Sharon Wray's Blog, page 75

Isn’t It Romantic Book Club: In Search of Truth

I’m so excited because tonight at 8:30 p.m. EST on the Isn’t It Romantic Book Club, Facebook’s newest and most excited live book club page, we’ll be discussing the third book in my Deadly Force series IN SEARCH OF TRUTH!!

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“This breathless romantic suspense novel provides equal amounts of heat and intrigue.” ~ Publisher’s Weekly

“Fast paced…intriguing, with steamy romance and forbidden love.” ~ Fresh Fiction

Some treasure is buried in plain sight…

Anthropologist Allison Pinckney is stunned when she inherits the key to a seventeenth century pirate cipher that makes her the target of two brutal arms dealers. Now, to save those she loves, she must solve the cipher. With this perilous mission growing ever more dangerous, she reluctantly seeks help from ex-Green Beret Zack Tremaine, the one man she’s been avoiding. Because if she gives into her long-buried feelings for him, it could cost them their lives.

Zack Tremaine is haunted by regrets. Years ago, he betrayed his men and lost the only woman he ever loved. Now that his men are caught in a fierce rivalry between two deadly enemies, his only hope is to team up with Allison. She holds the secret to a pirate treasure, and he must take the chance to save his men and redeem his honor. Even if she breaks his heart…again.

I hope you’ll join me today in the Isn’t ItRomantic Book Club for fun and giveaways and great talks about the romance books we love.

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Bourbon Bacon Grilled Cheese

It’s been a busy week (writing, cleaning, cooking, and trying not to stress) but I’m excited because LOVE’S LAST KISS, the next book in the Deadly Force series is going well and should be out this summer. And on Thursday, April 30, IN SEARCH OF TRUTH, book 3 in the Deadly Force series, will be the topic of the Isn’t It Romantic Book Club–Facebook’s newest livestream book club. I hope you can join us for the fun and games and giveaways!

In the meantime, it’s time for the next installment of the Hungry {Romance} Writer’s micro story about Iron Rack’s Whiskey Challenge. A challenge where the men of the Deadly Force series, who all work at a run-down, pirate-themed gym in Savannah, have been competing in a culinary contest where the main ingredient is bourbon. Over the past few weeks we’ve had Zack Tremaine’s Bread Pudding and Whiskey Sauce, Alex Mitchell’s Bourbon Burgers, and Ty Brigg’s Bourbon Ribs. And this week we have Cain Marun’s Bourbon Bacon Grilled Cheese!

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Cain Marun ~ “Finally it’s my turn in the kitchen. I don’t normally say that since my beautiful wife Charlotte does most of the cooking, but I’m tired of Zack’s constant complaints about the meals we make on our assigned dinner nights. Because most of us live above Iron Rack’s Gym in a sketchy part of town and have less than no money, we take turns making dinner.

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Luckily, Charlotte and I found a tiny apartment (thanks to Calum!) near where Samantha (Pete’s girlfriend) and Rafe and Juliet (another buddy and his wife) live. Although Charlotte is a psychologist, she could only find a part-time job here in Savannah–so we’re short of cash as well. Charlotte is also a photographer and has been trying to hustle up jobs on the side. That means I’m usually on my own when I have to feed my men on my assigned dinner nights.

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But, honestly, I don’t think Charlotte would help me anyway. Despite the fact she adores me and my buddies, she’s annoyed at us. She’s always scolding us like a magpie. She doesn’t understand why my men and I (all ex-Green Berets) were dishonorably discharged and are now fighting to regain our honor. But it’s an equal-opportunity annoyance. She’s also furious at the man who set us up, furious at the secret congressional committee that found us guilty, and really furious that some of my men were sent to prison.

As far as she’s concerned everyone involved in destroying our careers should be thrown off a cliff. And since my men and I let it happen (because apparently we weren’t paying attention), our penance should be endless nights of Hamburger Helper and tuna sandwiches.

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Still, when she heard about Zack’s cooking contest, where the women we love are the final judges, she was all in. She even offered to set the table on the patio behind the gym so it would look nice.

Lockdown Reading List: Non-Fiction Productivity Books

There are so many productivity posts and videos out there now with everyone trying to work from home, establish new family routines, and come up with new side hustles that my head hurts. Just search Amazon for productivity books and thousands pop up. It’s overwhelming in an already overwhelming situation.

