Karen Docter's Blog, page 278
November 21, 2013
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** with Cate Beauman
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with CATE BEAUMAN!!
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, CATE BEAUMAN, and her favorite recipe for EASY APPLE BRAID!
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Hi, Karen! Thanks so much for having me on Karen’s Killer Fixins. I love connecting with readers of romantic suspense and the idea of blending killer recipes with suspenseful reading is fantastic! I would love to celebrate my first visit to your blog by offering one of my favorite fall recipes to go along with my latest best seller – Waiting For Wren!
It’s great to meet all of you,
~Cate
Cate Beauman’s newest best seller is available now through Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Visit www.catebeauman.com for more information and to read excerpts from her romantic suspense series The Bodyguards of L.A. County.
About the author, Cate Beauman….
Cate currently lives in Tennessee with her husband, their two boys, and St. Bernard, Bear. She is the author of the best selling romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County. Before her career as an author, Cate worked in special education for 12 years.
“I’m a pretty lucky girl; one day I woke up and my entire life changed. I saw the light, so to speak, and decided I was going to be a writer. Now, two years later, I’m working on my sixth novel, Justice for Abby, and I’m an Amazon best selling author. I’m very grateful for the support and success I have had. – Cate “
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WAITING FOR WREN by CATE BEAUMAN
Book Blurb
When the past and present collide…
Wren Cooke has everything she’s ever wanted—a thriving career as one of LA’s top interior designers and a home she loves. Business trips, mockups, and her demanding clientele keep her busy, almost too busy to notice Ethan Cooke Security’s gorgeous Close Protection Agent, Tucker Campbell.
Jaded by love and relationships in general, Wren wants nothing to do with the hazel-eyed stunner and his heart-stopping grins, but Tucker is always in her way. When Wren suddenly finds herself bombarded by a mysterious man’s unwanted affections, she’s forced to turn to Tucker for help.
As Wren’s case turns from disturbing to deadly, Tucker whisks her away to his mountain home in Utah. Haunted by memories and long-ago tragedies, Tucker soon realizes his past and Wren’s present are colliding. With a killer on the loose and time running out, Tucker must discover a madman’s motives before Wren becomes his next victim.
WAITING FOR WREN by CATE BEAUMAN
EXCERPT
She pulled in her drive, dropped her phone, and gripped the wheel with trembling hands as heat from the vents rushed over her. She stared at her darkened front steps in the shadows cast about from the neighbors’ tall trees. What if he was here? His texts weren’t threatening, and technically neither were the flowers, but Rex wasn’t healthy. In the two years she’d owned her home, she’d never been terrified to get out of her car and go inside like she was now.
This is what he wants. He wants you to be afraid while he plays his games. Steeling herself, she grabbed her phone and got out with her key fob clutched in her unsteady hand. The cool rush of wind tossed her hair in her face, and she swiped wavy locks behind her ear as she strained to hear over the rustling leaves. She walked quickly, her eyes darting everywhere.
She just had to get to the door and step inside. The panic button was in the entryway if she needed it. The police would come help her, along with whoever was fielding calls at Ethan’s company tonight. “I’m almost there. I’m almost there,” she whispered, flinching, blinking, startled as the sensor lights flashed on to brighten the walkway. The security lights. It was just the security lights. She forgot she reactivated the feature the night of the gala. She took another step forward and saw the blood by the pretty pot of red mums. “Oh my god. Oh my god.” A black cat lay on her step, decapitated and bloated in a pool of dark, congealed crimson. “Oh my…”
Her breath rushed in and out as she stumbled back. The cellphone in her clammy hand rang, and she screamed. Blindly, she pressed “talk.” “Hell—hello?”
“Do you like it?” someone whispered.
She whirled, scanning, searching for Rex. He was here, somewhere. He had to be.
“Why won’t you call me?” The whisper turned into a pathetic whine. “Why won’t you call me, Wren?”
“Stop,” she shuddered out as she hurried to her car, looking over her shoulder from time to time, sure he was waiting to pounce. “Stop doing this. I’m calling the police.”
The whining stopped abruptly and turned into mad, riotous laughter. “They won’t believe you! They won’t believe you!”
“Leave me alone!” She hung up, gasping for air. Tears poured down her cheeks, and her hand shook as she opened her door, took her seat, and locked herself in. She had to get out of here. She had to get away. It took her two tries to shove the key in the ignition as she glanced at the bloodstained step once more and backed out with a squeal of tires. She sped off, heading toward Ethan’s until she remembered he was gone and a quarter of his house had been gutted for the new edition. All of them were gone—Ethan, Hunter, and Austin. She pressed ‘one’ on her speed dial, listening to the repetitive ringing. Ethan’s smooth voice told her to leave a message, but she hung up instead. She turned down another street, taking her farther from her home, and punched in Ethan Cooke Security’s twenty-four hour assistance line.
