Sloane Taylor's Blog, page 7

I'LL DRINK TO THAT!

C.D. Hersh asks: Did you know that the English language alcohol content is more than 22.5 percent?
  What in the world, you ask, does that mean?It’s hard.
Hard liquor can make you dizzy. 
Trying to figure out the English language can make your head spin too. English is hard for newcomers to the language and hard for many of us who’ve been speaking it all our lives—especially if you’re looking into the definitions of homonyms and paradoxically phrases. 
We can’t take any credit for today’s blog. We found it buried in a file of interesting writing emails we had saved from 2005. We don’t know where it came from so we can’t give the original author credit. It’s just one of those things that floats around on the internet that we thought was worth keeping. After reading it, we’re sure you’ll agree that English can be a screwy language … and don’t depend on your grammar check to fix it. 
Here are a few gems to consider. • The bandage was wound around the wound. • The farm was used to produce produce. • The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse. • We must polish the Polish furniture. • He could lead if he would get the lead out. • The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert. • Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present. • At the Army base, a bass was painted on the head of a bass drum. • When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes. • I did not object to the object. • The insurance was invalid for the invalid. • There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row. • They were too close to the door to close it. • The buck does funny things when the does are present. • A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line. • To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow. • The wind was too strong to wind the sail. • After a number of Novocain injections, my jaw got number. • Upon seeing the tear in the painting, I shed a tear. • I had to subject the subject to a series of tests. • How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend? 
Screwy pronunciations can mess up your mind! For example, if you have a rough cough, climbing can be tough when going through the bough on a tree! 
We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? 
In what other language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which an alarm goes off by going on and you drive on a parkway and park on a driveway. 
Do you have a favorite crazy English paradox, homonym (words that sound alike but have different meanings), homophone (a type of homonym that sounds alike and has different meanings, but has different spellings), homograph (words that are spelled the same but have different meanings), or heteronym (a type of homograph that is spelled the same and has different meanings, but sounds different)? If so, write them down for us and we’ll be right grateful that we’ve learned something from your learned contribution. 
Now that the English lesson is over settle into a comfy chair and check out our books from the links below. Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to co-authors C.D. Hersh. They've written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s. As high school sweethearts and husband and wife, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after, and that’s why they write romance. 
The first four books of their paranormal romance series entitled The Turning Stone Chronicles are available in e-book format on Amazon. Can’t Stop The Music, their standalone romance novella currently out of print, won the 2018 Uncaged Book Reviews Contemporary Music Raven Award. 
Ghosts and Gardenias, the first book in their time slip romance series Ghosts of Garnoa Road, is out now. 
In addition to writing Catherine and Donald love antiquing, traveling, singing, and going to the theatre. Catherine is also an avid gardener and has drawn Donald into her garden as a day laborer. They figure the couple who plays together and works together, stays together—and that's just what they aim to do. 
CD Hersh links:Amazon buy links: The Turning Stone Chronicles series page: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07... The Promised One (The Turning Stone Chronicles Book 1):eBook: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00... Blood Brothers (The Turning Stone Chronicles Book 2):eBook: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00... Son of the Moonless Night (The Turning Stone Chronicles Book 3):eBook: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00... The Mercenary and the Shifters (The Turning Stone Chronicles Book 4):eBook: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01... 
Social Media Info: Website: https://cdhersh.wordpress.com/ Soul Mate Publishing: http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cdhershauthor Amazon Author Page: http://amazon.com/C-D-Hersh/e/B00DV5L7ZI Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorCDHersh Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/CDHersh 
Blog: https://cdhersh.wordpress.com/blog-2/

BECOME A PROFILER

from Sharon Ledwith

We’ve all heard it. Zero in on your targetaudience. Build your author platform according to who you’re writing for. Sageadvice for sure. Books without identifiable potential readers do not sell. Letme repeat that. If you don’t have target market in mind—who you gonna call? Toavoid creating a manuscript no one wants, successful writers consider who willread the fruits of their labors. They know their market, and that’s who theywrite for.

One of the most frequent mistakes made bybeginner writers—a step above the writer who does not even bother to look atthe publisher’s guidelines—is to assume that EVERYONE will enjoy what theywrite. You have to decide early on what posse you belong with. Pick your tribe,pick your team, pick where you roll. 

A great first step toward knowing yourreaders is learning what they already like. Read what they read. Check bookreviews. Go over the bestseller lists. What needs do these books fill? Who arethe main characters? What emotions are dealt with in the story? Once done, youcan find the parts that appeal to your strengths as a writer and your likes asa person, to make sure that your book is not just another version of asuccessful series, but rather a fresher, more vibrant work. 

Probably the most important rule inwriting is to know your readers, but do not become so obsessed with them thatthey interfere with your writing what you love. Let’s face it most of us startwith ideas, not readers. Awareness is the key here. Perhaps the best way tostart creating a reader profile is to start with your idea, and go throughthese series of questions: Who will this interest? Who will this help? Whoneeds to know this? Who wants to know this? Once you’ve answered thosequestions, you can start to identify the type of reader who will benefit.

