What's Cookin' in Lizzie's World

Sam Cheever Dishes on Cupid!

2012-01-31T05:08:00.000-08:00

It's always fun when my author friends have a new book release! Here we have an anthology with a diverse group, several I know well. Hope you enjoy their take on love! Today, Sam Cheever is in the spotlight!!!!

And, Sam will draw a winner for chocolate & fun stuff in the morning from comments! So besure to get your name in the drawing!!!

A Fat Dude in a Diaper? I Think Not!

I never thought it was right to have a God of Love represented by a fat, curly headed dude in a diaper. I mean. Come on! Those cute little cherubs were fun on Valentine’s Day cards when I was in grade school, but once I grew up, I started to see them for what they are…a wasted opportunity!

The idea of a god-like creature with a single goal, to create love between two people, has unending possibilities. The concept is sexy, romantic, and provides fertile ground for an Author’s favorite question…What if?

What if the gods declared that the Cupid race must spend all their time finding love for others but could not find love for themselves? And then, what if Cupid did find someone she wanted to love…would they be able to force the Fates to change the law? Nocked Over

What if Cupid’s lover had a terrible secret? And what if that secret threatened Cupid and their love? Nocked Asunder

What if, in the course of doing his job, Cupid one day found the perfect woman…the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, but she was a cursed Demon Princess and the gods told them they could never be together? Nocked Senseless

What if Cupid was assigned to write a Love Note that would inspire a beautiful, lonely woman to fall in love with a jerk? And, what if, in the course of trying to find a way out of that scenario, Cupid fell in love with the beautiful recipient of the Love Note? Cupid Only Rings Twice

What if I can never stop asking that question and I spend eternity writing what if scenarios for potential Cupid books?

LOL, I think you get my meaning. The God of Love concept is ripe for fictional picking. And I’m just the gal to pillage those pickings for fun and sexy romantic fare! To some, Valentine’s Day means chocolate and kisses. Of course I appreciate those things too, but the holiday also represents much more. To me it means the opportunity to explore another fun what if.

It’s not a bad way to spend a holiday.

But a little chocolate wouldn’t be a bad thing either! #:0)

Happy Valentine’s Day everybody!

Buy the book!

Blurb:

Rori Foster has had a lifetime of being disappointed by men, so, she’s not surprised when she overhears the cocky womanizer in the office betting his knuckle dragging posse that he can get her to shed a tear over the love note he writes. Instead, forewarned, she sees an opportunity to make him look foolish.

Damios Persis is an honest to god Cupid. He runs a love enablement company called, Delivery by Cupid. When the cocky womanizer asks him to write and deliver a love note to Rori that will make her shed a tear and allow him to win his bet, Damios’ instinct is to show the jerk the door. But he realizes if he doesn’t take the job, his arch rival the Love Demon will. So he agrees to write the letter and deliver it on Valentine’s Day.

There’s only one problem. As he spends time with Rori in what he tells himself is research for writing the note, Damios starts to fall hard for her.

When the client fires Damios and hires the Love Demon to write and deliver the love note, Damios knows they have a problem. The demon intends to infuse the note with magick to get Rori to read it.

Damios realizes he’s gonna have to do something drastic to save her from the plotting around her.

Even if it means losing her in the process.

Monday Musings - Valentine Fun Coming Up~

2012-01-30T07:16:00.000-08:00

Here it is almost the end of January and the month of LOVE looms ahead of us. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we’re going to kick off February 1^st with 14 Days of Love with guests discussing their first love, first kiss, etc. and a drawing from the comments that day for a prize. So, make sure you leave your comment or share your “first” each day to get your name in daily drawing. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning!!!

Discussing the contest idea with a friend of mine brought back memories of my first boyfriend. As I’ve said before, me as a child and teen was a different person…shy, introverted and the last thing in the world I wanted was to be noticed. That said, you can imagine my humiliation the Valentine's day I walked into 9^th grade homeroom to find a box of candy and a card on my desk. There had to have been a mistake, but the card bore my name so I tentatively opened it. The note was lovely, talking about how much he liked me and hoped I’d be his girlfriend.

I looked across the room to find him watching my reaction and I think I attempted to smile, even though I wanted to the floor to open up and swallow me. The need to disappear became more desperate when I noticed the rest of the class watching. My response, slink down in my chair and pray for that cloak of invisibility.

When homeroom ended my admirer came over and I mumbled a thank you and like a scared rabbit scurried away. After a week or so of trying to carry my books, attempting to have a conversation with a ‘chicken shit’ too timid to hold up her end…yes, I was a total geek, he moved on to a girl willing to hold hands while he carried her books.

Needless to say, my high school weekends weren’t packed with dates. And the first boyfriend attempt…well, he may have only been JV second string on the football team the year he had the misfortune to lay his heart on the line for me, but he evolved in to first string in high school and a major stud, with a lot of the girls falling all over him. As for him…he stayed loyal to the girl he ‘liked’ after me. In fact, I think they later married.

So there you have it…my pitiful first love connection, or lack thereof! Thankfully, things did improve as I matured and I survived two childbirths as evidence.

What about you? Did your first dive into the world of love result in a big blunder like mine, or was it all smooth sailing. Did you flounder or flit like a bee from one relationship to the next?

Friday's Guest - My Pal, Tessa Berkley!!!

2012-01-26T21:22:00.000-08:00

Sharing with us today is Tessa Berkley, one of my Passion in Print pals. Tessa shares her love of cowboys and an excerpt from her new book.

And a lucky winner’s name will be drawn to win an eBook copy, so be sure to leave a comment to get your name in the drawing!!!

It's true, my heroes are cowboys...

There is nothing that stirs the soul and brings out the internal need in a woman, that a cowboy. Uniquely American, these knights of the sagebrush are swirled in the mystique of history, folklore and legend.

They have fired the imagination of writers such as Owen Wister's Virginian considered by many as the first true western novel and involves iconic themes of high action, lust for revenge, the human emotions of love verses hate, and friendships that humans forge in order to survive in the harsh environment of the old west. Don't these sound like the basis for any romantic novel?

Cowboys are the heart and soul of the old west. Their stoic emotions of riding for the brand and doing what is right in the face of what is easy brands them and makes them stand apart. They are fiercely independent, preferring the wide lonesome wilderness to the hustle and bustle of towns. It's much easier to talk to a horse than to charm a woman. But a woman, worth her grit knows the heart of these wandering souls. Their want and need to care for their man over comes their fear of being alone.

Think about some of the great cowboy movies we've all watched. Those immortal lines "Shane, Shane come back!" or Gary Cooper looking at the clock as Grace Kelly awaits her wedding day wondering if she will be a widow before properly married.

One of my favorites is in an old John Wayne film called Angel and the Badman, when the heroine Gail Russell comes to tears knowing that Quirt Evans, played by Wayne lives and dies by his gun. This is a direct conflict with her religious upbringing. She tells him, "I didn't know love could come to one and not the other. If you tell me you want me I'll go with you..." And before the rest of the words are uttered, Wayne sweeps her into his arms and gives her one of the hottest kisses I've ever seen.

Talk about branding your woman, that scene, that image has always stayed with me. I draw on that when I'm writing those passion-filled sequences.

In Walls of Jericho, I tap in to the emotions of men of means using their will to break up a love affair. But when the heroine, Charlotte Murray wants to capture the horse of her dreams only one man will truly do - Jericho Rivers, the man who left her over five years ago to marry another. When their love affair threatens to rekindle, her father sends another powerful figure in to break them apart. Will love prevail in spite of her father's determination to over ride his daughter's wishes?

The Walls of Jericho is out now at Passion in Print.

Jericho Rivers spent five years trying to forget Charlotte Murray and it's all for nothing. When an elusive stallion emerges, she must ask for help. One look and he remembers all too well. Passions flair and a bitter betrayal is exposed. When the walls of Jericho tumble, can lovers unite?

Read an except

"What happened or did not happen between us--” she paused. “Jericho, I couldn’t live knowing my actions cost you your happiness.”

They were so close. He could feel an unstrung rope swirl about them, binding their souls together. Her breath came in gulps and he could see the rise of her full breasts against her cotton shirt, which served as a barrier to his hands. He wanted her. No, he told himself and stiffened his resolve, choosing to focus instead on the long five years of simmering anger. “Nice words. Tell me, did you learn them in Chicago or New York?”

Her eyes widened, but he knew she was no innocent.

“You did not cover your tracks well, Charlotte.” He couldn’t help himself. He stepped closer. The faint scent of rosewater lifted from her body. Does she still carry that handkerchief dipped in that perfume between her luscious mounds? “Do you think the local papers would not have jumped on the reports of Michael Murray’s daughter dancing with the Governor’s son?” He leaned closer. Her color rose high in her cheeks. “What gowns you wore. Your latest conquests, all the way to the east coast.”

“It... It wasn’t like that,” she began to protest.

Jericho wasn’t in the mood. His blood stirred and overruled the cool of his head. His arms snaked about her middle and snatched her to his chest. His glance focused on her full lips. “Tell me,” he said, through gritted teeth. “Did they kiss like this?”

“Jericho, no.”

He silenced her with a crushing kiss. Her fingers flattened against his chest as if to push him away. He moved his mouth across hers as if she were some sugary confection he could not savor enough. Her fingers relaxed and sank deep into the muscles along his shoulders clutching him tighter. His plan to bring her to submission, make her remember all that they had been, all that they had lost, slipped away. The more his lips touched hers, the more he could not forget.

To purchase your copy...

http://passioninprint.com/ShowBook.php?CR=TB_WALLSJERICHO

You can catch up with Tessa on her web http://tessaberkley.com/

at twitter http://tessaberkley.com or on facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003360054050&sk=wall

MAKING CHRISTMAS - LRC Best Historical 2011

2012-01-26T10:58:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who voted at LRC to give MAKING CHRISTMAS the win for Best Historical 2011. I'm amazed because competition was stiff...go many great books!

And congratulations to all the winners in the other catagories.

MAKING CHRISTMAS

Published by Musa Publishing

LOVE ROMANCES CAFE WINNER - BEST HISTORCIAL 2011

http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=61

Also available at Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook and All Romance eBooks

Recipe Wednesday - Pan Seared Salmon Over Mediterranean Vegetables

2012-01-25T05:49:00.000-08:00

Now that the holidays and the big trip are over, my focus is healthier cooking. A conversation with the Honey’s doctor inspired me to kick it up another notch. Her suggestion, going the Mediterranean lifestyle was taken to heart and I researched. Turns out, I already incorporate a lot of the basics…olive oil, whole grains, fish and fruit, but need to kick it up another notch.

We had this recipe with salmon and Honey loved it, but tonight I’m going to try it with chicken. I think the vegetables with go with poultry too.

I also only made half of the recipe the first time around to see if we liked it. In the future for fish I’d do the full batch of veggies and save half, cooking the fish fresh each time.

Pan Seared Salmon Over Mediterranean Vegetables

Serves: 4

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

3		olive oil, divided
2		prosciutto, diced
3		fresh garlic, minced
1 1⁄2		red onion, chopped
10		button mushrooms, stems removed, caps thinly-sliced
4		plum tomatoes, cored and diced
4		(packed) spinach leaves, chopped
1		fresh basil leaves, torn
4		4-ounce salmon fillets, about 1-inch thick
		Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

Heat 1/2 teaspoon of oil in a small nonstick skillet over low heat. Add prosciutto. Sauté for 5 minutes, or until crispy. Stir in garlic; turn off heat.

Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and mushrooms and sauté for 8-10 minutes, or until golden. Stir in tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes. Add spinach and basil and cook for 3 more minutes. Stir in prosciutto-garlic mixture. Cover; keep warm. Season salmon fillets with salt and pepper.

Heat remaining 1/2 teaspoon of oil in the same skillet used to cook prosciutto over medium heat. Add salmon, skin-side down. Cook, covered, for 10-12 minutes or until fish flakes easily. Use a spatula to loosen fish from its skin, which will stick to skillet. Divide vegetables among 4 plates, top with salmon and serve immediately.

Goals and Accountability!

2012-01-23T12:23:00.000-08:00

As you know from last week’s post I’ve been in a down period, but I’m back on track and want to share some of my goals for this year. This way I have a support system to hold my toes to the fire and keep me inspired.

First on my list: The revisions and additions my editor wants on Emerging Magic. Madly working on those and goal…have them to her by the first full week of February.

Second: Revisions on Struck by Lightning, the award winning novel that I have my rights back on. New title (probably Nordic Thunder) and a new cover, as well as added word count. Deleting all references to the former series it was in at a publishing house that went bankrupt. Objective, have it re-edited and self-publish as an ebook by end of March.

Third: Decide where I want to place the books on which the rights reverted back due to the publisher’s website closure. Will probably sign contracts with a couple of different publishers on several and self-publish others (after new edits and covers).

Fourth: Finish the 3^rd book in the Magical Love series by August (sooner would be lovely) and get it to my editor. That would make for the possibility of 2 books in the series released this year!!

Fifth: This is where the pressure comes in…write novellas or novels in 3 new (for me) genres. These will have different names to avoid confusion for readers of Lizzie’s books. In addition, they will require new websites and the promotions that will go with being new to those readers.

Yes, this feels like a lot when I read it, but it is doable…especially if I have people helping me stay focused. So feel free to ask as the year progresses, “How are those goals coming?”

And that leads to a question for you. What are your goals for 2012? Does it work better for you to set one goal at a time or to have several you’re striving for over a period of time?

Guest Friday - Patrica Bates on Balancing an Author Life

2012-01-20T05:28:00.000-08:00

Patricia Bates shares with us the balancing act authors accomplish each day. Some of us have famlies, many of us have jobs outside the home and others a combination of the job/family that leads to a true juggling act to write the stories we have to write. Thank you, Patricia for sharing insight into this with us today.

What is your day like? If you write, do you struggle to work it in? As a reader do you have to fight to crave out your time to curl up with a book or do you fit reading in in bites?

Join me in welcoming Patricia Bates!!!

Finding a happy medium with your writing:

For many of us authors, life is not simply about sitting at the computer for 12-16 hours a day. We have lives, work, families and each day is a carefully choreographed dance of time and responsibility. Some people will set their schedules to include the time for each project, some will just go by the seat of their pants. Regardless, any author will tell you one needs to create balance.

As an author I spend hours working on the next project, research, writing, plotting, which can take weeks if not months. As an editor however, I've learned how to work fast, thorough, and with the deadlines I not only get from publishers but from the clients I work with as well. Sometimes life interferes, sometimes it doesn't. But something I've learned is that one can never assume. So in the vague hope of creating a sense of normalcy in my life and in my house I had to discover a happy medium. To do this I purchased a white board and hung it over the computer desk.

On it I write the daily schedule. How long I have for each task I need. I do this for everything - writing, editing, cleaning the house, taking care of the personal stuff all while trying to leave room for my family, my life beyond the computer. Is it easy? No, but that's part of the fun of this craziness. If we don't accept the need for this medium we'll find ourselves flooded with thoughts, dreams, goals...that will never bear fruit because we're simply not prepared to work for the end result. A happy, healthy, entertaining writing career where I can write for a few hours a day and still have time for my family - who really are the ones I do all of this for.

Patricia Bates

www.patbatesromances.com
http://ofinkandquille.blogspot.com
http://www.google.com/profiles/Patriciambates

Master's Mistress In a world of betrayal and murder, a vibrant Celtic slave woman holds the key to her Viking master's heart. #1 Bestseller for May - Champagne Books

The Viscount's Prize: A rugged spy, an innocent courtesan and a court bent on destroying them both. Carnal Passions

Love Thy Neighbor: In a land devastated by the Civil War, can water flow uphill to unite the two lovers destined to reclaim it? Champagne Books

Phantom's Pleasure: Can true love trascend death itself? Passion in Print

Firecracker: Love sometimes means accepting the inevitable.

