As the fall sets in and the children are back in school, I get back to my old ways of living -- spending the day after all my chores are done with a good romantic novel. I recently purchased the book "Stand by Me" written by Sheila O'Flanagan.
Sheila O'Flanagan was a famous financier in Ireland before she gave up her corporate career and took up full time writing. In her latest drama she has put her finance knowledge to good use and still managed to come up with a very riveting tale.
I loved this story as it delivers on so many levels that it never fail to surprise you. This story revolves around a woman named Dominique Delahaye and how she handles things after the disappearance of her successful businessman husband, Brendan, and the drama that ensues.
If you have any other recommendations, feel free to let me know -- I can't wait to shop for more good romantic books.

My family and I recently took a trip to the Imperial War Museum North to visit the All Aboard: Stories of War at Sea event at The Quays.
The exhibition is free and contains objects and parts of ships that were have never been displayed before. They are from the First and Second World War.
Our son decided he wanted to become a sailor, so we took him to the part where you can learn the origins of everyday naval words and phrases and also learn which animals have sailed the seas and why! This part he loved!
I highly recommend the exhibition, its fun and interactive for all the family and it is ideal for kids of all ages and adults too. A great day out!
Image: Bernt Rostad

My friends and I banished the ‘romantic’ cliché and booked flights to paris for a quick getaway!
We wanted to avoid all the soppy ‘lovey-dovey’ activities Paris is famous for, however hard it turned out to be. However, our hearts did melt a little when we went to visit the Eiffel Tower.
We went at night so it was all lit up and it looked beautiful. It costs around 14 Euros to go right to the top of the tower, which is really worth it. The view is stunning, especially at night.
We left the next day with a little Parisian romance in us!