Lynn Cahoon's Blog, page 26

The Healthy Meals Project?

Talking to my BFF, I realized I really, really want to do a Julie/Julia thing.  Take a recipe book, work through the pages, fall in love with cooking again. 

Now, here’s my problem. What project to choose? I’d love to start quilting again. Maybe I should do a block a week… by the end of the year, I’d have a quilt.

Or crochet. I could do a scarf a month.

Or sign up for classes at the chef school in St Louis.

Now, I’m just being silly.

I’m a lot like Julie, at least in the movie version. I have a lot of things I want to learn. I used to work in social services. I have a full time job, a husband who gives me lots of room for meltdowns, and a desire to succeed.

I also have at least three books coming out this year, three manuscripts to edit and shop, and a bunch of new bright and shiny’s calling for my attention.

Instead of 365+ recipes in 365 days, I’m going to commit to one new recipe a week.  50 new recipes in 2014.

Here’s the first – 49 to go…

Mexican Chicken Soup

This soup freezes well and depending on your toppings, is a low calorie lunch, easy to heat up in a microwave. There’s a lot of different versions of Mexican Chicken Soup on the internet, but I liked the simplicity of both the preparation and ingredients of my version. It’s an easy Sunday dinner with a basket of fresh rolls and a chopped salad.

2 split chicken breasts, bone in, skin on
Olive oil
Salt and black pepper
2 cups chopped onions
1 cup chopped celery
2 cups chopped carrots
2 large cloves garlic, minced
2 (28-ounce) cans chicken stock (or homemade)
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes in puree, crushed
1/4 cup jalapeno slices, seeded and minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander seed
6 (6-inch) fresh white corn tortillas

Directions

Part I: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the chicken breasts skin side up on a sheet pan. Rub with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until done. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, discard the skin and bones, and shred the meat. Cover and set aside. (If you use frozen breast portions, your cooking time will be 20-25 minutes.)

Part II: In 3 tablespoons of olive oil heated in a large pot, add the onions, celery, and carrots and cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, or until the onions start to brown. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the chicken stock, tomatoes with their puree, jalapenos, cumin, coriander, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Cut the tortillas in 1/2, then cut them crosswise into 1/2-inch strips and add to the soup. Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 25 minutes. Add the shredded chicken and season to taste.

Part III: Enjoy! I put crushed tortilla chips and a spoonful of sour cream on the top.

 

10 reasons I hate January

Okay, so maybe hate is a strong word.  Extreme dislike?  Glad to be over with?

#10 – Snow. I’ve had two snow days from work and three late arrivals. Now, being a Libra, I also see the other side of the snow days – I had two days to write. Which I did -but on the other traffic snarled late days, the snow just made me grumpy.

#9-Exercise. Yes, I know, I made the commitment. But it’s hard. (You can already see this is going to be a whiny post, right?) Good news, is I’m loving my Xbox Biggest Loser Game. And I’ve been diligent since the first.

#8- Diet. I want to bake. I want to eat cookies. I want to drink cups of steamy hot chocolate with  whipped cream. Instead, I’m eating carrots and salads. This weekend I’m making a Mexican Chicken soup. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

#7 -Weight. No matter what I do, my weight goes up in the winter.

#6 -No walks. Which is probably why #7 happens. I’m grumpy, my dogs are grumpy.  One year, we had 70 degree weather on New Years Day. Loved it. I celebrated with a walk down river road.

#5 – Too many projects. – This is probably an ongoing issue with me. I love scheduling workshops, starting shorts for a monthly deadline, goaling to finish a book, and I’m learning about self publishing.  I need to learn to -FOCUS. Maybe that will be on next years list.

#4 – Catching up from vacation at the day job. So many things to do.

#3 – Time flying. I’ve got several resolutions I haven’t started.  Like reading 50 books this year. Well, I’ve started, I’m just not on pace yet. I’m reading The Hero by Robyn Carr and The Writer’s Workout - which I thought was going to be about exercise. It’s not.

