April's Affections and Intrigues: Love and Mystery Bloom

Deb Philippon

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104 comments posted.

Re: Love Under Protection (11:53am March 27, 2020):

I haven't been to New York, so I'd first take a good city
tour, and then decide which places I'd like to investigate
further.

Re: Must Love Forever (6:35pm February 10, 2020):

I really would love to visit the Statue of Liberty.

Re: No Heartbreaker Required (5:53pm June 14, 2019):

It sounds like you have a lovely life, finding so many
thoughtful things about your husband to cherish. I find so
much to appreciate with mine.

Re: A Shot of Murder (4:52pm April 10, 2019):

Well, my favorite whisky is Canadian Club, while my
favorite whiskey is Tullamore Dew.

Re: Let Me Love You (7:20am March 1, 2019):

Aw, this sounds like such a good book!

Re: Summoner (1:42pm September 19, 2017):

My favorite supernatural character is Neil Gaiman*s
Sandman/Dream/Morpheus.

Re: Elliott Redeemed (12:19pm September 5, 2017):

I grew up in the sixties and seventies, but I have to say
that I really like Green Day and Offspring.

Re: Brazilian Capture (12:43pm May 25, 2017):

My favorite is The African Queen.

Re: Jordan Reclaimed (5:16pm March 1, 2017):

I've followed a few series, but my favorite is Steig Larsson's
Girl Who ... books. I was so drawn in, I read them slowly because
I knew there wouldn't be anymore (although I could see the opening
for a fourth book).

Re: For Love or Money (4:44pm August 14, 2016):

Music brings me joy.

Re: Fire Danger (5:12pm July 25, 2016):

I love mythology. The same common themes run through the
mythologies of different cultures - they reach back to a
very ancient common source. That being said, I do like the
Thunderbird.

Re: In The Line Of Fire (3:15pm July 20, 2016):

My choice would be Iceland. I would love to go ice
sailing.

Re: Ring of Fire (6:06pm June 2, 2016):

I don't know anyone who doesn't like Johnny Cash. It's
interesting that so many of his songs are people's
favorites, not just one or two of the most popular.
Everyone in the family likes Johnny Cash, but no one has
the same favorite song.

Re: Sexiest Couple Alive (6:14pm May 30, 2016):

Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., Nickolaj
Coster-Waldau, Benedict Cumberbatch's voice.

Re: The Seduction of Kinley Foster (6:18pm May 11, 2016):

My guilty pleasures include How To Get Away With Murder,
and graphic novels.

Re: True Born (7:30pm May 5, 2016):

That's an interesting question - I think I would prefer an
angel.

Re: Hold Your Breath (4:08pm April 21, 2016):

A bottle of scratch would be just fine, thank you. Better
make that a bottle of scotch, then, which really is my
drink of choice to relax with with a good book.

Re: The House by the Lake (4:36pm April 1, 2016):

Some years back, I read an article about an
archaeological dig in England where they excavated a
drained pond. Two items that were found were from the
English Civil War period - a high class cavalier sword,
which was broken in two, and a standard issue puritan
sword, both of which had been thrown into the pond at
what was probably the same time. Darned if there isn't a
cracking story behind this, but it's a mystery that won't
ever be solved. It still bugs me that I'll never know
what happened.

Re: Romancing the Ranger (2:07pm March 22, 2016):

Music uplifts me, and I find it makes the most mundane
chores go much faster. When my husband is out in the
evening, I put on some classical music, which makes a
perfect accompaniment to a good book.

Re: Best Friends with Benefits (1:39pm March 22, 2016):

I never went to a high school reunion. My friends then are
my friends now, and I have no curiosity about the others.

Re: My Tempting Highlander (2:32pm March 7, 2016):

Oh gosh. I've always been fascinated by the English Civil
War. Other people find it incredibly boring, but I find it
fascinating. It was when the change from the Rennaissance
to the modern world was happening.

Re: True Blue Seals: Zak (2:36pm February 24, 2016):

I have a friend in his 70s who was in special forces, and
he's still not on vacation.

Re: Montana Wild (5:34pm January 20, 2016):

I spent some time in the Netherlands, and felt at home in
Rotterdam, but I don't think I would make such a big move
unless I had a good job waiting for me.

Re: Divorced, Desperate, and Daring (7:59pm December 26, 2015):

How about an inhaler or a face mask.

Re: Divorced, Desperate, and Daring (11:05am December 25, 2015):

I remember the old opera glasses used poisoned needles when
they were adjusted. Could be updated to a birder's
binoculars.

Re: A Skeleton in the Family (6:08pm December 16, 2015):

Between the boom in audiobooks and the use of ereaders with
adjustable fonts, I think the big casualty will be large
print books.

Re: Somewhere in Time (1:24pm December 6, 2015):

I haven't discovered the books yet, but I read the exerpt
and it does interest me.

