MUSA PUBLISHING'S COLOSSAL ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

with Musa Publishing

Grand Prize

$15.00 Musa Gift Certificate

6 Paperback Books

Baiting the Hook by Mary Palmer & David Wilton

Brothers in Crime by KM Rockwood

Legends of the Timekeepers by Sharon Ledwith

Indian Shirt Story by Heather Lockman

Pantheon by Josh Strnad
Windy City Heat by Remi Hunter

1st Place Winner

$10.00 Musa Gift Certificate
6 Paperback Books

Baiting the Hook by Mary Palmer & David Wilton

Brothers in Crime by KM Rockwood

Legends of the Timekeepers by Sharon Ledwith

Indian Shirt Story by Heather Lockman

Pantheon by Josh Strnad
Windy City Heat by Remi Hunter

2nd Place Winner

$5.00 Musa Gift Certificate
5 Paperback Books

Cairo in White by Kelly Ann Jacobson

Chasing Athens by Marissa Tejada

First Frost by Liz DeJesus

Who Wacked Roger Rabbit by Gary K. Wolf
Windy City Heat by Remi Hunter

3rd Place Winner

5 Paperback Books

Cairo in White by Kelly Ann Jacobson

Chasing Athens by Marissa Tejada

First Frost by Liz DeJesus

Who Wacked Roger Rabbit by Gary K. Wolf
Windy City Heat by Remi Hunter

Plus

Beginning October 1, 2014 we draw 2 winners a day and they will each receive 3 books

And

All participants receive a download of Cooking with Musa.

All entrants are eligible for Grand Prize and Other Drawings October 15, 2014

Winners announced October 16, 2014

Enter daily to win!

No particular order to the daily drawings for the books below

Random Survival by Ray Wenck
TRUE blue by Susan Rae
Chasra: The Homecoming by Joanne Hirase

Drowning Cactus by Carrie Russell
To Catch A Fish by Mary Pamer & David Wilton
Lies in Wait by Donna Del Oro

Question of Time by Mary S. Palmer
Glass Frost by Liz DeJesus
The Andersen Ancestry by Addie J. King

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest begins October 1, 2014 and ends midnight CST October 14, 2014. All winners announced October 16, 2014.

Winners who reside outside the Continental United States will receive their prize in e-book format.

All prizes must be claimed by October 20, 2014 or they are forfeited. Prizes will be shipped October 22, 2014.

VIKI LYN BRINGS HISTORY TO LIFE

I'm excited to introduce you to Regarding Eliza, an Edwardian romance novel by multi-published and multi-genre author Viki Lyn. This is an amazing story that brings the era to life and is certain to capture your heart.

Tortured by fragmented memories of her past, Eliza must face the truth…or be imprisoned for life.

For years, Eliza Lily has lived as the “distant cousin” of William and Jewel Bennett, who rescued her from a past she can’t remember. Now, amidst ugly rumors of who she might actually be, William plans to marry her to a suitable gentleman who can give her a home and safety. What better way to curb his own developing feelings for her?

Eliza wants none of that. She is no hothouse flower, and no man of standing will marry her due to her dubious past anyway. Not even William, whom she secretly loves. Instead, she focuses on her quest for social change. Her passion for women’s rights leads her to Greenwich Village and the suffragette movement. But as she finds her place in the world, her past still haunts her.

Only by going back to the scene of her lost memories can she hope to discover the truth and set herself free…to love and be loved.

EXCERPT
"Whoa, slow down. It looks like I hit a nerve.” His smile dipped. “There’s something you’re not telling me?”

Fear at being discovered swept over her. No, the knife was safely hidden. William had no way to know she had Jeb’s knife. “I do want to go…”

“But…?”

“Going back after all these years…” To the place of her abandonment by her mother, who had never returned and therefore forever branded Eliza unworthy. Abandonment that had led to the Harrises and the bleak moment erased from her mind. Finding the knife seemed like a dark omen.

“Ah, of course, how stupid of me. The Foundling Home. I should have realized how hard this might be for you.”

Eliza looked up, surprised William understood. “It wasn’t such a horrible place, but I’m not sure how I feel about seeing it again.”

“There’s no reason why you’d have to. You’ll be socializing with people who have no connection to the orphanage.”

“I suppose in New York anything is possible,” she said, more to convince herself she made the right choice. “I don’t remember much of the place. All I remember is the drafty room where I slept.”

Lines of metal cots, the smell of starch and soap, nuns stepping lightly through the corridors, a large church with stained glass windows reflecting a kaleidoscope of jewels on the wooden pews.

William touched her arm before sitting back up. Eliza smiled at him to ease his obvious discomfort at her confession. “I’m making it out worse than it was. The nuns were always nice to me.”

Edging closer, he cupped his hand on her cheek. “This is the first time I’ve seen you smile since I’ve been here.”

The gentle touch sent a pleasurable thrill through Eliza. She tried hard to ignore the sensation, but the warmth of William’s fingers didn’t allow her to brush the feeling aside.

“That’s not true.” Eliza pressed her hand to her fluttering stomach.

William tilted her chin. His intense gaze bored into her, and she parted her lips. She longed to trace the dual scars on his neck, to feel the raised flesh, to know how he felt to her touch. She wrung her hands in her lap, afraid he’d kiss her, afraid he wouldn’t, light-headed, confused.

BUY LINK

Warning: This eBook may contain language, content, images, and scenes that depict profanity, violence, sexuality/sexual relations or other content that is intended for mature adult readers. This eBook is meant only for adults as defined by the laws of the country or region where you made your purchase. If you are under the age of maturity, if adult material offends you, or if it is illegal to read, view, purchase, or own such material in your community please be warned that this eBook may contain objectionable content.

