Stephanie Burkhart's Blog, page 13

Christmas in July: 99 cent romance - Mr. Christmas Elf! #christmasinjuly

Enjoy a little Christmas in July with Mr. Christmas Elf! Only 99 cents. 


BLURB: Jules' Christmas list is looking pretty pathetic. She needs a new muffler for her car and a hundred dollars for her root canal. Her niece is asking for an iPad, but all Jules can afford is a Barbie doll. The peppermint on the top? Her boyfriend dumps her in a text message. 

Jules could use a little Christmas magic, so when Elvis pops up claiming that he was sent by Santa to fill her Christmas list, all she has to do is believe – in the magic the season has to offer.
ENJOY THIS EXCERPT:
Dad kissed me goodbye on my way out the door to catch the bus. Cold air chafed against my cheeks. Snow fell slowly in big fat flakes from puffy gray clouds. They took forever to melt against the glass. At least we were going to have a white Christmas.

The bus slid up to the stop near the coffee shop. I hustled out the door and rushed toward the store, noticing a guy reading the letters to Santa in the window. There were five minutes 'til opening. I didn't want to disappoint Joe again by being late, so I broke into a trot – and slipped on a hunk of ice. The sidewalk was coming up fast, but I fell into the arms of the letter reader.


He smiled one of the most adorable smiles I've ever seen and a cute little dimple popped out in his cheek. "You smell like peppermint," he said.

I opened my mouth, stammered like an idiot, and shut up. Mr. Dimple held me close. I didn't want to move. He owned a very solid body, with unkempt, curly, sandy blond hair that covered his ears and ice blue eyes that pierced my soul. I melted like a snowman in June.

"I'm Elvis."

"Hi, Elvis." I managed to squeak.

He chuckled and helped me to firm footing on the ground. "And you are?" 

"Julie Erwin, but everyone calls me Jules."

"So, you're the one with the depressing Christmas list."

"Hey, I can't believe you're insulting me and we just met."

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON: 
 https://amzn.com/B01CLM0PIG

BARNES AND NOBLE:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mr-ch...

KOBO:
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebo...

SMASHWORDS:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

4th of July Fun Facts 2016 #4thofJuly

The United States is turning 240 years old this year! That's amazing. Here are some really cool facts about our nation and the 4thof July:


John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, 2 of our founding fathers, died on the same day - 4th July 1826.  50 years after the Declaration of Independence.
200 copies of the Declaration of Independence were drafted, but only 27 are accounted for.


Congress declared the 4th of July an official holiday - in 1870!
The Star Spangled Banner was inspired by the War of 1812. A poem put to music, it became the USA's official national anthem in 1931.
President Calvin Coolidge was born on the 4th of July - in 1872!


Benjamin Franklin was 70 years old when he signed the Declaration of Independence.
Really?? 87% of American flags are made in China.
The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper.
It's all about the Fireworks!The 4th wouldn't be the 4th without fireworks. 97% of fireworks in the USA come from China.


My favorite place to celebrate the 4th of July is on Catalina Island. I love watching the fireworks explode over the bay. I also like seeing the golf cart parade. There's always a lot of variety. The USC marching band opens up the parade and plays in the casino in the evening. There's plenty of time to BBQ, too!
And the 4th wouldn't be the 4thwithout my Old Navy Flag Shirt.


The 4th is a fun holiday to celebrate the birth of a nation, but let's not forget how unique it is. 
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Have a great 4th and thanks for stopping by!

Question: What do you do to make the 4th special for you?

Snippet Sunday: 99 cents romance: Arrow Through the Heart. Perfect for the 4th of July #wewriwa

Hi all, I'm participating in the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday. This month, I'll be taking snippets from my sweet summer romance, Arrow Through The Heart . You can find the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday list at:



About this snippet:   The conversation continues from last week. Logan and Ella prepare their picnic. 

ENJOY THIS SNIPPET:

"No, we all know each other. Usually the neighbors ask and I check the place once a week in the summer. In the winter, it's not accessible."

"Ah."

They sat down and Logan unpacked. There was wine, cold fried chicken, potato salad, corn on the cob, and watermelon.

"I can light a small fire if you want anything warmed up," he said. 

"No, I'm fine."

Logan poured the wine and inclined his glass for a toast. "Congrats on your win, and may we have a happy Fourth." 