And believe me, if your readers benefit,then you’ll benefit.

Here’s a glimpse of the premises of both my youngadult series.

Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls Teen Psychic Mysteries…

Imagine a teenager possessing a psychic ability and struggling to cope with this freakish power while trying to have a normal life. Now, imagine being uprooted and forced to live in a small tourist town where nothing much ever happens. It’s bores-ville from the get-go.

Welcome to Fairy Falls. Expect the unexpected.

The Last Timekeepers Time Travel Adventures…

Children are the keys to our future. And now, children are the only hope for our past.

Chosen by an Atlantean Magus to be Timekeepers—legendary time travelers sworn to keep history safe from the evil Belial—five classmates are sent into the past to restore balance, and bring order back into the world, one mission at a time.

The Last Timekeepers Time Travel Adventure Series:

The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret, Book #2 Buy Links:

MIRROR WORLD PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀

The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, Book #1 Buy Links:

MIRROR WORLD PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀

Legend of the Timekeepers, prequel Buy Links:

MIRROR WORLD PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀

Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls Teen Psychic Mystery Series:

Lost and Found, Book One Buy Links:

MIRROR WORLD PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀

Blackflies and Blueberries, Book Two Buy Links:

MIRROR WORLD PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE

Here's a glimpse into one of the books from Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls, my teen psychic mystery series.
The only witness left to testify against an unsolved crime in Fairy Falls isn’t a person…

City born and bred, Hart Stewart possesses the gift of psychometry—the psychic ability to discover facts about an event or person by touching inanimate objects associated with them. Since his mother’s death, seventeen-year-old Hart has endured homelessness, and has learned ways to keep his illiteracy under wraps. He eventually learns of a great-aunt living in Fairy Falls, and decides to leave the only life he’s ever known for an uncertain future.

Diana MacGregor lives in Fairy Falls. Her mother was a victim of a senseless murder. Only Diana’s unanswered questions and her grief keeps her going, until Hart finds her mother’s lost ring and becomes a witness to her murder.

Through Hart’s psychic power, Diana gains hope for justice. Their investigation leads them into the corrupt world threatening Fairy Falls. To secure the town’s future, Hart and Diana must join forces to uncover the shocking truth, or they risk losing the true essence of Fairy Falls forever.

AMAZON BUY LINK

Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, and the teen psychic mystery series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, exercising, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, one spoiled yellow Labrador and a moody calico cat.

Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her website and blog . Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter , Goodreads , and Smashwords . Look up her Amazon Author page for a list of current books. Be sure to check out THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS TIME TRAVEL SERIES Facebook page.

REFRESHING and DELICIOUS

FromSloane Taylor

Asizzling summer deserves a cool dessert. This tasty treat is one my familyloves and because it’s so easy to make we have it often.

PeachCrumble
1– 15.25 oz. can peach chunks in heavy sauce½tsp. cinnamon1½tbsp. cornstarch¼cup apple juice

Pourpeaches into a small saucepan. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil,lower heat and cook for 1 minute. Stir constantly so the mixture doesn’t burn.If the sauce is too thick add more apple juice one tablespoon at a time.

Scooppeach mixture into an ungreased 1 quart, or slightly smaller, ovenproofcasserole. Individual ramekins work well, too.

Topping½cup flour½cup sugar2tbsp. butter or margarine, cut into bits

Preheatoven to 375° F.

Combineflour and sugar in a small bowl. Add butter bits then use your fingertips toblend the mixture into coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over peaches.

Bake20 – 25 minutes or until topping is a lightly golden.

Servesmothered in whipped cream.

May you enjoy all the days of your life filled with good friends, laughter, and seated around a well-laden table!

Sloane

Sloane Taylor is an Award-Winning author with a second passion in her life. She is an avid cook and posts new recipes on her blog every Wednesday. The recipes are user friendly, meaning easy.
To learn more about Taylor go to her website  Stay in touch on Blogger ,  Twitter , and LinkedIn .

Taylor's cookbooks, Hot Mean Wear Aprons, Date Night Dinners, Date Night Dinners Italian Style, Sizzling Summer, and Recipes to Create Holidays Extraordinaire are released by Toque & Dagger Publishing and available at all book vendors.

 

 

THE REGENCY ERA

from Vonnie Hughes

The internet is over-burdened with writersmarketing their wares. And I’m adding to the general plethora out there. Buthear me out.

I’ve been writing Regencies for twenty-fiveyears now. Recently, after many ups and downs in the publishing industry,Regencies have come back in to favor.  Yes,fashions come and go in publishing just like everywhere else. And there’snothing new under the sun. My main publisher now is The Wild Rose Press sincemy earlier publishers have closed their doors. I have also joined the endlessqueue of self-published authors. So many of us out here jostling for positionlike mid-field marathoners. The chances are you’ll never hear my plea. But I’mchucking this out there in the anorexic hope that you just might read this.Perhaps you have nothing better to do.

