Wednesday, February 27, 2019

BREAKFAST GOODIES

When writing it is nice to have some quick & easy recipes to make for my family. Because of the fresh, local fruit and yogurt these muffins are healthier than most and go terrific with a cup of hot coffee.

The muffins are naturally sweetened with seasonal, local fruit (blueberries.) A touch of sugar is added to help cream the butter and is also sprinkled on top. You can eat them warm or prepare them the day before for a breakfast treat.

Chris Pavesic’s Quick & Easy Blueberry Muffins
½ cup butter, softened
¼ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup vanilla yogurt
2½ cups fresh blueberries
1 tbsp. granulated sugar for topping
extra butter for greasing the muffin pan

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Grease muffin pan with butter.

Mix butter until creamy in a medium-size bowl. Add sugar and beat until pale and fluffy.

Add eggs, beating well.

Stir in vanilla, baking powder, and salt.

With spoon, fold in half of flour then half of yogurt into batter; repeat. Fold in blueberries. There is no need to over-mix it.

Spoon into muffin cups and sprinkle sugar topping onto each muffin.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown and springy to touch.

Enjoy a brief glimpse into my latest novel Travelers Zone , book two in The Revelation Chronicles series, while you delight in your muffins.

Above the tree line floats an airship close to three hundred feet long with a slightly rounded wooden hull. Ropes attach the lower portion of the ship to an inflated balloon-like aspect, bright white in color with an identification symbol, a red bird with white-tipped feathers extended in flight, inside a round yellow circle in the center of the canvas. The deck is manned with archers and swordsmen. There are two sets of fore and aft catapults.

What I don’t see are cannons or any other type of a gun large enough to account for the sound of the explosion.

The ship pivots in the air, coming around to point directly at what looks like an oncoming flock of five large birds. Or creatures. They are too big and too strange looking to be birds. They drift closer, flapping their wings.

A moment passes before I realize that they are not creatures either. They are some sort of gliders. A person hangs below each set of the feathered wings, which flap and move with mechanical precision in a sky washed out by the morning sun.

The archers nock their arrows and aim at the flock.

The gliders draw in their wings and dive toward the deck, covering the distance in a few heartbeats. Most of the arrows fly uselessly past the attack force and fall like black rain from the sky. The archers aimed and released the volley too late.

The forward catapult releases a torrent of small rocks at the lead glider. It is a scatter-shot approach that proves effective. There are so many missiles that it is impossible to dodge them all.

But at the moment the stones strike, the other four let loose with fireballs. Spheres of crackling flame spring from their hands, glowing faintly at first and then with increasing brightness. The balls of fire shoot from their hands like bullets from a gun and fly toward the ship, exploding. Pieces bounce off the hull and fall to the ground, throwing hissing, burning globs of magic-fueled fire in all directions, setting everything they touch aflame.




Want to learn more about The Revelation Chronicles? Click HERE for updates on this and the other series by Chris. Watch the video on YouTube.

4eee6-chris2bpavesic2bauthor2bphotoChris Pavesic is a fantasy author who lives in the Midwestern United States and loves Kona coffee, steampunk, fairy tales, and all types of speculative fiction. Between writing projects, Chris can most often be found reading, gaming, gardening, working on an endless list of DIY household projects, or hanging out with friends.

Learn more about Chris on her website and blog.

Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, and her Amazon Author Page.

Monday, February 25, 2019

A Glimpse of Living with a Blonde

by Donald of C.D. Hersh

Now before anyone gets upset, this was approved, reviewed, critiqued, and edited by the “C” of C.D. Hersh, Catherine, who happens to be my wife.

Oh, did I mention she is blonde? There are all kinds of blonde stories, some good some bad, but you always wonder if they are really true. Well, the one I’m about to relate is true and Catherine will confirm it, if asked.

First, a bit of background. Several years ago while we were writing Blood Brothers, the second book in our series, The Turning Stone Chronicles, we made a trip to Cleveland, Ohio for a conference and research. Our series is based in Cleveland, so we wanted to get a look at the location. We spent a day driving around the city. Noting where various important landmarks were and what was close by. All to make the book more authentic.

Now for the story. That year’s Christmas letter, which Catherine always writes and I proof read, gave me a big laugh. Catherine came running into my office wanting to know what I found that was so funny. I told her she had stated we had been to Cleveland three times that year doing research on our book.

She said, “Yesssss?”

Me, “We didn’t go to Cleveland three times.”

“Oh yes we did,” she replied. “Once we drove all over downtown, then we went to the restaurant district and then to the shipping area where we staged the fight scene.”

“We only did the drive all over downtown.” I replied. “The other time we went via Google street maps in my office.”

“Huh, no we didn’t. I got street names and restaurant names on the second trip and the third helped solidify what the buildings looked like in the area for the fight.”

“No, dear,” I calmly replied. “Those other trips we sat in my office with the dual screens, one facing your side of the desk. We did spend most of two days, but we didn’t leave the house.”

“But, but,” my blonde wife replied.

“Here, look at our travel log for the year. One trip to Cleveland.”

“Oh,” she replied, defeated. “I guess I’m being blonde.”

And that folks is what a glimpse of living with a blonde is like.

