Kris Bock's Blog, page 27

New Mexico Green Chile Chicken #Soup #Recipe and a Southwestern Adventure Novel

I write novels of adventure and romance set in the Southwestern United States. The novels touch on local culture, including food. For my romantic suspense Valley of Gems, I put together a recipe booklet of foods mentioned in the book, including this New Mexican standard. It's perfect as the weather gets cold!
Valley of Gems was first published as The Dead Man's Treasure. See the Treasure Hunting Romantic Suspense series page. (See also my posts Red or Green: The New Mexico Chile, Homemade Green Chile Sauce, Breakfast Burrito, Huevos Rancheros, Green Chile Stew, Enchilada Casserole, Green Chile Cheeseburger.)
by Littlemisslibrarian, Creative Commons LicenseThis recipe is adapted from one given to me by my mother-in-law.
Green Chile Chicken Soup
6 servings.
1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup all purpose flour2 cups milk
4 cups (32 oz) chicken broth
2 cups cooked, boneless and skinless chicken cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 cup chopped green chile or to tasteSee additional options below
salt and pepper to taste
1 pinch garlic powder or 1 tsp. garlic
Melt butter in a large pot. Add flour and stir the resulting paste over medium heat. Slowly add the milk and chicken broth and whip to eliminate any lumps. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer.Add the chicken, green chile, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Stir well and cover. Simmer for 30 minutes and serve.

Options: Add beans.Add vegetables – carrots, peas, bell peppers, corn, summer squash, mushrooms, or whatever you like – to make it healthier.Try a version with ground beef or turkey and either red or green chile.Serve with tortilla chips, green onions, chives, or avocado slices to sprinkle on top

See the Treasure Hunting Romantic Suspense series page.

Kris Bock writes novels of mystery, suspense, and romance, many with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. She has lived in ten states and one foreign country but is now firmly planted in the Southwest, where many of her books are set. Readers have called her novels “Like Nancy Drew for grown-ups” and “Smart romance with an Indiana Jones feel.”

Kris writes for children under the name Chris Eboch. She has published over 60 books for young people, including ghostwriting for some famous mystery series.

Read excerpts at www.krisbock.comor visit Kris Bock’s Amazon US page or Amazon UK page. (For other countries click here.) Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter  for announcements of new books, sales, and more.

#BlackFriday Deals - a #SweetRomance and a #RomanticSuspense each only 99 cents! #HappyHolidays

What do you do when you meet the guy of your dreams? Set him up with your sister, of course.

Kari doesn't have time for love when she's opening her new cat café. She’s busy hiring employees, fighting with the health inspector – oh, and welcoming 16 shelter cats. She's doing this for the cats, the community, and her family. The café will give her sister, Marley, a job worthy of her baking skills.

Then a tattooed military vet wanders in claiming he’s a master baker. Surely Marley will fall for a guy this sweet, this sexy, this tasty.

Colin has other ideas. It's Kari who makes him want to turn up the heat. But he's spent the last two years recovering from physical and psychological wounds. Is he really ready for a relationship? He's not even sure he should commit to Samson, the sweet Siamese cat who steals his heart.

The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the workers and customers at a small-town cat café, and the adorable cats and kittens looking for their forever homes. Each book is a complete story with a happy ending for one couple. These sweet romances will leave you with the warm, fuzzy feeling of cuddling a purring cat. 

The most recent title is Christmas Cookies at the Cat Café: Christmas isn’t the same since Diane’s kids grew up and her husband died – so when her high school sweetheart comes back to town, maybe it’s time for some cozy new holiday traditions. 
Desert Gold, “Smart romance with an ‘Indiana Jones’ feel,” has 4.6 out of 5 stars with over 50 reviews.

The lost Victorio Peak treasure is the stuff of legends—a heretic Spanish priest’s gold mine, made richer by the spoils of bandits and an Apache raider. When Erin, a quiet history professor, uncovers a clue that may pinpoint the lost treasure cave, she prepares for adventure. But when a hit and run driver nearly kills her, she realizes she’s not the only one after the treasure. And is Drew, the handsome helicopter pilot who found her bleeding in a ditch, really a hero, or one of the enemy?

Erin isn’t sure she can trust Drew with her heart, but she’ll need his help to track down the treasure. She heads into the New Mexico wilderness with her brainy best friend Camie and a feisty orange cat. The wilderness holds its own dangers, from wild animals to sudden storms. Plus, the sinister men hunting Erin are determined to follow her all the way to the treasure, no matter where the twisted trail leads. Erin won’t give up an important historical find without a fight, but is she ready to risk her life—and her heart?

