Krista Ames's Blog, page 98
January 23, 2014
Release Day Blast: CUPID'S PROMISE by Kimberly Quinton + **GIVEAWAY**
Cupid’s Promise
Holiday Hearts Book 2
By
Kimberly Quinton
A sweet contemporary Holiday romance with a touch of paranormal
Shot through the heart...
Cupid’s Promise
Cupid's Secret promises to set Laurel Cove on its ear with a sexy new boutique that answers what a woman desires. When the owner ends up in the hospital it's up to Lena Ridgeway to make sure this heart-stopping opening goes off without a hitch, but she finds her every idea challenged by a no-nonsense businessman.
Capitalizing on a feeling...
Marcus Blackwell is a bottom-line kind of guy and he knows that sex and hearts sell. When he arrives to find his latest venture in chaos, his partner injured, and a model- turned-manager in charge, he rolls up his sleeves and dives in. If only he could keep his mind-and hands - off the sultry model with her whimsical faith in a fake holiday.
Can't fight this fortune...
Lena can't help teasing the straight-laced, business-only boss who keeps sneaking into her dreams. One passionate kiss has her believing he may be the one she's waited for all her life, but she'll need every arrow in Cupid's arsenal to prove she is his true Valentine....
Buy links:
Decadent http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=894&osCsid=5iehvhgdckfvsuhalgafjmnon7
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Cupids-Promise-Holiday-Kimberly-Quinton-ebook/dp/B00HZUGGJW/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1390442723&sr=8-7&keywords=Cupid%27s+Promise
BN http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cupids-promise-kimberly-quinton/1118174319?ean=2940148318958
ARe https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-cupid039spromise-1403496-149.html
Excerpt:
“You’re firing me because I didn’t sell enough chocolate?” Lena had never been fired before. She shouldn’t be so pissed. It wasn’t like she had wanted to be a clerk in the first place.
“No. I’m letting you know your obligation to your friend is fulfilled. We have a manager who can take over—one who’s interested in the bottom line and ready to do what it takes to make this store a success—therefore, you no longer need to inconvenience yourself with filling in.” If he could have been more condescending, she wasn’t sure how.
“But who will coordinate the seminars and special guests we have coming in next week? Julie can’t run the store and do that, too.” Why was she arguing? If the part owner said he didn’t need her, then he didn’t need her. She could get to her planned reunion with James.
“I’ll be coordinating the week of activities and specials. Like I said, everything is under control and you are free to go.” He began the closing routine as if there was no need for further discussion. She was, for the first time she could remember, speechless.
Lena paced through the shop to the florist counter where her purse was secured in a cabinet. Pulling the over-sized boho bag out, she bit her tongue before saying anything else. She had known her time there was temporary while they found other staff, but she had enjoyed the work and done well, despite what Marcus thought. Maybe she should take his dismissal as a sign to move on.
Turning, she almost swallowed her sore tongue. Holy heck. Boss from hell had loosened his tie and unbuttoned his collar. Suddenly Mr. Tight Ass looked more bedroom than boardroom. He ran a hand over his face, pinched the bridge of his nose for a breath, then smoothed through his just-longer-than-short locks. The natural wave kept the tousled-yet-put-together style with ease. Transfixed, she couldn’t look away as his long fingers deftly and purposefully unbuttoned one sleeve and then the other before rolling them up to reveal the sun-kissed color of his hands also extended up strong forearms. Her lips closed around the soft pant of her breath. Her thoughts really needed to start flowing in a different direction.
His gaze caught hers and heat singed her cheeks at his cocky half-grin. “You don’t need to help close up. I can manage.”
Clearing her throat, she wiped at the handprint her heated skin had left on the glass counter. “Sure thing.” I need to get out of here before I do something stupid.
Lena wrestled one arm into her coat. Her palms itched to either smack him or caress him to see what he would do. Neither choice was in her best interest. He moved behind her to hold up her coat. His hand brushed her shoulder, turning her toward him. The small touch sent a thrill straight to her core. Peeking up at him, she searched for an answering attraction in the depths of his warm autumn flecked-green eyes but he moved away quickly. “Night, then. Good luck.” And once again, she’d been dismissed.
Stupid candy. From this night on, she never wanted to see chocolate again. Okay, maybe not until after Valentine’s.
About the Author:
Since a teen, she’s loved romances and believes we can all live our happily-ever-after. Always a people watcher, it wasn’t until Kimberly shucked her Accounting major for Anthropology that her interest in people and cultures was nurtured. Kimberly has combined her natural curiosity (nosiness) with her love of romance for the sake of bringing the movies in her head to life on the page.A wife and mother of two, Kimberly spends her days chasing chores, wrangling active kids, and writing. She also enjoys traveling, cooking, great wine and sharing a laugh with friends and family.
You can usually find her on Facebook or Twitter. Stop by for a chat.
Contact Details:
Website: http://kimberlyquinton.com/about-kimberly/
Email: kim@kimberlyquinton.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyQuintonAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimquinton
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kimberly-Quinton/e/B00GL3XER6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1390328401&sr=8-1
Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7388548.Kimberly_Quinton
Rafflecopter Giveaway:A $25 gift card to AmazonAn ebook copy of Her Wish Before Christmas
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tasty Tuesday & A Teaser ~ Harlie Williams
Thanks for visiting A Passion for Romance today. We have started a new schedule for Tuesdays called
Tasty Tuesday & A Teaser Every Tuesday we'll welcome an Author who will share a foodie type post with a recipe or two and some book promo! Today please help me welcome Harlie Williams :) * * * * * * Fluff and other stuff
I love Fluff. No not the girlie kind of fluff. The salad that I grew up with called Fluff. My grandmother made it forever. It’s simple to make. You only use 5 ingredients. Maybe 6 if you want to add nuts. It’s one of those recipes that kids can make and grownups devour in an instant. When I talk about Fluff, most people’s eyes gloss over and I can tell that they have been transported back to their youth. Unfortunately, our son can’t STAND the stuff. I know the irony of it all. Which brings me to the real topic at hand…I can’t bake.
Yes, I will admit that I can’t bake worth a crap. At least not scratch baking. If it’s out of box, I’m your girl. I finally figured it out when I couldn’t make scratch biscuits. Yes, biscuits. I’m Southern, I live in Texas, and I should be able to make a simple biscuit but not me. They come out looking like little hockey pucks. I cried on Friday when they came out of the oven. My husband was very diplomatic about it but still…they were hockey pucks. *sigh* It’s very depressing.
Now on the other hand I can cook up a storm. My mother was a gourmet cook so cooking from scratch is very easy to me. I can look at my pantry and come up with some wonderful meals for our family. No embarrassing mishaps, just good foods that even our son will eat. So without further ado here are my two recipes. Enjoy!
Fluff
1 carton of Cool Whip1 box of Jell-O (do not make)1 can of fruit, drained (I use fruit cocktail so I can eat all of the cherries. He he!)1 8 oz. container of cottage cheese or ricotta cheese, rinsed1 bag of small marshmallowsPecans, if you like nuts
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Yes, just dump the Jell-O in there. It’s for color. Make sure that it has mixed well. Chill in refrigerator for a couple of hours or overnight.
That’s it. Fluff!
Meatloaf
2 lbs Ground beef1 medium onion, chopped3 tablespoons Ketchup2 large eggs1 slice of bread1 teaspoon of salt¾ teaspoon of pepper GLAZE (can be omitted)¼ cup Ketchup1 tablespoon Dijon mustard2 teaspoons of Light Brown Sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Lightly spray a 9 X 5 loaf pan. Press ingredients into the pan. Bake for 30 minutes. If you are using the glaze, take the pan out of the oven after 30 minutes and put glaze on. Bake another 30 minutes. Check meat temperature and you are done.
Again, the Glaze is optional but always taste it before putting it on. I make adjustments every time when I make this. Enjoy!
* * * * * * The Couple by Harlie Williams A Contemporary RomanceBlurb:
A woman has one thing on her mind tonight…sex. Dirty, sweaty, kinky sex with a cowboy. With her man gone more than he is at home, she needs the release. After being away for two weeks, a cowboy goes looking for someone to play with for the night. Being away is part of the job but not having someone to come home to is hurting his soul. Feeling disconnected in his love life, the red head will be perfect. Once they meet, can one night of pure passion led to more than just a one night stand for either of them? Communication is the key to every relationship. Can these two find a way to connect emotionally or are they destined for heartache. Buy Links: Muse It Up Publishing: https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=636&category_id=69&manufacturer_id=295&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1 Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Couple-ebook/dp/B00ATHPGJO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1362078104&sr=1-1&keywords=the+couple+harlie+Williams Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-couple-harlie-williams/1114142543?ean=2940044216150&itm=1&USRI=the+couple+by+Harlie+Williams&All Romance ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thecouple-1025984-172.htmlBookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/the-couple
Excerpt (PG-13 for language)
“What’s a girl like you doing at a bar like this?” he asked.Her voice was a purr, like a cat well satisfied with its stolen pitcher of cream. “I’m looking for someone special.”Hoping that she meant him he asked, “Did you find him yet?”“Maybe.” The glint in her eye told him he was definitely in the running. However, I’m not looking to hook up with just any old cowboy. He must be able to go the full eight seconds and come back for more.” She eyed him from head to toe. “Think you can handle that?”Oh, I can most definitely handle you sweetheart.Not wanting to seem too eager he replied, “I’m not sure but I’m willing to try.”“Do or do not. There is no try.” He struggled not to let his grin escape. The fact that she was trying to seduce him made his dick twitch.“Let’s just say I’m looking to burn off some pent up frustration. A little excess energy. And I’ve got plenty to burn.”The way she shivered at his words, he knew he almost had her. He winked as she licked her crimson lips and blew out a small breath. Damn what this woman is doing to him. He pushed her knees apart with his left leg and was rewarded with the amazing scent of her arousal. The knowledge she was wet for him had him close to going off in his jeans. Houston, we have lift-off!“Why don’t you have a seat cowboy and we’ll talk about it.” She gasped when he shocked her with a brush of his lips against hers; fighting with everything he had not to deepen the kiss. Patience, patience.He would play her game for the moment but sooner or later, she would be his. Tied up and begging for more. He asked her, “Now about that eight second ride?” Author Bio:
When she is not trying to be Super Blogger and reviewing for her own site, Harlie is a stay at home mom with a 3rd grade son that keeps her busy with all of his stuff. Married for 9 years to her own hero and still madly in love with him, she wouldn’t change a thing about her life. Okay, maybe living in Ireland or New Zealand but those are just pipe dreams. A certifiable sports nut, she craves college football (OU Sooners and Texas A&M Aggies), Baseball (Texas Rangers and Houston Astros), Dallas Stars hockey and Houston Texans football. After working for the Dallas Stars Hockey Club for 5 years and naming her son after Brian Leetch you’d think she write a hockey story. Nope, been there, done that and the t-shirt is a rag. She prefers just to watch the game now. Less stress.Harlie loves to hear from readers and other authors. You can find her on Facebook most days. Unless, she’s sitting in the carpool line. The bane of her existence.