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As a librarian and entrepreneur, I’ve read a lot of those books and watched the videos. I’ve also been driven to anxiety by all of the helpful hints and surefire suggestions that promise riches and prosperity. There are so many sources out there that you could spend you life reading instead of doing.

But now that I have some extra time on my hand, I’ve decided to reread (and recommend) those few productivity books that I believe rise above the rest. Many of these books were written decades ago and I’m still amazed at how they’re even more relevant today. The list below is in descending order of favorites–starting with my absolute favorite. I hope you enjoy them and that you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy.

Outwitting the Devil: The Secrets to Freedom and Success

This is my favorite book on this list. It was written by Napoleon Hill, the man who wrote Think and Grow Rich (number 2 on this list). He wrote the manuscript in 1937 but because of its controversial nature it wasn’t published until 2011, over forty years after Mr. Hill’s death. This book is a printed interview Mr. Hill had with the Devil. In this story, Mr. Hill entraps the Devil into admitting his tricks that get us to do what he wants instead of what we’re put on this earth to do. The Devil admits how he uses the ideas of drifting and addictions to keep us from achieving great success and becoming the people we’re meant to be. Regardless of your faith background, this is a compelling story of how we inadvertently submit to our weaknesses when it’s just as easy–as long as we’re paying attention–to work to our strengths. Even for skeptics, this book is easy to read and so prophetic as to be eerie.

Think and Grow Rich

Also by Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich is the original productivity book that set off a huge self-help industry. Published in 1937, it has become one of the biggest bestselling books of all time and is the all-time bestseller in its field. Napoleon Hill, a motivational speaker and business coach, interviewed the business titans of the day (Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, etc) to decipher the philosophy of work and business that explained the difference between the successful from the non-successful. This book explains how our thought-processes alone can determine our future as well as the concept that sometimes failure is necessary for future success. This is a great book to listen to on audio–but make sure you listen to or read the OFFICIAL version. The link below is to the official publication but there are many adaptations and abridged versions for sale, mostly due to editors making the language more politically correct. But if you’re going to take the time to read it, please use the original book with its anachronistic language–the abridged versions leave too many things out.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

This is a classic productivity book by Stephen R. Covey. Stephen Covey takes up where Napoleon Hill leaves off in Think and Grow Rich. Where Napoleon Hill gives you the concepts, Stephen Covey gives you the steps to putting those concepts into place. Written in 1990, this book teaches you how to make the all-important paradigm shift to actually setting goals and making your dreams a reality. This paradigm shift helps you change your perceptions: perceptions of self, perceptions of time, perceptions of productivity, perceptions of thought. This is not an easy book to read. It’s actually a textbook with suggested homework and extra reading. But working through this book, and doing all the extra assignments, is well worth the time and effort. I recommend reading this book with a notebook on hand to keep track of new ideas and A-ha moments.

177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class

This book is not for the weak or lazy. I don’t mean to be rude, but this book is for those who are determined to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. Steven Siebold clearly lays out the thought processes of those who’ve achieved great success. He discusses the power of failure and the idea that suffering is part of success. This book combines narrative storytelling with text book assignments and proven advice in order to teach us how to become a mental warrior. This book is so compelling that you’ll find yourself wanting to put the book down after each chapter just to try out these new-to-you philosophies. But try to get to the end–and do the homework and extra reading–before changing your life. Because the last few chapters tie everything together in such a way that you’ll emerge with a strong, self-determined plan for success.

Focal Point: A Proven System to Simplify Your Life, Double Your Productivity, and Achieve Your Goals

Focal Point by Brian Tracy is one of the recommended reads Stephen Covey mentions in The 7 Habits for Highly Effective People. I stopped reading 7 Habits at the end of chapter one, where Focal Point is mentioned, to read Focal Point. Once I finished it, I went back to 7 Habits. Focal Point is another book where you need a notebook at your side to jot down ideas and brainstorms. In Focal Point, Brian Tracy has set up a system for simplifying your life that’s not only easy but fun and rewarding. Focal Point helps you clarify your goals and then offers a simple, step-by-step approach for focusing on and meeting those goals. I loved this book because it was easy and quick to read yet I finished the book with a clear vision of what I wanted and a plan in place to get where I am determined to go.