“The story has it all - action, romance, danger, intrigue, lost treasure, not to mention a sizzling relationship....”

See the Treasure Hunting Romantic Suspense series page.

Kris Bockwrites novels of romance, mystery, and suspense. Her

99-cent novels, books to Read and Review for free #fantasy #Romance #YALit and more!

Black Friday Book Blast – All Genres – Only 99¢

This is an eclectic group of novellas and novels in all genres, from cute and sweet to horror. You'll find some fantasy, sci-fi, mystery and romance. https://storyoriginapp.com/to/T0Vzq6o

Romancing the Rose: November All Romance Reads

This group has several Christmas novels and some romantic comedies, as well as both sweet and spicy contemporary romance: https://storyoriginapp.com/to/xgF7Hsn

Winter ARC Giveaway

Get books free for review! Choose from mystery, romance (including holiday stories) fantasy, sci-fi and a few weird and wacky options. https://storyoriginapp.com/to/Zjr8sIr

YA & NA Books

Fun #YoungAdult and New Adult books you can get for free! (Reviews are not required but you will be able to claim more free books if you read, review, and share your review links on the site.) These are mostly fantasy and paranormal with some other options: https://storyoriginapp.com/to/cVGAJE3

Desert Gold, “Smart #romance with an 'Indiana Jones' feel,” 4.7 stars w/50 reviews, 99c/99 £/free in #KindleUnlimited #MFRWorg #contemporaryromance

Check out these new covers and titles!

Desert Gold follows the hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. In Valley of Gems, estranged relatives compete to reach a buried treasure by following a series of complex clues. In Silver Canyon, sparks fly when reader favorites Camie and Tiger help a mysterious man track down his missing uncle.

This series was originally published as The Mad Monk’s Treasure, The Dead Man’s Treasure, and The Skeleton Canyon Treasure. See the Treasure Hunting Romantic Suspense series page.

“Fast, fun, romance and adventure. What more can you ask for?” 

“Kept me on the edge of my chair. It’s one of those books I couldn’t put down.” 

A legendary treasure hunt in the dramatic – and deadly – New Mexico desert....

The lost Victorio Peak treasure is the stuff of legends—a heretic Spanish priest’s gold mine, made richer by the spoils of bandits and an Apache raider.

When Erin, a quiet history professor, uncovers a clue that may pinpoint the lost treasure cave, she prepares for adventure. But when a hit and run driver nearly kills her, she realizes she’s not the only one after the treasure. And is Drew, the handsome helicopter pilot who found her bleeding in a ditch, really a hero, or one of the enemy?

Just how far will Erin go to find the treasure and discover what she’s really made of?

“The story has it all—action, romance, danger, intrigue, lost treasure, not to mention a sizzling relationship....”

“Great balance of history, romance, and adventure. Smart romance with an Indiana Jones feel.” 

This is book 1 in the Southwest Romantic Suspense series, followed by Valley of Gems and Silver Canyon. Each novel stands alone and is complete, with no cliffhangers. This series mixes action and adventure with light romance in the Southwest.

See the Treasure Hunting Romantic Suspense series page.

Get great books free in #KindleUnlimited - #Romance #Kidlit #HistoricalFiction #KU

Historical Fiction Reads in Celebrate Children's Literature in 

Meet elephants and tigers, dinosaurs and kittens, mermaids and superheroes! Find Christmas and other holiday stories, Greek myths, fantasies, adventure, and plenty of entertainment. These Kindle Unlimited books will entertain your kids (or you) through the long winter:  https://storyoriginapp.com/to/uTwGLVv

Get ready for the funniest demolition derby ever! #southern #romcom #booklovers #romance #MFRWorg

Releasing Nov. 25: Book 2 in the new romantic comedy series featuring “Felony Melanie” a decade before the events of the movie Sweet Home Alabama. 

Felony Melanie in the Big Smashup

Summer is almost over, so it's time to have some fun! Jake and his buddies are fixing up old cars so they can destroy them in the Pigeon Creek demolition derby. After all, what's more fun than smashing into things?

Girls don't do demolition derby. Everyone says so. But Melanie is tired of sitting on the sidelines. Why should the guys have all the fun? She can smash up a car as well as anyone! 

The guys don't want a girl intruding on their turf, and it’s not so easy for a broke teenager like Melanie to find and fix up an old car. She recruits some helpers and unearths an old, junked car, but everyone from Jake to the sheriff wants to keep her off the track.

