Winter Blogfest: Kathryn Knight

December 21, 2017 By 10 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook copy of either Silver Lake or Gull Harbor, winner’s choice.

The History of St. Nick

While most people are familiar with the story of Jesus’s birth in Bethlehem, and how it relates to the Christmas holiday, many are unaware of how a 4th century bishop influenced the legend of Santa Claus.

Saint Nicholas, or Nikolaos of Myra, was a bishop in an ancient town in Lycia—now Demre, in the Antalya Province of Turkey.  One of his most well-known deeds involved giving unexpected gifts, one of which landed in a stocking.  According to the story, Nicholas wanted to help three young girls, whose father had no money for their dowries.  At that point in history, such a fate could result in a life of prostitution.  Not wanting to embarrass the poor father, Nicholas threw bags of gold coins through the windows.  In one version of the tale, the father laid in wait to see who was doing this…and so instead of throwing the third bag through the window, Nicholas dropped it down the chimney, and it landed in a stocking hung to dry by the fire.

The Dutch figure of Sinterklass is based upon Saint Nick, and he more resembles the white-bearded man in red we’re all familiar with.  In turn, our Santa Claus is derived from Sinterklass, and it’s widely believed that he was introduced to North America around the time of the Revolutionary War, by inhabitants of New York City, which was once New Amsterdam, a Dutch colony.

Of course, many other sources have combined to shape both the modern-day image of Santa Claus and the various holiday legends and traditions that have evolved (decorating trees, a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer, winter feasts and festivals, etc.)  Perhaps someone will delve deeper into those topics in another post during The Winter Blogfest here at Long and Short Reviews—keep checking back!

Watermelon There are several studies supporting watermelon being levitra free samples potent against erectile dysfunction. It best viagra in india offers uniquely designed wilderness therapy for adolescents struggling with sexual behavior issues. What is Kamagra? Kamagra online viagra is a medicine used for curing erectile dysfunction. Kamagra tablets are not available vardenafil price without doctor’s prescription. While the holiday season tends to feel festive and magical no matter what you celebrate, it can be stressful too.  My absolute #1 (and scientifically proven!) stress-reliever is a good book.  So if you’d like to immerse yourself in some page-turning steamy romance, with a bit of spooky suspense and mystery woven in, check out the blurb below for Haunted Souls, my latest romance + ghost mystery, and download a treat for yourself!  And, as a prize, one lucky visitor will win another new read…a choice of either Silver Lake or Gull Harbor, both #1 Kindle Bestsellers, in e-book format.  So comment below for a chance to win!  Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Four years ago, Emily Shea and Staff Sergeant Brett Leeds agreed to part with no strings attached. Sparks flew during their brief affair, but fate intervened, sending Brett overseas. When an unexpected pregnancy derailed Emily’s own plans, her attempts to locate Brett were soon overwhelmed by the challenges of single motherhood. Now, Brett has returned home, and Emily is forced to share her secret.

Despite feeling betrayed, Brett is determined to forge a relationship with their son, Tyler. As the former lovers battle both their inner demons and their mutual desire, another presence enters their lives—Tyler’s imaginary friend. Soon, however, the chilling evidence points to a different conclusion: a ghost has formed a dangerous connection with their son. Emily’s attempts to help both a lost soul and a friend in need spiral toward a deadly confrontation, and Brett must race to save Emily before he loses her again—forever.

About the Author: Kathryn Knight spends a great deal of time in her fictional world, where mundane chores don’t exist and daily life involves steamy romance, dangerous secrets, and spooky suspense. Kathryn writes contemporary romance spiked with mysterious hauntings as well as YA paranormal romance filled with forbidden love. Her novels are award-winning #1 Kindle bestsellers and RomCon Reader Rated picks. When she’s not reading or writing, Kathryn spends her time catching up on those mundane chores, driving kids around, and teaching fitness classes. She lives on beautiful Cape Cod with her husband, their two sons, and a number of rescued pets.

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Winter Blogfest: Rick R. Reed

December 21, 2017 By 6 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of ORIENTATION.

Christmas Snapshot: 1962

© 2017 by Rick R. Reed

When I look at this picture, it evokes a lot—happy memories, a sense of loss, a bit of wonder, and gratitude. That’s me in the center with the cowboy hat, big ears, and tricycle. To my right is my mom, behind me my dad, and to my left is my sister Susan. It’s Christmas 1962.

