Jean C. Joachim's Blog: Stories of Love and Passion, page 55

Tuesday Tales - Flowers

Welcome and thank you for visiting. Tuesday Tales - word prompt is flowers of your choice.  I chose lilacs. This is a snippet from my WIP called, "If I Loved You". Megan had her first business dinner with devastatingly handsome movie star, Chas Duncan.
Tuesday night, Megan kept Andy, they worked until nine o’clock to get the plan perfect for Chaz the next day. She dragged herself home, exhausted. After tossing her keys in the silver bowl, Megan toed off her shoes, removed her jacket and padded into the kitchen for a glass of wine. She carried the wine back to the living room as she checked her cell phone. Five messages from Penny. She dialed her sister-in-law.
Add caption“What’s up?” Megan plopped down on the sofa, stifling a yawn.“Tomorrow is your second date with Chaz. Figured we needed to talk about what you’re wearing.”“It’s business, Penny. I’ll be wearing one of the new suits we bought together. Remember those?”“And what top? Which earrings? Are you wearing a scarf? Don’t forget the new perfume.”“Lilacs? I know. I bought a small bottle to keep in my desk.”“Good girl! You’re getting it. You never told me how your date…er, your first dinner with Chaz went. Mark is watching game footage so I have time.”Megan put her feet up on the coffee table.“Nothing to tell. I closed the business, that’s all.”“Yeah, right, dinner with Chaz Duncan is nothing. Whenever you’ve clammed up about a guy before, I always knew it was because you liked him…a lot. So give.”“There’s nothing to tell. Just dinner, business talk and then he dropped me home.”“Baloney.”“Honestly…” Megan sat back on the sofa.“Not even a kiss goodnight?”There was silence.“I thought so. Come on…it’s me, Penny, here.”“Okay, okay, one kiss. When he said we had the business…” “One kiss?”“Maybe…two. Two…that’s all.” Megan closed her eyes.“Hmm. Two kisses? More than ‘thank you’ going on there.”Penny dissolved into giggles on the other end of the phone.“Oh and a screen kiss. But that doesn’t count because it’s not like a kiss at all.”“Really? Does it involve touching lips? Then it’s a kiss and it counts. Three. We’re up to three and counting.”“That's absolutely everything.”
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FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY! SUNNY DAYS, MOONLIT NIGHTS

Welcome to my new venture, First Chapter Friday. Each Friday, I'll be featuring the first chapter of one of my books or the first chapter of a guest's book. 
Let's begin at the beginning, my 1st book: Sunny Days, Moonlit Nights

A bit about the book
Do you have someone in your past you would like to reconnect with?  Caroline Davis White wasn't looking for Mickey, now Mike Foster, her childhood crush, she was fleeing her philandering husband, seeking peace and quiet, time to reflect on changing her life. But there was Mike, saving her from a mishap...again, bigger than life and even more handsome. 

A well-known artist, Sunny thought she could escape, disappear back to the cabin where she spent her summers as a child. But she was wrong. Her husband refused to let her go. There hadn't been a divorce in Brad White's family...ever! And he wasn't about to start breaking that tradition now.  Could Caroline shake him loose and what about Mike? Where did he fit into her life?

Heat level: Sweet
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Tuesday Tales - Prompt "Car"