“Ethan Cooke Security. This is Mia.”
“Mia, it’s Wren.”
“Wren, are you okay?”
“Yes.” Her voice broke, and she shook her head as she clutched the wheel with one hand. “No. No, I’m not. There’s a dead cat on my porch.”
“Oh.”
That didn’t exactly describe the horror she’d just backed away from. “Someone killed a cat and left it on my front step.”
“Oh my god. Where are you?”
“In my car.” She sniffed. “Driving around. I don’t want to go back to my house alone.”
“Of course not. Let me patch you through to Tucker Campbell. He’s on call.”
Tucker? “No, wait—” But it was too late. Soothing music played in her ear.
“Wren?” Tucker’s deep voice hummed with concern.
Her lip wobbled, and tears began to fall again. “Yeah, I’m here.”
“What’s going on? Mia said something about a dead cat?”
“Someone chopped some sweet cat’s head off and put the body on my front step.”
He muttered a swear. “Are you there now?”
“No, I’m in my car, driving around. It freaked me out. I don’t want to be at the house by myself.”
“I don’t want you there either. Come to my place until we get this figured out.”
If choking fingers of terror didn’t have her by the throat, she would’ve refused, but Tucker was offering his help. She needed help. “I don’t—I don’t know where you live.”
“Ocean View Apartments, off Highway One.”
“What if he follows me? He might be following me right now.” She glanced in the rearview mirror and cringed as headlights trailed behind her.
“Who?”
“Rex.”
“Who the hell is Rex?”
“The crazy bastard who left the dead cat on my porch.”
“Son of a bitch, Cooke. Don’t stop. Don’t’ pull over. Drive on a flat tire if you have to. Just get here. I’ll be waiting outside.”
“Okay,” she sniffed, too afraid to be prideful. “I’m about ten minutes away.”
~~~
Did you enjoy the excerpt? You can read the first three chapters on my website, www.catebeauman.com, or you can finish the whole book here!
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Links to Cate’s website, blog, books, etc.
Amazon Author Page
http://www.amazon.com/Cate-Beauman/e/B00A05KHVM/
Social links:
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I hope you enjoy the recipe Cate is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!
Karen
P.S. We’re at 118 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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EASY APPLE BRAID
Ingredients for apple mixture
3 medium granny smith apples
3/8 cups of brown sugar (1/4+1/8 cups)
1/8 cups flour
1/8 t cinnamon
2 Crescent roll tubes
Ingredients for glaze (mix together)
1/3 cups confectioner’s sugar
5 t milk
½ t vanilla
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Peel apples and cut into small chunks.
Mix apples with brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon and bake covered in a pie plate for 15-20 minutes until apples are tender.
While mixture is baking, roll crescent rolls out flat (length-to-length), using a rolling pin to smooth junction between the two rolls so that you have one long piece to work with. Cut two-inch slits evenly along the length of the dough (to create flaps to braid).
Pour hot mixture over center of crescent rolls, then braid the flaps over the mixture.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Top with glaze while still warm and enjoy.
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**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Cate will give away an ebook (Kindle or Nook) copy of her novel, WAITING FOR WREN, to three of her lucky readers who comment on her Monday Interview or Wednesday Book Bench blogs!! Don’t miss this chance to read this bestselling new release!! Thanks, Cate, for sharing your stories with us!
November 19, 2013
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: The Viscount’s Vow by Collette Cameron
[image error] KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench where, every Wednesday, 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!
THE VISCOUNT’S VOW by COLLETTE CAMERON
Book Blurb
*
Part Romani, noblewoman Evangeline Caruthers is the last woman in England Ian Hamilton, the Viscount Warrick, could ever love–an immoral wanton responsible for his brother’s and father’s deaths.
Vangie thinks Ian’s a foul-tempered blackguard, who after setting out to cause her downfall, finds himself forced to marry her–snared in the trap of his own making. When Vangie learns the marriage ceremony itself may have been a ruse, she flees to her gypsy relatives, declaring herself divorced from Ian under Romani law. He pursues her to the gypsy encampment, and when the handsome gypsy king offers to take Ian’s place in Vangie’s bed, jealousy stirs hot and dangerous.