I hope you’re one of the many readers wholike historicals, and in particular, the Regency era. It was such a shortperiod in Britain’s history, but has given rise to many things such as thedevelopment of canals (as trade with its trading partners hotted up with theimprisonment of Napoleon, freeing up trade routes and resulting in largenumbers of goods that needed to be transported all over England), the RoyalAstronomical Society was founded, the early prototype of the bicycle, thedevelopment of the railway system, the Act of Union with Ireland in 1801 etc.All this is from the British point of view. Elsewhere, in the USA, Whitney cameup with the principle of manufacturing interchangeable parts as pertaining tofirearms. The statue of the Venus de Milo was discovered in Greece (1820) andso it goes on.

So in spite of many Regencies persuadingyou that it was all about Almacks and dukes, the Regency era was actually atime on the cusp of great changes, not just in Britain but all over the world.Minds were opening up, no longer relying on the dogma of ages past.

In 1814 The Timesadopted steam printing. By this method it could now print 1,100 sheets everyhour, not 200 as before—a fivefold increase in production capability anddemand.  This development brought about the rise of the wildlypopular fashionable novels.

The Regency is also noted for itsachievements in the fine arts and architecture (Nash springs to mind, andremember that striped wallpaper known as ‘Regency’?) This era encompassed atime of great social, political, and economic change that shaped and alteredthe societal structure of Britain as a whole. Remember that in London alone,the population increased from just under a million in 1801 to one and a quartermillion by 1820.

One of the reasons that the artsflourished during this era was because of the patronage of ‘Prinny’, the fatand at times ridiculous Prince of Wales. We might laugh at him, but it’s thanksto him that the development of British architecture flourished, even if hisschemes often left the common people paying for his over-the-top designs.

The Regency era opened up themarket for many authors including Sir Walter Scott, Maria Edgeworth, MaryShelley (who incorporated the general mistrust of science during the earlierpart of the Regency era), John Keats and William Blake. Then there were theplaywrights and artists…the list goes on and on to confirm how minds began opento new possibilities during that time.

Oh yes, there was a lot more to theRegency period than those autocratic dukes and the patronesses at Almacks!

One of my releases is called Mr. Monfort’sMarriage wherein a chivalrous businessman who is not overly fond of thearistocracy finds himself married to an earl’s daughter. She teaches him about noblesse oblige, courage and joie de vivre, and he teaches her…allsorts of things!

A marriage of convenience is not always convenient.

The woman needs saving, so he'll save her. A marriage of convenience should suit them both. But don't expect him to trust her or love her in spite of those knee-trembling smiles and bright intelligence. Women of the ton are not to be trusted. But Verity certainly is enticing...

MatthewMonfort has two excellent reasons for loathing members of the ton, but thanks to his father’smachinations, he finds himself inveigled into offering for Lady Verity Tristan.But she needn’t think she’s going to win him over.

Amazon Buy Link  MR. MONFORT’S MARRIAGE

Vonnie Hughes is a multi-published author in both Regency books and contemporary suspense. She loves the intricacies of the social rules of the Regency period and the far-ranging consequences of the Napoleonic Code. And with suspense she has free rein to explore forensic matters and the strong convolutions of the human mind. Like many writers, some days she hates the whole process, but somehow, she just cannot let it go.

Vonnie was born in New Zealand, but she and her husband now live happily in Australia. If you visit Hamilton Gardens in New Zealand, be sure to stroll through the Japanese Garden. These is a bronze plaque engraved with a haiku describing the peacefulness of that environment. The poem was written by Vonnie.

All of Vonnie’s books are available on The Wild Rose Press and Amazon .

Learn more about Vonnie Hughes on her website and blog . Stay connected on Facebook and Goodreads .

QUENCH THAT DOG DAY THIRST

from Catherine Castle

Iced tea is summer’s classic drink. I thought it might be interesting to talk about the history of this popular drink before the summer slips away and also share my Nectarine Iced Tea recipe.

The history of tea reaches back to 2737 B.B. when, according to Chinese legend, Emperor Shen Nong accidently discovered tea when a leaf from a wild tea tree fell into a pot of water he was boiling in his garden. He enjoyed the flavor the leaf lent to the water so much that he began to brew it.

Iced tea, however, is much younger. The first recorded recipes in the U.S. for iced tea appeared in The Buckeye Cookbook in 1876 and in 1879 HouseKeeping in Old Virginia. The 1879 recipe, published by Marion Cabel Tyree, called for green tea to be boiled and steeped throughout the day. The liquid was then poured over ice and sugar and served with lemon.

The popularity of iced tea using black tea is believed to have started at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, where Richard Blechynden, the Commissioner of Tea for India and one of the fair's directors, was exhibiting hot black tea. Because the temperatures were high, hot tea wasn't selling. So, Blechynden brewed and chilled the tea, and thirsty fair visitors began buying. The trend caught on and by World War I iced tea appeared in the kitchens of Americans and in restaurants on a regular basis. Today, iced tea—black, green and herbal, in bottles, boxes and pitchers—is a staple on America’s menus.