Here is a snippet of my WIP, "If I Loved You". Chaz Duncan, a well-known movie star and Megan Davis, his financial advisor are leaving a posh French restaurant after a business dinner.  She saw color creep up his neck for the first time and it made her smile. Suddenly, he didn’t seem to be Chaz Duncan, movie star, just an embarrassed, lonely guy looking for a woman, a woman he could trust. That’s me. Trustworthy as hell…. “I’m trustworthy,” she blurted out.What am I saying?“Are you applying for the position?”  She saw the gleam of humor mix with a hint of desire in his eyes.“Oh no…no, I didn’t mean to imply…no, absolutely not. No sirree…nope.”“You don’t have to be insulting about it. I’m told being my bedmate isn’t at all bad.”“I didn’t mean to imply…” Megan stopped speaking when she realized she was only digging herself in deeper.“Open mouth, insert foot?”She nodded and smiled.  “Could you get the check, please?”“Of course.”Jean Pierre appeared two minutes later and Chaz requested the check. Megan fumbled in her purse, looking for her American Express card but Chaz had his ready.“This is business. Let Dillon and Weed treat you to dinner.”“I never let a woman pay.” Chas placed his card on the table.“I’m not a woman. Think of me as Harvey Dillon.”“You have many assets old Harvey doesn’t. I insist.”“I’ll get in trouble with Mr. Dillon if you pay.” Satisfied she finally outsmarted him, she smiled and sat back.Chaz sat thinking for a moment.“In that case…must I call you Harvey?” He put his American Express card back in his wallet. Megan laughed out loud. Before he put it away, she peeked at the wallet, looking for the telltale ring, the outline of a condom, but didn’t see one. Maybe he was telling the truth…he doesn’t sleep with groupies. As they put on their coats, Megan could see Chaz’s shoulders rise a tad, his body stiffen slightly as they prepared to go out into the world again. The price of fame. Loss of privacy. Seven million bucks doesn’t come without some consequence.He picked up his cell phone and pressed a button.“Ready.” He slipped his phone into his back pocket and took her elbow, guiding her to the front door.“The car will pick us up in a minute and I’ll drop you home. Where do you live?” BACK TO TUESDAY TALES!









NEW RELEASE TODAY!!   NOW AND FOREVER 3, BLIND LOVE

Available at: Secret Cravings Publishing

Interview with Willa Edwards!

