Sharon Wray's Blog, page 72

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Creamy Mushroom Soup

Welcome to the second week of Christmas Eve at Pinckney House. Last week we left Zack Tremaine and Allison Pinckney, the hero and heroine of In Search of Truth (book 3 in the Amazon bestselling Deadly Force series), on the verge of greeting their guests for their Christmas Eve party.

Bestselling author Sharon Wray returns to the Deadly Force world with a Christmas Eve Dinner at Pinckney House in Charleston, SC. And the next course being served is Creamy Mushroom Soup.

While guests gather in the dining room, waiters carry trays of crystal punch glasses filled with a hot and creamy Mushroom Soup. The southern tradition is to serve it from a punch bowl into punch cups so it’s easy to drink and refill. And it doesn’t allow you to fill up on soup when the buffet table offers so many wonderful foods like cheese straws and seasoned pecans. And the quartet in the corner has picked up the pace and is now playing more upbeat Christmas songs.

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Published on December 11, 2020 03:30

Sarah Munro’s Herbal Cough Soother

It’s that time of year again! Besides the pandemic, there are random illnesses running around including coughs and sore throats. Barring any other serious illness that requires a doctor’s visit, this cough soother helps with irritation caused by dry air and post nasal drip.

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This recipe is an updated version of an 18th century tonic that uses natural ingredients. I’m including it in this blog series because it’s a recipe that appears in Sarah Munro’s collection of 18th century herbal remedies that she discusses in ONE DARK WISH, the second book in the bestselling Deadly Force series. It’s also super easy to make.

The main ingredients include apple cider vinegar which has anti-bacterial properties and high levels of potassium that thin mucus. The honey is a natural anti-bacterial that soothes irritated skin, while the citrus fruits have loads of vitamin c and are a natural antiseptic. Ginger is a known anti-nausea agent and helps with upset stomachs often caused by post nasal drip. Because there are no preservatives in this recipe, it only lasts for up to three months in the fridge.

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Sarah Munro’s Herbal Cough Soother

Ingredients:

½ cup apple cider vinegar (with mother)⅓ cup raw honey (local if possible)½ lemon, sliced½ lime, sliced2 teaspoons freshly minced ginger (use dried ground ginger if necessary)3 springs fresh rosemary

Directions:

Put the cider vinegar in a saucepan and turn the heat on low. As the vinegar heats, slowly whisk in the honey until completely dissolved. Remove the pot from the heat and add the lemon slices, lime slices, and fresh rosemary. Steep the mixture for 1 hour.Strain the liquid into a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Refrigerate until needed. This syrup lasts for three months in the refrigerator.Dosage: One ounce of syrup for an adult as needed. For a child, consult your pediatrician.

Important disclaimer about wild plants, foraging, and making herbal and homeopathic remedies:

I am not a medical professional and nothing written on this blog is medical advice. None of my statements have been evaluated by the FDA (I am legally required to give you this disclaimer).

It is important to do your due diligence before foraging, harvesting, and/or consuming any type of medicinal plant.

If you are taking any medications, talk to your doctor about any potential drug interactions.If you are allergic to anything, make sure whatever you are foraging is not in the same family. Example: While dandelions are typically considered safe, those who are allergic to ragweed, latex, daisies, or any other plants in the same or similar families, may not be able to consume dandelion.

Always research potential side effects, dosage recommendations, and how to properly prepare and consume each medicinal plant.

Always make sure you are foraging what you believe to be. Fully prepare and study the anatomy before harvesting wild plants.

Always make sure your kitchen/work area is clean and that all materials are sterilized.

Do not forage plants from areas that have been sprayed within the past 2 years at the very least.

I am not legally or morally responsible for the health of any of my readers. Please do your own research!

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Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Amazon bestselling Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning .

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Published on December 08, 2020 03:30

Advent Reading List for 2020

Advent is one of my favorite times of year.