Monday on a Tuesday - Kicking the Blahs to the Curb!

2012-01-17T05:29:00.000-08:00

I heard yesterday that the third Monday in January is the most depressing day of the year. Could that explain why I felt not quite there on the Happy Scale? January brings a lot of weather issues (yes, we had a front move in), the after holiday excitement drudges (not to mention the bills) and here in the U.S., time to get cracking on income tax stuff...yuk, plus a general dissatisfaction with weight, job and life in general.

So today, I decided to kick the Blahs to the curb and get back into the fake-it-until-I-make-it mode. Back to smiling (even at the cat that drove me crazy yesterday) and having the company of a Toddler today for a view of life through her eyes make help too.

As for the smiling…did you know it might save your life? The sunny outlook can lead to fewer strokes and heart disease. And yes, I plead guilty to falling into that category most days. So here’s a few tips to help you (and me) get back in the happy saddle if you’ve fallen off like I did yesterday.

Shift one perspective at a time. Instead of thinking about how bad a situation is (like book sales down), focus on writing a new book…maybe now is the time to try out the story in a new genre that’s been dancing through your head for weeks or even months.

Laugh! Watch a funny show, read a funny book or just laugh for the hell of it! It doesn’t matter if the cat looks at you like you’ve lost your mind, that’s his problem, not yours!

Hang with happy people. This one I know to be a must. The people in your life who constantly have a “glass is half empty” attitude can suck some of your “half full” view point off.

Negative thoughts and self-talk. I read somewhere not to say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to others. In some cases this may not work since some people have an uncensored mouth that goes with their uncensored thoughts. So let’s rephrase…don’t say anything not nice to others or to yourself! Replace those “I can’t” with “I can” and reprogram your self-love. If we don’t love ourselves how can we extend love to others?

There you have it. Me getting back on the right track and kicking the blahs to the curb. If you’ve fallen off the track a little too, why don’t you join me in getting back on? And please, share your tips on how you beat the blues. I can always use more!

Friday's Guest - Christine DePetrillo Crosses to the Darkside!

2012-01-13T07:08:00.000-08:00

Christine DePetrillo may get in touch with her darker side in Abra Cadaver, but she sure makes me laugh in her blog talking about the quest. One lucky comment will be drawn for a copy of her crossover into the dark. Get your coffee and relax for a fun read of both her thoughts and her excerpt! Thanks for guesting with us today, Christine!!!!

Start with Death and Win a Free Book

I was once accused of being too happy in my stories. Everybody was always smiling, the sun was always shining, puppies and kittens aplenty. I couldn’t help it. Creating love stories made me happy, and I wanted my characters to have everything good in the world.

But that’s not very interesting now, is it?

Characters need conflict in order to change and grow and realize what it is they really want out of life. Readers need a reason to turn the page. If everything always works out in every single scene, there’s no chance to hold your breath, to wonder, to worry, to rejoice—all things readers want to do.

After receiving the feedback that maybe I had too much positive energy going on in my writing, I challenged myself to create something dark. This was really challenging me to be dark, which is not in my nature at all. I do smile a great deal. I like smiling. Smiling is good. Even if things are not going my way, a smile sometimes gets me through it. How was I going to keep the smiling to a minimum in my writing?

Start with death, a voice not unlike the Grim Reaper’s rasped in my head.

Sure, okay. I could try that. And so I did. My novel ABRA CADAVER is the result of my experiment with the Dark Side. A book with a synonym for corpse in the title has to be dark, right? My main character, Holly Brimmer, dies in a car accident. Her flesh has been torn away. She coughs up blood. Her heart ceases to beat. Breath no longer fills her lungs. Until Keane Malson comes along and gives her a second chance.

Now, you might be saying to yourself, “Hold on. Wait a second. She dies, but gets to live again? Isn’t that a glass-half-full scenario, Christine? Isn’t that a lucky break?” It would be, except that in order for Holly to stay alive, Keane has to kill demons and give their life energy to her. That’s kind of dark, right? Not to mention the fact that poor Keane is a cursed Celtic warrior and has been wandering the planet for centuries, unable to go in the sunlight, unable to choose his own path, always getting called to save someone from death’s grip. The dude has no life of his own. I’m getting all choked up for him all over again.

Don’t worry. Although I did take a trip to a dark place, it’s still a romance novel and there’s still a guaranteed happily ever after in the end. There are laughs along the way too, but not a ton of smiling. Honest.

So if you’re looking for a way to cut back on the daisies and rainbows in your writing or limit the pink bunnies and butterflies in your reading, start with death, I say. It worked for me.

Blurb for ABRA CADAVER:

Holly Brimmer never expected to be brought back from the dead. After a fatal car crash, a mysterious stranger gives her a second chance at life—but it comes with a price. To stay alive she must pay it forward, accomplish an important deed, thus making her mark in the world. Until she does, her savior is bound to her. Now she has a backyard full of dead bodies and one unwanted houseguest.

Keane Malson kills bad guys to keep the innocent alive, but he’s still a monster. Cursed by a witch moments before an honorable death on the battlefield, he’s lived thousands of years, roaming from place to place with no end in sight. It’s a lonely life…until he meets Holly.

When a wanted man targets Holly, Keane will do anything to protect her, even if it’s the last thing he ever does.

Excerpt:

Slowly, Keane sat up and ran a hand through his hair. Holly was enchanted by the way the black strands fell back into place. Her fingers literally itched with the need to feel Keane’s hair against her own skin so she stuffed her hands underneath her legs.

Keane slid his legs off the bed and, holding onto the headboard, he stood. Holly edged off the bed as well and prepared to support Keane. He held out a hand as if to tell her to give him a minute. He took a few steps deeper into the room and turned around.

“Feel better?” Sweet Mary, he looked better. Damn perfect standing at his full height and rubbing his stomach with his hand.

“Much.” He came to stand in front of Holly. He was close enough for her to wrap her arms around him, but she didn’t. “Don’t let me do that again, okay? I felt human for a few moments drinking that beer, but it’s not worth the pain.”

“Guess you need tighter supervision.” A heat washed over Holly’s cheeks as she glanced up at Keane. His eyes were back to the brilliant sky blue, his skin flawlessly pale.

“Yes, Miss Brimmer. That’s exactly what I need.” He grinned, and Holly forgot the rules.

Holly and Keane visit Holly’s parents at one point in the book. Due to the curse, Keane doesn’t eat, but Holly’s mother offers him cookies. Here’s my favorite cookie recipe:

Snickerdoodles

What You Need

2-1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

1-3/4 cups sugar, divided

2 eggs

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

What to do

1. Heat oven to 375°F.

2. Mix first 3 ingredients in large bowl. Beat butter and 1-1/2 cups sugar in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Blend in eggs. Gradually beat in flour mixture until well blended. Shape into 1-inch balls.

3. Mix remaining sugar and cinnamon. Roll balls in cinnamon sugar. Place, 2 inches apart, on baking sheets.

4. Bake 10 to 12 min. or until lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 1 min. Remove to wire racks; cool completely and try not to eat them all in one sitting.

Visit me at my website www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com to pick up a copy of ABRA CADAVER along with my other books. I can also be found hanging at The Roses of Prose group blog at www.rosesofprose.blogspot.com on the 4^th and 14^th of each month.

Leave a comment here on this post and be entered to win a free copy of ABRA CADAVER!

Thanks for having me, Lizzie!

Christine

Recipe Wednesday -- Cheese Sandwich to Die For

2012-01-11T05:48:00.000-08:00

Today I’m going to share the directions on the cheese sandwich we sampled on our trip to Borough Market in London. The lady on the grill at the Kappacasein stand talked with me as she grilled up morsels of yum and told me how to make the gooey delights.

It’s about the bread and the cheddar. Start with sourdough bread cut into sandwich slices. They use shredded Montgomery cheddar and say the complexities are one of the reasons the sandwiches are so good.

They also have a container of finely chopped white onion, red onion, scallions, shallots and garlic at the ready.

Layer the bottom slice of bread with the shredded cheddar, pile on a handful of the chopped mixture, slap on the top slice of sourdough and place on the grill. Close and grill. You want the cheese melted and gooey, the bread nice and toasted. Remove and enjoy!!! No butter or oil is needed on the bread since the melting cheese supplies the oil base.

It’s probably a good thing I don’t live in London because I could see this becoming a weekly addiction for me. And I’m sure my efforts to duplicate will be good, but as the lady who walked me through the directions shared…her attempts at home never turn out as good as the ones at the stand. But hey, I’m going to give it a try!

For your viewing pleasure, here are a few more shots of our trip. London, though crowded was amazing, the hotel very nice and the kids delightful (for the most part), but I forgot my herbs so the hotflashes were fun..Not!

Climbing the Lions!

Enjoying a Tower of London Tour

Herding Cats Around London & Beyond

2012-01-09T09:07:00.000-08:00

Finally! I'm over the jetlag and the cold a kind passenger sitting close to me shared on the flight home from London. Now I want to share some of the adventure and a few pictures with you.

As some of you know we made the trip with the Teen and the Tween. Fun as it was, it also reminded me of herding cats. Teen would get pulled off by something that caught her eye and of course she's too old (at least in her world) to hold hands with doddering grandparents, or stretch her legs and walk yards ahead of us. That would be fine, except the streets were crowded and trying to locate her in a mob wasn't always easy. By the time I got her rounded up, Tween had been attracted by some glittery object and wandered off...so you see, just like herding cats.

But we didn't lose either of them, though they all lost me once when I went off after Teen, and we all made it back to Denver in one piece.

Day 1 we arrived in London to discover a train and subway strike. That made getting to the hotel interesting. Fortunately, one tube line did run to a major hub and the taxi ride didn't destroy our budget. Taking one from the airport is expensive and the buses, well forget about it with luggage and all the bodies crammed in because of the strike. Our plans for the afternoon were changed and we spent the afternoon wandering around Kensington instead of the trip across town for a walking tour.

Day 2 things were back on track with transportation. We made it to the British Museum with no issues and even managed to find our friends without a lot of effort. After fighting crowds there, we made it over to Trafalger Square where all kids got to climb and slide on the lions in yet, more crowds. Think it's safe to say, we were all happy to relax over tea and enjoy the food and conversation at Fortnum & Mason. Of course, we had tickets to the Ceremony of the Keys for that night and had to get back to the hotel and dress in more layers. The girls enjoyed the longest running ceremony in the world and watching history in action.

Day 3 we headed back to the Tower of London on our all day city tour. The Crown Jewels were impressive and the girls enjoyed (heaven help me) the weapons. Something about evil looking items to inflict pain attracted their attention. After the Tower we stopped by Westminster and Buckingham Palace (can you believe the Queen didn't hang around for our tea) for pictures. Our guide gave us a lunch break and then we were off to more sites including a tour of St. Paul's Cathedral. Our day ended with being dropped at the London Eye to stand in what seemed to be a never-ending line, but once our time came the view of London at night was magical.

Day 4 had a free morning. We wandered through some of the shops PopPop wanted to hit at the Burlington Arcade and had a great lunch in the Piccadilly Arcade. From there it was the theatre district and Phantom of the Opera. Dinner was at an Indian restaurant where the employees told us to pick up Tween the next day. They were going to put her to work for the prank she pulled on me when I came back from the ladies room. It's nice to have staff interact with customers that way.

Day 5...up bright and early to catch the 6:00 a.m. bus for our out of city tour. Stonehenge first. We got to go into the stone circle, but they now have rules that you can't touch the stone (new since our last trip) and there was a bit of excitement when a man not only touched, but leaned his head against one. He objected loudly and strenuously to security's escort from the circle. Turns out he'd parked along the road, climbed the fence and cut through the fields.

After Stonehenge, we had breakfast in Leacock at a pub built in the 1300s and wandered around the town that has been the setting for a number of movies including a Harry Potter.

Then onto Bath. Sampled the water (not as bad as I thought) and toured the Roman baths, then roamed the town until time to leave.

Day 6 started at Burough Market. A fun marketplace that girls had to visit to try the cheese sandwiches Samantha Brown raves about in her travel video on London. Yes, the sandwich was worth the effort and the lady behind the grill was kind enough to share how to make them, so look for her yummy recipe here at some point.

After lunch we headed for Harrods. Can you say horror show? Oh my goodness, the people. And once again the cats (I mean girls) kept getting caught up in the mob. PopPop and I did divide and conquer. He took one to keep track of and I the other, with a pre-arranged meet up place.

Our goodbye to London dinner was at a neighborhood pub on New Year's Eve. We were all exhausted and didn't welcome in the New Year at midnight. After all, we had to be up early and out to the airport for our trip back. And yes, I'm glad to be home. But also look forward to the next trip.

The Chocolate Diva Shares!

2012-01-06T05:03:00.000-08:00

Joleen Allis, our Chocolate Diva, kicks off the New Year sharing holidays beyond the usual to celebrate with chocolate. Hey, any excuse for chocolate right! Personally, I don’t really need an excuse though. How about you?

If your chocolate celebration days are limited to Valentine’s Day and maybe your birthday, here is a calendar that lets you celebrate other important chocolate holidays!

January 1: New Year’s Day

Most people use New Year’s Day to make resolutions for self-improvement. Add to your other resolutions one to eat better chocolate, learn more about the components and history of chocolate, find new chocolatiers, and share your chocolate with others.

February 14: Valentine’s Day

You know the drill in the U.S.A.: it’s the men who go a-wooing with heart-shaped red velvet box of chocolates. But on February 14 in Japan, Korea and Taiwan it is the custom for women to bestow gifts of chocolate upon the men. Like being the only kid in grade school who doesn’t get a Valentine card, it is a source of embarrassment to Japanese men if they don’t receive any chocolates on Valentine’s Day (and Mom doesn’t count).

March 14: White Day in Japan, Korea & Taiwan

This holiday was created in 1965 by a clever marshmallow maker that sought to sell more product, promoting to men that they should pay back with marshmallows the women who gave them Valentine chocolate. The chocolate companies soon realized that they could capitalize on this marketing bonanza, and began promoting white chocolate. Now, Japanese men give marshmallows, white chocolate, milk and dark chocolate, to the women who thought of them on Valentine’s Day.

April: Easter, Around the World

The Easter Bunny and his basket of treats for good boys and girls was first mentioned in German writings in the 1500’s—although chocolate as an Easter treat came later. It didn’t arrive in Spain until 1527, in drinking form, and wasn’t made into the first bars until 1847 in England. The first molded chocolate Easter Bunnies and chocolate-crusted sugar eggs were created in Germany after then, adding to the store of colored eggs.

May: Mother's Day in the U.S.

If you’re a mother, you’re entitled to great chocolate on Mother’s Day—and if you’re the child who brings it, you’re entitled to share. If Mom really loves chocolate, show you care by finding her the very best of her favorites—be they truffles or chocolate covered pretzels.

June: Father’s Day in the U.S.

Don't forget dads. Chocolate bacon cupcakes for would be well suited for Dear Old Dad!

July-August: Chocolate Fondue Day

A floating day in July or August to celebrate chocolate and summer by enjoying sweet seasonal berries dipped in chocolate; and berries and other fruits and sweets dipped chocolate fondue. Yes, this is a made up holiday up; but only because the large chocolate companies aren’t on the ball like the Japanese marshmallow folks.

September: Fall Equinox, Worldwide

The Fall Equinox is a floating date around September 22-23 that marks the first day of autumn, when day and night are of equal lengths. For centuries, friends have gathered to celebrate the day and strengthen their spirits in preparation for the passage into winter. Enjoy a chocolate autumn dessert buffet with friends to mark the first day of Fall.

October 31: Halloween in the U.S.

