Sharon Wray's Blog, page 83

Hearts to You Romance Appreciation Luncheon

Summer is almost over and in romance novel world, that means one thing! It’s almost time for the Annual Romance Appreciation Lunch in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia.

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There’s always a line-up of wonderful authors, a lovely meal, and tons of door prizes and giveaways. While the author list is still being selected, the reader seats are going fast. So if you’re free October 13, 2019, come have lunch with us. We promise you won’t be disappointed!!

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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 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 acclaimed 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.

Her second book, ONE DARK WISH, will come out September 24, 2019 and is available for preorder here: Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google

 EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo|  Google

The post Hearts to You Romance Appreciation Luncheon appeared first on Sharon Wray.

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Breaded Grouper

I can’t believe how quickly August is flying by! Today we’re on the next chapter of Pops Montfort’s dinner out on the Isle of Grace and it’s time to serve the main dish: Breaded Grouper. Of course Pops got up early to go fishing so dinner is as fresh as fish could be!

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Pops Montfort ~ “We’re eating outside, near the barn, and it’s almost dark. My son Rafe has lit candles, Juliet has poured the prosecco, and my other son Philip is helping me plate the dinner. So far the Whole Wheat Molasses Bread and the Corn Souffle have been huge hits, and I’ve no doubt they’ll love this grouper as well. I caught the fish this morning so it couldn’t be fresher.

Once we’re all seated again, Rafe continues his story about when he worked as a Fianna assassin for a man named the Prince. While I’m sure Rafe is censoring what he’s sharing, the part about getting into a fight with three men with whips and swords in Istanbul is making us all laugh. It’s funny because he and his buddy had high-powered weapons that didn’t work and they had to swing them like baseball bats just to get out of the bazaar.

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I’ve no doubt the harrowing life Rafe lived during those eight years he was gone has taken its toll. The things Rafe has seen and done would destroy most men. But as I watch Rafe take Juliet’s hand and kiss it, just after he makes her laugh with a story about two monkeys who saved his life in that Turkish bazaar, I realize something. I always thought Rafe survived that life as a Fianna assassin simply to return to Juliet. But I think it’s more basic than that. I believe Rafe survived the Fianna, and was able to fight his way home, because of Juliet.

Rafe always believed she’d never stopped loving him. I’m now convinced that that profound truth–that Juliet has always loved him completely–is why Rafe returned home. Her love gave him the courage not to give up when other men would have. I will always be grateful to my beautiful daughter-in-law for her own strength and bravery. It would’ve been so easy for her to turn her back on Rafe, yet her ability to forgive has given all of us the most incredible gift. She’s given us back our family. I will always be grateful.”

The Hungry {Romance) Writer: Breaded Grouper

I had this dish over twenty years ago at a restaurant outside of Savannah, GA and recreated it the best I could. I love it and serve it often to company whenever I can get the fresh fish. If you use frozen fish, defrost thoroughly first and pat dry with paper towels or the fish will come out too soft.

20 minPrep Time

12 minCook Time

32 minTotal Time

Yields 2-4 servings

Author:


Sharon Wray

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Ingredients

Vegetable cooking spray1 cup panko bread crumbs1/2 teaspoon dried thyme1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram1 teaspoon sea salt1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepperdash of paprika1 pound grouper filets (cleaned and deboned)1 Tablespoon unsalted butter1 small onion, diceddash of garlic powder1 cup white wine1/2 cup cooked crabmeat

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray lightly with vegetable oil.On a large plate combine the bread crumbs, thyme, marjoram, salt, pepper and paprika.Dredge fish in the bread crumb mixture and place on baking sheet.Bake until cooked through, about 12 minutes. At six minutes, turn the fish over. Start watching at 10 minutes for doneness.While fish bakes, melt the butter and saute the onions until soft and tender. Add in the dash of garlic powder and the white wine. Simmer sauce for 2 minutes, stirring often. Add the crabmeat and stir gently for another 3-4 minutes until crabmeat is heated. Add salt and pepper to taste.Serve sauce on top of the breaded grouper.7.8.1.2106http://sharonwray.com/the-hungry-writer/the-hungry-romance-writer-breaded-grouper/

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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 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 acclaimed 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.