Author links:
Author site: www.harliewilliams.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/marika67Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Harlie-Williams-Writer/224885394212458Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/marikaweber25Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/BriansMomLinkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/marika-weber/36/a20/a63 Giveaway: Harlie is giving away an ebook copy of THE COUPLE and SWAGRafflecopter code:a Rafflecopter giveawayJanuary 21, 2014
Author, author... Something to Prove by Shannyn Schroeder
..read all about it !!
Something to Prove
The O’Learys
Shannyn Schroeder
eKensington * * * * * *
Please help me welcome Shannyn Schroeder to A Passion for Romance. Hi Shannyn, can you tell us a little about yourself? I’m a mom of 3, a part-time editor, and a part-time teacher. I like the flexibility of all of my part-time jobs because it allows me to be at home for my kids. I love to read and write (of course) and I spend a lot of time watching TV. What kind of research do you do for a novel and how extensive do you get? The research I do for my novels is usually about the profession for each of my characters. I do most of my research online, but I will contact people in the field and see if they’ll answer some questions for me. Other than that, I’ll do small research as it pops up in my writing. For example, in Something to Prove, the characters have a bowling alley and bar and I did some research about the licensing needed to add a kitchen to the business. The O’Leary series is based in Chicago and since I live there, I don’t have to do a ton of research to know where my characters are. Do you have a special place you like to do your writing? Such as an office, a spare room, the dining room table, your couch? I use the spare room in my house to write. However, when my in-laws are visiting from Tennessee, I lose that space and it’s back to writing wherever I can. When I first started writing, I would write in my car, at my kids’ practices, and things like that. Now, when I lose my writing space, I usually use the dining room table, but those chairs are NOT comfortable for long writing sprints, so I’ll move to the couch (or have a really sore butt). As a reader, what types of works do you like to read and do you think they influence the genre/genres you write in? I love to read romance because life is depressing enough, so I want to read things where I’m guaranteed a happy ending. I read mostly contemporaries, but I also like romantic suspense and paranormal. I stay away from historicals because it’s not my thing. I don’t think my reading has a direct influence on my writing, but I think it has a long-term effect. I believe that you become a better writer by reading good writing. What is your favorite method of writing...as in laptop, desktop, Ipad or the old fashioned pencil and paper?? And do you plot out your story or go with the flow of your muse? I use a laptop for my writing. In the past, I’ve written entire novels in spiral notebooks (before I could afford a laptop to carry with me). I don’t plot out my stories before writing. I spend time to get to know the characters, and I have a general premise for the plot, but the story unfolds as I write. I tend to see scenes in my head like a movie. That’s what I write. When you need a break or some time off from the trials of being a writer, what can you be found doing? I watch a lot of TV. Like reading other authors, I think watching TV is a good way to refuel because TV is still storytelling. I learn a lot about characterization from watching TV. That’s not to say I sit there taking notes. I watch shows for the entertainment value. Things I learn are just a bonus. For fun, I have a few personal questions, Your Favorite 5 1) Favorite color - purple 2) Favorite dessert – chocolate cheesecake 3) Favorite Season - summer 4) Favorite sad song- I don’t have a favorite, mostly because I listen to music all the time, so my favorites change. 5) Favorite Romantic movie – I have a lot of favorites. Movies that I always put on when they’re on TV -- Dirty Dancing, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Jerry Maguire, Grease, Pretty Woman And a bonus, what is your ideal romantic vacation?? I’ve never had a romantic vacation (sad, isn’t it?). For me, ideal would be a beach vacation without kids or work. I could sit by the water, read a book, and sip a cold drink. Where can our readers find you?? Email: Shannyn@ShannynSchroeder.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SSchroeder_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shannyn-Schroeder/536050196443173 Website/blog: http://www.shannynschroeder.com/ Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Shannyn-Schroeder/e/B00A2B0APW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1 Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6575201.Shannyn_Schroeder Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/seschroeder/
Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?
Something to Prove
Blurb:
Two ambitious people team up to prove themselves to their families—and find there may be more to their partnership than just business…
Elizabeth Brannigan is determined to show her father she’s capable of running the family business. Saving his struggling Chicago bar seems like the perfect project. But she’ll need a little help dealing with the rough crowd. Who better to assist her than the handsome co-owner of a thriving Irish pub? Of course, with so much work to do, there are bound to be a few late nights…
Colin O’Leary’s father passed away before he could prove to him that he wasn’t a screw-up. Now he wants to show his brother he’s responsible enough to own a bar of his own—and Elizabeth may be able to help him. But when their professional aspirations clash, tempers—and passions—flare. Are they mature enough to mix business with pleasure—or will they have to choose between the two? Here are the links for Something to Prove:
Amazon ibooks B&N Kobo Kensington ARe
Buy Links: iTunes B&N Amazon
Excerpt: “You don’t have the business management experience or education the other candidates have.”
He smiled. “Neither does my brother, but you went to him.”
“Like the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. He’s a success. Just because you share a branch of the family tree doesn’t guarantee me anything.”
“But you’ve seen me with people.” He thunked the chair back down on all four legs. “I was good with you.”
Between his intense blue eyes and his low bedroom voice, his words warmed her blood again.
“And that would be another reason to not work with you. I don’t have time for someone who’s more interested in flirting than working.”
“Sweetheart, you flirted with me. I took your cues and acted on them. I’m completely capable of working with a partner without sleeping with her.”
Part of Elizabeth felt relief at his statement. More of her felt another sting of disappointment.
His steely blue gaze bore into her. No sign of lust. Nothing to imply that he planned to kiss her again. Not even a hint of sexual attraction. If they pretended that night had never happened, a partnership could work.
She steadied herself for a strong negotiation. “I’ll offer you twenty-five percent profits and a bonus twenty percent when I sell, assuming you hold up your end of the bargain and bring in the customers. I remain the manager and boss and all decisions go through me.”
“Make it forty percent profits and thirty percent on sale.”
“You bring personality to the table. No proven experience, and you expect me to give you almost half the business?” She leaned back in her chair.
“My personality is the one thing you need most. It can’t be taught or bought.”
“Thirty profits and twenty-five at sale.”
He narrowed his eyes as if computing, then leaned forward. “Deal.”
“One more thing. No flirting. Just business.”
He sighed like she was being insufferable. “Contrary to popular belief, I am capable of being professional. When do we start?”
“It’s locked up, so we can start tomorrow. I’ll have the contract drawn up for you to sign when you get there. Nine a.m.?”
“I’m closing at O’Leary’s tonight. Make it eleven. Even I need my beauty sleep.”
“You plan to continue to work at O’Leary’s?”
“It’s my family’s bar.”
“I’m not a simpleton. There are only so many hours in a day. I won’t have you thinking you can drop by The Irish just to collect a check.”
His smile was disarming. “Sweetheart, simple isn’t what anyone would call you. I’ll prove my worth soon enough. Seems a lot of people expect that.” He rose and extended his hand. “I’ll sign your contract, but a handshake will do for me.”
She shook his hand and tried to ignore its strength and warmth and the zing of her nerves. As he turned to leave, she enjoyed the view and immediately began to question her sanity. She’d just created a business partnership based on a man’s charm. What the hell was she thinking?
* * * * * *
One last thing before we let you leave us today...do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share? I like to cook and am always looking for new recipes to try and share but it's totally up to you. Each of the O’Leary books has a recipe that is special to one of the characters. In Something to Prove, it’s traditional Irish soda bread. Here’s the recipe: Traditional Irish Soda Bread 3 ½ c flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1 ¾ c buttermilk* *Although the recipe can be made using regular milk, the taste and texture are much better if you use buttermilk. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease and flour a round cake pan (8 or 9 inch). In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients together. Pour in 1 ½ c of buttermilk and mix quickly. Add in remaining ¼ c buttermilk and mix. Turn dough out on a lightly floured surface and knead for only a few seconds to make sure it holds together. Shape into a round disk and place in the prepared cake pan. Cut a cross in the top of the bread. Cover with another cake pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove top cake pan and bake an additional 15 minutes. When bread is done, you will hear a hollow sound when you thump the bottom. Slice and enjoy with butter. * * * * * *
Don't forget to follow the rest of the tour : http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2013/09/now-booking-tasty-virtual-book-tour-for.html
Author Info
Shannyn is a former English teacher, who now works as a part-time editor while raising her three kids.
Even though she wrote from high school through college (mostly poetry), she’d never considered a career as an author. Writing fell by the wayside as she focused her energy on creating lesson plans and new and fabulous ways to torment her teen students. One group in particular dubbed her “The Torture Master,” a title she carried into motherhood.
After the birth of baby number two, Shannyn resigned from teaching and fell in love with reading romance novels. She read so many books so quickly that her husband teased, “If you’re going to read so many damn books, why don’t you just write one?”
So she did.
That first book is safely buried on her hard drive, but the process set Shannyn on the path to where she is today—agented with a debut ebook coming out with Kensington in late 2012.
She is recovering from her Diet Coke addiction, fears putting her foot in her mouth on social media, and has a renewed appreciation for the bad girls of the world.