#2 – Spending time reading other blogs and thinking about all the resolutions I should have made.  Oops, see #5, FOCUS.

#1 – And finally, January is too far away from April. And yet, in a way, too close. Guidebook to Murder -A Tourist Trap Mystery releases April 17 – I’m planning my blog tour (if you want me to visit, shoot me an email), setting up a twitter plan, and stressing.  So excited for this release. 

 

What about you?  Are you in the Pro-January camp?

Old Year, New Year…

I love setting goals. The setting part. Don’t get me wrong, I love achieving goals too, but sometimes the old saying comes true… 

Man plans, God laughs.

That’s what happened to me this year.  However, it was a good switch-up. 

My manuscript/book plan in January was to finish out the bull rider series with Jesse’s story. Finish out The Council series with what I’m calling Salem Showdown. Finish the first book in a new cozy series so I could shop it. Write a new book targeted at Harlequin American. Finish a Christmas story I started. And if I had time, write the woman’s fiction book that’s been playing with my imagination for too long. 

First month, progress. I finished the new cozy and started shopping.  I started the bull rider book.  Then I got a hit on my other cozy series, The Tourist Trap Mysteries. An editor wanted to know if I had an idea for book #2.  Did I? Hell, yes. So everything else went on hold as I tweeked and edited (with a lot of help from my friends) three chapters of a second book.  

By the end of March, I was negotiating a contract with my new editor. While the final details were being hashed out, I went on my annual pilgrimage to Nashville to visit with a writer friend.  As we were walking and talking, I found the best pair of boots ever. Which I didn’t buy since I didn’t have $800 in spare change in my pocket. But I did walk away with a new story idea.  

Since that contract signing, I’ve written two (unplanned) books for The Tourist Trap series.  Guidebook to Murder – Book 1 – is on pre-order and releases April 2014. The other two books will release in summer and early winter.  

But now that I’ve finished my contracted homework, it’s time to get back to my list I’d started in January. The Bull Rider’s Last Ride is in final pre-edits now, and I’ll be submitting that to my publisher in January. Keep your fingers crossed for me. 

I wrote a story for a Christmas Anthology – so Top Secret Santa released as part of All I Want for Christmas is a Soul Mate in early November. Another unplanned but fun project.

So what’s on my list for 2014? I don’t know yet, but I’ll plan on finishing up some of those I listed off for 2013 – and listen for God’s laugh.

What’s on your plate? 

 

Happy New Year,

Lynn 

Merry Christmas

Although we don’t have a tree up or cards in the mail, Casa Cahoon feels like the town of Whoville. The Christmas spirit keeps floating in. Lesson learned, you just can’t stop Christmas from coming.

Best wishes to friends and family. I hope Santa leaves something special in your holiday stocking this year.

Lynn

 

Robyn Neeley’s Christmas Dinner and a holiday recipe

Robyn Neeley has stopped by to give us a holiday recipe along with a taste of Christmas Dinner, her newest release. Welcome to the blog, Robyn! 

Delicious Holiday Fudge!

2/3 cups evaporated milk

2 cups sugar

1 square of baker’s chocolate

1 stick margarine or butter

4 Hershey candy bars

½ cup of nuts

1tsp.vanilla

Stir first three ingredients well and bring to a boil.

Boil for three minutes. Add margarine or butter the last 1 1/2 minutes stirring all the time

Take fudge from heat and stir in Hershey bars (broken up) and nuts. Beat until thick, add vanilla and pour in an 8 x 8 buttered pan. Add nuts to the top if you’d like. Put in the refrigerator until set, then cut into squares.