What inspires Viki is the reality that romance between lovers is a hope more than a guarantee. Her stories are an eclectic mix of contemporary and paranormal, but it is always romance that drives the story to its final happily-ever-after.

Learn more about Viki Lyn on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter. Check out her bookshelf and be sure to Join Viki’s Street Team!

Viki is also an award winning author of male/male paranormal and contemporary romances. You can find all of her books at the following sites: Amazon, All Romance Ebooks and GLBT Bookshelf.

THE SWEET LIFE

by Sharon Ledwith

In my book, Legend of the Timekeepers—the prequel to The Last Timekeepers series—my 14-year-old protagonist Lilith is faced with the reality that Atlantis is on the brink of being destroyed, and her family must evacuate their home immediately. While many of us look back on our lives and think—where the heck did the time go?—it doesn’t take a catastrophe like Lilith and her father had to endure to make us realize that life is indeed short, and we’d better be grateful for what we have in the present. The following recipe will make you appreciate the sweet things in your life, and is great to prepare on those cherished afternoons of baking with a loved one.

Maple Madness Butter Tarts

Tart Shells
2 cups (500 mL) all-purpose flour
1 tsp. (5 mL) salt
¾ cup (175 mL) all-vegetable shortening, well chilled (we use CRISCO® Golden All-Vegetable Shortening)
4-8 tbsp. (60-120 mL) ice cold water

Blend flour and salt in medium mixing bowl. Cut ½-inch (1.5 cm) cubes of chilled shortening into flour mixture using a pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces remaining.

Sprinkle 4 tbsp. (60 mL) of the ice cold water over the flour mixture. Using a fork, stir and draw flour from bottom of bowl to the top; press chunks down to bottom of bowl with fork. Add more water by the tablespoon, mixing until dough holds together.

Divide dough into two balls. Flatten balls into ½-inch (1.5 cm) thick disks, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes or up to 2 days.

Place ball of dough on lightly floured work surface. With floured rolling pin, roll out thinly from center outward. Cut out 6 rounds with 4” (10 cm) cutter. Repeat with second ball of dough. Fit rounds into 12 medium-sized muffin cups.

Filling
½ cup (125 mL) packed brown sugar
¼ cup (60 mL) pure maple syrup
¼ cup (60 mL) corn syrup
¼ cup (60 mL) all-vegetable shortening
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla extract
½ tsp (2 mL) salt
¾ cup of raisin or pecans (if desired)

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C)

Combine all filling ingredients except raisins (or pecans); mix well.
Evenly divide raisins (or pecans) into pastry shells.

Fill cups ⅔ full with syrup mixture.

Bake on bottom shelf for 12 to 15 minutes or just until set. DO NOT OVERBAKE. Cool completely before removing from the pan.

Makes 12 Maple Madness butter tarts.

Now, while you’re waiting for your butter tarts to cool, why not partake in an afternoon of cozying up on the couch with a good book? Ready for a trip to Atlantis?

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.

To read an excerpt from Legend of the Timekeepers please click here.

Legend of the Timekeepers Buy Links:
MUSA PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀ SMASHWORDS ׀ APPLE

If you haven’t already read Sharon Ledwith's novel, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, here’s the blurb…

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.

To read an excerpt of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, please click HERE.

BUY LINKS
Musa Publishing - Amazon Link - Barnes & Noble - Kobo

BONUS: Download the free PDF short story The Terrible, Mighty Crystal HERE.

Check out The Last Timekeepers series Facebook Page.

Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, available through Musa Publishing, and is represented by Walden House (Books & Stuff) for her teen psychic series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, yoga, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a 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.

STAYING STRONG

Michael di Gesu, an amazing man with a huge talent and even a bigger heart, created this blog hop to raise funds for our friend Melissa Bradley to defray the cost of her cancer treatments. Melissa is battling endometrial cancer with tumors that have metastasized to her hip bones. Under Michael's direction a group of people have come together to participate in this hop. We're all showing the uplifting side of an ugly disease. Entries will be collected into an anthology and those proceeds will go toward Melissa's extensive medical bills.

I've had cancer twice and also had family members who fought the villain. And I'm here to tell you attitude is what it takes to be a winner. I am a firm believer in doing normal things in abnormal times and practice what I preach no matter the situation. Cancer was no exception to my philosophy, especially when I had stage 4 larynx cancer. I'm an email type of gal as opposed to the telephone, which I hate. Anyhow, to keep friends and family aware of my life and treatment progress I sent weekly updates. So here's one of those emails for your reading pleasure.

From: Sloane Taylor
To: Cancer Pals
Sent: Saturday, June 30, 1012
Subject: OMG! I'M PREGNANT

is what I told Studs last night. After we got his heart pumping again, he said that was impossible since I'd told him I'd been spayed years ago. "Sure," says I, "but what about Immaculate Conception? Since that's my birthday maybe it's an omen. Hell, look at the rosy glow in my cheeks. It all must mean..."

Two snorts later, he asked, "Yeah, right. So what's going on?"

Well, boys and girls, guys and gals, the chemo has decided to its best to make me remember those long ago mornings of being pregnant with my beautiful daughter. Most of you ladies will relate to that and never want to relive it.:) The nausea pills help and this will only go on through late Monday afternoon. Unless God has another new joke he wishes to play on me.

The glow isn't from radiation. It's from the big bag of steroids they give me at chemo time to stop nausea. I don't know if it works well for that, but it sure as hell fills out the wrinkles on my face. And I'd like to that there really aren't that many. Also, I have extremely dry skin and always have. So there. I come by them honestly. Little K, my 7 year old granddaughter is fascinated by my wrinkles. The girl freaks me out because she gets right up next to me to study and trace the lines. It's too weird, like she's doing palmistry but in the wrong location.

Three radiations down along with three chemos that are literally running through and out of my system. Life's good and I'm still eating real food.:)

Have a wonderful fourth of July, Everyone!

Love, S

Melissa also sent Michael di Gesu this letter.

Thank you so very much for all the supportive and wonderful words of encouragement you have sent me. I feel truly blessed to be a part of this community. I am now done with stage 2 of my chemo treatments and it has been a fight. Particularly this last time as I had an allergic reaction to the chemo drugs. I turned redder than a fire engine and horrific pains in my legs. Yet, all I could think was "freakin" perfect, I look like I could land planes in a blizzard." Yes, I do keep my sense of humor about me. It sure helps to see the funny side of everything.

I've learned a lot about cancer through this experience so far, more than I ever thought I would know. The most important is having a great attitude and keeping your sense of humor. I also know that this disease is very expensive. To that end I'd love to do a blog hop with vignettes of humor from people who have been touched by this disease, particularly reproductive cancer. I'd love to collect these stories in an anthology to be published. I want to share the profits with Gilda's Club Chicago, an organization that helps women fight endometrial, cervical, and ovarian cancers. I'll keep you all posted.

As far as myself, having lost my job (because what else could go wrong, right?), my friends have started a Go Fund Me page to help with my expenses. If you could share this or even donate, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much for everything.

Hugs,

Melissa

Learn more about Melissa on her blog and on her Amazon Author's page.

Be sure to check out the other people participating in the BIG C blog hop for Melissa Bradley. Their stories will warm your heart.

Time for a Harvest Treat

Emilia Mancini has more talents than writing terrific romance. No matter what Em says, she also bakes great treats. Emilia is here today to share a family favorite. The kitchen is all yours, Emilia.

For all the disasters I have in the kitchen (and there are plenty), there is one tried and true recipe that never fails. My zucchini bread. It’s yummy. That is all. I need not say more.

I’ve replaced the zucchini with carrots as well, and it was almost as good. The carrots didn’t have as much moisture so the bread was a tad bit drier, but wash it down with a nice hot cup of Earl Grey and you’ll never notice the difference.

This recipe makes two loaves. That may seem like overkill, but the first loaf never even has a chance to cool down. It’s gone that fast.

Emilia Mancini's Zucchini Bread

3 cups shredded zucchini (about 3 medium)
1 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. ground cloves
½ tsp. baking powder
½ to 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
½ cup raisins (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Grease bottoms of two loaf pans.

Mix zucchini, sugar, oil, vanilla and eggs in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients.

Pour into pans and bake 50-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Cool about 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate.

This is a perfect breakfast bread or snack or treat. Basically, when we have zucchini bread in the house, that’s all we eat.

I hope you enjoy it. If you don’t, bring it over to my house and we’ll finish it for you!

Here's a little teaser from my latest sexy release for your reading pleasure.

It took Kyle one look to realize he wanted to seduce his best friend’s mother. And one kiss to realize he didn't have to.

It was lust at first sight when Kyle met his roommate’s mother Kate. Kyle, a college transfer, was too far from home to visit on short school breaks, so Justin took him to Minneapolis where his mother was serving up a family meal for Thanksgiving.

One look left Kyle with a healthy obsession for Kate which grew with each visit. When he landed an internship in Minneapolis, he moved in with Kate for the summer, and got in touch with his voyeuristic side. It wasn’t until one late evening and a few too many glasses of wine that Kyle began to suspect his attraction wasn’t one-sided.

When he dared to push the issue, he found Kate more than willing to succumb to his seduction.

To read an excerpt from Seducing Kate, please click a vendor's name. Musa Publishing - Amazon

Emilia Mancini is the naughtier side to author Marci Boudreaux. Emilia stays hidden in the shadows like a nefarious side kick, slipping out only when the stories Marci wants to share are a little too grown up to be called sweet romance.

Seducing Kate is Emilia’s second release and, at least for the moment, her crowning glory.

Be sure to check out the Pinterest board for Seducing Kate.

Visit Emilia on her website. Stay connected on Twitter and Facebook.

Spotlight on A Model Hero

from Sara Daniel

Welcome to a new month! Time to pull out your Calendar Men calendars. While you’re doing that, I’ll give you some background on how they came into existence…

Leonidas Russo is a former US Marine-turned-fashion model. He uses his connections in the fashion world to put a call out for models to be featured in a charity calendar he's put together to honor the memory of his brother, an Army soldier who died in the Afghan war. Proceeds for the calendar in the stories will benefit The Fallen Warriors Family Fund, a charity that gives scholarships and assistance to the families left behind.

All together now, flip the calendar page up and gaze in adoration and unabashed lust at the ripped physique and chiseled face of Mr. September. This is his story…

A Model Hero

Gretchen Meyers is a full-figured woman living in a model thin world. Desperate to end her mother's constant, nagging stream of dieting and fashion “advice,” Gretchen tackles the challenge of reviving her mother’s faltering modeling agency. All she needs is to woo back Kyle Ramsey, once the hottest model in the country.

Making the preemptive choice to turn his back on his career seemed Kyle’s only option until Gretchen comes calling. He doesn’t care what she wants to offer him, the answer is no. Still, he’s intrigued by her refreshing personality and all her lovely, lush curves.

When tragedy strikes, Kyle finds comfort and healing in Gretchen’s arms. But he can’t trust her with his career-ending secret and she doesn’t believe their relationship will survive the long term. He’s perfect and she’s not even close. Can the fragile ties holding them together survive Kyle’s opportunity to become a true model hero?

Excerpt:

The restaurant scene, then, had done its job. Gretchen would have to send Jamie flowers. No, she’d send a box of fattening chocolates instead. “Did you enjoy your evening after I left?”

Kyle’s gaze narrowed, he pushed himself out of the chair. “Did you arrange with Jamie to drop by our table?”

“How could I, when I had no idea where we were going for dinner until we were there?” Not to mention, she’d have preferred to sever essential body parts than ask Jamie Feldman for anything. But her irrational possessiveness was her own problem. “The important thing is you had a good time, and you’re ready to make up for everything you’ve been missing over the past year.”

“Those things aren’t important at all.” He advanced on her slowly.

She took a step back and came up against the door she’d closed a moment before.

Kyle flashed a predatory smile. He took her purse and briefcase from her shoulder, setting them aside. Then he rested his forearms on either side of her head and stared into her eyes, his lips a scant inch from hers as he spoke. “I’m here for you. Our date deserves another shot.”

Her heart thundered. The thick eyelashes framing his gray-green eyes mesmerized her. He stood too near for her to formulate a coherent response. This much physical perfection and sex appeal should be outlawed. Her mind was not equipped to handle it.

“What do you say?” he asked.

Yes, take me. “I say, why me?” Her voice rose with an embarrassing squeak as she struggled to compose a rational argument and remind herself she was in her office, just feet away from her employees who’d never seen her anything less than one hundred percent professional. “I get why you went out with me on Saturday. You’d shut yourself away from the world, and I was the first woman to find you. But you’ve been reminded you can have Jamie or anyone else you crook your finger for. Why do you still want me?”

His gaze softened with a tenderness that pierced her heart. He brushed his thumb along her cheek. “How could I not want you, Gretchen? You’re smart and funny and beautiful and not afraid to let a guy who has no idea what you like order for you on a first date.”

Amazon  Kobo  Decadent Publishing  iTunes  Barnes & Noble  All Romance eBooks

Sara Daniel writes what she loves—irresistible romance, from sweet to erotic and everything in between. She lives her own happily-ever-after romance with her hero husband. Connect with her online at:

Subscribe to Sara’s newsletter: http://eepurl.com/rx_AL

Website: http://www.SaraDaniel.com

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/SaraDanielSaraShafer

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SSaraDaniel

Blog: http://saradanielromance.blogspot.com

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ssaradaniel/

To celebrate A Model Hero’s release, Sara is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card. Fill out the Rafflecopter form here or on her Facebook page to enter. http://tinyurl.com/nn757av

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Always Delicious - Always Perfect

Vonnie Hughes, Regency and Contemporary Suspense author, is here to share her recipe for a delicious Never-fail Date & Nut Loaf that's ideal for family and company. This tasty treat is perfect with breakfast, lunch, or a good cup of tea.

Never-fail Date & Nut Loaf

1 large cup dates
Boiling water
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tbsp. butter
¼ cup brown sugar
1 egg
½ cup chopped walnuts (or dried apricots or raisins)
3 drops vanilla essence (extract)
2 cups white flour (or wholemeal if you prefer)
1 tsp. baking powder
1 pinch salt

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Place dates in a medium-size bowl. Cover with boiling water. Add baking soda and soak for one hour.

Beat butter with brown sugar. Add egg and beat well.

Blend walnuts and vanilla essence with the dates and liquid.

Lastly, stir in flour, baking powder and salt.

Bake in a greased loaf tin (with baking paper is easier) for about 50 minutes. Keep in a sealed container for freshness.

NEVER FAILS.

Here is a little from Vonnie's latest Regency.

What happens when a man achieves his secret wish at the expense of a brother he despises? How does he then live his life?

John Trewbridge is destined to spend his life in the British army. If he had been thinking clearly, he’d never have enlisted with the 71st regiment. But Serena ripped the heart out of him when she said that he was only a second son and therefore of no account. She was echoing the words of John’s older brother, Spencer, who has spent years crowing about his future plans for the marquessate he will inherit. Yet it is John who loves the Trewbridge estate and everything that goes with it. When he is sent home from Corunna, injured, he discovers that Serena is about to marry Spencer.

On a raw winter’s day John meets Marguerite Ninian. Crippled from birth she hides from the world and John, despairing and disillusioned, lashes out at her, telling her that instead of feeling sorry for herself and should pity the injured soldiers who had limbs amputated. Not an auspicious beginning.

But over time her humour and intelligence help John to understand that second is just a word, not a value judgment or a statement of mind. Cautiously John and Marguerite move toward a tentative friendship until Spencer implodes and smashes the Trewbridge family apart.

BLURB
Spencer’s arm was trapped beneath the phaeton. The pain must be excruciating. John tugged off his glove and held tight to Spencer’s free hand. “No, Spence. I envied you Trewbridge, not the title. Oh, and sometimes I envied your famous way with the ladies. But I didn’t want to be you.” He noticed he was talking in the past tense and reined himself in. How callous could he be?

“No. I’m too dull to enjoy racing around, trying to keep ahead of my conscience.” Spencer ignored the last comment. “Dull,” he rasped. “I told her that would singe your whiskers.”

“For a time it did,” John murmured. “But I’ve found someone who needs me and doesn’t think I’m dull. And I have an estate that will not give me sleepless nights like the responsibility of Trewbridge would.”

There was a long silence and John felt the world shrink down to just the two of them, in the dark, with the sounds of rescue far away. Then Spencer’s cracked voice whispered, “But you will have it all now, while I dance with demons.”

“I don’t think so. We’ll get you out of here. More men are coming. We will lift this damned phaeton off you and—”

“No!” Spencer’s voice rose again. “I do not want to be saved.” He gave a slight huff that might have been a laugh. “Never did.”

Buy Links

Amazon Paperback - Kindle - Smashwords

Vonnie Hughes is a multi-published author in both Regency books and contemporary suspense. She loves the intricacies of the social rules of the Regency period and the far-ranging consequences of the Napoleonic Code. And with suspense she has free rein to explore forensic matters and the strong convolutions of the human mind. Like many writers, some days she hates the whole process, but somehow she just cannot let it go.