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Not just because it means Christmas is coming, but because it’s a time of waiting. A time of planning and preparing and praying. A time to quiet my heart in the midst of so much noise. One of the ways I try to slow down and savor the season is through Advent readings. The books below are a few of my seasonal favorites and range from journals to children’s stories. I hope these books help you find the peace and grace you’re seeking this season.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, book 2 in C.S. Lewis’ famous Chronicles of Narnia Series, is a lovely way to share advent with the children in your life. Or, if you’re so incline, to read it on your own. The story of the four Pevensie children and their quest to defeat the White Witch is exciting and thrilling. But it takes a powerful turn when Aslan the Lion appears to teach the children that sometimes love requires the greatest sacrifice. Although this is the second book in the series, it can be read alone.

This journal helps the reader focus on meditative prayer also known as Lectio Divina. Lectio Divina requires the reading and contemplation of scripture. As you read, you pray, as you pray, you journal about the ideas that come to you. This is a personal and private process that helps you determine what God wants to share with you. Each day’s passage takes about 10-15 minutes per day and is a wonderful way to enter more fully into this season of waiting.

This is a daily devotional that can be read every day during the Advent season. Passages reflect on the blessings that God offers throughout the season as well as sharing the history behind the story of Christmas. This is a great book for the family to share and discuss. While it’s not a children’s book, the stories are told simply enough for children to understand and appreciate.

This is another great book for the family looking for a new way to study and discuss the Christmas story. Taken from the Gospels, this book introduces minor characters in the Christmas story that help you view this time of year in a different light. This book ends each section with discussion questions and a suggested Christmas song if you want to make reading this book a more interactive family event.

This is another great book for families. Broken into four parts (Hope, Preparation, Joy, and Love), this book offers interactive daily reflections that help you celebrate Advent together. There are suggestions for fun, family activities and even service projects for older kids. This book can be read by individuals as a tool for personal worship as well. But no matter how you use it, this book helps prepare your heart for the wonder of Christmas morning.

This is a unique retelling of the Christmas story. It takes the story from the Gospels in the New King James Bible but it has been arranged so that it’s told in one, complete narrative. This makes it easier to read, both in silent worship as well as read aloud for the family. It has lovely illustrations and and index to help the reader with private, contemplative study.

This book offers readings that can help you prepare for Advent, then daily and weekly studies that include scripture readings, journal prompts, and guided prayers to help you get the most out of this beautiful season. The readings are short and can be done in 10-15 minutes daily. It’s a perfect way to start your dark, December mornings.

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Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Amazon bestselling Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning .

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Published on December 07, 2020 03:30

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Spinach & Oyster Dip

I can’t believe it’s already December. Since it’s been such a rough year, I’ve decided to slip back into my Deadly Force world and invite you to a Christmas Eve Party. But instead of this party taking place in Savannah, this one is being hosted by Allison Pinckney and Zack Tremaine in Pinckney House in Charleston, S.C.

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Zack and Allison are the hero and heroine of IN SEARCH OF TRUTH, the third book in the Amazon bestselling Deadly Force series. While Zack and Allison have a happy ending, they’re engaged and planning their wedding. (unlike the other books that have a wedding in the epilogue). And since they haven’t moved to Savannah yet, they’re still in Pinckney House, the enormous antebellum Charleston mansion owned by Allison’s family.

IN SEARCH OF TRUTH added a few more characters to the world and I love it when everyone has a chance to interact in a fun and happy way instead of the stressful, loaded-with-conflict way that happens in the books.

So I hope you enjoy this trip back into the Deadly Force world. And for my avid readers, please don’t fear–the next book in the series, a novella titled LOVE’S LAST KISS, will be out early next year (depending on things like pandemics, etc.). And that will be followed by A PROMISE AT MIDNIGHT–the story of Alex and Maddie.

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Published on December 04, 2020 03:30

Lockdown Reading List: Spirituality & Hope

It’s the week after Thanksgiving and I’m in that strange lull between finishing up some deadline work, eating leftovers, and thinking about all that needs to be done for Christmas.

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With rumors of another lockdown coming, and lockdowns being enforced in other states, I decided to add another post to my Lockdown Reading Series. This time it’s for books about Spirituality and Hope, just in time for the holiday season.

