Cheryl Wright's Blog, page 21
December 17, 2018
Angel Cookie Christmas – Ornamental Match Maker Series
Willa Murray receives a gift of an angel cookie ornament with a note signed by Mrs. Claus. It bears a cryptic message about watching for an angel in disguise who will soon cross her path. With her job as a lead actress in jeopardy (since the theater owner’s niece wants the position for herself), she shrugs off the strange gift and heads home to Pinetop, Arizona for a long overdue visit with her folks.
One of the first people in town she encounters is the annoying and cocky blast from her past, Angel Castellano, who’s been bragging since age eight that he plans to marry her some day. He’s grown into a much taller and handsomer man than he had any right to. He’s also the owner and head chef of a dinner theater in desperate need of a new entertainment director for the upcoming Christmas pageant, a position he is quick to offer her. Plus he makes the world’s most amazing gingerbread cookies shaped liked angels, which he clearly is not despite his name — cookies that bear a startling resemblance to the ornament she was gifted before leaving the city.
For the first time in months, Willa begins to hope there might be something more for her to look forward to than life as a has-been actress in full-blown spinsterhood. Perhaps the elusive Mrs. Claus was right and Willa’s very own Angel has been hiding in plain sight all these years.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KY7J4QV
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KY7J4QV
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07KY7J4QV
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07KY7J4QV
December 15, 2018
A Very Aussie Christmas
Last week I wrote on this blog about my baking experiences as a young child.
I think I was extremely lucky to be born in the era I was. Sadly, today’s children don’t often get to experience what we did back then, with the flurry of excited baking, with family all around us, preparing for Christmas Day.
It got me to thinking that it was time to release my collection of Christmas recipes. I actually wrote this book some years ago, and sold it on a Christmas specific site, but that site closed down years ago, and I put the book to the back of my mind.
Writing that story last week reminded me of the recipe book, and I decided to once again share my recipes with everyone. The recipes go back – in some cases – generations. Many of them came from my mother-in-law, who got them from her mother, who got them from her mother and so on. Some came from my mother, with the same scenario.
I have been making all of those recipes for over 40 years. I’ve already made one Christmas cake, and will do the next one in a few days time.
Because I want to share my recipes and the joy that comes with them, I’ve kept the price as low as Amazon will let me go – 99c. If you’re in KU, it’s there too.
Most of all, I hope you have as much fun with your Christmas baking as I do every year.
BUY NOW FROM AMAZON FOR ONLY 99c!
December 14, 2018
Comfort Food – Margaret Tanner
Comfort food what is it? Of course, food that makes you comfortable, happy and content. A reward for doing something well, or a panacea for all the trials and tribulations you have had to put up with? No matter what excuse we use, and I have used them all i.e. if something good has happened to me, I reward myself with chocolate. On the other hand, if something bad has happened to me and I need cheering up, I reward myself with a chocolate.
What is my favourite food you might ask? Well, being a chocaholic, you know what I am going to say – Chocolate. My hips bear witness to this addiction of mine.
My favourite chocolate is milk chocolate, followed by dark chocolate, (which scientists are now saying is good for you, I could have told them that), and white chocolate. I have to confess I am not a great fan of white chocolate, and as much as it pains me to admit it, I find it too sweet and sickly.
I prefer a plain chocolate bar, but I do enjoy a chocolate bar with peppermint or honeycomb in it.
What has this to do with the American West? Very little, I doubt that they would have partaken of this treat, but with Christmas fast approaching I thought it relevant, and I do love plum pudding and Christmas cake, in case you were wondering.
Santa Claus brought gifts for Christmas. Santa is placing gift boxes under Christmas tree
I write Historical Romance and Western Historical Romance with a Contemporary Romance or two thrown into the mix.
I would appreciate some likes on my Book Bub Author page.
Book Bub Author profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/margaret-tanner
My Amazon Page is:
Amazon – Kindle page is
December 13, 2018
New Release – A Tin Star for Christmas
A Tin Star for Christmas (The Belles of Wyoming Book 3)
A blizzard, missing jingle bells from the town’s founding family and more shenanigans have the townsfolk in an uproar in this holiday romance series set in 1882 Belle, Wyoming.
This is book #3 of 5 book series by talented multi-authors.
David Knight, the town’s handsome young sheriff, has always loved Hope Baker.
Hope has always loved David.
