Winter Blogfest: Kate Hill

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a download of a book in the Silver Hearts series (reader’s choice of title).

Holiday Horror Movies and Snacks

Two of my favorite things in December are holiday horror movies and snacks. Some of the movies are a tradition for me, but I also watch new ones every year. Usually I find at least one to add to my annual holiday horror lineup. In this post, I’d like to share some of my favorite holiday horror movies and holiday snacks that I think go well with movie night.

1. Christmas with Cookie: Locked Away – In this fun low-budget horror movie narrated by Cookie, an Elf who survived the apocalypse and is now living on the moon, a soldier returns home and finds himself in a battle against zombies.

A snack that goes well with this movie? Cookies, of course, especially frosted sugar cookies.

2. A Christmas Horror Story – A DJ is on the air at Christmas while various people in town endure frightening paranormal experiences and Santa battles zombies. This horror anthology has an overall story arc, but individual stories include kids trapped with a ghost, a family dealing with Krampus, and a family terrorized after chopping their own Christmas tree.

A snack that I love while watching this movie? Popcorn, with some caramel corn thrown in!

3. 13 Slays Till X-Mas – This horror anthology includes several creepy stories that have some dark themes, even by holiday horror standards. Stories include sisters who plan to decorate their deceased mother’s home one last time, a man visited by his “guardian” angel, and intruders who are “surprised” by a hermit’s unusual pets.

For this movie, I’ll sip some vegan eggnog. I make mine with coconut and almond milk, maple syrup, and cinnamon.

Whatever your choice in holiday movies or snacks, whether you like horror, comedy, or romance, or if you like your snacks salty or sweet, I hope you have a lovely holiday season!

Stalker – I’m a rogue wolf. No club. No gang. No pack. I’m free, and that’s how I like it. Roaming the streets in a Santa suit to antagonize demons into a fight, I meet her—the Wild witch who changes my life. I want Sam the moment I see her, but can a lone wolf fall in love at first sight?

Sam – I’m a Wild. That means I have warrior witch blood in my veins. I messed up, though, and someone I care about got hurt. To fix the situation, I’m in what’s left of Boston looking for demons so I can test a new spell. I’m not expecting a gorgeous silver wolf to protect me, and I’m not trying to fall in love, but one look at Stalker, and I know we were born for each other.

Note: Sam’s Silver Wolf is a very short age gap paranormal insta-love story with a little plot, a lot of heat, and a HEA.

Kate Hill is a vegetarian New Englander who started writing many years ago for pleasure. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, watching horror and action movies, working out, and spending time with her family and pets. She also writes under the name Saloni Quinby.

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Winter Blogfest: Marianne Plunkert

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of the new historical romance WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

The Yule Log

Around this time of year, a delicious chocolate cake treat, decorated to look like a tree log, can be found on bakery shelves: the Bûche De Noël. Some holiday gift shops sell real logs, adorned with greenery, cranberries, pinecones, and cinnamon sticks, with three holes drilled in them to hold candles for those who like to celebrate the holiday with a nod to an old tradition. And television networks and streaming services air their individual versions of a program titled Yule Log, which is essentially a continuous video of a log burning brightly in a fireplace. But what exactly does a Yule Log represent and what is its relevance to this holiday season?

The tradition of the Yule log is said to predate medieval times. The word “yule,” which means Christmas in Old English, is closely related to the Old Nordic word, “jōl,” which referred to a 12-day winter solstice festival. A large log or tree was ceremoniously chosen to be burned for twelve days at the end of December. The Celts, a pagan group, noticed that the sun seemed to be motionless during this period and believed if the log was kept burning for the length of the festival, the sun would be encouraged to move once more, resulting in longer days again. If the fire died, bad luck would follow. After the festival, ashes from the log were sometimes collected and kept to ward off evil spirits.