Just for kids, you say? Not when you see the beautiful treats made by great chocolatiers. Compartes Chocolatier Skull & Bones Bonbons, Cocoa Dolce Chocolate-Dipped Apples or Browniepops would bring a new dimension to your Halloween.

October 31 - November 2: Day of the Dead in Mexico

Mexican people have celebrated the Day of the Dead, a ritual in which the living remember their departed relatives. From October 31 through November 2, graves are tended and decorated with offerings, and families expect a visit from loved ones who have passed. The offerings dedicated to the deceased, usually include foods and beverages, are also put in homes on elaborately decorated altars. Foods can include chocolate beverages, chicken with chocolate mole sauce, and sugar and chocolate skulls inscribed with the names of the deceased on the forehead.

December 25: Christmas Day, Everywhere

Instead of more things that you don’t need and don’t have space for, this is your opportunity to ask for one or two boxes of luxury bonbons (not too much—remember, they have a two-week shelf life), a collection of fine bars for tasting and study (they’ll keep a year or more), and a variety of fine hot chocolates to keep you warm for the winter. While others will have forgotten their gifts by mid-January, you’ll be happy with yours through spring

15 Days of Christmas Winners List!

2012-01-05T07:36:00.000-08:00

Here's a list of the winners from the 15 Days of Christmas. If you're listed and have not heard from the author please contact them. Some of you didn't leave emails.

Also, I need each of you to email me at lizzietleaf(at)comcast(dot)net with your snail mail info for the Brit Trinket that I picked up on my trip.

Threw all your names in a bowl and pulled out The GRAND PRIZE Winner:
Helen Hardt
Congratulations, Helen. Lucky lady!!! We'll connect to get you your box of tea brought back from London.

Daily Winners:

Day 1, Desiree Holt's winner is CONNIE KLINE

Day 2, Linda Wisdom's winner is JEAN P.

Day 3, Rebecca Grace's winner is CONNIE KLINE

Day 4, Sam Cheever's winner is JOANNE R.

Day 5, Helen Hardt's winner is ARLEY COLE (ebook)
                                                   AMY DENIM (20 pages of edits)

Day 6, Jeanne Stein's winner is HELEN HARDT

Day 7, ML Guiday's winner is SHONNA
           Cori Corsentions's winner is LISA FENDER
           Hillary Seidl's winner is CHRISTY

Day 8, Christina Jame's winner is J. Barret

Day 9, Lizzie T. Leaf's winner is BOOKS4ME67

Day 10, Shelley Munro's winner is JENNIFER MATHIS

Day 11, J.L. Langley's winner is DEBBY236

Day 12, Sandra Sookoo's winner is CARRIE ANN RYAN

Day 13, Lia Slater's winner is SHONNA

Day 14, Melissa Mayhue's winner is JENNIFER MATHIS

Day 15, Jessica Aspen's winner is SHADOW KOHLER

Day 15 of 15 Days of Christmas - Jessica Aspen Shares!

2011-12-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

Today’s guest is Jessica Aspen, a prolific blogger, new author (her first book releases in February, and one nice lady (do you notice a pattern here…I know lots of nice people), who is sharing the fun of a family tradition.

Jessica also has a Little Red Riding Wolf T-shirt for the giveaway to one lucky winner! So be sure to comment to get your name in the drawing!! And to get on the Brit Trinket list for a prize from England…yet to be bought since the trip is next week!

NOW FOR JESSICA!

Thanks Lizzie for sliding me into your blog! I’m excited to be here and share some holiday cheer!

It’s almost here. The night before Christmas approaches. I love Christmas Eve, even more than Christmas day because we go to my folks house for the evening and it is a rollicking good time. We not only have a fabulous feast full of fun foods, but we have Yule log for desert and a white elephant gift exchange. You haven’t experienced the true hilarity of Christmas till you’ve experienced an Aspen white elephant.

First of all everyone must bring two presents, not one, two. Why? Because the first year we had so much fun we wanted it to last longer. This also increases your chances of opening something really stellar and makes the stealing so much more complicated. Stealing? Did I say stealing?

Why yes I did.

For the un-initiated you have the choice of unwrapping a brand new gift or stealing from a friend or family member. We love to steal. And it gets complicated. You see many of us have partners so we manipulate the stealing, knowing that certain gifts are more popular than others you can steal something from your partner, so he’ll steal something you want, then someone will steal from you and you can steal something brand new. I did mention it gets complicated.

That’s why we have the rule that a present can only be stolen three times in an evening. But with so many presents to steal, someone needs to keep track. That person is my sister, Queen of the White Elephant. She sets the rules and keeps track, makes sure we all behave. And she is the worst thief of all. Watch out if you have something desirable like Godiva chocolates, or good wine. She’ll enlist her whole family in a complicated stealing back and forth that will have you spinning.

Whatever we come home with, we have a blast. It’s a fun way to work off the Yule log. From movie tickets to the very desirable Sham-Wow, you never know what will show up. Some years I make out like a bandit. And some years I end up with the reindeer that poops chocolate raisins.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I’ll leave you with the recipe for the Meringue Mushrooms to decorate theYule log. It’s not Christmas Eve without the Yule log!

Meringue Mushrooms

Ingredients

· 2 egg whites

· 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

· 6 tbl white sugar

· 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

· 1/3 cup chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

2. In a large glass or metal bowl, use an electric mixer to whip egg whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar and vanilla. Continue whipping until the whites hold soft peaks. Gradually sprinkle in the sugar so that it does not sink to the bottom, and continue whipping until the mixture holds stiff shiny peaks.

3. Place a round tip into a pastry bag, and fill the bag half way with the meringue. To pipe the mushroom caps, squeeze out round mounds of meringue onto one of the prepared cookie sheets. Pull the bag off to the side to avoid making peaks on the top. For the stems, press out a tiny bit of meringue onto the other sheet, then pull the bag straight up. They should resemble candy kisses. Do not worry about making all of the pieces exactly the same. The mushrooms will look more natural if the pieces are different sizes. Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until the caps are dry enough to easily remove from the cookie sheets. Set aside to cool completely. Melt chocolate chips in a metal bowl over simmering water, or in a glass bowl in the microwave, stirring occasionally until smooth.

4. Poke a small hole in the bottom of a mushroom cap. Spread chocolate over the bottom of the cap. Dip the tip of a stem in chocolate, and press lightly into the hole. When the chocolate sets, they will hold together. Repeat with remaining pieces. Dust caps with cocoa using a small strainer. Store at room temperature in a dry place or tin.

Come into the woods with Little Red Riding Wolf, a spicy paranormal romance novella due out February 18, 2012 from Passion in Print Press. What if Little Red Riding Hood was a werewolf, and a sexy forest ranger wandered into her woods?

Fraternizing with humans is taboo, but when feisty werewolf Red runs into hunky new forest ranger Evan Brewster, she jumps on the opportunity to let loose her desires. Evan is stoked when he meets the petite red haired hottie, and combined with his new discovery of wolves in Colorado, thinks his career and life are made. Then Red pushes him away, her hostile brother threatens his life, and things begin to spiral out of control. Caught between her sexy lover and her pack can Red trust Evan with her secrets, or must she sacrifice her human lover and her heart?

http://jessicaaspen.com/

Day 14 of 15 Days of Christmas -- Melissa Mayhue!

2011-12-22T07:01:00.000-08:00

Today’s guest, Melissa Mayhue is a terrific author, a very nice lady and my friend. To give you the idea of the kind of friend Melissa is, I’ll share a short little tidbit on what she did a few months ago when we met for lunch.

It was Toddler day and of course, Toddler had selected her choice from the kid’s menu. When our lunches arrived, Toddler eyed the plate placed in front of her and then looked across the table at Melissa’s. Toddler being the shy little thing she is told Melissa, “That’s a lot of food. Don’t you think you should share?” My friend didn’t bat an eye and replied very seriously, “You’re right, it is. Would you like some?” Toddler spent lunch munching back and forth between her selection and the part of Melissa’s lunch she put on the kiddo’s plate. See, a true friend who understands the minds of children and goes with the flow.

So join me in welcoming my understanding friend Melissa Mayhue and be sure to read through her blog because she’s offering up a great prize to the name drawn from comments! And the winner also gets on the Brit trinket drawing list!

Favorite Christmas

First of all, thank you so much to Lizzie for inviting me to come visit with you all today. It’s been a long time!

My favorite Christmas… wow. That’s a tough one. I love Christmas. Seriously love it. Without a doubt, it’s my favorite holiday. Unfortunately, that means that I have years and years of special memories associated with this time of year. [And see what an expert “rationalize” I am? It’s the fact that I love Christmas, not the number of Christmases I’ve had that make this difficult!] J

One lovely memory I have is of the gifts that my grandparents would send me when I was a little girl. For weeks before Christmas, I’d begin the agonizing wait for the mailman to show up at our front door. When their package arrived, there would invariably be something beautiful [and totally unnecessary, which made it all the more wonderful!] like an engraved bracelet or a white wool party dress… yeah. Just what every seven-year old needs. A white dress that has to be dry cleaned! [I’m sure my mother dreaded those boxes as much as I loved them!]

No matter what gift was inside, every year – even the years they got to come visit for the holiday – my grandpa always sent a jar or a can of candy. You might know the kind… typical Christmas stuff. Hard candy with gooey center. I loved it. Not because it tasted particularly yummy but because of its association with my grandpa. To this day I can pop the lid on one of those cans and breathe in the nostalgia. J

Did I mention how much I love Christmas?

What about you? What one thing out there, just by virtue or seeing it or smelling it or tasting it, makes you think of the holidays?

Share your one thing and Lizzie will choose one of the comments to win a copy of my December 27 release, WARRIOR’S REDEMPTION.

All my best to all of you. May your holiday season be filled with the people and things you love best!

And please feel free to hunt me down on Facebook ~ http://www.facebook.com/#!/Melissa.Mayhue.Author ~ or stop by my website – www.MelissaMayhue.com – and say “Hi!”

Blurb for WARRIOR'S REDEMPTION:

MALCOLM MACDOWYLT sees himself a failed warrior, haunted by the death of the woman he married to become laird of Clain MacGahan. Neither his Viking heritage nor his claim to descend from Norse gods can restore his confidence in his ability to protect his people. His sister is held captive, her life in jeopardy, and his Magically powerful half-brother wants him dead. The last thing he needs is more responsibility, but that's exactly what he gets when his Faerie mother-in-law arrives seeking justice for her daughter in the form of an enticing woman from seven hundred years in the future.

DANIELLE DEARMON has waited fifteen years to discover the life she is supposed to live. She just never dreamed she'd end up in the thirteenth century with a handsome Scot bent on saving everyone but himself.

With the lives of those most dear to him hanging in the balance, Malcolm sets out to battle a powerful evil magic, only to learn that the redemption he seeks exists in the arms of the woman he loves.

Day 13 of 15 Days of Christmas - Lia Slater

2011-12-21T06:52:00.000-08:00

Our guest today is Lia Slater, a delightful, warm and caring lady whom I adore. Her smile, when I run into her at meetings for the group we both belong to, lights up my day. Join me in welcoming Lia and leave a comment for a chance to win a PDF of one of her ebooks (her selection) and to get in on the Brit Trinket prize too. Have decided all daily winners will get a Trinket and one name will be drawn for a bigger Brit prize. All of which I will pick up during the upcoming trip!

Simple Treats for a Stress-free Holiday Season

The holiday season can be a stressful time of year. Shopping, baking, decorating—finding the extra money to do all these things. It’s not easy, especially for the starving artist types like, say, writers. Like me.

Simplicity is the key for me. I find out what the kids want, make a list and order online. As far as decorating is concerned, less is more at my house. My sons are old enough to help set up the tree, so that goes up first. I put out little holiday-themed knick-knacks here and there, hang the stockings above the fireplace, and we’re good to go.

When it comes to baking, every year I have a tradition of making chocolate treats and sugar cookies for the kids. With almond bark I can make SIMPLE no-bake recipes. Plus a few little tricks my mother passed on to me that are tried and true.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls:

Ingredients:

Almond bark, chocolate coating. You can find this in any grocery baking section. (I LOVE this stuff)

Creamy peanut butter

Powdered sugar

Combine peanut butter and powdered sugar until you get a thick consistency. I’m not much on measuring, so add powdered sugar until you get rid of the “sticky” texture. Roll into balls. Set aside. Place three or four squares of almond bark in microwavable bowl and heat for about 1 ½ minutes or until completely melted. Stir to test consistency. Then, one by one, dip peanut butter balls into melted chocolate and set to dry on sheet of wax paper.

And done! Kids can enjoy this treat in a matter of minutes.

Other super-simple ideas:

I also dip pretzels in the melted almond bark, which also has vanilla coating available. (Mixing the chocolate and vanilla gives a delicious taste!). Go a little crazy and coat some Chex or Rice Krispies cereal. Add melted marshmallows or raisins or both. For more of a decorative touch, crush some candy canes and top off the coating before it melts. Get inventive with ingredients. Maybe the kiddos can get in on the creation. I know mine do.

Simple. Easy. I love it. The kids love it. And there’s no added stress.

Wishing everyone a happy holiday, stress-free, season!

Lia Slater

PS – If you’re looking for a good deal on eBooks to help you through this holiday season, check out Book Lovers Buffet, where multiple authors (many genres) have temporarily reduced their eBooks to only 99 cents. www.bookloversbuffet.com Find two of mine under the erotic section.

My other cyber places:

www.LiaSlater.com

www.blogspot.com/LiaSlater

www.twitter.com/LiaSlater

Available Now:

Stripped Defenseless (an erotic romantic suspense) online from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and All Romance eBooks

Were Legends Series (an erotic paranormal romance series) online from Ellora’s Cave and most online retailers

Off Limits (an erotic contemporary short story) online from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, All Romance eBooks & Sony

BLURB

As the Queen of Paqualette, Nayla is forbidden to have a husband or a human lover. Her life is a lonely and disciplined existence, so when she’s given the opportunity to choose a Were from her dungeon as her sex slave, she takes a chance. Werewolves are nothing but senseless monsters, she knows from firsthand experience. But after the one she selects to be her WereSlave turns out to be more of a man than she’d ever known, she must question her beliefs.
As the alpha leader, Mace is responsible for his pack. He’ll do anything to keep them alive, even give into the Queen’s sexual demands. But not unless he’s in control. Turning his enticing captor into the submissive is the only way to show her he’s more man than she realizes. Falling in love with Nayla is out of the question, but will he be able to leave her behind when his pack is finally free?

Day 12 in 15 Days of Christmas - Sandra Sookoo!

2011-12-20T04:34:00.000-08:00

Today, Sandra Sookoo, another of my Facebook friends joins us. I love Sandra’s quirky sense of humor and envy her prolific output! The woman is a dynamo, a force to reckon with for sure!!! I look forward to us being a conference at the same time because I definitely want to hang out with her…the pain we can inflict on some unsuspecting bartender…joy, joy!!!

Time to grab that cup of coffee or whatever and sit back and read why she breaks a promise to herself each year. And also how to get your name in the drawing for a great “swag bag” of goodies!!!

Now, heeeerrrre’s Sandra!!!

Thanks Lizzie for inviting me on your blog!

One random commenter will win a packet of book swag including goodies from Bath and Body Works! Please be sure to leave contact info.

For me, I think romance and the holidays go hand in hand. Every year I promise myself I won’t write a holiday romance for a variety of reasons. But every year, I find myself scribbling away on stories set at Halloween and Christmas or even Valentine’s.

It’s a sickness I tell you LOL

There’s just something about finding love during the holiday season that seems a bit more magical than other days. Maybe it’s all the theming. Maybe it’s the glow of candles at all these holidays. Maybe it’s the chocolate that’s in great supply during these times. I’m not sure exactly what it is that sucks me in each time.

