Blind Sympathy by Roberta Bombonato
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Full length (239 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender
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Vafara is a blind composer who creates new symphonies for the world. Alone in a cabin with only her service dog, she’s not concerned in the slightest for zero cell phone reception in a secluded in the woods. This is her special time where she can be free to let her musical compositions speak to her.Israfel is a demon one assignment short from graduation: possession of an innocent soul. He’s always known he was different from others of his kind, and meeting the pure Vafara confirmed it.
Will he be able to possess the passionate musician when all he wants to do is hold her? Or will he throw it all away and risk an Angels and Demons war to save her innocent soul from the dark fate that awaits?
Archives for January 2020
January Book of the Month Poll Winner ~ Blind Sympathy by Roberta Bombonato
Winter Blogfest: Wendi Zwaduk
This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a necklace made by the author, along with an autographed swag pack..
Tinsel or Garland… (Or How I Learned the Difference Between the Two)
When I was a kid and we set up the Christmas tree, first, my mother would always plug the little arms into the slots on the tree and grumble about how the tree looked fake. You should know, you’re supposed to fluff the branches of those fake trees, but she’d leave them flat like they were in the box. Our tree had a sort of shelf look. It was always odd, but I never thought it was until I got older and saw other trees.
Okay, so what does that have to do with tinsel or garland? When I was a kid, we heard the horrors of tinsel. Not the garland, but the stringy stuff that’s sort of draped on the tree. It doesn’t have a cord to hold it together. But my parents referred to that tinsel as the horrible drapey stuff. I know. It’s a technical term. The garland my mother insisted needed to be on the tree was called tinsel. So I thought that’s what it was.
Fast-forward to when I met DH. His parents put the stringy drapey stuff on the tree AND they used garland. I said, oh, you’ve put on tinsel. They looked at me like I’d stepped off a space ship. Tinsel is the stuff that is thrown on the tree and garland is the stuff on the cord. (Ours never looked as flashy as the one in the photo, but I can’t find a photo of our last Christmas tree.)
Now, I’ve heard the horrors of using tinsel—the drapey stuff. I have cats and dogs and both like to try to eat the tinsel. It doesn’t go low on the tree and sometimes doesn’t go on it at all. Garland seems to be preferred because it’s on the cord. Guess what? The dogs and cats still try to eat it. (And yes, I know the perils of them eating any of it.)
So I ask you, what’s your preference? I like the look of tinsel, but also garland. I’m rather fond of garland made of pearls. What’s your preference?
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The last person she expected to fall for her just might be the one she’s been looking for all along.
Bliss McMahon isn’t looking for love. She’s got a degree to complete and a life she wants to live. Besides, love isn’t looking for her. The last and only time she’d tried dating, the whole situation had ended in disaster. Being twenty-one and never going beyond second base doesn’t exactly endear her to the guys, but the one guy she never expected to notice her has. Will she give him a shot or run the other way?
Evan Phillips has a way with the ladies. He can charm them just as easily as he hits homeruns, but this ballplayer has a problem. He won’t be able to pass art history without help. Enter Bliss. Sure, he’s dated her roommate, and yes, Bliss can’t stand him, but he’s not about to back down from the challenge of getting her help. She’s spunky, out of his league and just who he wants. Can the ballplayer convince Bliss he’s up for more than one inning or will she forfeit before the game begins?
He’s ready to steal home in order to win the woman of his dreams.
Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.
When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library. Find out more about Megan and Wendi at: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter
Buy the book at Amazon.
Winter Blogfest: Helen C. Johannes
This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a Lord Of Druemarwin, Kindle copy, US only.
Frosted Holiday Bread (aka Stollen) for the Bread Maker
My family has strong German roots, and a traditional holiday treat for us incorporates the candied, mixed fruit associated with dark, heavy fruit cake into a sweet, light, frosted yeast bread. What my family calls “Stollen” has many European variations, some much heavier than ours. We enjoy our version of this bread at breakfast, sliced and eaten plain, although some extended family members prefer to spread it with butter. We also enjoy slices as a midday snack. After years of making “Stollen” the traditional way, kneading by hand, I converted the recipe to work with my ever-so-helpful bread maker. If you are looking for something different to accompany your holiday breakfasts, and you have a bread maker, this recipe makes something traditional easy to provide.