Iced tea also appears on the tables in other countries, but many have a different take on the drink than Americans do. Here we have what most Southerners know as sweet tea, which is sugared, and regular iced tea—most common with Northerners, which is usually unsweetened. Tea drinkers have the option of adding a squeeze of lemon, or not.

In Brazil, particularly in Rio de Janeiro, mate tea, not the camellia sinensis tea associated with black tea, is the preferred drink for iced tea. Yerba mate dried leaves are boiled in water, then strained and served in cups.



Iced tea in Greece is usually flavored with peach or lemon. If you order peach tea, you’ll still get a lemon slice on the rim of the glass.

Ginger lemon, lemon and peach flavored teas are popular in India.


In Hong Kong tea is served with lemon slices that are crushed, releasing the volatile oils into the tea. There is also a milk tea version of iced tea made with green tea, flavored with jasmine blossoms and tapioca pearls. The tea is served warm and poured over ice, creating a creamy iced tea.

Taiwan has an interesting tea called Bubble Tea. This tea is usually a strong black tea, sweetened with sugar and condensed milk. It is served cold usually with tapioca pearls. Sometimes pudding, jelly, or chunks of fruit are put into it instead of tapioca pearls. Bubble tea can also be made with other types of tea.

Thailand iced tea is made from strongly brewed black tea, sweetened with sugar and condensed milk. Evaporated milk, coconut milk or whole milk are also used. The tea and milk are usually mixed together and then poured over the ice.

You might think that with tea time being a staple in the UK iced tea would be as popular there as in the rest of Europe. But not so. The popularity of iced tea in United Kingdom has only begun to rise since 2000.

Today, when you ask, “Would you like some iced tea?” Most people expect brewed black tea, with or without sugar and lemon. But plain old camellia sinensis isn’t the only option. With hundreds of flavored and herbal teas, the varieties of iced tea are only limited by one’s imagination.

At my house our favorite iced teas are decaffeinated Sun Tea, made by steeping tea bags in cold water using the heat of the sun to brew it, and hibiscus tea made from pouring boiling water over the dried flowers of the hibiscus plant. I’ve even begun putting my leftover morning tea, usually Mrs. Patmore’s Pudding Tea or Irish tea with cream, into the refrigerator and drinking it cold later on in the day. I’m surprised at how tasty it is.

For your summer tea enjoyment, I’ve included a fruity iced tea recipe I developed. I hope you’ll enjoy it.

Nectarine Iced Tea
4 peach flavored green tea bags
2 cups boiling water
1 ripe nectarine
2 fresh, sweet cherries with the stem, optional
Sugar or sweetener to taste

Place tea bags in a 2-cup heat-proof measuring cup. Pour boiling water into cup and steep tea bags according to directions.

Halve the nectarine and peel⅔ of the fruit. Reserving 2 peeled slices for garnish.

Slice the peeled nectarines into sections. Place ½ the sections into a bowl and crush the fruit to break down the flesh and release the juices.

Drop ¼ of the crushed nectarine into two 16-ounce glasses and stir well. Add ice and then remaining peeled nectarines.

Pour cooled tea over the ice and fruit in the glasses.

Garnish the glass edge with the unpeeled fruit and drop a fresh sweet cherry with the stem on into the top of the tea.

Add sugar or sweetener to taste. The riper the fruit the less sweetener you’ll need.

How about a peek at my latest sweet romance while you sip your refreshing tea?

One date for every medical test—that’s the deal. Allison, however, gets more than she bargains for. She gets a Groom for Mama.

Beverly Walters is dying, and before she goes she has one wish—to find a groom for her daughter. To get the deed done, Mama enlists the dating service of Jack Somerset, Allison’s former boyfriend.

The last thing corporate-climbing Allison wants is a husband. Furious with Mama’s meddling, and a bit more interested in Jack than she wants to admit, Allison agrees to the scheme as long as Mama promises to search for a cure for her terminal illness.

A cross-country trip from Nevada to Ohio ensues, with a string of disastrous dates along the way, as the trio hunts for treatment and A Groom For Mama.

EXCERPT
With a sweep of his hand, Jack spread the photos out on the table in front of Allison and Beverly. “Here’s a few I just grabbed from the database. Any of them interesting?” He studied Allison’s reaction. She didn’t bat an eyelash as she scanned the men’s pictures. Then, without warning, she scooped them up and shoved them at him.

“I told Mama I wasn’t going to do this. It’s a stupid idea.”

“I’ll admit it’s not the ‘some enchanted evening, see a stranger across the room’ romantic way to find a husband, but it’s not totally unacceptable. Several of the couples my company has brought together have married.”

“And lived happily ever after?” she retorted.

“It’s a new company, Allison. I don’t have the stats yet.” He pushed the photos across the table. “Just take a peek. What harm can it do?”

Beverly grabbed the photo of a particularly handsome man. “How about this one? His coloring complements yours. You’d have beautiful children.”

Mama!” Allison snatched the photo away. “We’re not going to discuss my possible, yet unlikely, progeny in front of Jack.”

