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Howdy folks,


In this second edition of Away We Go, I’ll chat about our stay in Boerne, TX.

"Born, TX? I've never heard of that city."

No one has, so let’s start with the correct pronunciation of this charming little town. Say it with me…Burr—knee. Not Born. Expect a lot of quiet chuckles and smirks if you butcher the town’s name. I had the pleasure of embarrassing myself with friends/family and at the RV dealership by telling the sales associate, “Gosh, I sure love Born.” He gently corrected me. And Bexar County is pronounced Bear County, my friends. Not Bex-are. Just throwing that out there.

So why Boerne? Well, we tired of waiting for the RV dealer in Georgetown, TX to deliver our fifth wheel, so yours truly took matter into her own hands and started RV shopping in other areas of Texas. One Google search later led me to Ancira RV in Boerne. What a blessing. Not only did we save 20K on a brand new in stock fifth wheel that had a better floor plan than Keystone we originally ordered, but the dealer allowed us to live on the property for two weeks while aclimating to RV life.

"Are you sure about this? RV life 24/7. What did you guys sign up for?"

Um…permanent vacation, that’s what. Okay, technically we’re not retired millennials, but the full-time RV lifestyle has removed a ton of weight off our shoulders. Save a tone of cash. Check. No more home maintenance. Check. No more clutter. Check. Travel the country. Check. Live life to its fullest. Check. The list goes on and on.


Staying at the dealership was a huge blessing. We made friends with other first time RVers, soaked up knowledge from seasoned veterans; we drooled over the high dollar diesel pushers that parked beside us, enjoyed visits with family and friends,


updated our western wardrobe,

ate at the most amazing restaurants,


added miles to our virtual races by riding bikes in the parking lot after hours, learned basic RV troubleshooting from the patient service team at Ancira—shout-out to Stoney, and weathered our first severe thunderstorm with hail.


Now, let’s take a minute to chat about Texas sized thunderstorms in an aluminum box. Terrifying? Yes. Did I envision us going airborne like Dorthy in the Wizard of Oz? Absolutely. Did Emerson and I end up hiding under a mountain of pillows on the bed while Justin stood watch, daring a cautious glance out the window between thunder claps? We sure did. And did my loving husband calm our frazzled nerves by telling us, “It’s fine. Emerson’s bike hasn’t blown away…yet.” No. No, he did not. Next time a storm hits, I think we’ll hop in the truck and head to Walmart.


If you ever visit Boerne, which I highly recommend you do, please head to Main Street. The boutiques are unique; the food is fantastic; the scenery is picturesque, and the Old Jail Museum is a must.


Here are a few of our favorite stops:


Billy’s Western Wear

Need boots, hats, belts, pearl snap shirts? Billy’s has it all.


Cypress Grille ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cozy atmosphere, phenomenal food and wonderful customer service






Peggy’s On The Green ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great date night spot

The pork chop pictured below was good, but a little overpriced for the mediocre taste.



The Dienger Trading Co. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was by far my favorite spot to grab lunch.

The chicken salad and egg salad were amazing and the gluten-free cookies were mouth watering.




Black Rifle Coffee Company

Strong…really strong cups of Joe, but tasty. This company loves our country. I’ll support a patriot any day.


My USA book tour took me to The Boerne Bookshop. I had a wonderful time signing copies of Seeker of Time and meeting readers. If you love books, then add it to your sightseeing list. Don’t let its small size fool you. This quaint bookstore has every genre. The children’s section is full of fantastic reads. And Dale, the owner of the store, is the sweetest.




Venturing out of Borne led us to The Rim Shopping Center at La Canterra. For those of you who live in Austin, imagine the Domain on steroids. Unfortunately, this massive shopping center is a hot spot for vehicle break-ins. Yep. Someone broke into our F350 while I browsed Target. Thankfully, the local Ford dealer suggested a door deletion, so hopefully we never run into that issue again.


Restaurants we recommend at The Rim:


Lick Honest Ice Cream ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Homemade ice cream with REAL ingredients and exotic flavors.

The chocolate sea salt and berry basil were phenomenal. Justin loved the blueberry crumble.



The Lion & Rose British Restaurant ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Outstanding atmosphere. The fish and chips and cheese and chips left us drooling.


The General Public ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Holy crab hushpuppies! Deep fried and mouth watering. A little gastro pup with a lively ambience.


Revolucion Coffee + Juice ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The acai bowls are top shelf.