It wasn’t until centuries later that the Yule log was adopted by Christians. For some, the lighting of the log symbolized the birth of Jesus, the light of the world. For others, it signified Jesus’s triumph over sin. For still others, the modern-day Yule log sold in shops today is regarded to represent the three wise men. The candles on the log (the men) are lit every evening of the 12 days of Christmas, ending with January 6th, the Christian holiday known as the Epiphany, or Three Kings’ Day.

Today the burning of the Yule log has become a secular tradition, but it remains a symbol hope with the birth of a new season, just as it has been for pagans and Christians alike throughout history.

Desperate to escape a lecherous uncle, Melissa Sullivan stows away in a wagon departing Nebraska City for the Colorado territory. She has resolved she will never be subservient to any man as her aunt was, and especially not to the high-handed Union Army Lieutenant Nathaniel Bellamy, who seems to think he can make decisions for her just because he happened to find her hiding in his wagon.

Upon arriving at their destination, Lieutenant Bellamy reports to his post while Melissa is given an opportunity to fulfill her goal of being self-sufficient by a kind, considerate, and handsome mine owner but wonders if her choice is worth the price. How can two strong-willed people set aside their pride to give love a chance?

After spending 25 years in academia, teaching finance and authoring finance textbooks as an independent contractor for major publishing companies, Marianne retired early to devote more time to her lifelong dream: writing a novel and having it published. What Might Have Been, her debut novel, was inspired by the rich history of the Denver, Colorado, area she discovered while living there. She currently resides in western North Carolina.

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Winter Blogfest: Diane Billas

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a free e-copy of my book Superficial, open internationally. 

A New Tradition by Diane Billas

When I envision the holidays, you know what I see, me sitting curled up on the couch by the Christmas tree with a steaming mug of hot chocolate with a good holiday book. In reality that barely happens because of the craziness of the season, but one can always dream!

Another vision I get when I think about the holidays is the Christmas my family had last year. Most years my husband and Itravel to both families for Christmas, and let me tell you, they are not close to each other. We’d spend two plus hours in the car on Christmas day and arrive tired/stressed for Christmas dinner.

But last year was different. It was our first Christmas with our son, and we decided to stay home. We could see our extended families at some point, but we wanted Christmas to be time together with our new little family and it was glorious. We wore our Christmas pjs, helped our little one open his gifts, drank boozy hot chocolate while watching The Muppet Christmas Carol, and it was even warm enough to go to the playground. It was simple, but I absolutely loved it.

And you know what, we are hoping to do the same thing again this year. It’s going to be our new Christmas tradition to stay home and visit family before or after the craziness of the holidays, so we can just enjoy our time with them, and ourselves. I am also determined to sit by our Christmas tree and read a fun holiday book.

 

Embark on a thrilling adventure with Lea and Jake as they navigate the unexpected twists and turns at the biggest superhero fan convention of the year. When Lea finds herself trapped in an elevator during the event with superstar Jake, also known as The Amazing Boy, they realize something sinister is afoot. With everyone at the convention frozen, including Lea’s friends, Lea and Jake must team up to unravel the mystery behind the villainous acts plaguing Philadelphia. As they race against time, Lea grapples with whom to trust, while Jake uncovers startling truths about his own identity. A pulse-pounding journey filled with friendship, betrayal, and the ultimate quest for justice, will Lea and Jake save the day, or will supervillains prevail? Dive into this gripping tale that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

 

Diane Billas is an award-winning author of the YA sapphic contemporary romance novel DOES LOVE ALWAYS WIN?, featured in Parents Magazine, and the YA superhero novel SUPERFICIAL, both with Creative James Media. Her sapphic short story, THE PROM DO-OVER will be featured in the PROM PERFECT anthology, out Spring 2025 with Wild Ink Publishing.

Diane Billas lives in Philadelphia with her husband and son. When she’s not writing she can be found reading multiple books at once, performing the French horn and piano, or dreaming of the next country she’s going to visit

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Winter Blogfest: Thea Landen

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of The Hummingbird and the Hawk plus a 20% off coupon to my shop (signed paperbacks, merchandise, etc). 

