In honor of the last book in the Cowboys of Diamondback Ranch coming out at the end of July, I joined forces with 13 other Love Inspired authors to off you a chance to win. The book I’ve included is the first of the series: The Texan’s Secret Daughter. The link to enter is at the bottom. Thank you.
Hi! We’re 14 friendly Love Inspired authors who’ve come together to offer you an amazing prize this summer: 14 Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense, and Love Inspired Historical books! đź’•
You get one entry by entering your email address above, plus the opportunity to earn 140BONUS ENTRIES by signing up for the participating authors’ newsletters or following them on social media. You’ll also get extra entries for sharing the giveaway with your friends and on social media.
Once you’ve entered the giveaway, please find the confirmation email and click the button to confirm your entry. This ensures that only real people are able to enter—no spam bots allowed 🥵!!!!!!!!! Thanks for your understanding.
The prize will be drawn on August 1, 2022 – please note the date in your calendar and check your spam folders. We’d hate for you to miss out.
*Giveaway open to residents of the US only. Void where prohibited.
I meant to post this last week…really. New podcast, new cover and a book signing. Busy. Busy
Sometimes procrastination come in the form of just being too tired. To make it worse we have had another podcast since this one. Since I procrastinated I have two podcast to share.
I am so excited to share the cover of my newest book, Her Holiday Secret. But first let me give you our two last podcast.
In episode 17, we have a great discussion about how we procrastinate, why and some tips to get over it. Give us your tips or let us know if one of ours worked for you.
In episode 18, it’s all about the modern label of blue collar, white collar or pick collar heroes and heroines. As writers, the kind of work our characters do are part of their personality, their dreams or the lie they believe. Do you have certain heroes/heroines you enjoy reading over others? As a writer, do you find yourself writing a certain type. Listen in and get our take on the blue, white and pink.
Blue and white have been around for a hundred years now. Maybe something to do with the industrial revolution and how it changed the way we did things. New industries were popping up Factory and machinery was becoming the norm.
Pink was a new one for me. It started being used in the 70s. It is the care industry, such as teaching, nursing, social work, child care and beauty industry. I think developing characters and giving them a job is an interesting part of the hero’s journey.
Blue, White and Pink collars
Now for the new cover! I adore this little girl.
She’s home for the holidays…
with a daughter he didn’t know existed.
Six years ago, pregnant teenager Catalina Wimberly left town without a word to protect her childhood sweetheart Andres Sanchez’s future. Now she’s back for the holidays and ready to reveal her secret—she and Andres have a little girl. But as they begin to feel a lot like family, will Catalina turn down her dream job and stay beyond Christmas?
You can pre-order at Amazon, Barns and Noble and Google read.
One last thing…
If you haven’t heard, I’ll be at the Boerne Bookshop Saturday May 27. If you are in the area, I hope to see you there.
I love a good sports romance. Heroes and Heroines that overcome the odds. Determined. Intense. Sometimes the life of the party and confident on the outside but struggling deep inside. Band of Brothers (or sisters) Found family. The conflicts can be rich and deep. Are they good enough? Are they lost in the image of who the world had told them they are?
Sports can change the way we look at the world…good and bad.
By sell numbers, I am not the only one. They are a popular romance trope. Even if you look at real sports heroes we love the inspirational stories.
There are so many reasons to love sports romance. Some of my favorites are:
Amy Daws Soccer in the UK (so they call it football) The Harris Brothers Series https://amydawsauthor.com/
Here are a few we spoke about in our latest podcast. Click on the link below to hear our unsolicited opinions.
Just the number 42 means so much to so many people. Jackie Robinson was more than a sports hero.
J.J. Watt won the 2017 Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award for his charitable work. He is famous for his relief during and after Hurricane Harvey but his charitable contributions have been numerous. He assists schools with after-school programs in an effort to provide activities and sports in a safe manner. In 2018 after a shooting at Santa Fe High School left ten people dead, Watt offered to pay for the funeral expenses.