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones

Atomic Habits is a newcomer to this genre. But it stands out from the slew of new productivity books because of its simple-yet-valuable premise: You can break old habits and build new ones through tiny, doable, one-at-a-time steps. Atomic Habits takes everything you learn in the books higher on this list and helps you determine why you are the way you are. Because if you don’t understand why you have the habits you do, you’ll never change them. And once you identify them, this book then helps you to start making changes. While the recommended changes are simple, they’re not easy. But since nothing is life is easy–especially during a pandemic–there’s no better time than now to start. This book is a quick read but, like the other books mentioned above, I recommend reading it with a notebook so you can keep track of the points that resonate the most.

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

This classic bestseller isn’t so much a productivity book (like the ones above) but it’s another tool on your self-improvement journey. This book changed what I understand about how I think. Carol Dweck, a Stanford University psychologist, discusses the differences between Growth Mindset and Fixed Mindset and how the type of mindset we have determines our future success. The great thing about this book, though, is it also helps you change how you think if you discover your thought patterns are holding you back. There is an updated edition to this book (link below) that also includes more research on the concept of False Growth Mindset and how to help yourself dig deeper into your personal thought patterns.

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

Another newcomer to the productivity genre, Deep Work by Cal Newport is an enlightening study on the trauma that distractions cause to our creative life. Having the skill to focus completely on something–such as reading one of the books on this list and taking notes–is a lost art. With the advent of social media and live streaming and the million other distractions in this new computer age, people struggle to focus on the basic things. So the larger things, like writing a book or discovering a cure for cancer, becomes harder and harder for the average person regardless of their intelligence and education. Deep Work offers tangible solutions on how to set up your life so you can eliminate distractions and do the deep worth necessary to bring forth new ideas and to meet your goals.

Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less

In a world of overwork, it’s hard to believe the concept that if you work less you’ll accomplish more. But that’s exactly the hypothesis Alex Soojung-Kim Pang set out to prove in his groundbreaking book Rest. With the belief that “deliberate rest” is the key to productivity, the book presents examples how to use time to our advantage. With “deliberate rest”, we become more focused, have more energy, and a well-balanced life. This is a quick read, but don’t be tempted to skim. Take your time to think about the steps Alex Soojung-Kim Pang suggests. Because if you can turn “deliberate rest” into a skill, you’ll have more free time to do those other things that give your life meaning while at the same time meeting your future goals.

The 5 Second Journal

If you haven’t heard of Mel Robbins, or her 5 Second Rule, I highly suggest you listen to one of her YouTube talks. Mel Robbins, the author of the 5 Second Rule, is a motivational speaker who helps people get out of their own heads to get sh*t done. She’s hilarious and will make you cry and I just love her YouTube channel.Although I adore the 5 Second Rule, I get more out of her talks which is why I didn’t list the book here. But one of her books that I use is her 5 Second Journal. This is not a book to read–it’s an actual hardcover, daily journal for people who hate to journal or write or think introspectively. This journal is a series of questions you ask yourself as soon as you wake up, then offers a little bit of room for journaling about the upcoming day. Mel Robbins suggests using this journal as the initial building block for establishing a strong morning routine. (that’s worth another blog post on its own!). Anyway, I love this journal and use it daily because it helps me get out of bed with a plan. Although it’s not an actual reading book, I included it on this list because it’s fun and easy to use and I just like to buy notebooks.

Sarah Munro’s Sleepy Time Tea

In these crazy days, I’m sure I’m not the only one not sleeping well. I’m don’t like to take sleeping pills and found I needed something else other than straight chamomile tea. This recipe for sleepy time tea, which dates back to Colonial days, has become my new favorite nighttime tea. It takes more work than straight chamomile tea, but it’s worth it. This recipe is similar to one that Sarah Munro (the heroine in ONE DARK WISH, the second book in the Deadly Force series) found in her collection of 18th century herbal remedies. I just updated it with ingredients that are more widely available. I hope you enjoy it!

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This is a loose-leaf tea made from dried ingredients that can be found on Amazon or in local health food stores. I included links to Mountain Rose Herbs, my favorite online herbal store.

Chamomile has been used for centuries to promote sleep and to settle nighttime tummy troubles. Note: if you’re allergic to ragweed or asters you may have a reaction to chamomile. So please talk to your doctor first.

Valerian is one of the most-tested herbs used for promoting sleep. It helps with stress-induced restlessness and calms the nervous system. It’s available in different forms (tincture, capsule, and dried herbs). I prefer it in loose-leaf tea form.

Lemon Balm has been used to help with sleep issues since the Middle Ages. It’s super easy to grow in the garden and has a pleasant, mild lemon flavor. You can steep the freshly-cut leaves as well as the dried leaves.