 

Workplace Holiday Parties by Thea Landen

 

Let’s talk about workplace holiday parties! These can range from low-key potlucks in the break room to extravagant affairs on board a yacht. (Or, if your office is like mine, your boss just sends you your holiday bonus without any fanfare. Can’t complain!) They can offer an opportunity to celebrate the year’s accomplishments with your colleagues or even air your grievances. Whether you love or hate the office parties, there’s a good chance of something interesting happening. Especially if there’s an open bar.

Technically, my book The Hummingbird and the Hawk is a workplace romance, as main character Gavin first meets love interest Olivia when she interviews for a position at his law firm. I’ll be honest with you—the plot-smut ratio in this book skews heavily toward the spicy scenes, so there’s not a whole lot going on while they’re actually working at the office. However, I needed to have some plot in there to help move the story along, so about halfway through, the characters attend one of the aforementioned swanky holiday parties.

If I’m making confessions, here’s another one: Gavin is, well, kind of a dick. Up until this point, he’s sort of been envisioning himself in some kind of My Fair Lady scenario, believing he’s molding his younger protégé into the woman he wants her to be, both in the office and in his bedroom. Olivia’s not thrilled with this interpretation of their relationship, and they argue during the lead-up to the party.

It’s hard to stay mad at your partner in such a festive setting, though. Even when your coworkers know what’s going on, and some exercise more discretion than others. Things start heating up between our featured couple before they can even get back home (in the company-provided limo, of course). I won’t spoil anything, but let’s just say Olivia starts hinting here that she’s no pushover and may have a few lessons of her own to teach Gavin.

It’s probably for the best when real-life holiday parties don’t involve any drama. (I won’t comment on real-life workplace romances. You do whatever makes you happy!) But when it comes to fiction like The Hummingbird and the Hawk, sometimes it’s fun to be on the naughty list for a change!

 

Gavin is known for two things: success as a criminal defense attorney and whirlwind romances. When former prosecutor Olivia enters his law firm to apply for a position, his attraction to her is instant. Despite their age difference, he has to have her.

Olivia may be the youngest employee at her new job, but she’s not going to let anyone push her around. Although Gavin is her much older superior at the office, she gives in to his advances and lets him believe he has control over her body as well as her career.

They embark on a tempestuous relationship, with Gavin testing her boundaries at every opportunity. When a stressful trial and a colleague’s criticisms rattle his confidence, however, Olivia jumps at the chance to change the dynamics between them. It’s her turn to dominate him, but will Gavin submit?

 

Thea Landen lives in New York with her husband and children. Though she’s dabbled in all romantic subgenres, she has a special love for sci-fi, fantasy, and adventure…anything that pushes the imagination beyond its usual limits. When she’s not writing, she’s either knitting or crocheting, playing video games, or pretending to enjoy cardio and squats.

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Winter Blogfest: Hayden West

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

 

Holidays by Hayden West

I have to say, I love the holidays. The foods, the festive lights, the family. Laughter and good times. I grew up in Wisconsin and our winters were definitely white. We were out in the country and getting our tree was one of my favorite traditions.

There were years where my dad would drive the tractor and pull a wagon so we could also pick up more wood for the fireplace. I loved sitting up with him as I watched the tractor power through the high snow.

Mom would have made hot cocoa and put it in a thermos for us to drink when we (well me…) got cold.

After using the chainsaw to cut then we’d loaded up the wagon with more wood for splitting we would set off deeper into the forest, on foot now. Dad would bring the chainsaw and mom would have the warm drink. My older brother would bring a shovel and I usually dragged the tub.

Our family never knew if we would simply cut one down or, if we were going to be digging it up so we would be able to replant it come spring.

Have to admit, I wasn’t much in the way of helping from now on because…well, physical labor wasn’t fun for me at that age. So if it was cut, I would drag back the empty container. Of course, if there was a hill, I would sit in the tub and have my brother push me so I could slid down then hill and we’d do that for a while.