But we loved the former Houston Texan defensive end even more when he was deeply offended by a local headline about his fiancee, professional soccer star Kealia Ohai. On a story about her trade to a new team, they didn’t even mention her name, instead calling her JJ Watt’s wife. He called them out on Twitter for that “trash headline” and said “they should be better than this.”
My favorite sports duo is Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor. They are the most winning sand volleyball team. Three gold medals in the Olympics is just the tip of the iceberg. Perhaps most remarkably of all, the US pair lost just one set during that extraordinarily golden period. The list goes on and on, with May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings taking home three successive world championship titles (2003-2007), picking up five AVP Team of the Year crowns (2003-2007) and once going an outstanding 112 matches and 19 tournaments without defeat.
Our local favorite is Patty Mills. Mills was born and raised in Canberra Australia and is of Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal Australian descent. In 2007, he became only the third Indigenous basketball player to play for Australia’s national team. The second was his uncle thirty years before. He is a vocal advocate for social justice.
Here is a Youtube link to our podcast, but you can find in on Apple podcast and Google Play
Do you have a community the supports your dreams and passions?
Writing can be a solitary endeavor. We delve into our own minds to find that creativity, that imagination, that muse. It is our art. But we don’t have to do it alone! Some writers find critique groups. Some writers host writing sprints and brainstorming sessions. In today’s episode, Storm and I talk about our own groups and how creating community can help the writing process.
How did a small group of people accomplish this fete? By meeting together regularly, challenging and debating with each other on the idea of art and what makes it art.
They had heated disagreements over the “rules” of art. Artists such as Manet, Monet, Renoir, Cezanne and Degas made up this group, and their creative energy paved the way for generations of modern artists.
Steve Jobs said collaboration works best when ideas are met with brutal honesty and are forced to explore a deeper purpose. I doubt Degas ever patted Manet on the back and said he had pretty pictures. They didn’t just dream of being artists, they wanted to set the world on fire with their passion despite what the established art world told them. They were told they were impostors and needed to stop trying to be an artist.
It seems I spend many days telling myself that I’m not an impostor…my friends help with this too. We need those kinds of people in our life.
Ten years ago I made the resolution to try and write for commercial publication. I went online and found SARA (San Antonio Romance Authors), and my writing greatly improved because of their questioning and tough critique. I also learned about the realities of being published. Like selling one book doesn’t mean you will be guaranteed to sell another.
I’m published today because of them. They also introduced me to others that changed my life.
In June, for last several years, I have made my way to West Texas A&M for a writer’s summer camp. This is where I met Jodi Thomas and now count her as a friend. The first year I made the five hour trip alone and it was worth it.
For five days, a small group of us met for almost five hours a day in a class going over our own stories. It’s magical. It was a full week of brainstorming and being pushed by this small group to find that twist in my story to make it unique. I learned that the ideas are there, the details buried deep within my brain.
A few ladies from my writing group.
Side benefit? Lifelong friends that “get me” in a way no one else ever will. And most of all, urge me to get it written and put it out into the world.
I also have created friendships with the woman of Love Inspired. We share a publisher and at times need to cheer each other on or just talk about the industry. I love that they are all over the country and in Canada.
THIS IS OUR 10th PODCAST!!! Hope you’ve been enjoying. If there’s a topic you’d like us to talk about, please let us know. One of the best parts of being a romance writer is research. So what draws us to certain people? What makes us want to follow them and watch everything they do?
On our latest Podcast, my daughter, Storm Navarro, and I debate the top ten men of movies and television. I had one she didn’t really know, Pierce Brosnan. She had several I didn’t know: Pablo Schreiber, David Gandy, and Aldis Hodge.
After we stated our case, these were the men left out in the cold: Zac Efron, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pine, Lee Pace, Gerard Butler, Russel Crowe and Steven Yeun.
So who did make our list? Listen to the podcast and you can jump in on the debate.
After the podcast post, scroll down and you’ll see I created our list with pictures. So enjoy!
