Happy Sunday! This week my husband and I have been discussing when to apply for annual leave from our day jobs to squeeze in a holiday. And, if we can co-ordinate vacation time later this year, will it be possible to travel? Day trips within Canberra and the nearby Brindabella mountain range may be our only option if interstate travel restrictions aren’t eased. I’d like to be optimistic and hope that we can travel on a road to somewhere. Have you recently traveled or taken a vacation? Or, done a staycation at home? I’d love to hear your vacation news.
Our 2021 Back-to-School Giveaway launched on Monday. More information can be found here.
Our Grand Prize includes 9 paperbacks and other goodies. Our International Giveaway is open to readers with a mailing address outside of USA. If you live outside USA, please register for the international paperback giveaway here. Only international readers need to register for the giveaways.
Winners this Week
If you’re a winner, you should have received an email from the author in charge of the giveaway. If not, please email us at: prizes at inspyromance dot com.
Lindi Peterson’s winner is Pam Whorell!
Shannon Taylor Vannatter is Margaret Bunce!
Narelle Atkins’ winner is Lincoln!
Congratulations!
Don’t forget… every comment you make qualifies you to win one of the monthly Amazon card giveaways!
Specials this Week
Once Upon a Summer from Jaycee Weaver, Toni Shiloh, and Teresa Tysinger is 99¢ through August 31.
Valerie Comer’s Sown in Love is FREE through August 26.
Reader Gathering
Did you know Inspy Romance hosts a Christian Romance Reader Gathering group on Facebook? Amy Anguish will be our host this week, so please join us… but don’t forget to answer the questions for admittance!
StoryChats @ InspyRomance
Story Chats launches an all-new episode every Friday! Elizabeth, Valerie, and Narelle talked about modern day fairytale retellings with Teresa Tysinger in our last episode. You won’t want to miss it!
Listen to our new weekly show on your favorite podcasting app, through the player on our podcast tab, or watch us on YouTube! Wherever you listen or watch, please be sure to hit subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!
Last Week on Inspy Romance
On Monday, We celebrated our Back-to-School #Giveaway Launch
On Tuesday, Laurie Larsen shared Heartwarming Moments, Presented by the Olympics + #Giveaway
On Wednesday, Melanie D. Snitker took us Home Again
On Thursday, Narelle Atkins discussed Finishing the Race + #Giveaway
On Friday, Janine Rosche asked Have You Heard the Rumor about Me?
On Saturday, Jan Thompson shared Why I Write Beach Romance + #Giveaway
Next Week on Inspy Romance
Monday: Tara Grace Ericson (Books with Everything We Love About Cowboy Romances – except the cowboys)
Tuesday: Merrillee Whren (The Twelve Dogs of Christmas)
Wednesday: Teresa Tysinger
Thursday: Shannon Taylor Vannatter
Friday: Valerie Bodden (Time to “Ketchup” & #Giveaway)
Saturday: Heather Gray
New Releases
August 2021
Amethyst Attraction (Pot of Gold Geocaching Romance 4) by Valerie Comer
So You Have My Secret Baby (So You Want to be a Billionaire 4) by Elizabeth Maddrey
Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong
Coastal Hearts: The St. Simon’s Novels by Janet W. Ferguson
September 2021
Let Me Off Easy, Cowboy (Cavanagh Cowboys Romance 3) by Valerie Comer
Save the Date box set by Jan Thompson, Liwen Y. Ho, Jaycee Weaver, and nine others
Candy Cane Wishes and Saltwater Dreams box set by Amy R Anguish, Shannon Taylor Vannatter, and three others
Ruby Radiance (Pot of Gold Geocaching Romance 2) by Valerie Comer
So You Need a Fake Relationship (So You Want to be a Billionaire 5) by Elizabeth Maddrey
A complete list of Inspy Romance books by our authors is always available on our BOOKS tab. Find our audiobooks, our permanently free e-books, and our thank-you gifts for newsletter subscribers there as well!
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
Staying home seems best right now, although Qld is open for business.
Haven’t really been for a holiday in over 2 and a half years. I spent a few days in Hahndorf before my friends wedding. Since I got the cats I have had one night away and that was for medical appointments for a night. I have had a couple of trips to Mt. Gambier to shop but nothing much else. My state is open but right now happy at home. I am considering a night or two in Adelaide in January.
Hi Narelle from SW Michigan (USA) on a hot summer Sunday! In June hubby and I went on vacation with our oldest son, wife, and three grandkids to Williamsburg, Virginia. This was after homeschooling the 3 grands. Our youngest son was still living in the area and watched our two homes and the grand dog. Virginia was just starting to lift restrictions after their shut down. We rented adjacent condos. Best part of our trip was driving to Virginia Beach and taking a dolphin cruise. Since returning, middle son purchased a house and we have been visiting him and our youngest granddaughter. He lives about 90 miles away. Hubby and I hope to take a fall get away. Living in a rural community we have much to be thankful for nearby – beautiful sandy beaches, parks, vineyards, farms and more. Once tourist season is over, locals enjoy the beauty around us. What we miss our visiting museums. Still not comfortable spending long periods indoors. Best wishes.
I went for my first vacation in over 9 years that was longer than a weekend last month! I went to visit extended family in NW Georgia. First time I’d seen some of them in over 9 years, too!! It was the first time in over 25 years that I’d been gone for longer than a weekend without Mom, too, so it was very bittersweet. So glad that I had the opportunity to get away, though!
Hi Narelle,
We haven’t taken a vacation trip since a month before the pandemic started, so even a staycation sounds good :) Hope you get things figured out and get to enjoy your time off.
