My upcoming release HOT AS HELL comes out soon. Yay!!! I love release day. I also love this book. The hero and heroine are two of my favorite characters. Really, there’s just something about these two that makes me smile. They have a past, including a broken engagement and a whole heap of bad feelings for each other. Noah is all man. He’s a bit clueless with a rough past. He loves Lexy and doesn’t understand why they aren’t together. She’s hurt and looking for a little revenge.
And they’re perfect for each other. They just don’t know it…
The book is set in Southern Utah. I don’t actually live in Southern Utah, but I went to a hiking spa there about ten years ago. Yes, I said hiking spa. In fact, the word “spa” is totally wrong in this context. There was nothing spa-like about the place then. Looking back I do wonder what the heck I was thinking when I paid for the trip. My excuse is that I was younger then. Probably had more energy, too. Was probably a little smarter since now I would see the name of the place and run (walk) in the opposite direction. See, when I visited it was called the National Institute of Fitness. That doesn’t even sound like fun, does it?
It was one of those exercise-all-the-time and eat only green healthy things places. It’s now called Red Mountain Spa. From what I can tell, the newer Red Mountain Spa is nothing like the old NIF. There’s a spa and salon there now. A real spa this time. One clear memory is getting a cold baked potato in the morning before the 6:00 a.m. hike.
But even with the no-sugar, no-taste food we had a fabulous time. Of course, it’s hard not to when the surroundings look like this:
So, now imagine a love story set in those surroundings and you’ve got HOT AS HELL.
Anyone else ever been on an exercise-oriented vacation? Or, maybe, you went camping or went on a regular vacation and ended up going hiking or kayaking or doing something similar? If not, would you like to try it? Give your thoughts here and you’ll be entered to win a copy of the Christmas anthology, TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT. I’ll pick two winners by Thursday and post the name in the comment section.
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When I was about 13, I went to a five week sleep away, “adventure” camp. Each week we got to pick a different activity like kayaking or horseback riding or whatever. Four of the weeks I had a great time.
The fifth I got stuck with hiking.
I’m sure if I were those counselors, I would have duct-taped my mouth, just to stop the unceasing whining.
Of course, the funny part is that we did 25 miles over the entire week. Six years later and after joining the Army I would road march that far in one morning. Without daring to think about whining.
by Lorelie
on October 14th, 2008 at 8:58 am
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I have never been on a vacation that I had to work on. LOL I only in the last seven months started to exercise and I under no circumstances ready go somewhere for someone to order me to hike daily. On the other hand, a spa sounds more like my kind of va-kay.
by Patty L.
on October 14th, 2008 at 9:34 am
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I grew up in a camping family - we hiked constantly through the woods, stream beds, whatever was available. Hubby and I occasionally visit nearby state parks or metro parks and stroll the trails through the woods, especially in the fall when the leaves are pretty - not sure I’d call it “hiking” because we definitely keep it very leisurely. Please don’t enter me in the contest :)
by Laurie
on October 14th, 2008 at 10:47 am
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I am not a very athletic person, so I would never want to go on an exercise vacation. That just wouldn’t be fun for me. The closest that I come is walking LOTS when I am sightseeing. When I have visited NYC, San Fran, Disney World, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, and other places, I feel like I have hiked miles by the end of the day. Oh, a favorite active thing we do is walk the beach when we take our ocean trips.
by cheryl c.
on October 14th, 2008 at 11:46 am
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Yes when I was a child we went on a vacation and we kept seeing these signs that said see chain rock. I remembered we walked for miles just to see the rock with a big chain hanging from it. It was a disapointment. Other then that I didn’t go on many vacations. Although I do love to go to the beach and spend hours just walking un and down the beach.
by Quilt Lady
on October 14th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
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We camp alot. My family and I live near the rocky mountains in Colorado, and my husband loves to take us camping. Unfortunately, I don’t care for it at all but go to make my family happy. I would rather go somewhere with a beach and relax in the sun.
by Rebekah E.
on October 14th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
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Ah, well, does standing in line (although they were fast moving lines) at Disney World count? Best I got, alas. LOL :) But you needed all that walking to walk off the food! :)
Lois
by Lois
on October 14th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
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Oh, I’m getting nostalgic. My hubby and I used hike all over the place. We especially liked the desert. It’s harder to get away now that we have young kids. Cactus + toddler = no fun.