Author Links
http://www.shannynschroeder.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shannyn-Schroeder/536050196443173
https://twitter.com/SSchroeder_
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6575201.Shannyn_Schroeder
Rafflecopter Giveaway:
(Nook Simple Touch ($79.00 Value), TWO Digital Copies of Winner’s Choice O’Leary Romance or FIVE Keeper Kase with O’Leary’s cards
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Something to Prove
The O’Learys
Shannyn Schroeder
eKensington * * * * * *
Please help me welcome Shannyn Schroeder to A Passion for Romance. Hi Shannyn, can you tell us a little about yourself? I’m a mom of 3, a part-time editor, and a part-time teacher. I like the flexibility of all of my part-time jobs because it allows me to be at home for my kids. I love to read and write (of course) and I spend a lot of time watching TV. What kind of research do you do for a novel and how extensive do you get? The research I do for my novels is usually about the profession for each of my characters. I do most of my research online, but I will contact people in the field and see if they’ll answer some questions for me. Other than that, I’ll do small research as it pops up in my writing. For example, in Something to Prove, the characters have a bowling alley and bar and I did some research about the licensing needed to add a kitchen to the business. The O’Leary series is based in Chicago and since I live there, I don’t have to do a ton of research to know where my characters are. Do you have a special place you like to do your writing? Such as an office, a spare room, the dining room table, your couch? I use the spare room in my house to write. However, when my in-laws are visiting from Tennessee, I lose that space and it’s back to writing wherever I can. When I first started writing, I would write in my car, at my kids’ practices, and things like that. Now, when I lose my writing space, I usually use the dining room table, but those chairs are NOT comfortable for long writing sprints, so I’ll move to the couch (or have a really sore butt). As a reader, what types of works do you like to read and do you think they influence the genre/genres you write in? I love to read romance because life is depressing enough, so I want to read things where I’m guaranteed a happy ending. I read mostly contemporaries, but I also like romantic suspense and paranormal. I stay away from historicals because it’s not my thing. I don’t think my reading has a direct influence on my writing, but I think it has a long-term effect. I believe that you become a better writer by reading good writing. What is your favorite method of writing...as in laptop, desktop, Ipad or the old fashioned pencil and paper?? And do you plot out your story or go with the flow of your muse? I use a laptop for my writing. In the past, I’ve written entire novels in spiral notebooks (before I could afford a laptop to carry with me). I don’t plot out my stories before writing. I spend time to get to know the characters, and I have a general premise for the plot, but the story unfolds as I write. I tend to see scenes in my head like a movie. That’s what I write. When you need a break or some time off from the trials of being a writer, what can you be found doing? I watch a lot of TV. Like reading other authors, I think watching TV is a good way to refuel because TV is still storytelling. I learn a lot about characterization from watching TV. That’s not to say I sit there taking notes. I watch shows for the entertainment value. Things I learn are just a bonus. For fun, I have a few personal questions, Your Favorite 5 1) Favorite color - purple 2) Favorite dessert – chocolate cheesecake 3) Favorite Season - summer 4) Favorite sad song- I don’t have a favorite, mostly because I listen to music all the time, so my favorites change. 5) Favorite Romantic movie – I have a lot of favorites. Movies that I always put on when they’re on TV -- Dirty Dancing, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Jerry Maguire, Grease, Pretty Woman And a bonus, what is your ideal romantic vacation?? I’ve never had a romantic vacation (sad, isn’t it?). For me, ideal would be a beach vacation without kids or work. I could sit by the water, read a book, and sip a cold drink. Where can our readers find you?? Email: Shannyn@ShannynSchroeder.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SSchroeder_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shannyn-Schroeder/536050196443173 Website/blog: http://www.shannynschroeder.com/ Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Shannyn-Schroeder/e/B00A2B0APW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1 Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6575201.Shannyn_Schroeder Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/seschroeder/
Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?
.jpg)
Something to Prove
Blurb:
Two ambitious people team up to prove themselves to their families—and find there may be more to their partnership than just business…
Elizabeth Brannigan is determined to show her father she’s capable of running the family business. Saving his struggling Chicago bar seems like the perfect project. But she’ll need a little help dealing with the rough crowd. Who better to assist her than the handsome co-owner of a thriving Irish pub? Of course, with so much work to do, there are bound to be a few late nights…
Colin O’Leary’s father passed away before he could prove to him that he wasn’t a screw-up. Now he wants to show his brother he’s responsible enough to own a bar of his own—and Elizabeth may be able to help him. But when their professional aspirations clash, tempers—and passions—flare. Are they mature enough to mix business with pleasure—or will they have to choose between the two? Here are the links for Something to Prove:
Amazon ibooks B&N Kobo Kensington ARe
Buy Links: iTunes B&N Amazon
Excerpt: “You don’t have the business management experience or education the other candidates have.”
He smiled. “Neither does my brother, but you went to him.”
“Like the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. He’s a success. Just because you share a branch of the family tree doesn’t guarantee me anything.”
“But you’ve seen me with people.” He thunked the chair back down on all four legs. “I was good with you.”
Between his intense blue eyes and his low bedroom voice, his words warmed her blood again.
“And that would be another reason to not work with you. I don’t have time for someone who’s more interested in flirting than working.”
“Sweetheart, you flirted with me. I took your cues and acted on them. I’m completely capable of working with a partner without sleeping with her.”
Part of Elizabeth felt relief at his statement. More of her felt another sting of disappointment.
His steely blue gaze bore into her. No sign of lust. Nothing to imply that he planned to kiss her again. Not even a hint of sexual attraction. If they pretended that night had never happened, a partnership could work.
She steadied herself for a strong negotiation. “I’ll offer you twenty-five percent profits and a bonus twenty percent when I sell, assuming you hold up your end of the bargain and bring in the customers. I remain the manager and boss and all decisions go through me.”
“Make it forty percent profits and thirty percent on sale.”
“You bring personality to the table. No proven experience, and you expect me to give you almost half the business?” She leaned back in her chair.
“My personality is the one thing you need most. It can’t be taught or bought.”
“Thirty profits and twenty-five at sale.”
He narrowed his eyes as if computing, then leaned forward. “Deal.”
“One more thing. No flirting. Just business.”
He sighed like she was being insufferable. “Contrary to popular belief, I am capable of being professional. When do we start?”
“It’s locked up, so we can start tomorrow. I’ll have the contract drawn up for you to sign when you get there. Nine a.m.?”
“I’m closing at O’Leary’s tonight. Make it eleven. Even I need my beauty sleep.”
“You plan to continue to work at O’Leary’s?”
“It’s my family’s bar.”
“I’m not a simpleton. There are only so many hours in a day. I won’t have you thinking you can drop by The Irish just to collect a check.”
His smile was disarming. “Sweetheart, simple isn’t what anyone would call you. I’ll prove my worth soon enough. Seems a lot of people expect that.” He rose and extended his hand. “I’ll sign your contract, but a handshake will do for me.”
She shook his hand and tried to ignore its strength and warmth and the zing of her nerves. As he turned to leave, she enjoyed the view and immediately began to question her sanity. She’d just created a business partnership based on a man’s charm. What the hell was she thinking?
* * * * * *
One last thing before we let you leave us today...do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share? I like to cook and am always looking for new recipes to try and share but it's totally up to you. Each of the O’Leary books has a recipe that is special to one of the characters. In Something to Prove, it’s traditional Irish soda bread. Here’s the recipe: Traditional Irish Soda Bread 3 ½ c flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1 ¾ c buttermilk* *Although the recipe can be made using regular milk, the taste and texture are much better if you use buttermilk. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease and flour a round cake pan (8 or 9 inch). In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients together. Pour in 1 ½ c of buttermilk and mix quickly. Add in remaining ¼ c buttermilk and mix. Turn dough out on a lightly floured surface and knead for only a few seconds to make sure it holds together. Shape into a round disk and place in the prepared cake pan. Cut a cross in the top of the bread. Cover with another cake pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove top cake pan and bake an additional 15 minutes. When bread is done, you will hear a hollow sound when you thump the bottom. Slice and enjoy with butter. * * * * * *
Don't forget to follow the rest of the tour : http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2013/09/now-booking-tasty-virtual-book-tour-for.html
Author Info
Shannyn is a former English teacher, who now works as a part-time editor while raising her three kids.Even though she wrote from high school through college (mostly poetry), she’d never considered a career as an author. Writing fell by the wayside as she focused her energy on creating lesson plans and new and fabulous ways to torment her teen students. One group in particular dubbed her “The Torture Master,” a title she carried into motherhood.
After the birth of baby number two, Shannyn resigned from teaching and fell in love with reading romance novels. She read so many books so quickly that her husband teased, “If you’re going to read so many damn books, why don’t you just write one?”
So she did.
That first book is safely buried on her hard drive, but the process set Shannyn on the path to where she is today—agented with a debut ebook coming out with Kensington in late 2012.
She is recovering from her Diet Coke addiction, fears putting her foot in her mouth on social media, and has a renewed appreciation for the bad girls of the world.
Author Links
http://www.shannynschroeder.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shannyn-Schroeder/536050196443173
https://twitter.com/SSchroeder_
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6575201.Shannyn_Schroeder
Rafflecopter Giveaway:
(Nook Simple Touch ($79.00 Value), TWO Digital Copies of Winner’s Choice O’Leary Romance or FIVE Keeper Kase with O’Leary’s cards
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January 20, 2014
Author, author... Year of the Billionaire Boxed Set by K.C. Falls
Year of the Billionaire Boxed Set
K.C. Falls
Erotic New Adult Romance
**New Box Set Release--Year of the Billionaire Trilogy--Limited time offer. Buy a bundle to save a bundle.**
Knowing His Secret, Taking His Risk and Keeping His Promise are all wrapped into one steamy adventure and available now at great savings!
Knowing His Secret--the scorching beginning to Raina and Tristan's affair.
He looked like the kind of man even my mother would call smokin' hot. Eventually, she did. He felt like the kind of man who didn't just break the rules, but made new ones. He led and it was follow or get out of the way.
Why did a billionaire with a voice like liquid silk and a face like a bad angel take a second look at a girl in no-name jeans, with a fifteen-dollar haircut and a beat up car she calls her "Eep" because the 'J' fell off long ago?
