Adele Downs's Blog, page 37
December 15, 2015
Join Us! Boroughs Publishing Birthday Bash! @BoroughsPubGrp
Join us all day December 15 on Facebook from 9 AM-1 AM ET to celebrate! There will be games and prizes galore from the publisher and all of your favorite authors.
Adele Downs will host from 7-7:30 PM ET.
We hope to see you at our Facebook party!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1094181493928460/
Filed under: Birthday Celebration, Book Lovers Event, Christmas, Contest, Holiday Fun, Prizes, Romance Fiction Tagged: Boroughs Publishing Group four year celebration, Publisher online birthday party
December 14, 2015
Barbara White Daille-Chocolate Fudge Cookie Recipe
Mmmm. Chocolate! Please welcome my guest Barbara White Daille who stopped by to share one of her favorite Christmas cookie recipes. I love chocolate and can’t wait to try this. Maybe Barbara’s chocolate fudge cookies will become your faves too.
Best~Adele
*****
Thanks to Adele for inviting me to chat!
Today, I’m sharing an oh-so-easy cookie recipe with you.
The holidays are my favorite time of the year and probably the only time I do much baking. I have a few recipes for cakes I make only at Christmastime, and I especially love baking cookies. These are a few of the holiday cookie cutters I use the most.
But because the holidays are so busy, there are times my plans and schedules fall apart, crumbling like an overbaked cookie. At those times, I pull out an old standby recipe like this one, which is ridiculously easy to make and so perfectly yummy when you need a taste of something chocolate.
Chocolate Fudge Cookies
1 package of Devil’s Food cake mix
½ cup cooking oil
¼ cup water
1 egg
1 cup (6 oz.) chocolate chips
In a large mixing bowl, stir together all ingredients until well-mixed.
Drop from a teaspoon onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until cookie tests done with toothpick.
Cool on cookie sheet for one minute, then remove to rack to finish cooling.
And there you have it! Pour a cup of milk or your favorite hot beverage, and you’ll be good to go. If you make the cookies, I’d love to know how you like them. And feel free to share a holiday recipe of your own below.
Meanwhile, here’s a clip from my brand-new release that happens to mention Christmas cookies. : )
The Lawman’s Christmas Proposal
Excerpt:
“Jed is out by the honeymoon cabins, I think,” Paz told them. “Tina wanted to show him something the workmen had done.”
Sagging in relief, Andi rested one hip against the kitchen table. With her son’s short legs, the walk back to the hotel had seemed to last forever, especially with Mitch by her side. Now, thanks to Paz, she could send Mitch off on his own.
“Looks like you’re busy in here,” he said.
Paz nodded. Cooling racks filled with cakes and cookies had taken over almost every flat surface. The kitchen smelled of cinnamon and cloves. “It’s never too early to start my Christmas baking.”
“Cookie, Paz,” Trey demanded.
“What do you say?” Andi prompted him.
“Please.”
Smiling, Paz took a cookie from one of the racks.
“Let’s go track down Jed,” Mitch said.
Andi frowned. “You can do that on your own. I’ll stay here with Trey.”
“I think I’ve forgotten how to get to the cabins.”
She glanced at him, then away again. After what he had said about cops, she didn’t know which was worse from his perspective, locking gazes with him or refusing to look his way at all. She knew what was better for her. Looking. Staring. Getting her fill.
Better for her, but much too risky.
“That’s fine, Andi,” Paz said. “You leave Trey with me and go right along with Mitch.”
“Great,” he said, halfway across the room without waiting for her answer.
Grimly, she followed him out to the porch and down the steps. He took his time, favoring his bad leg. Despite her irritation with him, she had to bite her lip to keep from asking how much he hurt.
She was so wrapped up in concern for him, she hadn’t realized he’d reached the bottom step. He turned back, catching her off guard. Instinctively, she bit down harder, then winced from her own pain.
“It is that bad?” he asked. “Seeing how I hobble down steps like a two-year-old who’s just learned to walk?”
“You handled those steps quite a bit better than my two-year-old does,” she said matter-of-factly. Still, knowing how he must feel made her eyes mist.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Happy holidays to everyone!
About the Author:
Barbara White Daille lives with her husband in the sunny Southwest. Though they love the warm winters and the lizards in their front yard, they haven’t gotten used to the scorpions in the bathroom.
Barbara’s new series, The Hitching Post Hotel, features a matchmaking grandpa determined to see his three granddaughters wed. The series began with The Cowboy’s Little Surprise and A Rancher of Her Own, and The Lawman’s Christmas Proposal has just debuted. Additional books in the series will be coming up next year.
