Winter Blogfest: Mandy Swiftson

December 30, 2020 By 10 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a signed paperback copy. I will post to wherever the winner is.

The Magic of Christmas

Santa is real! Let me just start by making myself clear on that point, so all of this is hypothetical anyway :-p

Do you think you should ever tell a child that Santa isn’t real, or do you think they should discover it for themselves?

Me personally I still believe so it isn’t a question I can answer, (you have to believe in him, right?)

I clearly remember my brother telling me there was no such thing and that Mum and Dad just brought the gifts and hid them. 

I was devastated. He took great pleasure in my distress, but then he was that kind of brother.

When would it be better to spoil the illusion? I think once a child stops believing it somewhat spoils the magic of Christmas.

So many things change, writing to Santa, getting a letter back, cookies, carrots and milk left out for Santa and the reindeer, laying awake as long as you possibly can to try and catch Santa or hear the sleigh bells, and no matter what you always seam to be asleep when he comes.

I guess it would depend on the child and if there are any younger siblings, if one child knows the truth will they like my brother take pleasure in spoiling it for the younger ones? Or would they play along?

To me I don’t think you should ever come out and tell a child, yes at some point they will question but lets face it, in this day and age there are so many things that happen to steal our children’s innocence, from clothing to TV to bad things happening, so why cant we just allow this small piece of innocence to remain in childhood as long as it’s needed?

I love Christmas, from the pretty twinkling lights to the gifts shared to family fun times, but when you have child believing in the whole magic and wonder of Santa and the north pole and flying reindeers and magical elves it is so much better. So much more fun and so much more special.

Let’s keep Santa alive.

I believe!


All your life you are taught to forgive. It doesn’t matter who or what your beliefs are, even as children we are taught we should forgive.

Is forgiveness ever the wrong thing to do?
What if forgiving someone alters your life in ways you could never imagine?
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Is it still the right thing to do?
Surely there must be exceptions to the forgive and forget rule?

One forgiveness.
One mistake.
One life-altering decision.

Which is right? Which is wrong?
Forgiveness or survival?

I am a married lady, on the higher side of 45, I have lived in Nottingham England (Robin Hood Land) all my life apart from a few years where I moved to the posh Harrogate, I am not posh and it didn’t work.

I am a bit like Henry V111 but instead of “divorced beheaded died” I have Alcoholic, Psycho and died. So I am a bit of a serial name changer, I am married to hubby number 4 but I know this time I have found my soul mate. He is the fish to my chips, the salt to my vinegar, the yin to my yang. My Dude is my life.

I have an older sister and an older brother plus an array of nieces and nephews, some blood some adopted, but I love them all.

I currently work in a betting shop which whilst I love it can sometimes be stressful.

I am Big, I am Inked, My hair colour changes like the weather (which in England can be four seasons in a day) and I am in your face loud. I don’t do egg shells and I don’t do cotton wool.

I am very much the kind of person who is happy in herself and if someone doesn’t like me they can turn right around and find the door they came through.

I have worked hard and shed many tears to be happy in my own skin.

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Winter Blogfest: Beth Carpenter

December 29, 2020 By 41 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card. Open internationally.

The Moose That Attempted to Eat Christmas Lights

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The first year after we moved to Alaska, I’d made arrangements for the teenager down the block to babysit while my husband and I attended his company Christmas party. Alas, just before she was due to arrive, she called to say she couldn’t leave her house because there was a moose in her yard attempting to eat the Christmas lights.* Turns out that being late because of a moose that refuses to leave is not an uncommon excuse in Anchorage.

Despite the unique challenges—or maybe because of them—I I love Christmas in Alaska. Yes it’s cold and dark (only five-and-a-half hours of daylight in Anchorage on winter solstice) but the Christmas lights reflect against the snow, lighting up the night. A Christmas star perches on the mountain and shines out over the city. Children squeal and giggle as they sled down the hill in the park across the street. And the whole city looks like a Christmas card. 