INTERVIEW WITH WILLA EDWARDS!
[image error] How old were you when you knew you wanted to become a writer?I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was four years old, way before I realized what it really meant. Though I have had different periods where I didn’t write as much, I’ve never stopped writing entirely. Writing and stories have always been a part of my lifeWhat genre do you write?I write romance. I started out with contemporaries, and I love them dearly, but I’m starting to move into a few other directions this year. I have one historical release, Serving Madame, and another one about to be subbed to publishers, Wandering Off the Path, and I have my first paranormal currently in drafting stages that I’m hoping to have done some time this year. I think trying new things and continuing to grow is very important for a writer. I don’t ever want to get stale or stagnate in one genre. I like to read every genre, it stands to reason I’d like to write several too.Are you a plotter or a pantser?Pantser all the way. I tried doing outlines when I was a younger writer and every time I got bored. I want to be surprised and enraptured by the story while I’m writing it, as much as the readers will be. I often think of myself as the first reader of the story, who desperately wants to see how it all works out.Do your characters ever take over when you’re writing?My characters definitely take over when I’m writing, all too varying degrees. Sometimes it’s just in small ways but other times it’s in large ways. With my newest release, Serving Madame, the whole story I was trying to steer it another way, to a short faster story, but Madame wasn’t having it. I can’t say I’m upset with her, after how it turned out, but it definitely isn’t what I planned when I sat down at the computer. But what Madame wants, Madame gets. Have you ever gotten a story idea from a news story?I tend to watch a lot of news, but I did have one story, Snow Day, inspired by the October snowstorm we had here in the Northeast, which was definitely news worthy. I usually get inspired by human interest stories, by people’s dedication and heart, rather than straight news.Would you like to be any of your heroines? I’d like to be most of my heroines. After all they get the guy, and sometimes more than one. I’m still looking for my own prince charming. And they usually are more coordinated then me, that is, except for Amy from Foolish Desire, who’s just as awkward and bumbling and shy as I am. That’s one of the reason I love her so much. I think everyone can relate to saying the wrong thing at the wrong time like she does, or tripping and falling in front of the cute guy. Would you marry any of your heroes?I’d marry all of them. I write really good guys, and while I’m writing I always fall in love with them a little bit. If I didn’t, I’d never be able to understand how the heroine could fall in love with them. Probably the one I’m most in love with is Wolf, from a completed work I’m currently shopping around for a publisher entitled Wandering off the path. He’s dark, dominate and had a really caring heart underneath. He’s the ultimate alpha, and isn’t afraid to take what he wants. That’s really sexy in a guy.Do you do a lot of editing before you submit a manuscript?I do tons of editing, it’s definitely not my strong suit. I go through my manuscript at least three times before I send it to a critique partner and then I usually go through it twice more after I get it back from them. I want it to be as good as possible before it goes to the publisher, that way they can work on the important stuff, instead of little details like the wrong name or incorrect words. But that’s not to say that I don’t have plenty of editing to do after the publisher picks it up. The editing never ends for me until it’s published. [image error]
Now some personal questions Chocolate or vanilla?Vanilla, it’s so adaptable, you can add sprinkles, fudge, maple syrup or root beer (man I’m getting hungry). But I’ve never turned down some chocolate either.Do you listen to music when you write? What do you listen to?I watch a lot of television while I write. I like the sound of people talking and interacting over music while I write. But music is good too. Favorite color?PurpleBlack, white or gray?Gray. Favorite ice cream flavor?I was raised in Vermont, so I’m all about Ben and Jerry’s. I really like peanut butter cup, and phish food. I also love coffee ice cream. Favorite line of description from one of your books.This section comes from my first historical and lesbian romance, Serving Madame. It describes Ada helping to undress her mistress. But of course, this is only the beginning…Madame’s soft, never-seen-the-sun skin rippled beneath the weight of her corset. Each breath pushed her amble breasts up against the low neck. Fingers, only a shade darker than the white petticoats covering her curves, pulled at the ties keeping on the heavy embroidered gown. The lacy cuff hanging down from a three quarter sleeve brushed her bosom. Ada’s heart fluttered at the sight.Favorite dialogue from one of your books.This section comes from Heart’s Ultimatum but features Mallory, Gabe and Lincoln from Midnight Mirage that are trying to help Krista out with a problem. I’ve always loved the dynamic in this section.“I’ll beat you senseless if you say anything to upset her.” Krista’s heart lightened a fraction at the stern, protective tone of Mal’s voice.“Don’t threaten us, sweetheart.” Another husky, deep voice sounded farther away from the phone, so commanding and powerful that Krista could tell instantly it was Lincoln beside Mal. “We all know the only one who’s getting their ass paddled around here is you.”Dog or cat?I have cats now, two little babies that I love dearly, but I like dogs too. I guess I come down on the side of cats, since you don’t have to stop writing to take them outside.Country or city?Definitely Country. The city is fun to visit but I like having space and lots of green.Beach or mountains?Mountains. Never been a big fan of that ocean smell.Skirts or pants?Pants. I always pick comfort.Early morning or late night?I’m a night owl through and through.Cruise in the Caribbean or camping in Yellowstone National Park?Definitely camping (though I’d prefer a nice hotel). I did take a cruise on the Caribbean once with my family and it was miserable, my frail Irish skin couldn’t take it and I spent most of the time inside and burnt to a crisp. Not my idea of a fun vacation. Now if Orlando Bloom promised to show up, I’d risk the burn.Here’s a little taste of one of my new releases, Snow Day. I hope you enjoy it.BlurbMichaela is thrilled to get home after the tense drive from work on the snow covered highway. And she may be just a little bitter that her boyfriend and teacher, Ben, spent all day in bed, on a snow day from school. But she's relieved to be let out of work at least a few hours early. That is until she hears noises from her bedroom, that in no way resemble monster trucks or football announcements, and sound way too close another woman's moan. Michaela can't help but investigate. She never could have guessed what she finds in her bedroom would be just as stimulating to her as it is for Ben. With a little bit of sexy help, Michaela plans to show Ben exactly who he belongs too, and make him wish every day could be a snow day.ExcerptMichaela dropped her purse on the small cherry entranceway table. Slamming the door shut behind her to keep out the fierce chilly winds, she let out an exasperated sigh, enveloped by the warm heat.

“God, it’s good to be home,” she whispered into the empty mudroom.