ARROW THROUGH THE HEART : 
BLURB:  
Summer vacation and the Fourth of July brings Ella to New Hampshire while participating in a tennis competition. Logan is an innkeeper's son who bumps into Ella and invites her for an ice cream. Attraction flares and they enjoy spending time together, but each has their own plans for their life. Then disaster strikes Ella. Can a summer attraction truly become a lasting relationship?

Reviews:5 Stars, Jaclyn DiBona, Amazon Reviewer, "Another wonderful book."

5 Stars, Muddy Rose Reviews, Amazon Reviewer, "A sweet novella about falling in love."

4 Stars, beasmom, Amazon Reviewer, "An enjoyable read." 

BUY LINKS:AMAZON: https://amzn.com/B00TJH0UT6

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arrow...

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

Kobo:https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebo...

Advice from a Redwood #lifestyle #hiking

We're a camping family. We love to camp and this year we found a great place to explore - Jedidiah Smith State Park. It's about 5-10 minutes east of Crescent City, California, and Crescent City is the last stop in California before you hit the Oregon coast. Jedidiah Smith is home to some of the most beautiful trees in the world - the redwoods.


The redwoods have thick bark and can grow over 300 feet! Redwoods can live between 500--2000 years old. When I was visiting the trees, I found one that was close to 1500 years old. They thrive in moist climates and are generally found on the California and Oregon coast. This environment has the perfect mix - lots of rain/moisture hearty soil, and plenty of sunshine. For hundreds of years, this land was unexplored. Jedidiah Smith was one of the first explorers in this area in the 1820's. Even today, it's not heavily populated and there are a lot of mom and pop stores.


Our adventure started on a Friday. The trip was over 700 miles for us, so we left early and stayed overnight at a hotel when we got to the halfway point in Santa Rosa, which is about 30 miles north of San Francisco in CA wine country. After a good night's sleep, we left at about 10 am to finish our journey.


We arrived about 5 pm in Crescent City. After a stop at the local shopping store and a quaint Mexican restaurant that had some of the best Mexican I've ever tasted, we drove to Jedidiah Smith park and found our camp. It was spacious, with a bear box, fire ring, and a picnic table. We set up 2 tents and I roomed with my younger son, Joe. My husband shared a tent with my older son, Andrew. After we set up, we visited a ranger presentation called "Lions, Tigers and Bears." (The "tigers" were for tiger lilies which are abundant in the park.)  Tired, we slept on cots (a luxury!) in our tents, instead of air mattresses.


There are bears up in Northern California (NorCal). No grizzlies, just black bears, but you do have to keep your smellables in a bear box. The park had showers and family restrooms which was nice. The showers ran on quarters. I used it once. They were the best park showers I've ever experienced, but not quite like the showers we're used to at home.


The next morning after coffee and camp breakfast, we were off to find some hikes in the redwoods. We discovered "The Boy Scout Trail," in the middle of the park. It's called that because 4.8 miles into the hike there's a tree named "The Boy Scout Tree." A troop of scouts doing trail maintenance in the 1930's found the tree and adopted it. We walked a tad further and discovered a waterfall. Then we hiked back. I was popped. For me, it was my favorite hike of the visit. The forest colors were extremely vivid. The birds chirped, and the smell of clean air invigorated the lungs.  For dinner, we had chicken and rice cooked up in our Dutch oven.  Quite honestly, it didn't look appealing, but it tasted great!


The next day was my birthday so we enjoyed a treat at the Starbucks in Crescent City and then we visited a lighthouse called Battery Point. We could only access the lighthouse during low tide so we had to return the next day. Visiting was a real treat for me. The lighthouse is maintained by volunteers.  It's very small. I had a chance to see the light.  It's very modern, but in a very tiny room.   For lunch, we had a bowl of clam chowder at the local seafood restaurant. Totally delish! I Yelped it a 5 star review and I don't give out a lot of 5 stars on Yelp.  After lunch, we took a hike along the coast, but after ½ mile the climb got steep. We went for another mile with a 900 feet elevation gain before turning around. Dinner was chicken and ribs and birthday cupcakes for desert, but the ribs were a bust since they were very tough.


The next day we went to another side of the park and walked along the redwood groves. I found 9 banana slugs! The ground was damp and there was a mist hanging in the air.


Our last full day we went to a redwood grove about 20 miles south called "Prairie Creek." It was another overcast, damp, misty day. We saw a tree called the corkscrew tree due to the fact it was 9 trees growing so close together it looked like a corkscrew.


My souvenir for the trip was a wooden walking stick. Joe picked up a Yahteez game with a national park theme.


