles, and I am back exploring this beautiful island I live on (Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada, if you’re new).

I just returned from a two-night family backpacking trip to Bear Beach on the Juan de Fuca Trail. My calves haven’t even stopped screaming their displeasure at me, but I wanted to record the adventure for you, because Bear Beach is beyond stunning!

Continue reading “Return to Bear Beach. A Romantic Setting That Doesn’t Disappoint”

THE SECRETS BEHIND THE ROMANCE NOVEL SAVING SHELBY

Saving Shelby, West Coast Romance Book 1 was my first published romance novel. Learn about all the West Coast locations featured in the book—real and imagined. Find out what I love about my first novel, and what I would do differently!

Publishing my first romance novel—Saving Shelby—wasn’t the beginning of my writing journey, but it was the moment that turned a dream into a reality. It was scary and exhilarating at the same time.

When I hit publish, I felt like Saving Shelby was the best story that would ever come from my fingertips. I couldn’t even imagine coming up with a better storyline.

However, it didn’t take long for me to realize how naïve I was. I was only part way through writing Ginny’s Crush—the second book in the series—when I figoured out that I had made a few critical errors that were going to come back to haunt me later in the series.

In this post I will let you in on a few secrets about Saving Shelby. I will disclose which locations are real and which ones are completely made up.

And I will tell you which decision I would make differently, if I was writing it today! *Note that there may be a few minor spoilers in this post*

Continue reading “THE SECRETS BEHIND THE ROMANCE NOVEL SAVING SHELBY”

FALLING IN LOVE AT HOT SPRINGS COVE

Hot Springs Cove is located on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, it is a romantic location that isn’t to be missed.

Having not ventured out into the great outdoors in search of inspiration for my romance novels (or at least not beyond my fenced yard), I don’t have any new adventures to share with you; however, I have gone back through the four thousand or so photos that are taking up space on my phone to find you an adventure from last Summer. And I found one that ties in perfectly with my West Coast Romance Series.

In June 2019, I had the opportunity to sail part way around Vancouver Island. I met the sail boat in Port McNeill, sailed around the northern tip of Vancouver Island (where Cape Scott is) and departed the boat at Tofino. It was during this trip that I discovered the romance that is Hot Springs Cove. Which features heavily in my recently released romance novel Ginny’s Crush (Book 2 in the West Coast Romance Series).

Be warned that there are a few tidbits about the book in this post…

Continue reading “FALLING IN LOVE AT HOT SPRINGS COVE”