Hi, Narelle!
While we do enjoy traveling together, it has been a long time since we have gotten out of the house for a vacation. If you don’t count visiting family for the holidays, it has been years since we have properly vacated. :-)
Congratulations to the other winners! Have a great week ahead!
Vacations for us for the past 18 months have included lots of camping within a few hours’ drive from home. We do have an airbnb booked for a week at the ocean in Sept, and praying that doesn’t fall through. Covid counts are rising rapidly in British Columbia again, and some restrictions have returned. What a nasty roller coaster…
We’ve had a family reunion 😃
Spent a wonderful week with eight siblings and there families in Oregon
No vacation plans for this year but my sister is flying in next month to visit. I have not seen her in 3 years. She was supposed to come last summer.
No vacation here, I think we are better off at home. I did go visit my youngest sister that lives 5 hours away, I stayed with her for a week, which was very nice, we didn’t go anywhere though, we figure we are better off at home, and we had fun. Have a great week and stay safe.
In July we drove from Mississippi to Pennsylvania and then on to Massachusetts to see our daughters and their families.
The only travel I have done so far this year was to attend my sister-in-law’s baby shower. However, next month I will be traveling for a wedding and in December I hope to take a vacation to Florida with family.
We have never had a vacation. Happy Sunday
I’m glad we got our road trip in before this latest surge in the US.
Congratulations to the winners.
My family recently took a staycation, just a weekend to get away from work and school and relax.
Hi Mary, I’m so glad Queensland is open for business, and I’m hoping we can head north again soon. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Jenny, It’s more complicated planning a holiday when you’re a pet owner. I’m glad South Australia is open. Will there be cricket in Adelaide in January? Thanks for commenting. 😊
Congratulations winners!! We have not traveled. I do not expect us to do so. My husband and I are handicapped. I have two aging parents. I do not feel comfortable leaving town and not being around if they need us. Thank you for the opportunity. God bless you.
Hi Renate, The dolphin cruise sounds like a lot of fun. You’re fortunate to live in an area with wonderful places to explore close by. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Trudy, I’m glad you had the opportunity to vacation and visit your extended family. Those firsts are hard as well. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Priscila, Staycations can be lots of fun, and that may be where we land. Thanks for commenting. 😊
We haven’t been able to travel much recently. We do have a great church that is able to have ministries for kids/youth, so that has been really helpful.
Hi Lincoln, My family vacations tend to involve visiting family, too. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Valerie, I hope you won’t miss out on your vacation at the ocean. 😊
Hi Natalya, I’m glad you were able to have a wonderful family reunion in Oregon. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Lori, Enjoy your visit next month with your sister. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Alicia, yes, staycations at home can be lots of fun. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Lisa, That sounds like a fun road trip vacation. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Jessica, Enjoy your upcoming trip for the wedding and your Florida family vacation. Thanks for commenting. 😊
We haven’t taken a family vacation recently, but are hoping to this winter.
I just went on a vacation to my sister-in-laws for my birthday week a couple of weeks ago. It was so nice just to get away by myself and recharge! You see, my husband and I have legal guardianship of our seven year old grand-girl so it’s been hard for me to be able to go anywhere on my own. And after the year and a half we’ve had….I NEED it!!
We’re making plans to spend Thanksgiving with her. We weren’t able to last year due to things being shut down, so this will be extra special. :-) I hope that you will be able to have some sort of vacation soon Narelle!
Congrats to this weeks winners! Happy Sunday IR
Hi Lucy, I hope you’re able to enjoy relaxing armchair vacations via reading. Thanks for commenting. 😊
We go camping all summer long & for a whole 6 months. We love the outside.
I like being home with my family & enjoying going outside & doing things. We have went to a fireworks event & go visit our families where we camp.
Hi Denise, Yes, road trips are fun and I’m glad you had the opportunity. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Angeline, I’m glad your family enjoyed your staycation. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Debra, Yes, I understand why you’re not planning to leave town. I’m late in replying to comments today because I was busy helping my parents who are struggling with health issues. Thankfully essential care giving is permitted during our lockdown. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Susanne, I’m glad your church has helpful kids and youth ministries. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Melynda, I hope you’ll be able to take a winter vacation with your family. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Trixi, I’m glad you enjoyed a fun and relaxing birthday week vacation. A much needed break, for sure. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Amy, wow, your summer camping sounds like lots of fun. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Sylvain, It’s fun spending time outdoors in summer and enjoying the long hours of daylight. Thanks for commenting. 😊
No vacation news for us!
I hope you can have a wonderful vacation, even if you can’t go too far from home.
The Test is set down for Dec but there is talk the English team won’t like being in a bubble for several months especially with how things are in the east states. I think there are a lot of unknowns. It takes one undiagnosed case of delta to send a state into chaos. Look at NZ not that its out of control but one case has become quite a few.
Hi Paula, I hope you’ve been able to armchair vacation via stories. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Megan, thank you! I’m hopeful we’ll be able to take a break soon. Thanks for commenting. 😊
We were hoping to visit Canberra at Floriade time, alas mostly the state borders are closed to those of us who live in Sydney and I don’t think it is likely to change this year :(
Hi Dianne, We’re sad that Floriade at Commonwealth Park has been cancelled two years in a row. I’m looking forward to everything opening up again and hoping the current restrictions in our lockdown will be lifted soon. Take care and stay safe. Thanks for commenting. 😊
This summer was so short there wasn’t a vacation. However, I’ll be going to my happy place in Orlando, FL for my birthday in October!
Hi Jessica, Enjoy your October birthday in Florida! Thanks for commenting. 😊