Eventually, we would get back to the house with either the cut tree or the dug up one. Dad would set it up inside and then we would unload the wood to be cut and stacked later.

Christmas tree decorating would come later that night after dinner. We’d have a large fire, popcorn (both for stringing and for eating), hot cocoa or cider and depending on how the weather outside was, mom may have made donuts.

Memories I hold dear and while I’m not in that state anymore, nor do I get live trees or even cut ones from a forest, the scents, smells and unforgettable family time isn’t something I will ever forget.

Happy holidays!

Hayden West

 

Secrets refuse to stay buried.

Pulled in for an op he never wanted, Michael Little knows it won’t be a hardship to pretend interest in his target. What does prove difficult is knowing that when it’s over, he’ll have to walk away.

Radek Dionne has busted his ass to keep his name away from the shady dealings his family is involved in. Used to people wanting him either for those connections or due to him being a player in the NHL, he keeps to himself. Until one night when he meets someone who gets to him on a level he’s never expected.

But family has a way of showing up when you least want them to and his is no exception. Secrets are exposed and loyalties tested. Will they be together by Christmas, or has this last secret ruined any chance of a happy ever after?

 

Hayden West lives in the Pacific Northwest, enjoys being outdoors to hike and explore the beauty, and hanging out with friends when not working on the next novella to be released.

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Winter Blogfest: Nikki Knight

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win an e-ARC of Live, Local, and Long Dead. 

Happy Radio New Year by Nikki Knight

New Year’s Day is my favorite holiday.

It’s not the joy of welcoming a new year, or the excitement of a clean slate and fresh starts, though that’s definitely good thing.

No, I love New Year’s because it’s the best day with my work family.

For the last twenty years, I’ve been a weekend and fill-in anchor at a top New York City radio station, part of a small but dedicated team that covers when the full-timers are off. We’re the folks who keep the station going at the same high level while our colleagues take vacations, celebrate with their families, or recover from illnesses. And we’re just as good as they are, because the expectations are the same.

Most of us weekenders and freelancers have other lives. I’m a stay-at-home mom Monday through Friday, and several of my colleagues have small children or other family responsibilities. Others are semi-retired after storied careers. Still others have full-time jobs – my regular on-air partner is a teacher.

We come from all races, faiths, backgrounds, and experiences.

But we’re all news people.

And we choose to spend our holidays with our colleagues. Yes, for family or professional reasons, but also because we love the work and the team.

And that’s why New Year’s Day is so special.

From Thanksgiving to Christmas Week, regular staffers take a lot of time off, whether it’s holidays, family events, or just burning a few leftover days. So we fill-ins get a lot of work. By New Year’s, we’ve all been working straight out for weeks. We’re exhausted, but we’re in a groove together, dealing with whatever this year’s huge story is (there’s always one holiday tragedy/controversy/disaster) and getting the news out.

Now, on January first, the work is almost over. We’re just about ready to go back to our lives outside the newsroom, and we know we probably won’t spend much time together again until the summer fill-in season. And being journalists, we know how much can happen in those six months.

All of which makes New Year’s a fun – and very precious – day. One more shift, knowing it won’t happen again for a while, if ever. Enjoying the bond, the shared dark humor, and the feeling of being part of something bigger and more important than ourselves.

It’s not really a party, but it’s not NOT a party, either. Folks bring leftover holiday cookies and candy, and everyone’s running on the darkest-roast coffee and highest-caffeine soda we can find. And at some point, we’ll raise those paper coffee cups and soda bottles in a toast to each other that’s a little jokey, but also very real:

One more year under our belts…and another started the right way.

Together.

May your year start so well!