Can’t wait to read HOT AS HELL.
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When I was living in Virginia, I used to go hiking with friends all of the time - in the mountains. Exercise is great when you have good scenery to look at it.
by Margay
on October 14th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
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I am a retired grandmother with bad knees, so I wouldn’t want to go on an exercise vacation.
by Estella
on October 14th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
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I’ve never been on an exercise oriented vacation and I’ve never been camping. We did go to the Grand Canyon and had a chance to walk around in some areas.
by Jane
on October 14th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
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No exercise oriented vacation and I’ve never been camping, either.
by Minna
on October 14th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
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I am so not ever going camping or taking any kind of “exercise” related vacation. I don’t mind doing a lot of walking and sightseeing, but that’s as “exercise” as I get on a vacation.
by Carolyn A.
on October 14th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
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To be honest, I don’t know if the family would go for an “athletic” vacation. But, we do take day trips to the mountains and go hiking. *G*
by Brandy
on October 14th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
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I hate camping so I would never do this kind of vacation!
by Teresa W.
on October 14th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
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have not gone camping yet would love to try it. have hike at yosemite, that was fun and tireing lol. souch nice pictures.
by kim h
on October 14th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
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Canoeing down a river is fun. And when I was a teen my youth group used to go on walking tours of civil war battle sites. The walks were up to 14 miles. We got tired but had fun and learned some history.
by Stacie Mc
on October 14th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
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Never been on an exercise-oriented vacation. But, it seems that no matter where I go for vacation (mainly the Jersey shore) I do a lot of walking on the beach. Guess that kinda counts as exercise! Besides, it’s vacation! I’m not supposed to exercise! I get to eat all that fattening, boardwalk stuff I can only get once a year! 
Then it’s another walk on the beach.
by DeeAnn S
on October 14th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
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I’m a terrible camper, so I’m not sure how well I’d do on an exercise-focused vacation if it were based on staying in the great outdoors! I think I’d like to do more exercise-related vacations with our family if we could be based in a motel close by :) I’m a sucker for hot showers and food I don’t have to cook myself ;)
Thanks for sharing that photo–definitely gorgeous!
by Fedora
on October 14th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
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I have never had an exercise related vacation and don’t think that I want one. We have gone hiking in the mountains for part of our vacations but that was only a couple of hours worth. That’s enough for me.
by Linda F
on October 14th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
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My family never really took vacations and my husband wasn’t into camping so I took the opportunity when both my girls were in scouts and went on all the camping trips and had a ball!!!
by catslady
on October 14th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
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We actually just got back from a great vacation in Blowing Rock, NC. We always stay at the Chetola Resort which is beautiful. We went hiking, biking, fishing, and shopping. We visited caverns and took a lot of scenic walks. We also swam in the indoor pool and played lots of ping-pong with my son. It seems like all our vacations have a lot of activity. Since my son is eight and is always on the go, we always do a lot of physical activities. I can’t complain though. It keeps me in shape and I always have a great time.
by Sandra M
on October 14th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
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I miss taking vacations!! We just had our 25th anniversary and haven’t had a vacation since we went to a mini one for a couple of days to up north to 1000 Islands NY, in Alexandra Bay NY (that has an island with a wonderful story about a castle on it). But I did go on a weekend hike with a friend a few years back to Allegany State Park and they had an interpreted hike (for the deaf) and it was the first time I have ever been able to understand what was being said on the hike!! I learned so much about beaver dams and how to pack for hiking (I forgot too much tho!). I so wished they fund this again (for the interpreter). It was the first time doing a hike that was more than just the exercise but too it was a wonderful learning experience that I so appreciated so much more of the outdoors too!
by Caffey
on October 15th, 2008 at 12:50 am
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My husband loves to go camping. Me, not so much. My idea of a vacation is to relax and be a tourist.
by Crystal B.