 

About Christmas Dinner

News anchor Amanda Turner used to love everything about the holidays—the eggnog sugar cookies, the tacky family Christmas sweaters, and a lawn decorated with so many multi-colored lights that 747s could land safely. That is until her boyfriend dumped her in front of the whole town on Christmas Eve. Humiliated, she fled her small town start a new life. Two years later, she’s finally ready to return to the scene of the emotional crime, until she learns that her ex is engaged. Now, the only thing worse than going home is going home single.

Tate Ryan, her tall, dark, and arrogant co-anchor, offers to pose as her boyfriend. There’s one problem, though: they barely like each other, and he recently scooped her story on live TV. But she needs a ride home and a boyfriend fast, so Tate will have to do.

As she watches Tate interact with her family and town residents, fully embracing the spirit of the holiday season, she starts to see his kindhearted side. She can’t help but wonder if she was wrong about him. Perhaps he isn’t the conniving co-worker that she once thought. And her new feelings for him would definitely put her on the naughty list.

Tate has his own agenda for the weekend that includes telling Amanda he’s been in love with her since the first time they met. He’s ready to reveal all during Christmas dinner but fate has other plans.

Purchase on Amazon or Barnes & Noble

About Robyn

Robyn Neeley is an East Coaster who loves to explore new places; watches way more reality TV than she cares to admit; can’t live without Dunkin Donuts coffee and has never met a cookie she didn’t like. If you have a must read romance suggestion or a fabulous cookie recipe, she wants to know. Visit her at robynneeley.com.

  Enjoy an Excerpt from Christmas Dinner!

“I’ll have another, please.” Amanda waved her empty wine glass and glanced up at the mounted television. Their explosive local story had made national news. “I really need to get out of this town,” she muttered.

“Excuse me?” The bartender picked up her glass. He was wearing a Santa hat.

“Oh, nothing.” She pointed at his head, changing the subject. “Do they make you wear that?”

“Nah, I just like to get into the Christmas spirit.” He grabbed a bottle of wine, refilling her glass.

“Christmas spirit,” she echoed dryly. She remembered that feeling. It was only two years ago that it was her favorite time of year-two heartbreaking years. “Thanks.”

She took a long gulp and went back to brooding over Brad’s status update. What if she ran into him and his fiancée this weekend? Oh, God. What if she knew her?

“Hey, Santa, think you could bring me a boyfriend to take home this weekend?” she asked sarcastically. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a flicker of a man in a suit. She knew its owner immediately.

“Why, Ace, are you taking resumes?”

She spun around and shook her head. Tate had taken the empty seat next to her. Her knees briefly touched his. “What the- where did you come from? Are you following me now?” She drank her wine. “I hate you,” she mumbled.

“I’ll take that as a no.” He pointed to her fresh glass. “I see you’re celebrating. Mind if I join you?”             

She pushed off her seat. “Sorry, I was just leaving.” Her legs wobbled, and she felt a little tipsy. When had she become such a lightweight? She sat down to regain her equilibrium. “On second thought, I was here first.”

The bartender came over. “Sir, can I get you anything?”

“A stocking full of coal would be appropriate,” Amanda interjected sweetly. She glared at Tate and raised her finger directly at a group of women on the other side of the bar who were looking their way. She suspected they were gushing over Tate. Most women did.

“See that cougar in the tight sequined silver top and black hooker stilettos? I’m sure she’s one of your fans. I’d bet my paycheck she’d love to have the great Tate Ryan make her night.”

Tate nodded to the woman and pulled Amanda’s arm down. She felt his hand linger.

“I think I’ll pass.” He signaled the bartender and said, “Hey, buddy, could I get a Manhattan?” Then he turned back to Amanda. “Okay, talk to me, Mandy. Why so glum?”

“Don’t call me that. My brother calls me Mandy, and I’m angry with him right now, too.” She stood once again and reached for her purse, determined this time to get away from her co-anchor. “I think I’ll get a table-for one. Merry Christmas, Tate,” she said flatly.

She walked over to the dining area and scanned the room for an empty table. There was one near the window. She plopped down in a chair.