 

LIVE, LOCAL, AND LONG DEAD: Vermont DJ Jaye Jordan’s Green-Up Day ends in murder when not one, but two, bodies turn up in an old park — and one of them was much too close to both her ex and her current man when it was alive and bodacious. Now Jaye, with the help of a colorful (and diverse) cast of townies, will have to clear her men’s names, unravel a World War II-era mystery…and get Grandpa Seymour to the Senior Prom on time.

 

Nikki Knight describes herself as an Author/Anchor/Mom…not in that order. An award-winning weekend anchor at New York City’s 1010 WINS Radio, she writes short stories and novels. Her stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Mystery Magazine, and Black Cat Weekly, online, and in anthologies – and been short-listed for Black Orchid Novella and Derringer Awards. Active in writers’ groups, she’s served as Vice President of the Short Mystery Fiction Society and is currently Co-Vice President of the New York/Tri-State Chapter of Sisters in Crime. As Kathleen Marple Kalb, she writes the Ella Shane and Old Stuff mystery series. She, her husband, and son live in a Connecticut house owned by their cat.

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Buy the book at Wild Rose Press.

Winter Blogfest: Joan Donaldson-Yarmey

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of Sleuthing the Klondike.

December

The word December comes from the Latin word decem which means ‘ten’. In the Roman calendar, which began with the month of March, December was the tenth month. The days between the end of December and the beginning of March (cold and snowy in the Northern Hemisphere and hot and sunny in the Southern Hemisphere) were originally unnamed. Eventually, those days were given the names January and February and they were considered the first months of the calendar year. Although December was now the twelfth month in the Gregorian calendar, which was introduced in October 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, its name was kept.

December has the shortest daylight hours and longest nighttime hours on December 21 and that day marks the beginning of winter. It is the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere, with December 21 having the longest daylight hours and shortest nighttime hours. That day marks the beginning of summer.

The Anglo Saxons had two names for the month of December. One was ‘Winter Monath’, which is self-explanatory, and the other was ‘Yule Monath’ which is the custom of burning a Yule log as part of the pagan Yule celebrations. Yule, at the time, meant the observance of the Winter Solstice. It is now synonymous with the word Christmas and the celebration of the birth of the baby Jesus. When the Anglo-Saxons converted to Christianity they changed the name of ‘Winter Monath’ or ‘Yule Monath’ to ‘Heligh Monath’ meaning ‘Holy Month’.

For the Native American first peoples, the full moon in December was called the ‘Full Cold Moon’ because of the cold winter months that followed it.

There are other important holidays observed in December along with Christmas. The Jews celebrate Hanukkah, which takes place on the 25th day of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar and lies between late November and late December. This is in recognition of the rise of Jews against their Greek/Syrian oppressors, as well as, the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century AD.

The Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day on December 8. A man named Siddhartha sat under a Bodhi tree and meditated for three days until he found the root of suffering and liberated himself from it. On the third day he discovered the answers he sought and became enlightened. He was then known as Buddha or the ‘Awakened One.’

A Hindu festival, Datta Jayanti, commemorates the birth day of the Hindu Deity Dattatreya or Datta, which is the combined form of the Hindu male divine trinity of Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. The festival takes place between November 30th and December 3rd in the temples throughout India.

December is a month full of historical events, festivals, and observances of special days. And it marks the end of the old year and a time to look forward to the new one.

Helen Castrel has just arrived in Victoria, British Columbia, from England and she hires Baxter Davenport of the Davenport & Son Detective Agency to go with her to Dawson City and help find her second oldest brother, David, whom she hasn’t seen since she was eleven years old.

David had been trouble to the family since he was young and was sent to Canada as a remittance man ten years ago. The last communication her father, Charles Castrel, received from David was late last summer when he sent a telegram from Victoria, British Columbia, saying he was on his way to the Klondike gold rush at Dawson City. Since then Charles Gastrel has heard nothing from his son, not even a letter stating where his remittance money was to be sent. Helen needs to find David to make sure he’s alive and to deliver a message from their father.