Here is a little about our paranormal series, The Turning Stone Chronicles.
We hope you enjoy it.


Three ancient Celtic families. A magical Bloodstone that enables the wearers to shape shift. A charge to use the stone’s power to benefit mankind, and a battle, that is going on even today, to control the world. Can the Secret Society of shape shifters called the Turning Stone Society heal itself and bring peace to our world? Find out in the series The Turning Stone Chronicles.

The Promised One, book one:
When homicide detective Alexi Jordan is forced to use her shape shifting powers to catch a paranormal killer, she risks the two most important things in her life—her badge and the man she loves.

Blood Brothers, book two:
Shape shifter Delaney Ramsey’s daughter is missing, and she is bound by honor to protect the man she suspects of the deed. To bring him to justice, she must go against her code, the leader of the secret shifter society, and the police captain she is falling for.

Son of the Moonless Night, book three:
Thrust back into the world of paranormal huntress, Deputy Coroner Katrina Romanovski must unravel a string of murders she believes are vampire attacks. When she discovers the shape shifter she’s in love with is the murderer, she must reconcile her feelings for him, examine her life of violence against paranormals, and justify deceiving him in order to bring him to justice.

The Mercenary and the Shifters, book four:
A desperate call from an ex-military buddy lands a mercenary soldier in the middle of a double kidnapping, caught in an ancient shape shifter war, and ensnared between two female shape shifters after the same thing ... him.

C.D. Hersh–Two hearts creating everlasting love stories.

Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to co-authors C.D. Hersh. They’ve written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s. As high school sweethearts and husband and wife, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after.

The books of their paranormal romance series entitled The Turning Stone Chronicles are available on Amazon. They also have a short Christmas story, Kissing Santa, in a Christmas anthology titled Sizzle in the Snow: Soul Mate Christmas Collection, with seven other authors. Also a standalone novella, Can’t Stop The Music, in a collection with thirteen other authors. 

They look forward to many years of co-authoring and book sales, and a lifetime of happily-ever-after endings on the page and in real life.

Learn more about C.D. Hersh on their website and their Amazon Author Page.

Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Make Breakfast Special

from Nancy Kay

These muffins are a frequent treat in Deadly Reflection, Book 1 in my Deadly Triad series. They add a comforting hometown touch amidst the danger within the story.

Raspberry Muffins
Photo courtesy of Anne-Sophie Benoit Unsplash
1½ cups unbleached flour
½ cup sugar
1 cup quick oats
1 tbsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
1 egg
¼ cup canola oil
1 cup milk
1 hearty cup raspberries - if you prefer moister, more berry filled muffins, add more.

Note: Berries of your choice can be used. For cranberries use orange juice in place of milk.

Preheat oven to 400° F.

Combine dry ingredients. Gently stir in berries to coat and distribute.

Whisk egg, oil, and milk together in a separate bowl.

Distribute mixture in a 12-muffin pan.

Bake for 20 minutes.

Delicious, healthy muffins!


A dead body...
A female suspect...
A detective on vacation.

Can he separate duty from desire? Can she trust his mind-blowing kisses? Or will her unknown past end their future together?

When homicide detective Nick McGraw encounters upscale spa owner Cassi Burke standing over a dead body gripping a bloody knife, Nick's much-needed vacation slams to a halt. Instincts tell the seasoned officer she didn't kill the man at her feet, but he's duty bound to deliver her to local police never suspecting Cassi's brief moment of fame will make her a target.

Cassi denies involvement with the murder, and Nick strives to distance himself from the case, but sizzling attraction between the detective and the suspect escalates, putting their feeling for one another, the ongoing investigation, and the threat to Cassi's life on a collision course.

EXCERPT
"Hello, yourself, Cassi." He skimmed his gaze over her. Eye candy might well describe the type of woman Nick was usually drawn to, but Cassi Burke wasn't all frosting and fluff.

Oh no. She was taffy. Toned and sweet. No doubt providing melt in your mouth satisfaction when a little heat was applied.

"You must be exhausted, honey." Ada's voice cooled his thoughts. "Come join us and have some tea and raspberry muffins.


BUY LINKS


Nancy Kay resides near Lake Erie in Western Pennsylvania with her husband, a former member of the Marines and the Pennsylvania State Police Department who provides valuable insight for her stories. Nancy is a long time member of Romance Writers of America. Her stories are set in small towns and inland communities scattered along the shores of the Great Lakes. They focus on romance, intertwined with the love of hearth, home, and family. Yet, they are sprinkled with suspense, danger, and intrigue. Learn more about Nancy on her website and blog.

Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

ROMANCE AT ITS FINEST

with this new release from the incomparable Suzanne G. Rogers. This beautifully written sure-to-be-bestseller is an historical romance that will touch your heart as it sweeps you away to an era long gone.

Skylar flees a family scandal in Boston, expecting assistance in society from her English relatives. Once her plans fall apart, however, she is obliged to earn money with her skills as a seamstress. Just when she’s given up on the notion of marriage, her path crosses that of a charming laborer who inexplicably sets her pulse racing.

When wealthy Joe Fiddick hits a patch of bad luck, he seizes the opportunity to do something meaningful by helping a neighbor and her pretty granddaughter with repairs to their cottage. As it turns out, he has more in common with the granddaughter than he realizes…and what they share spells disaster for their budding romance.

