Kathleen Rowland's Blog, page 10

March 2, 2016

Congrats to winner of my Deadly Alliance contests!

Writers need readers otherwise writing wouldn’t be an art form! To show appreciation and connect, I have contests now and then. Thank you to all those who entered the Show it off Saturday Blog and Coffee Brew Contest, both at Coffee Time Romance.  The staff picked the winners, and prizes were items in the book.  The purse jewelry key finder (shown below) represented heroine Amy’s lost purse.  Some items within the purse were part of the package.  Kathy Osborn won a Swiss army knife, a black leather fringe tassel from Lulu;  Debra Guyette,  Jennifer Beck, and Colleen Conklin won key finders.  I sent everyone penlights (shown below), chocolates, and flower pens.


purse jewelry key finder-- little purse


penlight


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Published on March 02, 2016 16:14

March 1, 2016

Help. I need to organize clutter!

Did a really say organize clutter? Our closet is small and cramped, made worse with worn out shoes, and shelves stuffed with too many items.  With springtime coming, I’m in the declutter mood. I gave myself clear goals– get rid of clothing I haven’t worn in two years.  We can’t organize inside chaos just like we can’t put a puzzle together inside a box.  That said, I put a clean sheet on our bed, put everything on it, and made choices.  It was fun listening to music, and either throwing out or placing in a donation bag.  I made some decisions for my husband.  He’s a CPA and way too busy to do this during tax season.


closet


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Published on March 01, 2016 16:38

February 28, 2016

Get lost in great books at an 80% discount!

Tirgearr Publishing releases a variety of high quality commercial fiction and is having a Leap Year Weekend anniversary sale.  Get lost in wonderful stories.  In my romantic suspense, Deadly Alliance, will my characters, Finn and Amy, uncover truth and find peace?


TIRGEARR BB


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Published on February 28, 2016 09:09

February 26, 2016

Spotlight on Deadly Alliance by Kathleen Rowland

Deadly Alliance combines a love story with a thriller.  Deadly_Alliance_by_Kathleen_Rowland-100


The description is below


Finbar Donahue, former Army Ranger, walked on the wild side in Iraq, but now he lives in the shadows. After his evasive partner, Les, was shot in a random drive-by, Finn discovers cash is siphoned monthly. He fights to keep his investment company afloat. When the late partner’s girlfriend, Amy Kintyre, applies for his bookkeeping job, Finn suspects she knows about his company drain and hires her.


Amy needs a nine-to-five with free evenings and weekends to get her fashion design business back on track. She unearths Les’ s secret bank account and alerts Finn. Freezing of the money laundering account sets off havoc within an Irish gang. Amy witnesses a gang fight between a brutal ISIS fundraising organization and the Irish. Desperate to escape a stalker’s crosshairs, she seeks refuge with Finn. As danger heats up, sparks fly hotter.


Let’s interview the hero of Deadly Alliance, Finbar Donahue.



What do your friends call you?  Finn. My full name is Finbar Michael Donahue.
What’s your job?  I own my own investment company, but who’s the chickenshit stealing money from me? My goal is to find the thief.
What is your schooling?  B.A. in finance, former Army Ranger. That was when I targeted a known enemy. Believe me, it’s harder now.

I’ve got a few questions for the heroine, Amy Kintyre.



What’s your dream job? I want to get my sportswear design business back on track. A buyer phoned me, and I have an opportunity to present my line. I need a nine-to-five with evenings and weekends off to sew.
Is that why you applied for Finbar Donahue’s bookkeeping position? Yes. Probably is that I found a mysterious bank account belonging to my late boyfriend, Les. He and Finn were partners.
Would you enjoy working for Finn? No. He’s too arrogant, but there aren’t many job openings in Lake Arrowhead.

You can find Kathleen Rowland in many places:


http://www.kathleenrowland.com/


https://twitter.com/rowlandkathleen


https://kathleenrowland.wordpress.com/


https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.rowland.50


Excerpt— Amy’s first day working for Finn


Hours later, Finn straightened his spine as he listened to his new bookkeeper order Rosenberg around with the authority of an Army lieutenant. She spoke with confidence from her chair and waited for answers with intensity. Somehow she came across larger than her delicate self.


“Brad,” his pretty war buddy said, “I’ll need your password to access activity-to-date.” Her attitude wasn’t for show. Her curiosity propelled her to the depths of the drain. Heaven help those who lurked there.