Baxter Davenport isn’t sure about travelling north with two women. He will have a job to do and doesn’t need to be looking after them. Plus, he doesn’t like the idea that Helen Castrel is excited about being a sleuth along with him. He soon finds out that both women can look after themselves.

Mattie Lewis, Helen Castrel’s lady’s maid, insisted on accompanying Helen, not only to look after her but because she has worked for the family for years and remembers David better than Helen does. She also has her own motive for wanting to find David.

The three head north armed with an old photograph and a recent description they obtained from David’s former landlady. They arrive in Dawson City where the gold rush is in full swing. There they are challenged by deceit, fraud, and danger in their quest to find David.

Joan Donaldson-Yarmey began her writing career with a short story, progressed to travel and historical articles, and then on to travel books. Between 1990 and 2000 Joan traveled through and researched the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, the territory of the Yukon, and the state of Alaska and wrote seven books them.

She called these books her Backroads series and in them she described what there is to see and do along their back roads. Once she was finished travelling she switched to fiction writing and has had four mystery novels published: ‘Gold Fever’ is a stand-alone mystery/romance; and ‘Illegally Dead’, ‘The Only Shadow In The House’, and ‘Whistler’s Murder’ are three novels in her Travelling Detective Series.

Romancing the Klondike, Rushing the Klondike, and Sleuthing the Klondike are her Yukon Historical Novels. Joan has also published two Canadian Historical novels for two young adults: West To The Bay and West to Grande Portage. The third one will be out in 2025. She has had two holiday romances, The Twelve Dates of Christmas, and Single Bells (both written with her sister Gwen Donaldson) published. In the continued variety in her writing, Joan has also written Cry of the Guilty, Silence of the Innocent, a two book sci/fi series. The titles are: The Criminal Streak and Betrayed.

Joan was born in New Westminster, B.C. Canada, and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. Since she loves change, Joan has moved over thirty times in her life, living on acreages and farms and in small towns and cities throughout Alberta and B.C. After seventeen years on Vancouver Island she is now back in Edmonton.

Joan belongs to Crime Writers of Canada and Writer’s Guild of Alberta.

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Winter Blogfest: Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook copy of Homeward Bound Hearts. Book is also available in paperback. 

Once in Awhile You Can Go Home Again by Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

We all have somewhere our heart calls home. Sometimes it’s only a memory but there are times when home remains a reality. Sometimes we find unexpected blessings, especially during the holiday season. And although Thomas Wolfe wrote that you can’t go home again, once in a while you can and do.

After a move far away, we were going home, to my Granny’s house, for the holiday when I was ten. We had a tree in our new place but were told there would not be another at Granny’s.

On a cold December night, we arrived at Granny’s old two-story frame house. We unloaded our suitcases, brought in a couple of bags of presents, and when we headed upstairs to bed, I made a discovery.

A tall Douglas Fir rested against the wall in one of the bedrooms. The soft pine aroma wafted from it. Delighted, I hugged my grandmother and thanked her, but it wasn’t her doing.

My dad’s oldest brother, Uncle Roy, provided a tree. We decorated it with the simplest ornaments, a new glass topper from the dime store, and a string of lights. That scrawny tree remains my favorite in a lifetime of Christmas trees and traditions.

I still recall the joy of going home for Christmas and the love surrounding me once there.

In Homeward Bound Hearts, Jeb Hill returns home after being injured. He doesn’t expect much but he has nowhere else to go. His return becomes a defining moment in his life and leads to the family he’s long wanted.

Here’s the blurb and a brief excerpt:

 

Take one saddle bronc ridin’ cowboy, Jeb Hill, the Hillbilly Hotshot, who suffers the worst injury of his career. Send him home to be cared for by a widowed nurse, Shelby Thacker, who struggles to pay her bills and support her two children. Add some friendship, then stir in a little attraction. Complicate things with the return of Jeb’s long absent father and throw in the Christmas season. Jeb wants an old-fashioned, heartwarming Christmas, but Shelby’s poverty destroyed her holiday spirit long ago. Toss in some faith, a country church, and a rodeo rider ready to play Santa Claus. Shelby’s and Jeb’s friendship deepens, but can they fulfill each other’s hopes and dreams?