Vonnie was born in New Zealand, but she and her husband now live happily in Australia. If you visit Hamilton Gardens in New Zealand be sure to stroll through the Japanese Garden. These is a bronze plaque engraved with a haiku describing the peacefulness of that environment. The poem was written by Vonnie.

All of Vonnie’s books are available on The Wild Rose Press and Amazon.

Learn more about Vonnie Hughes on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Goodreads.

To All Our Friends,

from 

the Taylor Family

A Perfect Dinner

Viki Lyn is stirring up a mix of good things in the kitchen today. Pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable.

Perfect Salmon Filet
1 salmon filet per person
olive oil
lemon juice
salt
freshly ground pepper
herbs and/or spices of your preference

Set oven to 350°F.

Place salmon filet in pan and rub with olive oil. Squeeze on lemon juice. Spice to your liking. I use dill, salt and pepper.

Place in oven for 20 minutes.

All oven temperatures are different so give and take a few minutes, and experiment. The trick is not to overcook the fish. The salmon is done when it flakes easily when tested with a fork.

Here’s a lovely adult beverage to enjoy while your salmon bakes.

Angel Face

(drink recipe from Diffords Guide)

1 shot of dry gin
1 host of calvados
1 shot of apricot brandy liqueur

Add ingredients to a shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Pour Angel Face into a martini glass and garnish with a very thin apple slice.





Here's a little from my latest book to enjoy with your Angel Face Cocktail.

Kenneth believes everything—even love—can be solved logically, until he meets a flower child who challenges him at every turn.

Kenneth Hailey, an uptight conservative mathematician, believes he's in control. After all, every problem can be solved in a deliberate and logical manner. Even love. When his fiancée dumps him for his best friend, he leaves Manhattan for the West Coast. What better place to forget his past. It's 1967, and San Francisco is the place to turn on, tune in, and drop out.

But is he ready for Rose Red?

Rose Red, a free-spirited flower child, challenges Kenneth, thrusting him into her world of love-ins, protest rallies, and rock concerts. Kenneth finds himself falling down a rabbit hole, hanging on for dear life.

Old habits die hard, and he retreats, but Rose Red has other plans for him.

Formula For Love is available at:
Musa Publishing
Amazon

What inspires Viki Lyn is the reality that romance between lovers is a hope more than a guarantee. Her stories are an eclectic mix of contemporary and paranormal, but it is always romance that drives the story to its final happily-ever-after.

Learn more about Viki Lyn on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter. Check out her bookshelf and be sure to Join Viki’s Street Team!

Viki is also an award winning author of male/male paranormal and contemporary romances. You can find all of her books at the following sites: Amazon, All Romance Ebooks and GLBT Bookshelf.

HOT DAMN!

I am excited to announce Musa Publishing has just release my four Magnificent Men of Munich books in a box set and priced at $2.99.

Icy German reserve melts with hot-blooded American passion.

Heated Negotiations Book 1
Mergers and negotiations are not just for the boardroom, especially when things heat up high over the Atlantic.

Travel agency owner Teddi Howard is Hell in high heels when she jumps a plane to Munich. Her goal—strangle the German tour operator who reneged on their exclusive contract.

Winter Games Book 2
As the games heat up, the stakes grow higher, and Lonnie must decide whether to play along or leave her heart out in the cold.

Lonnie Copley may be a genius, but not when it comes to her personal life. A series of wrong turns puts her far from reality and the German autobahn. The last thing she wants on the eve of a snowstorm is to be dangling at the edge of an Austrian mountain in need of rescue—especially by a leather-clad giant with Johnny Depp eyes.

Perfect Lie Book 3
A seedling of doubt will unravel even a perfect lie.

After two ex-husbands and a con artist, Francine Daniels has had it with men. Her life is finally the way she wants it — successful and complete. At least she thinks so until a working vacation in Munich brings her face to face with a sexy German hotelier who sees right through her brash exterior and makes her sizzle with his every touch.

Yesterday’s Lovers Book 4
Isabella Carrington has never wanted for anything her entire pampered life -- except for love.

No matter how many designer items she buys or men she conquers, Isabella Carrington never seems to find what she's looking for. When she meets the one man in the world completely unaffected by her charms, she is determined to have him, even if it means a dunk in the Grand Canal.

Warning: This eBook contains language, content, images, and scenes that depict profanity, violence, sexuality/sexual relations or other content that is intended for mature adult readers. This eBook is meant only for adults as defined by the laws of the country or region where you made your purchase. If you are under the age of maturity, if adult material offends you, or if it is illegal to read, view, purchase, or own such material in your community please be warned that this eBook may contain objectionable content. Store your eBook carefully so that it cannot be accessed by younger readers.

To read more on this book or purchase, please click a vendor's name Musa Publishing - Amazon.

To read excerpts from my other erotic romances, please click a vendor's name Musa Publishing or Amazon.

I'll be back Wednesday with a new recipe. Until then...

Happy Reading!

Sloane

Eggs Not Quite Benedict

I'm delighted to have author James Hartley in the kitchen preparing a new twist on an old recipe. The stove is all yours, Jim.

Hi Sloane. Thanks for having me out and giving me full rein. Now tie on your apron and let's get cooking!

Everyone has heard of Eggs Benedict, that pearl of the Breakfast Brunch, but has anyone ever tried to make them? No way! First, they call for poached eggs, and who knows how to do that? Fried eggs, fine, but poached? And Hollandaise Sauce, well, real chefs know how to make that, but I don't think you can go down to the local grocery store and buy a jar of it, nope. So let's think of something else.

