Karen Docter's Blog, page 250
February 10, 2015
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: Runaway Cowboy by T.J. Kline
KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!
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RUNAWAY COWBOY
Rodeo #3.5
BY T.J. KLINE
Avon Impulse
Blurb
”You had your chance, and you threw it away…“
Five years ago, Jen woke up with a ring on her finger and her fiancé nowhere to be found. She swore she’d gotten over the betrayal, but when Clay unexpectedly hires on with the rodeo for a week, she finds herself torn between passion and regret.
Clay left intending never to see Jen again. He’s been running from his troubled past for far too long, and it’s not a life he wants for her. But it’s hard to run from the past when the past is your own family, and Clay finds himself thrown back into the chaos he thought he’d finally left behind.
Will the truth drive Jen away, or is there a second chance at happily ever after for this runaway cowboy?
RUNAWAY COWBOY
Rodeo #3.5
BY T.J. KLINE
Avon Impulse
Excerpt
Clay grabbed her arm, and she spun on him, wildly swinging her purse at his head and jerking her arm from his grasp. “Don’t touch me.”
He easily caught the purse in his hand and dropped it at his feet as he pulled her into his arms. “What do you have in that thing? Bricks?”
“Let go of me, Clay,” she said through gritted teeth, twisting, trying to release herself from his grasp.
“Only if you let me explain.”
Every inch of her that was in contact with him burned with icy flames. The heat of his hands on her arms sent warmth running down her spine to melt her limbs and ignite the desire pooling in her belly. She wanted to push him away, to run to her trailer and stay there until he went back to wherever he’d been hiding, but when her eyes met his, pleading with her to listen to him, she couldn’t deny herself just one more moment with him. How was she supposed to keep hating him when her body wouldn’t follow her commands?
“You have five minutes.” One for each year she hadn’t heard from him. He released her cautiously. She walked back to the truck, knowing he would follow, and flipped the tailgate down. She hopped up on it, letting her legs dangle. When he sighed and scrubbed a hand over his jaw, she quirked a brow. “Time’s ticking Clay. Start talking.”
“You know, for someone who seems to think she has everything figured out better than the rest of us, you sure can be irresponsible. What were you thinking going into that bar?”
Jen almost let her mouth fall open at the audacity of his accusation. She bit the inside of her cheek until the metallic taste of blood forced her to stop.
She jumped from the back of the truck. “That was some explanation. I can’t believe I waited this long for it.”
Clay’s fingers circled her wrist as she started to walk away. “I have at least three minutes left.”
He pulled her back toward him, drawing her against his chest as one arm circled around her waist. His other hand buried into her long hair, and she gasped in surprise as his mouth found hers. Her body betrayed her again, melting against him as her bones seemed to turn to molten lava. Her fingers dug into the muscles of his shoulders, but she wasn’t sure if it was to keep her balance or because she couldn’t resist touching him. His mouth was gentle, in spite of their argument, as if he wanted to savor this kiss, to taste her, to force the memories of the tenderness they’d once shared to the surface. Clay nipped at her lower lip, testing her resolve, and when she didn’t protest, he plunged ahead. His tongue swept against hers as she slid her hands over his shoulders before curling her fingers around the nape of his neck, twining into his hair.
Clay’s lips trailed over her cheek and jaw. “I’ve missed you, Jen. You have no idea how much.”
About the author, T.J Kline…
T. J. Kline was raised competing in rodeos and rodeo queen competitions since the age of 14, She has thorough knowledge of the sport as well as the culture involved. She has had several articles about rodeo published in the past in small periodicals as well as a more recent how-to article for RevWriter. She is also an avid reader and book reviewer for both Tyndale and Multnomah.
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Links to T.J.’s website, blog, books, etc.
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo
Link to Follow Tour:
http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/01/runaway-cowboy-by-tj-kline.html
Goodreads Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23587127-runaway-cowboy?from_search=true
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February 9, 2015
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: Surrender by Violetta Rand
KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!
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SURRENDER
Devil’s Den #1
BY VIOLETTA RAND
Loveswept
Blurb
Welcome to the Devil’s Den, a Texas strip club where the air is heavy with desire—and sometimes dreams come true.
Ever since her mother kicked her out, twenty-year-old Robyn Gonzalez has been working the poles at the Devil’s Den, saving up to finish college and travel the world. With only her wits and her gorgeous body to rely on, Robyn has learned to be independent—fiercely independent. She’s never been tempted to let a man distract her from her dreams . . . until she meets the dead-sexy Garrick Dempsey.
The club’s new head of security, Garrick had walked away from a career as a mechanical engineer to return to his roots in Corpus Christi. He hadn’t planned on getting to know someone like Robyn, with her sinfully sweet combination of vulnerability and strength, at the Devil’s Den. She acts tough, but only because she’s been hurt. Soon Garrick knows he will do anything to win Robyn’s trust. And if that means surrendering to the red-hot chemistry between them, all the better.
SURRENDER
Devil’s Den #1
BY VIOLETTA RAND
Loveswept
Excerpt
Mom told me if I didn’t come back, she wouldn’t call the police and report me as a runaway. I refer to it as my bargain with the devil. It was my fifteenth birthday: September 18. My day of infamy. I try to forget about it. However, every year is the same. I end up alone, on this pier, contemplating my future, which really just transports me back in time. In the cover of darkness, everything looks better. Even my broken relationship with my mother.
I missed out on so much—graduating with my friends, enjoying the simple pleasures of small-town Texas. I breathe in and swear I’m back in Odem. I see the miles and miles of farmland and the old wood-frame houses with chipped paint where tenant farmers used to live. Railroad tracks cut through the center of town, literally splitting it in half. Newer, high-end homes on small plots of land are located on one side, dilapidated or smaller homes on the other. And now that the highway has been diverted through town, so much has changed. The once quiet streets are inundated with traffic, and large gas stations line the off-ramps so truckers and tourists can fuel up.