Outdoorsy people in Anchorage don’t let winter slow them down. They cross-country ski or ride fat-tire bikes on the trails all across the city or ice skate on Westchester lagoon. On one day shortly before Christmas, the Alyeska ski area in nearby Girdwood hosts a “Santa skis free” day, and the mountain is covered with Santa’s doppelgangers swooshing down the runs. The rest of us enjoy watching the snowfall through the window while we sip hot chocolate beside a crackling fire. 
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This year after Christmas, we probably won’t be gathering downtown for fireworks as usual. Still, the days will start to get longer, the moose will still roam the streets, and we’ll ring in a new year. Here’s hoping it’s a good one, in my hometown and yours. 

*FYI, the moose did not actually bite into the lights and eventually wandered off, unharmed. 

A little mix-up…

Could make her Christmas wonderful!

Natalie Weiss is mortified. After mistaking handsome Tanner Rockford for his cousin, she’s followed him to rural Alaska. Now she’s stranded—until Tanner invites her to spend Christmas with his family in their rustic, cozy cabin. But in this idyllic winter wonderland, Natalie discovers the family she’s never had…and the love she never knew she needed. But what happens when they all discover why she’s really there?

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Beth Carpenter is thankful for good books, a good dog, a good man and a dream job creating happily-ever-afters. She and her husband now split their time between Alaska and Arizona, where she occasionally encounters a moose in the yard or a scorpion in the basement. She prefers the moose.

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Winter Blogfest: Christy Nicholas

December 29, 2020 By 14 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a free ebook of my timeslip romance, Past Storm and Fire. 

December Celebrations

Ah, December. The ringing of jingle bells until you want to smash the little buggers whenever they appear, the mad dash for holiday gifts, the dreaded anticipation of hordes of relatives appearing at your doorstep.

And yet, it is a time of serene beauty and joy. It is a time of solitude and dark nights, a time to contemplate the love in your life, and all your blessings. One of my favorite things to do on snowy evenings is to sip a cup of coffee while the weather covers the outside world in a blanket of white splendor, at least in the northern hemisphere. To sit and read a new book during this time is part of the season’s enchantment.

How can we keep from singing?

Nights are made bright with blankets of pristine snow sparkling in the sublime moonlight. Days are made sweet with the ringing of children’s laughter in the snow. And the food… oh, so much food! Candies, cakes, roasts, and eggnog. 

Last year, my husband, who loves anything to do with the Norse and Viking warriors, got a cookbook based on traditional Norse recipes for Yule. He roasted wild boar for our Yule meal, with rosemary and a cherry glaze. He added several root vegetables, such as turnips, rutabaga, carrots, and beets. Now, I’m never a big fan of beets, but these were lovely in a mix with the roast boar juice. 

No matter what your beliefs, no matter what your religion, December is a month of peace and joy. So, Merry Christmas, Happy Channukah, Joyful Yule, and Happy Kwanzaa. Enjoy those things in life that you hold dear, now and throughout the year. 

Normally, I would implore you to hold them tight and fierce, for tomorrow is a new day with new opportunities and possibilities. However, this year, we must be content with electronic greetings and long-distance hugs. However, while we deal with the strictures of this chaotic time, we can hold in our heart the hope of a more intimate season next year. Be of good cheer!

Why do I say ‘happy holidays’ rather than ‘Merry Christmas?’ Not because I hate Christmas or Christians, or want a war on any of them. I say ‘happy holidays’ because there are many different holidays in this time, holy days observed by many different religions. Here are just a few of them!

