Hey, Romantics, it's Paul coming to you from home in Lakewood Ranch. Robin will take over in a moment, but I wanted to thank you for reaching out over the past few days as we got up close and personal with Hurricane Milton. We live fifteen miles from Anna Maria Island on Florida's Gulf Coast. We're not in a flood zone, so storm surge wasn't a worry. Our home was built to withstand hurricane-force winds, so that wasn't a concern either. All that said, Milton was an experience we never want to go through again. It was breezy at first. Then the lights went out, plunging us into darkness as the winds increased to speeds of nearly 100 mph. Wind at that speed is more of a roar. Palm trees bend nearly in half. Rain smacks windows like shotgun pellets. And then, nothing. Forty-five minutes of calm. The stars made an appearance. We took Lucy out for a brief night-time walk. You hope that the worst is over, but you know better. The winds return, from a different direction than before. The whole thing lasted about five hours. By morning, winds were calm. By noon, the sun was out and our storm shutters were tucked away in the garage. We got off easy. A few trees down and a couple days without power. We're the lucky ones. As of this morning, seventeen people have perished. Homes were leveled or filled with water. There are plenty of heroes, too. Linemen came from as far as Calgary, Ontario. Neighbors helped one another clean up and remove shutters. Churches opened their doors to the stranded and homeless. Don't expect to see Milton in any future Robin Paul stories. Hopefully, we're done with that stuff for awhile. Now back to Robin! Have You Ordered Your Cozy Christmas Kit? There's Only Four More Days! I can't remember being as excited about something as I am about my Cozy Christmas Kit. Let me tell you how I put it together. I imagined the perfect evening after a crazy day of work, kids, shopping, wrapping, making plans….you know the drill. I begin with an aromatic bath by the soft glow of candlelight. Once in my most comfy pajamas, I make myself a mug of hot cocoa, turn on my Christmas tree, and snuggle up in a soft and cozy blanket that reminds me of Christmas. Then, I curl up, cover up, and read a sweet holiday romance that ignites all the Christmas feels. I searched long and hard to find the perfect things to include. To be honest, I probably included too many gifts, but since this is my first attempt, you get all the goodies I have found. As you know, we are a small business. Paul and I hand pack every box and ship them to you in time for the holidays. There are only 99 boxes, and many are already spoken for, so don't miss your opportunity to get one. The retail value of the items in the box is over $150, but we are selling them for $69.50 plus shipping. This is the PERFECT cozy kit to keep for yourself or ship to friends and family. We ship anywhere in the continental United States before Christmas, so you have time to enjoy a relaxing evening before the big day. But also keep in mind that the items in the box will continue to bring you joy throughout the season. If you haven't already checked out the fun video my friend Glenda and I made you can find it below. It includes everything that will come in your kit. And if you want a Cozy Christmas Kit for yourself to as a gift to another Romantic, click here. Robin Paul Subscribers have until this Thursday to order before the offer goes public. Don't wait! A Sneak Peek at What's Coming Would You Believe... A Robin Paul Beach Read? We've had this unfinished manuscript on the shelf for about three years now, and decided that it's time to let it take flight. The delightful lead characters, Regina and Walt, keep pulling us back to... Bethany Beach! Yes, the same Bethany Beach that served as the setting for our 2021 debut book, Drifting Together! And while this isn't another May/December story, it's seasoned by the sun and salty mist of a perfect day at the beach. And food! Foodies will love this one! Here's Amazon's pre-publication description: Rising star chef Regina Cole had it all - a coveted position at one of New York's hottest restaurants and a bright future ahead. But when a workplace accident leaves her injured and pushed out of her dream job, Regina finds herself starting over in the sleepy beach town of Bethany Beach, Delaware. As she works to transform a rundown roadside diner into her own upscale eatery, Regina discovers unexpected allies in the quirky locals, including Walt, her enigmatic landlord with a painful past. But her controlling boyfriend Damon seems determined to draw her back to New York and the cutthroat restaurant world she left behind. With opening day approaching and legal battles looming, Regina must decide where her future truly lies. Can she find healing and build something meaningful in this small coastal town? Or will the ghosts of her past pull her back to the big city? Full of mouthwatering dishes, complex relationships, and small-town charm, this love story serves up a heartwarming story of second chances, unlikely friendships, and finding home in unexpected places. The working title is Three Mile Millie . That could be the actual title, but we'll not know for a few more weeks. Expect to see this one on the shelves in March. More to follow! Haven't read Drifting Together yet? Find it here. Christmas Class Reunion Is Back The Hallmark Channel is airing Christmas Class Reunion for the first time this season on Thursday, October 24 at 10a/9c. We always recommend you read the book before seeing the movie! Read the Book Christmas Class Reunion's IMDb Movie Page Our Story: Hallmarking Together - Two Years Later Not My Mama's Corncake My mother was born in Georgia and raised in North Carolina. She was a true southern lady, even after settling in Kansas City with my dad after they were discharge from the Army. One thing she loved to make was cornbread. We ate a lot of cornbread growing up. When I started cooking for my own family, I moved away from traditional “non-sweet” cornbread to create what our kids lovingly call corncake. It's sweeter than the traditional southern variety, but a favorite of our family and often requested for family dinners. I hope you enjoy it. Ingredients 1(9 oz.) box of Jiffy corn bread mix 1(9 oz.) box of Jiffy yellow cake mix ⅓ cup milk ½ cup water 2 eggs ¼ cup oil (canola or vegetable) Instructions Mix together all ingredients. Pour into an 8 X 8 greased pan. Bake 5 minutes at 400 degrees then 20-35 minutes on 350 degrees. Oven times may vary. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick in the middle. If it comes out clean it's done. That's all for now. See you soon! I would love to hear from you! Email me at
[email protected] Love, Robin