Why does this old photograph induce such a complex mixture of emotion? For one, both of my parents are gone. My dad passed from a heart attack in 1990 and Mom succumbed to cancer in 2007. Seeing them both so young and beautiful only makes me miss them more. The death of a parent leaves in its wake a hole that can never be filled. For the child who survives, the world is never quite the same. So looking at this picture, back through many, many years, fills me with sadness and loss, for the family I once had.

But I don’t want to be maudlin. This same picture and same memory is also joyous. Look at our happiness! I am grateful I grew up with this quirky, sometimes dysfunctional unit, grateful I had a mother who showed me, every day, that love and family were the most important treasures we could have.

There’s a kind of innocence here, too. It was the early 1960s and big changes were in store for the world and for each of us. It would take a biography-length post to fill you in on those, but it’s enough to say that the picture reminds me of a little boy who could be filled with simple happiness on Christmas morning by a little magic, lots of love, and the promise of future whose joys and sorrows had yet to be revealed.

A novel about reincarnation and love
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Christmas, 1983: Robert is a young man tending to his soul mate Keith, who is dying from AIDS. Robert tries valiantly to make this a special Christmas, but loses the fight late Christmas night.

Christmas, 2007: Robert ventures out and finds a young girl about to fling herself into the waters of Lake Michigan. He rescues her, and the two form a bond forged from familiarity, and even love. Neither understands it, since Jess is a lesbian and Robert is gay. But there’s more …

Jess begins having strange dreams, reliving key moments she couldn’t know about in Keith and Robert’s life. They begin to wonder if their feelings might be rooted in something much more mystical than a savior/victim relationship.

As the two move toward each other, Robert’s younger lover Ethan plots the unthinkable. His crystal meth-addled mind becomes convinced there’s only one way to save himself: Robert’s destruction.

There’s a murder attempt … salvation … redemption …

And a new love is born.

About the Author: Real Men. True Love.
Rick R. Reed draws inspiration from the lives of gay men to craft stories that quicken the heartbeat, engage emotions, and keep the pages turning. Although he dabbles in horror, dark suspense, and comedy, his attention always returns to the power of love. He’s the award-winning and bestselling author of more than fifty works of published fiction and is forever at work on yet another book. Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…” You can find him at www.rickrreed.com or www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA with his beloved husband and their Boston terrier.

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Winter Blogfest: Amey Zeigler

December 21, 2017 By 6 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 Baker’s Dozen. Must have email address.

Gingerbread

Growing up, we moved around a lot for my dad’s job, so holiday traditions varied, depending on the places we lived. In Virginia, we visited Colonial Williamsburg to see their wreaths decorating each historic door, enjoyed the candles in each window and the frosty air that bit our noses. In Alaska, we built snowman and snow caves over the holiday break, drank hot chocolate to warm our frozen fingers, and went sledding. In Arizona, we played outside in shorts at my grandmother’s house, running between cactus and tumbleweed, receiving bikes and skateboards as gifts that we played with that afternoon in the sun.

But there was one tradition that my mom was pretty consistent with, no matter where we lived, and that was making gingerbread houses. In fact, the smell of cinnamon and cloves wafting from the oven still takes me back to those warm winter kitchens of my youth.

I didn’t appreciate what kind of effort it takes to make the gingerbread, roll out the dough, measure and cut walls and roofs and bake a whole house. But my mom did it. Sometimes crushing up hard candies for stained glass windows.

Now that I’m the mom, I’m delighted to carry on this tradition. It’s something my kids ask for every year. And I can’t cheat and use Graham crackers, either. I have to make the gingerbread from scratch. We save our colorful Halloween candy to use on our houses so we don’t have to buy extra. (I’m cheap!) Sometimes we have contests with friends. Other times we just do one for the family. But it must be done!

So, I’m sharing my version of the recipe.

1 1/2 c. (12 oz) dark molasses

1 c. packed brown sugar

2/3 c. cold water

1/3 c. unsalted butter, softened

7 c. flour

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. ground allspice

1 tsp. ground cloves

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Mix molasses, brown sugar, water and butter. Mix together dry ingredients and add to wet mixture until well combined. Refridgerate two hours.

Heat over to 350* F. Roll dough 1/4 inch thick on floured board. Use cookie cutters or measure dimensions of house. (Two side walls, two front and back walls with peaks, two roof pieces.) Place 2” a part on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake until no indentation remains until touched about 10-12 minutes. Cool and decorate.