A flash of Allison kissing this guy flew through his head. He grabbed the photo from her. “He’s not your type anyway.”

“And just how do you know?” she asked.

“I dated you, remember? You ditched me for some suave, corporate hotshot. At least it’s what you said.”
“Allison!” Beverly exclaimed. “You never told me that.”

Allison shot him a fierce scowl. “I’m not comfortable discussing my love life with you, Mama. Besides, what’s done and over with should be buried . . . in the past.” She picked up another photo. “What about him? Or him and him?” She pointed to two nerdy-looking fellows. “They seem corporate.”

Mama leaned over and checked out the pictures Allison had indicated. “Too ugly,” she said. “He’s got to be handsome. Like Jack. I want to know my grandbabies will be as beautiful as you two.”

He grinned. “Thanks for the compliment, but I know I’m not your daughter’s type.” He laid a sheet of paper on the counter. “Fill this out. Then I can get a better idea of what you want in a husband.”

“I don’t want—”

“I know,” he interjected. “But, for your mom’s sake, just pretend you do.”

Amazon Buy Link
Multi-award-winning author Catherine Castle has been writing all her life. A former freelance writer, she has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit (under her real name) in the Christian and secular market. Now she writes sweet and inspirational romance. Her debut inspirational romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc, from Soul Mate Publishing, has garnered multiple contests finals and wins.

Catherine loves writing, reading, traveling, singing, watching movies, and the theatre. In the winter she loves to quilt and has a lot of UFOs (unfinished objects) in her sewing case. In the summer her favorite place to be is in her garden. She’s passionate about gardening and even won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club.

Learn more about Catherine Castle on her website and blog . Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter . Be sure to check out Catherine’s Amazon author page and her Goodreads page . You can also find Catherine on Stitches Thru Time and the SMP authors blog site .

BREAKFAST MADE BETTER

From Stella May 
I love to cook, especially when the dish is easy, and this one is. My family enjoys these omelets for breakfast or lunch. For breakfast I add a fruit salad and toast. Lunch is when I include a small green salad, or sautéed green veggie, and a croissant to round out the meal. 
Fluffy Omelet 
2 eggs per person* 1 tsp. butter 1 tbsp. olive oil Pinch of salt ⅓ cup shredded Mozzarella or your preferred cheese ⅓ cup thinly sliced sauteed mushrooms, optional ¼ cup of chopped green bell peppers, optional 
Use two bowls to separate egg whites from yolks. Add a pinch of salt to the whites then beat them with hand mixer on high speed until it forms firm peaks. 
Add yolks, one at a time, and continue to beat at low speed until well blended. 
Warm a skillet on medium heat, add butter and olive oil. Turn the heat to low and pour in eggs. Cover with lid and let it set 2 – 3 min. 
Sprinkle on cheese. 
Scatter sauteed mushrooms and bell pepper across the omelet. 
Cover for another 1 min, then use a spatula to flip over half of the omelet. Turn the omelet over and cook for 1 min. 
*I use large brown eggs straight out of the refrigerator. 
Here is a peek at my new series, the Rostoff Family Saga. New Dawn is book one soon to be followed by New Hope, New Life, and New Horizon. 

Lovewasn’t part of their agreement. Neither was being caught in a brutal web oflies.

International playboy and owner of a jewelry empire that spreadsacross three continents, Dmitry Rostoff holds a memory close to this heart thatnot even his best friend Vlad Albrecht knows. When Dmitry learnsthe Russian ballerina, he had a passionate affair with died in childbirth, bitternessand hate overrule all other emotions.

Taking the baby out of Russia is an impossible snarl of red tape,but Dmitry gets his way, even if he leaves a trail of chaos in his wake.

Natasha Sokolova planned to turn over the baby to Dmitry then walkaway. Instead, she is on a plane to San Francisco with the baby and a cold,emotionless man who makes her heart pound with scorching attraction.

The family matriarch and evil to her core Elizabeth Rostoff plotsto gain control of the baby, no matter what it costs or who it hurts, and willdo anything to make that happen. She blackmails Marie Dubois, the manager oftheir elite Paris store, to seduce Dmitry. But Marie reneges on the deal when formerSpecial Forces officer Vlad Albrecht storms into her life.

Once in America, Natasha finds herself entangled in a sticky webof lies created by the brutally calculating family matriarch. A web that forcesNatasha to make a heartbreaking deal with the devil to protect the children—andman—she’s come to love.

AMAZON BUY LINK and OTHER SUPPLIERS

 

Stella May is the penname for Marina Sardarova who has a fascinating history you should read on her website.

Stella writes fantasy romance as well as time travel romance. She is the author of 'Till Time Do Us Part, Book 1 in her Upon a Time series, and the stand-alone book Rhapsody in Dreams. Love and family are two cornerstones of her stories and life. Stella’s books are available in e-book and paperback through all major vendors. 
When not writing, Stella enjoys classical music, reading, and long walks along the ocean with her husband. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband Leo of 25 years and their son George. They are her two best friends and are all partners in their family business. 
Follow Stella on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

GARDENING TIPS

from Emma Lane

Theme gardens can be fun for adventurous gardeners who wantto shake things up.