She shucked off her jacket and scarf, thick with the moisture of melted snow. Her nerves still jangled from the slow, slick drive home from the plant. Everyone moved at a crawl, each one increasingly afraid of what could be under the thick, fluffy, white layer. Could it be black ice? Or slush? Anything could send their cars careening off the side of the road into the imposing bank. It was enough to set anyone on edge.

The whole ride she’d been petrified of the same thing, sliding off the road, getting stuck in any of the number of ditches and sloped banks beside the twenty-three miles of highway she drove each day home from work. Most days, the long stretch of highway appeared benign, lulling her into a hypnotic state till she reached her door, but today it had been ugly, angry, hungry, and malcontent.
Lucky Ben got to stay home today. He didn’t have to brave the roads at all, or worry about the possible risk of property, life, or limb. She should’ve listened to her mother and become a teacher. She could’ve been a good math teacher, found a school where Ben and she could both work, and spend their snow days at home, together.
They could have stood by the radio this morning, like kids, anxiously awaiting the name of their school to be called. Instead, she’d quickly slurped down her coffee, with no solid food to accompany it, and ran out the door, already late. They could’ve returned to bed together, as Ben no doubt had done after she left, instead of racing down the slick roads to arrive at her desk, before her boss noticed she’d appeared twenty minutes late.
“Ben, I’m home,” she called up the stairs, only to be met by silence. [image error] Buy Link:
Whiskey Creek Press

Find me Online: www.willaedwards.comOr my Blog: www.willaedwards.com/blogFind me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/willa.edwardsFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/willaedwards

TUESDAY TALES - PICTURE PROMPT

Picnic on the Beach
“That’s the surprise?” Caroline turned her gaze toward the four men on the dune.“I won them at the auction, a group date with the Farrell brothers.” Jenny sat back on her haunches, digging her toes in the sand.“When you said you had a ‘surprise’ for our picnic, I’d no idea…” Sue’s voice trailed off as her gaze traveled over the four handsome cowboys.“I think they’re looking for me. Be right back.” Jenny pushed to her feet, brushed sand off her bikini and made her way up the beach.“Let’s draw straws for first pick.” Mia gathered a few small sticks.“Maybe they want to pick us?” Sue raised her eyebrows.“I don’t care which one I get.” Caroline grinned.“Of course, Jenny gets first pick.” Mia said, her gaze drifting to the hunky cowboys.
****  
Jenny flipped her long blonde hair back over her right shoulder, a nervous habit. As she got closer to the men, she felt their stares sliding over her practically naked body like warm hands. She broke out in goose bumps. They’re all gorgeous.When she reached the dunes, the hunk in the ripped jeans tipped his hat to her.“Ma’am, Whit Farrell. You the lady who won us in the auction?”Jenny nodded.“I’m Jenny. I’ve got a picnic and three of my friends over there. Join us.” She pointed to the two colorful blankets laying on the sand and Caroline, Sue and Mia.“Not sure who won, here, Jenny. Those are three mighty fine lookin’ ladies over there.” Whit introduced his brothers to Jenny, then preceded her down the sand. He reached out to her. She gripped his strong, warm hand and glanced over her shoulder to the brothers following.Guess Whit picked me. She smiled.

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Interview with Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist turned Author and Screenwriter, Mark Ethridge

I met Mark Ethridge at my husband's Princeton University reunion. I write a movie review column for Carolina Parent's website, a newspaper Mark co-owns. When he told me about his book, Grievances, being turned into a movie, I got excited. This is the dream of all fiction writers.