Will Joe and Skylar be star-crossed lovers or can the rift between them be mended?

EXCERPT
“Let’s start with the window in your workroom,” Joe said. “It can’t open and close properly because the hinges are rusted?”

Skylar nodded. “Yes. I should dearly love to have fresh air, but I cannot seem to force it open.”

He recoiled. “Insupportable! You cannot perspire over a petticoat or suffocate over a seam!”

Skylar couldn’t suppress a giggle. “Or gasp over a gown.”

His eyes crinkled at the corners. “Or faint over a fichu.”

“Or swoon over a sash.”

Joe chuckled. “Or pant over a pantaloon.”

“Or…or…become clammy over a coat.” She wrinkled her nose. “I suppose that last one wasn’t very good.”

“On the contrary, I thought it was splendid. In addition, since I’d just exhausted my cleverness, you win the game.” He made a gesture of invitation. “Will you show me to the window in question?”

“Indeed, I shall. Follow me.”

As Skylar led him into the cottage and down the hall, she had a smile on her lips. Joe was only a laborer, perhaps, but obviously he was possessed of wit as well as good looks. Even though he was poor and lowborn, she imagined he must cause quite a stir in his neighborhood.

In the workroom, Joe unlatched the window, gave it an experimental push, and peered at the hinges. “I’m going to need to pop out the pins on these hinges and sand off the rust. After a drop or two of oil, the window will give you no reason to complain.”

“I hope you’re right.”

When she leaned in closer to examine the hinges, his physical proximity made the fine hair on her forearms stand on end. Her eyes met his and for several heartbeats it was if something unspoken passed between them

She cleared her throat. “I see what you mean about the rust.”



The Star-Crossed Seamstress can be read alone or as part of The Mannequin Series.

The Mannequin (Book One) is available at your favorite bookstore here.
Grace Unmasked (Book Two) is available at your favorite bookstore here.

Suzanne G. Rogers lives with her husband and son in romantic Savannah, Georgia, on an island populated by deer, exotic birds, and the occasional gator. She's owned by two Sphynx cats, Houdini and Nikita. Movies, books, and writing are her passions.

Learn more about Suzanne G. Rogers on her historical romance blog and her fantasy blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter. Also, be sure to check out the website for the Sweet Romance written by Suzanne G. Rogers.

Monday, February 18, 2019

HOW FRIENDS BECOME CHARACTERS

by Anne Montgomery

Authors are often asked how they create characters. In my case, as my friends and family now realize, they are sometimes inspired by people I know.

My long-time sweetie pie seemed shocked when he read his words coming out of a character’s mouth.

“Hey! I said that!”

“Yes, you did.” I admitted. “Thank you.”

As a former reporter, I tend to think everyone’s words are fair game. If you’re going to fling them out into the universe, don’t be upset if I catch them and keep them for my own.

At other times, I’ve incorporated friends’ stories into my characters. In my upcoming book, A Light in the Desert, which is scheduled for release on November 6, 2018, I borrowed numerous times from the life of my dear late friend Don Clarkson. I have written before about how Don and I met umpiring amateur baseball, a time during which I struggled with debt, a crumbling marriage, and joblessness following what would be the end of my TV-reporting career. That I spent a great deal of time feeling sorry for myself is an understatement.

Don, on the other hand, complained very little. This was astonishing in retrospect, considering the suffering he endured. Don was a decorated Green Beret, a sergeant who served alongside South Vietnam’s ARVN soldiers in the 9th Infantry during the war. His time in country was brutal and, like many servicemen and women, Don relived those experiences until he died at the age of 61 from a combination of Post Traumatic Stress and the myriad devastating effects of Agent Orange poisoning.

Don and I umpired baseball together for five years. During that time, he shared his stories with me. He was gravely wounded and left to die, but was saved by a South Vietnamese soldier who returned to the aftermath of a jungle fight to look for him. He was sometimes crushed by guilt, because of war-time life-and-death decisions and because – unlike many of the men he knew – he had managed to survive and come home. Tears would well in his eyes as he spoke about the soldiers – his brothers – that were lost.

And still, when we would sit in our folding chairs in a school parking lot, waiting for the second half of a double-header to begin, he sometimes spoke about the beauty of Vietnam and his love and admiration for the people who lived there.

One of the main characters in A Light in the Desert, is, like Don, a Vietnam veteran with memories that torment him. But Jason Ramm is also a sniper turned post-war governmental assassin, which Don was not. What they share is a deep desire for peace and forgiveness, which neither of them believe they deserve.

I wrote A Light in the Desert for Don. His wife Marie read the story to him before he died. I believe he understood Jason Ramm and recognized him as a brother. I also know that Don seemed appreciative that I shared some of his story and that I dedicated the book to him.

I miss my friend and the talks we used to have. Though he struggled mightily, Don always looked for the best in people and for beauty in the world.

When the Amtrak Sunset Limited, a passenger train en route to Los Angeles, is derailed in their midst in a deadly act of sabotage, their lives are thrown into turmoil. As the search for the saboteurs heats up, the authorities uncover more questions than answers. And then the girl vanishes. As the sniper struggles to maintain his sanity, a child is about to be born in the wilderness.