I didn't want to know why and when I thought I knew I didn't want to admit it. By the time I found his secret, it was already too late. His passion had me hooked like a drug. It didn't hurt that he pulled the people I love the most out of harm's way. A girl can get used to a knight in shining armor even when the armor has some very large dents in it.
Taking His Risk--the second installment, full of suspense and surprises.
I was hurtling across the ocean, a mile high, destination unknown. I'd brought a passport and nothing else. He seemed determined to make everything in my life brand new. He revealed me, peeling back layer after layer until all that was left was my raw intimate core. Yet, I hardly knew him.
Crazy is a pretty good word for the kind of uncertainty that comes with a man like Tristan King. I never knew what the day would bring, but I began to expect surprises. That was the biggest problem. Managing my expectations with a man who'd told me I couldn't have any.
For a regular girl, falling for a man like him was taking a very big chance. Was it really possible to love one day at a time?
Keeping His Promise--the soulful and satisfying conclusion to a journey of discovery, danger and delight.
Just carrying a million dollars around is exhausting. Paying my mother's ransom was a relief but I had too much time to think about Tristan on that ferry ride. He was more than I had dared hope for and less than I deserved.
I underestimated his power and didn't give him nearly enough credit for determination. He had me on his jet again, flying high and wanting him. Consequences be damned.
Who could be prepared for what he had to say? I wasn't going to hold him to the promise he intended to keep. When he opened the heavy door to his heart we both knew it would change what we had. Trouble is, I still didn't have a word for what it is we had.
Our bodies tended to do all the talking. Sometimes, it seemed to me there wasn't much left to say.
Buy Links: Amazon B&N
Excerpt: (from part one—Knowing His Secret)
"Do you do that often? Run around naked?" I couldn't help it. He leapt into my imagination--all golden skin and hair against a background of forest that matched his eyes.
"As much as I can," he grinned devilishly at me and caught me blushing, again. "What can I fix you to drink?"
"Whatever you're having's fine."
He cocked an eyebrow at me and began mixing away while I vainly tried to push the image of his nakedness to the back of my mind. He brought me a glass and sat beside me on the sofa. He sat close enough so that his knee was touching my thigh as he turned to clink glasses with me.
"To the play!"
"Break a leg," I answered. I took a nice healthy swig of the pale green drink Tristan had made for us. I nearly choked. It was very tart and very, very strong. "What the hell isthis?" I finally managed to gasp out.
He threw his head back and laughed. "It's a Kamikaze. Vodka, triple sec and a little Rose's lime juice. You don't have to drink it."
"No, that's okay . . . it's growing on me," I told him as I took another swallow. The warmth from his knee against me and the spreading heat from the alcohol were about to make the idea of pride go up in smoke. He took his finger and ran it around my jaw line up to my ear where he traced the outline delicately and tapped my simple hoop earring so that it swayed in the lobe. I pulled my breath in deeply.
"You're certainly growing on me . . ." The suggestive line belonged in a script. I tried to think of a snappy retort and came up empty. He was intoxicating in spite of the predictable moves. There wasn't anything inherently wrong with being rich, handsome and full of yourself, I rationalized. But, if I went for it, I'd have some long awkward weeks ahead of me until the play ran its course. That, and I'd have the rest of the cast, plus those catty bitches to deal with. I'd have 'used' tattooed on my forehead. The men would pity me and the girls would laugh at me.
Author bio:
K.C. Falls is a native of New York. While studying at Columbia University, she met a kindred spirit and together they found a way to trade life in the Big Apple for one in Big Sky country. Much as she loves the city life, she’s never regretted the move.Her small Montana ranch is home to a menagerie of animals including that special human male she shamelessly uses for inspiration. Her tales are sharp-edged stories with strong sexy heroes and the women they can't resist.
K.C.’s homestead is in the southeastern corner of Montana where her great grandmother once lived with her Native American tribe, the Cheyenne. The ‘C’ in ‘K.C.’ stands for that tribe’s name. Once or twice a year, she hires a 'ranch sitter' and takes an urban vacation somewhere hitting all the restaurants, plays, museums and musical performances she can squeeze in. Then it's back to the wide open.
K.C. finds time to feed the chickens, study Native Americana and cook incredible food because there isn't a restaurant around for many miles. She writes in between bites.
Author Links
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kcfallsbooks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kcfallsbooks
Blitz: Trusting a Tiger by Marissa Dobson
Trusting a Tiger Marissa Dobson
Blurb: Felix Grady’s world came crashing down around him when he received confirmation his twin brother was torturing women. One of the victims was none other than his destined mate. Torn between his twin and protecting his mate and clan, Felix must make the ultimate choice between the two. Harmony Kirk suffered for years under her former Alpha and Henry. Now in Alaska under the protection of the Alaskan Tigers, she’s expected to forget everything that happened and commit herself to the clan. Destined to be the mate of one of the top members of the clan doesn’t make things any easier. It doesn’t help that the destined mate is the identical twin to the man who spent years abusing her. Will eliminating Henry make things easier or harder for Harmony? Can she move past Felix’s face and see him as a different man than the one who abused her for years? Will it free her from the past she’s locked herself into, allowing her to be with the man who is her destiny? Buy Links: Sunshine Press ~
Kindle
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Nook
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Smashwords
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All Romance Ebooks
~ Kobo Chapter One The sun glared down from high above when Felix Grady finally stepped out of his cabin. The day off was just what he needed. The long hours he put in while his partner Adam was off mating had worn him out. He slept late and had a leisurely lunch, but now he was tired of doing nothing. He was a tiger that enjoyed being on the move, not lounging around like a bag of lazy bones. Taking a stroll around the compound would clear his mind before checking in with Ty and Tabitha. He knew Tabitha was in good hands with Adam, but his duties were so engrained in him that he couldn’t stop, even for a few hours. It just wasn’t the person he was. Making a circle around the grounds, he checked to be sure all the guards were at their posts, nothing out of the norm. As a last-second change of plan, he turned, deciding to take a detour around the creek. Everyone seemed to love the little area by the creek. There was a little bank where shifters could relax, especially Kallie’s mates Taber and Thorben who were able to fish in their bear form without anyone spotting them. He loved the compound, and the cold weather of Alaska didn’t bother him, although he didn’t have nearly enough time to enjoy it. Being the Captain of Tabitha’s guards takes priority, and with the constant threats to the clans, he rarely had any downtime to enjoy the compound as the other shifters did. Raja stepped out from around a cabin. “I thought you were taking a day to relax? Checking the grounds at your normal time doesn’t break from your routine. You should catch up on much deserved sleep.” Since Raja found his mate, Bethany, he had been more jubilant and full of life. The meaning of life had come back to him in full force. It was a remarkable change from the strict man that he’d been before. Now he lived for more than just his job, he had a mate that he loved. Even his sister Tora had remarked on the change. “Can’t keep me out of the action for long.” He chuckled. “My tiger was restless and demanded I get back to some resemblance of my routine. Any updates?” “Not yet. Connor and Lukas are working on finding Henry and Randolph, but no solid leads. Recently they found out Randolph spent years being Pierce’s second, but he’s awfully quiet so far for the death of his leader. Speaking of it, have you seen Harmony on your walk? I stopped by her studio, and she wasn’t there.” Raja came to stand next to Felix looking out over the creek bubbling its way down the path. “No. I heard the guards have been taken off her door after she complained. Is that the wisest move?” There was something about Harmony that drove him to her. She was so scared and frightened, yet he could sense something hiding under the surface, drawing him to her. Maybe it was the person she used to be before his twin brother ruined the shine she had. “You heard the stink she put up—did you want to listen to that long-term?” Raja shook his head. “Plus, we don’t know when Henry might actually make his move, and we can’t keep her under lock and key indefinitely. Robin will feel if she’s in any danger, and we’re counting on warning from you before he arrives.” “I’ll do what I can.” Being Henry’s twin should have made it easier for him to determine Henry’s next move, but he was almost as blind to it as everyone else. Harmony might be their only early warning when it came to Henry’s final move. Raja patted Felix on the back. “I better get back to Bethany. It’s our night for the family dinner. Enjoy the rest of your night off.” Felix nodded, with a slight envy eating at him. His Lieutenant had a family that most of the clan was envious of. Most tiger shifter off-springs ended up leaving their home clan when they grew up to search for another one to make their name in, separating families across the country. Most shifters don’t have a loyalty to a family like humans do. The loyalty was only to their mate and clan. Parents and siblings were a different category altogether for shifters. Siblings normally remained close though the distances, but parents seemed to have more distances. It’s believed to come from their beast since that was how they were in the wild. Raja and Tora had been close all their lives, and Tora mating did little to separate the siblings. What separation might have happened was closed with the birth of Tora and Marcus’ daughter Scarlet. Since mating with Bethany, the family dinners have been rotated between Tora’s cabin and Raja’s, giving each woman a chance to host. With family and mating on his mind, he decided to extend his walk down the creek bed before going back to check on Tabitha. The lush trees lined the creek, keeping it hidden even from the cabins. It was a safe and secure spot deep within the compound, one you were never sure who you would find there. A familiar scent of honeysuckle and toasted vanilla teased him further along the path to one of the hiding spaces that Kallie favored when she first came to the clan. There, hidden amongst the trees, Harmony sat with her back pressed against the base of one of the trees, tossing rocks at the creek. “Harmony.” He called to her before stepping closer because he didn’t want to scare her. He knew that just the sight of him made her tense, serving as a reminder of the man that forced himself on her. It was still hard for him to believe that his twin had done such an unimaginable thing. They were raised better than that, and having the tiger inside him but being unable to shift was not enough of an excuse for Felix to forgive Henry’s behavior. She slid her legs up tight against her chest and met his gaze, but she didn’t speak. She watched him like a tiger stalking its prey, but she wasn’t strong enough to take him down. In tiger form, he outweighed her by more than a hundred pounds, but even as a human, she was