This week, Mark rolled into town with the crew of the movie for a premiere. DH and I attended and met the director and some cast members. I wrote a review of the movie, Deadline, which I loved. When I discovered Mark and Curt, the director, met at a high school reunion and put this deal together, I knew there was a story in this you might want to read. Here's a bit from Mark about how it's done and what it feels like, from a writer's perspective.
INTERVIEW WITH MARK ETHRIDGE
1. You have won two Pulitzer Prizes, is the true story your book and movie are based on taken from one of those?
I played a key role in the The Charlotte Observer's  two Pulitzers for public service but they weren't for this story. One was for the PTL scandal involving Jimmy and Tammy Faye Bakker and the other was an investigation of the textile industry's handling of brown lung disease. 2. Since you've always written non-fiction, why did you decide to tell this story as fiction? Frankly, I am not interesting enough to be a protagonist like Matt Harper. Matt Harper incorporates many elements of my life but some are invented like the death of his brother. And the death of my father is accurately portrayed but it happened during a different investigation, not this one.  I wanted to write the best story, not the best history.

3. As a non-fiction writer, what was your biggest challenge writing your story as fiction? Was this your first foray into fiction? 

Remembering that it was okay to depart from the facts. My book editor would ask why I had written things a certain way and, at first, I would respond, "That's how it happened." He would remind me, "We don't care how it happened."

4. How did you feel about the editing process when your book was published? Jeff Kellogg improved Grievances enormously, as he did Fallout. I've learned much from him, as I have from Curt Hahn. They've always made my work better so I think they're terrific. Plus, we laugh a lot and have fun.     

5. Which do you like better, journalism or fiction writing?
Ha! That's like asking which of your children you like better.

  6. Did you have an agent to get the book published?Yes. Jeff Kellogg, who is also a great edftor. 

7. Did you use an agent to craft the movie deal or did you work it out with the director at your Exeter reunion?

Curt Hahn and I worked it out starting in Exeter and then at a meeting in Nashville. Jeff Kellogg was a good advisor in those discussions 

8. Where are you from originally, North or South?

Born in Winston-Salem, NC and have lived the last 40 years in Charlotte except for a post graduate fellowship at Harvard. But I also grew up on Long Island and in Michigan and went to school in New Hampshire and New Jersey. 

9. Why did you settle in Charlotte, was it because you found a job there first or like the region and then sought the job?

The latter. I was working in Boston after college and wanted to return to my roots 

10. It's increasingly unusual for the author of a book to write the screenplay when the book is made into a movie. Did you want to do that or did you do it to save money?

I wanted to and Curt Hahn, the director wanted me to. I was just delighted that they were willing to pay me to do it. 

11. Did you enjoy writing the screenplay? How was that different from writing the book?

I loved it for several reasons. It sharpened my writing skills. Screenplays are only 100 pages so every word counts. It gave my greater insights into character arcs and how to define them. And working with Curt Hahn as my coach was a truly wonderful collaborative experience. Writing a screenplay is very different from a booksbecause the camera does all the describing.

12. As the author of the book, you could choose what made it into the movie from the book, right?

The book author doesn't have much power in that area but the screenwriter does. Fortunately, I was both. Even then, the final decision is the director's

13. Did you cut much from the book when you turned it into a screenplay? Was it hard to pick what to keep and what to drop? Did the director play a part in that with you?

I love parts of the book that never made it into the movie, such as Mary Pell showing the reporters Wallace bedroom. But Curt and I have always been in agreement about what had to go and what needed to stay. 

14. Did you base your characters on anyone you know? Did they resemble the people from the original story?
Ronnie Bullock is based on a wonderful reporter at The Charlotte Observer named John York. He's now deceased. The managing editor, Walker Burns, is also modeled after a former colleague. Characters like Possum are very close to the people in real life.                   

15. Were you the junior reporter in the film? The Managing Editor? Both?
Matt Harper, the junior reporter.

16. In what ways has making this movie changed your life?

72 days on a movie tour bus is life-changing in itself. The best part has been getting to spend time with our audiences and reconnecting with friends night after night in 46 cities. 

17. Is your family supportive of you taking the book to a movie?

They love it. My wife and daughter appear as newsroom extras so they're pretty happy about it. 

18. What advice would you give budding fiction writers who want to turn their books into movies...besides attending Exeter, that is.

Study movies. Remember that stories are not about what happen, they're about what happen to people. 

19. How much real life from your life did you borrow for the book? Did you use that in the movie as well? 

Most first novels are necessarily autobiographical to some degree. You write what you know. 

