Three dogs before breakfast
Plus a New Year's cruise to the Caribbean — no pepper spray required.
My Dear Readers,
Three Malinois cornered me on the road Tuesday morning.
No warning, no fence, no gate — just three large dogs coming at me like I’d personally offended their ancestors.
Sometimes people imagine expat life as all Mediterranean sunshine and leisurely espressos.
Let me paint a different picture.
Theo and I were on our morning walk — Theo, who is possibly the most unbothered dog in Croatia and would happily ignore every other animal on the planet if they’d return the favour.
First, a Havanese launched at his throat as we passed a house.
Twenty minutes later, an elderly dog we’d never seen before did the same.
And then, around the corner, three Malinois from a house that recently became someone’s permanent home.
No fence. No gate. Right next to the road.
They cornered me, and it took several minutes of shouting before the owners appeared. Their response: “They’re harmless. You should have just walked on.”
I told my Croatian neighbour about it later. He walks his dog in the village too, and he wasn’t surprised. “It’s getting worse,” he said. “Nobody wants to do anything about it.”
When I mentioned buying pepper spray for the dog problem, he looked at me and said, “You should always carry pepper spray with you no matter what.”
I felt rather naive after that conversation.
We’re fine.
Theo is unfazed. I’m adding pepper spray to my next shopping trip to Rijeka.
Silver Bell Midlife Cruise Romance
Today, Silver Bell Midnight is live.
Book 2 in the Silver Bell Midlife Cruise Romance series takes you on a New Year’s Eve cruise to the Caribbean — champagne on deck, a fresh start on the horizon, and the kind of second chance that only happens when you stop planning and start living.
Sometimes the best performances become real when you stop pretending.
When Ivy Meskill’s grandmother boards the Silver Bell for her eightieth birthday cruise, she brings more than just luggage. She arrives with a handpicked widowed architect, a history of relentless matchmaking, and a determination to see Ivy “settled.”
As Cruise Director, Ivy is used to managing chaos—but her grandmother is a force of nature.
Ivy needs a plan. Fast.
Enter Piers Long, the ship’s brooding Executive Chef. He’s more comfortable in his galley than in the spotlight, but he owes Ivy a favor. The deal is simple: wear a borrowed ring, play the devoted fiancé for seven days, and fend off the grandmotherly pressure. It’s professional. It’s temporary. It’s completely fake.
But as the Silver Bell sails toward the New Year, the line between performance and reality begins to blur. Amidst stolen moments in San Juan and a midnight kiss that feels far too real, Ivy starts to wonder if she’s playing a role—or finally finding the one thing she thought she’d never have.
Silver Bell Midnight is a heartwarming midlife romance of self-discovery. If you love stories of second chances, coastal escapes, and the family we choose for ourselves, you’ll love this voyage aboard the Silver Bell.
Perfect for fans of Hope Holloway, Annie Cabot, and Jan Moran.
Book 2 in the Silver Bell Cruise Series. Can be read as a standalone.
It’s available for 99 cents until midnight Sunday.
If you grew up watching The Love Boat — or Das Traumschiff on Saturday nights — this series was written with you in mind.
I still binge-watch old episodes of both when I need an escape. There’s something about a ship, open water, and the promise that anything could happen at the next port.
If you haven't started the series yet, Silver Bell Christmas Tides is the place to begin — Book 1 is 99 cents and waiting for you.
And if you’d rather escape to a Caribbean island than a cruise ship, Double Booked is waiting to be added to your TBR.
Behind the Pages: Meet Valentina Marchetti
Every ship has a captain. But every great ship has someone who actually makes it run.
Valentina Marchetti. 54. Hotel Director of the Silver Bell.
Twenty-two years on board, she remembers your name, your anniversary, your dietary restrictions, and which guests should never be seated together.
She grew up in a hotel on the Amalfi Coast — her father managed it, her mother ran the front desk. Hospitality is in her blood. She came to America at nineteen, married a sous chef, divorced him kindly, and found the sea.
Think Julie McCoy from The Love Boat — the woman who held that ship together with warmth, charm, and the ability to handle any crisis before the captain even heard about it.
Val is that woman, twenty years later, with silver streaks in her hair that she’s never considered hiding and a wardrobe that makes uniform look like a style choice.
She and Captain Brennan have run the Silver Bell together for eight years. The crew notices things. Val does not discuss it.
You’ll meet her properly in Silver Bell Midnight. I suspect you’ll want to keep an eye on her.
Life in Croatia
As for life on land: today is supposedly the last rainy day.
The forecast promises a week of sunshine and warmer temperatures ahead, and I am truly ready for it.
After the winter we've had, a little warmth feels earned.
Thanks for being here. Thanks for reading my stories.
Take care, wherever you are.
Much Love ( or Puno Ljubavi in Croatian),
PS: Theo has already forgotten about the Malinois. I have not. The Caribbean is looking better by the minute.