Under a balmy starlit sky, Ian and Vangie breech the chasm separating them, yet peril lurks. Ian is the last in his family line, and his stepmother is determined to dispose of the newlyweds so her daughter can inherit his estate. Only by trusting each other can Ian and Vangie overcome scandal and murderous betrayal.
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THE VISCOUNT’S VOW by COLLETTE CAMERON
EXCERPT
Armstrong’s Ball Scene
Noticing the numerous pairs of eyes watching him escort Miss Caruthers onto the polished floor, a wry smile touched Ian’s lips.
“I haven’t danced with any other ladies this evening. No doubt the rumormongers are hissing envious conjectures as to why I’ve asked you.”
She shot him a startled look before glancing around the ballroom.
“Why did you?”
“To see if what I’d heard was true.”
Ian watched for a reaction.
She opened her mouth then closed it. They waltzed around the dance floor for a few moments in silence. The string quartet was quite satisfactory. Ian allowed the lilting strains to soothe his troubled spirit.
“What did you hear?”
Miss Caruthers’s soft question reminded him of his purpose.
“That you are an excellent dancer.”
It was true. She moved with natural grace, following his lead, all the while holding herself in a most proper stance. He had to acknowledge she was a superb actress. Her gaze remained fixated on a spot above his left shoulder, except for one brief instance when she’d flicked her cobalt-blue gaze upward and unintentionally met his eyes.
“Is that all?” she asked softly.
He’d never seen eyes such a dark blue before. “All?”
“You’ve heard nothing else about me?
Her eyes held the perfect combination of trust and innocent curiosity. So convincing was she, that when their gazes fused, a peculiar jolt stabbed the center of his being.
What was it?
Meet Collette Cameron, Author….A life-long Oregonian, Collette Cameron was born and raised in a small town along the northern Oregon coast. Today she makes her home in a rural community, 30 minutes west of Portland. Her Victorian farmhouse sits on a one-acre certified wildlife habit, interspersed with a plethora of gardens: English, rose, butterfly, rock, water, and of course, vegetable.
A voracious reader of romance since her teens, she even named her daughter after a heroine in her favorite romance novel. An enthusiast of times gone by, and anything related to romance, she writes Historical Romance, with a dash of inspiration, a pinch of humor, and a liberal portion of suspense.
Having dabbled in interior decorating in her youth, Collette returned to school, graduating summa cum laude from Oregon State University, and went on to obtain her Master’s Degree in Teaching. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Rose City Romance Writers, The Beau Monde, and Love Faith and Hope, Inc., and a whole slew of other author/writer groups.
Some of Collette’s favorite things include unique blends of coffees and teas, trivia, Cadbury Milk Chocolate, inspirational quotes, and scented candles. Her Christian faith, husband, three adult children, and five miniature dachshunds round out her life quite nicely! When she’s not teaching or writing, she is a content and copy/line editor for an Ebook publisher, enjoys amateur photography, bird watching, gardening, interior decorating, rock-hunting, boating or fishing on the Columbia River, and reading of course.
To connect with Collette, please visit www.collettecameron.com or http://blueroseromance.com. She can be found on Facebook , Pinterest, Google+, Linkedin, and Twitter.
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Links to Collette’s website, blog, books, etc.
Website: http://collettecameron.com
Blog: http://blueroseromance.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/collettecameronau...
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Collette_Author.
Highlander’s Hope: http://amzn.com/B00CW1TTIO/
The Viscount’s Vow: http://amzn.com/B00EZ8RBN2/
Links to my other social media, LinkedIn, Goodreads, Google+, and book Facebook pages can all be found on my website.
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**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Collette will give away one copy of HIGHLANDER’S HOPE or THE VISCOUNT’S VOW (winner’s choice) to one of her lucky readers who comments on her Monday Interview or Wednesday Book Bench blogs!! Don’t miss this chance to read this book!! Thanks, Collette, for sharing your stories with us!
November 13, 2013
Catch That Santa by Karen Docter * .99 SALE *
CATCH THAT CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!!
Today’s the day to catch that Christmas spirit!! I know many of you have enjoyed my romantic comedy release, SATIN PLEASURES, but haven’t had the opportunity to read my holiday story, CATCH THAT SANTA. Now’s your chance to snag a little something extra for your stocking!
CATCH THAT SANTA by Karen Docter
BOOK BLURB
When widow, Sara Marks, hears her Grams has gone on the lam from Happy Acres Residence on Christmas Eve – on Santa’s arm, no less — she teams up with sexy stranger, Francisco de la Vega, to chase the couple down with one thing in mind. Keep her Grams from becoming Mrs. Claus. Of course, Francisco’s grandfather is not really Santa Claus, but Grams did run off to Vegas to marry him and she’s obviously not in her right mind.