I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to get back there—to a place where I’m comfortable and safe. Until then, I maintain a low profile. I don’t keep in touch with former classmates and I certainly don’t use social media. I won’t until I make things right.
Corpus Christi is the fourth windiest city in the country, a saving grace for an otherwise barren landscape. The current breeze whips my long black hair. It feels so good. I sit down and stare into emptiness. Silence is always a welcome companion. Yet as hard as I try to stop them, more memories flood my mind. I checked my mailbox this morning for a birthday card from my family. I chew on my bottom lip. I didn’t get one.
That’s why the last thing I needed to do was spend my twentieth birthday in the company of a hundred drunks.
Usually the club owner makes a big deal over his girls’ birthdays. Not me. I begged him not to the day he hired me. Instead, he gives me a $200 bonus every year with my weekly paycheck. I’ll go to the spa and get my nails done and get a full body massage tomorrow. That’s how I reward myself. I don’t need a big party or gifts. My happiness comes from staying independent—paying my rent, making it to school on time. Macey thinks I’m bitter. I’m not. Just determined. In two years I’ll finish my undergrad degree and move on to graduate school. In five years I’ll be traveling in the Middle East, moving from one excavation site to another. I love history and archeology. I’m a double major, and will make good on my educational aspirations. They’re all I have.
I made that promise the day I lost my family. Maybe if I do something right, I’ll regain my mother’s confidence.
About the author, Violetta Rand…
Raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, Violetta Rand spent her childhood reading, writing, and playing soccer. After meeting her husband in New England, they moved to Alaska where she studied environmental science and policy as an undergraduate before attending graduate school. Violetta then spent nearly a decade working as an environmental scientist, specializing in soil and water contamination and environmental assessments.
Violetta still lives in Anchorage, Alaska and spends her days writing evocative New Adult romance and historical romance. When she’s not reading, writing, or editing, she enjoys time with her husband, pets, and friends. In her free time, she loves to hike, fish, and ride motorcycles and 4-wheelers.
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Links to Violetta’s website, blog, books, etc.
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes | iTunes | Kobo
Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2014/10/surrender-devils-den-1-by-violetta-rand.html
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22926876-surrender?from_search=true
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February 8, 2015
**Author Peek** Character Interview with T.J. Kline
**AUTHOR PEEK** Character Interview with T.J. KLINE
Editor’s Note: We met author, T.J. Kline in a previous blog (12/29/14), so I thought you might enjoy meeting T.J.’s heroine this time.
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INTRODUCING…Jennifer Findley, Character from RUNAWAY COWBOY, by T.J. Kline.
1. What is your name? Do you have a nickname?
Jennifer Findley but my brothers and friends call me Jen.
2. Where were you born? Where have you lived since then? Where do you call home?
I was born and raised on a ranch in Northern California. We travel a lot as stock contractors for rodeo but the ranch is always home.
3. What is one strong memory that has stuck with you from childhood? Why is it so powerful and lasting?
I guess being a teen at the time it happened would still count as “childhood,” but the death of my parents. They were killed in a car accident traveling home from a rodeo. I had to grow up quickly, too quickly, to take care of my brothers. Ever since then, as much as I love the rodeos, the traveling makes me nervous.
4. You’re getting ready for a night out. Where are you going? What do you wear? Who will you be with?
I’d throw on my best pair of Miss Me jeans, the ones that make my butt look spectacular and this black shirt I have. It’s fitted in all the right places with slits down the sleeves from my shoulder to my wrist. Of course, I’m heading out to dance. That’s just one of my favorite things to do. Sometimes Scott tags along but he’s so serious these days that it’s more fun to go out alone or with one of my girlfriends.
5. Where do you go when you’re angry? What do you do there?
There’s this pond on our property. My brothers both used it as a make-out spot, probably still do, but when I’m really stressed or angry, it’s the first place I head. It’s quiet and I can sit under the trees, let my feet dangle into the water. My dad took me there a lot when I was little so I guess I can feel him there, like it’s the one place I can still be close to him.
6. Have you been in love? Had a broken heart? Who was it and what happened.
Without giving away all the details, yes. Clay was the first man I fell completely, hopelessly in love with. And the first man to break my heart. After finding the man I thought was my soulmate, he proposed to me. The next morning I found myself alone in bed with a ring on my finger and no fiancé to be found. He disappeared.
7. What is your biggest fear? Who have you told this to? Who would you never tell this to? Why?
My biggest fear is losing the people I love. My brothers both know and my “adoptive father,” Mike knows but it’s not hard to figure out. I lost my parents, I lost the man I loved, both without any warning. The people I love mean everything to me and I would do anything to protect them. Clay knew this but left anyway. I would never tell him that he was included in that group again.
8. If you had to make a meal for me right now with only the ingredients in your refrigerator and pantry, what would you make me?
I guess that would depend on what meal you wanted. I could whip you up some mean pancakes, with whipped cream and chocolate chips. Man, I love chocolate! For lunch, I’ve got plenty of sandwich fixings and dinner would be either a mouth-watering burger or, if you want a good meal, I could throw a steak on the grill with my famous potato salad and sweet dinner rolls. Silvie, our housekeeper, raised me right. I can make almost anything from scratch, if I have to, but I know that while the way to most people is through their heart, but their stomach is the gateway to that path.
9. Look down. Describe what you’re wearing. Is this the way you’re normally dressed? If not, what do you normally wear?
I’m wearing a pair of dusty jeans, old cowboy boots and a t-shirt with a ball cap on. It’s my usual “uniform.” Most days I’m either in my office doing paperwork for the company or out helping one of the guys with the animals. It’s a dirty job but I love it.
