If you've been following me on Instagram, you've probably noticed I'm at a satellite office this week. I try to schedule one week out of the year reserved for a family vacation with my other half and son. With my family's schedule, if we don't plan the time well in advance, it'll never happen. I am fortunate that with careful budgeting and a credit card with excellent travel benefits, we can take this time and make the most of the summers we have together. If you're interested in reading about traveling with credit card points, The Points Guy is a great website and blog that gave me the tools I needed to make our vacations a little more luxurious and a lot more affordable.

So what have I been up to? Well, a whole lot of staring at the water or jumping in the waves. When it comes to a body of water, I'm just a seven-year-old who refuses to get out, long after everyone else has left.

Throttling down in this way is a real departure from my daily routine, but with all of the talk about self-care, I know how important it is, even if it feels a little selfish. A little less social media and a little more vitamin sea have helped to realign my priorities and give some distance from my work and writing, when I've felt too caught up in the details. After all, does a quarter inch difference in cover size warrant losing hours of sleep? Probably not.

With its elegant accommodations, five diamond service, and breathtaking views, the Acqualina resort, of course, is in the business of relaxation, but what surprised me, was that they're in the business of reading too.

On the nightstand and in the office, each room has several books and a free ebook complimentary of the hotel. Now, THAT is service!

While each one of the spines tempted me to pick them up and dive into the story, I've been waiting to read another book written by a friend of mine. Alleyne Dickens and I met through the Virginia Romance Writers, a chapter of the larger Romance Writer's of America, which I have mentioned before on the blog.

Saving Verity hit last month and is getting some pretty stellar recommendations.

"Mysterious, sensual, and atmospheric—a gripping combination of suspense and romance that kept me turning the pages well into the night. A captivating read!" -- Amanda Bouchet, USA Today bestselling author of The Kingmaker Chronicles

The Soul-Catcher
Reclusive inventor Verity Calvert discovered a secret way to animate artificial bodies with captured souls. Once she has the means to perpetually power those bodies, she can propel her mechanical horses to worldwide fame. Or create something much more lethal. Her quest for a rare mineral to complete the battery brings her face to face with a clever detective over the body of a dead man.

The Detective
When a customs agent is murdered in his warehouse, Scotland Yard assigns their best. Despite his perfect record, Detective Inspector Jacob Howell has grown cynical investigating the dark side of London, until he crosses paths with the brilliant and unexpectedly compassionate inventress. He senses she’s the key to this mystery, but to solve the case he must find her again in the overcrowded city.

The Killer
Someone has learned Verity’s secrets. Someone willing to kill to stop her. Can Howell convince her to trust him before the murderer takes her life and her soul?

Here is the link if you want to check it out for yourself. I know what I'm reading by the beach today.

Onward with a good book in hand,

Kathryn