(To make soft vegan cookies substitute coconut oil for butter, though delicious this modification may be unsuitable for construction of gingerbread houses.)

Twenty-three year-old investigative journalist, Andy Miller is armed with her many disguises and creativity to take down the riff-raff of Saint Louis. When her stepbrother is murdered by the mob, Andy soon discovers she’s out of her depth.

Enter Hugh Donaldson who has reasons of his own for discovering the murderer. He’ll use everything in his power to achieve that, including lying to Andy about his past. Dangerous as he is attractive, his martial arts skills and his quirky ways raise Andy’s suspicions.
Although Andy balks at his lies, Hugh’s charms, twenty-inch biceps, and electrifying blue eyes are difficult to resist. Striking out on their own, Hugh and Andy try to outwit each other as they traverse North America tracking down people connected to the case.

As clues disappear and the body count climbs, Andy and Hugh must trust each other and use their combined skills to bring the murderer to justice.

About the Author: I wrote my first mystery with my best friend in fourth grade. I wrote, she illustrated. It also had a cute boy in it with spiky hair (because that was the style back then). Not much has changed. I love mystery. I love romance. I love suspense. I love action, adventure and comedy. But I want it to have a happy ending.

I love writing about different places because I grew up moving all around the United States. In my books, I want to explore the whole world.

Growing up, my poor mom had to be so patient with me as I always wanted to try new things. I played violin, drums, flute, piano, all before I was sixteen. I also discovered I don’t have much talent for music.

When people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I was afraid to tell them I wanted to write because I didn’t know how to write.

I am so grateful for my Sophomore year Honor’s English teacher who gave me a star and five points (highest marks!) on my personal essay in the category for Voice. I wouldn’t have hoped to have had enough talent to pursue writing otherwise.

I’d like to thank my college writing professor who gave me a C in Creative Writing: Short Story writing. I worked even harder on my own and published my first short story the next semester.

I adopt stray furniture left on the side of the road. I like to fix it up and give it a new home and look.

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Winter Blogfest: Tena Stetler

December 20, 2017 By 22 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card.

Traditions – Our Christmas Tree

Allergic to pine trees as I child, we had an aluminum silver tree with a color wheel that reflected colors over the tree’s shimmering branches. Not a pine but served the purpose. Santa left presents under it and we sang carols around it. Our special ornaments were hung on the tree along with candy canes and blue, green and red balls.

These days, you can’t tell the real trees from the artificial.  Our seven foot tree with large sweeping boughs to the ground is put up the day after Thanksgiving.   Since the Blue Spruce is artificial, no problems with pine needles and drying out.

Christmas ornaments are a family tradition. We receive a special ornament all our own each year. This tradition is handed down from generation to generation dating back to the pioneers.

Our tree will never be a fancy designer tree with matching babbles and bows, but it is decorated with years of love. Ornaments range from Keepsake Frosty Friends, to handmade ones by friends and family. I’d guess there are over 150 ornaments we hang every year while reminiscing where the decoration came from and playing Christmas carols, joined by our parrot, dog and turtle. A relaxing and memorable start to our sometimes crazy Christmas season.

Homemade candy is another scrumptious and fun tradition. Fantasy Fudge, Divinity and my all-time favorite Beaver Dams.  What are Beaver Dams you ask?  Simple and tasty.  Take a 12 oz. package of butterscotch chips, melt them in a double boiler, stir in half-package of crispy Chow Mein Noodles and one-half can (about 8 oz) of cocktail peanuts. Stir until all ingredients are covered with butterscotch. Spoon the concoction onto foil and let set. They look like beaver dams, thus the name.  They taste fantastic.

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Stefan is a Native American vampire, former assassin for the Vampire Council. In a twist of fate, he now DJ’s the midnight shift for a small radio station in Whitefish, Montana, on the edge of Glacier National Park where his secret is safe until…

Born in Ireland, Brandy now works as a park ranger and trail guide in the park. During a full moon, Stefan and Brandy’s paths cross in a near physical collision on a trail. Their attraction is immediate and undeniable, almost as if fate demanded it.

Their union was foretold long ago in Irish folk tales where vampires and gryphons, warlocks and demons, witches and faeries must work together for the good of man and magic kind. Is a trip to Ireland the key to unravelling secrets and returning the magic? And even more importantly, will their love survive the trip?