Re: With Every Breath (3:38pm November 24, 2015):

I have two dream getaways - Iceland and Turkey/Greece.

Re: Resist (8:36am November 19, 2015):

Cures for chronic diseases such as arthritis or Alzheimers.

Re: Easton's Everything (1:34pm November 17, 2015):

I like standalone novels, also, standalones within a
series. My reason - my experience with George R.R. Martin.

Re: Once Upon a Power Play (1:21pm November 17, 2015):

I do like speed skater - I find their form (when they
achieve a high level) is a perfect combination of strength,
speed and gracefulness. The ones Iève met also seem to
have a more healthy ego than some other sports.

Re: Murder Under the Mistletoe (10:30am November 16, 2015):

A nice hot bath, a light, engrossing book, and a glass of
wine.

Re: The Courtship of Utopia Miner (10:37am November 14, 2015):

My favorite genre is science fiction, because of the make-me-
go hmmm! ideas. But I do read anything and everything, and
some of my favorite books are not science fiction.

Re: Dangerous Tidings (9:53am November 10, 2015):

Driving downtown to experience all the Christmas
decorations. Our retiree's Christmas party.

Re: Hidden Impact (9:48am November 10, 2015):

My one grandmother's perogies, and the other grandmother's
cabbage rolls. I've tasted none better.

Re: Viking Warrior Rising (10:18am November 3, 2015):

I loved all the mythology when I was a child, and am now
rediscovering it, along with all they layers missing from
children's stories.

Re: Recipes For Love And Murder (10:16am November 3, 2015):

It's got to be my Southern Fried Chile recipe

Re: Blowback (9:57am November 2, 2015):

I would like to read something on the fate of the looted
antiquities from occupied areas. Such a tremendous loss to
a country's heritage.

Re: Beyond The Cherokee Trail (1:47pm October 30, 2015):

My favorite is my grandfather's story.
1. He ran away from an abusive stepfather and joined a
travelling circus.
2. The circus wasn't much better. He was caught stealing
food by a baker, who apprenticed him. Part of his duties
was to deliver pastries to the Romanian royal court.
3. He decided to emigrated to Canada. In Rotterdam, the
Dutch authorities discovered he was a baker, and rerouted
him (shanghied) where his talents were needed, in the Boer
War.
4. Was captured by the British, who were the first to inform
him that he was, in fact, not in Canada. (Understandable
when you don't know the language).
5. Was finally sent to Canada, where his first job was
working on building the Transcontinental Railway.
Who has lives like these anymore? If you wrote about it,
your editor would return it with a request more something
more realistic.

Re: Deadlock (10:26am October 21, 2015):

I had a pet alpha housebunny, who just passed after 10
years.

Re: Welcome to Hickville High (9:09am October 16, 2015):

I would love to visit Texas, but, so far, I havenèt had the
opportunity.

Re: Dragon Coast (5:08pm October 15, 2015):

I would love to be a dragon, but only if I could shapeshift.

Re: The Survivors (10:17am October 14, 2015):

Especially on TV, psychologists play supporting characters
who offer a lot towards resolving the plot. I canèt see why
they canèt play the main character. A psychologist would be
as good a protagonist as a doctor.

Re: Keeping Christmas (7:18pm October 9, 2015):

I like to read any type of book, including nonfiction.
And, yes, if I like an author, I'm quite willing to take a
chance on their work in another genre.

Re: A Different Side (7:34pm October 3, 2015):

I do like a good romance story, much the same as Wallace
appreciates a good Cheddar.

Re: Smart, But Dead (10:00am September 29, 2015):

People seem to think I'm more than a little weird. My
tastes in reading and music and movies don't line up with
the popular mainstream hits, so people I work with think
there's something wrong with me.

Re: Dragon: The Tower Of Tamerlane (11:07am September 25, 2015):

I haven't heard of scene change before, but it seems to be
something inherent in all plotting. For most readers, it
exists under the radar, and this is the first time that
I've seen the idea vocalized.

Re: Never Broken (8:51am September 10, 2015):

I second the Debra name.

Re: The Good Neighbor (10:02am September 8, 2015):

I find the best way to stimulate my creativity is to be
aware of my surroundings. I find being around artists'
creativity spurs my own - not that I copy their work, but
making the leap to admire another's creativity seems to
enable me to make a leap of my own.

Re: Royal Flush (9:55am September 8, 2015):

I haven't been to Vegas, but it doesn't really appeal to
me.

Re: The Highlander's Bride (12:16pm September 3, 2015):

I like to see couples learn to respect one another.