on October 15th, 2008 at 11:09 am
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Last March I took an impromptu trip with my girlfriend and her twins (age 12) to the Grand Canyon. I packed cute touristy clothes and of course my camera. I didn’t realize (actually, she failed to inform me) that we would spend the day - (which started at 8am) hiking down the canyon then back up again. Just for fun!!….. Now, I’m a walker and can do a couple of miles but I certainly got more than I bargained for that day. My cutesy touristy clothes took a beating too!
by Barbara-Jo
on October 15th, 2008 at 11:42 am
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I have gone on a ‘hiking’ vacation where my friend and I hike for an afternoon in Kananaskis country in Ab., Canada. I have gone on vacation sightseeing and have ended up hiking.
by RobynL
on October 15th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
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I have to admit that I am not much of an athletic vacationer. I really do not consider camping a vacation…I just don’t understand heading out into the wilderness and sleeping on the ground with bugs and such, no running water, and the dreaded no bathroom. I love to go sight seeing but I want to be able to head back to hotel at the end of the day. Although, I cannot remember the last actual vacaation that I had.
by Lori T
on October 15th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
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Well, I have never been on an exercise related vacation, but years ago, I made some hiking and camping vacations and I had a lot of fun. And I remember that with all the exercise we did, food tasted so good and we were exhausted but had a great time. Of course, that was when I was 20 years old, lol. Today, I will go for a more relaxing time. :grin:
by Juliet
on October 15th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
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Happy release day, HelenKay! (Well, a bit belated.) I’ve never been on an exercise related vacation - but it sounds like a lot of fun. And I love the premise of “Hot as Hell!”
As for a vacation that turned into exercise… it wasn’t an official vacation but I basically treated it as one - after my first year of professional school I had an internship on the hill (in DC) and I loved it. Unfortunately it wasn’t what I expected but after the first week or so I got over it, and enjoyed the lack of pressure/work. I walked around a LOT. I’d visit friends and hang out, and one of them loves running marathons (yes she’s insane). So we’d take the five mile walk from her place back to where I was staying, and she’d run/bike/bus/metro back. So… not exactly exercise or an exercise vacation, but that’s my tie in.
p.s. - I LOVE Christmas anthologies. It’s just… I love them more than any other anthology type.
by limecello
on October 16th, 2008 at 1:12 am
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I think my hiking days are over. I use to have friends who were athletic whereas I’m anything but that and they use to set a killer pace. I always went home with a headache from sun stroke and I’ve decided I don’t have anything left to prove anymore. I’ve done the Grouse Grind and that’s that for me.
Congratulations on the release of the new book!
by Sue A.
on October 16th, 2008 at 2:31 am
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I read the book and really enjoyed it; so don’t count me in for the drawing. Whoever wins will be happy.
I do my treadmill almost daily and that is it for exercise for me; one time while visiting our son, we went hiking - that is about it.
Looking forward to HAH.
by Pat L.
on October 16th, 2008 at 8:38 am
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The responses were so good that I went ahead and picked two winners. I see a lot of hiking and camping here. Honestly, I’m soooo not a camper. Did it when I was younger but now I prefer a hotel…or my house.
The winners are: Lorelie (comment #1) and Caffey (#23). Congrats!!! Email me with your contact info and I’ll get the books out to you.
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wtg lorilie and Caffey yea
by kim h
on October 16th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
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Congrats, Lorelie and Caffey!! You’ll be happy campers ;) Thanks a bunch, HelenKay!
by Fedora
on October 17th, 2008 at 10:53 am
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Thanks Helen and all. COngrats Lorelie!
by Caffey
on October 17th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
The book is set in Southern Utah. I don’t actually live in Southern Utah, but I went to a hiking spa there about ten years ago. Yes, I said hiking spa. In fact, the word “spa” is totally wrong in this context. There was nothing spa-like about the place then. Looking back I do wonder what the heck I was thinking when I paid for the trip. My excuse is that I was younger then. Probably had more energy, too. Was probably a little smarter since now I would see the name of the place and run (walk) in the opposite direction. See, when I visited it was called the National Institute of Fitness. That doesn’t even sound like fun, does it? 