Tate sauntered over.

“Oh, no. No, no.” She raised her hand in protest. “You are not sitting here.”

“Look, you can’t still be angry with me for what happened earlier.”

“Why can’t I?”

        “Ace, you know I didn’t sabotage you.” He pulled out a chair and took a seat.

Amanda sighed. “I know.”

“Listen, let’s order some dinner. My treat. I’m starving, and I’ll bet you are, too. We’ll eat, and you can tell me why you’re here drowning your sorrows because this can’t all be my fault. Start from the beginning. I’m a great listener.” He scrolled through his iPhone. “Was it really that bad of a day?” he asked, glancing up.

“You can’t be serious. You did not just ask me that.”

Tate shrugged. “It’s one story. There will be others.”

“Not like this one.”

“You really believe that?”

Amanda shrugged. “I don’t know what I think anymore. Let’s just order. Will you promise to leave me alone after we eat?”

“Deal. Okay, where to begin? All right, why do you hate me? No. Wait.” Tate jerked his hand up in the air in a halt. “Don’t answer that. Let’s start with a softball question. Why do you hate the holidays?” He grabbed the other menu on the table.

“I don’t hate the holidays.”

Tate smirked. “Amanda, you pretty much tell anyone who wishes you a Merry Christmas to go to hell.”

“That’s not true.”

“Not to mention I had to twist your arm for you to do the kick-off story on this year’s toy drive.”

“That hardly makes me a scrooge. I agreed to it, didn’t I?”

He pointed at the window. “Speaking of toys, did you see that huge Santa and sleigh on the flatbed truck in the parking lot? It’s filled with all kinds of fun things. What do you think they’re doing with all those toys?”

Amanda followed his gaze out the window. In the darkness, she could just make out a life-size Santa and sleigh. God, she hated sleighs.

She could also see Tate’s reflection in the glass. The man certainly knew how to wear a suit. Why did he have to be so incredibly good looking? His eyes met hers, causing her cheeks to warm. She glanced away and reached for the breadbasket. “Does it really matter?”

“I’m just trying to lighten the mood.” He flipped his menu to the other side.

She sighed. He was right. It was common knowledge around the station that she wasn’t a big fan of the holidays.

“You’re right. I do get somewhat uptight this time of year,” she admitted. “I was planning on going home tomorrow, but now I don’t know-”

Tate looked up and interrupted. “You’re not going home for Christmas? Why?”

“I don’t know what to do. My mother will kill me if I don’t. My older sister’s about to have a baby.”

“Everything okay?”

“With her, yes. It’s just I received some unsettling news about my ghost from Christmas past.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind.” She slid back in her chair and took a drink. “It’s just hard to be single during the holidays, I guess.”

Tate studied her. “I wouldn’t have pegged you as the type of woman who gets down in the dumps for being single this time of year.”

“I’m not.” She paused. “Well, maybe I am a little. You think you’re headed down this precise path to achieving all of your carefully planned out goals-good grades, great college, solid career, the guy, perfect marriage, great sex-”

“Why, Ace, I could help you with that last goal.”

Amanda rolled her eyes. Of course he could. She continued, “Adorable kids and a nice house.” She sat up in her chair. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy in Wilmington. I’ve got a wonderful career, good friends, and my beautiful beachside condo bought and paid for. It’s just . . . I don’t know. You think everything is on track and then a-”

“Teleprompter jams,” he finished.

Her eyes started to water. “Something like that.” She immediately looked out the window to hide the evidence. Tate could not see her cry.

“So how long has it been since you’ve been home?”

“Two years.” Amanda grabbed a piece of bread and broke it apart.

“That’s nothing. What’s kept you away?”

“Long story.” Amanda grimaced and shoved the bread in her mouth.

“Might help to talk about it.”

She swallowed. “If you must know, my boyfriend of five years dumped me two years ago on Christmas Eve in front of all my family and friends.”