Russo’s Coal Fired Italian Kitchen ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mediocre at best. Perhaps it had something to do with the server giving me a class of water that was poured from the bottom of the water softener tank. Gag. I still can't get the rancid taste out of my mouth.


Tiago’s Cabo Grille ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was craving beef enchiladas, and this place did not disappoint.

"Take me back to Boerne!"

In conclusion, I give this lively little town high praise. The locals are friendly; the shopping is both unique and convenient, and the food is…crave it for weeks after you leave…good.


As always, set your intention and God Bless!

J.M. Buckler


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Author: Lexi Ryan

Publisher: Clarion Books

Synopsis: Brie hates the Fae and refuses to have anything to do with them, even if that means starving on the street. But when her sister is sold to the sadistic king of the Unseelie court to pay a debt, she’ll do whatever it takes to get her back—including making a deal with the king himself to steal three magical relics from the Seelie court. Gaining unfettered access to the Seelie court is easier said than done. Brie’s only choice is to pose as a potential bride for Prince Ronan, and she soon finds herself falling for him. Unwilling to let her heart distract her, she accepts help from a band of Unseelie misfits with their own secret agenda. As Brie spends time with their mysterious leader, Finn, she struggles to resist his seductive charm. Caught between two dangerous courts, Brie must decide who to trust with her loyalty. And with her heart.


Review:

These Hollow Vows captured my attention from the first chapter. It’s a binge worthy read so prepare thyself. Author Lexi Ryan’s writing is easy to follow and her visual descriptions paint a colorful cast of characters.

You’ll want to pass on this book if you don’t enjoy love triangles. This familiar troupe usually leaves me choosing a side, and typically, I stay loyal to my preferred love interest, but Author Ryan kept me equally confused as Brie. I love how she pulls at the reader's emotions. Sebastian or Finn? Finn or Sebastian? The author didn't hide their faults, and the twist left me gritting my teeth. Brie’s knee jerk decisions about the Fae males sometimes felt childish and irrational. I found it irritating, but not enough to stop reading.

The pace flowed nicely, though at times, the author skipped hours or days of the plot. It gave me a little whiplash.

I really enjoyed the simple world building. The world of Farie and the Fae who lived there kept me turning the pages. The side characters, like Pretha, added depth to the evolving story.

I need book two…now. The cliffhanger was brutal. I never saw it coming. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoyed A Court of Thorns and Roses. Sebastian and Finn gave me Tamlin and Rhys vibes.


Warnings/Triggers

Adult language, sexual content


Grading Scale:

Plot: 4/5

Pacing: 4/5

Escapism Factor: 4/5

Emotional Connection: 4/5

Character Development: 4/5


Star Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Completed read: September 2021



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Title: Air Awakens

Author: Elise Kova

Publisher: Silver Wing Press

Synopsis: The Solaris Empire is one conquest away from uniting the continent, and the rare elemental magic sleeping in seventeen-year-old library apprentice Vhalla Yarl could shift the tides of war.

Vhalla has always been taught to fear the Tower of Sorcerers, a mysterious magic society, and has been happy in her quiet world of books. But after she unknowingly saves the life of one of the most powerful sorcerers of them all--the Crown Prince Aldrik--she finds herself enticed into his world. Now she must decide her future: Embrace her sorcery and leave the life she’s known, or eradicate her magic and remain as she’s always been. And with powerful forces lurking in the shadows, Vhalla’s indecision could cost her more than she ever imagined.

Review: Air Awakens started out SLOW, like watching water boil slow. The plot dragged, and the characters bored me to pieces. I almost DNF book one in the series until the Heartbreaker Prince whisked Vhalla to his bedchamber. (Get your minds out of the gutter, folks. It’s not what you think.) This event snagged my attention, and Prince Aldrik’s reaction to said event gave me an excuse to sit down and binge read. The world came alive, the external and internal conflict increased, as well as the sexual tension.

The graphic content toward the end of the novel surprised me in a good way. I had my suspicions about a certain character’s agenda, but I never imagined the scene that unfolded. This disturbing event shocked me just as it did Vhalla. What unfolded afterward had me wanting to throw my Kindle across the room. ;-)

Kova’s writing is easy to read. Her characters, once you get to know them, are engaging and flawed. I thoroughly enjoyed the first installment in the Air Awaken Series and I can’t wait to dive into book two.


Triggers/Warnings: graphic content, physical abuse


Plot: 4/5

Pacing: 4/5

Escapism Factor: 4/5

Emotional Connection: 4/5

Character Development: 4/5


Star Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Completed Read: July 2021

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