10. What’s the one thing you want out of life that you don’t think you can have? Why can’t you have it?
The one thing I want is the marriage I was supposed to have. Clay and I had talked about starting a family right away. I thought we were happy. And then, I woke and found out it was all a dream, an illusion. Since I haven’t spoken to Clay in the last five years, although he has been in touch with my brother, I can only assume what we had was only in my imagination. He doesn’t want me and I refuse to chase a man who’d rather run.
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Links to T.J.’s website, blog, books, etc.
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo
Link to Follow Tour:
http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/01/runaway-cowboy-by-tj-kline.html
Goodreads Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23587127-runaway-cowboy?from_search=true
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BE SURE TO COME BACK to read more about T.J, her new release, and an excerpt from RUNAWAY COWBOY by T.J. Kline, on Wednesday’s Karen’s Killer Book Bench. Happy Reading!
Congratulations Week 01-26-15 Giveaway Winners!
CONGRATULATIONS WEEK 01-26-15
GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!
Karen’s Killer Book Bench with MICHELE CALLAHAN!!
Giveaway:
1) The First Three Timewalker Chronicles (ebook format) to anyone who joins my New Release Alerts by Saturday, Jan 31, 2015.
2) One complete set of books to date (6 books) to one person who leaves a comment and answers the following: What would you do if you found in injured Immortal on the side of a mountain? Would you take him home? To the hospital? Would you run away? (Remember, he’s gorgeous, but you DID just watch him kill two scary creatures…)
Set includes: Red Night (Book 1), Silver Storm (Book 2), Blue Abyss (Book 3), Black Gate (Book 4), Chimera Born (Book 4.5), White Fire (Book 5), Chimera’s Kiss (Book 6 Coming March 12)
Be sure to answer Michele’s question on today’s interview or Wednesday’s Book Bench blogs for a chance to win a collection of six wonderful books, and don’t forget to sign up for her New Release Alerts! Thanks, Michele and Prince Aron of Itara, for sharing your story with us!
WINNER OF #1 ~ EVERYONE WHO JOINED
MICHELE’S NEW RELEASE ALERTS BY JANUARY 31, 2015!!
WINNER OF #2 ~ GLENDA!!
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DON’T MISS OUT!!
The following guest bloggers are still taking entries in their Rafflecopter Giveaways!
Jennifer McQuiston’s HER HIGHLAND FLING Blog Tour
(HURRY! 9 hours left!!):
http://www.karendocter.com/karens-killer-book-bench-her-highland-fling-by-jennifer-mcquiston.html
[All winners chosen by random.org from reader comments. Thank you.]
February 5, 2015
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** with Annie Acorn
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL**
with ANNIE ACORN!
Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!! Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of her favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors. Introducing author, Annie Acorn, and her three favorite recipes for BAJA CHICKEN, GRILLED ASPARAGUS, and CARAMELIZED BANANAS OVER ICE CREAM, a full Valentine’s Day Dinner!
ANNIE ACORN’S 2015 VALENTINE’S DAY TREASURY
Anthology Collection
BY ANNIE ACORN
Blurb
Where can you find all the chocolates, flowers, love, and romance of Valentine’s Day? Where do first kisses, lifetime commitments, and second chances fill us with joy? Where do the things that matter take precedence over everyday concerns? Within the carefully crafted stories gathered for your enjoyment in Annie Acorn’s 2015 Valentine’s Day Treasury, a romance-filled, Valentine’s Day anthology!
With their words, members of From Women’s Pens, a cooperative of award-winning contemporary women writers, have brought together a unique collection of novelettes and short stories that embody the romantic spirit of Valentine’s Day and are sure to please everyone.
Prepare to laugh, cry, and be surprised by this love-filled treasure. Annie Acorn’s 2015 Valentine’s Day Treasury is sure to become a classic that you’ll want to revisit each new Valentine’s Day as it arrives.
Annie Acorn’s 2015 Valentine’s Day Treasury Includes:
A Valentine’s Surprise by Charlotte Kent
A Taste of Love by Juliette Hill
A Prince for Valentine’s by Merrie Housdon
A Rose by Any Other Name by Angel Nichols
A Valentine’s Day to Remember by Susan Jean Ricci
At the End of the Day by Peggy Teel
Valentine Goodbye by Annie Acorn
Link to the From Women’s Pens page on annieacornpublishing.com:
http://annieacornpublishing.com/from-womens-pens
About the authors…Annie Acorn & Charlotte Kent.
ANNIE ACORN is the pseudonym of a prolific, internationally beloved author, whose readership recognizes her mainly for her women’s fiction, cozy mysteries and richly woven stories with a warm southern flair, such as Chocolate Can Kill and her Luna Lake Cabins romantic women’s fiction series. She writes her romantic women’s fiction/family saga Captain’s Point Stories series as Charlotte Kent. She is a founding member of From Women’s Pens – A Cooperative of Women Writers.
Annie is the mother of two sons. She lives in the Washington, D.C. area, where she has done extensive technical writing as a contractor.
She owned a tri-state medical outsourcing business for a number of years and was the Director of a behavioral healthcare firm. She once flipped a comic book and collectible retail company comprised of five stores, and she has managed cemeteries and funeral homes. She is the owner of Annie Acorn Publishing, LLC.
Ms. Acorn has published in The Inspirational Writer, and she edited an in-house publication for the State of Mississippi. She is a contributor of ezine articles.
In her spare time, Ms. Acorn enjoys reading, writing mysteries and romantic women’s fiction, listening to classical music, playing cards, and spending time with her family and friends – often at a restaurant serving delicious food.
Annie is the author of the blog at annieacorn.com. You can friend her on Facebook and tweet her at @Annie_Acorn. She will respond to your email sent to annieacorn11@gmail.com.
CHARLOTTE KENT is the pseudonym used by authors Annie Acorn and Juliette Hill when writing their collaborative, romantic women’s fiction, family saga, Captain’s Point series, which is set on the eastern shore of Maryland. You can tweet to them as Charlotte Kent at @CharlotteKent20.