no match for him. His years of training and hours in the gym meant he could take her down without hurting her and without much effort at all. “You okay?” He stepped closer, keeping in her line of sight and his hand way from the gun in his shoulder holster. “I can’t take it any longer.” She leaned her head against the tree and looked at him. “I can’t stand the fear, the panic. Damn it, to be a prisoner, it’s like being with him all over again. I keep waiting for him to find me, to make me pay for running.” “You’re safe here. He’s not going to get to you. I won’t let him. Do you understand that?” He knelt in front of her, just far enough away that they didn’t touch, still respecting her space. “You can’t be sure of that. There’s so many threats against your clan now, with the Texas clan and the rogues.” Her jaw was set as she stared at him. He could read it in her body language that she didn’t believe him. “I told you I’ll protect you, and I will. There are always threats to clans, but that doesn’t change my vow to protect you.” He paused, listening to the quietness, when an idea struck him. “I know you’re feeling boxed in, so how about if we take a drive? There’s no need to go into town or anything, but a drive through the area might help you recharge and get outside of the compound for a bit. What do you say?” “I don’t know.” He could feel her hesitation. “If we’re going to live together in the same clan, you’ll need to move past your apprehension of me. I understand why you have it, but I can’t change my looks or what Henry did to you. I also know words don’t mean much, but I’m nothing like he is. Let me prove it. There’s somewhere I want to show you.” He stood. “What do you say?” She nodded. “Okay. To get out of here, even just for a short time, would be heavenly.” He smiled at her. “I need to swing by to see Tabitha and get the keys for one of the guards’ SUVs then we can go. Ten minutes.” She stood and brushed off the butt of her jeans. “Should I meet you somewhere then or something?” “Come along—it’s fine. I’m off-duty today, but I want to check in with Adam.” He led the way up the creek a bit further until they came to a small footbridge to cross back over. There were so many things he wanted to ask her, but he didn’t. Spooking her would only send her back into her retreat, and it took too long to get her out of her tigress form to risk anything that might send her back. He’d wait until she was ready. Silence fell over them like a warm blanket. The only thing heard was the crunch of the occasional stick under his boots. There were no birds that frequented the area—too many tigers and bears in the area that scared them off. Felix always enjoyed the quiet, but now in the quiet he found his thoughts full of the woman standing next to him. “Hey, Felix,” Tabitha called to him as they stepped out of the trees. “Tabitha and Adam, just the people I was on my way to see. What are you doing out here?” Felix quickly scanned the grounds, checking for any threat. “Robin’s down with a cold and asked me to check on Harmony,” Adam explained. “I do hope Robin is all right.” The common cold was not something Felix or the other shifters had to deal with, only their human counterparts. Once a shifter went through the change, they couldn’t catch a cold or the flu, which came in quite handy. Even though Robin was human, she would gain a higher tolerance to illness from her mating, making illness uncommon. The Alpha/clan bond between Robin and Harmony was highly unusual, especially considering Robin was human, but it was there. Robin had no idea how to handle the connection as a shifter automatically did, so it was becoming a learning process for her. In the meantime, the connection was draining her to the point of illness. “Bethany healed her, so she should be back to normal soon.” Tabitha nodded. Felix accompanied Robin on her daily visits with Harmony a few times a week, trying to get her used to his presence. Robin was working closely with Harmony to get her to open up and to work past what Henry put her through. “I was going to take Harmony out for a drive. She’s suffering with a little cabin fever, and I thought a little time off the grounds would give us both a break.” He almost asked if they would like to join, but instead he kept it to himself. It wasn’t for Harmony’s sake but because he wanted to be with her without the others gathered around. He felt the need to prove to her that he was nothing like Henry. Harmony wasn’t the first woman to see him as a threat or to fear him, and in most cases, that’s what he needed. With Tabitha’s security on the line, he had to seem like a bastard that would do what he threatened. His threat should come from his actions and body language not necessarily from words. However, when it came to Harmony, he was going out of his way to see that she didn’t fear him. Why? * * * Trees whipped past the SUV window as Harmony and Felix headed further and further away from the compound. Her heart beat frantically against her ribs, her mind racing through her fears. She could taste her pulse in her throat. What if this was a trap? He could be leading her to Henry. After all, they were twins—surely they had some bond. “You’re going to have Robin calling.” Felix never turned his gaze away from the road. “What?” “Your fear. If I can feel it this strongly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Robin calls and orders me to return you to the compound at once.” He looked over at her. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Do you want me to take you back?” Part of her wanted to scream ‘yes,’ but if he were taking her to Henry would he have offered to take her back to the compound? She didn’t think so. More importantly, Robin trusted Felix, therefore she was trying to. He might look like the man who had raped and tortured her for months, leaving scars all over her body, but from what she saw of him, he was different. Staying in Alaska close to Robin, the only person she had any loyalties to, she’d have to trust Felix and the other clan members. This was the first step on the long road to the life she once had. Not that she ever thought she’d be the person she once was. “No, I want to go.” “I know you’re scared. I should have asked someone else to come, but with Robin a little under the weather, I was out of people you trusted. We could do this another day when Robin can come with us.” Pawing at her jeans, she tried to wipe the sweat that had coated her palms away. “It’s fine. I wanted to get out. You know Adam wouldn’t have wanted Robin to leave the security of the compound without him, and you both couldn’t have left Tabitha unguarded.” “Then Adam could take you and Robin, and I will stay at the compound.” “No.” She turned away from the window to look at him. “Felix, I want to trust you, and I’m trying.” “I understand. Every time you look at me, it’s hard for you to see me as someone other than Henry. It’s going to be over soon.” Hadn’t she heard that since she arrived at the compound? It had been weeks of sitting around waiting for Henry to either attack or for someone to find him. In all that time, her leg nearly healed from the nasty bear trap wound. She was tired of waiting—if only she could do something about it. Even if Henry couldn’t shift, he had proven more than once she was no match for him. “There’s a slight difference in your features. Your jawbone is a little more rounded, the dimples are a little deeper, and your eyes are different. They still hold the edge of danger, but there’s a touch of understand and friendliness to them. The biggest difference between you two is your attitude. He’s, well…” “Insane?” he supplied. “Yes.” She shrugged. It was awful to say it aloud, but it was the truth. “I’m sorry.” “There’s no need to apologize. It’s true, and I’ve known it for years. When we turned eighteen, our parents moved to Australia so they didn’t have to deal with it any longer. The tiger inside him has driven him crazy from not being able to shift. The only difference between Henry and a rogue is that rogues are put down when the tiger takes over. Looks like Henry’s fate will be finding him at last.” Felix turned the SUV onto a dirt road, doing his best to avoid the potholes. She felt her eyes narrow down at him, watching him intently. “Even though he’s your brother, you’ll kill him?” He slid the SUV into Park and looked at her. “Yes. Brother or not, he can’t do what he’s done and get away with it. There’s no other recourse for what he’s done.” He let out a deep sigh. “Years ago, when the tiger first started to drive him toward madness, I wanted to do it then, before he could cause any problems. It might seem heartless to some, but we’re not like humans. There’s not a hospital we can put him in. It’s what our kind does when one is sick, we put them out of their misery. Henry is driven by his madness. He’s no longer the brother I grew up with.” Without thinking, she reached across the gap and laid her hand on his lap. It’s what their kind did when someone hurt. Touch gave them comfort. Her fingers brushed against the back of his hand, and unexpected electricity shot through her. “No!” Tears welled in her eyes with the knowledge of what that meant. Oh, shit—it can’t be! Author Bio: Born and raised in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, Marissa Dobson now resides about an hour from Washington, D.C. She’s a lady who likes to keep busy, and is always busy doing something. With two different college degrees, she believes you are never done learning. Being the first daughter to an avid reader, this gave her the advantage of learning to read at a young age. Since learning to read she has always had her nose in a book. It wasn’t until she was a teenager that she started writing down the stories she came up with. Marissa is blessed with a wonderful supportive husband, Thomas. He’s her other half and allows her to stay home and pursue her writing. He puts up with all her quirks and listens to her brainstorm in the middle of the night. Her writing buddies Max (a cocker spaniel) and Dawne (a beagle mix) are always around to listen to her bounce ideas off them. They might not be able to answer, but they’re helpful in their own ways. She loves to hear from readers so send her an email at marissa@marissadobson.com or visit her online at http://www.marissadobson.com.
January 16, 2014
Author, author... Reburn & Hot Zone by Anne Marsh
...read all about it !!!
Reburn & Hot Zone
Hot Shots Series #1&2
by: Anne Marsh
Blurb- REBURN (Hot Shots #1)
Not every man knows how to put out a fire. Fewer know when to keep it burning…
HE BATTLES THE FLAMES…
Nobody messes with Sam Clayton—or his territory. The big bruising ranger is the last line of defense in forest infernos and he’ll go up against anyone who gets in the way of putting them out. Even the FBI tracking a terrorist through the heart of a blaze. But when Sam discovers the agent is ex-lover Olivia Albert, saving himself will be more dangerous than any fire he’s faced before…
SHE LIVES FOR THE HEAT…
Olivia needs Sam’s help to survive the heat, but when it comes to keeping her quarry from detonating a major strike, this Bureau agent is calling the shots. Except when Sam’s hard body and expert hands are reigniting a second chance that could be hot enough to burn forever
Buy Links: Amazon ARe B&N Kobo
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Blurb- HOT ZONE (Hot Shots #2)
FIGHTING FIRE IS HIS NATURE
To Dade Johnson, fire is a danger he can handle. But the blaze he feels from the moment he lays eyes—and hands, and mouth—on Sarah Jo is too hot to handle. Something about the free-spirited camp cook has him throwing caution to the wind. Little does the hotshots’ second-in-command know he’s cozying up with a suspected arsonist….
SHE CAN’T HELP FANNING THE FLAMES
Sarah Jo knows she should steer clear of Dade. A bona fide hero who battles wildland fires every day deserves better than a woman on the run. But their five-alarm attraction has Sarah Jo too weak in the knees to resist playing with fire—until her past catches up with her. Soon, she’ll have to choose between surrendering her secrets—or taking them both down in flames….