About the Author: Tena Stetler is a paranormal romance and cozy mystery author with an over-active imagination. Colorado is home; shared with her husband, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-five-year-old box turtle. With the Rocky Mountains outside her window, she sits at her computer surrounded by a wide array of paranormal creatures telling her their tales. Her books tell tales of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Well, okay there are a few companion animals to round out the tales.

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Winter Blogfest: Jianne Carlo

December 20, 2017 By 6 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short’s Review Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win 3 copies of Sinner.

Christmas 2017

I love Christmas. It’s my favorite time of year.

While other families have traditions that date back generations, my family is too young, too geographically widespread, and too culturally diverse for a single set of regulated activities surrounding the holiday.

My mom’s the daughter of first-generation Portuguese immigrants to Guyana, and my dad was the product of a Portuguese gold mine owner and his Indian indentured servant (his mistress – he legalized his sons – we know nothing about any daughters he may have had).

So I’m 3/4 Portuguese and 1/4 Indian. I met & married my Dutch-born Canadian husband in college. We have 3 sons. They check off most boxes re ethnicity.

My 3 brothers are pretty much in the same situation with their wives; one red-headed Irish female, one Columbian, and one of French origin. You should see our family pictures. We look like a UN section.

The only tradition we have is one inherited from my grandfather.

We make a dish called Garlic Pork. Basically cubes of pork are marinated in a mixture of garlic, thyme, vinegar, and pepper for four days. The pork is removed from the mixture, washed, dried, and then steamed. On Christmas morning, the cubes are deep-fried, and served for breakfast with toast. The chaser, so you don’t repeat the garlic, is a screwdriver, heavy on the vodka. This sounds gross, but it is absolutely delish. My mouth’s watering just thinking about it. Email me if you’re interested in the recipe.

In the summer of 2008, Loose-Id put out a call for books based on Christmas songs. I started going through my list of favorite seasonal tunes and could not for the life of me get past ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas.’

You know that thing where a jingle sticks in your head and will not go away no matter what you do… It drove me batty. And *light bulb moment*, a partridge in a pear tree became a paratrooper in a pear tree. Snap your fingers and The Hades Squad series was born!

A Paratrooper in a Pear Tree, now re-released as Sinner, starts with Linc Chapman, opera singer and SEAL, landing unconscious in a pear tree. His soon-to-be wife, Destiny Driven (her real name) is an editor sent to ‘sex up’ a reluctant author’s work. When Linc, aka Sinner, awakens, he discovers Destiny’s hoard of sex toys and vintage 70s porn DVDs.

It’s all uphill from there.

I think though, that I love the ending the best.

Excerpt – Sinner:

~~~

Performance rehearsals devoured most of the five days before the wedding. Never in his life had Linc ever been anxious before a concert, but his nerves sparked that week every time he sang his bass solo for Handel’s Messiah. Lincoln was singing for one woman and one woman alone. This performance was more than a concert—it was the foundation the remainder of his life would rest on. It had to be perfect.

His wedding day dawned gray and overcast. Moisture hung in the air. He wanted to howl at the heavens. How dare they mar his perfect day?

English ivy, the variegated leaves glistening silver in the flickering candles nestled into each pew’s entrance, trailed the burnished mahogany back of each bench. Irish ivy boasting shining dark emerald leaves and clusters of electric blue berries decorated the gray and white altar.

Not a pin dropped during Linc’s solo.

His gaze roved the audience as he sang.

No Destiny.

The conductor caught his searching glance and rolled his eyes left to the vestibule. Only Destiny’s face was visible, her black eyes brimmed moisture, a lone tear snaking down her cheek. She smiled, the gesture dreamy, enchanted. As he sang the last note, he bowed in her direction.
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The “Hallelujah” chorus, low and hypnotic, bounced from wall to wall and up to the cathedral’s high, domed ceiling.

Destiny, escorted by Lincoln’s father, began the traditional bridal walk.

~~~

To enter a contest to win a free copy of Sinner either Follow Me on BookBub or Sign Up for My Newsletter (it should read—my very infrequent newsletter—I am such a slacker):

Follow Me on BookBub

SignUpForMyNewsletter

The winners (3) will be announced January 3, 2018 here.

www.jiannecarlo.com

https://www.facebook.com/Jianne123/

Have a great Christmas season, stay safe on the road, and don’t let your credit cards go overboard in the malls (it’s proven, it’s the plastic’s  fault not yours).