“Ouch.”

“Tell me about it.” She picked up her glass and swung it up in the air. “Then I get a text tonight telling me to check my Facebook, and guess what?” she asked, her voice rising. She didn’t wait for Tate to respond. “The bastard’s getting married!” She slammed her glass down. “Freakin’ engaged.”

“Is it really the end of the world?” Tate motioned for the waiter to bring Amanda a glass of water.

“Clearly you’ve never been in a relationship.”

“You just said you were happy here.”

“I am.”

“Are you still in love with him?”

“No.” She shook her head. “He might have broken up with me, but I realized we really weren’t meant to be. It’s just . . .”

“Just what?”

Amanda stared at Tate. Why was he so interested in her love life? “I guess I don’t understand why Brad gets to have his happy ending before me. Two years ago he didn’t want it.” Her eyes watered. This time she couldn’t hide the evidence as one tear slid down her cheek. “At least not with me.”

Tate grabbed a napkin from the table dispenser and handed it to Amanda. “Let’s turn this around.”

“How?” She sniffed, dabbing her eyes.

“Okay, here’s how I see it. Your sister is radiantly pregnant and about to pop out your mother’s first grandchild. Is your brother in a relationship?”

“Yes, with my best friend from high school.”

“I see.  It’s all making sense. There you will be at Christmas dinner, sandwiched between both couples. You have a great career and some would say a pretty good life here down south, but the humiliation of what happened with Brad will be the unspoken elephant in the room all weekend. Am I painting an accurate picture?”

With each stroke of his verbal brush, he certainly was. “I think you should order your dinner to go,” she said icily. It had obviously been a bad idea to share her love life with Tate.

“I think I can help-no, I know I can help you.”

“Help me? How?”

“If you brought a new man home, it would show everyone that you’ve moved on.”

“Maybe, but it’s not like I can rent one.” She thought for a second-could she?

“No need.” Tate reached for his drink and took a sip. “You can take me-free of charge.”

Amanda studied Tate. Was she hearing things?

“Take me home with you and introduce me as your boyfriend. I’ll fill that seat at Christmas dinner this year.”

“I was kidding with the bartender.” Amanda scoffed. The idea of bringing home a handsome boyfriend was intriguing. It would prove to everyone she was over Brad and past the humiliating breakup. But this was Tate. Handsome, yes. Her boyfriend? She didn’t think so. He rattled her on most days. They’d never pull it off.

 

All I Want For Christmas is a Soul Mate Teaser – Larynn Ford

Happy Holidays – Today we have another teaser from the Christmas Anthology – enjoy! 

Lynn

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS…

~ Killed the night before their wedding, a ghostly groom finds a way to return from the dead to be with his true love … ~

Excerpt from CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS:

Lila scanned the faces of her tour group for any indication someone else heard the voice. She read disbelief, anticipation, but no hint of surprise on a single face. Not one inkling anyone else caught the whispers of a name—her name—floating on the air.

Did I imagine someone calling to me?

“Li-la.”

Not her imagination. She worried her bottom lip between her teeth as she searched each face again. Nothing. No one else seems to hear this.

The lights in the historic library had been switched off during the ghost tour to hopefully entice some resident spirits to reveal themselves. Fragrant cedar boughs cascaded from the staircase railing, filling the air with holiday scents. The colorful glow of festive lights strung along the streets spilled in through the windows and reflected off the gold and silver ornaments dotting the evergreens.

Chrissie, her best friend, had chosen this ghost tour on their weekend getaway. Even on a friendly face she read no surprise, nothing out of the ordinary. Yet, the voice calling to her was real.

Familiar. So familiar.

But he had been taken from her a year ago. The night before their wedding.

website: www.larynnford.com

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larynn.ford
twitter: @LarynnFord
goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7059178.Larynn_Ford

The Bull Rider’s Manager Sale Starts Today

You know, sometimes the universe brings good people into your life.  Thanks universe. And thanks to Debra Kayn! Check out her Seductively for the best in bad boy romance.