Colorful annuals. Their raison d’etra, reason for living, is to   bloom andmake seeds. To keep them full of their bright and   beautiful blossoms frequent cullingof the old blooms is the s   secret. Paying attention to color combinations willenhance   bedding petunias such as blue and yellow; red, white and blue;   primarycolors-red, yellow and blue; all pastels.

Perennials are friends forever. Thetrick here is to plant staggered bloomers. Daffodils and tulips for spring giveway to lupine and peonies in April and May. June is for roses (and brides) andJuly owns lilies. Hibiscus and other members of the family (Rose of Sharon) forlate summer, and we all appreciate summer’s wind up with splashes of intenselycolored mums and sunflowers. There are many beautiful perennials to be plantedin between. Careful attention to foliage varieties is also important for asuccessful perennial bed: spiky Crocosmia, spreading Dianthus, and prettyround-leafed Baptismia australis which has an herbal gray cast to its foliage.

Butterfly and humming bird gardens arealways fun. Certainly the tiny hummers appreciate blooms where they can dip inand steal a drop of nectar, but I’ve seen them take a tiny taste of flat butcolorful yarrow. My son gifts me a huge fuchsia for Mother’s Day which is thevery day I usually spot the first humming bird. They love this plant! Hummersprefer trumpet shaped blooms they can dip their long bills to drink the nectar,but I have observed them sipping from a daisy.

Shade gardens are wonderful underneathshaded walkways.  Besides the enormousvarieties of hosta, spring bulbs can be followed with blue bells and othershade loving perennials. Brunneria is a precious substitute for hosta. Deertreat it with disdain. Begonias have a large variety for annual shade; myfavorite is non-stop begonia in their vivid colors. Spring blooming shrubs areglorious such as rhododendrons, azaleas, dogwood and many others that liven upthe woods before the trees leaf out. 

Cutting gardens arewonderful for those who appreciate fresh cut bouquets for inside. Reserve a bedespecially for: gladiola, tall zinnias, phlox, sunflowers, snapdragons,lisianthus, lilies, just a few of the varieties that are splendid cut flowers.

… which leads me to call attention to my latest CozyAdventure/ Mystery, Whispers of Danger and Love. 

 

The heroine is alandscape architect who speaks gardening. She struggles with a client whodemands a cutting garden mid summer, (and a hunky detective who seems bound todestroy her plants.) I enjoyed relaxing in her garden even as I created it frommy own imaginings. It was also fun to watch the sparks fly between a couple whoknew each other as children but must readjust their thinking as adults.

 

Emma Lane is a gifted author who writes cozy mysteries as Janis Lane, Regency as Emma, and spice as Sunny Lane. 

She lives in Western New York where winter is snowy, spring arrives with rave reviews, summer days are long and velvet, and fall leaves are riotous in color. At long last she enjoys the perfect bow window for her desk where she is treated to a year-round panoramic view of nature. Her computer opens up a fourth fascinating window to the world. Her patient husband is always available to help with a plot twist and encourage Emma to never quit. Her day job is working with flowers at Herbtique and Plant Nursery, the nursery she and her son own. 

Look for information about writing and plants on Emma's new website. Leave a comment or a gardening question and put a smile on Emma's face.

Stay connected to Emma on Facebook and Twitter . Be sure to check out the things that make Emma smile on Pinterest .

International Kissing Day

by C.D. Hersh 

If you haven’t kissed your significant other, your children, your parents, or other family members today, get offline and do so. After you read our blog, of course, because July 6th, is International Kissing Day.

Kissing Day was first celebrated in the UK and now is an international celebration in all the countries where kissing is part of the culture. Kissing was not a custom of many indigenous peoples and is believed to have been introduced to indigenous peoples through European settlement. Hooray for Europe!

According to recent research, kissing is also good for you too. It burns calories (about 2-3 calories a minute), it’s good for your heart (it creates an adrenalin that causes your heart to pump more blood), it helps prevent tooth decay, is a stress reliever, and it boosts your immunity. And if boosting your health isn’t enough reason to have a few smooches, consider this … it just feels good.

There are many ways to kiss. Here are a few:

• Passionate kissesthe goodnight kiss that lasts forever when you’re young and head over heels in lovethe French kiss the hickey kiss the upside-down Spiderman kiss the bittersweet kiss, often shared between star crossed lovers as they leave each other 
• Affectionate kisses kissing the boo boos away the top of the head kiss the forehead kiss, a motherly sort of kiss, the awkward first kiss 
• Greeting kisses the European double cheek kiss of greeting the kiss on the cheek, often the hello and goodbye kisses we give friends and family 
• Insincere kisses the betrayal kiss of Judas the air kiss often practiced as a sham action the kiss of death 
• Kisses that don’t involve touching lips the Eskimo kiss, rubbing noses instead of touching lips the butterfly kiss, done by fluttering the eyelashes against the cheekhand kissing, a lost art except in historical romances which can be romantic or a greeting to a lady the kiss you smack into your hand and throw to someone body kisses (‘Nuff said’)

Writers of romance often concern themselves with the more passionate kisses, but there’s something to be said for using sweeter kisses in our stories too. Not every kiss shared by a couple is going to set off fireworks. Sometimes you need the love without the rollercoaster ride to add some levels to the romance. Consider incorporating some sweeter, more affectionate kisses in your love scenes. You might be surprised at what happens between your characters when they hold back a little on the ardor.

