MARY E THOMPSON

it's a curvy road to happily ever after

Amazing Things

Three Places to Visit Outside Niagara Falls

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A couple weeks ago, I shared my five favorite things to do on your trip to Niagara Falls. It’s a city I love, and a city I’m fortunate to live close to. I grew up going to Niagara Falls and didn’t realize it was a big deal until I moved away from the area. But there’s so much to do when you come visit! I didn’t want you to miss out on a few amazing places to visit when you need to get away from the city a little bit!

Niagara on the Lake

I love small town. Small, independently owned shops, people walking the streets, mom and pop restaurants. Does it get any better than that?

If you need to get away from the bustle of the city for a few days, but still want to stay close, Niagara on the Lake is a great spot to visit. With local vineyards, shops that feature products grown and made right there (jelly anyone?), and so many unique and beautiful things, you might not want to leave. Don’t even get me started on the food! I don’t think you can find a bad place to eat.

For more information on a trip to Niagara on the Lake, visit https://www.niagaraonthelake.com. Just as an FYI, it’s on the Canadian side, so bring your passports Americans!

Buffalo, New York

I have a soft spot for Buffalo since I grew up in the area and live there again. There is a lot to do in the Buffalo area, but I won’t go into all that! Buffalo sits about 20 minutes south of Niagara Falls on the edge of Lake Erie.

If you’re a sports fan, we have professional football (Buffalo Bills), baseball (minor league Buffalo Bisons), hockey (Buffalo Sabres), lacrosse (Buffalo Bandits), and tons of local colleges. If you try, chances are you’ll find a sporting event to catch no matter when you visit!

Canalside is a beautiful area of Buffalo with trails to walk or bike, stunning views of the Niagara River and Lake Erie, and a fun feel to the Queen City. In the summer, food trucks hang out and radio stations broadcast, and it turns into a party. With all the snow we get, we take every opportunity to get outside and enjoy the nice weather and turn it into a party!

Make sure you grab some chicken wings while you’re in town!

Toronto, Ontario

If you’re looking to head a little further away, Toronto is a city not to be missed. From its stunning position on the edge of Lake Ontario to the bustle of the city, you will fall in love with Toronto.

Whether you’re with family or adults only, Toronto offers something for everyone. My husband’s favorite is Medieval Times. My kids loved Ripley’s Aquarium and Legoland (a little north of Toronto). I think the views alone are worth the trip, especially from the CN Tower in downtown. Shopping and eating are always on the short list when we make the trip. St. Lawrence Market offers the Old Toronto Food Tour, a four hour tour with the opportunity to taste different foods in the world’s ‘best food market.’ Who wouldn’t want to do that?

Visiting Niagara Falls is well worth the trip, but adding in a few extra stops along the way will only make your trip better!

Where’s your favorite place to go around Niagara Falls?

FreedomLife was hard enough on my own. I couldn’t risk letting anyone close. When they got close, they got hurt. She was the only one I wanted to drag closer, but she wasn’t immune. She was in just as much danger. But the difference with her was she was a threat to me, too. Because with her around, I wanted things I had no business wanting. 

Available May 22

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Five Things to do in Niagara Falls

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Everyone knows Niagara Falls. Touted as one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in the world, Niagara Falls is a beautiful and majestic sight. It’s also a pair of cities full of things to do that will keep you entertained for days.

When you plan your next trip, plan a little extra time to hit up some of these places. You won’t be disappointed!

  1. Niagara Power Vista
    If you’re traveling with kids, this is a great place to spend a couple hours. It’s full of activities and a history of the construction of the power plant. An in depth view of how the plant was constructed and the time and manpower needed to turn a dream into a reality fascinated me. Between pictures taken during construction and adventures for the kids to see how electricity is made and used, it was a fun afternoon. Plus, it’s free!

    Niagara Power Vista
  2. Goat Island
    Have you ever wondered what it would be like to stand in the middle of Niagara Falls? Goat Island is your chance. Originally a goat farm, now part of Niagara Reservation State Park, the oldest state park in the US, Goat Island offers unparalleled views of the Falls. Stand on the island and look over both the Canadian Horseshoe falls and the American Falls. If you’re really feel adventurous, walk over to Three Sisters Island or Luna Island and get even closer to the action!

    Goat Island between the American and Canadian Falls
  3. Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds
    No trip to Niagara Falls is complete without a ride on the Maid of the Mist. There’s a boat on both the American and Canadian sides, both giving you a view of the Falls from the Lower Niagara. Prepare to get wet!
    Cave of the Winds is a walking tour behind the American Falls. It’s a rush to be close enough that you can feel the water all around you. Wear good sneakers and leave behind anything that you don’t want to get wet. Trust me!