Here's a little from my suspense novel based on a true incident. I hope it intrigues you.

As a Vietnam veteran and former Special Forces sniper descends into the throes of mental illness, he latches onto a lonely pregnant teenager and a group of Pentecostal zealots – the Children of Light – who have been waiting over thirty years in the Arizona desert for Armageddon.

When the Amtrak Sunset Limited, a passenger train en route to Los Angeles, is derailed in their midst in a deadly act of sabotage, their lives are thrown into turmoil. As the search for the saboteurs heats up, the authorities uncover more questions than answers.

And then the girl vanishes.

While the sniper struggles to maintain his sanity, a child is about to be born deep in the wilderness.

BUY LINKS

Anne Montgomery has worked as a television sportscaster, newspaper and magazine writer, teacher, amateur baseball umpire, and high school football referee. She worked at WRBL‐TV in Columbus, Georgia, WROC‐TV in Rochester, New York, KTSP‐TV in Phoenix, Arizona, ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut, where she anchored the Emmy and ACE award‐winning SportsCenter, and ASPN-TV as the studio host for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Montgomery has been a freelance and staff writer for six publications, writing sports, features, movie reviews, and archeological pieces.

When she can, Anne indulges in her passions: rock collecting, scuba diving, football refereeing, and playing her guitar.

Learn more about Anne Montgomery on her website and Wikipedia. Stay connected on Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Be a Little Devilish

with Dominique Eastwick and her delicious luncheon treat.

DOM’S DEVILED EGG SALAD
6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and roughly chopped
4 tbsp. mayonnaise (Dukes is the only kind for our home)
1 tsp. mustard
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice, Real Lemon works too
1 pinch dill weed
Himalayan Pink Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Sprinkle of paprika
Chives, snipped - optional

Set eggs in a saucepan, cover with water and a lid. Bring pan to a boil on medium heat. Boil for 5 – 6 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water before you peel the eggs.

While they are cooling mix mayo, mustard, lemon juice, dill weed, salt and pepper in a medium-sized bowl.

Chop, dice, or slice eggs and then gently mix into the other ingredients. Sprinkle with a little paprika. Cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge until ready to serve.

Serve on toast, bread, or crackers.

Enjoy!

Here's a little from one of my romantic erotica books for your reading pleasure.

Love doesn’t come easy and sometimes when it does come it isn’t strong enough to weather the storm. That is what Jonathon Edward Railey, Eighth Viscount of Aunton, found out the hard way. With his burden of family debt and eight younger brothers to feed, what woman would stick around?

Miss Isabel Hathaway might have loved the viscount once, but she would be damned if she would allow him to marry her for her money. Better to have never loved at all then to have him bought.

When fate throws them together again, will the love they once had be enough to see them through a new storm? Or are they destined to a life of want and heartbreak?



Award-Winning author Dominique Eastwick currently calls North Carolina home with her husband, two children, one crazy lab and one lazy cat. Dominique spent much of her early life moving from state to state as a Navy Brat. Because of that, traveling is one of her favorite pastimes. When not writing you can find Dominique with her second love…her camera.

Learn more about Dominique Eastwick on her website, blog, and Amazon author page. Be sure to join her Newsletter for up to the minute info on new releases, contests, and more.

Stay connected on Twitter, Tublr, and Pinterest.

Monday, February 11, 2019

ESPECIALLY for VALENTINE'S DAY

A perfect Regency Romance from the incomparable Emma Lane for Valentine's Day. Actually, this book is a pleasure to read any day. A firm believer in love and all things beautiful, Emma dedicates these two stories to love and lovers everywhere.


A Valentine Masquerade
Two of Ms. Lane's most interesting characters return in a vignette of mature family romance and affection as Lady Jane discovers the authority of the title, Duchess of Leaver. Romance shimmers with suspicious matchmaking in progress, while a whimsical young viscount creates a hilarious solution to end a perplexing mystery. Into the blissful partnership between Lady Jane and her faux pirate, the Duke of Leaver, an old enemy reappears causing consternation.

A Valentine Surprise
Love is in the air, mysterious adventures and old friendships abound. Which couple solves the mystery of the stolen treasures and who receives a precious necklace of love? A Valentine house party on a country estate creates entertainment for the entire family while cupid works his magic. Romance simmers between the eldest daughter and the young viscount,her handsome suitor. Regency Romance at its finest seduction in Valentine Masquerade.



Emma Lane enjoys leaving her garden for a few hours to dip into the romance genre Regency era of history. Join her for a glimpse of a half selkie fairy as she teases a powerful duke and fights the curse of a lowly, evil warlock. Other Regency romances are available on Amazon and Wild Rose Press. As Janis Lane she writes a series of Cozy Mysteries for Soul Mate Publishing.

Look for information about writing and plants on her new website. Leave a comment or a gardening question and put a smile on Emma's face.

Stay connected to Emma on Facebook and Twitter.

Thursday, February 07, 2019

NEW RELEASE for NANCY KAY

Another exciting Romantic Suspense from Nancy Kay that you won't want to miss. A well written book with characters that are real and a plot that keeps you intrigued.

Delilah Wyeth and Kevin McClain face tough choices.

