Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Tuesday' Wench - Sloane Taylor Brings Heat

This may be my last author spotlight until August.  Starting tomorrow posts will be centered around travel and (fingers crossed) mostly pictures taken during the trip.  Get BIL & cat settled in and packing tomorrow, then the fun begins!

But today, we have the fabulous Sloane Taylor heating up our day!  So sit back and enjoy!!!

The Magnificent Men of Munich, featuring rugged Wolfe Deider, are back in book two of the fiery four book series.

As the games heat up, the stakes grow higher, and Lonnie must decide whether to play along or leave her heart out in the cold.

BLURB: 

Lonnie Copley may be a genius, but not when it comes to her personal life or road maps. A series of wrong turns puts her far from reality and the German autobahn. The last thing she wants on the eve of a snowstorm is to be dangling at the edge of an Austrian mountain in need of rescue—especially by a leather-clad giant with Johnny Depp eyes. As luck would have it, Lonnie’s not the only one in need of rescue.

Wolfe Deider has spent his adult life recovering from the pain of childhood. He is too aware romance is unattainable for him. Try as he might to keep the troublesome American at arm’s length, her spunk is disarming, and forces open all his old wounds.

Lonnie loves Wolfe’s special brand of complications, but can she afford to indulge in his winter games?


EXCERPT:

“Shall we set the rules of the game?” Wolfe knew how he wanted this evening to progress.

 “Checkers? I’m good at those.”

He rattled the torn box. “Would you like to make the game more interesting?”

“Of course. How much money can you afford to lose?”

“How about for every disk you jump of mine, I must remove an article of clothing?”

“And for every man you jump, I lose something I’m wearing?” She drummed her fingernails on the tabletop.

He grinned and dumped the pieces onto the chessboard.

“Ja, I believe that would be the fair way to play the game.” He laid out a few of the black disks on his side of the board. Eleanor scooped up a handful of pieces and plunked them on appropriate squares, then turned the board.

“You start. After all, you’re the host.”

He shoved a red circle into play. She concentrated, then moved her black disk onto the square that forced him to conquer her.

“I believe you lose your first disk, Eleanor.” His dick tingled.

“Guess so.” She kicked off a boot. Grinning, she lifted a checker and jumped his disk, then glanced up. “Not just yet, Herr Deider. I have another move.” She swooped up the next disk.

Both of his shoes clomped to the floor.

He leaned across the board. A strategy was mandatory if he wanted the outcome in his favor. Looking her in the eyes, he slid a disk on the diagonal keeping his finger on top of it.

She glanced down, a smile tweaking her lips, and raised her hand to play.

“Not yet, Fraulein.” He slid the red circle back onto its original square. “I think this a better move.” He crossed jumped two of her disks.

She never flinched. Her other shoe hit the floor, followed by a sock.

“You are a good sport.” He raised his glass in salute.

Another play and he pulled off both of his socks.

He moved. She snorted and flung her other sock into the air.

She made an outstanding move he never suspected. His shirt flew onto a side chair.

With a grin he glanced up and conquered another checker.

She grabbed her sweater at the hem, peeled it up her body and over her head, then tossed it onto the floor. Her low cut purple bra barely covered her puckered nipples. And his dick stood at attention.

His hands shook as he lifted another red disk over her black one.

She slid back the chair then stood. Her graceful fingers worked the button free. Wolfe held his breath as she wiggled the pants past her curvy hips. She glanced at him over her shoulder with the look of a woman who knew what she wanted. Her hands glided over her sleek ass, guiding the material down her long legs. She bent over to pull them off. He gripped the edge of the table at the sight of her ass cheeks gripping a purple thong and…


BUY LINK

Sloane Taylor believes humor and sex are healthy aspects of our everyday lives and carries that philosophy into her books. She writes sexually explicit romances that take you right into the bedroom. Being a true romantic, all her stories have a happy ever after.

Her books are set in Europe where the men are all male and the North American women they encounter are both feminine and strong. They also bring more than lust to their men’s lives.

She is an avid cook. Check out “It’s Wednesday. So What’s Cooking?” with complete menus posted once a week on her blog.  The recipes are user friendly menus, meaning easy. Feel free to email her at sloanetaylor@comcast.net to be included on the Cooking Pals list. These are people who receive an advance email of the new menu.

Learn more about Sloane Taylor on her website, and of course her blog blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

A 4th of July Tribute to the Stars & Stripes from Dusty Crabtree


What do you get when you cross a patriotic idealist and writer like myself with the sad vision of a tattered flag?  A sad, patriotic poem about a tattered flag, of course.  Through the sadness I hope I can spark some pride in our country and the flag that represents it. 