    Maid of the Mist
  4. Walk the Rainbow Bridge
    The Rainbow Bridge goes between Niagara Falls, US and Niagara Falls, Canada. The view of the bridge over the Lower Niagara River, with the Falls in the background, is stunning. You have to walk a little on each side to find something to do, but the trip itself is well worth it. Make sure you bring your passport with you, though. You are crossing into a new country. If you’re like me, you’ll want to stop in the middle and take a picture. Remember that scene from A Walk To Remember? You can be in two places at once!

    Rainbow Bridge through the mist of the Falls
  5. Go shopping!
    A trip anywhere isn’t worth it without a few souvenirs to bring home. My favorite place to shop in Niagara Falls, US is the Made In America Store. Right in downtown Niagara Falls, it’s a local chain that offers only products made in America. From clothes to pillows to decorations and jewelry, you’ll find tons of things to take home with you so you remember your trip. It’s a great opportunity to find unique items and a little something special while supporting a local business and US based companies. I love it!

Going on a trip anywhere is exciting. You get to see and do new things. Having a little bit of an inside scoop makes the trip that much more fun! I hope you enjoy your visit to Niagara Falls!

What is your favorite thing to do in Niagara Falls?

FreedomI only ever needed a man for one thing. But when I called, the one man I never thought I could count on came running. He did more than help, he turned me inside out. And just when I thought everything would be okay, he dropped a bomb on me.

Available May 22

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Love And Loss

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If you follow me on Facebook you already know my family lost our cat, Abigail, on Monday. It hit me harder than the rest of our family, probably because she was my cat. She slept on my pillow next to me, I had her before hubby and I lived together, and she was just the sweetest thing ever.

Abigail was the cat that never hissed or got upset. She would let my kids pick her up, sit on her, give her hugs, all without complaint. We have another cat, but no cat will ever replace Abigail in my heart.

Losing her made me realize just how much I loved her. Most days I was frustrated with her following me around (I tripped over her more times than I can count), telling me what to do, and having accidents (she’d been sick for a few weeks). But all of that was worth it to have her around.

But I didn’t appreciate her.

Now that she’s gone I wish I could go back and cuddle her more – not that she would have let me – or been sweeter to her. I loved her dearly, but loss always shows us how much we love someone.

Romance novels don’t talk about loss much because they’re usually about happy endings and something new starting. But when loss is a part of a story, it’s that much more powerful. One of my favorite books is The Remembrance Trilogy (yes, it’s three books, but it’s one story). I won’t spoil anything, but in the trilogy there is loss. It ripped my heart out and I felt like I was going through it with the characters.

Loss is painful, but it’s a part of life.

I don’t like writing about loss because it tears me up. I put myself in my characters position when I write, and I feel what they feel. Writing Becky’s story (Back In The Game) was hard because I knew she had to deal with the loss of her husband, Brian. Even though you never met Brian, I felt like I knew him because I knew Becky so well. Giving her the strength to deal with the loss she carried for over five years brought me to tears, literally.

But I knew it had to be done. Becky had to deal with Brian’s death before she could move on with her life. She had to go through the pain all over again so she could say goodbye to him once and for all, and live the rest of her life.

We all experience loss. Hopefully we all also know love. The stronger you love the harder it is to lose. Life is never the same when someone you love is gone. I know I’ll always miss Abigail sleeping next to me. I’ll miss her waiting to jump in the shower after I get out. I’ll even miss her telling me when something isn’t done to her liking. But my life will go on.

We look to love in times of loss to help us move forward. I look to my husband and kids to keep me strong. I know they will, but they’re missing her too. We will move forward together.

And before you ask, no, we will not be getting another cat!

A Much Needed Break

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Atlantis (from a distance) in Nassau, Bahamas
Atlantis (from a distance) in Nassau, Bahamas

When’s the last time you went on vacation, like a real vacation to just chill out?

For me it’d been a while. Probably my honeymoon – ten years ago. I started grad school four months after we got married and we started trying to get pregnant before I’d finished school then we had the kids and life was all about them.

Vacations were a luxury that we didn’t have.

But hubby and I finally took one. For our tenth anniversary (last week) we went on a cruise to relax and unwind. Without the kids. It was nice to reconnect and relax. I got some work done, did some reading, and caught up on sleep. Overall, it was pretty much the perfect vacation.

I realized when we were planning our vacation that as adults we rarely take the time we need to relax. We don’t get enough sleep, we finish out the year without taking all our vacation, and we always feel overworked.

A vacation was the perfect remedy for me.