20. Do you have plans to keep writing thrillers?

I want to tell good compelling stories that make people want to keep turning pages. That's my goal. Make them turn another page. It doesn't have to be a thriller 

21.Was working with the director sort of like working with an editor?

A very good inspiring editor. There are other kinds. 

22. What is the title of your new book? Do you play to make that into a movie as well?
Fallout is the story of a widowed weekly newspaperman and divorced physician in pursuit of an unimaginable danger that threatens their community. It's  journey through an Ohio River town’s myths, heroes and oddities, from Indian curses, to rat fishing to an alternative view of George Washington. Above all, Fallout is a story of corporate irresponsibility, of political self-interest and of a potential catastrophe that looms in most American cities.

DEADLINE   OPENS IN THE QUAD THEATER IN NYC ON APRIL 12, 2012. GO SEE IT 
COMING SOON TO BOSTON, PROVIDENCE, HARTFORD, RALEIGH, RICHMOND, NORFOLK, GREENSBORO, KNOXVILLE
OR WATCH FOR THE DVD, COMING SOON.                   

YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF...

 People ask me what it's like to be a writer. Here are 20 answers to that question:


1. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF...people ask you, "when are you going to get a real job?"


2. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF...the word "royalty" does not bring to mind either a king or queen 

3. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF..."sub" refers to neither a big underwater boat  nor a sandwich.


 4. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF...you have a dictionary in every room...including the bathroom.

5. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF...you claim people speak to you in your head and no one has carted you off to the asylum yet.







6. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF...stranded on a deserted island, you'll still have pen and paper on you.


7. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF...you know four or more synonyms for the word "pulled".


8. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF...you own three or more thesauruses.

9. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF...sometimes you love your characters more than your family.

10. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF...you obsess more about where to put a comma than where you put your keys.








11. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF...you're the only one you know who owns a rhyming dictionary.


12. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF... the word "edits" makes you nauseous.


13. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF...a "new release" isn't a sex act on a first date.


14. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF..."review" is a dirty word.


15. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF...you're happy spending most of your day alone.
  

16. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF...You have a dozen red pens in your desk but none in blue or black.


 





17. YOU MIGHT BE A
WRITER IF...you talk about your writing to your dog...and he answers!



18. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF...sometimes you love words more than people.



 19. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF..."pub" doesn't mean the local watering hole.

20. YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER IF..."freelance' isn't a euphemism for unemployed.


PLEASE ADD TO THIS LIST, I'D LOVE TO SEE YOUR COMMENTS.

Sweet Samples from "The Marriage List" & Recipe!

These snippets from my bestselling book, The Marriage List (only $.99) all involve the dinner Carrie was making for Grey. She was cooking Boeuf Bourguignon. Though she refused to give us her family's recipe, I managed to get one from The Food Network. The recipe for Beef Bourguinon follows the snippets. 