Dough:
¾ cup milk, warmed
2 large eggs, beaten
¼ cup sugar
¼ lb. butter (1 stick) shredded
3 cups flour, sifted
Pinch of salt
1 ½ teaspoon yeast
1 cup candied, mixed chopped fruit for fruit cake
½ cup golden raisins
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Put bread ingredients into the breadmaker in the order listed. Set on Dough and press start. When Dough cycle is finished, remove dough from breadmaker. If dough is too sticky to handle, add up to 1 cup flour and knead lightly by hand. Divide dough in half. Shape into oblong loaves and place on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Cover with plastic wrap sprayed with oil. Place in a warm, draft –free place and let rise for an hour. Bake one at a time at 350 F for 25 min. Move to cooling rack, brush with butter, and frost immediately.
Vanilla Glaze Frosting:
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2-3 teaspoons milk
Colorful sprinkles
Blend with a spoon. Frosting will be thick. Spread over hot bread. Immediately dust with sprinkles before frosting sets. Optional: Add any other topping decorations desired using frosting to set in place. Cool completely.
Slice and enjoy.
Lady Raell can fight, ride, and argue politics as well as her brothers. Only being mistress of her father’s household keeps her in skirts. In Naed, the new Lord of Druemarwin, she has found devotion, a kindred spirit, and a marriage promise. But when a forgotten and unwanted betrothal comes to light, she has no choice but to run.
Amidst sweeping revolution, Naed must rally his people, fend off assassination attempts, and fight against claims he’s a traitor. Then he discovers everything about his lineage and family is a lie. And his beloved belongs to another.
With lives and a kingdom at stake, Raell and Naed must find a way to protect the innocent and save their love.
Helen C. Johannes writes award-winning fantasy romance inspired by the fairy tales she grew up reading and the amazing historical places she’s visited in England, Ireland, Scotland and Germany. She writes tales of adventure and romance in fully realized worlds sprung from pure imagination and a lifelong interest in history, culture, and literature. Warriors on horseback, women who refuse to sit idly at home, and passion that cannot be denied or outrun—that’s what readers will find in her books.
Buy the book at Amazon.
Winter Blogfest: Jaime Samms
This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Still Life, and of my more recent Christmas title, Eugene and the Box of Nails to a commenter at the end of the Holiday Tour. Just comment on my post what you remember most about the winter/not hot and dry season growing up.
Snow Days
This year we have had serious snow exactly twice.
The kids have had two snow days.
I’m not even talking a foot of snow and blizzard conditions. I’m just talking about a snowfall that left more than an inch of fluff on the ground. Lots of people will say a few inches is enough to shut their city down, but we live in Canada. I mean. Come on.
I remember wading in snow up to my waist to get to the bus stop, and the bus still came. I remember laughing our heads off as we dove off the side of the road as the snowplough went by. There were snow forts during the March break, because there had been enough snow over the season, we still had enough to BUILD FORTS. In MARCH.
I remember moving back up to my home town after a few years living farther south, and it snowed on November 9, my eldest child’s first snowfall, and I thought—oh yes. I remember this.
And now our schools don’t bother with school because it snowed last night.
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There are so many things we used to do as kids that parents these days only imagine with horror, and I don’t know how I feel about that, really. I just know that sometimes, living only happens when you DO things. Take chances, push past easy.
Which idea happens to dovetail quite nicely with an oldie but goodie holiday story I wrote in the way back, Still Life.
Mac has been living on the edge a long time, out in the world on his own, but the real risk is when he comes back and asks Allan for a second chance.
When Allan Song’s ex, Mac, shows up to model for the life drawing class Allan teaches, he turns everything upside-down. Mac is still as infuriatingly attractive as when Allan first met him—and still trying to figure out where he fits on the gender spectrum. He’s more than a little out of control, and he’s taken some stupid risks that have come back to haunt him. If they’re going to get back together, Allan wants a real relationship—but for that, he and Mac will need to look below the surface.
Jaime Samms is a plaid-hearted Canadian who spends the too-long winters writing stories about love between men and the too-short summers digging in the garden. There are dust bunnies in the corners of her house—which she blames on a husky named Kai. There are dishes on the counter—which is clearly because teenagers! There is hot coffee in the pot and the occasional meal to keep her from starving—because her husband is remarkable and patient.