In a way, writing a romance during the holidays immediately gives out a cozy feeling. You already know going in that it’ll be special, and if done right, leave the reader with a warm glow on the inside. Let’s face it, holiday stories are set up to promote hugging and kissing. Usually cool temps, crackling fires, holiday spices, parties, etc.

*sigh*

You hear that sound? Yup, I’m getting sucked in again. I’m in the pre-planning stages for two, yes two, Christmas stories for next year.

Send help. And chocolate, preferably hot with mini marshmallows and a peppermint stick.

So, what about you? What compels you to buy holiday stories year after year and season after season? What’s that indefinable “something” that lures you into the sticky web of love and good cheer in a romance?

Recipe

I’m sharing a peanut butter cookie recipe I recently made for mail away gifts. These cookies are awesome! They puff up and are just so cute when they come out of the oven!

Ingredients

1/2 cup softened butter
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
additional sugar (set aside in small bowl)
48 Hershey's chocolate kisses (or pieces of Dove chocolate with is what I used)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In mixer, beat shortening and peanut butter until well blended. Blend in sugars and beat until light and fluffy.

Add egg, milk and vanilla; Beat well.

Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually mix in peanut butter mixture. Depending on the weather (I know it sounds weird but humidity affects baking) you might need to add in another quarter cup of flour. Dough won’t be crumbly and it will look sticky, but it’s not.

Roll out walnut to golf ball sized balls and roll in additional sugar.

Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. They will spread a tiny bit but not much, just mostly flatten out.

Immediately place a Hershey's Kiss or Dove chocolate on each cookie and press down slightly.

Blurb for Not Just Make Believe (now on sale at Desert Breeze Publishing and Amazon for .99 cents through the end of the month)

Andrea Peterchef never thought her job would include a nine-year-old Piper and vomit. Then she meets Max, a workaholic stockbroker with a voice like melted chocolate and she vows to help her charge and him reconnect as a family and maybe find the love she’s been looking for as well.

Maxwell Gildenthall is haunted by the 9/11 deaths of his girlfriend and his cousin—Piper’s dad. Deadlines and data define his life—not baby dolls and dress-up. When Andrea cajoles him into playing the part of dad, the benefits of spending time with the plus-size au pair are a bonus, but he can’t ditch the guilt.

It’ll take more than a spoonful of sugar and a dose of Christmas magic to mend the broken family. It’ll take the power of love.

Desert Breeze Publishing buy link: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-37/Not-Just-Make-Believe/Detail.bok

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Not-Just-Make-Believe-ebook/dp/B002ZCYAMU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323868100&sr=8-1

Connect with me here:

Website: http://www.sandrasookoo.com

Believing is Seeing blog: http://sandrasookoo.wordpress.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/sandrasookoo

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sandra.sookoo

Day 11 of 15 Days of Christmas - J.L. Langley

2011-12-19T07:27:00.000-08:00

Today our guest is the wonderful, delightful, funny…J.L. Langley! I have to confess I’d never read much M/M romance until I became friends with J.L but her Regency-SciFy hooked me. Her writing opened me to a new genre, one that contains as I’ve discovered excellent authors and stories. Another misconception I labored under is M/M is all about the sex…not true. In some of the books I’ve read in the genre the sex is limited and when it does occur, it’s part of a natural process.

So join me in welcoming my friend…J.L. Langley! She is offering up a PDF (winner’s choice) of one of her ebooks to the name drawn. And don’t forget, that winner goes into the “Brit” trinket drawing.

J.L. speaks

Since I’m being a good girl and working on my WIP, I’ll make this short and sweet. I mean what can I say about Christmas that hasn’t been said? Other than it would be really cool to be in a log cabin with snow on Christmas. Or heck forget the log cabin, just snow on Christmas somewhere out of the city would be neat. So not happening here in Dallas. I can remember only two Christmases in my entire lifetime that have been snowy. Actually, they were both more ice than snow.

On Christmas like most people, I bake cookie to take to my family’s celebration on Christmas Eve, for my family, and Christmas Day, for my husbands, and I’d like to share with you one of my new favorite recipes for cookies.

Cayenne Chocolate Cookies

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 cups flour

1 cup coca powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cayenne pepper

½ tsp salt

1 cup white chocolate chips

1 cup pecans or walnuts, *optional*

1) Preheat oven to 350°F.  2) Cream butter and both sugars until fluffy.  3) Add eggs and blend well.  4) Add cayenne, cocoa, baking soda and salt and blend very well. It's important to blend this stage completely so that heat is evenly distributed.  5) Add flour and blend.  6) Fold in chips.  7) Refrigerate for one hour.  8) Drop teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased cookie sheet.  9) Bake 10-12 minutes.

Love was never part of his plan…until it pounced.

With or Without, Book 4

With Abandon

As heir to an old and proud heritage, Aubrey Reynolds works and lives for his family, his employees and his pack. Agreeing to watch after a visiting werewolf is no big deal—until he discovers the newcomer is his mate. His very male mate…which is a very big deal, indeed. Revealing his sexuality was never part of Aubrey’s well-ordered life plan.

Much as he loved caring for his eight younger brothers, Matt Mahihkan knows it’s time to grab the opportunity to attend college in Atlanta. Realizing Aubrey is his mate should have been a delightful experience…except Aubrey treats him more like a dirty little secret than a lover. Yet Matt is a patient man. Aubrey can’t stay in the closet forever. Can he?

In time, they settle into a comfortable, if complicated, routine. Until a rogue werewolf with an axe to grind forces Aubrey to add to the wedge of secrets driving him and Matt apart, leaving Matt exposed to danger…and Aubrey forced to choose between love and duty.

Product Warnings

Contains color abuse with a really bad sense of fashion, a southern accent from hell, sex on antique furniture, a pouncing playful werewolf, obnoxious siblings, liberal use of a color identifier and impatient sex. No lightning bugs were harmed in the making of this book.

http://www.jllangley.com/jllangley/Home.html

Day 10 of 15 Days of Christmas - Shelley Munro

2011-12-18T08:05:00.000-08:00

Today the wonderful Shelley Munro is here to share with us. I love Shelley! She is one of the nicest people I've met in my social site connections...always willing to share her time to answer questions and make suggestions on issues one is pounding their head against the wall about. So join me in welcoming her and indulge your senses in her bread recipe and the blurb she shares with us on Christmas is Coming!

And Shelley has a game for us at the end of her blurb. Answering her question gets you into the drawing for her prize and on the list for the "Brit" trinket drawing too!! SO be sure to answer!!!

Hello, and a big thanks to Lizzie for inviting me to visit today. Since I live in New Zealand my Christmas takes place during the summer. No, we don’t spend Christmas day at the beach. Or at least I don’t! This is a brief description of my Christmas day:

Over excited nieces and nephews tearing around the house.

Warm sunshine beating down from overhead.

Shorts and a T-shirt.

The scent of sun block and the scramble for deckchairs in the shade.

Steaks, sausages and seafood cooking on the barbeque.

The pop of corks from bottles of my favorite NZ sparkling wine.

The crunch of my favorite dessert: pavlova and strawberries.

The sigh of relief when we walk into our own peaceful home!

One of my favorite recipes to make throughout the year is Beer Bread. It’s a quick and simple one, versatile and perfect if unexpected guests turn up and you’re out of bread. It’s also very good to make during the winter to accompany soup.

Beer Bread

3 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt (I use about half of this)
1 can beer (400ml or .845 pints) – If your can is smaller, make up the amount with water. Don’t use low-alcohol beer
1 handful of grated cheese (about 1/3 of a cup)

Preheat the oven to 200 C (400 F). Mix the flour, baking powder, salt and beer in a large bowl and combine well. Tip into a well-greased loaf tin or two smaller tins. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the dough. Bake the large loaf for 50 – 60 minutes. (That’s what the recipe suggests. With my oven I find around 30 – 40 minutes works so you might have to experiment with cooking times) Bake the smaller loafs for a shorter time – around 30 minutes depending on your oven. Tip out and cool on a wire rack before slicing. This bread also makes good toast.

My latest release is CHRISTMAS IF COMING, out now at Ellora’s Cave. Here’s the blurb:

Christmas is coming. Give your lover the gift of pleasure…

Gaby Montgomery works for Fancy Free as a condom designer. Recently she’s been designing sex toys and testing her inventions with fellow designer Marc, but they’ve parted ways. The timing couldn’t be worse because she’s stuck without a willing test subject for her sexy products.

Gaby’s roommates Liam Richardson and Fletch Darcy both want a serious relationship with her, and now that she’s free, it’s time to make a move. But how do they decide which one will date her? Fletch finally suggests they share. Liam is skeptical but agrees the scheme might work, which allows Fletch to move on to step two of his romance plan. Fletch doesn’t just want Gaby, he wants Liam as well.

The loving is hot, their days full of fun product testing, exquisite pleasure and laughter. Everything is perfect until the outside world intrudes, putting their budding relationship under stress. This time their love and friendship might not stand the pressure.

Publisher’s Note: Want to have more fun with the characters in this book? Then pick up Fancy Free!

Purchase at Ellora’s Cave - http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9703-christmas-is-coming.aspx

Today, I’m giving away a download of FANCY FREE, which is the first book in this series, or if you prefer a non-erotic romance, you can pick PLAYING TO WIN, a romantic suspense instead. All you need to do to enter the draw is complete this statement:

The thing I like best about Christmas is________

Shelley Munro lives in New Zealand with her husband and a rambunctious puppy. She writes contemporary and paranormal romance for Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing and historical romance and mysteries for Carina Press. You can learn more about Shelley and her books at her website http://www.shelleymunro.com

Day 9 of 15 Days of Christmas - Lizzie T. Leaf

2011-12-17T07:54:00.000-08:00

Today, you’re stuck with me! Yep, I have a new book releasing today, Howling Under the Mistletoe and I’m the guest author. The winner of a copy of a PDF of an older Christmas ebook from a now out of business publisher will also be entered into the “Brit” prize drawing.

TRADITION

This time of year has always been about tradition for me. When my daughter was small we started the tradition of baking cookies. It is still going on; only now we bake with the added assistance of three sets of little hands.

The house was decorated and the tree put up Thanksgiving weekend. This year we put up one small table tree. The cat is driving me crazy with even that much.

Christmas morning was the day for opening gifts and then the fabulous family dinner. This year, the family will gather on Christmas Eve to stuff ourselves and exchange gifts.

There will be no opening of gifts at my house Christmas morning. Santa came early with the booking of a trip that requires leaving Christmas Day afternoon. This is a big tradition broken since I’ve never traveled on Christmas Day before. We’re headed for London with the two oldest granddarlings and that is gift enough to carry my husband and I through lots of years.

At my daughter’s house they’ll open Santa gifts Christmas morning, but that’s because the “girls” insisted. The Tween, who is all about emotion and drama, said there had to be a law tradition be honored, and when my daughter turned to the Teen, the logical one, she sided with her sister. Now mom gets to add, rushing around to make sure they haven’t forgotten something, to the list of opening gifts, getting them fed and shuffling us all out to the airport because we know parking will be impossible.

So this year I find myself with two emotions…sad for the break in tradition, but happy that we get to share something with two young girls who think their grandparents arte “cool” enough to still hang out with, let alone travel with.

And today I get to celebrate the release of a spicy Christmas short, Howling Under the Mistletoe, a spicy little story with a bit of a twist. Hope you enjoy it.

But most of all, I want to wish everyone Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas whatever your traditions or if you’ve decided to break with them.

And to add a punch to your celebrations up here is a drink recipe that can be popular with adults with the added alcohol and with the younger group minus the booze.

Cranberry Punch:

1-1/2 oz Vodka

2 oz cranberry juice

1 oz apple juice

1 oz pineapple juice

1 oz Sprite or 7 Up

Shake Vodka and juices with ice and strain into glass. Top with soft drink.

Howling Under the Mistletoe

by Lizzie T. Leaf

When Miki Heart collides with Paul Bennet under the mistletoe, she had no idea he would be the answer to her dreams of passion as well as the solution to her health issues.

Excerpt and buy Link: http://passioninprint.com/ShowBook.php?CR=LTL_HOWLMISTLETOE

Day 8 on 15 Days of Christmas - Christina James

2011-12-16T05:47:00.000-08:00

Our guest today is the delightful Christina James, author of erotic romance and romantic suspense novels. A very talented who loves to push the envelope with her contemporary erotic romances with her alpha males and strong heroines, Christina’s books are a read that plays with your emotions. She pushes you from needing ice water, to laughter and to ….aaah in situations that are hot, funny and touching.

Being mom to two children (their middle names is how she derived her pen name) and a couple of yellow labs who think they are lap dogs, she has a busy life before writing is added to the mix.

So let’s ask Christina questions and probe into her ‘dark’ secrets with our comments (like she has any), or at least find out what she’s planning for us in her next release. And all today’s commenters will be entered into a drawing for a PDF copy of her romantic suspense Web of Lies and is also entered into the “Brit” trinket drawing I’ll be doing…prize to be picked up in England over the Christmas holidays.

The multi-published Christina is sharing one of her favorite recipes with us today. One that may bring back memories for you too…I know it did me, of the enticing aroma of cinnamon wafting through the kitchen Snicerdoodles are pulled out of the over.

Snickerdoodles

1 ½ cups sugar

2 eggs

½ cup margarine (softened)

½ cup shortening

Cream all of the above together

2 ¾ cups flour

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. baking soda

mix all of these with the above ingredients

Chill dough

After chilling, make dough into balls and roll in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon.

Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 400 degrees for exactly 10 minutes.

For the Love of a Woman by Christina James

Blurb:

When Marly Hampton offers a handsome stranger a meal and a place to sleep, it’s only for the weekend after he breaks down in her small town on the outskirts of the Smoky Mountains. But the mysterious Mitch Allen stirs emotions in her long thought buried. A widowed, single mom raising her son, Marly has no time for romance. Or is that about to change?

Mitch won’t be staying in town any longer than it takes to repair his truck. The former Boston detective has hit the open road to run from painful memories. Falling in love is the last thing on his mind. When he’s accused of murder, Mitch comes out of retirement not only to fight for his reputation but also for the woman who has opened his heart. Can they both face a past that stands in the way of their future before they lose what could be? Or will the evil lurking nearby succeed on destroying them?

Excerpt:

Mitch watched her face change, like a light bulb went on in her head. “Actually, I would like to impose on you for something, if that’s okay?”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Absolutely.”

“Can you look at the stove?” Without waiting for him, she turned and walked from the room. He had no choice but to follow.

His gaze focused on her slender frame. Of course, his eyes weren’t too tired to follow the sway of her hips. The small but curvy little bottom was certainly a sight for sore eyes. It had been too long since he’d noticed a woman. She wasn’t even dressed up and she had his mouth watering.

Those long legs and smooth curves teased his sexual appetite, something that hadn’t mattered lately. Slowly, he walked behind her, enjoying the view even knowing she was probably off limits. The sign out front had said, The Hamptons. Was it normal to be jealous of something so easily?

In the kitchen, reality struck Mitch like a lightning bolt. Why was he being such a dumb ass, fantasizing over this lovely lady when he roamed the States looking for a reason to explain his existence? Must be lack of sleep.

Marly’s voice broke into his thoughts. “The storm knocked out the lights. That happens a lot around here, too. We lose all the modern day comforts like electricity and communication. And when the lights go on again, I have to re-light the pilots by hand, but today I just can’t get it going and I’m losing patience.”

“I’ll give it a try but can’t promise anything. My specialty is not stoves.” He rested his cane against the kitchen counter.

“Do what you can if you don’t mind. It’s got to be better than what I’m doing.”