 

Meet the Neighbors Welcomes Leslie Garcia

Today we have Leslie Garcia – she’s here to talk about her new book, Wildflower Redemption. I. LOVE. THIS. COVER. Something about a good pair of boots. Just saying. Anyway, I’ll turn it over to Leslie. Thanks for being here…. 

 

Lynn, thanks for having me visit today!  I’m really excited to have a chance to talk a little about Wildflower Redemption, Book One in the Texas—Heart and Soul series—and to answer a few of the questions you raised, too.

I’ve been writing, literally, since I was in first grade.  I wrote a story called ‘Trixie and Ricky’s Christmas”, about two lovable bunnies who used aluminum foil to decorate a pine tree on a cold winter day.  My principal posted it on the school bulletin board and read it to the entire school over the intercom, and that pretty much decided what my life’s pursuit would be.  Later that same year, a short-lived magazine called Kids bought an awful poem about dolphins from me, and paid me the queenly sum of $1.50.

Of course, after that—the rejections came.  Yes, by second grade I’d had a rejection or two, and the rejections increased with the years.  I had some successes, but when I sent Unattainable to Crimson Romance on my sister’s hunch, I literally pounded my desk and cursed when they replied within 3 days.  Why had they rejected something they clearly hadn’t had time to read?  And why did the editor tell me it “wowed” her, when she sent it back to me?

After a minute or two I decided to open the attachment—and it wasn’t a returned manuscript.  It was a contract.  My fingers were shaking and I was crying so hard I could hardly type the post I sent out to let everyone know that the cyber ‘call’ had come.

Unattainable was my debut novel with Crimson Romance, but I had dabbled in POD—not a happy result—before it became as well-established as it is.  I plan to demand rights back on my first romance, Love’s Lasting Song, and completely re-write it.  My ‘horror’ anthology La Llorona (The Wailing Woman), which deals with a famous Mexican legend about a murderous mom is self-published, and I loved the experience.  While my dream was to be published by an imprint I consider ‘traditional,’ I see benefits to self-publishing some of my future work.

Unattainable uses some of my experiences over thirty years on the Texas-Mexico border, but Wildflower Redemption, my next contemporary romance, draws heavily on my dysfunctional childhood.  What teenager’s 4-H project is a Great Dane one year and a real African lion the next?  I’d never again own (or care for) the exotic animals in our roadside amusement park, but when you’re fifteen or sixteen being ignored by an entire town because you’re a “damn Yankee,” you do what you have to!

In Wildflower Redemption, of course, the animals are not as unusual as the ones I dealt with, and Aaron Estes and Luz Wilkinson find each other fairly easily in the small town of Rose Creek.  But both are dealing with unbearable personal losses.  Both can love children unconditionally, and build lives around kids.  But neither is ready to love the other with the same abandon and trust they offer the children in their lives.

I can’t write (or do much of anything else) without a can of Coke Zero sitting within easy reach, but not too close to the computer.  So my favorite drink is always on the edge of the desk, making for frequent spills and clean-ups.  At least that cuts down on liver damage…

 

One of the most important questions you ask, Lynn, is about time management.  For the last 20 years I’ve taught first graders.  Every year on my evaluation I put that the skill I most need to improve is time management—and this extends into my writing.  I’d love to write full time, but until that’s possible—I need to squeeze out more actual writing time.

And if I could go back and write a letter to myself, the first grade writer—I’d tell myself to work harder and put my writing first more often.  But the next piece of advice—one I gave myself and took—would be to never, ever quit.  Write until you get where you wanted to go when you started.  And then—write more.

Thanks so much for having me, Lynn!

Excerpt from Wildflower Redemption

            Without thinking, Luz grabbed his shirt by the collar and jerked him back and toward her, out of the hoof’s reach.