Her second book, ONE DARK WISH, will come out September 24, 2019 and is available for preorder here: Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google

 EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo|  Google

The post The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Breaded Grouper appeared first on Sharon Wray.

Sarah Munro’s Botanical Cucumber Facial Mask

Sarah Munro, the heroine in ONE DARK WISH–the next book in my Deadly Force series–is a historian who specializes in 17th century pirate history. Especially those pirates who plagued the southern colonial coastline from the Carolinas down to the Caribbean. This research brings her in direct conflict with the hero, ex-Green Beret Nate Walker.

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But before she meets Nate and the arms dealer who tries to destroy her life, she had a hobby–herbal remedies. One of the things Sarah has been studying from this time period is Rebecca Prioleau, a sixteen year old girl, who was accused of witchcraft and murdered in 1699. This witchcraft accusation, while totally bogus, was backed up by the fact that she known as a healer.

Over the years, while trying to redeem this unfortunate girl’s fate, Sarah has collected and updated Rebecca’s botanical recipes. And for the past few weeks, in anticipation of Sarah’s book coming out, I’ve been sharing them here on the blog. I’ve included recipes such as Sarah’s Soothing Salve and Lemon Ginger Tea.

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Today’s recipe is a Botanical Cucumber Facial Mask. It uses few all-natural ingredients and is super easy to make and use.

Botanial Cucumber Facial Mask



Ingredients:



1 medium cucumber, peeled and seeded4 Tablespoons refined coconut milk fat*1 ounce aloe vera gel



Directions:



Puree the peeled and seeded cucumber in the blender until smooth.Put the coconut milk fat* into a small glass bowl and stir in the cucumber puree. Add in the aloe vera gel.If mixture is too soft, place in the refrigerator for fifteen minutes. Then spread on face and neck for 20 minutes. Wash off with a warm cloth. If you have any leftover, it will keep in a sealed glass jar in the fridge for up to two weeks.*One of the easiest ways to find refined coconut milk fat is to buy a can of refined coconut milk and refrigerate it for a few days. Once it’s thoroughly chilled, cup open the top with a can opener and scoop out the fat which has solidified on top of the liquid. You can still use the milk in other recipes that allow for skimmed milk.

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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 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 acclaimed 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.

Her second book, ONE DARK WISH, will come out September 24, 2019 and is available for preorder here: Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google

 EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo|  Google

The post Sarah Munro’s Botanical Cucumber Facial Mask appeared first on Sharon Wray.

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Corn Soufflé

It’s the third week of Pops Montfort’s dinner out on the Isle of Grace. Last week he prepared the Whole Wheat Molasses Bread while his sons Rafe and Philip, as well as his daughter-in-law Juliet, went swimming in the nearby river. But now that everyone is back at Pops’s place, they’re starving. And I think he’s just about to take the Corn Soufflé out of the oven.

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Pops Montfort ~ “Hi, ya’ll. It’s been a busy time here this evening. My sons and daughter-in-law decided to go swimming while the bread baked, but now they’re back and changing in the bedrooms. The sun is going down and, despite that fact it’s August, the Isle of Grace is cooling down a bit. Although unusual for this time of year, the breeze off the water sometimes drops the temp here faster than in the city of Savannah.

While Juliet finds blankets so we can still eat outside, I’m taking the Whole Wheat Molasses Bread out of the oven, as well as the Corn Soufflé. This soufflé is one of my summer favorites. It uses the freshest corn I can find and is baked with cottage cheese and an egg white meringue. It’s the perfect side dish to the grouper I caught just this morning.