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“The Tattered Flag” 

It flaps in the wind limply at one corner.  The other is ripped to shreds, caught, hanging on a wire, dejectedly.  Unable to break free. 

It’s been windy.  It’s raining.  It’s nobody’s fault. 

And yet…it just feels wrong.  The moment I see it from my car, a whimper escapes my lips.  A pain shoots through my chest.  It aches. I want to cry.  I might as well have witnessed a young kid being pushed down by a bully.  How could someone treat the flag this way?  A sense of injustice burns inside so strong that my world turns upside down. 

Such a strong emotion for such a simple inanimate object.  But it’s not simple, is it?  It represents our country’s life.  Our freedom.  Us.  So, I guess...in a way...it isn’t just an object treated with disrespect.  It’s a living and breathing representation of hope.  And if that’s torn and tattered, then what do we have left?


**************************************

Now that I've got you all warm and fuzzy, how about another riddle.  What do you get when you cross an idealist writer like myself with a passion for teenagers and young adults?  A YA urban fantasy called Shadow Eyes.  For those of you (teens and adults alike) who love a good hope-filled, inspirational read but also love paranormal, romance, suspense, and mystery, check out Shadow Eyes this summer.


Synopsis: 

Iris Kohl lives in a world populated by murky shadows that surround, harass, and entice unsuspecting individuals toward evil.  But she is the only one who can see them.  She’s had this ability to see the shadows, as well as brilliantly glowing light figures, ever since an obscure, tragic incident on her fourteenth birthday three years earlier. 

Although she’s learned to cope, the view of her world begins to shift upon the arrival of three mysterious characters.  First, a handsome new teacher whose presence scares away shadows; second, a new friend with an awe-inspiring aura; and third, a mysterious and alluring new student whom Iris has a hard time resisting despite already having a boyfriend.

As the shadows invade and terrorize her own life and family, she must ultimately revisit the most horrific event of her life in order to learn her true identity and become the hero she was meant to be. 

Check out Dusty's blog. 

Find her on facebook.

 Follow her on twitter.

Buy Shadow Eyes and/or read its reviews at Musa Publishing or Amazon.

(also available at all major online bookstores)

 View the book trailer.


Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Travel Wednesday - Get Ready London! I'll See You Soon!!


Can’t believe we leave for London in a week!  Tuesday is out to the airport to pick up BIL and get him and the Beast settled in. Still curious to see what we arrive home to…which one comes out on top in the battle for dominance of for who is in charge in this house.
I started laying out the ‘maybes’ for packing yesterday with the help of my current houseguest. If there are sparkles, she thinks it needs to be packed. I can tell you now; some won’t make the cut when I actually start putting them into the bag.
Anyway, here is a snap of one of the things we have lined up to do in London.  Fingers crossed the internet on the trip isn’t too slow so I can share actual pictures while on the trip.

In addition, we lined up a Sherlock walking tour of the movie and television sites, plus a Jack the Ripper night walking tour that should be spooky and fun!

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Sloane Taylor's Recipes to Delight on the 4th!


You have time to shop and enjoy these yummy delights that Sloane Taylor has shared with us for July 4th celebrations!

Friends are coming over on the 4th of July and Studs wanted a cookout with all his favorites. Since I never could refuse a good-looking man, I agreed. Here’s our menu with the recipes I created. I hope you like them.   

Barbecued Pork Ribs
Hamburgers Sloane Style
My Mom’s Potato Salad
Baked Beans
Sweet Corn on the Grill
Snazzy Sliced Tomatoes
Ice cold lemonade
Cold beer
 


Barbecued Pork Ribs

Pork ribs plan 1 slab for 2 people if you make all this food
Beer
Chicken stock
Barbeque sauce – Sweet Baby Ray’s is my favorite

Preheat oven to 325°F

Place ribs in a pan and in a single layer. Pour in about a half inch of stock and the same amount of beer. Cover tight and bake 1 – 1½ hours.  You want the meat tender but not falling off the bone.

Carefully remove ribs from pan to a cookie sheet. Discard cooking liquid. Spread barbeque sauce over ribs.

Heat grill to medium. Carefully rub vegetable or olive oil onto the grates. Lay ribs on grate and grill 10-15 minutes turning at least once and basting with sauce.