Re: From One Night to Wife (12:31pm September 2, 2015):

I'm a bit older, so I don't really tend to look up to
others, having established my own internal compass. One
person who I consider to be a worthy role model (and,
yeah, hero) is Clara Hughes, who overcame being born in
the disposible part of town, overcame her own personal
black dog, and became a truly great athlete. Her impulse
was not to bask in adulation, but to give back to
disadvantaged children in other countries and to those
suffering depression. I really admire that woman.

Re: The Highwayman (5:46pm September 1, 2015):

This sounds like a great read! Wish me luck!

Re: Food Baby (10:13am August 28, 2015):

Cold pizza is my go-to breakfast food.

Re: Little Pretty Things (12:12pm August 24, 2015):

Tried sports, but I wasn't much good. Most of my
extracurricular was outside of school - Guides and art
lessons.

Re: Moments of Truth (10:01am August 21, 2015):

Gosh, yes, there are tons of details in life that can bog
one down. I have to take an occasion break to decide what
the priorities are.

Re: The Bones Will Speak (1:24pm August 14, 2015):

I love forensic thrillers, and I do enjoy a touch of
romance. I just don't want the romance to overtake the
forensics.

Re: Darkest Misery (4:11pm August 13, 2015):

No boundaries, no limits.

Re: The Wiregrass (10:01am August 10, 2015):

My writing is influed by having to stand up for myself when
I was growing up, because no one else would stand up for
me.

Re: Agent N6: Dylan (12:59pm August 6, 2015):

I like my own picture in my mind, but I like when the
author's vision is close to my own.

Re: A Peach of a Pair (12:56pm August 6, 2015):

A nice glass of chilled white wine.

Re: Fudging the Books (6:01pm August 4, 2015):

My favorite place to visit is Calgary. I try to get
there once a year for an internation skating event.
Their campus is beautiful to walk through and, if I want
to go further afield, the foothills are breathtaking.
Also, my favorite clothing store in the world is a short
walk from the Olympic Village.

Re: Where the Moon Shines Brightest (12:21pm August 2, 2015):

To Kill a Mockingbird, the country being childhood in a
small town setting.

Re: The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts (1:33pm July 30, 2015):

Hmm. I guess the most story worthy thing I've done was to
take a 3 month leave of absence to travel around the
Netherlands.

Re: A Rancher of Her Own (9:46am July 29, 2015):

Romances are a feel-good read. They also give hope that
it's possible to work through problems, and that the end
result is well worth working towards.

Re: Calamity Jayne and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Lawn Gnome (12:38pm July 27, 2015):

Now that I'm in my sixties, I find I've become more
passionate about life in general. Reaching out,
travelling, new experiences all seem to have become more
intense.

Re: Naked (3:08pm July 22, 2015):

I have baked a honey cake, but it was years and years ago.

Re: Double Mint (6:56pm July 21, 2015):

A casino would be a great venue.

Re: School's Out for Murder (10:08am July 20, 2015):

I was sick, which really was a reason, not an excuse.
Otherwise, I always handed it in on time.

Re: Once Upon a Heist (5:06pm July 17, 2015):

I like reading fairy tales because they link me to a
history of readers going back hundreds of years.

Re: The Empress Game (4:15pm July 15, 2015):

Blake's 7. I go way back.

Re: Murder.com (8:57am July 13, 2015):

Currently, my favorite duo is Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller
from Broadchurch.

Re: Butter Off Dead (9:29am July 7, 2015):

Books. I especially collect graphic novels from people
whose artwork I love.

Re: Her Greek Doctor's Proposal (9:08am July 1, 2015):

The summer in Winnipeg is turning out great. Canada Day
promises to be beautiful.

Re: Girl Spoken For (5:58pm June 26, 2015):

Loved John Baldry. Whatever he did in the 80s is at the
top of my list.

Re: Collared For Murder (4:54pm June 16, 2015):

Our pet house bunny really doesn't do silly, but he will try
to hide behind things with his ears sticking up over the top.

Re: Shadow Fires (2:33pm June 11, 2015):

Opposites attract is one of the great tropes of romance - the
make or break being how well it is written. Modern would be
Titanic, and classic would be Gone With the Wind.

Re: 50 Ways to Ruin a Rake (11:00am June 7, 2015):

Sewing machines. We're not on speaking terms. I love doing
handwork, but do not get along with sewing machines. That's
OK, the necessary repairs still get done.

Re: Reunion of Souls (12:37pm June 5, 2015):

I actually prefer nonfiction, because some of the true
stories are really strange and wonderful, and would be
considered implausible if written as fiction. That said, I
also really enjoy fiction, escpecially speculative fiction.

Re: Passionately Yours (11:03am May 28, 2015):

I am looking forward to reading Passionately Yours, and
would have to pick Olivia.

Re: Against the Tide (11:00am May 28, 2015):

I would love to take a road trip through the Maritime
provinces.

Re: A Family for the Bull Rider (2:29pm May 26, 2015):

No one in particular, but I do favour Jack.