Buy Links: Amazon B&N
Don't forget to follow along with the entire tour !! http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2013/12/now-booking-tasty-blurb-tour-for-reburn.html
Author Info
I live in Northern California with my husband, two kids and four cats. After ten years of graduate school and too many degrees, I escaped to become a technical writer. When not planted firmly in front of the laptop translating Engineer into English, I enjoy gardening, running (even if it’s just to the 7-11 for slurpees), and reading books curled up with my kids. The best part of writing romance, however, is finally being able to answer the question: “So… what do you do with a PhD in Slavic Languages and Literatures?” You can visit me online at www.anne-marsh.com.
Author Links
http://annemarsh.wordpress.com/
https://twitter.com/anne_marsh
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anne-Marsh/225897900782649
Rafflecopter Giveaway
(Grand Prize Pack of Three Smoke Jumpers Romances by Anne Marsh, FIVE Winner's Choice Backlist Romances, or TWO Print Copies of HOT SHOT Anthology featuring FIRED UP, Book Three of Hot Shots Series by Anne Marsh)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Reburn & Hot Zone
Hot Shots Series #1&2
by: Anne Marsh
Blurb- REBURN (Hot Shots #1)
Not every man knows how to put out a fire. Fewer know when to keep it burning…
HE BATTLES THE FLAMES…Nobody messes with Sam Clayton—or his territory. The big bruising ranger is the last line of defense in forest infernos and he’ll go up against anyone who gets in the way of putting them out. Even the FBI tracking a terrorist through the heart of a blaze. But when Sam discovers the agent is ex-lover Olivia Albert, saving himself will be more dangerous than any fire he’s faced before…
SHE LIVES FOR THE HEAT…
Olivia needs Sam’s help to survive the heat, but when it comes to keeping her quarry from detonating a major strike, this Bureau agent is calling the shots. Except when Sam’s hard body and expert hands are reigniting a second chance that could be hot enough to burn forever
Buy Links: Amazon ARe B&N Kobo
* * * * * * * *
Blurb- HOT ZONE (Hot Shots #2)
FIGHTING FIRE IS HIS NATURETo Dade Johnson, fire is a danger he can handle. But the blaze he feels from the moment he lays eyes—and hands, and mouth—on Sarah Jo is too hot to handle. Something about the free-spirited camp cook has him throwing caution to the wind. Little does the hotshots’ second-in-command know he’s cozying up with a suspected arsonist….
SHE CAN’T HELP FANNING THE FLAMES
Sarah Jo knows she should steer clear of Dade. A bona fide hero who battles wildland fires every day deserves better than a woman on the run. But their five-alarm attraction has Sarah Jo too weak in the knees to resist playing with fire—until her past catches up with her. Soon, she’ll have to choose between surrendering her secrets—or taking them both down in flames….
Buy Links: Amazon B&N
Don't forget to follow along with the entire tour !! http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2013/12/now-booking-tasty-blurb-tour-for-reburn.html
Author Info
I live in Northern California with my husband, two kids and four cats. After ten years of graduate school and too many degrees, I escaped to become a technical writer. When not planted firmly in front of the laptop translating Engineer into English, I enjoy gardening, running (even if it’s just to the 7-11 for slurpees), and reading books curled up with my kids. The best part of writing romance, however, is finally being able to answer the question: “So… what do you do with a PhD in Slavic Languages and Literatures?” You can visit me online at www.anne-marsh.com.Author Links
http://annemarsh.wordpress.com/
https://twitter.com/anne_marsh
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anne-Marsh/225897900782649
Rafflecopter Giveaway
(Grand Prize Pack of Three Smoke Jumpers Romances by Anne Marsh, FIVE Winner's Choice Backlist Romances, or TWO Print Copies of HOT SHOT Anthology featuring FIRED UP, Book Three of Hot Shots Series by Anne Marsh)
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Author, author.... Public Affairs by Cassandra Carr + review
...read all about it !!
PUBLIC AFFAIRSCASSANDRA CARR
Blurb: Nate O'Halloran is a PR superstar, an expert in crisis management for his image-conscious celebrity clients. When his college roommate, now a hospital director in Buffalo, calls to beg for his help-- a cancer researcher on staff has disappeared with millions of dollars' w,orth of government research funds-- Nate agrees to help right away, though this situation is pretty small potatoes for him.
Val Chase, the hospital's PR director, is none too thrilled when Nate shows up; does it mean her boss doesn't trust her to handle this mess herself? Against her better judgment, Val decides she and Nate have to work together to save the hospital's reputation, though the explosive attraction they feel is making any actual "work" difficult...
Buy links: Amazon B&N
My Review:
I loved this book! It's as simple as that. Okay, it's more complicated than that....I loved the creation of these two great characters, Val and Nate. I could probably also admit 1 tiny little thing like....I didn't like Nate right along with Val the minute he walked into Doug's office. I was also a little miffed at her boss Doug for not letting her in on his plan. No one enjoys being blind-sided.
To give Nate some credit though, he did redeem himself pretty quickly. They also bo th have a few things in common which isn't a bad thing. It's very evident they both like their jobs and they have an appreciation for vintage cars.
The chemistry is also unmistakable even though Val fights it in the beginning.
Kudos to Ms. Carr for a great story line, definitely to my liking.
Author bio:
Cassandra Carr is a multi-award winning romance writer. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out online. Cassandra's books have won numerous "Best Book Of" awards and her novella Unexpected Top was nominated in the E-book Erotic Romance category of RT's Reviewers' Choice Awards. She thinks the best part of being a writer is how she writes about love and sex while most others struggle with daily commutes, micro-managing bosses and cranky co-workers. Her inspiration comes from everywhere, but she'd particularly like to thank the Buffalo Sabres, the hockey team near and dear to her heart.
For more information about Cassandra, check out her website, "like" her Facebook fan page or follow her on Twitter .
Links:
Website: http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassand... Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cassandra_carr Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/booksbycasscarr/
PUBLIC AFFAIRSCASSANDRA CARR
Blurb: Nate O'Halloran is a PR superstar, an expert in crisis management for his image-conscious celebrity clients. When his college roommate, now a hospital director in Buffalo, calls to beg for his help-- a cancer researcher on staff has disappeared with millions of dollars' w,orth of government research funds-- Nate agrees to help right away, though this situation is pretty small potatoes for him.
Val Chase, the hospital's PR director, is none too thrilled when Nate shows up; does it mean her boss doesn't trust her to handle this mess herself? Against her better judgment, Val decides she and Nate have to work together to save the hospital's reputation, though the explosive attraction they feel is making any actual "work" difficult...
Buy links: Amazon B&N
My Review:
I loved this book! It's as simple as that. Okay, it's more complicated than that....I loved the creation of these two great characters, Val and Nate. I could probably also admit 1 tiny little thing like....I didn't like Nate right along with Val the minute he walked into Doug's office. I was also a little miffed at her boss Doug for not letting her in on his plan. No one enjoys being blind-sided.
To give Nate some credit though, he did redeem himself pretty quickly. They also bo th have a few things in common which isn't a bad thing. It's very evident they both like their jobs and they have an appreciation for vintage cars.
The chemistry is also unmistakable even though Val fights it in the beginning.
Kudos to Ms. Carr for a great story line, definitely to my liking.
Author bio:
Cassandra Carr is a multi-award winning romance writer. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out online. Cassandra's books have won numerous "Best Book Of" awards and her novella Unexpected Top was nominated in the E-book Erotic Romance category of RT's Reviewers' Choice Awards. She thinks the best part of being a writer is how she writes about love and sex while most others struggle with daily commutes, micro-managing bosses and cranky co-workers. Her inspiration comes from everywhere, but she'd particularly like to thank the Buffalo Sabres, the hockey team near and dear to her heart.
For more information about Cassandra, check out her website, "like" her Facebook fan page or follow her on Twitter .
Links:
Website: http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassand... Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cassandra_carr Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/booksbycasscarr/
January 14, 2014
Author, author... Trusting a Tiger by Marissa Dobson
...read all about her !!!
Congrats to Marissa Dobson!!!
Trusting a Tiger, Alaskan Tigers 5, released today !!!
Felix Grady’s world came crashing down around him when he received confirmation his twin brother was torturing women. One of the victims was none other than his destined mate. Torn between his twin and protecting his mate and clan, Felix must make the ultimate choice between the two.Harmony Kirk suffered for years under her former Alpha and Henry. Now in Alaska under the protection of the Alaskan Tigers, she’s expected to forget everything that happened and commit herself to the clan. Destined to be the mate of one of the top members of the clan doesn’t make things any easier. It doesn’t help that the destined mate is the identical twin to the man who spent years abusing her.Will eliminating Henry make things easier or harder for Harmony? Can she move past Felix’s face and see him as a different man than the one who abused her for years? Will it free her from the past she’s locked herself into, allowing her to be with the man who is her destiny?
Buy Links: Amazon B&N Kobo ARe Smashwords Sunshine Press For more of the Alaska Tigers Series, follow Marissa Dobson at Sunshine Press Books or at her website, Marissa Dobson.
Congrats to Marissa Dobson!!!
Trusting a Tiger, Alaskan Tigers 5, released today !!!
Felix Grady’s world came crashing down around him when he received confirmation his twin brother was torturing women. One of the victims was none other than his destined mate. Torn between his twin and protecting his mate and clan, Felix must make the ultimate choice between the two.Harmony Kirk suffered for years under her former Alpha and Henry. Now in Alaska under the protection of the Alaskan Tigers, she’s expected to forget everything that happened and commit herself to the clan. Destined to be the mate of one of the top members of the clan doesn’t make things any easier. It doesn’t help that the destined mate is the identical twin to the man who spent years abusing her.Will eliminating Henry make things easier or harder for Harmony? Can she move past Felix’s face and see him as a different man than the one who abused her for years? Will it free her from the past she’s locked herself into, allowing her to be with the man who is her destiny?
Buy Links: Amazon B&N Kobo ARe Smashwords Sunshine Press For more of the Alaska Tigers Series, follow Marissa Dobson at Sunshine Press Books or at her website, Marissa Dobson.