The next morning we took off at 10 am and arrived in Santa Rosa around 4 pm. I was never so happy to take a real shower in my whole life.
The redwoods paint a majestic picture. I was really impressed with just how tall they can grow. So, that said, I'd like to leave you with some sage advice from a redwood:


Stand tall and proud.Sink your roots into the Earth.Be content with your natural beauty.Drink plenty of water.Enjoy the food.

Question: Do you like to go camping?  Where's your favorite camping spot?

Children's Corner Wednesday: The Giving Meadow Inspiration! #childrensbooks

THE BLURB:The Giving Meadow is about a caterpillar who hatches from his egg in the middle of a meadow.  As he travels through the meadow, he meets new friends who learn the value of sharing.
Today, I thought I'd share a little bit about the inspiration behind the story. I go to Blessed Kateri Catholic Church (in Santa Clarita, CA) and I'm involved in our Sunday Preschool program.  We call it Little Church.  The program works with 3, 4, and 5-year-olds. I help to teach the 3's along with 3 other talented ladies, Shirley Chang, Maureen Dunahoo, and Mary Tesselaar.  Every year I help to write the Easter play for the children. In 2009, "The Giving Meadow" was our Easter play.
After I wrote it, I showed Vivian at 4RV. She's also a moderator at Writing.com and I wanted her feedback on the story. She offered it a contract! I was tickled pink. It was a nice, unexpected surprise. I can't thank Vivian (Gilbert Zabel, publisher, 4RV Publishing) for believing in the story and wanting to bring it to life.
"The Giving Meadow" is wonderfully illustrated by Stephen Macquignon. Stephen primarily works in the medium of pen and ink and color digitally. He has had the privilege to work with Director Michael Sporn of Michael Sporn Animation Inc. He is also a monthly contributor for Stories for Children's magazine.
Stephen's children's books with 4RV Publishing include Angeline Jellybean by Crystalee Calderwood and Colors by Dana Warren.

REVIEWS:

5 Stars, Midwest Book Review: "Colorful illustrations add just the right touch to this gentle heartwarming story about the transformative power of sharing."

5 Stars, N.A. Sharpe, Amazon Reviewer: "This heartwarming tale teaches life lessons of friendship, selflessness and sharing, caring, and kindness. Ms. Burkhart's charming tale is one little ones will want to hear over and over again and they will be enchanted by the adorable illustrations from the talented illustrator, Stephen Macquignon."

5 Stars, Connie Arnold, Amazon Reviewer:  "This is a good book for helping young children learn about how caterpillars change as well as a gentle lesson about sharing and caring."

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON:https://amzn.com/B00J3FBY9Y

BARNES AND NOBLE:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-g...

4RV PUBLISHING:http://www.4rvpublishingcatalog.com/b...
STEPHANIE ON THE WEB:
BLOG:http://sgcardin.blogspot.com
WEBSITE:http://sgcardin.tripod.com
FACEBOOK:http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1357922219
TWITTER:http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
STEPHANIE ON AMAZON:http://www.amazon.com/Stephanie-Burkh...
STEPHEN ON THE WEB:
BLOG:http://stephen-sketch2color.blogspot.com/
WEBSITEhttp://www.jacketflap.com/StephenM
STEPHEN ON AMAZON:http://www.amazon.com/Stephen-Macquig...

Snippet Sunday: 99 cent contemporary romance: Arrow Through the Heart #wewriwa

Hi all, I'm participating in the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday. This month, I'll be taking snippets from my sweet summer romance, Arrow Through The Heart . You can find the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday list at:



About this snippet:   Ella and Logan find a spot to picnic.

ENJOY THIS SNIPPET:

Once the boat was secure, she handed him the basket. He held onto it with one hand and with the other, tugged her onto the wooden jetty. His strong grip sent a blast of warmth through her body down to her toes. 
Logan led them to the beach and unpacked a blanket, laying it on the sand.

"The cabin has been in our family for as long as the inn. It's been wired for electricity, but uses a generator. It's packed with cots, blankets, and candles for overnight stays."
"Aren't you worried someone would try to use it without permission?"
ARROW THROUGH THE HEART : 
BLURB:  
Summer vacation and the Fourth of July brings Ella to New Hampshire while participating in a tennis competition. Logan is an innkeeper's son who bumps into Ella and invites her for an ice cream. Attraction flares and they enjoy spending time together, but each has their own plans for their life. Then disaster strikes Ella. Can a summer attraction truly become a lasting relationship?

