Stacy Monson – Romantic Destination – Part 1 of 1

Shannon here: Stacy Monson takes us on a virtual tour of Lake Tahoe. Comment or answer the question at the end of the post to enter the drawing for a print copy and an e-copy for two winners of her latest Contemporary Romance, Open Circle. Deadline: Dec 15th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Stacy:

Lake Tahoe—The Perfect Place for Love

I love to travel. Unfortunately, while I have unlimited dreams, we don’t have unlimited funds so we’ve had to choose our destinations carefully. There are so many places I want to visit and things I want to do—from a river cruise in Europe to visiting Ireland, Iceland, Australia and New Zealand, not to mention places I have yet to see here in the U.S. (Confession: I just turned 60 and I’ve never visited the Grand Canyon!)

I was born, raised and continue to live in a suburb of Minneapolis. It’s a pretty place with lots of lakes, green space, farms, and woods. I’ve set all four of my books in some part of Minnesota, mainly in the metro area where we have a fabulous trail system around what we call “the lakes,” but also in south eastern Minnesota where the bluffs are beautiful and you can see for miles. I do love coming home after visiting other places, here and abroad.

But through our travels, I’ve discovered that I’m actually a mountain girl at heart. No, I don’t ski (tried back in junior high—let’s just say I’m not very balanced) but I do love a great hike in the woods. While there are countless places of beauty in the U.S., my all-time favorite area is Lake Tahoe. I’ve tried several times to work it into one of my stories, so far without success. But that’s one of my writing goals—to use that idyllic setting as the backdrop of a romance.

What makes the Tahoe area so romantic? First, it’s the lake itself, of course. The facts: It’s the largest alpine lake in the country, with an average depth of 1,000 feet (second only to Oregon’s Crate Lake). Two-thirds of the lake is in California with the remaining one-third in Nevada. Ski resorts are in abundance, including Squaw Valley (home of the 1960 Olympics), Heavenly, Kirkwood, and Sugar Bowl.

But while facts are interesting, your heart will tell you the water is a blue that will take your breath away. Surrounded by the Sierra Nevada mountain range (not as tall or craggy as the Rocky Mountains but just as beautiful), the serenity of the lake, even on a cloudy or windy day, beckons you to sit awhile and soak it in. There’s a peacefulness in the mountains that slows time, makes you take long, deep breaths of fresh mountain air, and allows you to hear your thoughts and dreams in the quiet of the trees.

There’s room for romance in a setting like this, space for hearts to quiet and connect, perhaps heal from past hurts or open to new possibilities. Imagine a leisurely hike along a mountain path, sunshine sparkling through towering pines, birds chirping, sweet larkspur and asters lining the way. A place where two people can talk openly and honestly.

Or kayaking along a rocky shoreline, gentle waves guiding them into deep conversation or a playful splash fight. A stroll under a star-speckled sky reveals lights from a gazebo beckoning them to sit and cuddle in the cool evening air.

Lake Tahoe provides the perfect setting for a surprise (or long-awaited?) proposal, a romantic honeymoon, or a quiet time where a relationship can be restored. A gondola ride up a mountainside brings them to a breath-taking view that reminds them of the One who created everything. A boat ride across the clearest blue water clears minds and hearts clouded with longing, confusion, even anger.

My favorite location to visit is also the perfect place for a romantic get-away, for two lonely hearts to meet and fall in love, or for battered lives to be refreshed and rejuvenated. I hope you’ll plan a visit soon. In the meantime, I’ll be working this beautiful location into my next story.

About Stacy: Stacy Monson is the award-winning author of stories that reveal an extraordinary God at work in ordinary life. Residing in the Twin Cities, she is the wife of a juggling, unicycling physical education teacher, mom to two amazing kids and two wonderful in-law kids, and a very proud grandma. Learn more about her writing and her passion for encouraging others to be the person God designed them to be at www.stacymonson.com. Connect with Stacy: 

Stacy’s Facebook             Stacy’s Twitter              Stacy’s Instagram              Stacy’s Pinterest               Stacy’s Goodreads

About the book – Open Circle: 

Determined not to lose the only family they have, their tug-of-war impacts an entire community.

Mindy Lee “Minnie” Carlson’s dream job has dropped into her hands, but there’s a catch. She has four months to revive Open Circle, the town’s only Senior Adult Day Center, or the doors will close, leaving her beloved seniors stranded, and eliminating the only job she’s ever wanted.

Globe-trotting photographer Jackson Young documents the forgotten people of the world, focusing on the poor and elderly. After decades on the road, he’s stunned to learn his beloved Grandma Em is still alive in the small town he’d had to leave decades earlier.

Overjoyed, Jackson races back into town to reconnect with her and discovers she’s been Minnie’s adopted grandma for the past twenty years. When Grandma Em has a stroke, his ideas about her care pit him against Minnie’s determination and expertise. For Grandma Em’s sake, and the future of Open Circle, they’ll need to do the impossible—find a way to work together.

Can’t wait for the drawing? Get your copy now!  Open Circle

Check out Stacy’s award winning titles: Stacy’s Amazon Page

Question for Readers: What’s your favorite get-away?