A multipublished author whose work has been translated into French, Italian, and German, Jaime delights in the intricate dance of words that leads her through tales of the lost and brokenhearted men she writes about to the love stories that find and mend them.
And when the muse is being stubborn, she also makes pretty things with yarn and fabric scraps because in her world, no heart is too broken to love, and nothing is too worn or tired it can’t be upcycled into something beautiful. All it takes is determination and the ability to see life a little bit left of center.
Buy the book at Dreamspinner Press.
Winter Blogfest: Megan Slayer
This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a necklace made by the author along with an autographed swag pack.
My Christmas Playlist
I thought I’d pull together a list of my favorite Christmas songs. I’m kind of picky about what I like at Christmas. I’m not wild about much of the newest versions of the old songs. Here are some of my favorites (in no particular order)
“Jingle Bell Rock” ~ Bobby Helms – It’s just classic.
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” ~ Bing Crosby – this one makes me sad and think about the people in my life that aren’t there any longer. But it also makes me glad I knew them.
“Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” ~ Burl Ives – now that I know he was blacklisted, I love it even more.
“Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)” ~ Gene Autry – we sang this song at school. It reminds me of being in the first grade.
“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” ~ Brenda Lee – doesn’t she have the best Christmas songs? Besides, how can you not love it and not think of Home Alone?
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” ~ Judy Garland – makes me sad, yet Christmassy, too.
“White Christmas” ~ Bing Crosby – it’s just a classic
“Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” ~ Bruce Springsteen – okay, I love how he asks how many have behaved and when he gets a poor response, he says, ah…not many, not many. Cracks me up.
“Santa Baby” ~ Eartha Kitt – she makes Christmas sexy ?
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“The Chipmunk Song” ~ How can you not like the Chipmunks at Christmas?
“Little Saint Nick” ~ The Beach Boys – I learned the Muppets version of this song and love both versions.
“When the River Meets the Sea” ~ Paul Williams, but sung by Robin the Frog and Denver with the Muppets
And….
“The Peace Carol” ~ Traditional ~ John Denver and Scooter with the Muppets
I know I left off the Drifters, Otis Redding and Darlene Love among others. They’re on the longer list. What are your favorite Christmas songs? Do you lean classic or contemporary? I’d love to know.
Taylor Fyre never thought he’d find love at the dog park, but when he spots Nicky Campbell and his dog, Nagy, he begins to think the impossible is possible.
Taylor Fyre isn’t wild about dogs. He’s got serious reservations about the animals and the last thing he wants to do is cover a story about the dog park. When he arrives at the park, he realizes facing his fears won’t be easy, but if Nicky Campbell is part of the healing process, he’s ready to start. The handsome, tattooed mechanic makes him want to bare his soul. But Nicky’s got a dog and things could get sticky.
Nicky Campbell would rather keep to himself than talk to new people. He’s tired of being labeled dangerous because of his tattoos. His dog, Nagy, a pit bull mix, faces the same discrimination. When Nicky runs into Taylor at the dog park, he expects a fight. But the more they talk, the more he’s drawn to the polished reporter. If he and Taylor can overcome their differences and be themselves, they might find they have plenty in common and can have the forever they both deserve.
Reader advisory: This book contains expressions of homophobia, references to male prostitution and reference to past abuse at the hands of an uncle.
Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been nominated at the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best Ménage, Best BDSM and Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.
When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library. Find out more about Megan and Wendi at: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter
Buy the book at Pride Publishing.
Winter Blogfest: Aliyah Burke
This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win any ebook from my backlist.
Buying a Live Christmas Tree
Happy Holidays!
I hope you’re having an amazing holiday season. We are here in our household, lots of things already planned for 2020 (scary that’s just around the corner).
Unfortunately, I won’t be with lots of family and friends this year, but DH (Darling Hubby for those of you who don’t know how I refer to him as) will be here with me and we’re going to have a quiet holiday. As quiet as it can be with us and the three dogs.
Our thing for the holiday was we would buy a live tree the first year we were in the house we were at, whichever duty station it happened to be. Decorate it and once the holiday was over, we would plant it in the yard. Front or back, whichever would be the best place. It was almost as if we were “home” once we had planted our Christmas tree. We never took them with us when the time came to move to the next place, wanting to leave part of ourselves there for the next family.