Some December festivals:

  • Advent (Nov 29th-Dec 24th)
  • Boxing Day (Dec 26th)
  • Chanukkah (Jewish Festival of Lights)
  • Christmas (Dec 25th)
  • Hogmanay (Dec 31st)
  • Hogswatch (From Discworld – fictional)
  • Jolabokaflod (Dec 24th Icelandic tradition of gifting books and reading them all night)
  • Krampusnacht (Dec 5th)
  • Kwanzaa (Pan-African Festival)
  • New Year’s Eve (Dec 31st)
  • Saturnalia (the Roman Winter Solstice)
  • St. Lucia’s Day (Dec 13th)
  • Yule (Pagan winter festival/Solstice)

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So, brew yourself a warm cup of cheer, grab a brand-new book, and sit by that magical window to read on a cold midwinter night as the world’s liminal enchantment commences.

A transatlantic journey, a quest for lost family, and a magical brooch.

Wealthy Valentia has the perfect life—except for the nightmares that plague her, foretelling disaster if she doesn’t find the brooch her grandmother lost decades ago in Ireland. The night her family’s hotel burns to the ground, Valentia knows she can no longer wait. Risking a perilous Atlantic voyage, she heads to Ireland to discover her heritage.

But the journey exacts a terrible toll, and her health deteriorates. Struggling to navigate a new country, cope with the desperate poverty, and untangle a complicated web of family secrets, Valentia fears she’ll never find the brooch in time to save her sanity—until she discovers a clue which sends her on a desperate trek across the Irish countryside, despite the dangers.

As the clock ticks down, her grasp on sanity slips through her fingers, forcing her to fight for a centuries-old legacy or lose everything.

Celtic Fairies, Fables, and Folklore! Bestselling author (top #100 Amazon)

Christy Nicholas, also known as Green Dragon, is an author, artist and accountant. After she failed to become an airline pilot, she quit her ceaseless pursuit of careers that begin with ‘A’, and decided to concentrate on her writing. Since she has Project Completion Compulsion, she is one of the few authors with NO unfinished novels.

Christy has her hands in many crafts, including digital art, beaded jewelry, writing, and photography. In real life, she’s a CPA, but having grown up with art all around her (her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother are/were all artists), it sort of infected her, as it were.

She wants to expose the incredible beauty in this world, hidden beneath the everyday grime of familiarity and habit, and share it with others. She uses characters out of time and places infused with magic and myth, writing magical realism stories in both historical fantasy and time travel flavors.

Combine this love of beauty with a bit of financial sense and you get an art business. She does local art and craft shows, as well as sending her art to various science fiction conventions throughout the country and abroad.

 

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Winter Blogfest: Sarita Leone

December 29, 2020 By 4 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of Sterling’s Way.

Pumpkin Bread

The holidays are a time for family, fun—and food! Families and friends gather around kitchen or dining room tables and spend hours catching up. Good times, right? 

That is the way things are now, but it is also part of holiday celebrations that took place in the frontier days of the wild west. Sure, there may have been a train robbery, cattle rustling, or dustup at the local saloon thrown in, but back in the day families did settle around camp fires and kitchen tables to share the joy and tastes of the season. 

A Wylder Christmas, set in the Wyoming territory in December 1878 features a holiday celebration. Every family in town contributes to the festive food tables—the way many of us do potluck dinners now. Gertie, one of Wylder’s most helpful citizens, bakes one of her family’s treasured treats. Her pumpkin bread is praise-worthy and loved by all. 

I bake pumpkin bread for our festivities, too, so I’m sharing my recipe with you. It may not be as great as Gertie’s, but I hope it adds some cheer to your holiday table!  

Pumpkin Bread  

½ cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

½ cup light brown sugar

½ cup sugar

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla 

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 ½ cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg
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¼ teaspoon salt

¼ cup almond milk (you can use your milk of choice here)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. 

Grease and lightly flour a bread pan.

Combine wet ingredients in one bowl. 

Combine dry ingredients in a second bowl. 

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until the batter is smooth. 

Pour into bread pan. 

Place pan in the oven and bake for about an hour. When you’re getting close to the full hour, check for doneness by inserting a knife near the center. When the knife comes out clean, the bread is done. 

Cool on a wire rack before cutting. 

Inside tip: I bake an extra loaf or two to use for toast or even French toast! Yum!   

Can a Christmas miracle bring a southern belle into the arms of a Union soldier?

Violet Bloom leaves Charleston to come west as a mail-order bride. But when she steps off the stagecoach, she&’s greeted by tragic news. She vows to begin anew in Wylder, to lay haunting memories to rest, and find peace.

Former Union soldier Thomas Harvey’s dreams of homesteading are crushed, along with his heart, at the passing of his wife. He moves to town and struggles to survive—not for himself, but for his spirited young daughter.

After Thomas rescues Violet during a snowstorm, neither has any thought of romance. But Christmas magic is in the air. It’s a time of forgiveness and new beginnings—even for lost souls.

Sarita Leone loves happy endings—in life and on the page.

When she’s not busy writing her next novel, this adventure-loving yoga teacher likes to hike, travel, and dance beneath the stars. She studies languages, enjoys making a mess in the kitchen, and never says “no” to fun. Finding pockets of peace everywhere she goes, this author plans to make every moment of this journey count.

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Winter Blogfest: DK Marie

December 28, 2020 By 8 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a free digital copy of one of my books (reader picks the story of their choice)..

A short Christmas story with the couple from Fairy Tale Lies.

Greta collapsed onto the couch. “The Christmas party was fun, but I’m exhausted.” She kicked off her favorite pair of black Louboutin. “My toes are screaming at me.” 

Jacob sat next to her, bring her feet onto his lap, he said, “If it helps your legs looked sexy as hell in those heels.”

“At the beginning of the night, yes. At two in the morning, no.” 

His strong thumbs rolled circles into her arch. Her eyes rolled closed, and she moaned in exquisite pleasure.

He stopped, and she peeked at him through cracked lids. His eyes seemed to blaze and sparkle with amusement.

“Did you just have an orgasm?”

She giggled. “Maybe. Your fingers are magic, Husband.” 

“Say that again,” he demanded gently, pulling her onto his lap.

“Magic fingers,” she teased. 

He kissed along her neck, seeking out the spot that always made her melt into a puddle of need. “The other one…”

“Husband?”

“Yes. That one.” He drew her ear lobe between his lips before kissing and nibbling to her secret erogenous spot, right below. 

She sucked in a gasp of desire, her nails digging into the soft fabric of his shirt. Finding a breath around her growing need, she said, “It’s been three years, hasn’t it lost its luster?” 

“Nope. I’ll never tire of hearing it on your lips.” His hand slid up her leg, taking her dress with it. When he reached the lace top of her stocking, his hand stilled. “Are you wearing one of those hot garter things?”

“I am,” she whispered, lifting her hips so he could continue.

“I get to unwrap my favorite present. This is a very Merry Christmas, indeed.” 

His words reminded her of the one she’d wanted to give to him for over a week. Excitement overruled her scorching lust. 
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He must have noticed her mood shift because his busy, wonderful hands stopped, and he laid back looking at her. “What’s wrong?” 

“Nothing. You just reminded me of the gift I have for you.” 

“Is it better than this one?” He ran a finger along the delicate lace of her stocking.

“Oh, I think you’ll like it.”

“Hmm, I’ll admit, the mystery in your voice has me curious.” He trailed a palm up her body, resting it on her left breast. One brow ticked. “And your heart is racing. What did you get me? A pet lion?” he joked.

“That wouldn’t be the first time in Detroit,” she laughed. “But no.” 

Standing, she walked to their Christmas tree, admiring the gold star with its twinkling lights that nearly scraped the ceiling. However, her favorites were the bulbs. Some were from Jacob’s childhood. Others they picked out since marrying. 

She scanned the tree, looking for them. Selecting a special one each year was a tradition carried over from Jacob’s family. Her gaze landed on their wedding bulb, then the one of their first Christmas. 