Can Delilah give up her trendy career to run a chocolate shop? Is there room for more than law enforcement in Kevin's life?

Ten years ago their lives took separate paths.

Delilah sought a career in New York City; Kevin entered the state police academy. But when Delilah inherits Cocoa Treat's Chocolate, danger trails the cool city ad exec back to their hometown.

Kevin admires the cool, professional woman Lilah's become, but he misses the feisty girl he once knew. Though he vows to uncover why fear lurks in Lilah's lovely eyes, his less than stellar ancestry haunts him, and he struggles to keep his hands off her tempting body.

Lilah faces a life-altering choice. Precious memories pull her to stay and convince Kevin he deserves more in his life than a badge and a gun, but if she abandons her smooth-talking, manipulative New York supervisor she fears her decision will trigger a deadly reaction.

Her decision turns Lilah's fear to reality, and more than duty drives Kevin as he races to save her life.

EXCERPT

He ignored the first high-pitched yowl, savoring cheese that burned the roof of his mouth. But the unearthly squalls continued, like nails on a friggin' blackboard. Why did the damn cat come here? Yeah, sure. He'd saved his furry butt, once. Didn't mean he'd make a career rescuing dumb cats.

Long drawn-out pitiful cries continued, increasing in volume. Then an ominous thump and rattle made Kevin shove the last bite into his mouth. He stomped to the door. Fourteen pounds of agitated feline hung on his screen door.

"Dammit." He pushed the door open, and the cat tried to jump down, but his huge claws were hooked in the tight mesh of Kevin's newly-refurbished door. Truffle hung there, voicing his complaints.
"Hold still," Kevin ordered, as the cat struggled like a hooked trout. He gripped Truffle's compact body and lifted. When the claws released, Kevin set him down. "Now shoo. Go home," he said, expecting the cat to take off like a rocket.

No such luck. With big gold eyes gleaming in the porch light, Truffle continued his ungodly tirade, pacing, tail twitching.

Kevin stood, hands on hips, scowling down at the cat's weird behavior. He glanced around. What the hell was upsetting this guy? Darkness shrouded the area, and the only sound, other than Truffle, was the evening breeze whispering through branches overhead.

He scrutinized the Wyeth A-frame. Narrowing his eyes, he studied the scene below. Lights blazed, which he'd discovered over the past few days was normal for Lilah. The small SUV of her grandmother's was parked in its usual spot. What sent a quick tingle up his spine, were the two unknown vehicles parked alongside the SUV.

The cat stretched up and planted both front paws on Kevin's leg. Kevin reached down and picked him up. "Something up, fella?" He scratched beneath the cat's chin, which usually brought loud purrs and cuddles. Not this time. Wide gold eyes locked on Kevin's. Unblinking and motionless, the cat in his arms remained stiff as a board.

He strode to the state car, slid in behind the wheel, and put Truffle in the passenger seat. "Don't tear up the seats," he warned. "It'll be my ass if you do."

The engine roared to life, and after a fast three-point turn, they headed down Kevin's driveway. When he made the sharp turn to Lilah's place, he glanced down at the cat.

Truffle placed his front paws on the dash and stared straight ahead.

Kevin grinned. "You're more alert than some guys I've worked with, pal." He turned his attention to the mid-sized car directly in front of him. It bore New York plates and the earmarks of a rental.

"Wait here, partner," he said, and ran a gentle hand down the cat's body. "I'll let you know if I need back-up."


Nancy Kay resides near Lake Erie in Western Pennsylvania with her husband, a former member of the Marines and the Pennsylvania State Police Department who provides valuable insight for her stories. Nancy is a long time member of Romance Writers of America. Her stories are set in small towns and inland communities scattered along the shores of the Great Lakes. They focus on romance, intertwined with the love of hearth, home, and family. Yet, they are sprinkled with suspense, danger, and intrigue. Learn more about Nancy on her website and blog.

Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

Wednesday, February 06, 2019

A Sweet Treat for Your Valentine

from C.D. Hersh

Donald's mother created this easy recipe and it soon became a family favorite.

CALICO FUDGE
Photo Courtesy of Deborah Miller 56 Pixabay
⅔ cup milk
1½ cups granulated sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
Pinch of salt
2 tbsp. butter
4 tbsp. peanut butter
12 marshmallows, cut into pieces

Cook milk, sugars, and salt to soft ball stage. Remove from heat.

Add butter and peanut butter. Beat until creamy.

Lay marshmallows one inch apart in a greased pan. Pour fudge over the marshmallows.

Cut into squares when cold.

Here is a little about our paranormal series, The Turning Stone Chronicles.
We hope you enjoy it.


Three ancient Celtic families. A magical Bloodstone that enables the wearers to shape shift. A charge to use the stone’s power to benefit mankind, and a battle, that is going on even today, to control the world. Can the Secret Society of shape shifters called the Turning Stone Society heal itself and bring peace to our world? Find out in the series The Turning Stone Chronicles.

The Promised One, book one:
When homicide detective Alexi Jordan is forced to use her shape shifting powers to catch a paranormal killer, she risks the two most important things in her life—her badge and the man she loves.

