It's still hot. Here are some story recommendations to distract you...

Yesterday, the temperature broke heat records around Western Canada. (And probably the American Northwest, too, if I had to guess—I haven’t been watching the temperature records, but my sister in NW Washington said yesterday reached 111° F, which is stupidly, blisteringly hot for that area. Or any area.) Today is supposed to be even hotter here. (I think the heat is breaking a little on the coast.)

I just checked my weather app, and it told me the record high for this day for my town was in 2015, coming in at thirty-two degrees. Twenty-six out of the last thirty years, it’s actually been raining today.

Not this year. Nope. This year, we’re expecting forty degrees. It’s 8:30 in the morning, and it’s already twenty-eight.

I’m worried for people. I’m worried for those who don’t have ways to cool down or who don’t drink enough water.

I know humans have survived temperatures like this, and I’m not so worried I’m pacing my house or anything. Not much point in that—there is almost nothing I can do to help others weather this heat wave other than provide a small bit of distraction.

And my son the gardener in BC survived the hottest day they’re expecting out there yesterday—not that today is cool, but 32 feels so much cooler than 42, y’know? So, even though he keeps insisting on calling his sunburn an “epic tan”, I’m a little less worried about him today.

Okay, enough about the worry and the heat.

Except, as my sister pointed out yesterday, if this is what the end of June is like, what will happen in July?

(And... wildfires, amiright?)

Okay, on to the distraction. Despite the heat yesterday, I managed to revise four chapters of The Sphinx’s Heart. I’ll be checking the last chapter this morning in the relative coolness, because the heat makes my brain dumb.

*Note: the book links below are universal links through Books2Read. If you’ve never clicked one of their links before, you’ll have to tell them which store you prefer to purchase from the first time. After that, it will take you right to that store’s listing unless you change your preferences. Also, full disclosure, I’m an affiliate on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, or Amazon.uk.co, which means I’ll get a few cents if you purchase the book there after looking at it through my link.

I had a nice chat with my friend (and fellow author) Jessica Renwick yesterday, and she recommended a book I can’t wait to read: Summer at Firefly Beach by Jenny Hale. It sounds like a wonderful, uplifting romance with a ton of heart.

I’m currently listening to Under Currents by Nora Roberts. I’ve been at it for over a month, because the first seven chapters are pretty tough to listen to because of the graphic physical and emotional abuse the then-teenage protagonist experiences. It’s better where I’m at right now, nearly at mid-point, I think, but I have no illusions that this is but the calm before the storm—I analyze stories for a living, and I know Nora didn’t get to be as successful as she is by ignoring good story structure. That beginning was setting up an epic ending.

But, now that I know a bit better what to expect, I’ll be fine. I just didn’t know what to expect when I started—I got the book on a Chirp deal. I was curious about both Nora’s work, which I’ve never read before, and the narrator, January LaVoy, whom I knew is very popular, but had never heard any of her work before either (other than a few samples). I like both.

But as soon as I’m finished this one, I think I’ll pick up Jenny Hale’s book. I find myself intensely craving stories of connection and warmth and love these days—probably an after-effect of pandemic isolation and stress. I binge-watched Sweet Magnolias on Netflix in a single day about six weeks ago, and it was wonderful—I hadn’t binge-watched anything in years. (The last thing before that may have been Drop Dead Diva, and the star of that show, Brooke Elliott, was exactly why I was so interested in Sweet Magnolias. She did not disappoint, but neither did the rest of the show. So great.)

Anyway, that’s probably enough rambling for one morning. However, if you love reading or watching stories like this, please give me some more recommendations in the comments. I’ve found very few sweet romance authors I enjoy—I find many of the stories I’ve tried too poorly written to continue reading, so I tend to follow others’ recommendations now instead of just giving things a whirl. (I highly recommend Rachel Hauck, by the way. Fan for life here. She writes inspirational romantic books in a variety of genres. I started with Princess Ever After on audio—the narrator was one of the best I’ve ever heard.)

Alright, friend. Happy Tuesday, and stay cool!

Thumbnail photo by Riss Design via Unsplash.