But, through miscommunication, both are set to marry someone else.
When an accident happens, will the two realize how much the other means to them?
Or, will they both be forced to marry someone they are not in love with?
This short read is a sweet, clean and wholesome American Historical romance holiday story filled with adventure and small town romance.
The story behind the missing bells of Belle, Wyoming.
1840’s
On a wagon train to Oregon, Clara Brown’s husband died of Cholera, leaving her on her own. The wagon train did not allow single women to travel alone, so she is ordered to leave.
She was rescued by a trapper and they fell deeply in love, creating their own town not far from Ft. Bridger. They named the town Belle for the jingle bells that were attached to her oxen when they first met. Now, years later, each Christmas the tradition continues as the town places the bells on an ox or horse, gifting rides to remember the legacy of the founders. The bells were safely put away and only brought out each year for this purpose.
Except, this year, the bells have gone missing.
Are they ever found?
Read the five stories coming out each day starting on December 10th to find out. Even some of the authors don’t know how this will end! Each story is complete with a happy ending, except for the mystery of the bells.
December 11, 2018
Running to Christmas – New Release
Running to Christmas: A Mail Order Bride Holiday
Rose Bailey has to get away from the Whitney household. As a servant she has no rights and her memories of the days before she was a servant were too bittersweet to handle. She knew her father and brother wouldn’t want her to be in this situation so she felt she owed it to them to find a solution on her own. The only solution that makes sense is to answer an ad to go west as a mail order bride.
Sam Nelson was alone on his farm just outside town. Oregon was a lovely place and he was happy there, but he was lonely. His parents had left the farm to him and he was becoming even more successful than his father had been. Something was missing, though. He wanted companionship and a family. For that he’d need a wife.
When Rose heard from Sam Nelson that he’d like her to come to Oregon to marry him she was beside herself. Her goal of getting out of the Whitney house by Christmas just might happen. When he meets her at the stagecoach stop, she can’t believe her luck. He’s handsome, kind, and genuinely concerned for her. Can she really trust him, though? If she does, will her past really be behind her?
December 10, 2018
Christmas At The Orphanage
In most cases an orphanage in the 1870’s at Christmas was not a nice place to be. Forget presents under the Christmas tree, Christmas cake and pudding or mistletoe. If some kindly soul did bring presents for the orphans, they were snatched away by the Matron and her cohorts once the giver had left the premises.
This was the life for Jessica and her friends, just another sad day of hunger, cruelty and hard work in the dreary, dangerous environment of the orphanage. Their Matron was a greedy, sadistic woman who delighted in mistreating her charges, even as she made money out of them.
This was the place where Jessica grew up.
Read Jessica’s story. It is free on Amazon until the 12th December.
December 7, 2018
Christmas Baking
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been involved with Christmas baking.
My first recollection was around the age of eight. Both my parents baked, and they both involved me in their cooking.
Christmas was the biggest bake of all. The aunties all arrived to help with the cakes and puddings, and the whole house was a flurry of people. This was back in the good old days of hanging the plum pudding from the roof.
I still can’t believe we don’t do that anymore!
My latest book, The Barber’s Christmas Bride sees mail order bride Allie Jones preparing to give her new husband the best Christmas he’s ever endured. He’s given up on Christmas, and she wants to make it special for him.
Allie bakes and cooks right throughout the story, but Christmas baking is what she does the best. In light of that, I thought I’d share a family Christmas Cake recipe that has been passed down for generations. This is the same cake I’ve used for over 40 years!
CHRISTMAS CAKE
Into a large basin or mixing bowl place the following mixture:
1
kilogram (or 2 lb) mixed fruit
2 cups
(1 lb) brown sugar
2tablespoons each Sherry and Orange juice, or if preferred, 4 tablespoons of either. (May need up to half a cup of liquid if the mix is too dry. Ingredients need to be moist.)
Stir well and soak overnight, covered in plastic wrap to prevent mixture drying out.
**If unable to soak overnight, soak for minimum of two hours**
Next day, stir to separate any ingredients that have melded together overnight. There is no problem if they are stuck, it’s just easier to mix if you separate the ingredients at this point.
Now add
1/2 teaspoon each of the following spices:
Nutmeg,
ginger, cinnamon, salt, and bicarbonate soda.
Mix until all ingredients are combined.
Add 2
oz (60 grams) chopped almonds. Mix well.