Links to Annies’s website, blog, books, etc.
Websites:
http://annieacornpublishing.com/
http://annieacorn.com/
As Charlotte Kent:
A Clue for Adrianna: http://amzn.to/1aWTgGL
A Man for Susan: http://amzn.to/1d3Rc4E
Love’s Journey: http://amzn.to/18T4JWa
Love’s Surprise: http://amzn.to/1pw83CS
One Sweet Christmas: http://amzn.to/1y5ffJp
A Magic Cup of Christmas Tea: http://amzn.to/1zBNlFF
As Annie Acorn:
Annie Acorn’s 2015 Valentine’s Day Treasury: http://amzn.to/1CWxaCF
Chocolate Can Kill: http://amzn.to/GUp7Ph
Murder With My Darling: http://amzn.to/1gSdFBz
Love’s Third Chance: http://amzn.to/1ih6HbZ
Love’s Plan: http://amzn.to/1ymA2aa
A Tired Older Woman Loses Weight and Keeps It Off:
http://amzn.to/19YP4I4
The Magic Sand Dollar: http://amzn.to/11xYt4k
Link to the From Women’s Pens page on annieacornpublishing.com:
http://annieacornpublishing.com/from-womens-pens
I hope you enjoy the recipe Annie is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!
Karen
P.S. We’re at 185 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.
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VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER MENU
Baja Chicken
Grilled Asparagus
Caramelized Bananas over Ice Cream
Years ago, when Son#2 was a student at Auburn University, I would receive a call from him each year during the week before Valentine’s Day.
“I need the recipes again, Mom,” he would say. “I remember putting them in a safe place last year, and now I can’t remember where I left them.”
I knew exactly which ones he meant. With only a few ingredients each, these dishes still carried with them a gourmet flair that was guaranteed to enable a fledgling chef to impress a girlfriend. Hopefully, you will find them just as useful as he did.
Annie Acorn
Baja Chicken
6 boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1” chunks
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 T. olive oil
4 T. tarragon vinegar
2/3 C. dry sherry
4 cups orzo pasta, cooked
Wash chicken breasts and cut into cubes.
Heat water in large pot and prepare orzo as chicken is cooking in a non-stick skillet. Drain pasta.
In 11” non-stick skillet, heat oil and sauté garlic to warm, being careful not to burn. Add vinegar and chicken. Stir occasionally, flipping chunks, until chicken is cooked through.
Add sherry. Stir to coat chicken with sauce, and then add cooked pasta. Stir to mix.
Remove from heat, and allow pasta to soak up juices for one minute. Serve with a sprinkle of chopped parsley for color.
Alternative: Serve chicken and other ingredients over the orzo without mixing. Sprinkle with parsley.
Grilled Asparagus
1 bunch tender, young asparagus
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and pepper
1 cup fresh-grated, real Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Prepare asparagus by snapping or cutting off the tough bottom section of each stem. Rinse thoroughly to cleanse, dry, and arrange side by side on a jelly roll cookie sheet (one with a lip all around).
Drizzle olive oil lightly over asparagus and toss to coat, then again arrange side by side in a row. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then grill in a hot, 450 degree oven for 2 minutes.
Remove from oven and turn stems to brown evenly. Return to oven for another 2 minutes.
Remove and sprinkle grated cheese over stems. Return to oven for 1 minute to melt and toast cheese.
Serve warm.
Caramelized Bananas over Ice Cream
1 large, ripe but not mushy banana per person.
1 Tablespoon butter or margarine per banana
1 Tablespoon dark brown sugar per banana
½ teas ground cinnamon
1 Tablespoon sesame seeds, if available
French Vanilla ice cream
Peel and cut bananas into ½” thick coins.
In a non-stick skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add brown sugar and cinnamon. Stir to mix. Add banana coins and sesame seeds, stirring until heated through – 1 minute.
Remove from heat and serve warm over French Vanilla ice cream.
Note: No one will complain if you add an extra banana or two for the pot. 
February 3, 2015
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: Annie Acorn’s 2015 Valentine’s Day Treasury Anthology by Annie Acorn
KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!
ANNIE ACORN’S 2015 VALENTINE’S DAY TREASURY
Anthology Collection
BY ANNIE ACORN
Ever since its inception in 2011, Annie Acorn Publishing LLC has been the home of From Women’s Pens, a cooperative of women writers, who are internationally recognized for their quality contemporary and historic literature and poetry in a variety of genres, fiction and non-fiction. Each Christmas the group has launched an anthology of stories under the titles Annie Acorn’s 2011-2014 Christmas Treasuries.
This year, From Women’s Pens has taken a step forward by adding Annie Acorn’s 2015 Valentine’s Day Treasury to the lineup, contributed to and edited by me. I can’t begin to tell you how much fun I had putting together the collection with this talented group of women as the stories began to come in, each one as good as the previous one and all of them amazing.
The idea for the Valentine’s Day treasury had come to me rather late in 2014, and only the professionalism of the authors involved made the deadline we had set for ourselves possible. As usual, Angel Nichols designed an amazing cover, and everything pulled together seamlessly.
Today, I’m as proud of Annie Acorn’s 2015 Valentine’s Day Treasury as I am of anything else we have launched through AAPub, as we affectionately refer to the company. Readers will laugh and cry, surrounded by love as they progress through the pages, and as with our Christmas treasuries, I’m sure they will return to this book year after year as Valentine’s Day approaches.
My advice to them? Don’t miss this one!