 

“Bring it on, then.” Jeb bit his lip so he wouldn’t groan. He’d hurt before many times, but not this bad. “Will I walk again?”

“No reason you shouldn’t. You can talk to the doctor when he comes in, which will be soon. Dr. Ahmed is making rounds. I’ll get your meds and be back. Don’t go anywhere.” Sam stood and winked.

If he could have, Jeb would have punched him square in the nose.

Before the physician arrived, the nurse returned and injected Jeb with morphine.

It dulled Jeb’s pain to a tolerable level, but relief wasn’t immediate.

Dr. Ahmed sauntered into the room in a confident fashion. His salt-and-pepper hair and beard indicated he wasn’t young. He catalogued Jeb’s injuries, outlined the treatment plan, and read the chart. “Have you been briefed on your injuries?”

“I got two questions —will I be able to walk and can I ride again?” Jeb clenched the edge of the sheet with his fingers. Both activities were important to Jeb. His future depended on those abilities.

“Walking shouldn’t be a problem, not after rehab and therapy. Dr. Ahmed tugged at his tidy goatee. “Riding horses is more problematic. I don’t recommend busting broncs or participating in any other rodeo events in the future. Although you’ll recover from the fracture, your spine is compromised. You don’t want any further injury because any future breaks are more likely to cause permanent issues.”

The doctor’s stern expression sobered Jeb. He tightened his jaw so hard it ached. If he couldn’t ride, he would no longer be able to compete. With his career and livelihood at stake, Jeb drew a harsh breath as he steeled himself not to weep. “When can I go home?” Jeb pictured his quiet farmhouse back in Missouri. “And how do I get there?

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Winter Blogfest: E.L. Roux

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook copy of Unrequited Love (claim before January 1st) . 

Allergy and Food Intolerance-Friendly Chex Mix by E.L. Roux

Hi All,

This is your friendly low fantasy romance author E.L. Roux, here to talk about all things festive, and by all things, I really mean food. I have food intolerances (not allergies fortunately), but it means I have a hard time digesting fun things like wheat, dairy, soy, and plants in the Allioideae family including onions, shallots, and garlic. Sadly things like Lactaid don’t work for me, but I was able to find a powder that enabled be to digest onions and garlic (Fodzyme has been a lifesaver to my tastebud delight).

All of this is to say I love food, mainly because I have to make a lot of my food, and I try to include that love in my work. This time of year, I make a mean Chex Mix, a homemade peppermint bark, fudge, pumpkin pie, and cookies, so many cookies.

What I’ve found if you’re cooking for yourself, or a family member or friend, is that you need to read labels constantly, even for items you’ve used in the past. Don’t assume that because it’s labeled on the front as something that there isn’t a weird ingredient in it that could trigger a response. Non-stick sprays tend to almost always have soy in them. I’ve come across soy in spaghetti sauce instead of olive oil, and milk hides in things as a thickener. Vegetable oil usually contains soy, and margarine isn’t always dairy free.

All those hard things to remove aside, here’s the Spicey Check Mix I make several times around the holiday season:

3 cups Corn Chex
3 cups Rice Chex
1 cup nuts of choice
2 cups Pretzels (not all gf pretzels are soy and dairy free)
1/4 cup imitation butter (I use Smart Balance or soy free Earth Balance)
1/4 cup corn oil
1.5 tablespoon parsley flakes
1.5 teaspoon celery salt (watch the salt in the butter because you can over salt)
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
6-12 drops of hot sauce (tabasco is usually a safe bet)

Set oven to 250°F.

