A #Southwest #Adventure - La Posada Hotel, Winslow Arizona

Today’s armchair travel takes you to Winslow, Arizona. The town is most famous for the song “Take It Easy,” written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey. The Eagles version is the best known.

Winslow doesn’t offer a great deal of tourist fascination, but La Posada hotel is worth a look – or a stay. Built in 1929, the hotel was originally one of the Harvey Houses built by Fred Harvey, who developed and ran all the hotels and restaurants along the route of the Santa Fe Railway.

The hotel’s architect was equally famous. Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter designed some of the buildings along the rim of the Grand Canyon. At La Posada, she influenced everything from the building and grounds to the maid uniforms and dinner china. 

Even though the hotel opened in May 1930, just after the stock market crash of 1929, it remained open for 27 years. During World War II, soldiers taking the train across country got to eat in the restaurant. But in the early 1960s, the building was transformed into offices for the Santa Fe Railway – a tragedy that involved covering up windows and paintings and installing dropped ceilings.

In the 1990s, Allan Affeldt took over the hotel and has been renovating it. Today it is a living museum, harkening back to the glamorous era of a century ago. Modern artists, including the owner’s wife Tina Mion also display work there, which can be a bit incongruous, but it’s nice that they’re supporting living artist as well. Learn more about the hotel’s history here.

While many of the original touches have been lost, a few have been restored and modern furniture and accoutrements follow the same designs. The rooms aren’t luxurious by modern standards, and few are handicapped accessible, but each room has its own unique furniture and artwork. If you visit, plan to spend a couple of hours wandering the building and grounds, where you’ll constantly stumble across hidden gems. You can also sit on the back patio and watch the trains go by.

Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance set in Southwestern landscapes. In The Mad Monk’s Treasure, two friends hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. In The Dead Man’s Treasure, relatives follow a series of challenging clues to compete for a buried treasure. In The Skeleton Canyon Treasure, sparks fly when reader favorites Camie and the cat Tiger help a mysterious man track down his missing uncle.

Whispers in the Dark brings romantic suspense to an archaeology dig among ancient Southwest ruins. In the romantic mystery What We Found, a young woman finds a murder victim in the woods. In Counterfeits, stolen paintings bring danger to a small town in the New Mexico mountains.

Fans of Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels, and Terry Odell will love Kris Bock’s romantic adventures. “Counterfeits is the kind of romantic suspense novel I have enjoyed since I first read Mary Stewart’s Moonspinners.” 5 Stars – Roberta at Sensuous Reviews blog

Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter for announcements of new books, sales, and more.

My #MFRWHooks for The Mad Monk’s Treasure - #Romance and #Suspense in New Mexico

Erin could hardly believe what she was seeing. Could this be it? After all this time waiting, searching, had she finally, finally, found what she was looking for?

She forced herself to sit back and take a deep breath. Don’t make assumptions. Don’t rush into things. She wanted to leap up and scream her excitement, but years of academic training held. Slow down, double-check everything, and make sure you are right!

She leaned forward and ran her fingers over the grainy photograph. With that one image, everything seemed to fall into place. This was the clue. It had to be.

She fumbled in her desk drawer for a magnifying glass and studied the symbols in the photo more closely. At a glance, they looked like your standard Indian petroglyphs. You could find them throughout the Southwest, tucked away in caves or scattered among boulder fields. She’d been on a hike just a few miles outside of town which took her past a wonderful series of handprints and spirals, and what looked strangely like a robot.

But this was different.

If she was right—and she had to be right—these symbols were a map. A map that could lead her to one of the greatest caches of buried treasure ever.

The Mad Monk’s Treasure, a Romantic Adventure by Kris Bock

The lost Victorio Peak treasure is the stuff of legends – a heretic Spanish priest’s gold mine, made richer by the spoils of bandits and an Apache raider. When Erin, a quiet history professor, uncovers a clue that may pinpoint the lost treasure cave, she prepares for adventure. But when a hit and run driver nearly kills her, she realizes she’s not the only one after the treasure. And is Drew, the handsome helicopter pilot who found her bleeding in a ditch, really a hero, or one of the enemy?

Erin isn’t sure she can trust Drew with her heart, but she’ll need his help to track down the treasure. She heads into the New Mexico wilderness with her brainy best friend Camie and a feisty orange cat. The wilderness holds its own dangers, from wild animals to sudden storms. Plus, the sinister men hunting Erin are determined to follow her all the way to the treasure, no matter where the twisted trail leads. Erin won’t give up an important historical find without a fight, but is she ready to risk her life – and her heart?

“The story has it all - action, romance, danger, intrigue, lost treasure, not to mention a sizzling relationship....”

“Great balance of history, romance, and adventure. Smart romance with an ‘Indiana Jones’ feel. Well-written with an attention to detail that allowed me to picture exactly in my head how a scene looked and played out.”