I hear my sons voices and, as usual, I’m not sure if they’re happy spending time together or annoying each other. But it doesn’t matter. We’re all together again. That’s what’s important.

Juliet has just appeared with a few sunflowers she found near the barn, and now I’m off to find her the vase my late wife always used for her wildflowers. I have few regrets about my life, but I do wish my wife was here to see her family together again. For so many years we both worried that our sons would never know happiness. And if she were here I know she’d be proud of all of them, just like I am. Look at me getting maudlin. I’m cranky, but never maudlin.

I hand Juliet the vase and go back to the stove. The soufflé is perfect and it’s now time to eat.”

The Hungry {Romance) Writer: Corn Souffle

Years ago I found this recipe at a local pick-your-own farm and have made it--and altered it--more times than I can count. I usually use whole milk and whole milk cottage cheese, but you can substitute lower fat ingredients. I also took out the salt since the cottage cheese had enough salt to flavor the entire dish. This soufflé is great the next day, but doesn't last much longer than that since the solids begin to separate. It does need to be served hot from the oven and goes great with BBQ meats and fried fish. I almost always use fresh corn in this recipe, although you can use canned and frozen as well.

30 minPrep Time

30 minCook Time

1 hrTotal Time

Yields 4-8 servings

Author:


Sharon Wray

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Ingredients

Cooking oil spray1 cup milk1/2 cup cottage cheese1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese3 Tablespoons flour2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin olive oil1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg3 egg yolks1 1/2 cups cooked corn kernels (If using canned, drain the corn. If using frozen, defrost first.)4 egg whites

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.Spray a 1 1/2 quart baking dish (with at least 3" high sides) with cooking oil.In a medium bowl, blend together the milk, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, flour, oil, pepper and nutmeg.Transfer egg/milk mixture to a medium saucepan and heat gently for four minutes. Stir continuously. (do not walk away from the stove or it will burn!)Remove the egg/milk mixture from the heat and stir in the egg yolks. Beat quickly and then add in the corn.In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff.Pour one third of the cooked milk/egg mixture into the whites and blend.Very, very gently, fold in the rest of the cooked milk/egg mixture. Stir gently until it all forms a lumpy batter.Pour batter into the baking dish. Using a sharp knife, cut a circle into the top of the souffle, leaving a 1" border around the edge.Bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned and puffy.Serve immediately.7.8.1.2105http://sharonwray.com/the-hungry-writer/the-hungry-romance-writer-corn-souffle/

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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 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 acclaimed 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.

Her second book, ONE DARK WISH, will come out September 24, 2019 and is available for preorder here: Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google

 EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo|  Google

The post The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Corn Soufflé appeared first on Sharon Wray.

Bookstore Romance Day!

This Saturday, August 17, 2019, is Bookstore Romance Day! And I’ll be celebrating at the Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, VA.

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There will be snacks, games, photo booths, fun, and of course books!!! I’ll be signing EVERY DEEP DESIRE, the first book in my Deadly Force Series and talking about ONE DARK WISH, the second book in the series that comes out in September. There may even be swag and an ARC of ONE DARK WISH available!

So if you’re in the area, I’d love to meet you in person. What better way to spend a summer day than celebrating Happily Ever Afters!

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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 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 acclaimed 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.

Her second book, ONE DARK WISH, will come out September 24, 2019 and is available for preorder here: Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google

 EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo|  Google

The post Bookstore Romance Day! appeared first on Sharon Wray.

Sarah Munro’s Lemon Ginger Tea

In my upcoming release ONE DARK WISH, the heroine Sarah Munro is an 18th century historian searching for the truth behind why Rebecca Prioleau, a 16-year-old Puritan girl, was accused of witchcraft and murdered in Savannah, GA in 1699. Unfortunately, this search attracts the attention of a savage arms dealer and the leader of the Fianna, a mysterious group of assassins. Her interest in Rebecca’s murder also brings her in contact with the hero, ex-Green Beret Nate Walker.