#10 Henry Cavill
#10 Henry Cavill
From Superman to Witcher, and the underrated THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E, he has a jawline made for the big screen (or the smaller ones in our homes). A self proclaimed gaming nerd and the fourth born of five brothers, he has a very sarcastic sense of humor that might get him in trouble. He gets very involved in his roles, from designing the sword in Witcher to being a Chiefs football fan because Clark Kent is from Kansas.
#9 Aldis Hodge
This is one of Storm’s picks. He is in the INVISABLE MAN and LEVERAGE and STRAIGHT OUT OF COMPTON, and one of our favorites, HIDDEN FIGURES. In Hidden Figures he gives one of the best romantic gestures. His character was not supportive of his wife going to college to get her engineering degree in the beginning. Right before she goes, she gets nervous and starts to doubt herself. Instead of telling her not to go, he gives her a set of pencils to let her know she does have his support. It makes me sigh just thinking about it.
#8 David Gandy
David changed the modeling world for men when his friend and flatmate signed him up for a modeling competition. At the time, skinny, slender men–almost feminine–were all the industry wanted. We are so glad he was given that chance to set trends and change fashion.
# 7 Tom Hardy
This actor can be found in a very wide range of style and genre. From THIS IS WAR to BAND OF BROTHERS to BATMAN: The DARK KNIGHT RISES and the remake of MAD MAX. But he has our hearts for his love of dogs.
Zimbabwean British actor is up-and-coming. He is one of four boys and was in a band with one of his brothers before acting. Yes, he can sing and write music too. We discovered him as the Duke in the Netflix smash hit, Bridgerton. But that wasn’t his first acting job. He’s been in Sylvie’s Love, For The People, and the remake of ROOTS just to name a few. He also showed off his comedic skills on SNL. We will be watching out for more from this very talented actor.
# Chris Evans
Here is an actor that has stolen our hearts on and off the screen. From saving the world in movies to visiting hospitals to bring a little joy to children that are sick. He is always the first to offer an arm when he sees someone struggling. Sigh. Even his ex-girlfriend called him the nicest human on the Earth. He might be moving on from Captain America but we know he will continue doing great things.
# 4 Jason Momoa
There is just something about this man that screams MAN. LOL He also might be a huge overgrown child. He definitely knows how to have a good time and loves living life as natural as possible with his family. He is very vocal about his love for his wife, children, and the Earth we call home. When not acting, he is spending his time finding ways to protect the planet, from the oceans to the mountains of Hawaii.
#3 Idris Elba
There is something about this man that keeps our gaze on him in whatever movie he is in. From a god in the world of super heroes (Avengers) to a doctor trapped on the side of a mountain in THE MOUNTIAN BEWTEEN US, he brings charisma to the screen.
# 2 Michael B. Jordan
He has been acting and modeling since he was a child. If you watched All My Children you might recognize him from his Soap days. He brings passion and talent to every role he tackles. Creed and Black Panther have been his most recent movies. In 2020, People Magazine named him Sexiest Man Alive. GQ called him Man of the Year in 2018…We agree with both of those.
# 1 HUGH JACKMAN
Yes, I might have had a hand in putting him first. He is 3rd on Storm’s list. But come on, he has won a Tony and has been nominated for an Oscar. He has it all. From romantic comedies, epic musicals, and super hero movies, this song and dance man had proven he can act. But there is so much more to him than his stage presence. His love for his family, and wanting to make the world a better place, has him as my number 1. He is also the only one I met in person so there is that. He was not a disappointment in any way.
What do you think? Who would you put on the list and why?
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman has been around many years. I read it as a young parent of four children. My husband and I read it. I now use it to help develop my fictional characters. We all want to belong, to have people in our lives that love us. Understanding the love languages not only helps you see how others might be expressing it to you, but how you feel loved. To visit their website click on the books.