The stove was old but fit in with the style of the kitchen just fine. There was a small wooden table with four chairs by a window. Lace placemats and a vase of yellow flowers that had seen better days were neatly placed on the table. Cherry wood cabinets lined one wall and another wall held shelves with knick-knacks. It was a very quaint space, big enough to move around for cooking and cleaning but cozy enough to enjoy a quiet dinner.

Marly leaned closer to Mitch. She smelled of lemons and herbs, the scents tickling his nose. Strange combination. Maybe she had cleaned with something lemon scented, and the pork chops marinating by the stove were the source of the herbs.

He studied the stove, not really knowing what to do. When he began to light the pilot on top of it, Marly grabbed his arm.

“No, not there. There.” She opened the oven door and pointed.

“Okay.” He studied the inside. “Just how did you do this before?”

“You have to light the pilot through that small hole while turning the knob and, when the flame hits the gas, it’ll light.”

“That doesn’t sound too comforting for the guy sticking his head in the oven.”

She laughed, the sound tightening his gut into a knot. Her hand fell onto his shoulder, the touch raising the hair on his arm in awareness. “I wouldn’t put you in harm’s way. I’ve done this hundreds of times and never got burnt. The flame goes down into the stove not up.”

His skin burned now, but not from the fire, from her touch. The only reasonable explanation was the lack of a woman’s touch over the last few months. “Yeah, well, the way my luck has been lately, I don’t want to chance it.”

“Trust me. You’ll be fine.”

Something in her tone convinced him she meant what she said. So he got back to business. He used the top burner to light the long wooden stick match. The smell of lit matches immediately stunk up the room as he placed the burning stick over the small hole in the bottom of the oven and turned the knob until he heard hissing gas.

“Now move it around a little,” Marly instructed, leaning over Mitch’s shoulder. He nervously obeyed, expecting an explosion at any moment. “No, go this way.” He obeyed. “Try to move it so that the tip goes into the hole just enough.”

With all his strength, he concentrated on the task, but couldn’t help thinking of sexual images as she talked about tips and holes and moving around. She was driving him crazy. This was insane!

He glanced up at her. “Do you want to do this?” he asked, with a little more annoyance than was necessary. If truth be told, he was more annoyed with himself than with her. Hell, she was only telling him how to light the damn stove and he was getting a friggin’ hard-on.

“Sorry,” she said quietly, removing her hand from his shoulder. “I’m a hands-on type of person. I don’t like delegating duties. I prefer to do them myself.”

“Well, since you’ve so nicely delegated this to me, would you mind giving me some room to work with?”

“Fine,” she agreed, but only moved back an inch.

Turning back to the stove, Mitch wanted to get it done so he could eat then get the hell out of there before his dick was tortured anymore. He needed to get as far away from Marlena Hampton as possible. He was far too comfortable around her.

Wiggling and turning the stick proved harder than it looked. Just when the match had gotten too short and threatened to burn his fingertips, he heard a ‘poof’. Marly straightened, clapping.

“You did it. Now we can eat.” Into the stove went the pork chops and a casserole dish containing scalloped potatoes.

The sight made his stomach growl. “How long until we eat?” Mitch asked, grabbing his cane and walking back toward the doorway, placing as much room between him and Marly as possible.

“About an hour.” Filling a pot with water, she placed it on top of the stove, lit the pilot and turned to him. “Mitch, tell me something.”

“Okay.”

She walked slowly to him, stopping in front of him, her head angled up to look in his eyes. “I haven’t let a serial killer or escaped convict into my home, have I?”

Mitch studied her face—the high cheekbones, small pointed nose, and tiny beauty mark along her jaw. Her eyes searched his. “Not any more. I gave that stuff up years ago,” he teased.

He totally expected Marly’s face to drain of all color, but she surprised him with a big smile while laying her hand on his arm. Those slender fingers with long manicured nails dug slightly into his skin. The funny sensation was even more distracting. He was just tired. Just overtired.

“Do you want a shower before dinner?”

Oh, God, the woman was killing him. He strategically placed the cane in front of him to hide the ever increasing bulge in his jeans. He could easily picture her in the shower with him.

“That sounds like heaven. Let me grab my bag. I left it by the door. At least I was smart enough to grab a change of clothes before leaving the truck behind.”

“You would’ve been smarter if you had listened to my dad.”

He sent her a quelling look. Her hands flew up, palms out. “Okay, that was a low blow, but I can’t help it. Your stubbornness has obviously wiped you out, walking around on that bad leg. And don’t try to deny it. Come on. I have an empty apartment over my garage where you can shower.”

He only offered a grunt and turned to follow her into the living room. They passed the seven-foot long flowery couch with two armchairs of the same pattern. There was a decent size television, although it was an older model, and a small stereo system in the room. A few end tables had lamps and pictures on them. Mitch studied the picture of a man in military uniform. Must be her husband.

The woman wasn’t free. Besides, if she were, what the hell would he do with her? He had a bum leg, a fucked up life, and was on the road to nowhere.

So he channeled his thoughts to dinner and sleep. He grabbed the duffel bag and followed her out the front door and down the steps to a large garage. Forcing himself to keep up with her pace even as his knee screamed only added to his misery. She had only given his cane and leg a cursory glance. Either good manners or a lack of curiosity kept her from inquiring about his injury because Marly struck him as the type of woman who wouldn’t think twice about asking what’s wrong.

Hadn’t he hated that from people? Was he disappointed that Marly didn’t bother to ask about his injury? No, that wasn’t it. He was just surprised since every person he had run into after the accident had always asked the inevitable question, “Why do you need a cane at your age?” A nightmare. That’s why.

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005V5KNYC

http://www.christinajamesauthor.com/index.php?id=6

Day 7 of 15 Days of Christmas - 3 Guests, 1 Day - Finding Ms. Right

2011-12-15T04:36:00.000-08:00

Today is a special guest and prize day—3 for 1. That’s right, on this one day we have three guests. All of the authors in the anthology Finding Ms. Right are here to share holiday wishes and recipes as well as a prize for each. And there recipes are as special as their stories...I know, I've read the book! Readers, we hit the jackpot on this! Each of our guests will draw a winner and all 3 will be entered into the "Brit Trinket" drawing.

So grab your coffee, tea or whatever your drink of choice is and read until it’s time to comment. You want to make sure your name is entered!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

From M.L. Guida – Cassandra

Ho! Ho! It’s that time of year again where we are all frantic to find that perfect gift for that special someone. Down in the Underworld, Eric is frantically looking for a present for Cassandra. He’s never gone Christmas shopping before and has no idea what human females want. In the Underworld, female demons have a different taste on what they want – usually something naughty in the bedroom. But Eric doesn’t believe Cassandra would want that. She loves Disney, skiing, working with kids and living in Frisco, Colorado. His mind is as blank as a white board. He’s out of his element. To make things worse, she’s already got his present wrapped and under the tree. Hmmmmm…., I wonder what he’ll get her.

What about you? Have you started the mad rush to find gifts for your loved ones or you one of those lucky people who get their shopping down two months ahead of schedule? As for me, I usually get gifts bought for my friends early, but my family is another matter. We like to do lists and trying to get my sister and her family to get their lists down runs into the Nightmare Before Christmas, but like the Pumpkin King, I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays. I love taking out the tree and decorating it. My tradition is hull the tree out of the basement the day after Thanksgiving and then, my mom and niece come over and help me decorate. During the next coming weeks, I like sitting in my chair and looking at the soft white Christmas lights shining on my ornaments.

Another tradition I have is whenever I take a trip, I buy an ornament. I have some from Scotland, London, France, Bahamas, and Australia. However, one of my cherished ornaments is actually of my second oldest nephew. It’s a photograph of him when he was nine months old and wearing a Santa’s hat on and wearing only a diaper. His picture is set in a Christmas frame that can be hung on the tree. The determined look in his eyes and half smirk makes me laugh. He’s still got that same look at fourteen years old.

To be truthful, I like Thanksgiving the best, because it truly is a time to give thanks and this year, I have a lot to be grateful for – I got published! Yeah! Being an author has always been a dream of mine and now it finally came true. Like in Pinocchio, I can’t tell you the number of times I wished upon a star and only have it crash to Earth, but this time, the Blue Fairy granted my wish. This has to do with all of you. I’d like to thank my readers for supporting me through this time. I wish each one of you a safe and Happy Holiday Season!

Pizzelles (Family Tradition Straight from Italy!)

Melt one pound of margarine (do not use butter, will burn on the pizzelle iron)

Beat 15 eggs - add 2.5 cups of sugar

Add 1 bottle of Anise oil

and then beat in margarine

Keep stirring then add 5 - 6 cups of flour unsifted

Let sit for about a half hour.

Dab about teaspoon of dough onto pizzelle iron.

Makes about five to six dozen.

Keep track of what’s happening with ML at http://www.mlguida.com/

Happy Holiday’s to You!
Hillary Seidl - Sia

What a wonderful time of year to be around friends and family. This year has been extremely busy. From the shopping to the holiday parties it’s always good to reflect on what 2011 has meant to you. To me it has been an exciting year with my first novella Sia that’s included in Finding Ms. Wright from 5 Prince Publishing. Huge support from family and friends made it possible, so a big thank you. I love writing about the paranormal so look for more from me in 2012!

I’m a gluten free girl so I thought I would I would share a cake recipe that I love and it’s without flour!

· I prefer PAMELA’S Gluten Free Chocolate Cake mix

· Always add the extra egg for a fluffy cake

· When done baking poke random holes and drizzle a little caramel and chocolate sauce

· Whip some REAL cream. I know it’s tempting to buy Cool Whip but trust me.

· Break up Heath Bar and sprinkle it on top of the cream.

· Drizzle more sauces on top and enjoy!

I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday! Reach me at www.hillaryseidl.com

Happy Holidays to All!

Lori Corsentino - Evelyn

There’s nothing quite like the holidays. Love them or hate them, they are something everyone looks forward to or dreads every year. Time seems to speed up as the year approaches it end. The days ARE literally shorter!

I’ve been pretty lucky in that most of my holiday memories are amazingly good, or funny. I don’t really have very many horror stories to tell. My family is in Colorado, so none of us have had to brave planes, trains, or cross-country automobiles to get to each other. The furthest we usually had to go was south to Englewood, north to Windsor, or east to the farm my Uncle and Aunt own just outside of Keenesburg, Colorado.

One year not too long ago I went out to the farm. It was just me in the car – no co-pilot or navigator.
Now, there are several things you can be sure of when you visit the farm:

1) The lane may or may not be passable

2) You may or may not see livestock

3) The bridge may or may not have a loose board

4) You’ll likely to take home kitty graffiti

1) The lane may or may not be passable.

Depending on the recent amount of rain/snowfall and your intrepid nature, you can usually enjoy a trek up the lane from the country road to the farm house. It passes several fields, including one where, after harvest, the cattle are usually let loose to clean up the remainder of the hay. Now, I’ve seen my uncle bounce along that track fearlessly in his Buick or any of the other myriad farm vehicles he has in most any condition, even in those where I’d hesitate tackling it in a Hummer. I think that’s a city vs. country thing, though. He knows he’s got a tractor he can go fire up and haul the Buick back to the house if needs be. Me - I wouldn’t know the first thing about driving a tractor, but it kinda sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Luckily on this Christmas Eve night, the weather was beautiful and the lane was free of weather restricting conditions.

2) You’re going to see some livestock.

Notice I didn’t say that the lane was passable, did I? Well, in this case, the weather didn’t block the lane – but the herd of cattle loitering in the middle of it did. There are a couple electronic fences you have to go through to get to the main house. To get through the fence, you have to get out of your car, pray you choose the right hook and unhook it, lower it, drive over it, then hook it back up, again hoping you hook it right. I know a bit more than I’d like about unhooking and hooking the fence. That zap sure gets your attention!

In any case, when there are a few dozen head of cattle around and no friendly cowboy on his horse to herd them, you gotta be resourceful. That being said, until you “stand” next to a cow, you don’t realize how big they really are! And don’t even get me started on that bull, and how he stood there, tall, broad shouldered, tail swishing, eyeing this city girl trying to come into his territory. I know my Uncle really didn’t mean to laugh so hard when I called from my cell phone, freaked out that bull. Needless to say, my chuckling Uncle came and bailed me out, letting down the fences and clearing the way for me to approach the infamous bridge.

3) The bridge may or may not have a loose board

Now the bridge is another matter. It crosses a fairly deep irrigation canal, and is on, I believe, its 4^th or 5^th iteration. The 1^st iteration was downright scary. It was functional, and did its job, but man oh man, you went through more bumps and hops to get across it than a 70s disco revival. The 5^th or so iteration is nothing so adventurous, I’m sorry to say. Sometimes I miss the sheer adrenaline rush you got crossing those earlier versions, not quite knowing if you were going to make it in one piece. That’s why discovering a new loose board in the more modern version is such a good/bad thing. You get the rush, but you know you’re probably going to make it OK.

4) You’ll likely to take home kitty graffiti

If its daylight and the kitties are out, or it’s night time and one managed to escape the nightly ritual of going to bed in the barn, you’re gonna come out and find some kitty graffiti on your car. Like those kids that just gotta tag their territory, my Uncle’s cats gotta tag things that come in to their territory. Sometimes it’s a singular signature, while other times it’s a multiple misdemeanor effort. In this case, it was night, and only one had missed bedtime in the barn. Needless to say, he/she found my unmarked vehicle irresistible and “tagged” it. There’s nothing like muddy paw prints right across your field of vision.

Visiting the farmhouse and celebrating the holiday with an excellent meal and even better company was amazing. I enjoyed that Christmas Eve so much. I suppose part of it was just because of the adventures I experienced along the way. Another part was because of the warmth of tradition, family, and good food and laughter. You see, I was really missing my Mom and Dad. It was the first year we celebrated the holiday without them. They’d both passed in the year since the previous December, so instead of being with us, they were celebrating with those that had gone before them.

When it came time for me to leave, we’d had so much fun we were all in a mellow glow. It was well into Christmas Day, and so it was well past their early riser bedtime and fast approaching my night creature own. I was actually looking forward to the long drive home. It seemed the night held a bit of magic. The weather was calm, with nary a cloud to hide the moon or breeze to mar the stillness. Scraping away the kitty prints as best I could in the chilled air, I let the car warm a bit before I enjoyed one last loving hug from my Uncle. He jumped in his car and led the way back to the electronic gate and the loitering herd of cattle. Only a few were left, nibbling and dozing in the field along the lane.

Once on the highway, I drove into the darkness, occasionally glimpsing the bright colors of Christmas lights that indicated the presence of one the small towns that line I-76. For some reason, I decided to get off the highway and drive through Brighton on my way home. To this day, I can still remember the sight of that small town, decked in its finest, celebrating the season with decorative lights blazing. The night was cold, and a light mist covered the landscape like a veil, making the festive lights twinkling and bright. Although my Mom and Dad weren’t there physically, I know they were taking that drive with me, enjoying the lights, and the company.

That’s a Christmas Eve I will always remember.

I hope everyone finds a bit of magic in this season’s celebrations. Merry Christmas to all and Happy New Year!

All my best –

Lori Corsentino

http://loricorsentino.com/

And a nummy recipe:

Eggnog Cookies

I love the rich, creamy taste of eggnog, so these are a definite favorite of mine. It’s a nice, soft cookie with great flavor. I hope you enjoy!

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon eggnog

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

ICING:

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, optional

4 to 5 tablespoons eggnog

Liquid or paste food coloring, optional

Cookie Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

2. Beat in eggs.

3. Stir in eggnog.

4. Combine the flour, salt, baking soda and nutmeg; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.

5. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle.

6. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-in. thickness.

7. Cut with floured 2-1/2-in. cookie cutters.

8. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets.

Bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Icing Directions

1. In a small bowl, beat the confectioners' sugar, nutmeg if desired and enough eggnog to achieve icing consistency.

2. Add food coloring if desired.

3. Spread over cooled cookies; let stand until set.

Yield: about 4 dozen.

Editor's Note: This recipe was tested with commercially prepared eggnog.

Blurg: Finding Ms. Wright

Three men, each on a crucial mission to save their way of life, seek their true mates – women who unknowingly hold the key to their very survival.

Cassandra

Demon Prince Eric Wyvern must have Cassandra. Boldly, he kidnaps the gifted psychic from a mountain inn, taking her to his dark underworld. Held captive, her key to freedom is agreeing to his terms. Neither expects to fall in love and unlock the secrets that can save both worlds. – M.L. Guida

Sia

Paranormal hunter Andrew Grant has less than a week to locate a stone and thwart a wizard’s bid for ultimate power. Sia holds the key to his success and to his heart. Only together can they discover love and save the world. – Hillary Seidl

Evelyn

Five hundred year old Prince Alexander needs a woman, and only archaeologist Evelyn will do. Their magical kiss sparks more than mere romance – it creates a key that will open their hearts to a true love that will save their worlds. – Lori Corsentino

Finding Ms. Wright is being produced by the indie press, 5 Prince Publishing. Look for the eBook November 15th – distributed through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and All Romance eBooks.

The trade paperback will be released in December, 2011 and distributed through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and 5 Prince Publishing.

Website links:
5 Prince Publishing

www.5princebooks.com

Lori Corsentino

www.loricorsentino.com

M.L. Guida

www.mlguida.com

Hillary Seidl

www.hillaryseidl.com

Buy links:

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Ms-Wright-ebook/dp/B0067U7OPQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323758782&sr=1-1

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/finding-ms-wright-m-l-guida/1104456058?ean=2940013457935&itm=1&usri=finding+ms.+wright

Smashwords:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/105200

All Romance Ebooks

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-findingmswright-641772-140.html

Day 6 - 15 Days of Christmas - A Bite From Jeanne C. Stein

2011-12-14T04:43:00.000-08:00

Jeanne C. Stein gives us a bite into her holiday traditions today. Jeanne is one of the nicest ladies you ever want to meet (and if opportunity presents, definitely meet her in person) and the author of the Anna Strong series on which I’m hooked. Love the author, love the series…what more can I say!

Jeanne will draw a winner from the comments readers leave today and that lucky individual will receive a signed copy of Crossroads as well as her author swag. And remember…the winner of today’s goodies also gets into another drawing for something “Brit” that I’ll pick up when I’m over there the last week of this year!

I find myself in a reflective mood this time of year. I miss friends and family who are no longer with us and wish those who are lived closer so we could be together. Still, there are little things I can do to make the holidays feel the way they used to. Hanging favorite ornaments, making a telephone call to a loved one far away, sharing a recipe passed down from one generation to the next.

My mom used to make the best fudge ever. I inherited my love of chocolate from her. She’d send me boxes of fudge not only on holidays and birthdays, but all year long. Her recipe came from a 1934 Hershey’s Cookbook. I found an “updated” edition of this book, revised in 1971, among my mom’s things when she passed away. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a family treasure!

Things have changed since the original cookbook was published. Margarine wasn’t around in 1934. Neither were electric mixers and non-stick pans. But the ingredients for this fudge haven’t changed. It’s easy, quick and delicious. Try it. Maybe it will become a holiday tradition for your family, too. My mom would approve.

Happy Holidays from my family to yours.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

2 Cups Granulated Sugar

2/3 Cups Milk

3 Squares Hershey’s Baking Chocolate

1 Cup Marshmallow Whip

¾ Cup Peanut Butter

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Combine sugar, milk and baking chocolate, broken into small pieces, in a heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Cook to the soft ball stage (234 degrees F) without stirring. Remove from heat, add marshmallow whip, peanut butter and vanilla. Stir until just blended. Pour into buttered 9 x 9 x 1 3/4 inch pan. Cool and cut into squares.

Yield: about 3 dozen squares

Jeanne C. Stein

The Anna Strong Chronicles

www.jeannestein.com

Jeanne Stein is the national bestselling author of the Urban Fantasy series, The Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles. Her character, Anna Strong, received a RT Reviewers Choice Award for Best Urban Fantasy Protagonist in 2008. The sixth in the Anna Strong series, Chosen, was released last August and was nominated best UF for 2010 from RT Book Reviews Magazine. In 2011, Anna is again a nominee for Best Urban Fantasy Protagonist for Crossroads. Jeanne also has numerous short story credits, including the novella, Blood Debt, from the New York Times bestselling anthology, Hexed. Her series has been picked up in three foreign countries and her short stories published in collections here in the US and the UK. The seventh in the Anna Strong series, Crossroads, debuted in August 2011.

Blurb: Anna Strong- 2011 RT Nominee for Best Urban Fantasy Protagonist in Crossroads

Vampire Anna Strong seems to have a knack for finding trouble. Now it seems to be finding her. Some stunning news from an unexpected source sends Anna and her friend Daniel Frey on a journey into his past that changes both of their lives

Day 5 of 15 Days of Christmas - Welcome Helen Hardt!

2011-12-13T04:50:00.000-08:00

Our guest today is the gorgeous Helen Hardt. Helen is the full package, in addition to being beautiful and talented, she's also nice. So join me in welcoming my friend and fellow author, Helen Hardt.

And the Music Returns…

The winter holidays are my favorite time of the year. I love the colors, the aromas, the preparations, rekindling old and beginning new traditions…and I especially love Christmas music! Unlike some, I’m ecstatic when I hear those melodies playing before Thanksgiving. This year my house is a little more quiet than usual. My older son, Eric, left Colorado for Florida this fall when he entered the University of Miami as a freshman vocal performance major. This time last year, his rich bass filled the house with holiday joy. Times change…

Today is a great day though – he’s coming home for the holidays! I haven’t seen my baby since August, haven’t heard his beautiful voice for four months. Yes, times do change. Eric won’t live at my house permanently ever again, but I’ll still get to see him (and hear him!) during the holidays. His singing and playing the piano have become tradition at our house.

Another tradition is the wassail I make every Christmas Eve. There are as many recipes for wassail as there are stars in the sky. I hope you enjoy mine.

Thank you for stopping by! I’ll be giving away two gifts today. One commenter will receive a copy of my current release, Ivy League Cowboy. Another will receive deep edits on the first twenty pages of a completed manuscript. Don’t forget to leave your email address. Good luck!

Holiday Wassail

I c. sugar

2 c. water

1 c. lemon juice

1 qt. apple cider

14 whole cloves

4 sticks cinnamon

8 allspice berries

Bourbon or Brandy

Boil sugar and water ten minutes. Add spices and let stand one hour. Strain spices, and add juices and cider. Heat carefully. Do not boil. Serve warm. A half shot of Wild Turkey makes it perfect! My husband goes for a whole shot J.

Ivy League Cowboy available at Musa Publishing

Dusty doesn't fear the feisty bull...but his owner's another story.

Dusty O’Donovan, an accomplished bull rider, isn’t afraid to ride El Diablo, a feisty stud whose owner, Zach McCray, is offering $500,000 to anyone who can stay on him for a full eight seconds. Though Zach refuses to let a woman ride his bull, he's intrigued by the headstrong Dusty, who he last saw when he was thirteen and she was six. Sparks fly when they’re together, but will Dusty’s secrets tear them apart?

Excerpt:

They stood outside the door to her room while she fished for her key card.

“You sure about this, darlin’?”

“Yeah, yeah.” She had a hard time breathing. “I’m sure, Zach. I want this.”

“Oh God.” Zach grabbed her purse from her. “Where the hell is that damn key?”

He found it and pushed it in the slot, then pulled her into the room, shutting the door and pushing her body against it. His hardness protruded through his jeans and poked into her belly. She wanted to touch him everywhere, lick him everywhere. She wanted to rip his clothes off, then her own, and get down and dirty right there on the hotel rug.

“You’re so beautiful.” He cupped her face in his hands. “You have the longest eyelashes I’ve ever seen.” He pushed his erection into her. “Do you feel that?”'

“Yes.”

“Feel how much I want you. How much I hunger for you.”

“Yes, yes.” Her breathing was unsteady, her pulse wild.

“Do you want me?”

“God, yes. Yes.”

“Say it, darlin’. Say you want me.”

“I want you.”

His mouth, reckless and possessive, claimed hers. His strong arms enveloped her and carried her to the bed. He laid her down gently and began to unbutton her shirt. He moved slowly, letting his fingers linger as he tantalized each inch of flesh. She squirmed as tiny flames ignited every place he touched her. She wanted to rip her shirt off and move things along.

When he finally exposed her breasts and lavished his attention on them, she wanted even more. She wanted to be naked. Naked under his touch. She wriggled and groaned, whispering his name.

“Please,” she said, and found herself repeating the word.

“Please what, darlin’?”

“I…don’t know.”

“Do you want me to touch you?”

“Yes, please.”

“Here?”

He cupped her breast, lightly running his thumb over her taut nipple. She shuddered.

“Here?”

He ran his fingers lightly over her belly, circling them around her navel. She squirmed.

“Here?”

He unsnapped her jeans and ran his fingers under the waistband, sending tremors through her.

“Oh yes,” she said, sighing.

He slowly unzipped her jeans, eased his hand inside her panties, and found a sensitive spot that sent her writhing.

“Here?” His voice was hoarse, needy.

Buy link: http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=73

Bio:

Helen Hardt is an attorney and stay-at-home mom turned award-winning author and editor. She lives in Colorado with her husband and two sons. Visit her at www.helenhardt.com, www.helenhardt.blogspot.com, www.romanceeditor.blogspot.com, and www.fiction-editor.blogspot.com.

Day 4 of 15 Days of Christmas -- Sam Cheever Shares

2011-12-12T04:56:00.000-08:00

Today we get Sam Cheever’s thoughts on holiday season. In addition to being a fellow author, Sam is also my roommate when we end up at the same conference and a good friend. We’ve pulled each other back from the brink of insanity that hits most authors from time to time. It’s great to know there’s someone just a phone call away that understands why your difficult character has you in tears.

In addition to the free story for everyone who comments, Sam will also give one lucky winner a cute Christmas t-shirt and boxers. And don’t forget, that lucky winner will also go on the list for the England “surprise” drawing for what I bring back from my trip the end of the year.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL CONTACT IN COMMENTS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO NOTIFY YOU IF YOUR NAME IS DRAWN!

NOW FOR SAM!

Every year, about this time, I ponder what makes the season special. I suspect a lot of people do that, so I’m not unique. But my perspective on the season is unique. As is yours. I’m not one of those people who looks to the past a lot. But this time of year seems to be the exception. For me, Scrooge-like, the magic of the season is enhanced by Christmas past. I move through my day with one part of my brain tied to fond, seasonal memories. The way the tree looked, surrounded by all those pretty packages on Christmas morning when I was a kid; the memory of singing in the church choir at candlelight services when I got a little older, past gifts given and received that were special…for whatever reason.

It’s hard to pinpoint why I love Christmas so much. Despite the rush of added tasks and projects, the extra work involved in getting or making gifts, the pull of emotion the season engenders, I can’t help feeling its magic.

Maybe I like it so much because it brings out the best in me.

To me, Christmas is a conglomeration of things, past and present. As a creative person, I think my perception of this time of year has been formed by creative things. The following embody the spirit of this time of year for me.

Movie: Since family is important, Chevy Chase’s Christmas Vacation is a favorite for my family this time of year. The movie is silly and fun, absolutely, but at its core it is the perfect, farcical representation of what a lot of us experience during the holidays. We surround ourselves with family, sometimes a double edged sword, and try extra hard to create the perfect Christmas, a memory that we’ll clutch forever to our breasts as the years pass. It’s horrible to put that much pressure on ourselves, but we often do it none-the-less, and it’s usually every bit as painful as the movie portrays. My favorite line of the movie? Cousin Eddie saying,“shitter’s full”, as he empties the contents of his porta toilet directly into the sewer.” Snorf, what can I say, I’m simple!

Book: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is about fitting in, being accepted, and feeling needed. No time during the year is this more important than the holidays. People who don’t have loved ones are especially lonely this time of the year. More people die during this time of the year. It’s harder to be different, alone, ostracized this time of year. But no one really needs to be alone. This cute, inspiring movie shows us that, despite our differences, we can all find common ground, and everybody has a part to play in the grand scheme of life. It’s a heartwarming sentiment, and one I’ve treasured through the years.

Book: One of my favorite authors is Dr. Seuss. I love his books, his style. My favorite story of his is far and away How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Fun and well written, the story stands alone in my heart as one of the great classics, the embodiment of the anti-Christmas sentiment that makes those of us who love the season enjoy it all the more for its happy ending. No Grinch could withstand the sweet, sad face of Cindy Lou, or all that she represents. Only the most cynical among us truly believe that Christmas is about things. Buying things, giving things, receiving things. If you were to take away the things, the spirit would still shine bright.

That’s what makes Christmas my favorite time of year. That’s the magic of it. That’s the joy.

I hope you manage to wrap your arms around your ideal Christmas this year. But if you don’t it doesn’t really matter. If you offer love and acceptance, surrounding yourself with friends and family, you’ve already reached your Christmas dream!

Merry Christmas Everybody!

A Christmas Gift to you from Sam

My Christmas gift to you is this year’s Astra Q Phelps Christmas story. If you’d like a copy of this 11,300 word story, just drop me a note: samcheever at samcheever dot com and I’ll send it right out. Here’s the blurb:

~~*~~

In this short Christmas story, Astra is determined to take Christmas off so she’s been ignoring the nearly constant calls from the North Pole to help them find Santa, who’s disappeared just days before Christmas.

But when a flash mob of elves whisks her away to the North Pole, fresh from the shower and all nakies, what’s a Tweener to do?

Looks like Astra will be working again on Christmas after all.

Grinch Punch – www.tasteofhome.com

Ingredients

· 1/3 cup sugar

· 6 tablespoons plus 1-1/2 teaspoons water

· 1/3 cup evaporated milk

· 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

· 12 drops neon green food coloring

· 1 bottle (2 liters) lemon-lime soda, chilled

· 2 pints vanilla ice cream

Directions

In a large saucepan, combine sugar and water. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved; remove from the heat. Stir in milk and extract. Transfer to a bowl; cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until chilled.

Just before serving, transfer milk mixture to a punch bowl. Stir in the food coloring and soda. Top with scoops of ice cream. Yield: 4 quarts.

Nutrition Facts: 1 cup equals 142 calories, 4 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 16 mg cholesterol, 46 mg sodium, 26 g carbohydrate, 0 fiber, 1 g protein.

~~*~~

Bio

Award winning author Sam Cheever mixes in a little fun, a little adventure, and a little real-life spice to create her sexy fantasy and romantic suspense stories. Sam’s fictional peeps fight their way through a dizzying array of challenges without letting little things like treacherous villains, vicious monsters, or manipulative gods dampen their zest for life and hot love!

To find out more about Sam and her work, please pay her a visit at any one of the following online hot spots: http://www.samcheever.com; http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sam-Cheever-Author/102117321982; http://www.myspace.com/samcheever; or http://tweenyouandme.blogspot.com/. She always loves to chat with readers.

Day 3 - 15 Days of Christmas - Rebecca Grace!

2011-12-11T07:28:00.000-08:00

Our guest today is the ever bouncing Rebecca Grace. I did a book signing Friday night with this energetic lady and another author friend and it was a night of laughter, brainstorming and talking with readers…what fun! Today Rebecca is sharing Christmas memories with us and a recipe she makes year round, holidays included.