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While Sarah and Nate race against time to solve the mystery of this young girl’s murder and to save Nate’s men (a group of disgraced ex-Green Berets desperate to regain their honor), they fall in love. It is a romance, after all!

Before the story starts, Sarah has spent years studying Rebecca Prioleau and one of the things she discovered is that Rebecca was considered a healer. In order to get to know Rebecca better, Sarah collected as many of Rebecca’s recipes and recreated them for her own personal use.

In this blog space, I’m sharing Sarah’s herbal recipes with you. Last week I posted Sarah’s Soothing Salve and today it’s an immunity-boosting Lemon Ginger Tea. This tea uses loose black tea leaves but you could also substitute green tea leaves or any other leaves of your choice. Including decaf.

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Whole Wheat Molasses Bread

It’s the second week of our dinner with Pops Montfort on the Isle of Grace, and he’s just about to take the bread out of the oven. Although Pops is a cranky ex-Marine who lives by himself in a trailer on the isolated sea island, he loves his two sons and his daughter-in-law. And he’s doing everything he can to make this a memorable night for his family.

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Pops Montfort ~ “The Tomato and Okra Soup was a hit (as I knew it would be) but there’s still so much daylight out that no one was ready for the next course. So my daughter-in-law Juliet went into the back fields to see if she could find any lingering blackberries while my two sons, Rafe and Philip, pulled out their old chess board.

Since the rest of the meal is ready to go, and now it sounds like they all want to go swimming in the creek before dinner, I decided to make Rafe’s favorite Whole Wheat Molasses Bread. I’ve no doubt that it’s been at least eight years since he’s tasted his momma’s bread recipe and I’m hoping it’ll remind him that coming home (in EVERY DEEP DESIRE) wasn’t just the hardest choice he’s had to make in his life, but the best as well.

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Juliet breezes in with a basket of warm berries although I suspect she’s eaten half of them on the way back to the trailer. She kisses me on the cheek and hurries into the bedroom to change into her bathing suit. I also hear Philip and Rafe arguing about who won chess the last time they played, and I slip the bread into the oven. Then I smile. I honestly can’t remember the last time I was this happy. The hell we went through the past eight years, and then again in EVERY DEEP DESIRE was so worth it. My family has reunited and in a few hours we’re going to break bread together. Our family’s story has been a blessing indeed.

There is one dark shadow in all of this. ONE DARK WISH, the second book in the series about Rafe’s buddy Nate Walker, is coming out in a few weeks (September 24, 2019). And knowing how these stories go, it will be a wild ride of action and suspense and love. I just hope we all survive.”

The Hungry {Romance) Writer: Whole Wheat Molasses Bread

This recipe is more involved than the other things I make, but it was my father's recipe and I absolutely love it. The taste of the molasses and whole wheat, especially when served with soft butter, is indescribable. The other great thing about this recipe is that it makes 2 loaves and freezes beautifully for up to six months. So you can serve one loaf hot from the oven and save the other for another day.

3 hr, 45 Prep Time

35 minCook Time

4 hr, 20 Total Time

Yields 2 loaves

Author:


Sharon Wray

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Ingredients

2 3/4 cups whole wheat flour1 1/2 - 2 cups unbleached flour2 packages active dry yeast2 Tablespoons caraway seeds1 3/4 cup water1/2 cup dark molasses1/4 cup packed brown sugar2 Tablespoons shortening1 Tablespoon sea saltSpray oil (like Pam)