Is the town ready for a female demolition derby driver? Is anybody ever ready for Felony Melanie?

Peek:

Melanie stepped in front of Jake. Her blue eyes flashed. “We’ve wasted half the day on your stupid car. I want to go to the swimming hole.”

Jake looked over at Clinton and Eldon, but they were studying the car, avoiding eye contact. He didn’t want them calling him whipped.

“I’m sorry, Mel. We only got a week. We’ve got to get on this axle thing.”

“Fine. You don’t have time for me? Maybe I don’t have time for you either. I’m not going to wait around to cheer from the sidelines while you boys have all the fun."

She stood as tall as her little frame would allow. "I’ll get my own car for the demolition derby. Then we’ll see what’s what."

Jake stared, his mouth half open. She had to be joking.

Snickers erupted from Clinton and Eldon.

Melanie swung toward them, her hands fisted on her hips. "What’s so funny?"

"No-nothing," Clinton choked out.

Eldon slapped his knee. “Just trying to picture you manhandling a big old junk car around the demolition lot. Or would that be girl-handling?"

"You going to sit on a phone book?" Clinton doubled over in laughter.

Jake let out a chuckle. He dragged his face back into a serious expression and glanced at Melanie, but it was too late. Her eyes had narrowed, and her stubborn little chin was set. Dammit, they shouldn’t have laughed. He might have been able to talk her down. No way would she back down now.

Melanie spun on her heels. "Come on, girls, we need to find a car."

Readers ages 12 and up will enjoy reconnecting with their favorite characters from the Sweet Home Alabama movie. Head back in time to the early 1990s for this laugh out loud rom com based on one of the best rom coms of all time. 

Sign up for our Rom-Com newsletter and get Felony Melanie Destroys the Moonshiner’s Cabin. These first two chapters from the novel Felony Melanie in Pageant Pandemonium stand alone as a short story. In the future, you’ll get fun content about upcoming Felony Melanie novels and other romantic comedy news and links. 

Or Visit the Amazon series page for Felony Melanie: A Sweet Home Alabama romantic comedy novel.

#Cookie Dough Brownies from the Cat Cafe - a #holiday #recipe #MFRWorg

The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series is set at a café with its own bakery, so of course I mention several amazing baked goods! 
This recipes is included at the back of the first novel. I add a from-scratch brownie recipe there, but here's the quicker version.
Cookie Dough BrowniesDense, chewy chocolate brownies are so good. But chocolate chip cookies are amazing too. How do you decide which to make? With this recipe, you don't need to choose! A rich brownie layer is topped with raw chocolate chip cookie dough.
Brownie LayerYour favorite brownie recipe or boxed mix. (I prefer Ghirardelli mix), prepared and bake as directed.
Cookie Dough Layer1/2 cup butter, softened1/4 cup sugar 1/2 cup packed brown sugar3 tablespoons milk1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 cup flour1 cup chocolate chips
1. Prepare the brownies as directed in your recipe or on the box.
2. Make the cookie dough layer: Cream the butter and both sugars in a mixing bowl. Blend in the milk and vanilla. Blend in the flour. Stir in the chocolate chips.
3. Drop spoonfuls of cookie dough over the cooled brownies. Spread the cookie dough layer evenly. Cut the brownies into squares or bars and store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Tip: Food safety experts suggest you don't eat raw cookie dough, because raw eggs can lead to food poisoning. The cookie dough layer here does not contain eggs.

Kris Bock writes novels of romance, mystery, and suspense. Her Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they fall in love with each other and shelter cats. Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series page.

Check out the Furrever Friends Cat Café with a free sweet romance novella complete at 35 pages. Get Lions and Love at the Cat Caféfree when you sign up for the Kris Bock email newsletter.

Christmas Cookies at the Cat Café: Christmas isn’t the same since Diane’s kids grew up and her husband died – so when her high school sweetheart comes back to town, maybe it’s time for some cozy new holiday traditions.

#Christmas Cookies at the Cat Café: A #sweetromance with cats, baking, and #holiday traditions

Old traditions or a new life?

The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the workers and customers at a small-town cat café, and the adorable cats and kittens looking for their forever homes. Each book is a complete story with a happy ending for one couple (and maybe more than one rescued cat). These sweet romances will leave you with the warm feeling of cuddling a purring cat.

Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series page.