This memoir by Mary Lenaburg isn’t the easiest book to read, but it’s worth the tears you will shed. A powerful story of a family faced with not just one serious crisis, but with over two decades of tragedy and sorrow. Still, in the midst of everything that happened to Mary and her family, they found grace in the ashes and saved not just their family unit but their very lives as well. This book is the very definition of both courage and resilience. One of the best books I’ve ever read.

Again, this book like the one above, is about overcoming tragedy and sorrow in the most remarkable of ways. It’s an ordinary woman’s journey through heartache and redemption told through a form of stream-of-consciousness lyricism. This book is also not easy to read, not just because it asks you too look at your own life and the pain you’ve hidden away, but because of the writing. Ann Voskamp has a poetic voice that stretches the boundaries of both narrative and verse that some readers may struggle with. But it’s definitely worth the work.

I re-read this book at least once every year, but usually in the winter because when he describes the seasons of his faith journey, that’s the one I identify with the most. This book compares the reader’s lifelong spiritual journey (regardless of belief system) to the season of the year as well as the seasons of life. It’s a cross between a memoir and a study guide that makes the reader ask questions about where they are in their own life and how to move forward. This is a great book for anyone who feels stuck and wants to understand why.

This is one of my all-time favorite books. I have it on my Kindle, in audio, and two paperbacks. This classic is a series of letters between two devils–wormwood (a newbie roaming the earth) and his uncle Screwtape (a senior devil down below)–about how to tempt the lowly humans. It’s both funny and deadly serious in its depiction of human life. This book is considered “… the most engaging account of temptation—and triumph over it—ever written.” (Amazon blurb)

I read this book in high school and didn’t really understand it. It wasn’t until a few years later that I realized what it was truly about. In this book, C.S. Lewis takes on one of the most universally-asked questions among all people–“If God is good and all-powerful, why does he allow his creatures to suffer pain?” The author, one of the most insightful of all apologists, answers this question with compassion, insight, and wisdom. The result of which is that his words leave the reader with a true understanding of human nature and an overwhelming sense of hope.

It’s no surprise that this book has sold over a million copies, and that I’ve read it numerous times. In this book, the author explores the universal question, “Where has my struggle led me?” The great thing about this book is how the author answers this questions.

The Amazon blurb explains it much better than I ever could: “A chance encounter with a reproduction of Rembrandt’s The Return of the Prodigal Son catapulted Henri Nouwen on an unforgettable spiritual adventure. Here he shares the deeply personal and resonant meditation that led him to discover the place within where God has chosen to dwell.

As Nouwen reflects on Rembrandt’s painting in light of his own life journey, he evokes a powerful drama of the classic parable in a rich, captivating way that is sure to reverberate in the hearts of readers. Nouwen probes the several movements of the parable: the younger son’s return, the father’s restoration of sonship, the elder son’s resentfulness, and the father’s compassion. The themes of homecoming, affirmation, and reconciliation will be newly discovered by all who have known loneliness, dejection, jealousy, or anger. The challenge to love as God loves, and to be loved as God’s beloved, will be seen as the ultimate revelation of the parable known to Christians throughout time, and is here represented with a vigor and power fresh for our times.”

This is the first book in the four-book series known as “The Crosswalk Journals”. While the entire series is worth reading, the first one is my favorite. This memoir of the beloved children’s author’s life is funny, poignant, and filled with hope. As Madeleine L’Engle is struggling to build her writing career, she’s also moving in to a remote New England farmhouse, raising her children, supporting her husband, and commuting to New York City. For any person who feels like they’re doing too many things, and can barely get out of bed in the morning, this charming book will give you all the motivation you need.

This lovely book is an autobiographical account of the famous author who wrote The Secret Life of Bees and was once a contributing editor to Guideposts Magazine. This book is a true and passionate tale of the author’s spiritual crisis when she despaired of never moving past a dark period of ” active waiting”. This is a work of grace for anyone who has felt that life is passing them by or has left them behind.

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Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Amazon bestselling Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning .

The post Lockdown Reading List: Spirituality & Hope appeared first on Sharon Wray.