Re: Passionately Yours (2:23pm May 26, 2015):

The books sounds like a good summer read. I haven't had the
pleasure of reading any of your work yet, but I hope to
correct that.

Re: Shadowed By Grace (9:58am May 22, 2015):

Being around young people - babies to teenagers.

Re: 50 Ways to Ruin a Rake (1:31pm May 5, 2015):

I've just learned a very close friend is going to be
married.

Re: The Art of Losing Yourself (12:02pm April 24, 2015):

What if ... all people had the opportunity to follow their
educational dreams. What a richer, happier world this
would be.

Re: Double Cross (9:25am April 18, 2015):

Thank you for the contest. You have an interesting cast
list.

Re: The Cozy Cookbook (11:27am April 14, 2015):

My go-to dip is made from one package of Philadelphia cream
cheese, 1 can of flaked ham, 1 tablespoon Worchestershire
sauce, some onion powder, and blue cheese to taste, usually
about a tablespoon. Extemely addictive.

Re: Wicked Stitch (11:24am April 14, 2015):

We have a living museum every summer at Lower Fort Garry,
which is the only stone fort in western Canada. I feel
privileged that the seamstress is a very talented friend of
mine.

Re: The Millionaire's Unexpected Proposal (11:53am April 1, 2015):

I suppose, like a number of people, I've made a snap
judgement of people who have become friends' significant
others. Good thing I keep my mouth shut, since they've
worked out OK.

Re: Assault And Pepper (8:00am March 2, 2015):

My favorite cozy spot is, like the first poster, on my
couch with a good book plus a nice hot drink or a glass of
wine, depending on the time of day.

Re: A Killer Retreat (10:16am February 17, 2015):

Sounds like a book Ièd really like to visit.

Re: A Stitch in Crime (4:01pm February 4, 2015):

I appreciate the thought that goes into your comparison,
and I love the way you present it. My talents don't lie
with writing or quilting, but I do appreciate what goes
into creating books and quilts.

Re: As Gouda as Dead (3:51pm February 4, 2015):

My favorite (ongoing) event is the Minneapolis Renfaire,
which we've attended over the years with many of our
closest friends.

Re: Private Affair (9:39am January 23, 2015):

I find I can enjoy any genre, provided it is well written
with interesting and realistic characters.

Re: Promise to Cherish (2:46pm October 25, 2014):

This sounds like an interesting story in a time period that
fascinates me. I'd love to read your book and become
acquainted with your work.

Re: Forged by Desire (3:45pm September 4, 2014):

I've had my ideal date. Some years ago, my husband and I
took a trip to England which included the Isle of Wight. It
was slightly off season, but lovely weather. We ate, one
evening, at a small restaurant on the coast. We were the
only ones in the restaurant, so we had wonderful
personalized service, and a romantic view over the channel
towards England on a clear, moonlit night. It just came
together, and probably couldn't have been planned.

Re: Dirty Deal (7:00pm August 27, 2014):

I do have a friend like Mike. We've been friends for over
50 years now, growing apart and growing together as our
lives progressed. I consider myself blessed. Most people I
know are good on the sympathy thing, but not so much on the
hard truth side. (Although truth be told, more people seem
to be comfortable dishing out hard truths rather than
receiving them. These tend to remain coworkers as opposed
to becoming friends). Relationships such as yours with Mike
have a precious quality that we can't help but realize is
worth maintaining.

Re: Billionaire Blend (12:47pm August 25, 2014):

I haven't read the coffee house books yet (there are so many
books beckoning to me), but they look like a delightful read.

Re: Thief of Glory (12:53pm August 23, 2014):

After read your blog post, I do so want to read Thief of
Glory. So many stories have been lost because the WWII
generation is passing away without telling their stories,
without realizing what they would mean to their children and
grandchildren. Thank you for sharing your father's story.

Re: Saving Gracie (12:44pm August 23, 2014):

I love my retirement. Life has, in some ways, ratcheted up
with the addition of parental care, but retirement from paid
work has given me the opportunity to take advantage of any
small amounts of breathing space I am afforded.

Re: Breathing Room (5:43pm August 21, 2014):

I haven't had the pleasure of reading any of Susan Elizabeth
Phillip's books yet but, from the comments others have made,
it seems I've really been missing out. Breathing Room looks
like a good place to start.

Re: Flight of the Golden Harpy (5:39pm August 21, 2014):

I'm looking forward to reading your books. I like books that
can't be slotted into a particular genre, as they tend to be
more balanced and maybe a bit more unpredictable. I hope you
have much success with this approach.

Re: Poison (6:37pm August 15, 2014):

It's so interesting to read about the inspiration behind the
characters and their development. As a reader, I find I have
a greater connection with the characters when I learn about
their genesis. I'm looking forward to reading this book.