When a love language is not expressed or it is used to hurt a child the wounds can cause deep scares. I think it’s the reason one child can be traumatized by something and another doesn’t even remember it. A child that scores low on words of affirmation can ignore hurtful words. But take a child that words of affirmation is how they feel loved, those words of anger or hate cut deeper and can linger a lifetime. A child that needs time or service to feel loved will have a harder time being left alone after school. But to the child that has the love language of gifts, they wont mind being alone. they will feel loved when a parents shows up with a thought present to show they were thinking of them. Our strongest memories are tied to emotions. We remember how someone make us feel.
That is why we respond differently to the same situation. It will depend on our love language if we remembered feeling loved or ignored. My son Tate joins us as we explore The Five Love Languages on our Podcast this week. Who Asked Us? The Unsolicited Opinions of Two Romance Authors. Hosted by Storm Navarro and her mom. (That’s me)
Who Asked Us? The Unsolicited Opinions of Two Romance Authors.
Words of affirmation. Acts of service. Receiving gifts. Quality time. Physical touch. We LOVE love languages! Join us with my brother Tate as we discuss the five Love Languages from Gary Chapman and how it can be incorporated into real life AND romance novels!
In my writing world I’m back in Port Del Mar with Andres Sanchez. I hope to have a cover to share soon. I’m getting excited about the final edits for my October 2021 release. Her Holiday Secret is a lovely family story of redemption, faith and love.
Today I’m in edit mode and I’m checking in from my back porch.
As a romance author, I get to play around in the male brain. Finding that balance between masculinity and emotional authenticity is a fun challenge. But I do completely feel that instead of men vs woman we are individuals. Are there tendencies? Yes. Are there unfair stereotypes? Yes.
Studies claim that men speak few words. Some say men don’t notice details. People will claim that woman are more emotional and men more logical (haha). My two sons and two daughters join us as Storm and I explore the topic of writing male POV.
June is going to be a busy month. It actually starts on May 21, 2019 with a new book that is kicking off a new series: The Cowboys of Diamondback Ranch. The first book is The Texan’s Secret Daughter. The official release is June 1.
June 8th, 2019 – If you are in the Dallas area, I will be at Boas and Tiaras in Allen Texas. This is my first time for this event, so I hope to see some friendly faces. Clink the link for more information. It’s an event full of authors.
June 10 – 14:Â Is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s a great place to be if you want to strengthen you writing, up your marketing game or just learn from some amazing writers. Maybe you just want to spend an indescribable week with other people that hear voices in their heads (writers).
This year they will have agents you can pitch too.
If you write or want to write, you need to head out to Canyon Texas. West Texas Writers’ Academy is on the West Texas A&M campus. I will be leading a class for Alumni, but there are many other to choose from if it’s your first time. I’ve went as a student in 2013 and have not missed a year since.
Are you in the Amarillo area? Monday June 10 There is a Writers’ Roundup. There is more information in the link below.
Hola. Evidence of spring is in bloom on my morning walks. These were taken on the edge of downtown San Antonio.
Today I wanted to talk series. I love series. Revisiting the same town, the same family and touching base with favorite characters. Right now I’m listening to Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series. I’m on book 11. (side note..she lived in San Antonio for a time.)
I love writing series too. The Bergmann sisters of Clear Water, Texas have their own series. There are three books. Texas Daddy, The Texan’s Twins and Lone Star Christmas.
Texas Daddy is the first in a Lone Star Legacy. The story of four sisters raised by a single dad in a small town lumberyard.
Texas Daddy (Lone Star Legacy)
In Texas Daddy one of my most popular secondary characters, Adrian De La Cruz finally gets his own story. With his identical twin brother, he walked onto the page in book one helping Pastor Levi restore an old historical ranch house. He shows back up as the first on the scene to look for two lost children. In book two he’s volunteering at the 4-H party and helping other single parents juggling kids and work. At seventeen he became a father and gave up bull riding to fully committed to raising her after her mother left them. That was ten years ago.
I started receiving massages from fans after book two, wanting his story. But as you can see he is such a great guy. A good hero has flaws. It’s dealing with those flaws that makes a good story. Once I knew the issues he was hiding, I went looking for the women that would challenge those issues.
And I did. His one sided high school crush returns to town. Navy officer and extreme adventurer, Nikki Bergmann needs to recover from an injury.
Oh, man! I love these two together and the fireworks are set off. She pushes him right out of his safe, overly controlled world and makes him face his worse fears.
Of course he does the same for her. He is hiding to avoid being hurt and she is running. Together they find that God has the perfect plan if they are willing to trust.
The Texan’s Twins Lone Star Legacy #2
Next is Danica’s story in The Texan’s Twins. All we know about Danica from the first story is she is the single mother of five year old twins and has a deeply wounded heart that she doesn’t talk about.
Between providing for her five-year-old twins and achieving her dream of running a wildlife sanctuary, Danica Bergmann has no room for anything—or anyone—else. So when the wildlife volunteer she’s taken on turns out to be Reid McAllister, her secret husband, who disappeared before she got a chance to reveal she was pregnant, it flips her world upside down.
He vanished without a trace six years ago, before she knew they were expecting, now he’s back needing community service. While she was raising thier twin daughters, he had been in prison. The worse part? He’s still the only man she’s ever loved.
It’s a long road to redemption, but can Danica learn to trust Reid with their children…and their future?
Lone Star Christmas Lone Star Legacy #3 by Jolene Navarro
The third book is Jackie’s, Danica’s twin sister. In Lone Star Christmas, she determined to restore the historic buildings in Clear Water, Texas, Jackie Bergmann needs permission from the property’s absent owner—her ex-boyfriend. After the death of his father Max Delgado is temporarily staying on the family ranch with his younger brothers. He agrees to give her access, with one request: that she help him care for his orphaned brothers. But when she starts to fall for Max again, can she convince him not to sell his family’s ranch…and stay home for Christmas and forever?
If you want to get updates on my releases you can follow me at a couple of places.
In honor of Memorial Day, I’m posting entries from my grandfather’s diary. The following is one week out of a diary my grandfather, Forrest Freeman French, kept during World War II.
These written words have special meaning to me because I never got to meet my mother’s beloved father. Through his writing, during WWII, I get to know him.
Soldiers were told not supposed to keep a journal but he did. The passages are short and brief but capture a time in his life I could never imagine. The sacrifice of so many in order for us to live free. A young Texas Farm boy grows up fast on the other side of the world in Okinawa.
I share these to honor all the men and women that stepped forward in the hardest times to fight for a way of life we can easily take for granted.
On this Memorial Day may you take a moment to honor and remember all the ones that didn’t make it home.
Next Monday I’ll post the second week.
May 4, 1945
Was assigned to the 7th Div. Co. “K” 184th Infantry. They are up on the lines now. We’ll be carried as far as possible by truck then will have to march the rest of the way.
May 5, 1945
Pushed off before dawn to join my outfit. We held services before we left. Am now just behind the lines. Saw my first dead G.I.s. Three of them dead for three days. Can’t get to them. Sure gave me the shivers. Have seen dead enemy soldiers all along the way. They are paying heavy. Not heavy enough to suit me.
May 6, 1945
Air raids are every night and sometimes more than once. Have seen quite a few shot down. Today is the first day on the lines for me. We didn’t shove off as everyone needs to get settled.
May 7, 1945
Spent my first night on the lines. Didn’t get any sleep as they are giving us hell. Some of the men that came in with me got it last night. I don’t think they even know what hit them. This is a living hell.
May 8, 1945
Made my first kill today. He was quite close. Slipped up during the night. Don’t feel much different than before except maybe a little more satisfied.
May 9, 1945
Rumor is that we will be relieved tomorrow and go back for ten days rest. We need it as nearly half of the company has been wounded or killed. We are at a place called Conico Peak. Here is where we ran into most of the trouble. Sure hope the rumor is true for we need a rest.
May 10, 1945
I thank God with all my heart for we were relieved this morning and am now waiting for trucks to take us about ten miles behind the lines. I feel sorry for the boys in the 96th Div. They relieved us and in for all out hell at Conico Peak.
Jolene Navarro 