Hops has been proven to receive anxiety, insomnia, and nervous restlessness. A few studies have concluded that hops can also help reduce hot flashes in menopausal women that disrupt sleep. Hops are bitter, though, which is why it should be brewed with stevia or honey.

Catnip, with compounds similar to valerian, has been used for over 2000 years as a sleep promoter and sedative. Catnip also aids in settling indigestion but it is not recommended during pregnancy.

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Sarah Munro’s Sleepy Time Tea



Ingredients:



2 Tablespoons dried chamomile1 Tablespoon valerian1 Tablespoon lemon balm1 Tablespoon hops1 Tablespoon catnip1 teaspoon honey or stevia

Combine all of these dried herbs in a small tea pot and 1 cup of boiling water. Steep for twenty minutes. Pour tea, through a tea strainer, into a mug. Add honey or stevia, if preferred.

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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 .

Her bestselling debut book  EVERY DEEP DESIRE,  a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife. It’s available at:   Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iBooks  |  IndieBound |  Kobo |   Google  |  Books-a-Million  |  Audible

Her second book,  ONE DARK WISH , a passionate redemption of Othello with a HEA, is about an ex-Green Beret who must give up the woman he loves in order to redeem his honor and save the life of his men. It’s available at:  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Books-a-Million  |  iBooks  |   Google  |  Kobo  | IndieBound  |  Audible

Her third book, IN SEARCH OF TRUTH, is about an ex-Green Beret desperate to win back the woman he loves and save the men he betrayed, even if he must make the greatest sacrifice. It’s available at: Amazon |  Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible

The post Sarah Munro’s Sleepy Time Tea appeared first on Sharon Wray.

Happy Easter!

I want to wish you all a Happy and Blessed Easter!

My sincerest hope is that despite the stress of the current nationwide lockdown, you all find happiness and peace with the ones you love and the One who loves you.

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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 .

Her bestselling debut book  EVERY DEEP DESIRE,  a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife. It’s available at:   Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iBooks  |  IndieBound |  Kobo |   Google  |  Books-a-Million  |  Audible

Her second book,  ONE DARK WISH , a passionate redemption of Othello with a HEA, is about an ex-Green Beret who must give up the woman he loves in order to redeem his honor and save the life of his men. It’s available at:  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Books-a-Million  |  iBooks  |   Google  |  Kobo  | IndieBound  |  Audible

Her third book, IN SEARCH OF TRUTH, is about an ex-Green Beret desperate to win back the woman he loves and save the men he betrayed, even if he must make the greatest sacrifice. It’s available at: Amazon |  Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible

The post Happy Easter! appeared first on Sharon Wray.

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Bourbon Ribs

I can’t believe another week on lockdown has passed. As I look back, all I see are the things I didn’t get done. How can I be home all day and not finish everything on my to-do list? I think part of my problem is that any one task seems to take me twice as long. I spend too much time worrying about small things like having to potentially leave the house to shop for food and whether or not I have laundry detergent. I just don’t have the focus I normally do.

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But since it’s Friday, it’s time for another installment of The Hungry {Romance} Writer. Today we’re continuing with Iron Rack’s Whiskey Challenge, the game Zack Tremaine (the hero of IN SEARCH OF TRUTH) came up for his friends who all work at Iron Rack’s Gym. The point of the game was to take their minds off of their enemies and their worry about what’s coming next. And today Ty Briggs (also an ex-Green Beret and one of Kells Torridan’s men) is sharing his recipe for Bourbon Ribs.

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Ty Briggs ~ “I can’t believe I agreed to participate in Zack’s stupid contest. Seriously, I must have been either exhausted or drunk. But since none of us have any money for booze, it’s probably the former. I spend every waking hour working in Iron Rack’s (the run-down, pirate-themed gym in a terrible neighborhood), clearing out tunnels (Savannah’s 18th century tunnels that are filled with trash and rats. Tunnels that, for some reason, my men and I are expected to clean out), and working as bouncers at Rage of Angels (the most violent strip club in the city). None of which leaves a lot of free time.

So, yeah. My excuse for joining this challenge is the fact that I haven’t slept in months. Oh. There’s also the truth that Zack, despite being a good guy, becomes insufferable when it comes to cooking. On the nights we’re assigned to make dinner for everyone in the unit, it’s never good enough for Zack. It’s burned. Or too cold. Or not spicy enough. Zack is the original grumpy old man when it comes to anything culinary, and I’m tired of his whining.