Aaron wound up on his backside, glaring up at her until he noticed Domatrix calmly planting her hoof back on the barn floor. “Oh.” He frowned. “Dangerous around here, isn’t’t it? I’m not sure what’s worse— her wanting to kick me or you saving me. You almost took my head off!”

“Better me than her,” Luz retorted, smiling wickedly and holding her hand out. “Let me help you up, city boy.”

Aaron carefully scooted a few inches away from the mare’s hooves. Then he caught Luz’s hand. “I don’t think so!” With a quick pull, he toppled Luz into the sand with him.

Behind them, Chloe burst out laughing. “Like the wrestling! Pin him, Luz!” she crowed, leaving the pony she’d finished grooming to edge closer.

“Whose side are you on?” Aaron grunted at Chloe as Luz elbowed him without meaning to, trying to move farther away from the appaloosa, but collapsed back in a heap when she couldn’t stop laughing.

“Better watch out,” she taunted. “Bet I could take you.” His eyebrows lifted slightly. Laughter faded from his face. Her breath caught in her throat.

Unaware of the heat building between them, Chloe clapped her hands. “Come on! I’ll referee—”

Luz fished for an answer.

“Well! I thought it was strange no one looked out the door to see who was here,” Esmeralda said from a few feet away. “But I see you all were too busy— what, body slamming each other?”

Contempt and insinuation hardened her words, and Luz stiffened.

Beside her, Aaron sat up straighter and looked at Esmeralda without embarrassment or welcome. “Good morning, Esmeralda.”

He stood, then held out a hand to Luz as if nothing were unusual about sprawling in the sand with his daughter’s… what? She didn’t know what she was to Aaron, and though he belittled her apprehensions, the counselor’s demeanor and sarcasm clearly said she expected to be Aaron’s woman and didn’t think much of Luz’s attempts. Her face colored more by anger than embarrassment, she let Aaron pull her up, but when she would have stepped away, his hand still holding hers kept her from doing so.

“Luz and Daddy were wrestling,” Chloe offered helpfully.

God bless innocence. Because I don’t think that’s what we were doing.

Wildflower Redemption (Crimson Romance) by Leslie P. Garcia

Available at Barnes and Noble, Sony, iTunes and other distributors on Dec. 09th, 2013!

Also by Leslie P. García:

Unattainable

Take Me Out

La Llorona (The Wailing Woman)

  Website: Return to Rio

  Social Media:

Twitter: @LesliePGarcia

Leslie P. García  www.facebook.com/LeslieP.Garcia

E-mail: lesliegarcia2000-author@yahoo.com

 

All I Want for Christmas is a Soul Mate Teaser…

Today we have the lovely JR Richardson and her short in AIWFCIASM (yes, I love acronyms) anthology, Lost in Christmas.  Take a peek! 

 

LOST IN CHRISTMAS

Summary:

Crystal Springfield spends the holidays by herself, in the cabin her parents used to bring her to as a child.  It gives her the quiet solitude she craves during her time off but when a tall dark and lost stranger gets trapped at the cabin with her by a snow storm, Crystal soon realizes just how alone she’s been all these years.

Excerpt:

I make a mean version of taco salad, but just as I’m getting ready to sit down and devour the food, there’s a knock at my door. Berkley looks up at me expectantly while my brow dips a little.

“Dammit.”

I have to answer it, I realize, but before I do, I kneel down to get eye level with my best friend.

“Berkley?”

He tilts his head.

“Guard dog.”

Berkley growls and it sounds ferocious enough, so I stand and grin. “I’ve taught you well, young padawan.”

I review some defensive techniques I learned once upon a time as he follows me to the door. When I open it, all is forgotten because the man standing in front of me doesn’t look like a threat at all.