The chance to win a signed copy of Deadly Messages is Rebecca’s prize, plus the winner gets their name in the drawing for the England offering, yet to be purchased. So relax and read my friends, then comment. Rebecca loves comments!!!!!

Christmas Memories

We learned early in my family that people had to work on Christmas. My father worked in a veterans’ hospital so unless Christmas fell on Sunday or Monday, we celebrated whenever we could. Years later when I lived outside Colorado and worked in TV news, I always seemed to work Christmas Day. For me, the holiday meal was turkey dinner served between newscasts.

I would fly home to Colorado whenever I could for our “official” family celebration, but sometimes that could be tricky, like in 1982. Colorado was hit by a massive snowstorm two days before Christmas with a full blizzard blowing in on Christmas Eve. The old Stapleton Airport closed so I couldn’t catch a flight until Christmas day.

My parents tried to drive 200 miles up I-25 from Trinidad so we could all gather at my sister’s house in Denver. My uncle told my dad Mother was a “crazy woman” for making him try the drive. My brother was 35 miles away in Walsenburg along I-25. When they all heard the roads were open, Mom and Dad left Trinidad, with my uncle still thinking divorce should be an option. The roads were so bad my brother couldn’t drive to meet them so he walked a mile to the freeway to wait. This was before the days of cell phones, of course, so the time was hit or miss. He got lots of offers for rides from charitable drivers before my parents finally picked him up. They only got as far as Colorado Springs before I-25 was closed again. They ended up staying at a little motel and eating Christmas Eve dinner at the Royal Fork. The next day the road re-opened and they got to Denver.

I flew in that morning and told them I’d catch a cab from Stapleton so they didn’t have to drive all the way across town to get me. What I didn’t know was that with 25 inches of snow on the ground, the streets hadn’t been cleared. Imagine my surprise when I discovered no cabs were running. Luckily people with four wheel drive vehicles were spending their Christmas Day earning extra money by hauling people around. It cost me $50 to catch a ride to a hotel near I-25 so they could pick me up.

We had Christmas late, but we all got together. Two days later, when it was time to go back, hundreds of people got stalled in traffic trying to get to the airport. One of my friends says it took her family 6 hours to drive 5 miles. Her mother kept telling her she might want to get out and walk. Seeing that massive traffic jam on TV, I delayed my flight and flew back the next day. Since they were stuffing us all on planes in no particular order, I somehow ended up in first class!

Our family tradition which we still hold dear is baking cookies. Lots of cookies. Dozens of sugar cookies. We don’t give them away, because no one would want them. We use those cookies to show off our inner Picasso. We all sit down with our little palettes of white frosting, food coloring, colored sugar sprinkles and plates of bell, star, tree, ornament, and Santa cookies. But you can turn your cookie into anything. My made a fish out of a tree one year. But if your decoration isn’t up to snuff, the chorus rises, “Eat it, Eat it, EAT IT!”

Alas, you have to eat that cookie. And some of those art critics among us are vicious! One year my sister’s husband tried to impress us with his artistic abilities. He kept selecting the larger shaped cookies and painting landscapes on them. They were quite impressive, beaches with palm trees, desert scenes. Well, after the fourth one we’d had enough. We made him eat that next one and it was BIG with lots of frosting.

My brother is always inventive. When his food coloring turned an army green one year, he cut up a cookie and turned it into a fighter jet. He ate it. He also ate the football-shaped cookie he decorated for his favorite football team. It wasn’t the weird brown coloring or even the fact he was rooting for the Dallas Cowboys. It was that he’d misjudged the cookie size and when the lettering got to the end he’d managed to write only, “Go Dalla.”

Oh, well, it was always a fun day. We’d have carols playing in the background and we often had a pot of chili cooking on the stove all day or for the next day if we were too sick to eat that night.

We’re already gearing up for this year’s competition. I hope my stomach’s ready.

BECKY’S EASY AWARD WINNING CHILI RECIPE

¼ lb Mexican Chorizo sausage

2 Lbs Lean Ground Beef (half can be Ground Buffalo)

1 Sweet onion

1 to 2 Tablespoons ground red New Mexico Chili (in the packets in the Mexican aisle of the grocery store – season to your taste)

1 - teaspoon Cumin

1 Cup Water

2 - 4 Oz cans Hatch Diced Green Chili (Mild)

1 - 4 oz can diced Jalapeno (Use only if you want it hotter and add only to your heat level)

1 - 14.5 oz can Diced Tomatoes

1 -15 oz can Pinto Beans

1 -15 oz can Red Kidney Beans

1 Small can Refried Beans (used for thickening)

Salt & pepper to taste

Cook chorizo in skillet, drain off oil. In separate skillet, brown hamburger and onions until meat is cooked through and onions are translucent. Place in slow cooker or Dutch Oven, add Chorizo. Add 1 Tab chili pepper and cumin. Mix together until blended. Add Diced Green Chili and small amount of Jalapeno if desired. Add diced tomatoes and 1 cup water. Mix

Cook on high for slow cooker or on low heat if on stove top in Dutch oven for 3 hours.

Keep checking for taste after 2 hours. Add addition chili powder if necessary.

Add Kidney and Pinto Beans and cook for additional hour

Add Refried Beans and add more chili powder if necessary. Cook for additional hour.

Serve with saltines and enjoy! (always better the second day!)

Serves 6

Becky Martinez, aka Rebecca Grace, is a former broadcast journalist who spent 30+ years in television newsrooms around the West. She writes romance, romantic suspense and mystery, both in short story and novel lengths. Her latest novella, Shadows from the Past, is a gothic romance and will be published in March 2012 by The Wild Rose Press, www.thewildrosepress.com. Her previous book, Deadly Messages, received four stars from RT Book Reviews. She also teaches online writing classes and presents workshops before writing groups and is one of the co-authors of the book—Ten Steps to Creating Memorable Characters.

Blurb for Shadows from the Past (coming March 2012)

When Stacey Moreno goes undercover on Evergreen Island, she's looking for answers to a friend's mysterious death, not trouble. Stacey's not adventurous—she lives vicariously through her cartoon creation and can't tell left from right. But from the moment she moves into spooky Redfern Manor and meets her sexy new boss, sparks fly. Hobbled by injuries, former journalist Mack Warren came to Redfern Manor looking for escape, not romance. He’s interested only in writing the story of a former occupant of the manor and prefers to ignore the strange feelings his lively new assistant inspires. As Stacey digs for answers, she’s drawn to her mysterious boss, but he’s obsessed with a ghost. As danger draws near, can Stacey persuade Mack to face the shadows from the past that threaten to destroy their future?

http://rebeccagrace.com/

Day 2 of 15 Days of Christmas - Linda Wisdom

2011-12-10T06:54:00.000-08:00

Time is ticking away and we're getting closer to the magic night when Santa parks his reindeer on rooftops. The ticking clock also means a new author here for our 15 Days of Christmas. Our guest today is the multi-talented Linda Wisdom!!! Enjoy her thoughts on Christmas and a recipe that I gained weight just reading. Leave a comment from which she’ll draw a winner for a signed ARC of A Demon Does it Better as well as hexy goodies to go with the book. And the winner also gets entered into the drawing for a special gift that I’ll pick up on my upcoming trip to England.

So folks, grab the coffee (or tea), read and have your fingers poised to comment.

Merry Merry!

Can you believe it’s that time of year again? I admit I love Christmas. I love the colors, the energy, music, you name it.

After Thanksgiving I’m ready to decorate inside and out. I have some things I do the same every year, but I also like to mix things up. I have pieces to a fun holiday village, some fibre optic pieces, and now with our latest furry critter, Katie, I need to keep a close eye on the plush animals. She seems to think they’re all hers!

It also means pulling out the holiday DVDs. I’m such a sucker for Christmas In Connecticut, original Miracle on 34^th Street, and Muppet Christmas Carol among others. And a nice background if I’m not playing music while I bake up cookies and candies to hand out. No way I leave much of that around the house! Way too tempting. Although I do have to check them out.

I have some regular recipes I make every year and always add a few new ones. There have been a few disasters, but it’s still fun. Between that and my Bath and Body Works wallflowers, the house smells yummy!

What about you? What traditions do you have for Christmas? Are you in to decorating and baking? Playing your favorite music and/or movies? And who all loves Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas song?

Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

No matter what, have a wonderful holiday!

While this isn’t a true holiday treat, it is popular among friends and family out here. I make multiple batches of this candy. It’s easy to make and even easier to eat!

Enjoy!

Linda

Choconut Caramel Bars

2 pkg milk chocolate chips

4 tbsp shortening

2 14-oz pkg caramels

4 tbsp water Choconut

2 cups peanuts, chopped

Melt 1 pkg choc. chips and 2 tbsp shortening-takes about a minute or so in microwave. Stir until smooth. Pour into 9x13 foil lined pan. Refrigerate until firm. Melt caramels and water-about 2 to 4 min. in microwave. Stir until smooth. Stir in peanuts. Pour into choc. lined pan, spread evenly, refrigerate until firm. Top with remaining chocolate and refrigerate.

Halve recipe if using 8 in. square pan. Very much like a Snickers bar, actually better!

A DEMON DOES IT BETTER

Lovely witch Lili Carter takes a job at a paranormal hospital where patients have been disappearing. There she encounters Jared, a dangerously sexy demon on a mission that gets Lili into a world of trouble. Lili can't avoid Jared for long and soon they find themselves creating a whole new kind of magick...

15 Days of Christmas Kicks Off with Desiree Holt

2011-12-09T05:03:00.000-08:00

Today kicks off the 15 Days of Christmas with a prize drawing for each day. The delightful Desiree Holt starts things off for us and we couldn't ask for a better out of the gate experience. I had the pleasure of toasting book number 100 with Desiree at RT 2011 this past April. The woman is amazing! So hold onto your hats, coffee cups or whatever and here we go!!! And remember...comments each day gets you entered for the daily drawing. From those winners I'll draw a grand prize winner to receive a little something special from my upcoming trip to London that I'll pick up over there.

Christmas-Definitely the time to be jolly

To win prizes: leave a comment and you might win a Christmas watch. Or a choice of ebook from my backlist.

Christmas is also a time to eat and fall in love.

And who wouldn’t fall in love when the air is scented with holly and cranberry and pine and of course, Christmas sugar cookies. In my house we have the teddy bear invasion. About fifteen years ago I started collecting Christmas teddy bears, one matched set each year. My late husband always used to make a trip to the store without me and surprise me with them on Christmas morning. Now when you come to my house at Christmas, you have to be careful they only hug you to death!

He also believed in the power of mistletoe. Whenever we put up the decorations he would hang an artificial ball of mistletoe in our bedroom and we never went to sleep or got up without a Christmas gift. He may be gone but the mistletoe still hangs there and I can still remember his kisses. They were yummy.

Also very yummy are the sugar cookies we made, and cut them in the shape of Christmas trees, decorating them with red and green sprinkles to simulate lights. So here’s our recipe, for your enjoyment.

Ingredients

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.

2. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks. Then decorate.

And while you’re munching your cookies, warm yourself with a hot love story that could only happen at Christmas – He Came Upon a Midnight Clear from Decadent publishing and available at all your favorite online bookstores.

Blurb:

Cody Alvarez needed to find a wife by Christmas or he would lose the ranch his uncle left to him. Libby Morris just needed, for once in her life, to feel desired. Sensual. Appealing. Especially after an intense reshaping at a high-end spa. Invited to Christmas Week at the Castillo Lodge in Alaska by Madame Eve of 1Night Stand, Cody and Libby were not given the names of the partners chosen for them. As they were forced to wait until they learned who their one-night stands were, they discovered an incredible spark of chemistry and a connection stronger than either had experienced before. Would spending a very erotic night together ruin their arrangements or give them another option?

Excerpt:

“I’m not very good at this,” she said slowly.

He squeezed her hand gently. “At eating dinner?”

She shook her head, still not looking at him. “At…small talk. Dating. Things like this.” Her cheeks felt so hot she thought they must match her lipstick.

“Libby?” Cody’s voice barely penetrated the fog of embarrassment. And he still had hold of her hand. “Libby, look at me.”

Reluctantly she raised her eyes.

“I’m going to order us each another drink and then I’d be interested to find out why someone as beautiful and sexy as you has trouble in a social situation like this. Surely you must be beating the men off with a stick.”

She made herself breath evenly. She might as well tell him. They’d never see each other again and maybe he could give her some moral support. Besides, he made her feel comfortable, something her assigned date night not do.

The waiter cleared their dessert dishes, brought another glass of wine for her and bourbon on the rocks for Cody. He touched his glass to hers.

“To us. Two people enjoying a nice dinner.”

She laughed at that and swallowed some wine.

“Now. Let’s have it. What’s got you skittish as a newborn calf?”

“You’ll laugh at me.”

He smiled. “Darlin’, the last thing I’ll do is laugh. I promise.”

She took another gulp of wine. “Well, they say it’s easier to tell things to a stranger.”

“Oh, but we’re not strangers,” he protested. “Are we? We spent all that time on the plane together, right? But Libby? It’s still all right to talk to me. Tell me.”

She drained her wine glass and held it out. “C-Could I have another drink? Please?”

Cody laughed. “Yes, but then I’m cutting you off. I don’t want anyone to accuse me of getting you drunk and taking advantage of you.”

Her breath caught in her throat. “I…You…”

He signaled for the waiter then picked up her hand again. She wished he’d never drop it. It felt so good and secure.

“Breathe,” he teased gently. “It’s okay. Just relax. If you don’t want to say anything you don’t have to. Really.”

“I’ve been fat and frumpy and boring all my life,” she blurted out then wished she could dive under the table. When he didn’t say anything she made herself look up and saw him staring at her. “What?”

He cleared his throat. “Libby. I have to say that those are three words I would never associate with you.”

The waiter brought their drinks and she paused long enough to sip some of hers. “That’s because you didn’t know me. Even now I have a long ways to go.”

“For what?” He sounded astonished.

“For, you know. To look like everyone else.”

“Why the hell would you want that? You’re perfect the way you are.”

She snorted. “Oh, sure. That’s nice of you to say but you don’t have to be polite. I just spent two months at a spa to get to this point.” He hadn’t stopped staring at her. “That’s why I booked this thing through 1 Night Stand. A woman at the spa told me about them.” Her face heated again. “I wanted an exciting, erotic night like my girl friends talk about. An adventure. You know. Hot sex.”

Oh, god, maybe the floor would just open up and swallow her.

Cody downed his bourbon in two swallows and signaled the waiter for the check.

“Finish your wine. We’re getting out of here.”

Recipe Wednesday - Applesauce Donuts

2011-12-07T04:54:00.000-08:00

The donut maker is the device of choice for Toddler. This week we attempted a little healthier take on the following recipe. The changes are beside the original ones. Turned out pretty good from the way Toddler devoured them.

Glazed Applesauce Donuts

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 5 mins

Total time: 15 mins

Ingredients

1/3 cup butter, softened (substituted 2 TBS butter & 3 TBS olive oil)
1/2 cup brown sugar (didn't pack the brown sugar)
1/2 cup sugar (substituted 1/4 cup + TBS Agava syrup)
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups applesauce (next time will increase applesauce...wheat flour made thicker)
2 cups all-purpose flour (substituted 1 cup wheat flour on one of these)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon (next time will increase the cinnamon)
1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Beat together butter, brown sugar and sugar. Beat in eggs. Beat in applesauce.
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Stir dry ingredients into butter mixture. Blend well.
Fill each cooking reservoir with about 2 tablespoons of batter.
Bake about 4 to 5 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into donut comes out clean.
Place donuts on wire rack to cool.

Made up a thin glaze of powdered sugar & milk then dipped top of donuts and let dry on cooling rack for most. Tried dusting of powdered sugar on some and I liked it better...not as sweet.