Cheers,

Jianne Carlo

Follow Me on Amazon

 

Navy SEAL Sinner’s trapped in a blizzard with Destiny, a woman traveling with porn DVDs, whips, and cuffs. When the electricity fails, there’s only one way to stay hot.

Navy SEAL Sinner is no choir boy. Deployed to fight an out-of-control brush fire in Alaska, Sinner is the last smoke jumper to exit the plane. Sinner veers off course, his chute fails, his reserve opens, and he’s knocked unconscious when he lands in a pear tree. Sinner awakens in a cabin to the sight of a woman with the face of a Madonna and the body of a stripper tending to him.

Destiny is in Alaska, armed with whips, cuffs, and copies of “classic”—who knew?—porn movies, to “sex up” former bestselling author Nadine Roland’s latest manuscript. It’s make or break it time for Destiny, career wise. The last thing she needs is a car that won’t start, a fricking blizzard, and a SEAL named Sinner who thinks she’s into BDSM because of her “toys.”

Sinner doesn’t believe Destiny is a book editor, not for a second. He knows they’re trapped in the cabin for at least two days. When the lights go out, Sinner knows exactly how he’s going to stay warm.

About the Author: Award winning author, Jianne Carlo’s motto is simple: Alpha Me Please.
While strong heroines, exotic locations, and cultural differences are her forte, she goes weak in the knees for bad boys, warriors, and alphas. Send her a man with an attitude and she’ll find the right woman to tame him.

Jianne loves hot and spicy food, stomach-plunging park rides, and is kept on her toes by her Viking husband of thirty-five years, and three, handsome grown sons. Jianne’s a Zumba addict who loves to cook. Her favorite possession is her ‘Robo-stove. There’s nothing she likes more than hearing from readers.

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Winter Blogfest: Mariah Ankenman

December 20, 2017 By 12 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a $10 Amazon e-gift card.

Christmas Cheese Ball Recipe

My favorite part of the holidays is gathering together with family and friends over delicious food. I’m Italian and one of six children so things can get pretty loud when we’re all together. Family and food are always prominent in my books because they are so dear to my heart. I love a loud room filled with all my crazy siblings and our kids. Sharing love and happiness, isn’t that what the season is all about.

When my family is all gathered together it mean a lot of hungry tummies. Pleasing adults and kiddos at the same time is tough, but I have found at least one tasty treat that seems to delight everyone. Today I’d like to share with you my recipe for a Christmas Cheese Ball. It’s a great appetizer or even a yummy snack to munch on while you play games. Everyone loves it and the red and green bell peppers make it look festive (psssst don’t tell the kiddos they’re eating veggies, they’ll never know).

Christmas Cheese Ball:

16oz cream cheese

1 T. chopped onions

2 T. chopped red bell pepper

2 T. chopped green bell pepper

2 tsp. seasoned salt

Worcestershire sauce to taste
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Chopped pecans or another nut of your preference (nuts can be left off in the case of allergies)

Blend all ingredients together, except nuts. Form into a ball. Roll ball in nuts and chill. Add to plate with your favorite crackers or some celery and carrot sticks.

It’s that easy! And now you have a delicious snack the whole family will enjoy. May your holiday season be filled with loving family, delicious food, and (my favorites present) good books! Happy Holidays!

Maggie Evans is back in Peak Town, Colorado to take over her grandmother’s cupcake shop, but problems keep arising. Is it rotten luck…or something more nefarious? To top it off, her former best friend/childhood crush, Colton Denning, won’t leave her alone. He’s sexier than ever. But Maggie has no time for love.

When his best friend comes back into town all grown up, Colton finds his feelings for her go far beyond friendship. Unfortunately, the pretty baker only sees him as the town playboy. He plans to convince her otherwise, but may not get the chance when someone starts threatening Maggie’s life.

Whether she likes it or not, Colton plans to take her safety into his own hands. How will Maggie keep her shop afloat with a madman after her? More importantly, how will she keep her heart intact when Colton admits her safety isn’t the only thing he wants in his hands?

About the Author: RWA® Golden Heart® Nominated Mariah Ankenman began writing at the tender age of five. Her first book “George and the Green Glob” received high praise from her mother. Many years, and green glob stories later, Mariah received a playwriting degree from the University of Wyoming. After a few years in Hollywood, working in “the biz,” she came home to the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

When she’s not writing Mariah loves to read, crochet, and play her ukulele. She loves to hear from readers.