We’re both looking forward to the time we can plant the final tree on our property. I do love this season for baking as well and look forward to the house being filled with incredible smells.
Do you have anything that you have to have over the holiday season? Like fruitcake? (Okay, so I’m not a fan of that but I know some people are) Eggnog? A certain type of cookie?
For me it’s divinity. I love divinity and the only time I get to eat it is around the holidays. And I don’t even have to make it, I have it given to me so that is even more of a plus in my eyes.
Whatever your traditions, whatever you do, I hope it is a fantastic and safe one. We can’t wait to see you in 2020. Stay warm (or cool depending on where you are ?) and please be safe.
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Thank you for allowing me to stop in quickly.
From my home to yours,
Happy Holidays!
Sometimes past demons need to be faced before one can embrace what the future offers, and who better to slay them than a Marine?
Gunnery Sergeant Sam Hoch travels to the Pac Norwest upon receiving word his mentor and the closest thing to a father he’s had, has taken a turn for the worse and is in the hospital. Once there he meets a woman who is unlike any he’s ever met before. A former Marine herself, she opens up her home to him so he can be near his family.
Roxi Mammon isn’t positive it’s smart to allow Sam to stay with her, not with her immediate physical reaction to him. She’s heard tales of him from her best friend, his sister, and now having met him she is even more impressed by the man the Corps has turned him into—a silent, strong type. Passion grows between them and soon she finds herself falling for the Recon Marine. And falling hard.
As things escalate between them, Sam has to accept his past doesn’t control him if he plans on keeping Roxi in his future. Can he understand that this is the one woman who can give him something more? Will he silence the fear within him and tell Roxi she’s the one for him? Will he realise that he deserves more than just a temporary home?
Aliyah Burke is a USA Today Bestselling Author who’s an avid reader and never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She is happily married to a career military man. They are owned by three Borzoi. She spends her days at the day job, writing, and working with her dogs. She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached here.
If you would like to be kept abreast of what’s going on in the world of Aliyah, please join her newsletter: http://aliyah-burke.com/newsletter.htm and/or cozy newsletter: http://aliyah-burke.com/abnewsm.htm
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Winter Blogfest: Jodi Payne
This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of my new book Soft Limits in either ebook or audio, as the winner would prefer.
Hanukkah Holiday Wisdom
Hello!
I’m Jodi Payne, and I write contemporary mm and gay romance, sometime a little on the kinky side, sometimes with a western bent, and sometimes with more than two M’s.
In honor of Hanukkah, which gets slightly less love than Christmas this time of year, I thought I would share a little holiday wisdom for those of you that don’t happen to be Jewish. I am not actually Jewish myself, but my wife is, and I have essentially been a member of her family since I was fifteen, so, I have earned a little cred in this department.
A little cred, a little Yiddish, but sadly, I can’t cook like my mother in law. Especially not at the holidays. You can’t have everything.
What’s the difference between the seven-branch menorah and the nine-branch menorah?
Something most people who are not Jewish don’t know is that a “menorah” only has seven branches. It is meant to be symbolic of the seven-branched candelabra that Moses set up on the Temple at Jerusalem, which he constructed according to God’s instructions as detailed in the book of Exodus.
The correct term for the nine-branched candelabra used to light the eight days of Hanukkah is “hanukkiah”. It’s a special lamp used only during the celebration of Hanukkah.
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It’s not technically incorrect to call a hanukkiah a menorah. All hanukkiah are menorahs. But not all menorahs are hanukkiah.
Now you have some trivia for your next holiday party!
Chag Sameach!
(Happy Holiday!)
Have you ever been to an office holiday party? Well, Matthew Kaplan has been to plenty, and he’s not impressed. In fact, he hates attending the annual gathering at his office. This year, though, he’s trying to make partner in his small law firm and does his best to look like he’s enjoying himself, even though he knows the event is really a Christmas party with just the barest hint of a nod toward his own winter holiday, Hanukkah.
Ethan Becker works for a busy caterer, and although all the Christmas music at these holiday office parties used to make his head ache, he’s learned to tolerate it so he doesn’t lose his mind. Sometimes he even sings along. There aren’t enough toe-tapping Hanukkah songs for a party anyway, right?