He’s tall and looming, yes, but his face seems, nice. He’s soft around the eyes and perfect around the lips. As they move to say something I can’t hear him because I’m too busy noticing his broad shoulders. Not too broad, though, they’re just right. I won’t mention the scruffy five o’clock shadow forming along his jaw.

“Hello?”

My mouth snaps shut and I blink.

“What?”

“Can I use your phone?” he asks slowly as he kicks his shoes against the stoop. He begins to take a step forward, assuming I’ll just say yes. Berkley lets out his version of a warning bark and I put a hand to the man’s chest.

“I don’t have a phone.”

He laughs. “Everyone has a phone.”

I push a little harder. “Not this everyone.” I’m trying to stand my ground, but honestly, I’m faltering here.

“Do you have a cell phone?” he asks.

I narrow my eyes. “Yes, why?”

He pulls his out. “Because maybe your cell range is better than mine.”

I try to remain strong. “Cell phones don’t generally work this far up in the mountains.”

But he is a persistent man. “Think I could try anyway?”

I purse my lips.

“Please?”

He seems honest but I’ve seen this show before. Man plays desperate, woman falls for his boyish charm, never to be seen again.

I peek down at my dog, whose bark has always been a million times worse than his bite. The only thing this guy has to worry about is getting tackled and then subsequently licked to death all over his face. Or maybe his jawline.

He has a nice jawline.

I make a rash decision that he’s indeed not a threat and open the door for him, a questionable, “sure” squeaking out.  The smallest of smiles plays at his lips when he realizes he’s won.

“Thanks.”

He stands at the doorway as I retrieve my phone and when I hand it to him, he tries over and over and over again to call out, to no avail.

“Fuck.”

“Told you,” I say when he hands it back. “Are you lost? I can—”

“No I’m not lost,” he says with a snide huff. “I just . . . need some directions.”

I recognize defensive mechanisms when I hear them. “So, lost,” I reiterate with an eyebrow quirk.

“No,” he insists. “The GPS on my phone is shit with the signal up here in no man’s land, and I can’t just drive around until it’s strong again. I’m late as it is.”

“I see.”
 
Totally lost.

Bio:

I’m a writer of stories and lover of life.

I grew up in Maryland with four siblings, three parents and an endless number of cousins within the vicinity. Today I live in Florida with my two girls and a husband that shares my same sense of humor and basic take on life as we know it.


Life is too short to put dreams on the back burner.

I’ve always loved writing, so in my spare time, I wrote a novel that’s been picked up by the good people at Soul Mate Publishing. It’s a character driven paranormal-murder mystery-romance entitled Cursed be the Wicked and is due out in March of 2014.

Where you can find Jo:

Website: http://jrrichardsonfics.wordpress.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/JRRichardsonAuthor 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoFictionFreak

Sunday morning catch up

Or, as it should be titled, things I’m doing instead of writing this morning.

I’m guesting over at AR Cafe this morning talking about ways to get more words down. I love top ten lists, so I thought I’d share this one from my workshop files.

I’ve had a good month. I finished the third book in the Tourist Trap Series – currently untitled.  Tossing around about Snapshots of Murder… Just as a teaser, I love the new South Cove shop highlighted in this book – The Glass Slipper.

Planning for a possible book number four – and of course, a new shop – Vintage Duds.

I can’t wait for you all to visit South Cove with Guidebook to Murder releasing April 17th, 2014

I’m writing Jesse’s story (The Bull Rider’s Last Ride) now and in the part of the book I love, the last section where everything is doomed and there’s no way for the couple to get back together.  I hope to have Jesse roped and tied up (wait, that’s a different sub-genre…) by the end of the month.

But if you can’t wait for a Lynn fix, I’ve got a holiday short in All I Want For Christmas is a Soul Mate.

Top Secret Santa: Two strangers, each starting a new life, realize that visiting Santa really is about Christmas magic . . .

 

Happy holidays everyone. And I hope your turkey’s fat and tasty and the dining table filled with friends and family.

Lynn