Reviews:5 Stars, Jaclyn DiBona, Amazon Reviewer, "Another wonderful book."

5 Stars, Muddy Rose Reviews, Amazon Reviewer, "A sweet novella about falling in love."

4 Stars, beasmom, Amazon Reviewer, "An enjoyable read." 

BUY LINKS:AMAZON: https://amzn.com/B00TJH0UT6

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arrow...

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

Kobo:https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebo...

Book Review Friday: The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan #bookreview #percyjackson

Book Review for: The Blood of OlympusWritten by: Rick RiordanPublished by: Disney/HyperionISBN: 978-142314673-5I read: the hardback
5 stars
Heart Pounding Action!
Riordan wraps up the Heroes of Olympus series with a demigod feast in "The Blood of Olympus." Gaea is awakening and calling her minions to do her evil bidding. Only our favorite Roman and Greek demigods can stop her, but they'll need a lot of help along the way.
With an ensemble cast that includes Percy, Jason, Annabeth, Piper, Frank, Hazel, and Leo, the brave crew of the Argo II journey through the Greek homelands in search of the physician's cure and Gaea herself, encountering one obstacle after another.
Meanwhile, Reyna, Nico, and Coach Hedge shadow travel to bring the Athena Paratheon to Camp Half Blood. The Paratheon will unite the Greeks and Romans for the ultimate battle. Unfortunately, Octavian has something to say about that. Can Romans, Greeks, and Gods stop their bickering and fight together to rid the Earth of Gaea once and for all, or will the blood of Olympus unleash an unstoppable monster?
Riordan's writing is witty, sharp, and easy to read. His plotting and pacing is spot on. There's never a dull moment as the action keeps coming. The characters are compelling. Each has an interesting back story. What is most endearing is how they care for each other as friends, which makes this a great story for teenagers struggling to understand what friendship is all about.
This novel is the action packed conclusion to the "Heroes of Olympus" series. There's never a dull moment and I kept turning the pages, eager to discover what was next the heroes. I would recommend this novel for ages eleven and up. "The Blood of Olympus" will resonate with readers for it's adventure, friendship, and compelling storytelling.

Question for you:  Who is your favorite Demigod from the Heroes of Olympus series? 

Children's Corner Wednesday: Caterpillar from "The Giving Meadow" visits!! 4.99 children's ebook #childrensbook

Enjoy this whimsical interview with the author of "The Givining Meadow," and it's "star," Caterpillar!!

STEPH: I wrote "The Giving Meadow" as a play for my church's preschool Easter play in 2009. I showed Vivian (Gilbert Zabel, publisher, 4RV Publishing) and she offered it a contract. It was a pleasant, unexpected surprise.
CATERPILLAR: You're telling me.
STEPH: Telling you what?
CATERPILLAR: Hatching out of that egg! I was surprised, thirsty, and hungry.
STEPH: You were in a meadow. Couldn't you eat the grass?
CATERPILLAR: Grass? Hardly substantial. Good thing I found Frog.
STEPH: Frog?
CATERPILLAR: He shared his water with me.
STEPH: Did you make any other friends in the meadow?
CATERPILLAR: A very nice ladybug shared her grapes and a sweet little bee shared her honey.
STEPH: Grapes and honey? Didn't you get…ah, plump?
CATERPILLAR: I was hungry. Hungry caterpillars get real plump. Then I met snake.
STEPH: A snake? Yikes!
CATERPILLAR: Snake was cool. He shared his apple with me. When I started spinning silk around myself, he got worried and gathered up Frog, Ladybug, and Bee to see if they could help.
STEPH: What happened then?
CATERPILLAR:  You have to read the book!
STEPH: Does anyone have any strawberries? Just in case?
"The Giving Meadow" is wonderfully illustrated by Stephen Macquignon. Stephen primarily works in the medium of pen and ink and color digitally. He has had the privilege to work with Director Michael Sporn of Michael Sporn Animation Inc. He is also a monthly contributor for Stories for Children's magazine.
Stephen's children's books with 4RV Publishing include Angeline Jellybean by Crystalee Calderwood and Colors by Dana Warren.
"The First Flag of New Hampshire," by Stephanie, has been released by 4RV Publishing. It is a TW/Young Adult story.

REVIEWS:

5 Stars, Midwest Book Review: "Colorful illustrations add just the right touch to this gentle heartwarming story about the transformative power of sharing."

