Search Results for: A Symbol of Time

Strawberries and Sidewalk Cracks by Marilyn Barr – Guest Blog

June 4, 2020 By 5 Comments

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Marilyn Barr who is visiting with us today to celebrate yesterday’s release of Bear with Me, the first book in her Strawberry Shifters series published by The Wild Rose Press.

Strawberries and Sidewalk Cracks

Why are strawberries so romantic? Is it because they are red, heart-shaped, or a remedy for halitosis?

In Strawberry Shifters Book 1: Bear with Me, Grant Luther is hoping Strawberry, Kentucky is the most romantic place on Earth. His wife, Alison, has given him one last chance and Grant is pulling out all the stops in their relocation to the rural town. From a restored plantation home with acres for her beloved gardens to the freedom to homeschool their son instead of visiting the principal’s office daily, Grant has engineered this move to give her everything he thinks she wants. This way she will happily wait for him at home while he saves the world one innovative life-saving medicine at a time.

Grant’s naivete can be blamed on the Romans. They were the first to give newlyweds strawberries as wedding presents to help…fertility. This tradition is still carried on by the French who serve a cold strawberry soup at weddings. The Romans declared the strawberry as a symbol of Venus and wrote poems about its beauty. Even Ovid and Virgil wrote poetry about the gentle, sweet fruit. However, in Roman times, strawberries weren’t considered snacking food. They were weeds harvested for medicinal purposes or for decorating altars to goddesses such as Venus. (Source University of Illinois “Strawberry Lore”)

What gave the strawberry a horrible reputation as a weed? They grew between the stones that made up all of Rome’s famous roads. The pest’s runners caught in the wheels of carts while the fruit stained the feet of those unfortunate enough to step upon them. They were the original Venus growing between the sidewalk cracks. Perhaps this is why Grant was absolutely enchanted with Alison when she declared:

“I’m not the delicate flower to be left in a greenhouse alone all the time, only to be taken out to be admired when you feel like it. I’m more like the dandelion growing between the sidewalk cracks. I look small and sweet despite the inhospitable conditions. It is only because of my strength that you enjoy my softness. I choose to be docile. Do not mistake that for my only option.”

Oops, looks like giving his wife an isolated paradise was not his best move. Grant should have given Alison the one thing she wanted when they moved. A husband who listened. However, Grant will be the first to tell you that Alison didn’t learn to express her needs until a paranormal encounter pushed her to the breaking point. What encounter? Find out in Strawberry Shifters Book 1: Bear with Me.

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Blue eyes, dimples, and silky brown hair; Grant Luther has all of Alison’s weaknesses.

When he asks for one last chance to save their marriage, she agrees to relocate their family to isolated Strawberry, Kentucky in pursuit of his career dreams. Grant views Alison’s sensory issues as limitations and protects her from outside threats. When he finds his new job includes changing him into a shifter in a war against the soul-sucking Sluagh he vows to keep the changes a secret. What he doesn’t know is Alison has been hiding a magical secret of her own. One that makes her a target of the Sluagh.

Will Alison emerge from Grant’s shadow to protect her family? And can Grant learn that being different can be a strength not a weakness?

About the Author:Marilyn Barr currently resides in the wilds of Kentucky with her husband, son, and rescue cats. When engaging with the real world, she is collecting characters, empty coffee cups, and unused homeschool curricula.
She has a diverse background containing experiences as a child prodigy turned medical school reject, biodefense microbiologist, high school science teacher, homeschool mother of a savant, and advocate for the autistic community.

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Character Creation by Victor Arteaga – Guest Blog and Giveaway

May 14, 2020 By 13 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Victor Arteaga will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Character Creation

Coming up with, fleshing out, and developing a character is one of my favorite parts of writing fiction because I love character-driven narrative. I’m going to illustrate my process by breaking down how I created the main character of Unrest, Aless.

Appearance

I’m a visual learner, so it helps when I have a good sense of what my character might look like. I start with a broad idea like hair color, skin color, eyes, body shape, height, and so on. I get narrower once I have the big picture. I knew I wanted Aless to be South American, so I went with curly black hair, dark tan skin, dark brown eyes, and she’s pretty short. I googled some images of Peruvian women and created an amalgamation of those images in my head. Once I had a good grasp on what she looked like and where she was from, I was already developing some great ideas for her backstory. Which brings us to…

Personality

This is where I think a lot of people fall into a black hole and focus on minor quirks like, “What does your character like for breakfast on Sundays when they’ve already had coffee but not food?” and they take over what I believe should be the focus of making a living character. This is also where the practice of writing what you know is the most important. Because Aless was the first character I created, I used a lot of myself in her. That doesn’t mean I gave her my story, but I infused a lot of my own faults, drives, and wants into her. What’s that look like? I’m telling on myself a bit but she’s passionate to a fault, emotional, driven, and stubborn. Now that I’ve told you that, I’m willing to bet you’ve got a better feel for who she is. The quirks my characters have tend to come through more in editing phases when I can start to add more detail to create a full mental picture for my readers and after I’ve put them through the paces of the story. A lot of habits are borne when people are young, and so it is with my characters.