Hamburgers Sloane Style

Ground chuck about ¼ pound per adult
Ground sirloin about ¼ per two adults
Worcestershire Sauce 1 dash per adult
1 egg per 1 ½ pounds meat
chives snipped, fresh or jarred

Beat egg lightly in a small bowl. Combine the meat, Worcestershire Sauce, and handful of chives into a mixing bowl. When the mixture is well combined, break off clumps of the meat and form balls. Set them onto waxed paper, then cover with another sheet of waxed paper.  Use a cake plate or large soup bowl to press the meat into a patty the thickness you like. Refrigerate until ready to grill.

On medium heat, cook patties until they are done to your preference. Be sure to turn only once.

Use any type roll that suits your fancy. Dress the burgers with ketchup, mustard, lettuce, onion, and tomato. You can also add cheese for the topping. If you do, then lay it over the burger a minute or two before the end of the cooking time.

 
My Mom’s Potato Salad

1 red potato per person

1 hardboiled egg for every 2-3 potatoes
one stalk celery for every 5 potatoes chopped small
½ med onion for every 5 potatoes chopped small
Pepper
Mayonnaise – NO substitutes 

Boil the potatoes in their jackets until just fork tender. Remove from pot as they are done and allow to cool. Scrape the skins off. Slice in half widthwise then lengthwise. Slice into the bite size pieces.

While the potatoes are cooking, lay the eggs in a saucepan, cover with water, and place a lid on the pan. Bring to a boil, then shut off the heat and allow to sit on the burner for 7 minutes. Cut into quarters, then slice. Set aside covered with plastic wrap or a paper towel to eliminate drying out.

Combine celery and onion in a large bowl. Grind in a healthy amount of fresh pepper. Stir in several large spoonfuls of mayonnaise. You have to gauge by the number of potatoes you use. Mix well.

Add the potatoes, two at a time and mix well. Continue until all the potatoes are added. Check the salad for dryness. It should be moist but not swimming in mayo. Add mayo as needed. Add the sliced eggs and stir again. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

 

Baked Beans
1 small can Bush’s Honey Baked Beans
1 small can Bush’s Homestyle Baked Beans
2 tbsp. dried mustard
2 tbsp. maple syrup - optional
2 strips bacon 

Preheat oven to 325°.  

Pour beans into a metal loaf pan or oven safe dish. Stir in mustard and syrup. Lay bacon strips on top. Bake in the center of the oven uncovered for 45 minutes or until desired consistency.

To cook on the grill: Heat grill to medium.

Prepare as above, then place pan on top rack. Cook about 45 minutes or until desired consistency.

To serve – discard bacon.

Sweet Corn on the Grill

1 ear fresh corn per person – do not remove husk
Water
Butter or margarine
Salt

Pour cool water into a container large enough to hold the sweet corn. Soak corn still in its husk at least 1 hour, but no more than 2 hours.

Set grill on medium high. Remove corn from the water and lay the ears on the grill. Roast until the husk is brown on that side, then turn and repeat the process. Total cooking time is about 20 – 25 minutes.

To serve - peel back the husks. Roll the ears in butter or margarine, then sprinkle on a touch of salt, and enjoy!

Snazzy Sliced Tomatoes

1 tomato per two people
Red wine vinegar
Garlic powder or fresh garlic minced
Fresh or dried chives

Prepare this dish about an hour or so before serving.
Slice tomatoes ½” thick and arrange on a serving plate.
Drizzle vinegar over the tomatoes, then dust with garlic powder or fresh garlic. Sprinkle plenty of chives across the top.
Set on the counter away from sun or heat to flavor through.

Now after teasing your taste buds how about a quick trip to the balmy French Riviera to tempt some of your other senses with my new five book series? Naughty Ladies of Nice is a deliciously steamy erotic series with a touch of humor and intrigue.

Pour yourself a cool glass of your favorite beverage, perhaps a tall Perrier or a crisp Chardonnay, and let your summer sizzle with French Tart, French Delight, French Twist, French Kiss, and French Tickler.

Here’s a little about FRENCH Tart, Book One. For a spicy excerpt, please click HERE.

Bon Appétit...

Satisfy all your cravings at cooking school.

Determined to prove herself and shed her party girl image, Donatienne Dubois pins her hopes on the exclusive cooking school in Nice, France. One by one her expectations are shattered by a foul-mouthed parrot, a bogus Michelin chef, and a headmistress with a heart of tungsten steel. Doni's lifesaver is a bad boy hunk too hot not to handle.

Mark Anderson is incognito and hating every minute. To pose as a student while keeping tabs on a rich wild child is his version of hell, until he partners with the dish of Crème Brule good enough to eat.