Blood Brothers, book two:
Shape shifter Delaney Ramsey’s daughter is missing, and she is bound by honor to protect the man she suspects of the deed. To bring him to justice, she must go against her code, the leader of the secret shifter society, and the police captain she is falling for.

Son of the Moonless Night, book three:
Thrust back into the world of paranormal huntress, Deputy Coroner Katrina Romanovski must unravel a string of murders she believes are vampire attacks. When she discovers the shape shifter she’s in love with is the murderer, she must reconcile her feelings for him, examine her life of violence against paranormals, and justify deceiving him in order to bring him to justice.

The Mercenary and the Shifters, book four:
A desperate call from an ex-military buddy lands a mercenary soldier in the middle of a double kidnapping, caught in an ancient shape shifter war, and ensnared between two female shape shifters after the same thing ... him.

C.D. Hersh–Two hearts creating everlasting love stories.

Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to co-authors C.D. Hersh. They’ve written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s. As high school sweethearts and husband and wife, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after.

The books of their paranormal romance series entitled The Turning Stone Chronicles are available on Amazon. They also have a short Christmas story, Kissing Santa, in a Christmas anthology titled Sizzle in the Snow: Soul Mate Christmas Collection, with seven other authors. Also a standalone novella, Can’t Stop The Music, in a collection with thirteen other authors. 

They look forward to many years of co-authoring and book sales, and a lifetime of happily-ever-after endings on the page and in real life.

Learn more about C.D. Hersh on their website and their Amazon Author Page.

Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Tuesday, February 05, 2019

LET'S PARTY!


In celebration of Sharon Ledwith's birthday, all of her books are on tour, on sale, and ready for you to discover. Make sure to follow the tour and enter the giveaway for two signed books, open internationally!!

About the Books


There is no moving forward without first going back.

Lilith was a young girl with dreams and a family before the final destruction of Atlantis shattered those dreams and tore her family apart. Now refugees, Lilith and her father make their home in the Black Land. This strange, new country has no place in Lilith’s heart until a beloved high priestess introduces Lilith to her life purpose—to be a Timekeeper and keep time safe. 

Summoned through the seventh arch of Atlantis by the Children of the Law of One, Lilith and her newfound friends are sent into Atlantis’s past, and given a task that will ultimately test their courage and try their faith in each other. Can the Timekeepers stop the dark magus Belial before he changes the seers’ prophecy? If they fail, then their future and the earth’s fate will be altered forever.

Add to Your Shelf on Goodreads:



Children are the keys to our future. And now, children are the only hope for our past.

When 13-year-old Amanda Sault and her annoying classmates are caught in a food fight at school, they're given a choice: suspension or yard duty. The decision is a no-brainer. Their two-week crash course in landscaping leads to the discovery of a weathered stone arch in the overgrown back yard. The arch isn't a forgotten lawn ornament but an ancient time portal from the lost continent of Atlantis.

Chosen by an Atlantean Magus to be Timekeepers--legendary time travelers sworn to keep history safe from the evil Belial--Amanda and her classmates are sent on an adventure of a lifetime. Can they find the young Robin Hood and his merry band of teens? If they don't, then history itself may be turned upside down.

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Only a true hero can shine the light in humanity’s darkest time.

Fourteen year-old Jordan Jensen always considered himself a team player on and off the field, until the second Timekeeper mission lands him in Amsterdam during World War Two. Pulled into the world of espionage, torture, and intolerance, Jordan and the rest of the Timekeepers have no choice but to do whatever they can to stay one step ahead of the Nazis in order to find and protect a mysterious book.

With the help of the Dutch Resistance, an eccentric baron, Nordic runes, and an ancient volume originating from Atlantis, Jordan must learn that it takes true teamwork, trust, and sacrifice to keep time safe from the evils of fascism. Can Jordan find the hero within to conquer the darkness surrounding the Timekeepers? If he doesn’t, then the terrible truth of what the Nazis did will never see the light of day.

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Fairy Falls was bores-ville from the get-go. Then the animals started talking...

Animal Shelter is in trouble. Money trouble. It’s up to an old calico cat named Whiskey—a shelter cat who has mastered the skill of observation—to find a new human pack leader so that their home will be saved. With the help of Nobel, the leader of the shelter dogs, the animals set out to use the ancient skill of telepathy to contact any human who bothers to listen to them. Unfortunately for fifteen-year-old Meagan Walsh, she hears them, loud and clear.

Forced to live with her Aunt Izzy in the safe and quiet town of Fairy Falls, Meagan is caught stealing and is sentenced to do community hours at the animal shelter where her aunt works. Realizing Meagan can hear her, Whiskey realizes that Meagan just might have the pack leader qualities necessary to save the animals. Avoiding Whiskey and the rest of shelter animals becomes impossible for Meagan, so she finally gives in and promises to help them. Meagan, along with her newfound friends, Reid Robertson and Natalie Knight, discover that someone in Fairy Falls is not only out to destroy the shelter, but the animals as well. Can Meagan convince her aunt and co-workers that the animals are in danger? If she fails, then all the animals’ voices will be silenced forever.

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Escape to the past and have a blast.
Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, and the teen psychic mystery series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, exercising, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, one spoiled yellow Labrador and a moody calico cat.
Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter, Google+, Goodreads, and Smashwords. Look up her Amazon Author page for a list of current books. Be sure to check out THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS TIME TRAVEL SERIES Facebook page.