Find The Lawman’s Christmas Proposal:
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Lawmans-Christmas-Proposal-Hitching-Hotel/dp/0373755961
Barnes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-lawmans-christmas-proposal-barbara-white-daille/1121775760
Books-A-Million
http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Lawmans-Christmas-Proposal/Barbara-White-Daille/9780373755967
Harlequin
http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=61196
IndieBound
http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780373755967
Kobo
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-lawman-s-christmas-proposal
Find Barbara online:
Website http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
Newsletter http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com/newsletter
Twitter https://twitter.com/BarbaraWDaille
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/barbarawhitedaille
Filed under: Chocolate, Christmas, Christmas Party Recipes, Holiday Fun, Party Refreshments, Romance, Romantic Fiction Tagged: Easy and delicious chocolate fudge cookies for Christmas or any time.
December 11, 2015
The Most Delicious Banana Bread You’ll Ever Bake
Amanda’s Homemade Banana Bread (Recipe borrowed from her neighbor, Adele Downs)
Amanda Greer is a master chef and the heroine of my award-winning novella NATURALLY YOURS. In the story, she serves banana bread to the hero (yes, there’s a private joke there), and my favorite recipe for banana bread is included in the back of the book. For those of you who haven’t read NATURALLY YOURS (And I hope you will), I thought you might enjoy trying this delicious recipe for your holiday guests. I guarantee everyone will love it.
Homemade Banana Bread:
This is the most delicious, moist banana bread I’ve ever tasted and I hope you love it too. The secret to its wonderful texture is the plain yogurt. The bread is easy to make, rich and satisfying. Organic ingredients without chemicals and preservatives are always best to use. Be sure to follow the mixing method exactly for best results. After the loaf has cooled, sprinkle with powdered sugar for a decorative touch.
Ingredients:
1 ¼ cups organic sugar 1 ½ cups flour
½ cup organic butter, softened 4 tablespoons plain whole yogurt
2 eggs 2 ripe organic bananas, mashed
1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium-sized bowl, cream sugar and softened butter using a hand mixer. Add baking soda to the center of the contents. Place the yogurt on top of the baking soda and hand-stir. Add the two eggs, slightly beaten. Next, add the mashed bananas, flour, and vanilla. Mix all ingredients together well.
Place batter in a standard size non-stick loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Relax and visit Adele Downs at http://adeledowns.com while the bread bakes. Let cool and enjoy for breakfast or dessert.
Filed under: Award Winning, Christmas Party Recipes, Contemporary Romance, Family and Home, Firefighters, Food and Fun, Kindle Book, Organic Foods and Cooking, Party Refreshments, Romance Fiction, Romance Novella, Seasons of the Year Tagged: award-winning romance, delicious homemade organic banana bread, five star romance novella, food that heals, love between a master chef and a first responder home from Iraq, Naturally Yours by Adele Downs a story about a master chef and the healing properties of healthy eating, novella about an Iraq war veteran
December 9, 2015
We Holiday Partied with Benedict Cumberbatch (Sorta’)
Members of Valley Forge Romance Writers, a Pennsylvania chapter of Romance Writers of America, celebrated the holidays in style with special guest Benedict Cumberbatch’s cardboard facsimile. Benedict stood patiently for hours to pose with authors including (left to right) Judi Fennell, Adele Downs, Terri Brisbin, and Leslie Lighton.
Authors pictured with Adele Downs in less than flattering, but fun, selfies, top left to top right are: Veronica Forand, Lynn Kellan, Alleigh Burrows, and Stephanie Julian.
Authors featured in the center photos with Adele Downs are Lynn Kellan, Terri Brisbin, Cate Price, Kristin Contino, and Leslie Lighton.
We enjoyed appetizers, wine, desserts, wine, a gift exchange, wine, desserts, and lots of laughs at our holiday bash. Lucky Veronica Forand won the cardboard version of Benedict Cumberbatch.
Filed under: Christmas, For Writers, Holiday Fun, Valley Forge Romance Writers Tagged: authors celebrate the holidays, holiday party fun with romance writers
December 7, 2015
Old Ornament, New Ornament that Shines
and a little boy is the most important reason why:
Our grand toddler broke an ornament on our Christmas tree during a recent visit, but since it was plastic and not glass, I wasn’t concerned for his safety. We placed only (theoretical) unbreakables on the bottom half of the tree, with him in mind. Paper, cardboard, plastic.
Turned out the broken item was the first Christmas ornament I gave my husband when we were dating–almost 30 years ago. Grand toddler has good taste–I understand why he liked that particular ornament. It was a molded vehicle with big, cool looking wheels. Clearly, he wanted to play with it. But the ornament was old, and more fragile than I’d thought, and collapsed in his tiny hands.