Bending, she shuffled the gifts until finding the one she sought. It was wrapped in red paper with white snowflakes. The box was no bigger than that of a regular-sized coffee mug. 

He met her at the tree, and she handed him the package. After unwrapping it, he gently removed next year’s Christmas bulb. 

He let out a whoop of pure joy, and spun her around. Then with eyes wide, and glistening with tears he read the words inscribed on it out loud. “Babies First Christmas.” 

Greta and Jacob aren’t looking for love, but when they meet their attraction is white hot, melting away all self-restraint. Both times.

The first is a stormy spring afternoon, spent indulging in each other’s bodies. They parted ways convinced they’re nothing more than an erotic chapter in the other’s life. However, when they unexpectedly meet again, Jacob isn’t willing to let Greta slip away. He convinces her to give them a chance.

Lust turns to love, but resentments fester. People close to Greta repeatedly interfere until Jacob’s convinced Greta will never see him as anything more than a blue-collar nobody. A temporary indulgence. Greta fears she isn’t strong enough to stand against both her family’s scorn and Jacob’s growing anger.

As tempers flare and passions deepen, Greta and Jacob have to decide if their love is strong enough to shatter the cynicism and misconceptions of what it means to be each other’s fairytale ending.

DK Marie’s a voracious reader. Her number one love is romance and devours any and all of its genres, but also enjoys thrillers, horror, and non-fiction. Basically, if there are words on a page and a spectacular story, she’s diving in, heart and soul.

However, there’s one thing she loves even more, and that’s writing her own steamy contemporary romances. Her three books out now, Fairy Tale Lies, Love Songs, and Taste of Passion readers are calling compelling and addictive. They’re a mixture of heart, heat, and humor. Brimming with confident heroines and kind heroes, all living, loving, and lusting in and around her hometown of Detroit, Michigan.

When not falling in love with her characters, DK Marie is laughing, relaxing, and planning her next adventure with her family. Okay, and also drinking boatloads of coffee, chatting on social media, and dreaming about her next travel destination

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Winter Blogfest: Helen C. Johannes

December 28, 2020 By 19 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win one Kindle copy of Lord of Druemarwin.

Favorite Christmas Treat: Chocolate Angel Pie

My mother-in-law was famous in the family for her pies. Every holiday celebration we all looked forward to a piece of any of her fabulous creations. We had the traditional pumpkin and mince pies, but one almost everyone wanted a piece of was her Chocolate Angel Pie.

This particular confection required a meringue shell laced with walnuts and filled with a special chocolate/whipped cream combination. Not being a whiz at meringues myself, and witnessing how this kind of crust/shell crumbles and defies easy removal from the pie pan for even the most expert bakers (including my mother-in-law), I have since adapted the recipe.

If your family craves chocolate for the holidays, and you are contemplating a small gathering, this recipe will satisfy both, plus add the delightful pizazz of the unexpected to your dinner. And it’s surprisingly easy. (Something we all need during the holiday rush.) 

Chocolate Angel Pie

1 plain pie crust, baked and cooled (premade or from scratch)

Filling:

1 bar (4 oz.) Bakers German Sweet Chocolate (found in stores alongside the usual Bakers Chocolate)

3 tablespoons water

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½ cup finely chopped walnuts

1 cup whipping cream or 2 cups Cool Whip or 1 package Dream Whip, prepared as directed

Break chocolate into pieces into a small saucepan. Add water. Stir chocolate in the water over low heat until melted; cool until thickened, a few minutes. Blend in 1 teaspoon vanilla and nuts. Whip cream or Dream Whip or measure Cool Whip. Fold chocolate mixture into whipped cream. Pile into baked pie shell. Refrigerate. Serve with more whipped topping, if desired. Enjoy!

“I read this book in a span of hours. I have work I should have done yesterday that I did not do today because I had reading to do damnit …. The romance was well done, steamy. A good book!” Netgalley Reviewer 613674

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.