Monday, February 04, 2019

Love Always Shines Through

by Tina Griffith

My husband of 25 years passed away in 2003, and I was lost and sad. I began a journal as a way to cope with the emotional and physical pain that coursed through me, and while that helped, I was never rid of the sting of losing him.

A friend of mine read my scribbles, and decided to get my story published. At that point, I didn’t even know there was a story, let alone sell. Three years later, my married friends pushed me onto the dating sites. I wasn’t serious about finding someone. But as I went through the process, I documented everything, and again, my friend loved the story and had it published. She continued to do this with all of my stories, until she moved to a different province in Canada. After that I was alone and fell into a state of writer’s block.

I met Alberto in 2010. He turned out to be the beacon of light that I needed. We were married in 2011, and he is my best friend and my inspiration to carry on.



Before we met, I had written six romance novels and twenty-seven children’s books. Since he and I have been together, I’ve written six more romance novels and two more children’s books. I continue to write my novels under my pen name, Tina Griffith.






But I now use my married name, Tina Nykulak Ruiz, for my children’s books. That way, all of my novels will be featured on the same page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other well-known venues like this.




Alberto recognized that while romance was the main theme in all of my novels, there were also elements of murder, mystery, and intrigue. When I was about to start writing a new book in January of 2018, he asked me to forgo everything but the romance. I wasn’t sure I could do it, but I set out to try.

I thrive on the excitement when the police come into the story, and I dwell on how the victims get killed. This is not something my husband is fond of.

A friend of mine posted a song on FB (the Caruso Song), and I couldn’t stop watching it. The vibe, the elegance, the beauty, and the romantic tones of the music, sent my heart reeling. I then looked up what the song was about, and watched it again by other artists. After that, I was hooked. Romance was going to be the only theme in my new story, and I vowed to make it heartbreaking, soulful, and delightfully spicy.

The Elusive Mr. Velucci turned out to be painfully raw with emotion, mesmerizing to the sentimental part of your soul, and captivating enough to make you lose track of time. I still cry when I read the passage where Sadie and Enrico are on the dock and they have to say good-bye to each other. I know how the story goes because I wrote it, but I have tears in my eyes and goose bumps on my arms when I read that part. And when I turn to the last page of the book, I can already feel the hair stand up on the back of my neck, because I am anticipating how the story will end. To me, it’s my best book ever!

My husband is very proud that I wrote a book on nothing but romance, and he encourages me to write more books like that. However, his wish is not always my reality. I thrive on the excitement of danger, mystery, and getting the police involved, and I dwell on how the victims are killed, which is not something my husband is fond of. All those elements are present in the story I am currently writing.

The Elusive Mr. Velucci is dedicated to my husband, Alberto Ruiz – the man who has renewed my faith in love, encouragement, and support on every level. He is the reason I am smile now, for he is the main character in my last chapter of life.

This excerpt is after their one night of passion, and before Enrico must board the ship back to Italy. I hope you enjoy it.

Enrico and Sadie were now standing alone, and it was their turn to say good-bye. They faced each other, he took her hands in his, and he spoke in an extremely compassionate tone.

“I didn’t realize how much you would mean to me when we first met”, he whispered with total sincerity. His eyes had filled up and he could hardly see, and with everything in his soul, he very much wanted to stay right where he was. He was miserable because he knew he couldn’t, so he promised to come back as soon as possible.

“Enrico”, she whimpered, as she looked lovingly into his eyes. Her voice had a gentle softness to it, with undertones of abandonment. She wanted to say a thousand more words, but they got stuck in her throat.

“I know”, he revealed, in a voice that was fragile and shaking. It was quite evident to everyone around them, that he wasn’t prepared to say good-bye to the beautiful girl standing in front of him. He brought his forehead forward until it was touching hers, and they cried with immense fear that they would never see each other again.

An announcement came over the P.A., which stated that all passengers must get checked in. It was in that moment when Enrico knew in his heart, that no miracle was coming and that he would have to leave. He pulled his head back from hers and looked deep into Sadie’s unhappy eyes. He had not expected to fall in love, and now he could feel his own heart breaking.

Enrico placed both of his hands against the sides of her face, and slowly closed his eyes. With all the love he had inside of him, he kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her nose, and then her mouth. It baffled him that this woman had provided him with the absolute need to love another living soul, for he would not have guessed that to be possible. He wanted to hold her, take care of her, know her whereabouts, and love her for the rest of his life, but he could not; he had waited too long to change the course of his immediate future.

Enrico was becoming frustrated that he had taken eight months to get to know her, but he had only had six hours to really love her. He pulled her body closer to his, and then held on tight. ‘If only I had known or acted sooner…’ he whispered.
Enrico needed to go, so he ended their embrace as hurriedly as it had begun.

A flash of wild grief suddenly ripped through her soul, as Sadie realized the true reality of what was happening. “Enrico!” she cried from every pore in her body. Her eyes were begging him to stay, while her heart was breaking into a million pieces. The whole thing suddenly felt very real, and severe panic began to fill every fiber of her being.