Not the world's healthiest snack/breakfast, but the changes help a little and for donut lovers could be a better optition.

Holiday Memories

2011-12-05T06:01:00.000-08:00

It’s snowy and cold here and as much as I hate cold, I love this time of year. Today I’m writing Christmas cards and going back in time. Thumbing through my address book brings back memories. The names of relatives I’ve not connected with recently and the same with some friends pop up and the little details about them rush forward.

Some are the fun things we did or shared. Other memories, the not so fun that they were there to support me through or I’ve tried to be there for them on.

Seeing the names of cousins that tolerated me as a child (they were a lot older) transports me back in time to my aunt’s kitchen. The ‘little me’ waiting in anticipation to scrap the cake batter from the bowl she used to mix up the ingredients of her family famous chocolate and coconut cakes. Relatives who hadn’t showed their face all year would manage to drop in around the holidays for a slice of one of them. The image of her apron, fresh when she put it on, now smeared with flour from her wiping her hands, her steel rimmed glasses sliding down her nose, and her fine hair of the same color, pulled back in a tight little bun, dances through my mind. But the strongest memory is the love I feel each time she peers at me over the glasses as she tells me stories of her childhood.

I think these memories are what started my annual cookie back when my own daughter was small. It became a tradition that she demanded we keep, even after she married and had her own home. She’d drive the hour plus on the date we set to bake and talk, then reverse the trip with bags of the goodies we created that day. Today, she continues the tradition with her own daughters, who wouldn’t let us think of skipping the event because schedules are insane.

And that’s what is happening this coming Saturday…baking time at my daughter’s house. I’ll arrive early with my assigned items to bring, with luck DIL and her daughter will make it too and the kitchen will be filled with females of various ages laughing, talking and sampling. Exhausted at the end of the day we will all be, but we’ll have the memories to tie us over until next year and our friends will have the fruits of our labor to enjoy.

So what memories do you have from your holidays? Do you have traditions that you carry on or use this time of year to pull out memories, or like me, some of both. We would love to hear about them!!

Guest Friday: The Chocolate Diva Shares

2011-12-02T07:18:00.000-08:00

Our amazing Chocolate Diva, Joleen Allis is sharing candy recipes with us this month. (Thanks for expaninding my hips with these). Next Saturday is the family Holiday Cookie Bake with my daughter & granddarlings, so think I'll whip up at least one of these to take along with the Twix bars that have been requested.

Layered Peppermint Bark

Ingredients

20 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped, divided
30 peppermint candies, crushed, divided
10 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
6 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon peppermint extract

Directions

1. Line a 9x12 inch baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper.

2. Melt half of the white chocolate in the top of a double boiler over just barely simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching. Spread the white chocolate into the prepared pan. Sprinkle 1/4 of the crushed peppermints evenly over white chocolate. Chill until firm, about 15 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, melt the dark chocolate, heavy cream, and peppermint extract together in the top of a double boiler over just barely simmering water, stirring frequently, until just melted. Quickly pour the chocolate layer over the chilled white chocolate layer; spread evenly. Chill until firm, about 20 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, melt the remaining white chocolate in the top of a double boiler over just barely simmering water, stirring frequently, until just melted. Spread quickly over the chilled bark. Sprinkle with the remaining peppermint pieces; chill until firm, about 20 minutes. Cut or break into small pieces to serve.

Easy OREO Truffles

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, divided
1 (8 ounce) package Cream Cheese, softened
2 (8 ounce) packages Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted

Directions

1. Crush 9 of the cookies to fine crumbs in food processor; reserve for later use. (Cookies can also be finely crushed in a resealable plastic bag using a rolling pin.) Crush remaining 36 cookies to fine crumbs; place in medium bowl. Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1-inch in diameter.

2. Dip balls in chocolate; place on wax paper-covered baking sheet. (Any leftover chocolate can be stored at room temperature for another use.) Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs.

3. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered, in refrigerator.

Wednesday Recipe - Tex-Mex Turkey Soup

2011-11-30T05:04:00.000-08:00

Pulled this from Allrecipes.com where it was submitted by SStrawder when looking for something a little different to do with leftover turkey. We've finished the leftovers from Thanksgiving, but I have a small turkey in the freezer that I'll roast to get in a lot of meals for the holidays. We love spicy and this soup sounds interesting, so I'll give it a try with the leftovers.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup minced onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
4 cups water
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 cup salsa
4 cups shredded cooked turkey
1 tablespoon dried parsley
3 chicken bouillon cubes
1 (14 ounce) can black beans, rinsed, drained
2 cups frozen corn
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Toppings:
6 cups corn tortilla chips
3/4 cup chopped green onion
1 cup shredded Cheddar-Monterey Jack cheese blend
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup sour cream

Directions

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add minced onions and cook until onions begin to soften, about 4 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin and oregano and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Stir in water, tomato soup, diced tomatoes, salsa, shredded turkey, parsley and bouillon cubes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes or until bouillon cubes dissolve. Add black beans, corn, sour cream and cilantro. Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.
Serve soup with crushed tortilla chips, chopped green onion, shredded cheese and additional cilantro and sour cream.

Monday Updates!

2011-11-28T06:14:00.000-08:00

Had a wonderful weekend and though edits await, I took a little downtime on Friday. I think I'd reached the 'fried' point and this morning I feel ready to tackle edits and lots of other stuff!

Saturday was a book signing at Barnes & Noble with the delightful Jeanne Stein and Bernadette Marie.

Left to Right: Moi, Jeanne C. Stein and Bernadette Marie

Thank you to all our friends and family who came out to support us and to the new readers we met. Our table was setup close to the Nook counters and let me tell you, there's going to be a lot of happy readers Christmas morning. Non-stop traffic asking questions and walking out with packages in their hands. A number of them stopped and talked with us and asked if our books were available in eBook too. Yes, yes and yes again!!! Of course, the Powers at B&N have not, for whatever reason, added the e-book of Beyond Magic, but All Romance eBooks has it in a format that will work for the Nook.

And I'm happy to report, the newly re-release of Making Christmas is available at Amazon for Kindle now. http://www.amazon.com/Making-Christmas-ebook/dp/B006E3MONS/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1322489425&sr=8-6

Today, I'm focused on edits and thankful there are lots of leftovers so cooking won't be a distraction. And remember, Wednesday a new recipe and this Friday, the Chocolate Diva, Joleen Allis will share more with us on the 8th food group!

Hope you have a terrific week!! Would love to hear what you're up to!

Making Christmas Now at Musa

2011-11-25T08:56:00.000-08:00

Making Christmas, a Civil War Historical is available at Musa Publishing now. http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=61

Even during the Civil War, Christmas is made with love.
Wounded in a skirmish, Callie Marsh’s disguise as a Confederate soldier is discovered by the doctor who treats her. Working with him in the hospital she learns no matter what color uniform a soldier wears, they all miss family during the holidays. And that an enemy doctor can be the man of her dreams.

Dr. Tom Kent knows the safest place for the woman is working by his side. Their constant interaction has him wanting more than is smart considering their division of philosophy. His determination to keep her safe is hindered by Major Henry Ash’s decision the young prisoner would make an excellent aide could put her in danger of discovery.

Will Callie be able to set aside her dislike of Yankees to make Christmas for the enemy and especially for the man she’s come to love?

Thomas Kent filled his tin cup with a stiff shot of whiskey and slipped the bottle back into its hiding place at the bottom of his satchel. He’d never been much of a drinker before he joined the Union Army. Now the haze of alcohol was the only way he could get any sleep.

What had possessed him to give up a thriving medical practice in Maryland? His fiancée had asked the same question in the one letter he received from her. She didn’t bother to wait for his answer. By the time he sat down to attempt to explain his determination to help save the Union, Beth married the shopkeeper in their small town.

The last gulp of the rot-gut tasted no better than the first, but it didn’t matter. Since they’d left the devastation of Atlanta, he’d gone through most of the stash he’d brought with him. With luck, the scavengers who went out each morning to purge the countryside would find a still. Granny’s hooch was better than nothing.

Whoever said “war is hell” had it right. Even if he wasn’t on the front lines facing life and death, he dealt with the results every day. The blood, the gore and the death. Some he could save; a lot of others he couldn’t. Those were the ones who kept him awake…them and the others who said they wished he’d let them die instead of taking their arm or leg.

Emptying the cup, Tom reached down to the bag beside the table he used as a desk. Shouts for Dr. Kent stopped him from pulling out the bottle his hand had been clasped around.

“Doc, we got us a wounded Reb here. Just a kid really.” Sergeant Johnny Oaks entered the medical tent with a young boy thrown over his shoulder.

Poor kid didn’t even earn the luxury of a litter.

But litters weren’t carried by scouting patrols. They needed to move as quietly and unnoticed as possible.

“Yeah, I told him not to bother, but you know how stubborn the sergeant is.” Corporal Sam Jones swiped a blood-crusted hand across his mouth, leaving a streak of blood, and looked in disgust at the sergeant. “I mean if the kid don’t bleed to death, he’s going to wish he had. Not only did he take a couple of bullets in the shoulder, but looks like he lost some of his man parts too. Think I’d rather be dead than gelded.”

“Put him over here, Sergeant.” Tom ignored the corporal’s comments and moved the stack of blankets from the cot where he wanted the boy.

Sergeant Oaks eased the kid down and Tom saw what Jones meant. Blood dripped on the dirt from the injured arm. Tom made a mental toss on which needed attention more from blood loss…the arm or the splotch of red covering the front of the boy’s pants.

“If it’s okay with you, Doc, I’m going to see about getting a bite to eat. We were gone longer than anticipated and ran out of rations.”

Tom nodded and Sergeant Oaks headed for the tent entrance. Jones, on the other hand, craned his neck for a better view. Some people were attracted to gore, a side of human nature Tom didn’t understand.

“Thank you Corporal. You should probably join the sergeant and get something to eat.”

“Yeah.” Jones hesitated and disappointment registered on his face that he wouldn’t get to see how bad the damage was to the boy’s private parts. He cast a glance in the doctor’s direction and shrugged. “Guess I’ll do that.”

Tom pulled the tent fly closed behind him. Jones would be spreading the news and a bunch of prying eyes weren’t needed.

Alone with his patient, Tom laid out the instruments he thought would be needed: sharp scalpel, the prod to fish for bullets if necessary, strips of cloth, a bottle of ether and opium for the pain if the kid came to.

He pulled the stool he used to work on patients up close to the low cot. He studied the boy for a brief minute then sprang into action.

Might as well start here. The shoulder looks pretty bad and is bleeding more than his other wound.

Tom didn’t waste time unbuttoning the shirt. He ripped it open, scattering buttons onto the dirt floor of the tent. If he was honest, he was delaying his examination of the mutilated organs between the boy’s legs. He needed time to adjust to the idea. He’d never had to remove someone’s manhood before and the thought made him uncomfortable.

“What the—?”

Read another excerpt: http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=61

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T08:38:00.000-08:00

Off to finish my cooking for the items I'm taking to daughter's gathering. I'm thankful for so much in my life and feel truly blessed. Here's to a wonderful day for all whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not. It would be great to have a world filled with peace, but let's make the best of the one we have and focus our thoughts and energy to that happening some days.

Recipe Wednesday -- Yep, More Holiday Calories!

2011-11-23T05:13:00.000-08:00

The Twix cookies that Toddler and I made last week were a major hit with all who tasted, including me. That's why they will be made only for large events where they are consumed in large quanties by someone other than me.

Yesterday, I made the Pumpkin Soup recipe I posted a few weeks ago. YUM! DH went back for seconds and given he's trying to cut back after wolfing down so many of the cookies from last week, think it got an A+ from him. I will confess it is spicy, so if you're not into a lot of spice cut back on the hot sauce and the chili powder.

Today, I'm sharing a cream cheese cookie recipe that is different than the one I've made for years. Think I may try this for our annual cookie bake the first weekend in December though I know Daughter will make the traditional ones...her fav!

Cream Cheese Cookies With Caramel Topping
(from SouthernFood.com)

The cream cheese cookies are more like pastry, made with a simple flour, cream cheese, and butter formula, but they get plenty of sweetness and flavor from the caramel and chocolate topping. Make these cream cheese cookies for Christmas, Halloween, or any occasion.

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 37 minutes

Yield: 2 Dozen Cookies

Ingredients:

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup all-purpose flour
20 to 28 pecan halves
1 bag (14 ounces) caramels
1 bag (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
sprinkles or colored sugar, optional

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400°.Place softened cream cheese and butter in a bowl. Gradually add flour to form a dough. Chill dough in refrigerator. Roll out and cut with a 2-inch round cookie cutter; arrange on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and press a pecan half onto each cookie. Place an unwrapped caramel on top of each cookie. Return cookies to oven and watch closely, baking just until caramels are melted, about 5 to 6 minutes.
Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or microwave.
Using a buttered knife, slightly flatten caramels. Stir the melted chocolate chips and spread about 1 to 2 teaspoons over the top of each pecan half. Top each cookie with sprinkles or colored sugar, if desired.
Makes about 20 to 24 2-inch cookies.

What's Cookin' in Lizzie's World

Sam Cheever Dishes on Cupid!

Monday Musings - Valentine Fun Coming Up~

Friday's Guest - My Pal, Tessa Berkley!!!

MAKING CHRISTMAS - LRC Best Historical 2011

Thank you to everyone who voted at LRC to give MAKING CHRISTMAS the win for Best Historical 2011. I'm amazed because competition was stiff...go many great books!And congratulations to all the winners in the other catagories.

Recipe Wednesday - Pan Seared Salmon Over Mediterranean Vegetables

Goals and Accountability!

Guest Friday - Patrica Bates on Balancing an Author Life

Monday on a Tuesday - Kicking the Blahs to the Curb!

Friday's Guest - Christine DePetrillo Crosses to the Darkside!

Start with Death and Win a Free Book

Snickerdoodles

What You Need

Recipe Wednesday -- Cheese Sandwich to Die For

Herding Cats Around London & Beyond

The Chocolate Diva Shares!

15 Days of Christmas Winners List!

Day 15 of 15 Days of Christmas - Jessica Aspen Shares!

Day 14 of 15 Days of Christmas -- Melissa Mayhue!

Day 13 of 15 Days of Christmas - Lia Slater

Day 12 in 15 Days of Christmas - Sandra Sookoo!

Day 11 of 15 Days of Christmas - J.L. Langley

Day 10 of 15 Days of Christmas - Shelley Munro

Day 9 of 15 Days of Christmas - Lizzie T. Leaf

Day 8 on 15 Days of Christmas - Christina James

Day 7 of 15 Days of Christmas - 3 Guests, 1 Day - Finding Ms. Right

Day 6 - 15 Days of Christmas - A Bite From Jeanne C. Stein

Day 5 of 15 Days of Christmas - Welcome Helen Hardt!

Day 4 of 15 Days of Christmas -- Sam Cheever Shares

Day 3 - 15 Days of Christmas - Rebecca Grace!

Day 2 of 15 Days of Christmas - Linda Wisdom

15 Days of Christmas Kicks Off with Desiree Holt

Recipe Wednesday - Applesauce Donuts

Holiday Memories

Guest Friday: The Chocolate Diva Shares

Wednesday Recipe - Tex-Mex Turkey Soup

Directions

Monday Updates!

Making Christmas Now at Musa

Happy Thanksgiving

Recipe Wednesday -- Yep, More Holiday Calories!

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 37 minutes

Yield: 2 Dozen Cookies

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Thank you to everyone who voted at LRC to give MAKING CHRISTMAS the win for Best Historical 2011. I'm amazed because competition was stiff...go many great books!

And congratulations to all the winners in the other catagories.