Sara leaves her seven-month-old baby, Lanie, with a friend and she and Cisco head west in the worst snowstorm in decades, chasing his grandfather’s ’57 Ford Fairlane over the river and through the woods.
Will they catch Santa and his crazy Mrs. Claus before it’s too late? Or will love stop them in their tracks?
(Novelette, approximately 50 pages)
CATCH THAT SANTA by Karen Docter
EXCERPT
Chapter One
“What do you mean, Grams ran off with Santa Claus?” Sara Marks stared at the first floor orderly, Buddy Cantor, who’d met her outside her grandmother’s room at Happy Acres Residence. She could barely catch her breath after dashing through the facility carrying her sleeping seven-month-old. It had taken her a full thirty minutes to drive from the church near her apartment across Denver’s snow packed streets in her crotchety, old Ford, when it should have taken ten. Twenty minutes too long if her grandmother was truly missing.
She should never have gone to the Christmas Eve service. She’d suspected Grams was up to something when she called and told her to come later so she could take a nap before their usual dinner together. There was something in her voice, but Sara hadn’t paid enough attention with little Lanie fussing in her ear. “Next thing you’ll tell me is Santa took her to the North Pole in a sleigh pulled by reindeer.”
“No. A gold ’57 Ford Fairlane convertible.” The man shuffled uneasily in the doorway. “And they’re headed to Vegas. We think.”
“Vegas.” Movement in her arms made her aware Lanie was fully awake and ready to play. She grinned up at Sara with two shiny new bottom teeth, like she’d woken up just to laugh at her great-grandma’s latest flight of fancy.
Oh, Grams, what have you done?
Snag this cute, Christmas story today for your holiday reading pleasure!
Only $.99 on Amazon!!
http://www.amazon.com/Catch-That-Sant...
~ Sale Ends Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2013 ~
February 12, 2013
*FREE* Satin Pleasures by Karen Docter
Today's -- 02/12/13 -- NOVEL GEM blog http://www.karendocter.com/blog/novel... is all about a new excerpt for SATIN PLEASURES, my romantic comedy novel which goes #FREE #FREE today through Valentine's Day, February 14th!
Be my Valentine with some humor and romance! Happy reading!
December 13, 2012
*FREE* Romance SATIN PLEASURES
SATIN PLEASURES is #FREE on kindle December 13 & 14. A romantic comedy to slip into your stocking for a cold winter's night! It will tickle your funnybone and make you sigh.
Tell your friends!
November 26, 2012
Catch That Santa ~ FREE ON AMAZON!
FREE TODAY!! CATCH THAT SANTA by Karen Docter is now #FREE on #Kindle for 3 days ONLY!! New romantic comedy novelette ~ Celebrating Sara and Francisco's holiday romance!
Downloads...Likes...Reviews appreciated.
http://www.amazon.com/Catch-That-Sant...
November 20, 2012
CATCH THAT SANTA! Sneak Peek!
Tuesday's are usually my NOVEL GEMS blog where I share a "gem" from my upcoming romantic suspense series with my readers. Today, however, I'm sharing a peek into my new holiday novelette, CATCH THAT SANTA! Take a look at the cover of this cute romantic comedy, releasing THANKSGIVING DAY, and get a taste of CATCH THAT SANTA!
http://www.karendocter.com/blog/novel...
Check back Thursday on my blog, FB or Twitter pages to see how you can get a FREE copy for your Christmas Kindle stocking!
Karen
Bustiers, Birds and the Blues…SATIN PLEASURES by Karen Docter
Amazon, Nook, Smashwords
ISBN-10: 1475082525 ISBN-13: 978-1475082524 ASIN: B0078VSY6G
www.karendocter.com or kldocter@yahoo.com or Twitter: @KarenDocter
October 22, 2012
**Author Peek** Interview with Katherine Ramsland
Comment on either of her blogs for a chance to win a copy of her book! Happy Reading!
http://www.karendocter.com/blog/autho...
http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Ghosts-Pa...
September 19, 2012
Karen's Killer Book Bench: LOWCOUNTRY BOIL by Susan M. Boyer
Susan's giving away a copy of her book!! Comment for a chance to win.
Happy Reading!
http://www.karendocter.com/blog/karen...
Novel Gems...09-18-12...Killing Secrets by Karen Docter
Peek into today's gem!
http://www.karendocter.com/blog/novel...
Coming soon!
![[image error]](http://www.karendocter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Fotolia_27382439_XS1.jpg){kind=link}