Suppose we settle for the eggs fried, then scrounge around in the fridge for some other kind of sauce. Like, maybe, spaghetti sauce. That's Italian, so we're going to call this one:


Eggs Benedito
1 English Muffin
Butter or margarine for muffin
2 slices Canadian Bacon (optional)
2 eggs
2-4 tbsp. spaghetti sauce (leftover is OK)
2-4 tbsp. ground or shredded Parmesan (or other Italian) cheese

Split and toast English muffin, spread with butter or margarine.

Lightly fry Canadian Bacon (if using it), place one slice on each half of muffin.

Fry eggs, over medium, then place one on each half of muffin. Top eggs with spaghetti sauce and cheese.

Serves one.

But then one day we were out of spaghetti sauce. A little more scrounging yielded a jar of Salsa, well, that sounded good. Being on the Mexican side, this one gets the name:

Eggs Bandito
1 English Muffin
Butter or margarine for muffin
2 slices Canadian Bacon (optional)
2 eggs
2-4 tbsp. Salsa (Mild, medium, or hot, your choice)

Split and toast English muffin, spread with butter or margarine.

Lightly fry Canadian Bacon (if using it), place one slice on each half of muffin.

Fry eggs, over medium, then place one on each half of muffin. Top eggs with Salsa.

Serves one.

A good book is perfect with a good breakfast. Here's a little from Jim's speculative fiction book for your reading pleasure.

Stories from one end of the universe to the other, and off into the realm of Faerie, too.

A collection of Fantasy and SF short stories. Space travel, time travel, aliens. Witches, wizards, ghosts, vampires. Oh, yes, and a bit of a look at what happens when the paranormal impinges on high school romance.

To read an excerpt from Worlds Away and Worlds Aweird please click here.

James Hartley is a former computer programmer. Originally from northern New Jersey, he now lives in sunny central Florida. He has published a fantasy novel, "Teen Angel," and stories in Illusion's Transmitter, Written Word Online, Clonepod, Every Day Fiction, Lorelei Signal, Beyond Centauri, Raygun Revival, and the "Desolate Places", "Strange Mysteries", "Book of Exodi" and "Christmas in Outer Space" anthologies.

He is currently working on a new novel. He is a member of IWOFA and the Dark Fiction Guild.

Learn more about James Hartley on his website and blog.

NEW RELEASE for DANIEL AUSEMA

Please allow me to introduce you to phenomenal steampunk author Daniel Ausema. Dan has created Spire City and a world of entertaining characters that bring the serial to life. The latest addition is Mint's Arrival, Episode 13.

What can you do when a steampunk mad genius targets you with a deadly serum? Fight back.

Spire City is home to mighty machines of steam power and clockwork, and giant beetles pull picturesque carriages over cobbled streets, but there is a darker secret behind these wonders. A deadly infection, created by a mad scientist, is spreading through the city, targeting the poor and powerless, turning them slowly into animals. A group of those infected by the serum join together to survive, to trick the wealthy out of their money, and to fight back.

Despite all their caution, Mint has tracked down the residents of the Weave to their neighborhood. Mingling threats with subtle promises to anyone who will betray the infecteds, he is coming closer and closer to discovering where they live. And now he may have kidnapped an innocent, uninfected child. The time has come for a real confrontation, but who will prevail? Find out in the climactic finale of Season One: Infected.

EXCERPT
With the shovel over one shoulder, she approached the coal.

The lantern light played over a figure seated on the pile, pointing a gun at her. Chels froze.

“Hello.”

Chels’s muscles twitched as she stared at the cold eyes. No, not possible. Not here. His gun didn’t waver.

“My name is Mint.”

The voice made it real. All the terror, the fear she’d felt each time she’d seen him. The sickening twist to her stomach when she recognized him at the coal seller’s. The months of wondering where he’d be, when he might find her next. It all came together, at first keeping her frozen, but then triggering her into motion. Chels threw the shovel at his face and ran the other way. Expecting to be shot down. Expecting him to surge to his feet and run after her. The shovel struck something soft and fell with a clatter. Mint cursed her. If he got a shot off, it made no noise and missed her fleeing form. As she passed through the door, she pulled the wheelbarrow across the entrance and didn’t look back. Mint’s swearing shifted to laughter, laughs that followed her, even with no sound of footsteps to accompany the noise.

BUY LINK

To read excerpts from the other episodes of Spire City or Daniel's other work, please click a vendor's name.
Musa Publishing - Amazon

Daniel Ausema is the creator of the Spire City serial fiction project. His short stories and poems have appeared in Penumbra, Daily Science Fiction, The Journal of Unlikely Stories, and many other places. He has worked as a journalist and educator and is currently a stay-at-home dad. He lives in Colorado, where May blizzards, September floods, and summer wildfires engage in a never-ending war.

Learn more about Dan on his website Twigs and Brambles.

A Delightful New Taste

Acclaimed Regency and contemporary suspense author Vonnie Hughes is in the kitchen with her wonderful dessert that serves 4 people and has only 3 ingredients.

Strawberry Marshmallow Delight

1 punnet (or carton) of strawberries
1 packet of small marshmallows
4 oz of thick whipped cream flavored with a couple of drops of vanilla

Wash and hull the strawberries. Sort into four equal quantities

Place in glass dishes like parfait dishes.

Very carefully melt 16-18 marshmallows and cool slightly.

Fold the whipped cream into the marshmallow mix and pour it all over the strawberries.

Easy, cheap, and quick.

Here's a peek into one of my historical romance books.

War brings together two injured people who are desperate to return home - at any cost.

Both of them are scarred by war; she because of the shattered men she nurses; he because of the loss of friends and the horrors he must endure daily.

Colwyn Hetherington has a chance to put it all behind him and return to England. Juliana Colebrook desperately wants to go to England to seek out her relatives. They take an almighty chance and travel together, setting in train a series of events that neither could have anticipated.