1. Heat butter and oil with flavor additions until combined and simmering, stirring occasionally.
2. Turn off heat before flavorings burn.
3. Add Chex, nuts, and pretzels into a clean paper bag.
4. Add flavoring a few teaspoons at a time, shaking and mixing the bag between additions, until all flavorings have been added and the Chex has a light oil covering.
5. Give the Chex a taste and adjust flavoring as needed by adding more spice or salt. If more oil is needed, use appropriate oil spray like an avocado oil nonstick spray or the rare canola oil nonstick spray. NOTE: I haven’t tried an olive oil spray because of its distinct flavor.
6. Place an even layer of the Chex Mix on a cookie sheet/s and place in oven the rough middle of the oven. Dry out Chex Mix in oven until fingers no longer come away with moisture and flip mix half way through (usually takes 2 to 3 hours).

Cool down before storing in an airtight container to keep it crisp😊 or just eat it by the handful like I do.

I hope you enjoy this spicy mix as much as I do!

E.L. Roux

 

I’ve been in a rut since my boyfriend dumped me, and now he’s in my coffee shop every day with his new fiancé. When grouchy Cane makes my body hum again, I know I’m ready to move on. With his curled horns and awkward smile, I’m braced for Cane to ask me out, except he doesn’t.

Cane wants to make a deal. I’d help to foresee into my ex’s love life, something I don’t want to do, and I’m guaranteed a sexy night of skin-on-skin contact wrapped in Cane’s warm muscled arms, an experience I might have been hoping for.

What’s the harm in partaking of the pleasures the spell requires? The thing is, love spells require one thing, and it’s something I’m not sure I can give…

 

E.L. Roux is a Science Fiction and Fantasy Romance author who writes about finding love in all the wrong places. E.L. uses their knowledge on everything from prosthetics to the sport of fencing, to weave together complex romances you can’t put down.

E.L. Roux lives in Washington State with their artistically inclined family, an indoor street cat, and a terror of a Bosten Terrier.

To find out more about this author, or to stay in touch, visit www.linktr.ee/elroux

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Winter Blogfest: Cherie Colyer

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of Merry Little Wishing Spritz. Additional for US only, swag. 

 

Embracing the Warmth of the Season and Wishing You Happy Tidings by Cherie Colyer

 

As the temperatures drop and snow gently falls outside, blanketing the world in a peaceful white canvas, there’s an undeniable warmth that fills the air. The holiday season is a wonderful time for coming together, but it’s also a beautiful opportunity to slow down, reflect, and find joy in the simple pleasures of life.

My holiday decorations are up, my shopping is down, and it is way too cold to be outside for long periods of time. But it’s a perfect time of year to curl up with an enchanting book or movie. I like to nestle in my favorite chair, wrapped in my cozy Gryffindor throw. The aroma of hot coffee, with a hint of peppermint, wafting through the air as I hold the steaming mug in my hands. It’s the perfect setting to lose myself in a captivating story. Be it a classic holiday tale, a heartwarming romance, or a spellbinding fantasy, escaping into another world, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of everyday life, is a wonderful escape.

As you reflect on another year past, as the outside world fades away, replaced by the magic of the story unfolding before you, in this tranquil space, I wish you peace, joy, and a renewed sense of wonder. So, this holiday season, give yourself the gift of time—time to relax, to read, and to bask in the warmth of the season.

 

Happy holidays, happy reading, and may 2025 be filled with magic! 📚❄️☕

When modern-day witch Cassie Moore’s cozy life is threatened, she casts a well-intended spell meant to save her apartment and her job. But magic is unpredictable, especially when her friend casts a little charm of her own that has Cassie lusting after the man she desperately wants to despise.

 

Professional network technician by day, novelist by night, Cherie lives a quiet life in the Chicago suburbs with her charming husband. She has four amazing sons who she loves dearly. Cherie magically weaves together stories with a paranormal twist. She’s the author of the Embrace series (Embrace, Hold Tight, and Entwined), Challenging Destiny, Damned When I Didn’t, and Friends to the End. She waltzes into the adult novel world with this enchanting holiday romance, Merry Little Wishing Spritz.

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