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Winter Blogfest: Diana Rubino

December 20, 2017 By 8 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short’s Review Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win FROM HERE TO FOURTEENTH STREET for Kindle.

Vita’s Strufoli (Italian Honey Balls)

Can an Italian sweatshop worker and an Irish cop fall in love on Manhattan’s Lower East Side in 1894? The answer is a big YES, and once they’re enjoying wedded bliss in their Greenwich Village brownstone, they spend their first Christmas together feasting on her Strufoli! (Italian for honey balls).

In FROM HERE TO FOURTEENTH STREET it’s 1894 on New York’s Lower East Side. Irish cop Tom McGlory and Italian immigrant Vita Caputo fall in love despite their different upbringings. They know their love can survive poverty, hatred, and corruption.

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Here’s Vita’s Honey Balls recipe:

When my grandparents came from Naples and landed at Ellis Island in the early 1900s they brought many recipes with them, but only in their heads. No one brought cookbooks or recipes along with their possessions. A favorite Christmas treat is Struffoli, better known as Honey Balls. One Christmas when I was a kid, I watched my grandmother make them and scribbled down the ingredients as she sifted and mixed and baked and drizzled. Here’s an accurate recipe in English!

Ingredients
Dough:
•2 cups flour, plus extra for dusting
•1 large lemon, zested (about 2 teaspoons)
•1/2 large orange, zested (about 2 teaspoons)
•3 tablespoons sugar
•1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
•1/4 teaspoon baking powder
•1/2 stick (2 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces, at room temperature
•3 large eggs
•1 tablespoon white wine, such as pinot grigio
•1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
•Canola oil, for frying
•1 cup honey
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•1 tablespoon lemon juice
•1 1/2 cups hazelnuts, toasted (see Cook’s Note)
•Vegetable oil cooking spray
•Sugar sprinkles, for decoration
•Powdered sugar for dusting, optional

Directions

For dough: In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together 2 cups of flour, lemon zest, orange zest, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add the eggs, wine, and vanilla. Pulse until the mixture forms into a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each piece of dough until 1/4-inch thick. Cut each piece into 1/2-inch wide strips. Cut each strip of pastry into 1/2-inch pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a small ball the size of a hazelnut. Lightly dredge the dough balls in flour, shaking off any excess. In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour enough oil to fill the pan about a third of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 375 degrees F. (If you don’t have a thermometer a cube of bread will brown in about 3 minutes.). In batches, fry the dough until lightly golden, about 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. (The rested and quartered dough can also be rolled on a floured work surface into 1/2-inch thick logs and cut into equal-sized 1/2-inch pieces. The dough pieces can then be rolled into small balls and fried as above).
In a large saucepan, combine the honey, sugar, and lemon juice over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the fried dough and hazelnuts and stir until coated in the honey mixture. Allow the mixture to cool in the pan for 2 minutes.
Spray the outside of a small, straight-sided water glass with vegetable oil cooking spray and place in the center of a round platter. Using a spoon or damp hands, arrange struffoli and hazelnuts around the glass to form a wreath shape. Drizzle remaining honey mixture over the struffoli. Allow to set for 2 hours (can be made 1 day in advance). Decorate with sprinkles and dust with powdered sugar.

Remove the glass from the center of the platter and serve.
Note: To toast the hazelnuts, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven 8 to 10 minutes. Cool before using.
Total Time: 4 hr 12 min
Prep: 1 hr 30 min
Yield: 8 to 10 servings

It’s 1894 on New York’s Lower East Side. Irish cop Tom McGlory and Italian immigrant Vita Caputo fall in love despite their different upbringings. Vita goes from sweatshop laborer to respected bank clerk to reformer, helping elect a mayor to beat the Tammany machine. While Tom works undercover to help Ted Roosevelt purge police corruption, Vita’s father arranges a marriage between her and a man she despises. When Tom’s cousin is murdered, Vita’s father and brother languish in jail, charged with the crime. Can Vita and Tom’s love survive poverty, hatred, and corruption?

About the Author: My passion for history has taken me to every setting of my historicals. The “Yorkist Saga” and two time travels are set in England. My contemporary fantasy “Fakin’ It”, set in Manhattan, won a Romantic Times Top Pick award. My Italian vampire romance “A Bloody Good Cruise” is set on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean.
When I’m not writing, I’m running my engineering business, CostPro Inc., with my husband Chris. I’m a golfer, racquetballer, work out with weights, enjoy bicycling and playing my piano.

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Winter Blogfest: Laura Strickland

December 20, 2017 By 18 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win one ebook copy of my Christmas novella, “Mrs. Claus and the Viking Ship”.

When Hearts Come Home

They say all hearts come home for the holidays. No matter how far we may roam, part of us always returns to the childhood memories that made those wonderful days in December special enough to last all year long. The scents of cookies baking or a turkey in the oven; the radiance of a candle lit at nightfall; the reflection of happy faces in a dark window and snowflakes pressed against the glass. Long-known and loved voices raised in laughter or song. A warm feeling of being cherished and loved.

I think many of us, consciously or unconsciously, try to recreate those scenes and recapture those feelings every time the holidays roll around. It’s the reason we stay up late baking those cookies Grandma used to make, tramp the malls for that elusive, must-have gift and strain our brains assembling toys from Santa. There’s a mystique about the holidays that encompasses an image of perfection carried not so much in the mind as in the heart.

But what if we can’t come home? Or what if, when we do arrive there are missing pieces, missing faces that can never be replaced? As the years have passed, for me that has understandably happened more and more often. Childhood friends go their separate ways and dwindle into fond wisps of memory only rarely recalled. Family members pass on from this fragile life to whatever lies after, some of them so dearly-loved life without them will never be the same.

But when the magic of the holidays reoccurs, are those we love ever truly gone from us? Just like the memories of breathless childhood mornings when anything seemed possible, is it not easy to believe they too live on in our recollections? I am convinced so. When our hearts come home at the holidays, they bring everyone we’ve ever loved with them. Just listen for their voices and let the warmth wrap around you. Happy holidays!


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For most of her life, Becca Monroe’s been running. The urge to see what lay beyond the next horizon took her away from Donner’s Mountain and the man she loved. Now, back for what will surely be her grandfather’s last Christmas, she’s caught in a tangle of unresolved emotions that leave her torn between the impulse to flee and the desire to stay.

Jack Donner never stopped loving Becca, even though she deserted him. Better than anyone else, he knows how cruel it would be to fetter her wild spirit, and he doubts she could ever be happy living in one place, on his mountain.

Can memories of Christmases past remind Becca what truly matters? And can love convince Jack to give her one more chance, even if it means risking his battered heart?

About the Author: Multi-published and multi-award winning author, Laura Strickland writes stories that span several Romance genres. Her Scottish Romances have been compared to Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander and her American Historicals echo the work of authors such as Susan Wiggs and Kristin Hannah. Her award-winning Buffalo Steampunk series has broken new ground both for its setting and its portrayal of automaton characters pursuing their rights. Currently, she is at home in Western New York and at work on her next book.

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Winter Blogfest: N. Jade Gray

December 19, 2017 By 18 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win one of my signed books, along with an elf.

Christmas Memories

Christmas was always a time with family growing up. I was lucky enough to live a mile from both grandparents. One just up the road and one across the field as the crow flies.

Christmas eve was at Grandma Gray’s house. I remember the tall tree with tons of elves peeking out from the branches. The tree topper was even an elf with a circle of lights dancing about his head. The fascination I have with the elf on the shelf may stem from this memory? All the local cousins, aunts, and uncles would come for the meal, and there were many. After the food was consumed the presents would be handed out.

Grandma and Grandpa Miller’s house is usually where we celebrated Christmas Day. Their tree varied. Remember those aluminum trees? Her blue one was the prettiest and she always had the beautiful shiny wrapping paper for all the presents. It was pretty just to sit and look at. Sometimes it was just our family at their house and other times our cousins from Texas would be come. The meal was at noon, giving us plenty of time to play with our new toys.

Yes, I was pretty lucky to have all of that love and support growing up. Especially around the holidays. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

Most of the order free viagra fat burners (except carnitine) have a stimulating effect on the human nervous system is made up of three major parts which are the central, the peripheral as well as the autonomic nervous systems. Atrophy of joints and bones is also observed since sexual performance and libido are tightly cheapest price for viagra linked. After the erection a small rubber band is ordering viagra placed at the base of penis. Unquestionably, you discount levitra http://davidfraymusic.com/events/baltimore-symphony-orchestra-joseph-meyerhoff-symphony-hall/ might discover this capsule as a harmless drug. Mitchell Reeves is in trouble. Someone is sabotaging his ranch, cattle are missing, his sister is testing her wings, and his quarrel with a neighboring rancher has heated to boiling. Adding a beautiful woman who claims to be from the future couldn’t come at a worse time.

Computer programmer Rachel Morgan understands machines, but fails with the opposite sex. When a dog plays chicken with her car, her bad week becomes worse when she wakes to find herself in the past –in a very hunky, very delusional cowboy’s bed.

Time spent in Mitchell’s company causes an unexpected glitch in Rachel’s determination to get home. Love. Found in the most startling place and time. Could she go home, if she had the chance, without knowing his true feelings?

When unwanted attention from another man turns to kidnapping, Rachel is torn between wishing she were home…and risking it all for the love of a cowboy.

About the Author: I grew up on a farm in Oklahoma. I met my husband while in college. We have two grown sons, one pampered dog and two fat cats.

I have enjoyed writing since high school. I hope to continue to weave tales and bring a little entertainment to those who read my stories.

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Winter Blogfest: Sean Michael

December 19, 2017 By 5 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook copy of Daddy Needs a Date.

Winter Wonderland

I do love winter. Once Halloween is over, I’m ready for snow and lots of it. By November the trees have lost all their leaves and there are far fewer sunny days. The snow brightens everything up and dresses the trees up in their winter finery. While I love all the greenery in the summer, I love a winter view even more. It’s stunningly beautiful.

There’s also a hush that comes with a snowstorm, as if the snow itself is blanketing the world, not just with a blanket that you can see, but one that dulls all the other outside sounds. You can walk out in a snowstorm and all the falling snow makes no sound as it falls and hits the ground. It’s just quiet. When you go walking in freshly fallen snow, and you can hear the crunch of the white stuff under your boots, but while it’s falling, there’s nothing. It’s like magic.

It’s not just the snow, though, I also love the colder weather. I love coming in from the cold and taking off the layers, slowly warming up from the cold. Hot chocolate doesn’t taste nearly as good any other time of the year. It’s best enjoyed on a cold day – the colder it is the better the hot chocolate tastes. Even holding the hot mug feels good. There is more sun in the winter than in fall, the days often bright and sharp, the sky never so blue as it is on a deeply cold day.

I kind of hibernate in the summer. The hot days play with my mind and I don’t get nearly as much done as I do in the winter. The snow comes and with it my creativity awakens again for the season. I usually get far more done in winter than I do in summer.

Finally, there’s Christmas and the New Year. Christmas is one of my favorite holidays – with the coloured lights and all the decorations. Buying and wrapping gifts, making cookies and cooking for family. I even love the feeling on Christmas Day once all the eating and gifting is over, that sense of relaxation and ease now that everything is done.

As for the new year – I totally appreciate being able to reset, to wipe the slate clean and start over again. That feeling usually doesn’t last very long, but that’s okay, because where I live, there’s still at least three more months of winter to revel in.

So give me my winter wonderland and I am happy down to the bone.
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Sean Michael

smut fixes everything.

With four girls, single dad Ryan Withers has his hands too full to look for romance. He’s not complaining—he loves his daughter and the three nieces he adopted when their parents died, and he would do anything for them. He’s caught off-guard when his mother and daughter conspire to play matchmaker.

Alex Bernot works in disaster relief, his job taking him all over the world for extended periods of time, helping others. He’s staying with his aunt while he’s home, and she sets him up on a blind date. Finding a special someone isn’t really on his mind, but he goes to make his aunt happy.
Ryan and Alex enjoy each other’s company more than either of them expected, and they soon make a second date.

Their lives are complicated, though, in very different ways, and soon family needs and their jobs conspire to pull them apart. They’ll need to figure out how to work through the things keeping them apart, but first they’ll have to decide if they even want to….

About the Author: Best-selling author Sean Michael is a maple leaf–loving Canadian who spends hours hiding out in used book stores. With far more ideas than time, Sean keeps several documents open at all times. From romance to fantasy, paranormal and sci-fi, Sean is limited only by the need for sleep—and the periodic Beaver Tail.

Sean fantasizes about one day retiring on a secluded island populated entirely by horseshoe crabs after inventing a brain-to-computer dictation system. Until then, Sean will continue to write the old-fashioned way.

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