View more on Sharon Wray's website »

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Published on December 03, 2020 03:30

Sarah Munro’s Four Thieves Vinegar

Last week Sarah Munro, the heroine of One Dark Wish (the second book in the Deadly Force series) shared her updated recipe for Fire Cider, an enhanced vinegar with antiviral and immune-boosting properties. While Fire Cider is a well-known recipe, it’s second in fame to another vinegar infusion known as The Four Thieves Vinegar.

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Four Thieves Vinegar is related to Four Thieves essential oil, usually found in specialty health food stores. But where oil can be used sparingly on the skin, the vinegar can be ingested and even used as a household cleaner and laundry booster. The really cool thing about this recipe is that it dates to the Bubonic Plague in 1413.

The story behind the Four Thieves Vinegar takes place in either Marseilles, France or London, England, depending on who you ask. And some say there were five thieves instead of just four. There are even two different endings to this story. Regardless of the differences, the main part of the story–including the recipe–has remained the same over the centuries.

During the 15th century, in the middle of the Bubonic Plague scourging all of Europe, four (or five) thieves entered the homes of the sick and robbed them while they suffered in their illness and eventual death. Yet, despite the shocking number of robberies, these men never got sick.

According to the legends, these thieves anointed their bodies with an oil (or vinegar) infused with a variety of herbs that were known to have antiviral and antibacterial properties (although they didn’t quite understand the science yet). The concoction was even known to repel fleas despite the fact that fleas were a suspected-but-not-yet-proven vector of disease. Then these men would break into the homes of the sick and fill their sacks.

Eventually, these men were caught. One story says that to make amends, these men were forced to bury the dead–and they still didn’t catch the plague. The other ending is that, to avoid a public hanging, they had to reveal their immunity secret.

Regardless, both stories are clear on the recipe that these thieves used to protect themselves. Although some of the stories say they used an essential oil infusion, it’s more likely they used a vinegar infusion as that was much cheaper and easier to make. This vinegar recipe is meant to be ingested as an immunity builder (1 Tablespoon per day) and can also be used as a household cleaner to wipe down doorknobs and counters. Or you can add a 1/4 cup to the rinse cycle of your laundry. As a beverage, I add it to a seltzer water in the morning and on days I feel like I need an immunity boost, I just take a shot of it.

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The amazing thing about this infusion, besides the fact it’s been around for centuries, is how easy it is to make. Except for the lavender flowers (easily found online), it uses basic household ingredients like sage and rosemary and apple cider vinegar. As with all homeopathic remedies, please contact your doctor first and see the notes below.

Sarah Munro’s Five Thieves Vinegar

Ingredients:

2 cups raw apple cider vinegar with mother (I prefer Bragg’s)2 teaspoons dried sage leaves2 teaspoons dried rosemary2 teaspoons dried lavender flowers2 teaspoons dried juniper berries1 teaspoon black pepper1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 small bulb of garlic, cloves peeled and minced. 1 quart-sized glass jar (I use Ball canning jars)Parchment paper

Directions:

Sterilize the glass jar and set aside.

Mix together all of the herbs and spiced in a small bowl. Pour into the glass jar.

Fill the glass jar with apple cider vinegar, leaving a 1″ head space at the top of the jar.

Using a clean knife, stir through the jar to get rid of all of the air bubbles. Add more vinegar if necessary.

Cover the jar with parchment paper and seal with the lid. (You don’t want the vinegar touching the metal lid because the vinegar will corrode the metal)

Set the jar in a cold, dark area to macerate for four weeks. Shake the jar daily to improve the extraction.

After four weeks, place a colander in a large bowl or pot. Line the colander with cheesecloth. Pour the vinegar into the colander and strain the liquid for 45 minutes.

Squeeze out the last of the liquid and discard the herbs. (or compost them)

Pour the infused vinegar into a sterilized jar and store in a dark cupboard.

Note: If you use fresh herbs, double the amounts.

Dosage: 1 Tablespoon per day, and an extra Tablespoon if you feel like you need a boost. It can be taken directly or mixed with sparkling water.

Important disclaimer about wild plants, foraging, and making herbal and homeopathic remedies: