Normally I like to reach out and say hello to you on Wednesdays, but I had some really cool things to share and today is the best day to share them.
Tuesday, my husband and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary! Whoop! He truly is my rock and my HEA!
We wanted to do something most excellent since 30 years seems like a milestone, but even with the world opening up again, there were many things we couldn't do or weren't sure would be open. At one point my hubby mentioned a fancy luxurious resort in Virginia Blue Ridge mountains. I tossed out another nice hotel, though not a resort, called Inn BoonsBoro. Maybe you know this place? Maybe you read the trilogy that is set there.
If not, Inn BoonsBoro is a boutique bed and breakfast spot owned by Nora Roberts. The story goes that she and her hubby were sad to see the historic building in disrepair and decided to buy and restore it. Just as they were getting ready to open, a fire burned it all down, but they rebuilt and it really is a lovely spot.
There are many things that make this place great, besides being owned by Nora Roberts and featured in one of her series. If you're a die-hard romantic like me, you'll appreciate all the rooms are named after couples who had an HEA such as Elizabeth and Darcy (Pride and Prejudice), Nick and Nora (The Thin Man), Buttercup and Westly (The Princess Bride), Margarite and Percy (The Scarlet Pimpernel), Titania and Oberon (Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream), and Eve and Roarke
(Nora's JD Robb In Death series). There is a penthouse, which I'm going to suggest they name Anne and Wentworth (Persuasion). 😉
We stayed in the Jane and Rochester (Jane Eyre) room. Each room is decorated according to the era the characters existed in. We had a huge bed with steps to climb into it. At the end of the bed was a sighing couch. I have no idea what that is, but it was lovely.
The bathroom was humongous and had a copper soaking tub that I enjoyed along with the bath salts provided. My hubby enjoyed the shower with the rain showerhead and jets! The bathroom also had an electric toilet, which took a little getting used to. They offer robes for use (you can buy them too) and the towels were fluffy and huge. It felt luxurious!
The inn also has a common space where visitors can watch tv or play chess. There is a little fridge with free water, soda and juice. Another common area off the kitchen has a huge fireplace that would be nice in winter, but it was hotter than hades, so we didn't spend time there.
The kitchen is open and normally accessible, but since COVID, it's still asked that visitors contact one of the staff it they need anything. Every night from 6-7, they offer free wine and a cheese/veggie plate.
In the dining room, snacks such as pretzels, nuts, and granola bars, are available at anytime. There were cupcakes too, which my hubby said were fantastic. They must have been spectacular because he doesn't like cake.
Upstairs there is a library filled with all sorts of books, not just Nora's. It's another place people can go to read or play chess. It has a Keurig for coffee, tea, or hot cocoa anytime, plus a decanter of Irish whisky free for the drinking (Yes, I had some because I've never had Irish whisky).
The front of the building has two porches. I enjoyed my coffee in the morning on the upstairs one. It's a little loud as it's a main street, but it was still really nice.
There is another upstairs porch out back, plus a terrace off the ground floor.
The people who run the inn are fantastically nice and helpful. They must be used to fangirling because they'd didn't seem fazed by me (I really tried to keep it under control 🤪 ).
Nora and her family own several businesses in town, including a restaurant with craft beer, a pizza place, a bookstore, and gift store. Where possible, they source all their needs through local venders. I think it's wonderful that they to their part to support local businesses and artists.
I probably went overboard with the souvenirs, but I had to have them all. My booty includes the bath salts and several body washes, a couple of Nora and JD Robb magnets, a pendent with part of a JD Robb novel ("Darling Eve."), Eve's Blend coffee and a Roarke mug, and dishtowel that has a philosophy that I can by into!
I didn't see Nora, but her granddaughter was working at the bookstore. The bookstore was fun because it was a place I could talk about Nora's books and they all understood! They carry other authors, new releases, and have a section for other local authors.
The gift store next door offers all the lotions and soaps from the hotel, but also local artists' crafts.
Wondering what there is to do in Boonsboro, Maryland? Actually, there's quite a bit. If you like history, it's not far from Antietam or Harpers Ferry. If you like nature, there is Washington Monument State Park and Chrystal Grottoes Cave. It's also not far from Hagerstown, which has an outlet mall.
All in all it was a lovely trip and I hope to be able to return again. Actually, I'll have to go back several times as I want to stay in the Eve and Roarke room, Elizabeth and Darcy room, and the Nick and Nora room.
Note, I'm not getting compensated or anything for gushing like this. It's all me on my high from a lovely time! Plus, I'm hoping I gleaned some of Nora's good writing juju!
Release Date July 14, 2021
I'm very excited that the next Sophie book is coming. The release was delayed twice, but now she's finally back and quicker and funnier than ever (if I may say so!).
If you picked up one of the free ARC copies, I hope you're enjoying it and will leave a review by July 14! It would boost the release!
This is the second book in the Sophie Parker Coupon Mysteries. While you first meet Sophie, her curmudgeonly aunt, the coupon crew, and airplane repo guy, AJ in Death of a Debtor, you don't necessarily have to have read book one to enjoy Death of a Coupon Queen.
BLURB
Sophie Parker's life is looking up. She's getting along with her curmudgeonly great-aunt, dating a hot airplane repo man, and working part-time at the library telling fairy tales. Sophie's new normal is cut to bits when she arrives at her coupon mentor's home to learn about using phone apps for shopping savings and finds her stabbed in the neck with her coupon sheers. When her mentor's coupons are found in Sophie's nemesis, Vivie Danner's car, the case seems
solved, although Sophie finds it hard to belie Vivie would murder in such a messy fashion.
Reluctantly recruited by Vivie, Sophie set out to find out who wanted the coupon queen dead. As Sophie uncovers secrets about the victim and other residents of the town, someone is lurking close by, ready to cut her life short.