Have you kissed someone today?

Perhaps a book we’ve written may help set the mood.

Susan Trowbridge is the victim of mistaken identity, trapped in the past by a ghost and a haunted wedding gown. To return home she must discover the identity of the ghost’s murderer. Can Susan stop the murder, or will history repeat itself, with her as the victim this time? And if she does stop the murder, must she return home and leave the man she has come to love? 
Duncan Hawthorn is a man battling his own demons. But when Susan falls into his life, Duncan finds himself inexplicably attracted to a woman he thought he hated. Should he believe she is in danger? Should he believe her irrational claims that she is from the future? Either way, he realizes he will lose the woman who has become his salvation and his true love.
                          Amazon Buy Link 
C.D. Hersh–Two hearts creating everlasting love stories. 
Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to award-winning co-authors C.D. Hersh. 
They’ve written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s. As high school sweethearts and husband and wife, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after. 
Their paranormal series titled The Turning Stone Chronicles can be found on Amazon.They are looking forward to many years of co-authoring and book sales, and a lifetime of happily-ever-after endings on the page and in real life. 
Social Media Info: Website, Soul Mate Publishing, Facebook, Amazon Author Page, Twitter

PIZZA EXTRAORDINAIRE

from Sharon Ledwith

Ready for somecomfort food? I bet you are! So, let’s go with a fan favorite – PIZZA! Not justany pizza, but one so extraordinaire you’ll toss all those take-out menus andnever order in again. The sauce is superb and flavorful and is worth addingthe numerous ingredients. This pizza is perfect for game night and gatheringson those cool or damp days at your vacation or stay-cation home. Now that’s Amore!

SAUCE1 – 6 oz. can tomatopaste6 oz. warm water(110° F/45° C)3 tbsp. Parmesancheese, grated1 tsp. garlic,minced2 tbsp. honey1 tsp. anchovypaste¾ tsp. onionpowder¼ tsp. driedoregano¼ tsp. driedmarjoram¼ tsp. dried basil¼ tsp. groundblack pepper⅛ tsp. cayenne pepper⅛ tsp. dried redpepper flakesSalt to taste

Combine allingredients in a small bowl. Stir well, breaking up any cheese clumps.

Allow the sauce tosit for 30 minutes to blend flavors. Spread sauce evenly over the dough. Addany of toppings you like.

CRUST

2¼ tsp. active dryyeast½ tsp. brown sugar1½ cups warm water(110° F/45° C)1 tsp. salt2 tbsp. olive oil3⅓ cupsall-purpose flourVegetable or oliveoil

Use a large bowl todissolve yeast and brown sugar in the water. Let sit for 10 minutes.

Stir salt and oilinto the yeast solution. Mix in 2½ cups of flour.

Turn dough outonto clean, well-floured surface, and knead in more flour until the dough is nolonger sticky. You may or may not use all of the remaining 1⅓ cups of flour.

Place dough into awell-oiled bowl and then cover with a cloth. Let dough rise until double,approximately 1 hour. Punch down dough and then form it into a tight ball.Allow the dough to relax for a minute before rolling out.

Preheat oven to425° (220° C).

If you are bakingthe dough on a pizza stone, you may spread the sauce and add your favoritetoppings on the dough and bake immediately. If you are baking your pizza in apan, lightly oil the pan, and let the dough rise for 15 or 20 minutes beforetopping and baking it.

Bake pizza untilcheese and crust are golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. 

While you’reenjoying your slice of mouth-watering, made-to-order pizza why not put yourfeet up and relax on the couch with a good book? May I suggest a visit to Fairy Falls, or if you’re feeling reallyadventurous, a trip back in time with TheLast Timekeepers? Whichever you choose, I assure you thateither series will take you on a journey far away from the chaos and problemsof your world.

The only witness left to testify against an unsolved crime in Fairy Falls isn’t a person…

City born and bred, Hart Stewart possesses the gift of psychometry—the psychic ability to discover facts about an event or person by touching inanimate objects associated with them. Since his mother’s death, seventeen-year-old Hart has endured homelessness, and has learned ways to keep his illiteracy under wraps. He eventually learns of a great-aunt living in Fairy Falls, and decides to leave the only life he’s ever known for an uncertain future.

Diana MacGregor lives in Fairy Falls. Her mother was a victim of a senseless murder. Only Diana’s unanswered questions and her grief keeps her going, until Hart finds her mother’s lost ring and becomes a witness to her murder.