Annnnnnd, I have a secret. Although I’m known as the Hamburger Helper King (because that’s all I make on my assigned dinner nights), I’m actually a decent cook. Not great, but I can barbecue. And my signature dish? Bourbon Ribs. Think slow-braised ribs soaked in an awesome sauce of bourbon, coffee, brown sugar, mustard, bacon--yes, bacon–and a few other ingredients that are then put into the slow cooker. Once they’ve cooked there, I take them outside and grill them to perfection.

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I do have one concern, though. The judges. All of the judges are women (a girlfriend, three wives, one fiancee, one-maybe-two sisters, and a Nana) who are devoted to my buddies. Unfortunately, none of them are mine and I need to somehow get these women on my side. I was thinking about making a great dessert like Alex did last week, except none of the women ate his Boston Cream Pie. They were all worried about calories. Annoyed doesn’t even come close to describing Alex’s mood.

Sarah Munro’s Apple Cider Vinegar Curative

Nowadays everyone needs a little immune boost, and this traditional apple cider vinegar elixir is perfect for this season. It’s super cheap and easy to make. Between the vinegar, honey, lemon, and cinnamon, this curative (a traditional homemade medicine used to help cure disease) is packed with immune-boosting antivirals and antibacterials.

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Curatives and elixirs were popular during the 17th and 18th centuries, and Sarah Munro (the heroine and historian in ONE DARK WISH) dates this one back to Colonial times. Although some people added (and still add) a dash of cayenne pepper to this drink, I don’t. The pepper makes my throat itch so I leave it out. Otherwise, my family and I love and drink it from September – April. Although, this year, I may continue it through the summer as a preventive measure.

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Bourbon Burgers

When I started this blog series early in January, I (like everyone else in the world) had no idea how our world would change. And, also like everyone else, I had to make adjustments in my work and family life to accommodate all of these changes. But now that things are stable for now, I’m back to blogging and writing with occasional walks with the dogs to break up the day. Thank goodness spring is almost here. Except for some rain and wind, I’m grateful for the longer days and moments spent bringing the garden back to life.

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Since I’ve had to make so many changes so quickly, the next book in the Deadly Force series, a novella called LOVE’S LAST KISS, should be out this summer. A PROMISE AT MIDNIGHT, book 4 in the series, will be out in 2021. And my newest adventure, a southern gothic women’s fiction story, is in the works. I’m also redesigning the blog, and the type of content I provide, again. Thank you all for reading and sharing and commenting and reviewing–I so appreciate all of you and am so grateful for your support.

So today I’m resuming The Hungry {Romance} Writer’s Iron Rack’s Whiskey Challenge. It’s a cooking challenge, set up by Zack Tremaine (the hero of book 3 IN SEARCH OF TRUTH), where he’s asked his buddies (all ex-Green Berets) who help him run Iron Rack’s Gym in Savannah to come up with recipes where one of the main ingredients is whiskey or bourbon. Last time, Zack made Bread Pudding and Whiskey Sauce. And today his friend Alex Mitchell is taking the challenge to another level with his fabulous Bourbon Burgers.

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Alex Mitchell ~ “I’m not a joiner. Although I joined the army and became a Ranger, I’ve always fought against authority and those trying to control me. That’s probably why I ended up in Leedsville Military Correctional Facility–the army’s super secret, high-security prison. But that’s another story hopefully coming out next year.

Despite being a loner, especially since my release from prison a few weeks ago, I’ve agreed to meet Zack’s challenge. My decision was based on two things. First, my pride. You see, Zack doesn’t think I can cook. Of course, the only “cooking” I’ve ever done for him was when were in Ranger School together. But what he doesn’t know is that I do know how to cook. My mom taught me. So he’s gonna get a hell of a shock. Second, Zack is extremely arrogant when it comes to his culinary skills and I think it’s time someone took him down a few notches.

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While I have to admit that I enjoyed Zack’s Bread Pudding and Whiskey Sauce, I know my other competition. Ty couldn’t pour milk over cereal and Cain’s only advantage is his wife Charlotte is one of the judges. But I’m pretty sure, from what I’m hearing from the other wives/fiancees/girlfriends, that Charlotte does ALL of the cooking in that household.

