Year: 2022
Random Travel Advice for 2023
A few tips from a travel professional! Hope your 2023 is full of fun adventures!
Hi there! Hope you had a lovely holiday weekend and plans for a festive New Year! One reason people book with travel agents is to get good guidance on what to do and what not to do, so here are a few pro tips for “smooth sailings” this year:
- Be wary of cruise line upgrade offers. I saw one come through today for a client, but she already has a Grand Suite, so what would be the point of spending thousands more? Plus, she has family members with cabins next door, so any changes to her reservation would result in them being separated. Not worth it! Another client *did* upgrade his cabin recently and lost his amenities benefits! This has created a huge hassle in trying to get him reimbursed for the extra money he had to spend onboard!
- Really watch your flights. As soon as the airlines open…
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Who’s Feeling Lucky?
Do you enjoy discovering new authors? Have you ever been hesitant to try a new author? Maybe your budget doesn’t allow you to try all the authors you’d like. Well, here’s a super opportunity for you! While this weekend might be all about shopping, here’s one thing that won’t cost a dime––enter for a chance to win eight books from a group of Kansas City authors. It’s a multi-author, multi-genre opportunity!
One lucky reader (U.S. only) will win all eight books. The books will be mailed in December after the close of the contest. Keep them for yourself, or give them as gifts! You can visit the Of Books and Nooks website to check out the individual authors and their work.
While we all write individually, the group has teamed up to offer you a glimpse into the lives of writers, travel adventures, recipes, book reviews and more! Come along and follow us!
Don’t miss this opportunity.
Good luck and happy reading to all!
Darlene
Holiday Giveaway
Celebrating a Book Birthday!
Ta-dah! After months of writing and editing, numerous rough drafts and revisions, a book is born! Yesterday was the official release date for my new holiday romance Christmas at Tall Pines! Curl up with this heartwarming story for an early dose of holiday cheer!
–Melanie Beck is searching for an idyllic Christmas like the ones her small family used to have. Traveling solo and still grieving the loss of her parents, she’s counting on cozy Tall Pines Lodge tucked into the mountains of Utah to provide the elusive holiday feels with merry music, stunning decorations and traditional Christmas feast in a beautiful frosty setting.
But a blizzard turns the winter wonderland into a hazard, and a chance encounter with a now-famous high school crush has her reeling with emotions she’s never quite gotten over. 
Tyler Shaw, a Hollywood heartthrob and silver screen star, is so over a grueling film schedule and persistent paparazzi. In disguise and using a fake name, he comes to Tall Pines to escape the spotlight and get some much-needed rest. He’s hoping the adrenaline rush of downhill skiing at the nearby slopes will give him the reboot he’s looking for.
Instead, he’s stuck at the lodge and is shocked to run into an old high school friend that he left behind more than a decade ago. He’s even more surprised to discover how much he’s missed her.
As their past and present collide, can an old flame ignite some Christmas magic?–
Christmas at Tall Pines is available in digital and paperback formats from your favorite online retailer!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BK1TP381/
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1174660
https://books.apple.com/us/book/christmas-at-tall-pines/id6443949366
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/christmas-at-tall-pines
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-at-tall-pines-darlene-deluca/1142549099?ean=2940165952432
Christmas at Tall Pines already has two 5-star reviews!
— ‘Tis the season for holiday romance and this book will tug at your heartstrings. With emotions running high, a beautiful setting, and a festive ambiance, this romance will sweep you away. –N.N. Light’s Book Heaven
— This story was a delightful read. The setting, though storming, was charming inside the lodge from the decorations to the music and holiday cheer, as well as the fireside warmth. Melanie and Tyler have great chemistry. –Still Moments Magazine
Pick up your copy today! Happy reading to all!
Darlene
A Pretty Fall After All!
A few weeks ago, I was concerned we would have a lackluster fall because it’s been so dry. Some wind took down leaves too early, but overall, it’s pretty out there!
In Kansas, we don’t have the beautiful expanses of fall color you see in places like New England. I miss the falls in the Finger Lakes region of New York why my daughter went to college. The colors are stunning.
Even so, we do have some fine specimens that include trees and shrubs around here. I have a maple in my yard, but I can’t remember the specific kind. I wish it turned a brilliant red, but, alas, it turns orange. Still a pretty sight!
I’ve been out with my camera this week, so here’s a sampling of lovely fall colors!
Hope you are having a good autumn wherever you are!
Darlene
Want to be an early bird?!
Woo-hoo! I have a new book to share with you!
Today, my new holiday romance, Christmas at Tall Pines, is live for pre-order. You can pre-order a digital copy at all the usual retailers, and the book will download to your reading device on Nov. 1, which is the official release date. Paperback copies also will be available on Nov. 1. Just in time to get in the holiday spirit! 🙂
Melanie Beck is searching for an idyllic Christmas like the ones her small family used to have. Traveling solo and still grieving the loss of her parents, she’s counting on cozy Tall Pines Lodge tucked into the mountains of Utah to provide the elusive holiday feels with merry music, stunning decorations and traditional Christmas feast in a beautiful frosty setting.
But a blizzard turns the winter wonderland into a hazard, and a chance encounter with a now-famous high school crush has her reeling with emotions she’s never quite gotten over.
Tyler Shaw, a Hollywood heartthrob and silver screen star, is so over a grueling film schedule and persistent paparazzi. In disguise and using a fake name, he comes to Tall Pines to escape the spotlight and get some much-needed rest. He’s hoping the adrenaline rush of downhill skiing at the nearby slopes will give him the reboot he’s looking for.
Instead, he’s stuck at the lodge and is shocked to run into an old high school friend that he left behind more than a decade ago. He’s even more surprised to discover how much he’s missed her.
As their past and present collide, can an old flame ignite some Christmas magic?
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/christmas-at-tall-pines
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1174660
https://books.apple.com/us/book/christmas-at-tall-pines/id6443949366
Click photo for Amazon link.
Happy reading to all!
Darlene
Wildflowers spread their cheer
I love flowers. I like them in my yard. I like them as gifts. I like wandering through botanic gardens and arboretums when I travel. And I like photographing them. So today, I have a photo collection of wildflowers to share.
Wildflowers make me happy. It’s so fun to stumble across them. So often I struggle to grow flowers at home. To give them the right amount of sun and water and the right soil. To keep the rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks and insects from devouring them. But these little guys, they just pop up and thrive!
These are all images of wildflowers that I spotted along the walks and trails during a recent visit to Colorado. Except the little blue one—that one I grew from a seed! I’m hoping there are a lot more the next time I visit!
Hope you’re having a fabulous summer surrounded by the things you like best!
Darlene
darlene deluca 