My husband and I looked down at the ornament we’d hung for three decades, carefully wrapped each year in its box to save for the next. “Should I try to glue it back together?” I asked. Without missing a beat, we looked at one another and shook our heads. The ornament symbolized the beginning of our relationship, but our first grandchild marks the beginning of a new and wonderful chapter in our lives. We are sentimental about our past, but excited about our future, and the future of our growing family. The ornament we rehung with special pride this year, and will display for years to come, says, “Grandson’s First Christmas.”
Filed under: Christmas, Family, Family and Home Tagged: Becoming a Grandmother
December 1, 2015
HOOK ME UP by Adele Downs, Book Birthday! New Release! Only .99!
It’s my book birthday! The official release of HOOK ME UP by Adele Downs begins today as the story goes live on all sales channels in the USA and parts of Europe. Only .99 for a limited time!
My Family’s Heart Reviews will celebrate HOOK ME UP on December 3 in a blitz with dozens of book bloggers!
“Adele Downs writes with wit and emotion. Her characters are always lovable and HOT!” 5 Stars! ~Will Work For Books
Firemen don’t free cats from trees anymore—until a pretty schoolteacher gets trapped on a limb with her kitten and the county’s hottest firefighter comes to their rescue.
Buy The Book!
Kobo iTunes
Also available at Tolino and Oyster
Filed under: .99 Kindle Book, .99 Novella, .99 short story, Firefighters, First Responders, Kindle Book, Romance Fiction, Romance Novella, Short Story Tagged: hero and heroine overcoming loss, Hook Me Up by Adele Downs is a new release, multicultural secondary characters, similar to Chicago Fire
November 30, 2015
Contemporary Romances-Free or Nearly Free for The Holidays!
Love Contemporary Romance?
Here’s the link to 30+ Free or Nearly Free Books for your holiday entertainment!
Includes SANTA TO THE RESCUE by Adele Downs for only .99!
Numerous 5 Star Reviews!
“Really puts you in the Christmas spirit! Loved it!” 5 stars! ~ Curling Up With A Good Book
http://mainstreetpromotions.blogspot.com/
Filed under: .99 Kindle Book, .99 Novella, .99 short story, Book Lovers Event, Christmas Book, Christmas Novella, Contemporary Romance, Kindle Book, Romance Fiction, Romantic Fiction, Sale on Books, Short Story Tagged: books to read during the holidays, free holiday books, great books for one dollar or less, quick but satisfying Christmas stories
November 28, 2015
Paperback Books 30% off on Amazon! Includes LIP SERVICE by Adele Downs
Do you still enjoy reading your books in paperback? Though I love my ebook reader, I also enjoy the occasional paperback, especially while relaxing by the Christmas tree in front of a cozy fire.
Amazon is offering 30% off ALL paperback books this weekend only, including my new release LIP SERVICE, so hurry on over to their site to take advantage of this tremendous discount. I hope you’ll buy a copy of LIP SERVICE for yourself and add others to your cart as gifts.
“Adele Downs weaves together a magical love story.” 5 Stars ~Girl With Pen
Jack Harris has loved Legs Anderson since they were kids. Now that he has her in his bed, he has no intention of letting her go. Aunt Ada has other ideas, even from the grave.
GETTING BETWEEN JACK… Orphaned at a young age, Legs Anderson owes her Aunt Ada everything. The stoic old lady raised her, and Ada’s warnings about men—and the Harris boys in particular—have stuck, even after her death. Of course, that could be because Ada stuck around, too.
…AND HIS LEGS Patience is not one of Jack Harris’ virtues, and he’s waited too long to start a life with the woman he’s loved since childhood instead of them just knocking boots. Now Ada is interfering from beyond the grave, haunting the old Victorian house she bequeathed to her niece and reinforcing Legs’s fears of commitment. But Jack won’t give up. No matter what trouble may follow, the house will be renovated, Ada will learn to let go, Legs will put her money where her mouth is… then Jack’ll put his lips everywhere else
***
Buy the book in paperback on Amazon for 30% off! Use Promo Code Holiday30 at checkout.
http://www.amazon.com/Lip-Service-Adele-Downs/dp/1942886330/
Filed under: Amazon Top 100 Best-Seller, Book Lovers Event, Sale on Books Tagged: Lip Service 30% off in paperback on Amazon!, Sale on Books
November 27, 2015
New Release! HOOK ME UP Firefighter Romance, Only .99!
HOOK ME UP by Adele Downs
Firefighter contemporary romance.
Only .99 for a limited time!
About the Story:
Firemen don’t free cats from trees anymore—until a pretty schoolteacher gets trapped on a limb with her kitten and the county’s hottest firefighter comes to their rescue.