from The Marriage List
"Dinner here. Okay?" She chewed her lip.
"Your place?"
"I found an old recipe of my mom's and decided to make it. It's in the oven cooking now…smells great."
"Hmmm. What is it?"
"Boeuf Bourguinon."
"I'm impressed and salivating already."
"Keep your pants on, handsome…" Carrie smiled and sat back on the sofa, putting her feet up on the coffee table.
"What made you think…"
"Tuesday night?"
"I'm salivating in that department, too."
She laughed. "Are you assuming we'll…"
"Not assuming anything here…but a guy can hope, can't he?"
"Tomorrow will be our third date." Carrie picked up her wine glass and took a sip.
"Our fourth."
"The first one was business," she corrected him.
"That's what you think."
"It was a date? You didn't even kiss me goodnight!" She put her feet down and sat up.
"Checking you out before puckering up."
She laughed.
************************************
The Boeuf Bourguignon was in the oven, warming up. The aroma filled the apartment and seeped out from under the door, wafting down the stairs to fill the narrow hallways and tiny vestibule. The table was set with her best dishes, white with tiny butterflies and flowers in shades of lavender and light green. The small round table was covered with a lavender cloth to the floor, topped by a shorter one in darker purple layering the setting. The crystal wine and water glasses were shining and there was one silver candlestick with a light green candle perched in the middle of the table. Pretty romantic, he might get ideas. He's already got ideas, I have to make up my mind what I want to happen.
***********************************
As soon as he opened the wrought iron front door to the brownstone, Grey smelled the French stew cooking. I hope that's coming from Carrie's place. As he climbed the two flights of stairs, the aroma grew stronger and he felt his stomach rumble in response. He held an expensive bottle of red wine in one hand and a dozen red roses in the other.
***********************************
She arranged the roses he brought in a vase and put them on the coffee table, then stopped to give him a quick "thank you" kiss and returned to the kitchen. He stood in the living room looking around at the pieces of original artwork on her walls, each perfectly framed and artfully arranged, until he heard a scream, then a clatter. He ran into the kitchen to find Carrie clutching her hand, tears in her eyes.
"What happened?"
"Sometimes I forget…I picked up the pan without the mitt," she said.
Grey quickly and calmly reached into the freezer and grabbed a few pieces of ice. He took her hand, gently placed the ice on the burned skin and held it there with one hand. With the other, he took a small bowl out of the cabinet and filled it with cold water. Then he plunked the ice in the water and led her to the dinner table. She sat down and he put her hand in the ice water.
"Keep it there. I'll get the food," he said, kissing the damaged area before putting it in the bowl, wiping away a tear on her cheek with his thumb.
Carrie sat back, keeping her hand in the icy water. She watched Grey handle the casserole adeptly and get the noodles and salad to the table.
***********************************
"This is amazing," he said, closing his eyes, rolling the food around in his mouth for a few seconds.
"It's good, isn't it?" She cut the tender meat with the side of her fork, avoiding using her injured hand.
"God, it's more than good, it's incredible. You made this?"
"From mom's secret recipe." Her smile grew wide.
******************************************************** With a giant "thank you" to Ina Gartin on the Barefoot Contessa program on the Food Network
Beef Bourguignon
Rated 5 stars out of 5 
Total Time: 1 hr 45 minPrep30 minCook1 hr 15 min
Yield:6 servings Level:Intermediate Ingredients1 tablespoon good olive oil8 ounces dry cured center cut applewood smoked bacon, diced2 1/2 pounds chuck beef cut into 1-inch cubesKosher saltFreshly ground black pepper1 pound carrots, sliced diagonally into 1-inch chunks2 yellow onions, sliced2 teaspoons chopped garlic (2 cloves)1/2 cup Cognac1 (750 ml.) bottle good dry red wine such as Cote du Rhone or Pinot Noir1 can (2 cups) beef broth1 tablespoon tomato paste1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (1/2 teaspoon dried)4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature, divided3 tablespoons all-purpose flour1 pound frozen whole onions1 pound fresh mushrooms stems discarded, caps thickly slicedFor serving:Country bread or Sour Dough, toasted or grilled and rubbed with garlic clove1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, optionalDirections Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Add the bacon and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is lightly browned. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to a large plate.
Dry the beef cubes with paper towels and then sprinkle them with salt and pepper. In batches in single layers, sear the beef in the hot oil for 3 to 5 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Remove the seared cubes to the plate with the bacon and continue searing until all the beef is browned. Set aside.
Toss the carrots, and onions, 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of pepper in the fat in the pan and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the Cognac, stand back, and ignite with a match to burn off the alcohol. Put the meat and bacon back into the pot with the juices. Add the bottle of wine plus enough beef broth to almost cover the meat. Add the tomato paste and thyme. Bring to a simmer, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and place it in the oven for about 1 1/4 hours or until the meat and vegetables are very tender when pierced with a fork.
Combine 2 tablespoons of butter and the flour with a fork and stir into the stew. Add the frozen onions. Saute the mushrooms in 2 tablespoons of butter for 10 minutes until lightly browned and then add to the stew. Bring the stew to a boil on top of the stove, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Season to taste.
To serve, toast the bread in the toaster or oven. Rub each slice on 1 side with a cut clove of garlic. For each serving, spoon the stew over a slice of bread and sprinkle with parsley.