Tasty Tuesday & A Teaser or Two ~ Author T.A. Chase
Thanks for visiting A Passion for Romance today. We have started a new schedule for Tuesdays called Tasty Tuesday with a Teaser. Every Tuesday we'll welcome an author who will share a foodie type post with a recipe or two and some book promo! Today please help me welcome T.A. Chase :) * * * * * * Thank you for having me today. I’m T.A. Chase and I write gay romance for MLR Press, among other publishers. I’ve been writing gay-or m/m-romance since 2006 and loving it. I know this post is supposed to be about food in some way or another. Since I don’t have any story centered around food or foodies, I got thinking about which of my characters had the potential to turn into a foodie and my mind landed on Mordred from my Dragons series at MLR Press. He and his lover appear in all three Dragon books, but in the first one, Here Be Dragons, he lived in the Realm of Dreams and food probably just appeared without any thought on his part. More than likely, it tasted awesome as well. Since it is the Realm of Dreams, they wouldn’t have yucky food to eat. Lol By the time we reached Fighting Dragons, Mordred and George are mortal now and living in Dublin, Ireland. Mordred is learning how to cook by watching cooking shows and he’s discovering how much he enjoys it. So I can totally see Mordred becoming a foodie and an awesome baker because he’s a sensualist. He’d love the taste of the spices and the different complex flavors that can be created with just the right blend of sweet and sour or hot and salty. I’m not a foodie and I’m also slowly becoming vegan. It’s difficult to keep on track at times because there aren’t a ton of restaurants in my area that cater to vegans. So I make do with what I can if I go out for lunch or dinner. Of course, like any kind of cooking-vegan or otherwise-it’s much easier to cook at home. I never used to cook, but now I’m finding that I actually enjoy doing it and I love to bake. Though I tend to give the cupcakes and cookies I make away. I really don’t need to eat all of them. lol Going vegan is a choice I made both for health reasons and moral reasons. I don’t like how we treat the cows, pigs, chickens, and another other animals used to feed us. Plus I’ve found that for me….I feel better. But I’m not going to preach or anything. Each person makes their own choice on how to live their lives and I’m not about to get into people’s faces about it. Since I don’t want them in mine. Lol Before I go though, I thought I’d share two of my favorite vegan recipes. I’m not confident enough in my own cooking yet to cook something without one. Lol Maybe someday I’ll create my own recipes in the kitchen. Both of these recipes can be found at The Post Punk Kitchen. http://www.theppk.com/ A vegan website whose owner, Isa Chandra Moskowitz is an amazing cook. :) The first is a risotto (because I adore risotto and she has several wonderful vegan risotto recipes.) The second is a cookie recipe for dessert and my thought is if they are too spicy, you can cut back on the cayenne pepper. On the other hand, if you like them spicier, you can add more, whichever you prefer. :) Thank you so much for having me and I hope you enjoyed my post and might consider trying out these recipes below. If you’d like to check my other books out, stop by my website, www.tachase.com Also, if you’re interested in checking out my Dragon series at MLR Press, here’s the link for my author page at MLR. http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowAuthorBooks.php?list=_ABKLIST092&author=T.A.!Chase Here Be Dragons:
Kael Hammerson works at a research lab in Ireland. He knows that Ireland is a strange place for a herpetologist to work, but he's running from an abusive relationship and Ireland is the fartherest away he could get. It's been a year since he left his ex-partner and his heart is ready to heal. Hugh Price is interested in Kael, but he's not sure if being Kael's boss will hamper any budding relationship between them. One day, a strange sea creature is brought to Hugh's attention and he knows Kael's the only one who might be able to figure the origin of the specimen. Dragons have returned to the mortal world, but Gaia, the earth mother, needs Kael and Hugh's help to keep the creatures from making humans extinct. Buy Link:
Amazon
Fighting Dragons:
On St. Patrick's Day, when Irish magic is strongest, a meddling elf gives Bailey Stevenson and David Wellmine a chance to embrace the love simmering between them. Sergeant Bailey Stevenson and Captain David Wellmine dance around their attraction to each other. Bailey is more than willing to take their friendship in a more intimate direction, but David can't climb out from under his father's thumb long enough to take the next step. On St. Patrick's Day, when Irish magic is strongest, a meddling elf gives Bailey and David a chance to step beyond their doubts and fears to embrace the love simmering below the surface between them. But when the spell is over, will David break the chains of his father's plans for him and give Bailey his heart? Or will Bailey suffer a harsher wound than the ones left by the war? Buy Link: Amazon Chili Pumpkin Cranberry Risotto with Spicy Toasted Pumpkin Seeds 3 lb sugar pumpkin, or any winter squash (butternut, kabocha, acorn, what have you)2 tablespoons olive oil 1 small yellow onion, diced small 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger 4 hot red chilies, seeded and thinly sliced 1 1/2 cups arborio rice 1/3 cup dry white wine 5 cups vegetable broth, kept warm on the stove top 1/2 cup dried cranberries 1 cup coconut milk 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (grate it fresh if you can) 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon juice of one lime 1 teaspoon agave or pure maple syrup For the pumpkin seeds, if using: 2 teaspoons paprika 1/8 teaspoon cayenne 1/8 teaspoon salt First the pumpkin needs to be roasted. I would suggest doing this well in advance of preparing the risotto for two reasons. One, you’ll need it to cool down so you can peel and chop it. And two, that way it doesn’t seem like you’re cooking for so long and the actual risotto takes only about 35 minutes. If you’re using pumpkin you can also roast the seeds to use as a garnish. Yeah, you can roast the seeds of other squashes, I just don’t think they taste very good. So. To prepare the pumpkin and seeds: Preheat oven to 350 F. Hack pumpkin in half and remove the seeds and stringy bits with a tablespoon. Reserve the seeds and place them in a colander to clean. Lightly oil a baking sheet and place the pumpkin face down on sheet. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until easily pierced with a fork, but not completely mushy. Once cooled, peel off the skin and chop pumpkin into bite sized pieces. In the meantime, wash the pumpkin seeds and dry completely with a kitchen towel. Place on a baking sheet and sprinkle lightly with a little olive oil, toss to coat. You can toast them in the oven while the pumpkin bakes, it usually takes about 15 minutes. Toss once or twice. Remove from oven and place in a bowl to cool. Once cooled, sprinkle with the spices to coat. And now and only now, are you ready to actually start the risotto. Have your broth ready and warming on the stove before you begin. Preheat a heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Saute the onion, garlic, ginger and chilies in the oil for about 7 minutes, stirring often so you don’t burn it. Add the risotto and stir to coat with oil. Add wine to deglaze the pot, then add first cup of vegetable broth. Use a wooden spoon to stir until most of the water is absorbed. You don’t have to stir the entire time, just as frequently as you can stand. Continue adding veggie broth then stirring a few more times, until only a cup of broth is left. When you’re at the last cup, add the pumpkin and cranberries and repeat stirring. When most of the liquid has absorbed, add salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and lime juice. Stir in coconut milk. Cook for about 10 more minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust salt. At this point you can also add a teaspoon or so of agave. This doesn’t make it sweet per se, it just enhances the natural sweetness of the squash and cranberries. Let sit for about 10 minutes before serving, to let the flavors “marry.” Scoop into bowls and garnish with pumpkin seeds. Mexican Hot Chocolate Snickerdoodles Makes 2 dozen Cookies A beautiful crackle topped chocolate cookie with a spicy cayenne kick and a sugary cinnamon coating. Sold? For the topping: 1/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon For the cookies: 1/2 cup canola oil 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup pure maple syrup 3 tablespoons almond milk (Or your preferred non-dairy milk) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon chocolate extract (or more vanilla extract if you have no chocolate) 1 2/3 cups flour 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon cayenne Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Mix the topping ingredients together on a flat plate. Set aside. In a medium mixing bowl, use a fork to vigorously mix together oil, sugar, syrup, and milk. Mix in extracts. Sift in remaining ingredients, stirring as you add them. Once all ingredients are added mix until you’ve got a pliable dough. Roll dough into walnut sized balls. Pat into the sugar topping to flatten into roughly 2 inch discs. Transfer to baking sheet, sugar side up, at least 2 inches apart (they do spread). This should be easy as the the bottom of the cookies should just stick to your fingers so you can just flip them over onto the baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, they should be a bit spread and crackly on top. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. * * * * * * Thanks so much for stopping in today! Stay tuned for next Tuesday when we will have Author Harlie Williams sharing goodies !!!