I’m also getting to know our judges: the few women in the world that have chosen to love the men I’m living and working with. It’s a small number including Juliet (Rafe’s wife), Sarah (Nate’s wife), Charlotte (Cain’s wife), Samantha (Pete’s girlfriend) and Allison (Zack’s fiancee). Vane may get his Nana to come into town and Calum is trying to bribe his twin sister Carina to judge. I don’t know any of these women well enough yet, but I’m also making my Boston cream pie for dessert. That should sway the votes in my favor.

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I’d love it if Allison asked her best friend Maddie Ashton to come to our barbecue, but I’m not going to bring it up. I’m not that desperate and I don’t want to scare her off. This event is being held in the back patio of Iron Rack’s Gym which is, not surprisingly, as rundown as the gym. I’ve picked up the garbage, watered the lonely palmetto, and trimmed the only azalea. But the broken flagstone and rusted metal chairs wouldn’t make the best impression. Although Allison did help me set up some picnic tables with red and white paper tablecloths. I think she felt sorry for me, and I let her. I need all the bonus points I can get.

Speaking of bonus points, Calum Prioleau–a buddy of ours who owns the gym–helped me score some cigars for my buddies. And Detective Garza is lending me his smartphone (because all I have is a cheap burner phone) so we can play some music. It won’t be as cool and retro as Zack’s turntable, but he hid that so no one else can use it. All in all, I think I have a decent chance at winning this thing. Especially since my Bourbon Burgers are the best there’s ever been.

Sarah Munro’s Fermented Garlic

At the first moment when you feel like you could be coming down with something, eat 2-3 cloves of fermented raw garlic per day until you feel better.

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I know it sounds strange, but fermented garlic has antiviral properties and can help support the immune system. As Sarah Munro (the heroine in ONE DARK WISH) discovered while researching 17th and 18th century remedies, fermented raw garlic has been used for centuries to help reduce the length of rhinoviruses and common influenzas. Luckily, this recipe has a sweet taste and is easy to eat. The only downside is at bit of bad breath. But if you’re sick, you’re hopefully not kissing those around you!

Sarah Munro’s Calming Bath Tea

Baths are a universal source of relaxation and pleasure. But baths also can be therapeutic when you have sore muscles, itchy skin, or even a cold or the flu. According to Sarah Munro’s (Sarah is the heroine in ONE DARK WISH, the second book in my Deadly Force series) research, bath teas were used often during the 17th and 18th centuries when other herbal remedies proved ineffective.

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Since most people had gardens and saved their herbs for the wintertime, almost everyone had access to bath teas. The hardest part was heating the bath water! I often think about that as I sink into my tub and add more hot water at will. I hope you enjoy this bath tea and feel free to substitute any other herbs you prefer.

Sarah Munro’s Calming Bath Tea



Ingredients:



1 cup dried lavender*1 cup dried rose petals*1 cup dried chamomile leaves*1 cup dried calendula leaves*



Directions:

Combine the four cups of dried flowers and put into an airtight container. This will make 4-5 baths and lasts for months, as long as it’s kept cool and airtight.

Carefully spoon 3/4 cup of the dried bath tea blend into a muslin bag and tie it closed. On the stove, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Turn off the water and drop in the muslin bag filled with herbs. Steep for 30 minutes. Fill the tub and pour in the pot of steeped water including the muslin bag. Enjoy your bath!

*Note: The dried herbs, muslin bags, and air-tight containers can all be found at Amazon and at most health food stores.

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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 .

Her bestselling debut book  EVERY DEEP DESIRE,  a sexy, action-packed retelling of  Romeo and Juliet,  is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife. It’s available at:   Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iBooks  |  IndieBound |  Kobo |   Google  |  Books-a-Million  |  Audible

Her second book,  ONE DARK WISH , a passionate redemption of Othello with a HEA, is about an ex-Green Beret who must give up the woman he loves in order to redeem his honor and save the life of his men. It’s available at:  Amazon  |   Barnes & Noble  |  Books-a-Million  |  iBooks  |   Google  |  Kobo  | IndieBound  |  Audible

Her third book, IN SEARCH OF TRUTH, is about an ex-Green Beret desperate to win back the woman he loves and save the men he betrayed, even if he must make the greatest sacrifice. It’s available for preorder now and comes out February 25, 2020.

You can preorder IN SEARCH OF TRUTH here: Amazon

The post Sarah Munro’s Calming Bath Tea appeared first on Sharon Wray.