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13

Praise for The Mad Monk’s Treasure:

“The action never stopped .... It was adventure and romance at its best.”

“The story has it all – action, romance, danger, intrigue, lost treasure, not to mention a sizzling relationship....”

“I couldn’t put this book down. You’ll love it.”

Kris Bock at Amazon

Visit all the Book Hooks author blogs. You might find your next great read! 

Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. Whispers in the Dark features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. What We Found is a mystery with strong romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the woods. In Counterfeits, stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town.

In The Dead Man’s Treasure, estranged relatives compete to reach a buried treasure by following a series of complex clues. In The Skeleton Canyon Treasure, sparks fly when reader favorites Camie and Tiger help a mysterious man track down his missing uncle.

Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter for announcements of new books, sales, and more.

#NewMexico #Adventure - hiking the Gila National Forest

The Gila National Forest includes three wilderness areas for a total of 3.3 million acres. According to the US Forest Service, "The Gila National Forest includes more wilderness than any other national forest in the Southwest. This undeveloped natural country can refresh the human spirit simply by its grandeur, purity, and remoteness." You can find campgrounds as well as plenty of opportunities for backcountry camping. Recently we visited the northwestern part of the Forest, in west central New Mexico, close to the Arizona border. As you can see from these photos, I loved the interesting trees there.

What do you think? Would this landscape inspire you to camp, hike, or at least stop and take a few photos?

Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. Whispers in the Dark features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. What We Found is a mystery with strong romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the woods. In Counterfeits, stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town.

In The Dead Man’s Treasure, estranged relatives compete to reach a buried treasure by following a series of complex clues. In The Skeleton Canyon Treasure, sparks fly when reader favorites Camie and Tiger help a mysterious man track down his missing uncle. Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter for announcements of new books, sales, and more.

Check out my #MFRWHooks for Whispers in the Dark: #Romance and #Suspense at an Archaeology Dig

Last week I shared a short excerpt from early in Whispers in the Dark. The excerpt continues here.

I gaped up at the man towering over me. Bare chest, muscular and bronzed. Black hair pulled back from a face full of sharp planes and angles. Dark eyes fierce under scowling brows.

My heart jolted painfully. I’d come face to face with an ancient warrior. He was gorgeous.

And furious.

At me.

***

“Don’t you read signs?”

I blinked at the apparition. “Uh....”

He gestured back at the main path. “The signs at every turn saying ‘Stay on the path’? The notice at the entrance telling you to leave artifacts alone? I could have you arrested and fined.”

Oh. I felt color flooding my cheeks. My pounding heart refused to slow yet, and the rush of adrenaline turned my arms and legs to jelly, but I rose steadily enough. I tried to ignore the heat in my face and the queasy feeling of panic in my stomach, which hadn’t yet accepted the message that I wasn’t in danger. “I’m Kylie Hafford,” I said coolly. “The archaeologist. Are you Danesh?”

I saw a satisfying flash of surprise and then guilt. Or maybe I had just imagined it, as his face settled immediately into a neutral mask. “Yes, I’m Danesh.” He hesitated before adding stiffly, “It’s nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure’s all mine.”

He must have caught my irony, because he almost smiled—I think. He said, “I’m sorry I startled you. I wasn’t expecting you yet, and....” He shrugged. “I’ve been noticing scuff marks in the ground, off the trail where tourists aren’t supposed to go. I figured someone was poking around, maybe looking for treasure.”

“And you assumed I was your treasure hunter?”

This is a blog hop. Visit all the Book Hooks from #MFRWHooks - You might find your next great read! 

Kris Bock writes romantic suspense novels set in dramatic Southwestern landscapes. Whispers in the Dark brings a gothic drama to an archaeology dig at ancient Southwest ruins. In What We Found, a young woman’s life swiftly changes when she finds a murder victim in the woods. In Counterfeits, an artist heads back to the children’s art camp she once knew well – but danger awaits.

The Mad Monk’s Treasure follows the hunt for a legendary treasure in the New Mexico desert. In The Dead Man’s Treasure, estranged relatives must follow a series of complex clues in a competition to locate a buried treasure. In The Skeleton Canyon Treasure, reader favorites Camie and Tiger the cat help a mysterious man track down his missing uncle. Each book stands alone, with no cliffhangers.

Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter for announcements of new books, sales, and more.

New Mexico Adventure – Socorro #NewMexico

I write novels of suspense and romance involving outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. On this blog I sometimes talk about books and sometimes post pictures from New Mexico hikes or Southwestern vacations. Today I'm sharing photos from in and around Socorro. Camie and Erin – and the cat Tiger – from my Southwest Treasure Hunters novels live here, or at least in a fictionalized version of this town. I don't think these photos need much explanation, so here they are.