Kael Hammerson works at a research lab in Ireland. He knows that Ireland is a strange place for a herpetologist to work, but he's running from an abusive relationship and Ireland is the fartherest away he could get. It's been a year since he left his ex-partner and his heart is ready to heal. Hugh Price is interested in Kael, but he's not sure if being Kael's boss will hamper any budding relationship between them. One day, a strange sea creature is brought to Hugh's attention and he knows Kael's the only one who might be able to figure the origin of the specimen. Dragons have returned to the mortal world, but Gaia, the earth mother, needs Kael and Hugh's help to keep the creatures from making humans extinct. Buy Link:
Amazon
Fighting Dragons:
On St. Patrick's Day, when Irish magic is strongest, a meddling elf gives Bailey Stevenson and David Wellmine a chance to embrace the love simmering between them. Sergeant Bailey Stevenson and Captain David Wellmine dance around their attraction to each other. Bailey is more than willing to take their friendship in a more intimate direction, but David can't climb out from under his father's thumb long enough to take the next step. On St. Patrick's Day, when Irish magic is strongest, a meddling elf gives Bailey and David a chance to step beyond their doubts and fears to embrace the love simmering below the surface between them. But when the spell is over, will David break the chains of his father's plans for him and give Bailey his heart? Or will Bailey suffer a harsher wound than the ones left by the war? Buy Link: Amazon Chili Pumpkin Cranberry Risotto with Spicy Toasted Pumpkin Seeds 3 lb sugar pumpkin, or any winter squash (butternut, kabocha, acorn, what have you)2 tablespoons olive oil 1 small yellow onion, diced small 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger 4 hot red chilies, seeded and thinly sliced 1 1/2 cups arborio rice 1/3 cup dry white wine 5 cups vegetable broth, kept warm on the stove top 1/2 cup dried cranberries 1 cup coconut milk 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (grate it fresh if you can) 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon juice of one lime 1 teaspoon agave or pure maple syrup For the pumpkin seeds, if using: 2 teaspoons paprika 1/8 teaspoon cayenne 1/8 teaspoon salt First the pumpkin needs to be roasted. I would suggest doing this well in advance of preparing the risotto for two reasons. One, you’ll need it to cool down so you can peel and chop it. And two, that way it doesn’t seem like you’re cooking for so long and the actual risotto takes only about 35 minutes. If you’re using pumpkin you can also roast the seeds to use as a garnish. Yeah, you can roast the seeds of other squashes, I just don’t think they taste very good. So. To prepare the pumpkin and seeds: Preheat oven to 350 F. Hack pumpkin in half and remove the seeds and stringy bits with a tablespoon. Reserve the seeds and place them in a colander to clean. Lightly oil a baking sheet and place the pumpkin face down on sheet. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until easily pierced with a fork, but not completely mushy. Once cooled, peel off the skin and chop pumpkin into bite sized pieces. In the meantime, wash the pumpkin seeds and dry completely with a kitchen towel. Place on a baking sheet and sprinkle lightly with a little olive oil, toss to coat. You can toast them in the oven while the pumpkin bakes, it usually takes about 15 minutes. Toss once or twice. Remove from oven and place in a bowl to cool. Once cooled, sprinkle with the spices to coat. And now and only now, are you ready to actually start the risotto. Have your broth ready and warming on the stove before you begin. Preheat a heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Saute the onion, garlic, ginger and chilies in the oil for about 7 minutes, stirring often so you don’t burn it. Add the risotto and stir to coat with oil. Add wine to deglaze the pot, then add first cup of vegetable broth. Use a wooden spoon to stir until most of the water is absorbed. You don’t have to stir the entire time, just as frequently as you can stand. Continue adding veggie broth then stirring a few more times, until only a cup of broth is left. When you’re at the last cup, add the pumpkin and cranberries and repeat stirring. When most of the liquid has absorbed, add salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and lime juice. Stir in coconut milk. Cook for about 10 more minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust salt. At this point you can also add a teaspoon or so of agave. This doesn’t make it sweet per se, it just enhances the natural sweetness of the squash and cranberries. Let sit for about 10 minutes before serving, to let the flavors “marry.” Scoop into bowls and garnish with pumpkin seeds. Mexican Hot Chocolate Snickerdoodles Makes 2 dozen Cookies A beautiful crackle topped chocolate cookie with a spicy cayenne kick and a sugary cinnamon coating. Sold? For the topping: 1/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon For the cookies: 1/2 cup canola oil 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup pure maple syrup 3 tablespoons almond milk (Or your preferred non-dairy milk) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon chocolate extract (or more vanilla extract if you have no chocolate) 1 2/3 cups flour 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon cayenne Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Mix the topping ingredients together on a flat plate. Set aside. In a medium mixing bowl, use a fork to vigorously mix together oil, sugar, syrup, and milk. Mix in extracts. Sift in remaining ingredients, stirring as you add them. Once all ingredients are added mix until you’ve got a pliable dough. Roll dough into walnut sized balls. Pat into the sugar topping to flatten into roughly 2 inch discs. Transfer to baking sheet, sugar side up, at least 2 inches apart (they do spread). This should be easy as the the bottom of the cookies should just stick to your fingers so you can just flip them over onto the baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, they should be a bit spread and crackly on top. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. * * * * * * Thanks so much for stopping in today! Stay tuned for next Tuesday when we will have Author Harlie Williams sharing goodies !!!
Author, author... Enslaved to Love: Never Forget by Soleil Berlin
..read al about it !!
Enslaved to Love: Never ForgetbySoleil Berlina historical and multicultural romance Blurb: Marie Bernard is sent to France with the feeling of Déjà vu. Catching the eye of two men, Yves and Leonce, she is determined not to succumb to the advances of Yves, the mysterious man who seems to ignite a burning desire inside of her. Torn between two men, will the past and present collide and will she risk it all to be with the love that she could never forget?
buy links: Amazon Amazon UK Smashwords B&N Diesel ebooks Sony Createspace Bookista Publishing
Marie Blanco hurried along the moonlit path. Though she had nothing but moonlight to guide her, she did not stumble. She had taken this route many times on her way to see her secret lover, Pierre Aragon. It had been at least a week since their last tryst and though she often berated herself for not fighting harder, she could never resist the pull between them. Her hands trembled as the held up her long skirt. It wouldn't be easy to explain away dirt and grass stains when she returned. Finally the familiar cottage came into view. She could see a faint light shining though the curtained windows. Marie paused in front of the door with thoughts of fleeing in her mind. If she left now, perhaps she could pretend that this love affair had never begun. Before she could will her body to move away, the door opened and Marie came face to face with the lover she knew so well. Pierre had been anxiously waiting for Marie to arrive. All of his day was spent counting down the hours until they were together again. Seeing her indecisive stance in the doorway goaded him into action. He quickly took hold of her wrist and guided her into the cottage and into his waiting arms. Her hair smelled earthy and alive. Her skin was soft and warm. Her body trembled slightly with her emotions. This heavenly creature with eyes the color of expensive chocolate had been tormenting his mind and heart since the moment he first laid eyes on her. "You came my love," Pierre gasped in wonder. His emotions caused his voice to become deeper and a bit breathy as if to not ruin the moment. "I couldn't stay away," Marie answered piteously. It was true. No matter how much she berated herself in her mind, she continued to come back for more. A hand lightly gripped Marie's chin and drew her face up to look into the eyes of the man she loved. A single tear drop tumbled down her cheek as she trembled again with emotion. "No my love," Pierre shook his head as he leaned closer. "It is I who cannot stay away from you. It is as if I have been bewitched." Before Marie could think of a retort, Pierre took her face between his hands and drew their lips together. What started as a simple brush of lips turned into a waterfall of kisses as their emotions crashed over them. Guiding them to the single bed, Pierre gently tumbled them down so his body pinned Marie's to the soft blanket. Marie was lost in the sensation of Pierre's warm hard body so tight against her own. Neither lover heard the sound of crunching tree limbs and rustling bushes until the door was abruptly thrown open with such force it slammed against the wall. Pierre was grabbed by the back of his neck and pinned face first against a wall. Marie was horrified when she opened her eyes to see Monsieur Gil and his two sons. His larger son Miguel had Pierre pinned against the far wall as the other, Leonce, grabbed Marie by her wrists. "Did you really think you were going to get away with this girl?" Gil bellowed. The windows shook with the force of his voice as he took hold of the back of Marie's hair. She screamed as several strands of hair were ripped from her head to fall on the bed below. "You have made a fool of me for the last time!" Gil dragged Marie from the bed and towards the door of the cottage. "Don't forget me!" Marie tries in vain to fight the two men off and return to her captured lover. "Never forget our love!" Pierre fights hard to remove the painful hand from his neck, but can only struggle helplessly as he watches his love carried away into the night.
Enslaved to Love: Never ForgetbySoleil Berlina historical and multicultural romance Blurb: Marie Bernard is sent to France with the feeling of Déjà vu. Catching the eye of two men, Yves and Leonce, she is determined not to succumb to the advances of Yves, the mysterious man who seems to ignite a burning desire inside of her. Torn between two men, will the past and present collide and will she risk it all to be with the love that she could never forget?
buy links: Amazon Amazon UK Smashwords B&N Diesel ebooks Sony Createspace Bookista Publishing
Marie Blanco hurried along the moonlit path. Though she had nothing but moonlight to guide her, she did not stumble. She had taken this route many times on her way to see her secret lover, Pierre Aragon. It had been at least a week since their last tryst and though she often berated herself for not fighting harder, she could never resist the pull between them. Her hands trembled as the held up her long skirt. It wouldn't be easy to explain away dirt and grass stains when she returned. Finally the familiar cottage came into view. She could see a faint light shining though the curtained windows. Marie paused in front of the door with thoughts of fleeing in her mind. If she left now, perhaps she could pretend that this love affair had never begun. Before she could will her body to move away, the door opened and Marie came face to face with the lover she knew so well. Pierre had been anxiously waiting for Marie to arrive. All of his day was spent counting down the hours until they were together again. Seeing her indecisive stance in the doorway goaded him into action. He quickly took hold of her wrist and guided her into the cottage and into his waiting arms. Her hair smelled earthy and alive. Her skin was soft and warm. Her body trembled slightly with her emotions. This heavenly creature with eyes the color of expensive chocolate had been tormenting his mind and heart since the moment he first laid eyes on her. "You came my love," Pierre gasped in wonder. His emotions caused his voice to become deeper and a bit breathy as if to not ruin the moment. "I couldn't stay away," Marie answered piteously. It was true. No matter how much she berated herself in her mind, she continued to come back for more. A hand lightly gripped Marie's chin and drew her face up to look into the eyes of the man she loved. A single tear drop tumbled down her cheek as she trembled again with emotion. "No my love," Pierre shook his head as he leaned closer. "It is I who cannot stay away from you. It is as if I have been bewitched." Before Marie could think of a retort, Pierre took her face between his hands and drew their lips together. What started as a simple brush of lips turned into a waterfall of kisses as their emotions crashed over them. Guiding them to the single bed, Pierre gently tumbled them down so his body pinned Marie's to the soft blanket. Marie was lost in the sensation of Pierre's warm hard body so tight against her own. Neither lover heard the sound of crunching tree limbs and rustling bushes until the door was abruptly thrown open with such force it slammed against the wall. Pierre was grabbed by the back of his neck and pinned face first against a wall. Marie was horrified when she opened her eyes to see Monsieur Gil and his two sons. His larger son Miguel had Pierre pinned against the far wall as the other, Leonce, grabbed Marie by her wrists. "Did you really think you were going to get away with this girl?" Gil bellowed. The windows shook with the force of his voice as he took hold of the back of Marie's hair. She screamed as several strands of hair were ripped from her head to fall on the bed below. "You have made a fool of me for the last time!" Gil dragged Marie from the bed and towards the door of the cottage. "Don't forget me!" Marie tries in vain to fight the two men off and return to her captured lover. "Never forget our love!" Pierre fights hard to remove the painful hand from his neck, but can only struggle helplessly as he watches his love carried away into the night. 
