Gayla K. Hiss – Real Life Romance – Part 1 of 2

Shannon here: Gayla K. Hiss shares an RV adventure she and her husband embarked on. Comment or answer the question at the end of the post to enter the drawing for an e-copy of her Romantic Suspense, Wildfire – book 3 in her Peril in the Park series. Deadline: Aug 18th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Gayla:

Joshua Tree National Park

Our First RV Snowbird Adventure, Part 1 of 2:

Last January, my husband Jeff and I embarked on our first winter trip with our RV. The plan was to head to the sunny Southwest to give me a break from the rainy Seattle weather. The only advanced arrangements we’d made were reservations for two and half weeks in Arizona during the first half of the trip and nine days in Florida toward the end. We wanted to leave the rest of the time open and flexible around those dates.

Our first destination was near the Salton Sea in Southern California. Jeff and I were up late the night before we arrived, researching RV parks on the Internet. After two days of traveling in the rain through Washington, Oregon, and California, we finally reached sunshine and pulled into the RV park we’d selected, eager to stay in one place for the whole week. It was around sunset when we entered the office to check in.

The manager did not look happy to see us. In fact, he looked frazzled and upset. Then he told us we would have to find another place to stay. They were experiencing a power outage that had affected a number of campsites, and he didn’t have any other sites available for us, though we’d made reservations online.

This was not what we wanted to hear. Having researched all the RV parks in the area, we knew that none were close by and most would be booked for the night. After driving all day, the last thing we wanted was to get back in the truck and drive another hour or two, assuming we could even find a place with availability. Disappointed, we mulled over the bad news and tried not to complain. I hoped and prayed there might be another option, especially because the sun was setting and we were hungry and tired from the long drive.

Then, almost as an afterthought, the manager mentioned that he had a tent site available with limited utilities. We perked up. It wasn’t what we had reserved or expected, but we could easily manage for a few days, and it beat the alternative. The manager led us to the site in his golf cart, while we followed in our truck, towing our fifth-wheel trailer. When we came to a vacant RV site next to a small, scenic lake, the man stopped and walked over to Jeff’s window. He said the people who’d reserved that site probably wouldn’t show up since it was almost dark, and we could have it. We were amazed and delighted. It was a premium site with full hookups on the lake. So in a matter of minutes, our circumstances had changed from no place to stay—to switching to a premium RV site!

The rest of our time there was wonderful. Rejuvenating in the brilliant Southern California sunshine, we strolled the shores of the Salton Sea, walked through date groves, visited Joshua Tree National Park, and enjoyed romantic bonfires at night under the stars. What had started as a big disappointment had ended in a delightful vacation—and it was only the beginning of our snowbird adventure. What other surprises would be in store for us? 

About Gayla: Gayla’s writing journey began with her hobby painting landscapes. In her imagination, characters and scenes came to life as she painted beautiful natural settings. Her inspiring novels combine her love for the great outdoors with romance, suspense, and mystery. Gayla and her husband often tour the country in their RV, visiting many state and national parks. She enjoys hiking, camping, and traveling, and lives in the Pacific Northwest. She’s excited to announce the August release of WILDFIRE, book 3 in her Peril in the Park series. Learn more and connect:

Gayla’s Website         Gayla’s Facebook        Gayla’s Goodreads        

Gayla’s Bookbub Profile      Gayla’s Amazon Page

About the Book – Wildfire: 

Will Rachael and Dylan escape the fire’s fury, or perish in the flames?       

Sparks fly when wildfire researcher Rachael Woodston clashes with firefighter Dylan Veracruz in Rocky Mountain National Park. The June fire season has just begun, yet a long-standing drought has already turned the park into a tinderbox. Rachael’s computer data indicates the fire Dylan’s crew is fighting is about to accelerate, but he doesn’t believe her—until the fire suddenly gets out of control and they have to evacuate.

Suspecting arson, Rachael and Dylan join forces in search of answers and soon discover that chasing fires isn’t all they have in common—they’re both survivors of deep loss. However, their difference of opinion about faith keeps them at arm’s length, despite a growing attraction. As the danger escalates, Rachael and Dylan soon find themselves in a firestorm they cannot escape. All seems lost until Rachael has a profound encounter that restores her faith and gives her hope. The close call also fuels her determination to stop the fiend behind the flames. But can she and Dylan solve the mystery and extinguish their enemy before disaster strikes again?

Can’t wait for the drawing? Get your copy now: Wildfire – Amazon

Question for Readers: What is your favorite winter getaway? 

Come back Aug 10th for more RV adventures with Gayla!