Instructions

Lightly spray a large bowl with oil. Set aside.In a large mixing bowl (I use a Kitchen Aid Mixer), combine whole wheat flour, 1 cup of the unbleached flour, yeast, and caraway seeds.In a small saucepan, heat water, molasses, brown sugar, shortening, and salt until warm, stirring to melt. (do not let it go above 120 degrees F)Add melted sugar mixture to dry mixture in mixing bowl.Using an electric mixer, beat at low speed for one minute, scraping the sides of the bowl constantly. On high speed, beat for three more minutes.By hand, stir in enough of the remaining unbleached flour to make a stiff dough. Turn it onto a lightly floured counter and knead dough until smooth, about 6-8 minutes. Shape into a ball and place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the dough ball.Cover and let rise until almost double in size, 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Keep away from drafts!Once dough has risen, punch down and divide into two round loaves. Cover loosely with a damp towel and let the dough rest for 15 minutes.Shape dough balls into slightly flattened 6-inch round loaves and place onto a lightly greased baking sheet. Cover with a dry towel and let rise 45 minutes - 1 hour, until doubled.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.Bake loaves in warmed oven for 30-35 minutes, until browned. For a chewier crust, brush each loaf with warm water a few times during the last 10 minutes of baking.Remove from oven and immediately transfer bread to cooling racks.

Notes

To freeze, let the loaves cool completely and then store in zippered freezer bags. Can be frozen for up to six months. To defrost, take out of freezer and put in the refrigerator overnight. Then allow bread to finish defrosting on the kitchen counter, at least another 4 hours.

7.8.1.2104http://sharonwray.com/the-hungry-writer/the-hungry-romance-writer-whole-wheat-molasses-bread/

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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 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 acclaimed 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.

Her second book, ONE DARK WISH, will come out September 24, 2019 and is available for preorder here: Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google

 EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo|  Google

The post The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Whole Wheat Molasses Bread appeared first on Sharon Wray.

Sarah Munro’s Soothing Burn Salve

IT’S SO HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE BOOK I WROTE LAST YEAR, ONE DARK WISH, WILL BE ON SALE ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2019. IT’S LESS THAN TWO MONTHS UNTIL THE SECOND BOOK IN THE DEADLY FORCE SERIES COMES OUT!



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In this romantic suspense story about an ex-Green Beret desperate to regain his honor, Nate Walker meets his beautiful-yet-stubborn heroine Sarah Munro. Sarah, a renowned historian determined to save her faltering career, is looking for proof that a young woman accused of witchcraft in 1699 was innocent of murder.

While studying this young accused witch named Rebecca, Sarah discovered that Rebecca had been a practitioner of 17th century herbal remedies taught to her by the infamous 17th century healer Anne Capel. Sarah has not only spent years searching for proof exonerating Rebecca, but she’s also learned how to recreate many of Anne’s teas and salves.

After Sarah meets Nate, and sees that he suffers from migraines and was burned weeks earlier (in EVERY DEEP DESIRE), she offers him one of her herbal teas and rubs a soothing salve on his (naked!) arms.

In anticipation of ONE DARK WISH’s release, here is the recipe for Sarah’s soothing salve. This is not a medication, just a recipe for a homemade salve that has eased many mild sunburns on my children’s arms. And worked really well on Nate–so well that he fell in love with Sarah!

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SARAH’S SOOTHING SALVE

1/4 cup raw honey (for antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties)
1/4 cup unrefined coconut oil (stimulates collagen production)
1 teaspoon beeswax (for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties)
1 Tablespoon Sea Buckthorn oil (for Vitamin E)
1/2 teaspoon aloe vera gel (for pain relief)
Glass container with its own cover, such as a small mason jar with a lid.

Set up a double boiler and heat over the water using a low temperature.
Heat the beeswax, keeping the temperature low and steady. When the beeswax is melted, add in the coconut oil. Stir until both ingredients and melted and blended.
Stir in the honey and Sea Buckthorn oil. Whisk over the low heat until all the ingredients are well blended. This should take between 30 and 60 seconds.
Remove the pot from heat and place on a towel on the counter. add in the ale vera get and stir for another minute. Pour the salve into the glass container and let sit, uncovered, for 6-12 hours until fully harden.
Cover jar. When not in use, keep in a cool, dark cabinet.

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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 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 acclaimed 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.