Yes, I worked. But I love my work and it didn’t feel like I was working. I enjoyed taking the time to work out some ideas that were in my head. I also read three books while we were on the trip and took a nap almost every afternoon. It was just right for me.

I missed my kids. I missed my bed. I missed the comforts of home. But I loved being able to get away.

On the cruise, I was talking to another couple and mentioned I was a writer. The husband asked me if I take cruises to get away and write. I told him we were just there for vacation, but I think I’m going to have to seriously consider his idea for the future. Taking a few days off to get away and relax definitely recharged my brain. I’ve had more ideas this week than in the last few months. I have books in mind that I want to write – enough to last me the next two or three years. I also have good plans developed for what I’m writing now and what I need to get done.

It’s amazing what a break and some fresh air can do for you!

When was the last time you went on a vacation? Maybe you should ask for one for Mother’s Day this year!

Happy and Inspired

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Hubby and I have been talking a lot lately about what we want. We’re trying to move to Buffalo, NY where I grew up to be around my family. We aren’t really happy where we live now and want to be in a different situation, so we’re working on changing it.

I know how lucky I am. I love my job. Writing is what I feel like I’m called to do. In my engineering career I felt like I was going through the motions but never really into it. When I finally started writing, I knew it was what I was meant to do. But it scared me.

Finding your true calling is hard. I searched for a long time. A lot of people do. I see my husband struggling now. He comes home tired and frustrated and doesn’t enjoy the evenings with our family because he’s so wrapped up in his day. I hate seeing him like that.

But with freedom comes happiness. And I’ve found that with happiness comes inspiration. It’s amazing how many ideas I have for books. Every day I feel like a new idea pops into my head. If I could write faster I’d have published twice as many books, at least. I wouldn’t change a second of it.

We’re still not where we want to be, physically and financially. We have struggles. I spend my days at my computer writing love stories and dreaming about more. My career and my life help me to stay focused on what really matters. What matters to me is my family and friends, my work, my life, and my health. I want different things than I have now, but I still love my life.

As a Catholic, this week I celebrated Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Lent is a time for sacrifice and reflection for Catholics. It’s a time to remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert before he was crucified. Thankfully, I hope, my end is not coming in a few weeks, but I still use this time to reflect on my life.

Every year we are asked to give something up. Many people choose candy, alcohol, even sex or swearing. I know how hard those choices can be. But I like to try to do something that makes me a better person. So this Lent, I’m giving up negative thinking. I’m going to look at every situation I’m in as a good one, and see the bright side of everything.

I know I’ll have my slip ups, but I’m hoping by Easter I’ll be a more positive person. I have a lot to be thankful for. My life is not nearly as bad as I tell myself at times. And I’m happy. And inspired. I know if I wasn’t meant to be a writer, God wouldn’t be inspiring me every day with new and fabulous ideas. He has my muse on overdrive. And I love it!

Even if you aren’t Catholic, or Christian, think today about how you can make your life just a little better. Maybe you want to focus on polishing your resume so you can get a new job. Or you’re writing a book and want to publish it. Maybe you want to take the leap with your heart and fall in love. Or it could be getting up and exercising a few times each week. Whatever you’re struggling with, make a commitment to yourself to change that this Lent. Tell yourself you can do it. Then do it!

We all have it in us to change and live the life we crave. Don’t settle for a life you’re not happy with, you only have one, so go live it!

Life Is Love

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I was browsing online and realized something. There are books out there for everyone. I know not everyone is going to love what I write, but I also know there are people out there who do. Plus, I need to be true to who I am about what I write and what I like.

But I’m always thinking up new ideas. Two of my ideas this week are about new series I’m hoping to write over the next few years. I love my Better In Bed series that just started with Wait For It and Cat and Ryder. I can’t wait to see where the entire series is going and the other interesting people we will meet. But I know myself well enough to know that I will get bored if I feel like I’m writing the same thing over and over again – meaning the same characters and scenery and general feeling. I need something different once in a while.

Then I realized there are other things I love and other ideas for me. So, I’m planning on a series about sports. I haven’t worked out any of the details yet, but I think it’ll be a lot of fun to write. More women enjoy sports then we really talk about, but sports is something I’ve always been involved with. Whether it’s playing sports, watching sports, or writing about sports, it’s a part of me. And I think it’ll be fun to work on.

Another thing I love is the holidays. With all the focus on Christmas right now, the holiday spirit is running wild with everyone. I think it could be fun to write a series based on holidays. This one is going to take some more work, but I like the idea of it.

Maybe you like these ideas and maybe you hate them. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll never actually write these books. But for right now, I know I’m feeling great about the new inspiration. Especially when my brain is on overload!