5 Stars, N.A. Sharpe, Amazon Reviewer: "This heartwarming tale teaches life lessons of friendship, selflessness and sharing, caring, and kindness. Ms. Burkhart's charming tale is one little ones will want to hear over and over again and they will be enchanted by the adorable illustrations from the talented illustrator, Stephen Macquignon."

5 Stars, Connie Arnold, Amazon Reviewer:  "This is a good book for helping young children learn about how caterpillars change as well as a gentle lesson about sharing and caring."

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON:https://amzn.com/B00J3FBY9Y

BARNES AND NOBLE:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-g...

4RV PUBLISHING:http://www.4rvpublishingcatalog.com/b...

Snippet Sunday: 99 cent contemporary Romance: Arrow Through the Heart #wewriwa #snippetsunday

Hi all, I'm participating in the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday. This month, I'll be taking snippets from my sweet summer romance, Arrow Through The Heart . You can find the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday list at:



About this snippet:  Ella arrives at the island, her attraction undeniable. 

ENJOY THIS SNIPPET:

Logan directed the boat and turned off the engine, using the slower electric motor to steer them closer.
Ella slid next to him,"That was fun."
 "Really?"
"There's nothing like a little speed and wind in your face to make you feel invincible."
He flashed her an amused grin and jumped onto the dock, "I agree. Do you mind helping me secure the boat? Just throw me the ropes."
"All right."
He stepped onto the small pier and wrapped the cords around the steel moorings. Ella admired the way his body moved, with a surety of motion and confidence that made her pulse pound through her veins. 


ARROW THROUGH THE HEART : 
BLURB:  
Summer vacation and the Fourth of July brings Ella to New Hampshire while participating in a tennis competition. Logan is an innkeeper's son who bumps into Ella and invites her for an ice cream. Attraction flares and they enjoy spending time together, but each has their own plans for their life. Then disaster strikes Ella. Can a summer attraction truly become a lasting relationship?

Reviews:5 Stars, Jaclyn DiBona, Amazon Reviewer, "Another wonderful book."

5 Stars, Muddy Rose Reviews, Amazon Reviewer, "A sweet novella about falling in love."

4 Stars, beasmom, Amazon Reviewer, "An enjoyable read." 

BUY LINKS:AMAZON: https://amzn.com/B00TJH0UT6

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arrow...

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

Kobo:https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebo...

Strawberry Festival 2016 #lifestyle

Strawberry Fest 2016 with Joe!

I love a nice ripe juicy red strawberry. They make the best smoothies and margaritas. And shortcake. And nachos. And chocolate dipped sinful delights. There's nothing you can't do with a strawberry. That's one of the reasons I enjoy visiting the strawberry festival every year.


Every year in May, this fun little fest is held in Oxnard, Ventura County, near the California coast. It's a little over an hour drive from my house. May is a great time to explore the strawberry fields. The weather is warm, but not too warm and I've never been rained on.


When we get there, I always get the boys smoothies right away Of course everything is a tad pricey, but I'm happy to support the various charities that benefit from the festival. They include local schools, churches, and booster clubs.


After the smoothies, I get a strawberry margarita for me. Then we eat! There's no shortage of food booths. Our favorites include calamari, garlic fries, chicken tenders, gyros and strawberry nachos!


After we're stuffed like a fluffy shortcake, we visit the kiddie land. The boys like to climb on the inflatables. I usually visit strawberry shortcake. One year the "Eat Mor Chiken" Cow was there from Chik-fil-et. I thought that was funny.
From 2012

They have live music on 2 different stages. There's car exhibits and an arts and crafts section that's expanded from a small grassy area (when I started attending about 8 years ago) to the length of a city street. This year, I discovered "military salsa," a perfect blend of spice and sweetness made with honey. There are tye-dye shirts, purses, and wooden, decorative signs. Honestly, there's a little something for everyone. One year, I got my stretchy "Paris" shirt which I adore, at the arts and crafts section.


On the way out, I get a festival poster. We enjoy chocolate dipped sin and usually get a tray of red, delicious, juicy, strawberries to eat at the house.


What's the appeal for me? While it can get crowded, it's a fun day away from the house in celebration of the strawberry. Adults are 12.00. Kids are 5.00. Parking on site is 10.00. The food is fantastic. Plus, I enjoy spending the time with my boys. I hang the festival posters all over the house. It truly is a good time. You can bet I'll be attending next year, too.


Enjoy a berry on me!