“I Truly loved this book the setting, the plot, the writing style, the plot twists and the characters in the book were amazing. I would reread this again.” Nicole b, Netgalley

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.

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Winter Blogfest: Charlotte O’Shay

December 28, 2020 By 9 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook or audible version of FOREVER IN A MOMENT.

Attitude Is Everything

2020 has been one giant round of cancelled plans and foiled celebrations. I don’t know about you but sometimes it’s hard to find a silver lining. But I believe attitude is everything. With the winter holiday season upon us, I’m eager to celebrate.

Our family continues to search for ways to connect while still protecting those most vulnerable— elderly grandparents, immune comprised family and friends, new moms and babies. 

Do I dare complain when so far our family has maintained our good health when so many others worldwide have suffered devasting loss? Absolutely not. Attitude is everything.

Fingers crossed we’ll enjoy a ten person gathering for Thanksgiving, an outdoors, back porch celebration. Christmas and New Year celebrations will look different—smaller, but whatever we do, we will look forward to better times. We’re determined to adapt and be grateful. We’ll share music, stories, recipes and laughter, via Zoom and FaceTime, if necessary. 

In FOREVER IN A MOMENT, Samantha De Martino is jilted two weeks before her Christmas wedding. But when life hands Samantha a giant lemon, Samantha is all about attitude. Yes, she’s crushed, she’s disappointed, in fact she’s downright angry her fiancé dumped her but she refuses to let it ruin the holiday season for her. She decides to get out of her comfort zone by traveling alone on her honeymoon to a remote country inn during the week between Christmas and New Year. And wouldn’t you know it, her decision to have a good attitude, to adapt to circumstances is key. Her attitude leads Sam toward a future she never expected.

In FOREVER IN A MOMENT, Samantha takes a leap of faith. She faces an unknown future with positivity. She takes the pain of being a jilted bride, and chooses to learn from it. Samantha finds love again and a new career. Sam takes the lemons life and her fiancé threw at her and turns them into… lemon bars.

My family is blessed with great cooks and bakers on both sides, oldest to youngest and among all of the branches. My gift to you is guaranteed to sweeten your holiday celebrations. 

Aunt Chris’s Lemon Bars

Ingredients

1 C. all purpose flour

¼ C. sifted powdered sugar

½ C. butter

2 eggs

¾  C. granulated sugar

½ t. shredded lemon peel

3 T. lemon juice

2 T. all purpose flour

¼ t. baking powder
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powdered sugar

Process

Stir 1 C. flour and ¼ C. powdered sugar.

Cut in butter till mixture clings together.

Pat into ungreased 8 x 8 x 2 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

***

In mixer bowl beat eggs: add granulated sugar, lemon peel, and juice.

Beat till slightly thick and smooth, 8 -10 minutes. Stir together 2 T. flour and baking powder. Add to egg mixture. Blend just till all is moistened.

Pour over baked layer. Bake at 350 for 20 -25 minutes.

Sift powdered sugar over the top. Cool. 

Cut into bars. Makes 20.

 

A stormy encounter…

Samantha DeMartino’s Christmas wedding is two weeks away when her fiancé calls the whole thing off. Word on the street: his cold feet are being heated by an old flame. With her well-ordered world in complete disarray, Sam's friends convince her to go on her honeymoon—alone. A week at a charming Vermont inn away from the city and her demanding corporate career could be just what she needs to figure out her next steps.

Between his twenty-four seven work schedule on his family's dairy farm and teaching tourists to ski, Jed Armstrong's too busy to think about how lonely he is…until Sam sings her way into his life during a Christmas blizzard. Now he has to figure out a way to convince her to stay.

Can a vivacious city girl find forever with a reclusive farmer?
Will her secret keep her from trying?

The only thing Charlotte O’Shay loves more than reading steamy, emotional romance is writing them.