- Annie Acorn
ANNIE ACORN’S 2015 VALENTINE’S DAY TREASURY
Anthology Collection
BY ANNIE ACORN
Blurb
Where can you find all the chocolates, flowers, love, and romance of Valentine’s Day? Where do first kisses, lifetime commitments, and second chances fill us with joy? Where do the things that matter take precedence over everyday concerns? Within the carefully crafted stories gathered for your enjoyment in Annie Acorn’s 2015 Valentine’s Day Treasury, a romance-filled, Valentine’s Day anthology!
With their words, members of From Women’s Pens, a cooperative of award-winning contemporary women writers, have brought together a unique collection of novelettes and short stories that embody the romantic spirit of Valentine’s Day and are sure to please everyone.
Prepare to laugh, cry, and be surprised by this love-filled treasure. Annie Acorn’s 2015 Valentine’s Day Treasury is sure to become a classic that you’ll want to revisit each new Valentine’s Day as it arrives.
Annie Acorn’s 2015 Valentine’s Day Treasury Includes:
A Valentine’s Surprise by Charlotte Kent
A Taste of Love by Juliette Hill
A Prince for Valentine’s by Merrie Housdon
A Rose by Any Other Name by Angel Nichols
A Valentine’s Day to Remember by Susan Jean Ricci
At the End of the Day by Peggy Teel
Valentine Goodbye by Annie Acorn
Link to the From Women’s Pens page on annieacornpublishing.com:
http://annieacornpublishing.com/from-womens-pens
~~~
A VALENTINE’S SURPRISE
BY CHARLOTTE KENT
Excerpt
Beth McIntyre, owner of Beth’s Buds, straightened where she stood at the long table in the shop’s back room and then arched her back in an effort to work out the kinks that had formed during a morning’s worth of productivity. She had expected floods of orders for bouquets of roses to be delivered on Monday for Valentine’s Day, but the sudden influx of requests on this the Saturday before had surprised her.
Geraldine Weatherby had passed away three days earlier, and half the small town of Captain’s Point, Maryland, had wished to send a memorial to the funeral of the woman who had taught most of them how to read.
Edna Miller’s dance studio had chosen this evening to hold a Valentine’s cotillion, during which many of the town’s reluctant teenagers would be required to practice their social dancing skills by waltzing and foxtroting around the wooden dance floor at the usually off-limits for many country club. Any young male who wished to earn a brownie point or two would present his date for the event with a corsage, and plastic containers filled with such along with a matching boutonniere lined the table in front of her.
In addition, Cecilia Pettinger had picked this as the perfect day on which to get married at five o’clock sharp. This event having been planned to the nth degree by the bride and groom’s mothers, table top arrangements for forty had been required for the reception, as well as enough floral embellishments for the church sanctuary to set off most of the wedding guests’ allergies.
On top of everything else, Marjorie Harper, her assistant, was still recuperating from the flu, and Harry Tiner, her delivery man, had been complaining of feeling feverish when he had left to deliver the wedding arrangements a short time before.
Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror backing the rows of waiting vases that stood before her, Beth quickly glanced away, not impressed by either the disheveled waves of brown hair, which surrounded her heart-shaped face or the large, dark eyes that had met her gaze. Then, of course, there was the cloud that hung over her, tomorrow being the one year anniversary of her grandmother’s death.
Now here she was, forty-six years old and worn out – the best decades of her life having been devoted to the care of the bedridden woman who had raised her, the unwanted child of an unmarried teenaged mother. Would she do it all over again, knowing what she now did?
Yes, the answer came back immediately. Love didn’t count the cost.
Gabriel Palmer sauntered along the sidewalk of Captain’s Point’s revitalized downtown shopping district, enjoying both the exercise and the fresh sea air that had always signified home to him no matter where life had taken him. If he had glanced at his reflection in one of the shop windows as he passed, he would’ve seen a tall, well-built, fifty-year-old man, his salt-and-pepper hair only slightly longer than the military cut he had worn for so long, but he didn’t. Instead, he kept his eyes trained on his surroundings – a habit born from years spent covering war zones as a reporter for Stars and Stripes.
Approaching Beth’s Buds, he was struck by the carefully arranged flowers and gifts displayed in the twin bay windows that flanked a black door with its shiny brass knob beneath a handcrafted wooden sign, giving the impression of a high end establishment. Entering the shop, his presence was immediately announced by the tinkling of a small bell hung overhead, and a petite woman, wearing a white smock, hurried from a back room to greet him.
“May I help you?” she asked, her voice soft and warm, her dark eyes reflecting an inner sadness.
“I’d like to order a small table top arrangement of mixed flowers for my aunt’s birthday to be delivered later this afternoon, if that would be possible,” he replied.
“Certainly.” She reached for an order form. “And the name of your aunt?”
“Joan Palmer.”
“I didn’t realize today was Miss Palmer’s birthday.” She made a quick note and glanced up. “She was my second grade teacher, and I’ve always been grateful for the way she encouraged us, even Gerald Tate who was the class troublemaker.”
“That sounds like my aunt.” He returned her smile, unaware of the good impression the laugh lines around his soft, brown eyes had given the shopkeeper.
The phone on the counter choosing this moment to ring, he waited patiently as she took the call.
“Oh, Harry, not you, too.” A crease formed between her beautifully formed brows. “No, no, don’t worry about it. Go home and get into bed. I’ll figure out something. Do you need me to bring anything by your house on my way home?” … “Okay, keep me posted on your progress.” She terminated the call and attempted a smile as she again picked up her pen.
“Trouble?” he asked.
“That was my delivery man,” she explained. “He seems to have come down with the same flu that has already claimed my assistant, and I have a whole tableful of corsages in the back waiting to be delivered.”
“Is there someone else you can call on?” He felt an overriding urge to see her worries resolved before he left her.
“Normally, I would contact Jeff Stuart, a local college student who has helped in the past, but I happen to know that he’s tied up with a new business venture of his own this weekend.”
“Perhaps, I should introduce myself.” He held out his hand. “I’m Gabriel Palmer, but most folks call me Gabe.”