You might want to add a salad.


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TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "CHEST"

A snippet from our WIP, "Love, Lost & Found" written with Ben Tanner.This is the Tara and  Mick's first date on vacation in St. Thomas.
Tara closed the door to her room. Her palms were a little sweaty. She looked at the beads of moisture there and laughed at her own nervousness. Her room was two flights up. She walked down the stairs slowly as she was wearing high heels, apprehension mixed with anticipation sent a tingle up her spine. As she neared the lobby, she stopped to peer in cautiously, wondering if Mick was actually going to show up. It wouldn't be the first time a man got cold feet. 
Tara spied him before he saw her. Dressed in all his Marine finery, he looked devastatingly handsome. For a moment, she studied him from the hallway. There were so many medals on his chest and he stood so straight, wearing a slight frown on his face as his eyes searched the lobby. I'd never judge a man on his physical appearance alone, but a man in uniform…irresistible, sexy.  Mick seems to be…more he's sweet and the Marines make him strong and tough, in a good way, right?  She couldn't deny his sensuality, the sexual heat she absorbed from him made her want to melt in his arms. She cleared her throat, letting him know she was there.Mick heard a noise behind him and turned. His eyes grew wide and a grin spread from ear to ear as his gaze traveled from her head to her painted toes peeking out from her white sandals. 

Sweet Saturday Sample of "April's Kiss in the Moonlight"

First time this excerpt from April's Kiss in the Moonlight has ever been shared. Gavin and April are at a farm fair. April visited the rabbits in cages. She saw her future as living in a cage, too, an invisible cage built by her father. She broke down. Here is a snippet of what happens next.

Gavin took her hand and guided her out of the exhibit and into the midway area. She found a ladies room and splashed cold water on her face. Standing by herself at the sink, she felt alone, totally alone. But she knew no matter what else happened, there was no way she could go back to San Francisco. Although she didn't know where she was headed, her resolve not to return to San Francisco tightened in her gut and the decision made her sadness disappear. She decided she'd have a different life and not be a rabbit in a cage. Not ever. Not for anyone. And it made her feel more secure. Relieved, she returned to Gavin. "I hate to see any animals in cages. I can't stand it," she said. Gavin laced his fingers with hers and led her over to a quiet spot on the edge of the midway, behind the rifle shoot.   "Once my father brought home a parakeet. He used to visit it and coo to it for five minutes when he got home from work. But when he was at work, the poor bird jumped around the cage, trying to figure out how to escape and chattered as if he was looking for a mate. One day, I couldn't take it anymore and took the cage outside and opened the door. The bird flew away. My father was furious and I was punished severely. But I was happy the bird was free." Gavin squeezed her hand. "You should be free, like a beautiful bird, free to fly wherever you want." She smiled at him. "I will be. Forever . . . free. You understand, don't you?" He nodded. "I think I do. Ready?"

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A little bit about the book
How could anything bad happen to a young woman, fresh from graduate school, who strikes out on a new path rather than return to take a job with her father's firm? April McKenna sets off for an escapade that ends in tragedy. Injured and alone she is taken in by a friend of her mother's who lives in a small town in the Catskill Mountains in New York. 
 During her recovery, April resolves to carve out an exotic life of travel and adventure. But she didn't count on a sexy fireman upsetting her plans. Gavin Dailey has dated practically every woman in the county, but when he meets April, he knows he's finally found the one he wants.  Only a stubborn man like Gavin wouldn't let April's resistance to his charm and his small town change his plans. Determined to win her, he pulls out all the stops until he encounters one stumbling block he didn't count on. Only a near-tragedy resurrected from the past gives April the tenacity she needs to make the right decision for her life in April's Kiss in the Moonlight.                                 ********************** BUY LINKS  AMAZONBARNES & NOBLESMASHWORDS PAPERBACK 
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