Enrico examined her face and he knew what she wanted. “I’ll be back”, he assured her, in a voice that was both soft and trying to stay strong. He picked up his suitcase with one hand, and he placed something in her hand with the other.

Without looking to see what it was, she swaddled the object safely in the palm of her hand, while keeping her eyes locked with his.

Enrico twisted his upper body to face his family and shouted, “Good-bye everyone!” He turned around to take one more look into the face of his beloved Sadie, and then he began to walk away.

“No!” she shouted loudly. The simple word dissolved into the air like a crispy leaf in the fall.

Enrico hadn’t gotten very far, and now it was him who was falling apart. He took one more look in her direction, put his hand to his mouth, and blew her a kiss. “Bye for now!” he said quietly. As he faced forward again, he began to cry. Not full-out crying like a small child who had gotten hurt on the playground, but a grown man’s frustration and enormous displeasure of things that he couldn’t fix or change.

Nothing in her mind or body was able to let him go, and now Sadie felt like she couldn’t breathe. Her muscles were paralyzed and she was experiencing numbness all over. Her eyebrows were raised, her eyes were wide open, and a look of extreme anxiety shot across her face.

While Enrico was moving his feet, he was trying to hide his appearance from the other travelers. He was utterly depressed and having a hard time forcing his emotions to stay down. He tried to make it look like he was holding back a sneeze rather than a flood of tears, but when one or two drops of salty water leaked out from their moist environment, Enrico wiped them off of his face with the sleeve of his right arm and kept going.

Sadie had been watching the man she loves walk away, and with an incredible amount of courage, she boldly took a few steps towards him. “En-ri-co!” She shouted his name as she extended her left hand far in front of her body, but he didn’t turn around. With sheer desperation gushing from the very core of her soul, she wanted to run after him, to hold him one last time, but she knew she couldn’t; their time was up.

Enrico heard her calling him, but he couldn’t bear to turn around again; he knew that if he saw her, he would run back into her arms and he would never let go. Instead, he made himself a promise to return to New York as soon as he could.

Sadie stood frozen in her tracks, while anxiety guided her every thought. She watched Enrico, as he continued to walk in a hurried pace, and she wanted him to come back. “Enrico”, she sighed, with little air passing through her trembling lips. “I love you.” Her head was bent in sorrow while the world was crashing down around her.

After Enrico boarded the large vessel, he made sure to stand on the very end of the large deck. He was facing her, but they were so far apart. His hand leaped high into the air and swayed back and forth, as he watched her wave back to him. He could tell that she was beckoning him to come back, and it was killing him that he couldn’t.

Sadie’s heart leaped in her chest when she saw him. “Enrico!” she called loudly. She saw him waving, and she waved back with as much energy as she could muster. She couldn’t take her eyes off of the handsome man, who only hours ago, had made passionate love to her. “I’m here!” she cried. Her voice had cracked and was full of raw emotion.

Enrico’s face was wearing the biggest smile of his life, and he waved with all of his might. “Sadie!” he called, as if she could hear him.

“Enrico!” she shouted. She knew in that instance that he was the man who she would love for the rest of her life.

The ship blew its horn a few times, and then it slowly pulled away from the dock.

“No!” she screamed, as her body went into an even bigger panic mode. Tears were trickling down her moist and flushed cheeks, as her soul was being smashed into a thousand different pieces. “Please don’t leave!” she pleaded at the top of her lungs. She was yelling with as much force as she had in her body, and was stunned that no-one was looking in her direction. ‘Why were they not helping me get him back?’ she wondered wildly.

“Sadie!” Enrico called, but the sound of his words were not as clear anymore. “I love you!” he added happily. “Can you hear me?”

With all the noise that was around her, Sadie’s ears didn’t get to receive his tender words. “How will I go on without you?” she cried, while choking on her own tears. Her heart was in her throat, her will to live had been taken away, and now there was a horrible, empty ache in her soul.

“Enrico!” Sadie shouted at full volume. She continued to step closer and closer to the edge of the platform, as the ship appeared to go further and further away from the shore. “No-o-o-o-o!” she screamed, as if that would somehow stop what was happening.

With each moment that passed, their hearts were growing heavier with the sadness that was now weighing them down. Minute-by-minute, their emotional pain was getting worse, and almost an hour later, the ship was nothing more than a mere dot on the large body of water.

Sadie had fallen to her knees before the ship had totally disappeared, and it was then when she discovered what Enrico had placed in her closed fist - a beautiful silver locket. On the left side of the elaborately engraved heart, was a picture of Enrico. On the right, was a picture of her.

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Tina Griffith, who also wrote twenty-seven children's books as Tina Ruiz, was born in Germany, but her family moved to Canada when she was in grammar school.

After her husband of 25 years passed away, she wrote romance novels to keep the love inside her heart. Tina now has eleven romance novels on Amazon, and while all of them have undertones of a love story, they are different genres; murder, mystery, whimsical, witches, ghosts, suspense, adventure, and her sister's scary biography.

Tina has worked in television and radio as well as being a professional clown at the Children's Hospital. She lives in Calgary with her second husband who encourages her to write her passion be it high-quality children's books or intriguing romance.

Stay connected with Tina (Griffith) Ruiz on her Facebook group Tina Speaks Out.