Best Selling author Carra Copelin writes contemporary and historical romance. The Texas Code Series, contemporary romantic suspense novels include Code Of Honor, Book One. The Brides of Texas Code Series, western historical novellas, explores the Texas Code Series beginnings. Katie and the Irish Texan, Book 1, Matelyn and the Texas Ranger, Book 2, and Angel and the Texan from County Cork, Book 3. Laurel:Bride of Arkansas, American Mail-Order Brides Series, Book 25

Sunday, June 26, 2016

A New Anthology - Summer Solstice


SUMMER SOLSTICE -  noun
The solstice that marks the onset of summer, at the time of the longest day, about June 21 in the northern hemisphere.

This is a dictionary definition and one we go by. My husband has mentioned every day since spring that this day was longer than the one previous (did I notice?) and on June 22, he will bemoan the fact that the days are shorter than the one previous. (yes honey, I noticed that, too.)

This year, however, there's something new to mark this event. There is a new anthology/box set that can help extend those oncoming shorter days. The summer's best beach read!


This great group of USA Today and best-selling authors, J.L. Campbell, Sylvie Grayson, P.C. Zick, Nikki Lynn Barrett, Susan Ann Wall, Christine Warner, Jude Ouvrard, Hebby Roman, and moi, Carra Copelin, have put together a collection of full length contemporary novels that tell the stories of friends who've become lovers.


Love comes from the most unexpected places and is sweeter when friends turn into lovers. SUMMER SOLSTICE gives you nine, very different, exciting romances. Dive into a tantalizing selection of full-length romances that feature sexy heroes and their women who make the leap from the security of friendship to the heat and passion of new-found love.

A few snippets:
THE KEY TO MY HEART - Nikki Lynn Barrett - Randy chuckled, then placed his forehead up against hers. He had an arm around her, trailing his fingers along her back. "Last one," he said softly, leaning over for a kiss. "I saw you naked once. Before tonight."

MY BEST MISTAKE - Sylvie Grayson - Jenny has already made a big mistake. Can she risk her heart again, or will this just be another one?
Jordie let her get away the first time, that was his big mistake. He's determined it won't happen again.

SUMMER DREAMS - Hebby Roman - Will Natalia realize her Summer Dreams and win the heart of her childhood friend, Esteban?
Can Esteban overcome his bad boy image and make Natalia love him, as he's loved her, since they were children?

CODE OF HONOR - Carra Copelin - Maggie Benning is determined to establish a successful and independent life for herself and her son, Andy after the death of her husband. Can she overcome past hurt and loss of trust to accept a new love in her life?

SUMMER SOLSTICE is available on Amazon, iTunes, and Nook.  SUMMER SOLSTICE


Thanks for visiting today!
Carra
xoxoxo

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Galveston: A City with a History


There are so many cities and towns in Texas that own a piece of my heart. Galveston is but one of them. My first trip to the island was in 1965 when I was a junior at Sam Houston High School. I was a member of Vocational Industrial Training of America, and our class went there to participate at the State Conference.



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Galveston Arial View
You can imagine the fun we had with our first major trip away from home. I think there were eight of us along with our teacher, Mr. Kenneth Pickett, one other teacher I think, and my mother as chaperone. If memory serves, I think my younger brother tagged along, too. We stayed on Seawall Boulevard just across the street from the Gulf of Mexico and the beach.


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Galveston Beach


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Galveston Beach

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The Flagship Hotel




A main attraction for many years was the Flagship Hotel which was built out on a pier into the Gulf. We stayed there once when our kids were small. Unfortunately, it didn't survive Hurricane Ike in 2008.




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Pleasure Pier Present Day





Now they've built a Pleasure Pier with rides and games for tourists.





I'm currently writing another book set in Galveston And I've discovered there were earlier places on the beach for fun and games called The Pavilion, Murdoch's Pavilion, Bath Houses, many of which were destroyed either by fire or hurricanes.

Designed by Nicholas Clayton, the Electric Pavilion at 23rd and the beach became the earliest major beach attraction when constructed in 1881 by the Galveston City Railway Company.  The wood frame building is believed to be the first use of electric lights in Texas.  It was a popular spot for two years before burning on August 1, 1883.  (Courtesy Scott and Holly Hansen, Private Collection).:
The Electric Pavilion 1883

Before the 1900 Hurricane, Galveston was so lush and plush, it was thought of as the Wall Street of the South. Galvestonians liked to call their city the Coney Island of the South. The devastating Hurricane changed all that.

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Over six thousand souls were lost on September 8th and 9th, 1900. The island was lost. In order to prevent this devastation from happening again, the people of Galveston built a seawall. Construction began in 1902 and the initial segment completed in 1904. From 1904 to 1963 the wall was extended from 3.3 miles to over 10 miles long. 

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After Hurricane Alicia in 1983, the Corp of Engineers estimated that  $100 million in damage was avoided because of the Seawall.

My characters, Faith and Joe, are not the first that I've put through the trials and tribulations of severe storms. Joe's father and step-mother, Ian and Matelyn O'Donnell Benning struggled to survive during the 1875 Galveston Hurricane, in my book, Matelyn and the Texas Ranger. Joe and Faith will have to deal with the aftermath of the 1900 Hurricane, sometimes referred to as Isaac's Storm, and we'll see how they do.



I have an e-book of Matelyn and the Texas Ranger for one commenter, so if you'd like to read about Joe's family before his book comes out this summer, talk to me. Don't leave me lonely down here all by myself.  =D

Thanks for stopping by,
Carra