Combine 250g (1/2 lb) butter and 1/2 cup (4 oz) milk. Heat in saucepan over slow heat only until butter is melted. Do not allow to boil.
Add butter/milk mixture to fruit etc, then add:
3 beaten eggs,
1/2
teaspoon vanilla essence,
1/2
teaspoon lemon essence
Now slowly add 3 cups plain flour, mixing between each addition. Blend in well and pour into a paper lined tine.
(I use 9 inch or 23 cm wide tin, with height of 2 1/2 inch or 6 cm. this is a perfect fit for the mixture)
Bake275 degrees F (140 degrees C) for approx 5 1/2 to 6 hours. (May take less time in fan-forced oven – anything from 4 1/2 to 5 hours) Cooks best if piece of brown paper is placed loosely over top of cake.
Do not open oven door for at least 2 1/2 hours.
Click here to check out The Barber’s Christmas Bride
December 3, 2018
Carson’s Christmas Bride – New Release
She’s a southern belle that didn’t plan on being a mother to four children. He’s a U.S. Deputy Marshal that never planned on getting married. But fate has other things in mind…
U.S. Marshal Carson Harlow loves the wild frontier of Texas. He’s used to living rough and doesn’t need a woman or children to interfere with what he’s best at—minding the law and putting the bad guys in their place.
It’s too bad, then, when he crosses paths with Sarah Baker, a beautiful young mail-order bride who’s struck out twice when it comes to finding love. A woman who needs everything Carson has, and has everything he needs.
Sadly, though, Carson’s past won’t let him get too close to the raven-haired Southern belle whose face he can’t seem to forget. And while Sarah’s becoming more and more friendly with the brave young deputy every day, old relationships have a tendency to come creeping back.
But when a smallpox outbreak threatens everything they know, they’ll rethink everything that they once believed . . . and be tested in ways that put their very lives at stake.
December 1, 2018
The Barber’s Christmas Bride – New Release
I am very pleased to announce my latest novella, The Barber’s Christmas Bride (Book Two, Mail Order Brides of Dayton Falls) is now available!!
——
Until her employer’s violence had her fearing for her life, Allie MacIntosh had never been desperate enough to become a mail order bride.
Small town barber, Charlie Jones is lonely. He lives for his work and not much else. He wants someone to share his life, and a mail order bride is his only hope.
When Allie arrives, Charlie is instantly smitten, but will she ever feel the same way about him? And what is the terrible secret she is hiding?
Charlie needs a Christmas miracle because if he can’t solve these problems, their relationship is doomed.
Author’s Promise: This is a heartwarming Christmas novella with a happily ever after ending and no cliffhangers. It is a clean and wholesome story with nothing more than hugs, kisses, and holding hands.
——
BUY FROM AMAZON NOW!
*Also available via KU
November 30, 2018
An Unexpected Christmas in Sampson’s Quarry: A Sampson’s Quarry Mystery – New Release
Amazon Review from SLA – 5 Stars
I found this to be a very sweet holiday romance. It was a quick read, and the two main characters, Nancy and Conor, were very likeable characters. Nancy and Conor get stranded at a remote house due to bad weather, and end up learning how well they get along together. There’s a small mystery involving a runaway dog, and a nice HEA ending. This is book 4 in the Samson’s Quarry series, but I hadn’t read the previous books and was able to enjoy this one just fine as a standalone story.
An Unexpected Christmas in Sampson’s Quarry: A Sampson’s Quarry Mystery
by Sophie Tucker
All she wants for Christmas…
Nancy is ready for the holidays, if only because she has scheduled a trip out of town to meet up with her old college roommate. All she has to do is get through a Christmas party, one last appointment with a client, and then she’s off to the airport for her vacation in Colorado where she will have nothing to do but sit in a ski lodge for the week and look cute.
There’s no place like home for the holidays…
Conor has been working almost non-stop for the last year. He is more than ready for some time off. He is happy to spend Christmas with his crazy family, but after Christmas he’s on his own. He hasn’t decided what he will do. He might even just stay home and sleep all day, but he definitely wants some peace and quiet.
Baby, it’s cold outside…
Plans go awry when Nancy’s car dies and a winter storm traps her and Conor at her client’s house. After hearing strange noises and realizing certain items have gone missing, Nancy and Conor realize they are not as alone as they thought.