Her second book, ONE DARK WISH, will come out September 24, 2019 and is available for preorder here: Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google

 EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo|  Google

The post Sarah Munro’s Soothing Burn Salve appeared first on Sharon Wray.

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Tomato and Okra Soup

This month, we’ve been invited to Pops Montfort’s home on the Isle of Grace, off the coast of Savannah, Georgia. Pops, the father of Rafe Montfort (the hero of EVERY DEEP DESIRE), lives in a double-wide trailer deep in the Isle of Grace and there’s an enormous barn out back.

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Since Rafe has returned (and won back his wife Juliet), he’s been trying to heal his difficult relationships with his father and his estranged brother Philip. To help fix the rift between the brothers, Pops has decided to make a meal for his sons and daughter-in-law. He’s set a table in the barn where the cross-breeze coming off the water blows through, and he’s done all of the cooking himself.

Pops comes across as old and cranky, but I know for a fact that he’s thrilled Rafe has come home and that Juliet is now a part of their lives again. Pops wants nothing more than to bring his family together and has decided the best way to do that is cook them all dinner. And yes, Pops did all the cooking himself!

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Pops Montfort ~ “When my son Rafe returned after having been gone for eight years, I almost didn’t believe it. If I hadn’t seen him for myself, with those tattoos all over his arms, I wouldn’t have. But now that Rafe is home, and has proved himself the man I always hoped he’d become, I’m determined to bring my family back together.

Philip, my youngest son, took Rafe’s disappearance and subsequent imprisonment hard. Things have been even harder since Rafe came home. But I know both of my sons want to heal their relationship and I’m determined to help them.

When I reached out to my daughter-in-law and told her about my idea, she was so happy she offered to help. So now she and Rafe, along with Philip, have come to the Isle for dinner. Juliet set up a table in the barn, complete with a tablecloth and flowers and tiny lights, and is serving homemade sweet lime iced tea. She has such a lovely way about her that despite both Rafe and Philip entering the room ready for a fight, they’re now laughing at her stories about the first time I took her fishing. (It didn’t work out so well for either of us, but we did have fun.)

For years I prayed my son Rafe would come home. And despite knowing the terrible things he’d done, he was still my son. And a father is nothing if he can’t forgive his sons.

As my grown sons laugh with Juliet, I serve my homemade Tomato and Okra Soup (from fresh vegetables from my garden). For the first time in eight years I realize that miracles really do happen, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Tomato and Okra Soup

This is an old recipe from my husband's family. I've made some adaptations over the years and taken out the crabmeat and corn. (That's another recipe!) It's the kind of recipe that's even better the next day. I've also used fresh tomato puree as well as canned, and they both work well. I also usually serve this with homemade cornbread muffins straight from the oven.

15 minPrep Time

3 hr, 15 Cook Time

3 hr, 30 Total Time

Yields 6-8 servings

Author:


Sharon Wray

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Ingredients

1 meaty ham bone4 cups fresh water4 cups tomato puree (canned or fresh)4 cups fresh okra, cut cross-wiseSea salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

In a large stockpot, boil the 4 cups of water. Add the ham bone.Lower the heat and simmer until meat falls off the bone. (about an hour, depending on heat)Add the tomato puree and cook for an hour.Add the okra and cook on low heat until tender, about 30 minutes)Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

Two 6-ounce packages of frozen okra can be substituted for the fresh.

7.8.1.2103http://sharonwray.com/the-hungry-writer/the-hungry-romance-writer-tomato-and-okra-soup/







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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 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 acclaimed 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.

Her second book, ONE DARK WISH, will come out September 24, 2019 and is available for preorder here: Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google

 EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo|  Google

The post The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Tomato and Okra Soup appeared first on Sharon Wray.