BUY LINKS: Amazon Paperback - Amazon E-Book - Smashwords

Vonnie Hughes is a New Zealander living in Australia. She loves animals and jogging. Vonnie writes Regencies and romantic suspense novels along with short stories.

All of Vonnie’s books are available on Amazon.

Learn more about Vonnie Hughes on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Goodreads.

INTRODUCING TOM OLBERT

Tom Olbert is an outstanding science fiction author with many books to his credit. Tom's latest release is Long Haul. I hope you enjoy the snippet below as much as I did his short story.

This trucker's haul takes him to the end of time and space, and beyond...

In the near future, physicists have stumbled on a way to open rifts into other universes, making it possible to transport goods and people anywhere in the world in nothing flat. The unscrupulous corporation that owns the new technology uses it to monopolize shipping worldwide

Thrill-seeking, death-defying truckers like veteran army driver Garth Jenkins and his gun-toting trucking partner Sally Drake earn hazardous duty pay by hauling rigs through perilous alien universes often infested with deadly alien monsters and many other dangers besides.

Garth and Sally accept a shady corporate contract to deliver some unknown cargo to an alien universe, no questions asked. It looks like an easy way to score big money. But, things go south fast when their truck is hijacked by the beautiful and mysterious Keira Takahashi, and they find themselves pursued by hideous alien parasites in undead human bodies.

On the run and in danger, Garth and Sally find themselves on a crooked cosmic road leading to bizarre other worlds and exotic time periods. They have one chance to unravel the company's twisted plot and save themselves. Whether they succeed or fail may decide the fate of a universe...

EXCERPT:
Three suns burned brightly in the sky, the Earth was breaking apart, and giant moths were attacking us. For most guys, that would describe a bad dream after a bender, but when you’re trucking a load on the long haul, that’s business as usual.

A big mama moth was comin’ straight at me, and she looked pretty damn pissed. Wing spread of about fifteen feet, jaws bigger than my head. Yeah, that’s how big they grow in the crazy gravity in this parallel ’verse.

I squeezed the trigger of my flamethrower. A long, twisting stream of fire snaked out and nailed that sucker right between its foot-wide sparklin’ silver eyes. The shrieking noise those mothers make when they burst into flames cuts to the marrow and curdles the blood. Kinda like my ex-wife when I’m late with a payment.

It was still coming straight for me. I felt the fire on my face as it swooped in. Those things go up like freakin’ gas balloons, y’know. As it passed over, I held onto the rearview side mirror, crouched down on the running board, and nudged that big flaming bug with the muzzle of the flamethrower. It passed on over, stinking, singed pieces of it falling onto my hair and coveralls.

“Damn!” I yelled at the top of my lungs as the truck hit the guard rail, sparks flying, metal screeching. My feet slipped off the running board, and the rearview started coming loose in my hand. I looked down. My feet dangled over a damn long drop into a kind of island floating in mid-air, a jungle landscape splitting apart, volcanoes erupting and lava bubbling up.

There was nothing but sky all around, filled with other floating islands, and swarms of those moth things were taking off from them. Behind that, the moon filled half the sky. It looked close enough to touch. I held on for dear life as the rubber screeched over the tar. My trucking partner, Sally Drake, was spinning that wheel blind, trying to keep the damn rig on the highway. A highway that was built in mid-air, stretching out from one floating island to the next. Don’t ask me how. Our road crews just paved over old highways that were already there. Built by aliens from another ’verse, maybe. Or by humans from our future. I just drive. I don’t ask questions.

To read more on Long Haul or Tom's other books please click a vendor.
Musa Publishing - Amazon

Tom Olbert lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts; cradle of the American Revolution, and home of University egg heads and kooky liberals. He loves it there. His work has most recently appeared in Musa Publishing. Previously in Mocha Memoirs Press, Eternal Press, and such anthologies as Ruthless, Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous, Something Wicked Vol II, In the Bloodstream, and Torched.

When he’s not working or writing sci-fi or horror, Tom volunteers for causes he cares about. He comes from a most interesting family; his mother, Norma Olbert is currently self-publishing a biography of the life of Tom’s dad Stan Olbert, a retired MIT physicist and veteran of the Polish underground during WWII. Tom’s sister Elizabeth Olbert is an artist, art teacher, and avid lover of horses.

Learn more about Tom Olbert on his

A Hidden Side of Sandra Cormier

As well as being a talented author, Sandra Cormier is an excellent cook. Today we turn the blog over to Sandra and her latest creation, an amazing dish you and your family will enjoy. Take it away, Sandra!

Hi everyone, I made this recipe up on the fly, but wrote it down right afterward, because it ended up delicious!

Shrimp, Chicken & Salmon Risotto

1 cup chicken stock
1 boneless chicken breast
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. tomato paste
1 tbsp. chopped garlic
1 tsp. smoked paprika
250 g sliced mushrooms (8.8 ozs)
1 tbsp. butter
½ cup Arborio rice
A few threads saffron (optional)
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup raw peeled shrimp, medium to large size
1 boneless salmon filet
1 cup white wine
1 tbsp. cream cheese
salt & pepper to taste

Heat chicken stock in a small saucepan. Keep warm until needed.

Cut chicken into bite size pieces and sauté in olive oil. Stir in tomato paste and garlic while sautéing. Sprinkle with paprika and stir well.

Add mushrooms and butter. Sauté until mushrooms are tender.

Stir in rice, saffron, and chicken stock. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. Check for sticking and stir if necessary.

Carefully drop in peas, shrimp, and salmon. Cook over medium-low heat until sauce has thickened. Be sure to stir occasionally. Drizzle white wine in every few minutes until you’ve added ¼ cup. The same method as if you were making risotto.

