Welcome to February! It’s summer in Australia, and the new school year is here. My daughter commences her university studies tomorrow, and we thankfully only live a short drive (or bus trip) from her university campus in Canberra. Many of her classes are online, and university in 2023 is different to my own experiences in Sydney many years ago. Back in the day, I considered a forty minute drive from home to campus in light traffic a good run, and it could take up to two hours on public transportation with multiple connections. I remember being horrified when petrol (gas) spiked to 80c a litre, and now $2 a litre is a good price. Life is expensive, and my daughter is studying full-time and learning to budget. Important life skills we all need to learn during our transition to adulthood.
Stay tuned for more information on our annual Birthday Bash Giveaway, launching February 14 on Valentine’s Day.
Specials this Week
Teresa Tysinger and Jaycee Weaver’s The 80’s Rom-Com Club Collection is FREE today.
Heather Gray’s Bella Notte is 99c through February 7.
Amy R. Anguish’s Love in Any Season novella collection will be FREE on February 10.
Reader Gathering
Did you know Inspy Romance hosts a Christian Romance Reader Gathering group on Facebook? Elizabeth Maddrey is our host this week, so come on over… but don’t forget to answer the questions for admittance!
StoryChats @ InspyRomance
Story Chats releases an all-new episode every Friday. This week on Episode 108, Elizabeth, Valerie, and Narelle chatted with Elizabeth Goddard about her novel Cold Light of Day. You won’t want to miss it!
Listen to our fun 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, Jaycee Weaver discussed why It’s Complicated: How Authors Really Feel About Their First Book
On Tuesday, Tabitha Bouldin talked about (Re)writing the story
On Wednesday, Laurie Larsen shared God Bless the Caretakers
On Thursday, Tara Grace Ericson discussed Walking through a Reading Slump
On Friday, Heather Gray shared a New Series Launch! + #Giveaway
On Saturday, Liwen Y Ho talked about Convincing You to Read a Book Based on One Quote
Next Week on Inspy Romance
Monday: Narelle Atkins
Tuesday: Toni Shiloh
Wednesday: Elizabeth Maddrey
Thursday: Shannon Taylor Vannatter
Friday: Sarah Monzon
Saturday: Valerie Bodden
New Releases
February 2023
Her Unlikely Hero (Easter in Gilead 1) by Valerie Comer
Winning His Trust by Toni Shiloh
Love Delivered collection by Amy R Anguish and other authors
Muskoka Hearts by Carolyn Miller
Never Find Another You (Trinity Lakes Romance 1) by Narelle Atkins
Melody’s Resolve (The Village of Hope 3) by Merrillee Whren
March 2023
Her Billionaire Benefactor (Easter in Gilead 2) by Elizabeth Maddrey
His Runaway Crush (Easter in Gilead 3) by Heather Gray
A complete list of Inspy Romance books by our authors is always available on our BOOKS tab. Find our audiobooks 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.
Congratultions on your daughter starting uni! I hope it’s a wonderful and fulfilling time for her. After reading your post, a shocking realisation just registered. It’s 30 years since I was a fresher. Eek! I don’t feel old, ha ha.
Hi Narelle! Thanks for sharing about your daughter and university life in Australia. This retired teacher enjoys learning about school life in other countries. In Michigan most students just finished their first semester of school. This Oma is feeling old. My oldest grandson just started his last semester of high school. He attends the school, I retired from in 2012. So as he approaches a new chapter in his life, we discuss those life skills.
This school year every Thursday morning I help in my granddaughter’s 3. grade class. At the students’ request I weekly present a 15 minute German lesson. Often more culture than German. I graduated from college 50 years ago.
Six more weeks of winter in Michigan. After six weeks of gloom, we are finally having sunny weather and today it is above freezing. Best wishes. Happy writing. Looking forward to the Birthday Bash Giveaway!
Good luck to your daughter! It’s amazing how much some things change and others stay the same.
congratulations on your daughter starting school tomorrow. I so agree, times have really changed since we were young. But so many things have stayed the same and like you are doing, we need to make sure we guide our young ones in the right path. Hope you all have a fabulous Sunday and grab some relaxation in preparation for the coming week,. Enjoy your summer time.
It’s supposed to be winter here, but since I’m in Florida, we rarely participate!! It’s raining now, and cooler than it’s been, meaning we’re in the 60’s now instead of the 80’s. I’ll take it!!! Our average temp for this time of year is low to mid 70’s, and we’ve been high 70’s, with Orlando being in the 80’s.
As I look back over my life I have so very fond memories of my college years. I hope your daughter is loving her experience!
My 95 year old grandpa says I need to stop driving so much even though I don’t drive as much as most people he says cause back in his younger days he couldn’t get gas for 9 cents a gallon now it’s about $5 a gallon stuff has been sure going up in price in Washington state.
Good luck to your daughter!
I pray your daughter has a fabulous year. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I meant he could get gas for 9 cents a gallon my phone does spell check
Hi Milla, Thank you! It’s more than 30 years for me, too! Where have the years gone, lol 😊
Hi Renate, How fun that you can present a German lesson for your granddaughter’s class! A great opportunity for the students to expand their learning. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Ruthie, yes, my daughter said to me this morning: ‘I feel don’t like going to campus (on her first day…). I remember feeling intimidated on my first day at uni, too. Some things don’t change, lol. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Lori, We are enjoying a mild rather than a hot summer (which suits me). Our young ones can always benefit from our guidance. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Trudy, It’s nice when the rain cools the temperatures from hot to pleasant. Lately, the rain we’ve had has bumped up the humidity – not so good. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Laurie, I have fond memories, too, and I’m sure she’ll love it when she gets used to the new routine and studying again. She took a gap year and spent most of the year working in retail. By January, she was ready for uni to start, lol. 😊
Hi Kendra, We can only dream about low gas prices here. Around ten years ago Costco opened a gas (petrol) station in my city. Prices temporary dropped to around $1 or less a litre if you were prepared to wait for hours in the line. Sadly, it seems like prices are going up everywhere. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi bn100, thank you! Appreciate your comment. 😊
Hi Debra, Your prayers for my daughter are appreciated. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Uni starts early where you are. Here most go back last week of February for orientation then classes in March. I have been in the city when O week has been on and staying near the Uni.
Summer left for a week here but its back to nice weather today with sun and no clouds or rain.
Its so handy your daughter isn’t that far from the university.
Hi Jenny, In Canberra the uni start dates are different, depending on whether the uni includes the usual summer semester or a winter semester. The winter semester was created at one uni to allow students the break time to work at the snow (only 2 hours drive away). It’s all very confusing, imho. I’m glad summer has returned! Thanks for commenting. :)