Chai Tea Shortbread #Cookie - a #Holiday #Recipe from the Cat Café sweet #romance #MFRWorg

My Furrever Friends Cat Café sweet romance series is set around a cat café. (Cat cafés are crosses between coffee shops and pet adoption centers. Learn more about cat cafés here.)Since the series  involves a café, I mention delectable baked goods and include a recipe at the end of each book. Here's one from the free novella, Lions and Love at the Cat Café. This sweet romance novella, complete at 35 pages, is freeas a PDF, MOBI (Kindle), or ePub when you sign up for the Kris Bock email newsletter.
If you prefer not to sign up for the newsletter, Lions and Love at the Cat Café is also on sale for 99 cents. Find it on Kris Bock’s Amazon US page or Amazon UK page. For B&N (Nook), Kobo, and other retailers, check here.
Chai Tea Shortbread CookiesIf using loose-leaf tea, grind the tea into a rough powder first. If using tea bags, cut open the tea bags (4-6) and measure. Tea bags usually have a more powdered mix, so you don't have to grind it. Mix the ingredients in a food processor for ease. You can also press the dough into a shortbread pan and bake for about 30 minutes
2 cups all-purpose flour2/3 cup sugar 2 tablespoons chai tea (ground fine)1/2 teaspoon salt1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Blend the flour, sugar, chai, and salt.
Mix in the butter and vanilla. Press the mixture into a ball of dough.
Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/3-inch thick. Use a cookie cutter and place cookies 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper or silicone baking sheets. Bake until the edges are golden, 8-12 minutes depending on size. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks and cool to room temperature.
You can also get 13 of the recipes mentioned in the novella and books 1, 2, and 3. Get it here as a direct download in PDF, mobi (Kindle) or ePub.
The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series by Kris Bock features the workers and customers at a small-town cat café, and the adorable cats and kittens looking for their forever homes. Each book is a complete story with a happy ending for one couple (and maybe more than one rescued cat). These sweet romances will leave you with the warm, fuzzy feeling of cuddling a purring cat.
The latest is Christmas Cookies atthe Cat Café: Christmas isn’t the same since Diane’s kids grew up and her husband died – so when her high school sweetheart comes back to town, maybe it’s time for some cozy new holiday traditions.

#99c sale: Tea and Temptation at the Cat Café: A #SweetRomance #MFRWorg #Romance

On Sale! Tea and Temptation at the Cat Café

Can two lonely people get a second chance at finding love?

Zach may be a best-selling novelist, but it's been a long time since he's felt truly alive. In the last six months, he moved to the country, his wife left him, and he was diagnosed with cancer. Now he lives in a haze of treatments, writer's block, and simply trying to survive each week. But when a pretty woman comes into his favorite café and throws herself down on a padded bench with a groan of despair, he feels something he thought he'd lost long ago: curiosity.

As a veterinarian, Jenna knows both joy and heartbreak. The former she can share with her clients. The latter she keeps to herself. She learned one lesson from her ex-husband: Men don't want to deal with your emotions.​ It's odd to have a stranger ask about her problems. It's even more of a shock when he offers to solve one of them by fostering the sick kitten abandoned by its owners.

​Zach and Jenna bond over kitten care and build a close friendship. Could they have more? Zach is finally starting to hope for a future, ideally one that includes Jenna, but he can't move forward until he's dealt with his past. Meanwhile, Jenna is afraid to risk her heart on someone who might not survive the next few months.

The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the workers and customers at the Furrever Friends Cat Café, and the adorable cats and kittens looking for their forever homes. Each book is a complete story with a happy ending for one couple. These sweet romances will leave you with the warm, fuzzy feeling of cuddling a purring cat.​

If you enjoy friends to lovers tropes, or seasoned romance/mature romance, check out Tea and Temptation at the Cat Café. You'll also find rescue cats with plenty of personality and their own ideas about love. 

Tea and Temptation at the Cat Café is only 99 cents in the US and £99 in the UK, until Nov 6. Get it here for Amazon US or visit Kris's Amazon UK page. (For other countries click here.)

Kris Bock writes novels of mystery, suspense, and romance, many with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. She has lived in ten states and one foreign country but is now firmly planted in the Southwest, where many of her books are set. Readers have called her novels “Like Nancy Drew for grown-ups” and “Smart romance with an Indiana Jones feel.”

Kris writes for children under the name Chris Eboch. She has published over 60 books for young people, including ghostwriting for some famous mystery series.

Read excerpts at www.krisbock.comor visit Kris Bock’s Amazon US page or Amazon UK page. (For other countries click here.) Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter  for announcements of new books, sales, and more.