Blend in cream cheese and the rest of wine. Cover and simmer until the shrimp is pink and the salmon is flaky.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serves 4

Hope some of you try this!

For dessert how about a sexy romp with four strong women who know what they want.

Four women negotiate the narrows of friendship, marriage, motherhood, divorce and new love... until one man forces them to reveal their inner Bitch.

Hana, Paige, Connie and Pepper form a bond at Dempster Media, gathering in the break room for tea and toast. Later, they add a new venue - Paige's cabin in the woods.

Hana develops an easy friendship with Michael Preston, the company's dynamic CEO, but she really has her eye on hot editor Adam Wylde.

Connie's tastes run toward spectacular shoes and opera. Her jealous husband prefers NASCAR and hurtin' songs. When he leaves her for another woman, she hesitantly dips her manicured toes into single life, with the help of her fellow Bitches.

Pepper is the firecracker, careening from domestic drudgery to freedom, much to the chagrin of her friends. She seeks adventure and spice, but did she really need it after all?

Paige is the oldest - the mother hen, dispensing snippets of wisdom like herbs on a salad. Her life seems perfect, but not everything is as it seems.

When Adam finally asks Hana to experiment with BDSM, she panics and calls off the relationship, setting off a chain of events that brings the four women closer than ever.

To read an excerpt from The Toast Bitches please click a vendor's name.
Musa Publishing
Amazon

Sandra Cormier and her husband are new empty nesters, living north of Toronto, Canada with a cat that runs their lives.

Learn more about Sandra Cormier on her website and blog. Stay connected on Twitter.

S.S. Hampton Sr. Shines

S.S. Hampton Sr. is a longtime friend and a fun sparing partner. Stan's also a dynamite author. Today I'm excited to share his mainstream military fiction Better Than a Rabbit’s Foot that has earned a slew of 5 Star reviews.

Most soldiers take a lucky charm to war, but what if you don’t know what works for you?

Sergeant Jerry Stanton is a young soldier serving in the War in Iraq. He is a gunner on a gun truck nicknamed “Lucky Bear,” one of those tireless workhorses that escort supply convoys from camps in Kuwait to destinations scattered throughout the war-torn country. In the early morning hours before a scheduled mission, a dust storm howls across his camp and threatens to bring convoy operations to a halt. Worse, the camp receives word that a gunner from his company was killed by an IED while on a convoy mission. Unlike most soldiers, Jerry doesn’t carry a lucky charm, but upon receiving news of the death of the gunner, he begins to mull over/ponder the merit/virtue of a good luck charm—only, what would work for him? Perhaps mail call will provide the answer.

EXCERPT:
“People like a happy ending.”

Sergeant Jerry Stanton, an M4 Carbine slung across his chest, glanced at the dark form that trudged alongside him in the hot, early morning darkness. It was all the darker for the dust storm howling across the small camp, a dusty and sandy convoy support center, CSC, a mile south of the Iraqi border. He placed his hand over the tall Styrofoam coffee cup from the messhall that was open at all hours to serve those about to head out on a mission. He felt the itchy dust filtering down his back, along his arms, and coating his fingers.

In spite of his short time deployed to Kuwait, he had learned that dust storms were worse than sand storms; they were hot and itchy while the sand storms stung exposed skin and chilled the air. Breakfast was good but tasted flat, more due to the question of whether their mission would be a go or no-go because of the storm that roared out of the midnight darkness hours before.

“What?”

“People like a happy ending,” the soldier repeated. He was a gunner from another gun truck as the squat, venerable M1114 HMMWVs, which were never meant to be combat vehicles, were called. He held up a rabbit foot that spun frantically in the wind and added, “I like a happy ending. Especially now.” They rounded the corner of a small building, actually a renovated mobile home trailer with a covered wooden porch lit by a bare electric bulb. The gunner pointed to a small black flag, suspended from a log overhang, flapping furiously in the wind.

“Oh shit.” Jerry sighed as a cold chill raced through him.

“It’s been there for an hour or so,” the soldier said as he enclosed the rabbit’s foot within both hands and brought it up to his lips as if to kiss it. He glanced at Jerry. “I’m not superstitious, but still, I mean, there’s nothing wrong with having a lucky charm. You know?”

“Yeah.” Jerry nodded as he watched the twisting flag. “I know.”

The soldier looked once more at the black flag and then walked toward the shower and restroom trailers beyond which were the air-conditioned sleeping tents they called home…

BUY LINK

S.S. Hampton, Sr. is a full-blood Choctaw of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma with 13 wonderful grandchildren. He is also a published photographer and photojournalist. Stan retired on in 2013 from the Army National Guard with the rank of Sergeant First Class; he previously served in the active duty Army (1974-1985), the Army Individual Ready Reserve (1985-1995) (mobilized for the Persian Gulf War), and enlisted in the Nevada Army National Guard in October 2004, after which he was mobilized for Federal active duty for almost three years. Hampton is a veteran of Operations Noble Eagle (2004-2006) and Iraqi Freedom (2006-2007) with deployment to northern Kuwait and several convoy security missions into Iraq.

His writings have appeared as stand-alone stories and in anthologies from Dark Opus Press, Edge Science Fiction & Fantasy, Melange Books, Musa Publishing, MuseItUp Publishing, Ravenous Romance, and as stand-alone stories in Horror Bound Magazine, The Harrow, and River Walk Journal, among others.

In May 2014 he graduated from the College of Southern Nevada with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Photography – Commercial Photography Emphasis. A future goal is to study for a degree in archaeology—hopefully to someday work in and photograph underwater archaeology (and also learning to paint).

Hampton can be found at:
Dark Opus Press - Edge Science Fiction & Fantasy Publishing - Melange Books -
Musa Publishing - MuseItUp Publishing - Goodreads Author Page
Amazon Author Page - Amazon UK