“Beth McIntyre.” She took his hand, surprised by how nice it felt to have her own held in his firm grip.
“You would’ve been several years behind me in school,” he continued, “but I grew up only a few blocks from here. I’ve recently retired from a longstanding position, and I’m in the process of moving back to Captain’s Point. Until negotiations are completed on a business opportunity I’m considering, my time is free and clear. Why don’t I fill in for your Harry?”
For a moment, silence filled the shop as his words were considered, but then relief filled the florist’s face. After all, this was Miss Palmer’s nephew, and he had no reason to lie to her. No money would be changing hands, and what would a man want with a bunch of flowers anyway?
“You’re hired,” she stated, “but the job only pays minimum wage.”
“Not a problem,” he replied, “because I’m only volunteering my help as one Captain’s Point business person to another.”
“Oh, but…,” she started to say, but he held up his hand.
“You don’t really have a choice, you know.” He sent her a slow grin, revealing a single dimple.
About the authors, Annie Acorn & Charlotte Kent…
ANNIE ACORN is the pseudonym of a prolific, internationally beloved author, whose readership recognizes her mainly for her women’s fiction, cozy mysteries and richly woven stories with a warm southern flair, such as Chocolate Can Kill and her Luna Lake Cabins romantic women’s fiction series. She writes her romantic women’s fiction/family saga Captain’s Point Stories series as Charlotte Kent. She is a founding member of From Women’s Pens – A Cooperative of Women Writers.
Annie is the mother of two sons. She lives in the Washington, D.C. area, where she has done extensive technical writing as a contractor.
She owned a tri-state medical outsourcing business for a number of years and was the Director of a behavioral healthcare firm. She once flipped a comic book and collectible retail company comprised of five stores, and she has managed cemeteries and funeral homes. She is the owner of Annie Acorn Publishing, LLC.
Ms. Acorn has published in The Inspirational Writer, and she edited an in-house publication for the State of Mississippi. She is a contributor of ezine articles.
In her spare time, Ms. Acorn enjoys reading, writing mysteries and romantic women’s fiction, listening to classical music, playing cards, and spending time with her family and friends – often at a restaurant serving delicious food.
Annie is the author of the blog at annieacorn.com. You can friend her on Facebook and tweet her at @Annie_Acorn. She will respond to your email sent to annieacorn11@gmail.com.
CHARLOTTE KENT is the pseudonym used by authors Annie Acorn and Juliette Hill when writing their collaborative, romantic women’s fiction, family saga, Captain’s Point series, which is set on the eastern shore of Maryland. You can tweet to them as Charlotte Kent at @CharlotteKent20.
~~~~~~~
Links to Annies’s website, blog, books, etc.
Websites:
http://annieacornpublishing.com/
http://annieacorn.com/
As Charlotte Kent:
A Clue for Adrianna: http://amzn.to/1aWTgGL
A Man for Susan: http://amzn.to/1d3Rc4E
Love’s Journey: http://amzn.to/18T4JWa
Love’s Surprise: http://amzn.to/1pw83CS
One Sweet Christmas: http://amzn.to/1y5ffJp
A Magic Cup of Christmas Tea: http://amzn.to/1zBNlFF
As Annie Acorn:
Annie Acorn’s 2015 Valentine’s Day Treasury: http://amzn.to/1CWxaCF
Chocolate Can Kill: http://amzn.to/GUp7Ph
Murder With My Darling: http://amzn.to/1gSdFBz
Love’s Third Chance: http://amzn.to/1ih6HbZ
Love’s Plan: http://amzn.to/1ymA2aa
A Tired Older Woman Loses Weight and Keeps It Off:
http://amzn.to/19YP4I4
The Magic Sand Dollar: http://amzn.to/11xYt4k
Link to the From Women’s Pens page on annieacornpublishing.com:
http://annieacornpublishing.com/from-womens-pens
~~~
Thanks, Annie & Charlotte, for sharing your stories with us!
February 2, 2015
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February 1, 2015
**Author Peek** Interview with Annie Acorn
**AUTHOR PEEK** Interview with ANNIE ACORN
INTRODUCING…Annie Acorn.
Before we get started talking about your writing, tell us a little about yourself, where you’re from, what you do for a living (if you’re not a full-time writer) what hobbies you have, etc. Whatever you’d like to share to introduce yourself.
Honestly, I’m from all over the place. I was born in Indiana, and I’ve returned there many times through the years. I spent the first seven years of my life in Ohio, and I often blog about those early times and life in The Double, as we called our duplex, with my paternal grandmother and great-aunt living on the other side. Then my family moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where I learned to hike and camp in the Smokies and Cumberland Mountains, forming the basis for my Luna Lake Cabins series. As an adult, I lived all over the Deep South, as we followed my husband’s career moves wherever they took us. Finally, I’ve ended up in the metro D.C. area, surrounded by family and friends although, in my heart, I will always be southern.
In May, 2014, I retired from doing contract medical/technical writing to devote myself full-time to my personal fiction and nonfiction writing pursuits and the running of my boutique publishing company Annie Acorn Publishing LLC, which operates following a traditional publishing model. Over the years, I’ve owned several other businesses, including a tri-state, medical outsourcing business, and I once flipped a five-store retail chain.
In my ‘spare’ time, such as it is, I read, play cards, watch PBS, the History Channel, and the Hallmark channels, and enjoy the company of family and friends, often in wonderful restaurants or while giving their due to wonderful potlucks.
At this point in my life, one of my greatest joys is having the opportunity through AAPub to mentor young writers as I enable them and other talented writers to publish their work – well edited, formatted, and presented with a great cover created by the talented graphic designer/author Angel Nichols (@Angel_Nichols).
1. What genre(s) do you write and why?
My Captain’s Point series that begins with A Clue For Adrianna, written collaboratively with Juliette Hill as Charlotte Kent (@CharlotteKent20), is romantic women’s fiction/family saga. My own Luna Lake Cabins series would also fall within this genre.