Travel Journals Record a Happy Life

​It’s summer and I’ve just completed almost twelve weeks of travel for work, family, and vacation. I’ve traveled to Blacksburg and Charlottesville in Virginia to pick up my kids from their colleges, Smithfield, VA—home of the Smithfield hams, Annapolis, MD for a Naval Academy graduation, New Orleans, Ireland, and New York City.

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It’s been fun and exhausting, but I’m so glad to be home. After I do the laundry and put away the suitcases, and take a nap, one of my favorite things to do is review my travel journal.

Whether or not I spend one night or ten in a place, I always record everything in my travel journal: names of hotels, restaurants, interesting sights, people I’ve talked to, random details and even doodles. While it can feel like work, when I get home I’m always so happy that I’ve kept a record of where I’ve been and how I felt and even what I ate.

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Here are a few reasons why I love keeping a travel journal:

1. I take a ton of photos and store them on a Google drive when I get home to eventually share on Social Media (I never post while I’m traveling. I’m too paranoid). But when I get home, I print out my favorites and stick them into my journal. After each day, I always keep a few pages blank specifically for my photos. Sometimes I also add things like pressed flowers from a New Orleans courtyard, a napkin from an Irish tea shop, or a ticket to see the D-Day Memorial in Virginia. I even have a cocktail napkin from the highest bar in NYC!

2. I always record my day, including where I’ve stayed and eaten. I describe places I’ve seen and the people I’ve met. I try to include obscure details like strange smells and unusual foods—things I know I’ll forget once I’m home.

3. I love to sketch, even though I’m horrible at it, and it’s a fun way to keep my memories. Once I’m done with my doodles, I ask my kids to identify what I’ve drawn and write down in the journal what they think they see. They’re never right, but it’s always fun to be mocked by the young.

4. The other thing I love about having a journal is that I never mind eating alone. Once I’m served, I sit and observe and write the world around me.

5. Although I record my day, I also keep notes on the people I’ve met. Most people don’t carry business cards so I track names, numbers, and people with whom I’d like to stay in touch.

6. Keeping a journal gives me a complete, detailed itinerary of our trip I can share with others who are planning their own trip. I’ve also used my diaries when I’ve revisited cities years later to remind me of things I liked and didn’t like.

7. I always leave space for to-do lists for things I need to remember while I’m traveling such as buy day-of theater tickets or next-day museum tickets or make dinner reservations in the next city. It’s amazing what you can forget while traveling.

8. Since I’m always talking to people when I travel, I keep a separate section of the journal for must-dos. Things that aren’t on my itinerary or in my guide book that I learn about from others and decide to see. I even track things that will inspire me to take a future trip to a new place.

9. I write down all of my financial transactions. Although I keep my receipts, I still keep a running tab of every expense and ATM withdrawal, as well as the daily exchange rates. That way there are no surprises when I get home and open my credit card bill! I also keep track of things I buy that I may have to list for U.S. Customs (depending on the country I’m in).

10. Most important, don’t write in your journal as if others are going to read it. Be as irreverent, funny, whiny as you want. Years later, you will appreciate your own candor!

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Tips for travel journals:

Keep it small, light-weight, and with a soft cover.
A journal with lined paper makes things easier.
Carry a few pens that write well. Add in a charcoal pencil for drawings.
Bring a glue stick to add in ticket stubs and random Polaroid photos.
Don’t worry about getting it wet or covered in sunscreen. The point is to record your real life—the things that really happened—not create some fake trip you think others will enjoy hearing about.

This journal is for you, your kids, and grandkids. It’s supposed to be messy, imperfect, and fun. It’s a record of where you went, the things you’ve seen, and the kind of life you’ve lived. It’s a record of who you were and how and why you became the person you were meant to be!

I hope you all have a safe summer and happy travels!

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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 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 acclaimed 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.

Her second book, ONE DARK WISH, will come out September 24, 2019 and is available for preorder here: Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks |  Google

 EVERY DEEP DESIRE is available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound| Kobo|  Google

The post Travel Journals Record a Happy Life appeared first on Sharon Wray.