Matthew is pleased to find latkes on the buffet and escapes the crowd to eat them peacefully in the kitchen, where Ethan recognizes his hunky one-night-stand immediately. Matthew remembers their night together fondly, but certainly hadn’t expected to run into the hottie with the sweet blue eyes again. When Ethan offers to make more latkes for Matthew another day, Matthew jumps to accept the invitation. But Ethan didn’t make them for the party—he hasn’t ever made them at all, in fact—so will their date be delicious or disastrous?
JODI takes herself way too seriously and has been known to randomly break out in song. Her men are imperfect but genuine, stubborn but likable, often kinky, and frequently their own worst enemies. They are characters you can’t help but fall in love with while they stumble along the path to their happily ever after. For those looking to get on her good side, Jodi’s addictions include nonfat lattes, Malbec and tequila any way you pour it.
Buy the book at Amazon.
Winter Blogfest: Christine Potter
This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift certificate.
Oh, Christmas Tree!
I never understood families who put up their Christmas trees early. I have to say that lately, there has been a whole lot of Christmas Tree Creep. Right after Halloween is TOO SOON, people—I don’t care what is going on on The Hallmark Channel. I can sort of kind of get the folks who unspool the lights for Thanksgiving—you’re going to do a fancy dinner, may as well get festive—but in my world, that’s robbing a late-autumn oasis of calm and gravy of its simplicity and loveliness. Eat the meal and take a nap!
I don’t like to admit it, but I’m slightly old. So I came up in the sixties, and my parents were the weird, arty family on the block. We always had live trees, and they never went up before the week of The Day. One year, my parents actually pulled off the whole Tree and Presents Magically Overnight. I don’t know how they did it, but my sister remembers it, too, so it must have happened.
I found my true love late in life, after a whole lot of romantic chaos best not discussed in a blog about Christmas trees. And here’s the thing: he’s part elf. (He’s also a church music director. Dirty job. Somebody’s gotta do it.) Ken loves and lives for Christmas trees. They need to be enormous, live, dripping with a zillion lights and ornaments. He has a collection of antique Christmas ornaments like you wouldn’t believe. We don’t even have room for all of them most years, even though we put up three trees: one for the living room, one for the bedroom, and a mid-century modern one in the TV room. The TV tree’s the only faux one of the bunch: aluminum with blue lights. It’s very Jetsons, you know?
Trees in our house go up on Ken’s birthday, December 14. Raised as I was by almost-Christmas-Eve-is-plenty-of-time parents, that seemed awfully early, but I soon lost my Grinchy ways. We drive to the Christmas Tree lot that morning, often after a breakfast of pancakes, and pick out two. Our living room tree is enormous, a ceiling-scraper, and often very wide. It’s very vintage. Even the lights on it used to be antiques, but we got tired of worrying about burning our house down a couple of years ago and have been rocking the LED’s since the technology got better. The smaller bedroom tree sits on a table in front of a floor-to-ceiling mirror. That one has lights that get left on 24/7 because Ken likes falling asleep in a room with Christmas lights (another good reason for the LED’s). It actually is a sweet thing to do.
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It’s all a little exhausting, but it’s a good kind of exhaustion. And on January 6th, it all goes away. We’re strict about that. Keeps it special. We set aside a day called The De-Christmas-ification and box things up, vacuum, and enjoy having our house simple again. There isn’t a lot of magic left in our sorry world—but I think Christmas trees are the strongest spell for happiness that we have.
October, 1962
It’s almost Halloween, but something a lot scarier than ghosts is on everyone’s mind: nuclear war. After President Kennedy’s speech to the nation about the Cuban Missile Crisis, Grace Ingraham overhears her parents’ plans to keep her safe. She’ll be sent off to live with a wealthy uncle—in the nineteenth century.Gracie’s from a family of Travelers, people who can escape into time. Too bad her mom and dad haven’t Traveled since their honeymoon trip to the Lincoln Inauguration. So Grace will have to go alone—even though taking a wrong turn can have serious consequences: like heading for 1890, and ending up …in 2018.
Christine Potter is a writer and poet from the lower Hudson River Valley. She’s the author of the time-traveling young adult series The Bean Books. She’s also a widely published poet with three collections of verse in print. Christine lives in a very old, slightly haunted house with her husband and two spoiled cats.
Buy the book at Amazon.