My cozy mystery Chocolate Can Kill was a Malice Domestic Contest finalist, and my Murder With My Darling combines mystery with humor, as do some of my published mystery shorts.
I have written a number of Christmas shorts that can be found within the pages of my Annie Acorn’s 2011-2014 Christmas Treasuries, and I have just launched an Annie Acorn’s 2015 Valentine’s Day Treasury that includes two Valentine’s Day shorts of my own. Other fictional offerings include a faith-based, children’s chapter book titled The Magic Sand Dollar that’s based on the legend of the sand dollar.
In addition, I have written or contributed to several nonfiction books, including A Tired Older Woman Loses Weight and Keeps It Off, two finance books, and the recently released Pen & Ink 2014 – a book on writing, editing, and publishing drawn from the Pen & Ink writing project that contains expertise and tips from twenty highly successful authors.
I am currently working on a non-fiction book with Angel Nichols, completing Love’s Second Chance – the fifth novel in my Captain’s Point series as Charlotte Kent, making headway on Love Heals – a novella in my Luna Lake Cabins series, and editing a mystery/romance/fantasy novel titled Bright Treasures.
2. If you were to choose one superpower, what would it be?
I graduated with a major in history, and I would love to be able to travel back in time. Imagine what it would be like to be Jane Austen’s friend, to be a member of the Detection Club with Agatha Christie and her pals, to lunch at the Algonquin Round Table with Dorothy Parker, or to attend one of Georgette Heyer’s cozy dinner parties.
And, of course, I would pause along the way and buy a couple of shares each of McDonald’s, Microsoft, Exxon, and Dell among others on the day of their first offering.
3. Do you ever get stuck when you’re writing a book? What do you do to get “unstuck”?
I can honestly say that I’ve never been ‘blocked,’ although I have often been surprised by a direction in which my characters wish to go.
It’s my belief that most writers ‘block’ because of one of two reasons:
They overthink the piece, continuously returning to the beginning to either edit or rewrite until very little of what inspired them to tell their story in the first place remains, and they find themselves going in circles, or
They fail to listen to their characters, who are desperately trying to tell them a better way to reach their goal.
My own Luna Lake Cabins novella Love Heals has not yet seen the light of day, despite the fact that I had already prepared a detailed 3500 word synopsis of the story complete with dialogue, descriptive passages, and text, because at about 2500 words into the actual manuscript my characters took a sharp turn to the left. Now, I’m writing blind, which is fine with me. A new story is unfolding before my eyes, as I follow them on their journey.
What about my original story line? As a seasoned author, I recognize that I now have two great ideas, and my original story’s time will come soon enough. In the meantime, my laptop’s keys are clacking happily along.
4. What is your least favorite part of writing ?
At this point in my writing career, I embrace every part of the actual writing process, including rewriting and editing, because I’ve long since become comfortable with all of them and recognize that each plays an important part in making my work the best it can be.
On the other hand, I breathed a sigh of relief when I retired from contract medical/technical writing early in 2014. This type of writing is basically writing by committee, and the process that is most often employed is time consuming, frustrating, and makes little sense to most writers who make their living from it.
I will say, though, that if I wrote to the demands of a traditional publisher – the deadlines and requirements to change my storylines – I would answer very differently. Thankfully, I have designed the box within which I pursue my craft in such a way that my creative instincts are given total freedom – pure joy!
5. If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us?
Whatever you chose to order at Clyde’s restaurant. Since this is the restaurant upon which I based Montgomery’s restaurant in my Captain’s Point series, you would not be disappointed, especially if you ordered at least a cup of their cream of crab soup.
6. What is your typical day like?
A zoo – still, I somehow manage to get a tremendous amount accomplished.
Every day begins with my PT exercises as I watch the Weather Channel. Next, I prepare my pitcher of espresso, enjoy a light breakfast, do my Bible study, and turn on my laptop.
I treat myself immediately to recording AAPub’s sales from the previous day, eager to see which of our authors have sold what or how a particular launch is going. After this, I answer emails that have arrived through the night time hours, many of them from overseas. I then open the Word .docs that keep me on the straight and narrow as I visit @AAPublishing LLC, @CharlotteKent20, and personally do @Annie_Acorn, generally getting in at least a few good tweets on the latter.
Now, my actual workday begins. On Mondays, I have a standing meeting with Juliette Hill at eleven, during which we discuss promotion and storylines for our Captain’s Point series. Most afternoons from 3-5:00, I have editing appointments with various AAPub authors as we move towards launching their works.
Generally, I write at least 1,000 words per day, and I try to accomplish this first thing, so it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. Often, this stretches into more words, which is great.
I tend to prepare interviews for Book Bench or Merrie Housdon’s wonderful blog during the early evening. I also work on my Pen & Ink http://annieacornpublishing.com/pen-ink comments during this timeframe. If no such need is there, then I will work on a blog post or return to a WIP.
I generally eat a light supper around eight in front of the TV, and then I do some serious tweeting, while I half watch whatever is on. Then, if the words are really flowing, I may return to my WIP and write for several hours, often surprised to find that it’s two or three in the morning when I next glance up.
Hopefully, once I get into bed, I’ll be allowed to stay there, but my Captain’s Point alpha males are known for waking me in the middle of the night with full chapters that must be immediately committed to a page.
7. What is most difficult for you to write? Characters, conflict or emotions? Why?
I would have to answer None of the Above, and I see that as a good thing. If you’re characters aren’t well-rounded then readers won’t identify with them. Conflict is the engine that drives plot, so you had better involve it in your storyline, and emotions are what allow your reader to participate in your story.
8. How likely are the people you meet going to end up in your next book?
I’m not consciously aware of this occurring in my work with one or two notable exceptions.