Through Hart’s psychic power, Diana gains hope for justice. Their investigation leads them into the corrupt world threatening Fairy Falls. To secure the town’s future, Hart and Diana must join forces to uncover the shocking truth, or they risk losing the true essence of Fairy Falls forever.

AMAZON BUY LINK

Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, and the teen psychic mystery series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, exercising, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, one spoiled yellow Labrador and a moody calico cat.

Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her website and blog . Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter , Google+ , Goodreads , and Smashwords . Look up her Amazon Author page for a list of current books. Be sure to check out THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS TIME TRAVEL SERIES Facebook page.

NEW RELEASE FOR STELLA MAY

Acclaimed romance author Stella May is elated to announce the release of her latest novel New Hope, Book Two in the Rostoff Family Saga! Here's the blurb and an excerpt to pique your interest. 

Love can heal the rift between them. But can it survive an act of supreme cruelty?

Forfive years, Natasha Sokolova has loved and cared for jewelry tycoon DmitryRostoff’s two children, Peter and Katia, on her own. Her nights haunted with achinglycruel dreams of unrequited love, and promises never made.

Peter’seighteenth birthday arrives. Dmitry is returning home to celebrate. Nathasha isfive years stronger, five years smarter—and she’d rather die than give Dmitrythe satisfaction of knowing he broke her heart.

Dmitryput thousands of miles between him and the act of betrayal that nearlydestroyed him. Only for Peter does he break his vow never to return, endure theugly memories of an evil mother, and swallow his bitterness just long enough tomake his son happy—then make his escape.

Onelook at the beautiful woman who stole his heart—and the angelic daughter heonce couldn’t bear to lay eyes on—loosens the knot of hatred coiled inside him.The desire to free himself from his past, and his family from the prison of theRostoff estate, sparks a plan that Dmitry is certain will succeed.

But theRostoff matriarch has no intention of allowing her grandchildren to slip fromher control. To further strengthen her dominance, she plots to create a riftbetween Dmitry and Natasha that is impassable—and permanent.

EXCERPT

Natasha roamedthrough all the rooms of the suite ready for Dmitry to occupy duringhis visit. It became her habit over the past few days to return here and stayfor a minute or so. She didn't know why this particular suite pulled her like amagnet. The fact that he will occupy it, sleep in the huge bed, look outof this window?

Maybe.Probably. More than likely. She drew a deep breath.

You are acting silly, Natasha. He already forgot about you.

But sillyor not, she came here every day. And remembered.

Five years,Natasha mused. Five long years since she last saw him, or talked to him. She learnedabout him from his son Peter, Petya as she preferred to call him in Russian.From the bits and pieces of information he provided, Natasha knew aboutDmitry's life in Paris, his work, his friends. But nothing about his privatelife. She didn't want to know. No concern of hers. He wasn't herconcern.

Or so shetried to convince herself. Every day for thelast five years.

No, really,she cared less if he found someone else. Svetlana, his true love, died a longtime ago. Life should go on with or without people we love as the natural orderof things.

So, why isyour life going nowhere?

Oh, mylife’s just great!

HabituallyNatasha debated with her opponent, her inner voice that recently disagreed withher too often.

I have afamily, even friends. I have all I need; all the life I can handle!

Yeah? Thenwhy are you coming to his rooms every night? Do you like torturing yourself?

I'm not!Torturing myself, that is. I just...

You just… what? Remember? Dream?

Well, yes.And what's wrong with that?

Nothing,except that dreams are cruel. You shouldknow that.

She sighed.Yes, she should. And she has. She shouldn't even think about him, not now, notever. Except….

So manyissues bound them together.

Svetlana,the kids.

And, yes,memories.

He leftfive years ago without a word. Just like that.Like he never was.

She feltrejected. Betrayed. Even though she had no rightto feel that way. He never said anything, never promised her anything.He never even touched her except that night in the gardens, when he held her.Close, but not close enough.

The memory of that one night hauntedher for a long time. Instead of ignoring them or locking them inside, Natashaoften intentionally dragged her memories from her subconscious mind, forcingherself to face them. That self-imposed torture cost her dearly, but it alsohelped her to accept the truth. She meant nothing to Dmitry Rostoff. Theirchemistry was just a fluke born out of the shared traumatic experience. Noless, no more. She accepted it, learned to live with it.  But she could never forget.

Whateverhappened, or rather not happened, between them five years ago didn't die anatural death. No, a brutal amputation ended everything. And like any choppedlimb it throbbed and bled. Still.

Amazon Buy Link and other noted sellers

Stella May is the penname for Marina Sardarova who has a fascinating history you should read on her website.

Stella writes fantasy romance as well as time travel romance. She is the author of 'Till Time Do Us Part, Book 1 in her Upon a Time series, and the stand-alone book Rhapsody in Dreams. Love and family are two cornerstones of her stories and life. Stella’s books are available in e-book and paperback through all major vendors. 
When not writing, Stella enjoys classical music, reading, and long walks along the ocean with her husband. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband Leo of 30 years and their son George. They are her two best friends and are all partners in their family business. 
Follow Stella on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.