Award winning author Charlotte O’Shay’s writing has been called “intoxicating, emotional and irresistible.” NNLightsBookHeaven.com

Charlotte believes home is where the heart is and hers is in NYC. She lives with Mac, her IRL hero, 3 subway stops from her childhood neighborhood, where walks along the Hudson River serve up fresh story ideas every day.

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Winter Blogfest: Heidi Wessman Kneale

December 25, 2020 By 5 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win one pre-release ebook copy of my Regency Romance “Currently Unchaperoned” in your choice of .epub, .mobi or .pdf. Official launch date 13 January 2021.

Twelve Days of Christmas in Regency England

During the Regency Era, Christmas celebrations in England lasted for twelve days,  starting on Christmas Eve. The family decorates house in greenery: evergreen boughs (though no Christmas trees; that was a German tradition), holly, ivy and mistletoe of course, but also bay or rosemary–pretty much whatever the family could find. This greenery remained up for the full twelve days of Christmas. 

The Yule Log would be lit, and kept alight as long as possible, hopefully for the full twelve days. Fragments of the Yule Log were kept for kindling next year’s Yule Log, representing the connection from one year to the next.

Christmas Day was considered the First Day of Christmas, and the Twelfth Day of Christmas fell on Epiphany or Three Kings Day, the 6th of January, honouring the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child. In between was a celebration of feasting, gift-giving and games.

The First Day of Christmas was reserved for the Christmas Dinner, with everyone invited to the meal, even servants. Boar’s head and roast goose were traditional.  Parlour games like Snapdragon and Charades were also popular. This was a time for enjoying the company of those around you.

Leftovers were a must! Mince pies of every kind were made from leftovers and everyone enjoyed these pies for the next twelve days.

The Second Day of Christmas was the Feast of St Stephen. Christmas was considered a time of great generosity, with the focus more on the giving, rather than the receiving of gifts. Gifts were given on this day, primarily the wealthier giving boxes of gifts to the poor of the parish. Because of this boxing of gifts, this day is known as Boxing Day.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day were considered part of the Christmas celebration with many games and regional traditions hoping to ensure good luck and prosperity for the coming year.

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Felicity Abbot is frustrated that she is to be denied yet another London Season. Dreadfully unfair. When an opportunity arises to defy both her parents and Society, she sneaks off–unchaperoned–to attend the neighbours' party. Surely no one will notice her amid the crowds and she can finally see what all the fuss is about.

Victor Wyndell has been coerced by his desperate mother to attend the Chesters' crush of a party. She wants her son to find two things: a bride and something called The Agreement. He has no idea what The Agreement is about, only that it could ruin his family and thus his chances for a decent marriage.

The plan is simple–get in, find The Agreement, get out. (Easier said than done, as his mother refuses to part with any more clues.)

Instead, he finds Felicity Abbot, a young lady with a secret who's more than happy to extricate him from a few awkward social encounters in exchange for his help in navigating Society.

Yet for all her greenness and lack of social connexions, Miss Abbot sure has a way of finding trouble.

The Agreement is trouble; maybe she could find it. Or has it found her already?

Scandal abounds and secrets are revealed in this Regency Romance with magic.

Heidi Wessman Kneale is an Australian author of moderate repute. She writes Regency Romance with magic and other fantastical stories. She believes that a key to good health during These Times is to lose oneself in a good book, preferably every day.

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Winter Blogfest: Megan Slayer

December 25, 2020 By 2 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of Believe by Megan Slayer.

This Christmas by Megan Slayer

I’m the kind of gal who doesn’t play Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. It’s not that I don’t like Christmas music. I do. Every time I hear A Marshmallow World by Dean Martin, I think of my cat because he’s got white marshmallowy puffy furry feet. 

That said, I don’t want inundated with it for two whole months. I just can’t do it. I don’t even like to watch the Hallmark Christmas marathons until Thanksgiving – of course most of them are all reruns by then, but whatever. 