Warren in Chocolate Can Kill was based on my husband, and Charlie’s description would describe my father. Patrick and Max were both rescue dogs that filled my life with great joy, and their true stories appear in the same book. Max has also starred in all four Captain’s Point novels and will continue to do so.
David Eskar, DDS, in my Captain’s Point series, was deliberately based on my actual dentist who, when I told him I was working on a book titled A Man for Susan, informed me that Susan needed to fall in love with a dentist. Since this is a romantic women’s fiction/family saga series, his story will continue to unfold, which has brought him great pleasure.
9. Tell us about your hero. Give us one of his strengths and one of his weaknesses.
At this point, I have many heroes in my body of work, but I’ll concentrate on Chase Sheffield in A Clue for Adrianna for this answer.
One of Chase’s greatest strengths is his ability to keep plugging forward, despite the roadblocks that life continues to place before him. On the other hand, he has worked himself to the point of complete burnout over many years, pursuing what he sees as a correct course, while denying himself any meaningful female companionship. Then he meets Adrianna, and his whole world is turned upside down.
10. Tell us about your next book & when is it being published?
I just launched Annie Acorn’s 2015 Valentine’s Day Treasury, which contains a variety of Valentine’s Day shorts, novelettes, and novellas, including two of my own – one, A Valentine Surprise, from my Captain’s Point Series as Charlotte Kent and one, Valentine Goodbye, from my Luna Lake Cabins series as Annie Acorn.
I will also be launching on February 6, 2015, a collected works of my Luna Lake Cabins pieces titled Luna Lake Cabins – The First Year.
~~~~~~~
Links to Annies’s website, blog, books, etc.
Websites:
http://annieacornpublishing.com/
http://annieacorn.com/
As Charlotte Kent:
A Clue for Adrianna: http://amzn.to/1aWTgGL
A Man for Susan: http://amzn.to/1d3Rc4E
Love’s Journey: http://amzn.to/18T4JWa
Love’s Surprise: http://amzn.to/1pw83CS
One Sweet Christmas: http://amzn.to/1y5ffJp
A Magic Cup of Christmas Tea: http://amzn.to/1zBNlFF
As Annie Acorn:
Annie Acorn’s 2015 Valentine’s Day Treasury: http://amzn.to/1CWxaCF
Chocolate Can Kill: http://amzn.to/GUp7Ph
Murder With My Darling: http://amzn.to/1gSdFBz
Love’s Third Chance: http://amzn.to/1ih6HbZ
Love’s Plan: http://amzn.to/1ymA2aa
A Tired Older Woman Loses Weight and Keeps It Off:
http://amzn.to/19YP4I4
The Magic Sand Dollar: http://amzn.to/11xYt4k
Annie Acorn’s 2015 Valentine’s Day Treasury Includes:
A Valentine’s Surprise by Charlotte Kent
A Taste of Love by Juliette Hill
A Prince for Valentine’s by Merrie Housdon
A Rose by Any Other Name by Angel Nichols
A Valentine’s Day to Remember by Susan Jean Ricci
At the End of the Day by Peggy Teel
Valentine Goodbye by Annie Acorn
Link to the From Women’s Pens page on annieacornpublishing.com:
http://annieacornpublishing.com/from-womens-pens
~~~~
BE SURE TO COME BACK to read more about Annie, her new release, and an excerpt from Annie Acorns 2015 Valentine’s Day Treasury, A VALENTINE’S SURPRISE by Charlotte Kent, on Wednesday’s Karen’s Killer Book Bench. Happy Reading!
Congratulations Week 01-12-15 & 01-19-15 Giveaway Winners!
CONGRATULATIONS WEEK 01-12-15 & 01-19-15
GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!
Karen’s Killer Book Bench with COLETTE L. SAUCIER!!
Giveaway: Colette is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card to a lucky reader who comments on her Interview or Karen’s Killer Book Bench blogs. Thanks, Colette, for sharing your story with us!
WINNER ~ CHERIE COLYER!!
Karen’s Killer Book Bench with TR FISCHER!!
Giveaway: TR is giving away a PDF copy of A Man Around The House to a lucky reader who comments on her Interview or Karen’s Killer Book Bench blogs. Thanks, TR, for sharing your story with us!
WINNER ~ ROBIN DRISCOLL!!
~~
DON’T MISS OUT!!
The following guest bloggers are still taking entries in their Rafflecopter Giveaways!
Helenkay Dimon’s PLAYING DIRTY Blog Tour:
http://www.karendocter.com/karens-killer-book-bench-playing-dirty-by-helenkay-dimon.html
&
Cate Beauman’s REAGAN’S REDEMPTION Killer Fixin’s Blog:
http://www.karendocter.com/karens-killer-fixins-author-special-with-cate-beauman-4.html
[All winners chosen by random.org from reader comments. Thank you.]
January 29, 2015
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Garlicky Chicken Soup
It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s! Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me. I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers. So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is GARLICKY CHICKEN SOUP!
I love garlic…LOTS of garlic. I put it in everything I can. Needless to say, this recipe is a favorite. It’s also delicious and satisfying.
I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!
Karen
P.S. We’re at 182 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s Blog
GARLICKY CHICKEN SOUP
[Serves 4]
4 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
2 bay leaves
½ tsp. dried thyme
pinch dry sage
1 head garlic, minced
8 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth
1 lb. boneless/skinless chicken breasts, cubed
Heat oil in large saucepan over low heat. Add onion, carrots, celery, bay leaves, thyme, and sage. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion softens and becomes translucent, about 8 minutes. Add garlic. Cook 2 minutes longer. Pour in broth, raise heat to high and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover pan, and simmer until carrots soften, about 10 minutes. Add chicken, bring soup back to a simmer, and cook 5 minutes longer. Season with salt, if desired. Remove bay leaves, and serve.