***
Praise for Hook Me Up (first published in the INTO THE FLAMES anthology):
“Hook Me Up by Adele Downs warmed my heart. Being a cat lover lol I couldn’t pass up the chance to read about the ‘damsel in distress with her kitten’ to be rescued by the hottest fireman in the city. How can you go wrong with kitties and a handsome hero?” 5 Stars! ~ Ravannah Rayne
“I was hooked from the start. There was *hand over mouth ‘O’ my gawd I would be so embarrassed, to grabbing tissues, to laughing out loud in this book. If you’re looking for sex scenes and erotica you aren’t going to find that anywhere in this book. But the author has done such a phenomenal job building the chemistry between Knox and Lexi you don’t need it. The story is excellent without it. You will need your own fire hydrant to put out the flames that Knox and Lexi create in this story.” 5 Stars! ~My Family’s Heart Reviews
“Hook Me Up – This story had a little bit of everything I look for when I’m reading a story. Good pacing, some humor and a hot hero. Knox is a complex man. He had a lot of depth and it was nice to see that he wasn’t perfect. His flaws and his issues made him more real, which I appreciated. And even though the way they met was very unconventional, the pair make it work. A sweet story with a satisfying ending. I’ll definitely be checking out what else Adele Downs has to offer.” 5 Stars! ~Z Shaw
“This book is marvelous, it cracked me up at the very first page…This is truly a sweet, touching and funny romance! If I could give it more than five stars I would! It is a must must read book!” 5 Stars! ~ Roxie’s Reviews
“Adele Downs writes with wit and emotion. Her characters are always lovable and HOT! She makes you want more.” 5 Stars! ~Will Work For Books
“Hook Me Up (Adele Downs) is a really quick story – it starts off with our heroine stuck in a tree! Of course, the sexy firefighter arrives to save the day! I loved the chemistry between these two – and the whole story just made me smile.” 4.5 Stars! ~ Cat’s Reviews
Buy The Book!
Available NOW on Amazon and All Romance eBooks
Pre-Order on Kobo, iTunes, B&N, Oyster, Tolino for delivery 12/1/15
Kobo
iTunes
Barnes & Noble
*****
Find Adele Downs’ Books on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Adele-Downs/e/B00G1RRS60
Visit Adele Downs at http://adeledowns.com
Like Adele Downs on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/authoradeledowns
Follow @Adele_Downs on Twitter! https://twitter.com/Adele_Downs
Find Adele Downs on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/httpwwwgoodreadscomAdeleDowns
Join Adele Downs’ Convertible Crew Street Team! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1431874030384864/
Filed under: .99 Kindle Book, .99 Novella, .99 short story, Amazon Top 100 Best-Seller, Contemporary Romance, Firefighters, First Responders, Kindle Book, New Release, Romance Fiction, Romance Novella, Romantic Fiction, Short Story Tagged: firefighter sweet and sexy romance novella, first published inside the Into The Flames anthology, hot firefighter hero, similar to Chicago Fire
November 23, 2015
Happy Thanksgiving from an Organics Foodie
My husband and I are foodies who love to eat, and we follow an organic diet. Several years ago, we stopped buying processed, packaged foods in favor of fresh, and began cooking all of our own meals using ingredients without hormones, steroids, liquid sugar, high fructose corn syrup, processed salt, trans fats, or chemical preservatives. Take a look at the long list of unpronounceable ingredients on a can of soup or a frozen meal and you’ll see what I mean.
Since we made the switch to organic we’ve never eaten more delicious meals or felt better. We’ve both lost weight (my husband lost more, of course), though we don’t skimp on portions or taste. Yes, we still enjoy the occasional pizza, takeout Chinese food, or basket of hot and tangy Buffalo wings, and my chocolate cravings will never, ever disappear, but 90% of the food we consume is 100% healthy. Eliminating processed foods from our kitchen has been the best thing we’ve ever done for ourselves.
Our free range Thanksgiving Day turkey was raised at one of our favorite local farms, and the stuffing, vegetable side dishes, and desserts will be wholly organic. My husband likes to cook the holiday meals (I know, I’m lucky!), and he bakes the best pies I’ve ever eaten with his signature scratch crust. Even I don’t know his secret recipe. At the end of our traditional holiday meal our family enjoys his pumpkin pie with dollops of real whipped cream. (Pictured is one of my husband’s pumpkin pies, fresh from our oven.)
Organic eating has changed our lives for the better. This Thanksgiving Day, and every day, I’m grateful to those who grow, raise, supply, and distribute these delicious whole foods to us. I’m thankful for the family I love, and the time we’ll spend together around our holiday table chatting and eating a guilt-free meal.
I’m also thankful for you, my readers and blog subscribers, for your year-round support. I wish you a warm, healthy, happy Thanksgiving.
Best~ Adele
Filed under: Family and Home, Organic Foods and Cooking, Seasons of the Year, Thanksgiving Tagged: eating organic foods for the holidays, foodies who love eating organic, organic food for your Thanksgiving table