Class takes on a whole new meaning as Doni and Mark heat up the kitchen when they discover honey has better uses than sweetening tea.

Sloane Taylor believes humor and sex are healthy aspects of our everyday lives and carries that philosophy into her books. All her stories are set in Europe where the men are all male and the North American women they encounter are both feminine and strong. They also bring more than lust to their men’s lives.

Learn more about Sloane Taylor on her website, and of course her blog for easy recipes. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

Monday, July 1, 2013

In Honor of Canada Day - Sharon Ledwith!

Instead of a Monday rambling by me, decided since today is Canada Day I'd share this post by Sharon Ledwith.

My Canada…more than Maple Syrup and Mounties
by Sharon Ledwith

Happy Canada Day to all my fellow Canadians! Hope you’re kick-starting your holiday by planning to attend one of the many events July 1st has to offer around the area where you live. Most of the day, we usually hang out with family and friends on our dock until dusk—eat, drink, and be merry—then go watch the fireworks display in town. Note to self—bring the bug spray.

So what about you? Don’t know how you’re going to celebrate Canada’s 146th Birthday? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Sit down, grab a cup of whatever you please (hey, it’s a holiday after all), and check out the list of activities to choose from below:

             Go to the beach. Use the holiday to bake in the sun (don’t forget the SPF), enjoy the warm weather and cool water.

             Go to the park, fly a kite or walk your dog. Most Canucks spend this holiday outdoors so you’ll be able to take advantage of the summer heat and maybe make a new friend.

             Have your family and friends over for an old fashioned barbecue. Sip on your favorite brand of beer and appreciate what it means to be Canadian.

             Go to your town’s local parade. Show your pride by dressing up in all red and white—the Canada flag or maple leaf temporary tattoos are a favorite among celebrants!

             Go to a carnival. Eat fried dough, snack on cotton candy, drink beer, go on all your favorite rides (you may want to bring a puke bag) and play all the games.

             Look up local concerts in your area. Many cities and towns hold festivals where bands will play music at outdoor venues.

             Go for a ride in a hot air balloon. This fun activity lets you admire our beautiful country from thousands of feet in the air.

             Go to your local brewery. Canadians love beer, so there is no better way to celebrate our birthday than to take a tour of your favorite brewery. Many of these tours are free and come with samples. Lake of Bays Brewing Company and Muskoka Brewery are my top picks!

             Go camping. Take a couple days off work, and enjoy everything that the Canadian wilderness has to offer. Tons of provincial parks to choose from!

             There is nothing more Canadian than hockey. Visit the Hockey Hall of Fame. Take an exhibit tour and honor your favorite players.

             Go to a citizenship ceremony. There is nothing more patriotic than watching new citizens take an oath to love, honor, and respect our country.

             Go to your local fireworks show. There is nothing more beautiful than watching the colorful explosions light up the sky. Plus saying ‘ohhh—ahhh’ is always fun.

             Go fishing. Canada is famous for their awesome bass (and pickerel) fishing and this is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and celebrate Canada.

             Go white water rafting (still want to do this one). Canada’s rivers offer a variety of different difficulty levels so whether you’re a rafting pro or a rookie in search of an adventure, rafting is always a fun activity.

             Last, but not least, lounge by the pool (or on a beach) and read a good book.

May I make a suggestion? The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis is a popular, family read, ready to download on your ereader at your pleasure. Take a peek:




Children are the keys to our future. And now, children are the only hope for our past.
When 13-year-old Amanda Sault and her annoying classmates are caught in a food fight at school, they're given a choice: suspension or yard duty. The decision is a no-brainer. Their two-week crash course in landscaping leads to the discovery of a weathered stone arch in the overgrown back yard. The arch isn't a forgotten lawn ornament but an ancient time portal from the lost continent of Atlantis.

Chosen by an Atlantean Magus to be Timekeepers--legendary time travelers sworn to keep history safe from the evil Belial--Amanda and her classmates are sent on an adventure of a lifetime. Can they find the young Robin Hood and his merry band of teens? If they don't, then history itself may be turned upside down.

To read an excerpt of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, please click HERE.

Check out The Last Timekeepers series Facebook Page.

BUY LINKS





Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, The Last Timekeepers, available through Musa Publishing. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, yoga, kayaking, time with family and friends, and single malt scotch. Sharon lives in the wilds of Muskoka in Central Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, a water-logged yellow Labrador and moody calico cat.

Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her website and blog.  Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.