This year? It’s a little different. Not only am I willing to listen to Christmas music, but I’m game to watch those movies, too. I started back in November. Why? I wanted the guaranteed joy and the guaranteed happy ending. 

Does that sound silly? I hope not.

It’s 2020 and we all need some good. Really. It’s a stressful time and fraught with all sorts of upset. In the midst of this, there needs to be some positive. I find it in Christmas music and Christmas movies. I need that guaranteed happy ending. I want to know everyone will get their heart’s desire at the end and it’ll be satisfying. 

Sure, there are non-Christmas movies and songs that are just as uplifting, but when it’s raining instead of snowing, when it’s windy instead of being just nicely chilly…when the ground is mucky and we’re all stuck inside, it’s nice to have something that’s comfort food for the ears and eyes. 

Plus, I get some great decorating ideas from the movies and songs to add to my holiday playlist. 

What about you? Are you the one who decorates the day after Halloween? Or are you the one who waits? I’d love to know!
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Two men, one kid and the frayed nerves that come with the holidays…can they make it through to Christmas without a blow-up?

Colt Harrison knew when he met Ashley Willis that he’d found the one man for him. He loves Ashley’s son, Wyatt, as if he were his own son. But the stress of living together, compounded with buying a home and adopting pets has worn him down…not to mention the aggravation that comes with the diner he owns. He wants to make Christmas special for his family, but how can they have a great holiday when Colt’s never home?

Ashley’s got a two-week vacation from his job at the elementary school teaching art. All he wants is time with Colt and Wyatt. He loves Colt, but not the long hours spent at the diner, especially around the holidays. Can he be honest about what he wants from Colt and keep the man he loves?

Anything is possible if they embrace the magic of Christmas.

Reader advisory: This book was previously released elsewhere. It has been expanded and reedited for release with Pride Publishing. 

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 Love Romance Cafe 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 Sign up for the newsletter here: http://ymlp.com/xgjmjumygmgj

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Winter Blogfest: Tory Richards

December 25, 2020 By 16 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a $10 GC from Amazon.  I’m offering everyone who reads this post a free download of my holiday romance A Soldier’s Promise from Smashwords. Coupon code below.

Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/927352

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Fond Family Memories at Christmas

It all began on Christmas Eve. Every year my sister and I and our families would go to our parent’s house for my Mom’s traditional spam salad finger sandwiches. I can hear you laugh now but Mom had perfected the spread with mayo, onions and relish and we loved it. There were other goodies there to eat because she cooked for a straight week making pies, and cookies, and homemade bread. But the spam salad sandwiches were a yearly tradition and a must on Christmas Eve. 

Next, we would all gather around the tree in the family room which had mountains of presents for everyone. My dad always played Santa, sitting on the floor by the tree with his red Santa hat on. He would hand the gifts out one at a time. We would all sit back while someone opened their present and when they were done, he would hand out another one. It was a slow process but half the fun was watching everyone open presents and see their expressions on what they received. 

This tradition began when my sister and I were little girls. It continued after we grew up and had our own daughters until our mom passed thirteen years ago. Christmas is quite different for all of us now. My sister moved away, our daughters grew up and have their own thing going on with their families. We don’t get together at Christmas like we used to do, but Thanksgiving is still a family holiday where we do. 
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He’s a soldier home for the holidays, his brother’;s last wish for him to take care of his wife and baby weighing heavily on his mind. Keeping promises are important, but this one will be hard. Ryan has been secretly in love with Shannon for years. Their attraction is hot and consuming, but will they be able to get over the guilt that threatens to keep them apart?

 

 

 

 

 

Tory Richards is an author who writes smut with a plot. Born in Maine, she’s lived most of her life in Florida where she went to school, married, and raised her daughter. She’s retired from Disney and spends her time with family and friends, traveling, and writing.

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