“Sure thing.” Brad blew out a breath and scribbled his password on a sticky note. Handing it to her, he bent to her level.


She said, “I apologize for causing chaos.”


“No apology necessary.” Brad asked, “What are you working on?”


Jumping in, Finn said, “Comparisons, Rosenberg, that’s what she’s working on.” Unholy as she’d undoubtedly turn out to be, at the moment they were forged in combat. “Give her your full support.”


“Absolutely. Consider me your scaffold,” Rosenberg said, accepting his fate. “Excuse me, won’t you? I’m running payroll.”


Finn liked his head accountant. He was solid. Dependable. Not creative, but his easy-going manner was soothing. “Payroll. You’re a masochist.”


Amy smiled, and her crystal-green gaze sought his. She found his comment amusing. Her professional attire included a gray satin blouse tucked into a herringbone skirt. When she moved, her layered, dark-blonde hair settled into a sleek flip over her shoulders.


Amy’s bending and reaching, as she took control of her four-by-four cubicle, was damn compelling. She found a rhythm with a handy notepad beside her computer. Using Brad’s password, she turned sideways to open files. Attractive summed up her symmetrical profile and creamy complexion.


For a long while, getting hot and heavy had not been on his mind. Her envelope gave him concrete evidence to bring to the sheriff and eased his tension. As she brushed tresses off her face, he wanted to nibble on her ear.


Amy packed her lithe frame with succulent curves. He enjoyed observing her ample bust which required high-performance support. He’d like to see those globes running free. He’d never considered her as dating material. Timing was off. When she started dating Les, he was hooking up with Miss California. Now it was too late. She worked for him. Hands off. Finn liked women—lots of women, all women, in all shapes and sizes and ethnicities as long as they met the enthusiasm requirement. He hadn’t tested this, but she was off-limits for another reason. He didn’t intend to put her through another relationship leading to nowhere.


Finn kept things loose. A woman in his bed but not in his life was what he often said. There hadn’t been that either. Why was he picturing her naked in his bed?


 


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Published on February 26, 2016 21:10

February 23, 2016

Would you like to be a Goat Nanny?

Do you enjoy volunteering with animals? The job of Goat Nanny looks like fun, and you get to dress them in small goat-sized sweaters that need to be worn on the regular basis to ensure they stay warm. The Sierra Club says extra attention helps them grow up to be big and strong and also produce delicious cheeses.  Somebody’s gotta cuddle goats.


goats


Photo by iStockphoto/ NikiTaxidisPhotography


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Published on February 23, 2016 11:59

February 22, 2016

How do you feel about white walls?

If you read the home garden section of the L.A. Times article by Elaine Markoutsas, you know white walls are back.  In fact five of paint-maker Benjamin Moore’s top ten sellers are variations of white. Long associated with wholesome picket fences, cleanliness, and softness, white is endlessly versatile. Its reflective properties make it ideal for enlarging small or poorly lit spaces.


Personally I think white-on-white decorating needs color pop.  The more typical paint color is below– creamy coffee.  What do you like?


white walls2


white walls


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Published on February 22, 2016 07:42

February 17, 2016

Mushroom Ragu can impress meat lovers!

Today my car is in the shop and couldn’t make it to the store.  Something I learned from my mother– never apologize when you’ve done your best.  I have the ingredients to treat my family to a simple Italian vegetarian meal. To make it, just toss pasta with a mixture of herb-seasoned mushrooms added to a tomato wine sauce.  I’m serving the Ragu with a field greens salad and bread sticks.


Mushroom Ragu


Ingredients



Salt and pepper
1 pound rigatoni rigate
A generous handful of dried porcini mushrooms
1 1/2 cups chicken stock or water (for vegetarians)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 pound mushrooms of your choice, sliced
1 cup 1% milk
1 small carrot, grated
1 small onion, finely chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
7-8 sage leaves, thinly sliced
1 large  bay leaf
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup Marsala wine or dry white wine
A generous handful of grated Romano or Parmigiano cheese

Preparation


Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the starchy cooking water. While the pasta is working, in a small saucepan, cover the porcinis with the stock (or water). Bring to a simmer. Drain, reserving the stock; coarsely chop. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the butter to melt. Add the mushrooms and cook until browned, 10-12 minutes.