All right, maybe this one needs a little explanation. Socorro has an annual Festival of the Cranes, and this house does a festival of the crayons. The rest of the time, it's pencils.

Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. Whispers in the Dark features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. What We Found is a mystery with strong romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the woods. In Counterfeits, stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town.

In The Dead Man’s Treasure, estranged relatives compete to reach a buried treasure by following a series of complex clues. In The Skeleton Canyon Treasure, sparks fly when reader favorites Camie and Tiger help a mysterious man track down his missing uncle.

Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter for announcements of new books, sales, and more.

Amazing #NewMexico skies - sunset in the Southwest

I had to share these pictures of a fantastic New Mexico sunset. These were all taken within a period of about five minutes. My phone camera tends to make things a bit too orange. The third photo, with the paint, is more accurate. Impressive regardless, aren't they!

Kris Bock lives in New Mexico, where she enjoys hiking, watching the sunset from her patio, and hanging out with her husband and their ferrets. Her home office looks out on nature, complete with distracting wildlife such as roadrunners and foxes. 

Kris writes novels of suspense and romance with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. The Mad Monk’s Treasure follows the hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. Whispers in the Dark features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. What We Found is a mystery with strong romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the woods. In Counterfeits, stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town.

Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter for announcements of new books, sales, and more.

#Hiking #NewMexico - Bursum Springs, Quebradas, part 2

Spring has definitely come to New Mexico, and although it can get very windy, the weather is often fantastic for hiking. These photos are from the Quebradas, a wilderness area near Socorro, New Mexico. Last week I shared photos from the first part of the hike. This is an area near an old mine where you can find azurite and malachite, plus large chunks of barite crystals.

Here the guys are standing on an outcropping that is primarily barite, a mineral that forms large crystals.

Barite isn't particularly rare or valuable, but it can be quite impressive! This sample is as big as a dinner plate.

A mining shaft leads into the rock.

It doesn't go very far. Either it sloped downward and it got filled in with debris, or they finished collecting the malachite from the seam that ran through here. (Note the two figures crouching at the end of the currently accessible shaft.)

In the detritus from the old mine, you can find small, brilliantly colored samples of azurite (blue) and malachite (green), as well as larger chunks that show the color but aren't pure. 

I've lived in New Mexico for almost 17 years and didn't know the mine was here, even though I've hiked nearby. Just one of the many surprises always waiting when you explore the Southwest! Learn more about the Quebradas Backcountry Byway from the BLM or New Mexico tourism.

Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance featuring outdoor adventures in Southwestern landscapes. E-books are available from $.99 to $3.99, or free with Kindle Unlimited. Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. The Southwest Treasure Hunter novels feature feisty heroines and supportive heroes tracking down mysterious treasures in New Mexico and Arizona. Each book stands alone, starting with The Mad Monk’s Treasure. 

Kris’s other titles include Whispers in the Dark, a gothic drama at an archaeology dig in the Four Corners area, What We Found, a murder mystery set in small-town New Mexico, and Counterfeits, a suspense set near Jemez Springs.

#Hiking #NewMexico - Bursum Springs, Quebradas

Spring has definitely come to New Mexico, and although it can get very windy, the weather is often fantastic for hiking. These photos are from the Quebradas, a wilderness area near Socorro, New Mexico. As soon as you park at the edge of the dirt road, you have great views of the surrounding hills and distant mountains.

The level of water in Bursum Springs is low this year. We have in the past climbed up the low cliff behind the pond, but a trail leads around as well.

The hike goes up a dry (most the year) river channel that is sometimes smooth gray rocks and sometimes like this:

At several places you can find exposures of barite, a mineral that forms large crystals.

Here's a close-up of that large rock on the right-hand side of the picture above:

You might also come across historic artifacts, like this wall. Possibly a sheep pen from some nineteenth century shepherd?

This area is good for fossils as well. Some rocks are chock-full of fossil stems from crinoids, a marine animal also known as a sea lily. Other areas have imprints of coral fans. Note the patterned areas in this sample.

One option for this hike leads to an old mining area where you can find debris containing azurite and malachite. More on that next week! Learn more about the Quebradas Backcountry Byway from the BLM or New Mexico tourism.

Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance featuring outdoor adventures in Southwestern landscapes. E-books are available from $.99 to $3.99, or free with Kindle Unlimited. Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. 

The Southwest Treasure Hunter novels feature feisty heroines and supportive heroes tracking down mysterious treasures in New Mexico and Arizona. Each book stands alone, starting with The Mad Monk’s Treasure. Kris's other titles include Whispers in the Dark, a gothic drama at an archaeology dig in the Four Corners area, What We Found, a murder mystery set in small-town New Mexico, and Counterfeits, a suspense set near Jemez Springs.