Meanwhile, in another saucepan, heat the milk to barely a simmer. Remove from the heat; cover. Add the carrot, onion, garlic, thyme, sage and bay leaf to the cooked mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste for 1 minute. Stir in the Marsala, chicken or vegetable stock and the milk; simmer. Add the pasta and reserved starchy cooking water to the sauce. Stir in the cheese.


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Published on February 17, 2016 17:04

My husband knows an anvil collector

We all know people who collect stamps, beanie babies, figurines, and other collections in display cases.  My husband knows a guy with an ongoing anvil collection, and his interest has to do with a great-great-great grandfather who was a blacksmith.   An anvil is a heavy iron block with a smooth, flat top and pointed end.  Before the advent of welding, metal workers used anvils as forging tools.  This friend rents a storage unit for his anvils.


anvil


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Published on February 17, 2016 07:14

February 14, 2016

It’s Pork Loin Roast and lots of sides for Sunday dinner

Is the air crisp and cool where you live? My family loves the other white meat, and my sister, Beth, her husband, Jeff, and their new poodle puppy, Lucy, are coming for Sunday dinner! I’m making Martha Stewart’s recipe for Pork Loin Roast, homemade applesauce, baked yams and red potatoes, fresh green beans and California (fresh fruit added) field greens salad.


pork loin roast


Ingredients



2 1/2 pounds boneless pork loin, trimmed and tied
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
6 fresh sage leaves, plus more for garnish
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup apple cider
1/3 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Season pork loin with salt and pepper. Tuck sage leaves under kitchen twine along the length of the pork loin.
Heat olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add pork, and sear until golden brown on all sides, including ends, 10 to 15 minutes. Wrap pork loin in parchment paper, tucking ends under to seal completely. Place in skillet, and transfer to oven. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 150 degrees. 40 to 50 minutes. Remove pork loin from parchment paper, and transfer to a serving platter. Let rest for 10 minutes before removing twine and slicing into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
Place skillet over medium heat, and add cider and stock. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Add any accumulated juices from bottom of serving platter. Continue to cook until liquid is syrupy and reduced to about 1/3 cup. Add butter, stirring until melted. Drizzle over pork, garnish with sage leaves, and serve.

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Published on February 14, 2016 09:41

February 11, 2016

Where will you spend Valentine’s Day?

A writer I admire, Phalon Smith, reminds us that natural features are romantic and come from Mother Nature.  Don’t you agree?




Take your partner to one of these romantically-named outdoor spots this Valentine's Day.





Photo is courtesy of PeterKirillov/iStock.








The great outdoors never fails to impress. This Valentine’s Day avoid long lines at your favorite Italian restaurant with a romantic excursion outside. Enduring wintry weather this Saturday? Take a brisk hike with your loved one and plan a visit for later in the year. These amorous (and wallet-friendly) sites will still be there in time for the next anniversary or birthday.


1.  Kissing Rock,  Monterey County,  California


This distinct granite arch in Pacific Grove, California, resembles two lovers kissing. It’s a heart-stopper, especially when the Pacific waves crash in at high tide.


2. Lovers Key State Park, Florida


Tucked away on one of four islands that comprise Lovers Key State Park in Florida, Lovers Key Beach is perfect for kayaking and paddleboarding. These islands are also home to bottlenose dolphins, bald eagles, and West Indian manatees. Here’s a great icebreaker: It is now commonly believed that many of the female figures (read: mermaids) witnessed by men at sea during the time of Christopher Columbus were actually manatees.


3. Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite, California


One of the most popular waterfalls in Yosemite Valley, Bridalveil Fall flows all year. Rainbows often accompany the enchanting mist that surrounds it, adding to its dreaminess.


4. Bridal Cave, Missouri


Bridal Cave has the highest concentration of onyx formations – from draperies that resemble curtains to chandelier-like clusters of soda straws — per square foot than any other known cavern in the United States. The spellbinding cave in Camdenton, Missouri has seen over 2,500 couples exchange vows within its stalactite adorned walls.


5. Lover’s Leap, Lake Tahoe, California


Native American legend claims two lovers jumped to their deaths from the summit of Lover’s Leap in Lake Tahoe, California, though no one knows why. A popular spot for climbers, Lover’s Leap offers a hard-to-beat view of the Eldorado National Forest lands and Sierra Nevada mountain range.





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Published on February 11, 2016 09:21