Backstory

Spending an exorbitant amount of time on Aless’ backstory is another pitfall that I fell into early on. I researched everything. I knew she was going to be from Peru because I used to live in Lima when I was a kid. But she’s from Chiclayo. So, I google mapped the city to get a feel for what it looked like, and even talked about it with an old friend who still lives in Lima. The truth is, though, it didn’t wind up mattering all that much. What did matter were the more intimate parts of her backstory. Where were her parents, who was she close to, what happened to her? How did her personality play out with those around her? I drew from my own experiences here again. When I was a kid, I was close to my cousins when we moved to Florida after having lived in Peru. So, I created Grisela, who is her polar opposite best friend. Aless’s aunt raised them both but was resentful for having to do so. How did that play out? We know Aless is passionate, emotional, and stubborn. I know from experience that resentful authority figures don’t handle strong-willed children well. So, we have someone who grew up in an unhappy home, had a cousin who allowed her to feel love, had an authority figure but no parents, and has a strong, fiery, passionate will. The only thing missing was, Who does she love romantically? For Aless, that’s other women et voila. Once I got all of this sorted out it was easy to place her in the world I built. Her personality and how she feels at any given time gave me a lot of different avenues to pursue her path to the main story. It also built a template for answering other questions about how she might interact with other characters.

Final Thoughts

It’s important to remember that not every character will start out the same and you might not have the exact process I do – which is great! However, I am of the firm belief that the fundamental part to writing a well-rounded character is to home in on the biggest questions of what makes them who they are and answer them. I didn’t plan out every character in my stories in the same way, but I can tell you the biggest things that make them tick. I can tell you why Nate joined the military, why Evelyn wanted to be a cop, and why Barrett chose to be the leader of The Daybreakers. Given what you know about Aless, I think you could likely figure out why she was drawn to a group of misfit rebels. Once I know what makes them tick, the rest comes easily.

Fun Tip

If you’re bored or stuck on a certain part of character creation, try having a character interview another! I did that with one of my characters and even though the scene didn’t make it into any book (I tried, but shoehorning it in just wasn’t working) it helped me iron out one of my villains quite well and practice some other writing techniques. Give it a shot!

Remembrance Day is just an excuse for vampires and humans to throw themselves a parade. They like to pretend they did us werewolves a favor. But I guess it’s not all bad. I do get cheap booze, live in an underground lunar city, which some would find cool, and I am employed. Sejanus Industries isn’t a benevolent corporate ruler, but they’re the devil I made a deal with. My life is quiet and mostly non-violent but one message from my cousin could cause me to lose everything I’ve sacrificed for my peaceful life.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Abandoned hope thickened the air as people streamed between polished stone pillars that fronted this house of false promises. Equity and justice for all were laughable concepts the powerful wielded to fit their will and whim. The sky drizzled and misted enough to be cold, damp and miserable. Its gray cloud cover blunted the vibrant colors of the sparse, yet immaculate landscaping, and the wet air smothered the flowers’ sweet fragrance. I trekked past the throngs of caged miscreants as a lone wolf would pass through a swarm of rodents. The weight of my misdeeds forced my shoulders low, lined my mouth, and left my gaze fierce and steady. Guilt over leaving the cousin who called me sister slowed my steps. Betrayal of my chosen family left the bitter taste of regret on my tongue. Lady Justice, the sullen patron saint of my temporary home, was painted and carved on every available surface. We were told the cloth around her eyes meant Justice was blind and fair. But I know now she didn’t mask her eyes to symbolize the blindness of her virtue. Justice wasn’t blind. She just couldn’t bear to see the truth.

About the Author:Victor Arteaga is a writer of science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal stories. Though he’s always been an avid reader, his dream to be a writer was jump-started when he got sober in March of 2015. What began as an exercise to keep his sobriety billowed into a deep and unbridled passion to create. His experiences with addiction and being a first-generation American from immigrant parents inject a flavor of unique authenticity to his characters and worlds that he creates. His imagination is given free rein to conjure worlds and experiences on the page which enthralls and captivates readers.

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Writing Tips by Anne Holster – Guest Blog and Giveaway

March 31, 2020 By 20 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Writing Tips

1. Have a story that grabs the reader from the get-go! That means get to the point – fast! Don’t make your readers slough through a bunch of meaningless fluff before getting to the crux of your story. If you get their attention at the start, they’ll stay.

2. Pay attention to detail! Readers are smart and they’ll pick up on the little things you might have missed. If you’re not consistent with details, the reader feels cheated.

3. Take your time! Writing is not a race to the finish line. Take it slow and present a polished product to your readers.

4. Write every day, even if it’s just a few sentences! I know it’s seems like it won’t make a difference, but it does. A few sentences turns into a few paragraphs which turns into a few pages and before you know it, the chapter is done.

5. Write what you love to read! If you’re not interested in reading what you’ve written chances are, no one else will either.

6. Read! The more you read, especially in your genre, the more you’ll learn. You’ll start to see what works and what doesn’t work. If you like it, there’s a good chance other do too and vice versa.

7. Take constructive criticism with grace and accept advice form those who’ve ‘been there’ if you’re lucky enough to get it.

8. And most importantly…DON’T WAIT! Don’t put off writing if it’s always been a passion of yours. It’s never too late to write that first novel – or that second one!

It’s 1977 – Star Wars is breaking records at the box office, Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run tour is taking the country by storm, and born-and-bred Jersey girl Annalise Keller has fallen in love for the first and last time. Hot and charismatic with dreams of making it as a rock star, Keith “Ace” Foxx is everything a teenage girl dreams of. He falls as hard for Anna as she does for him and the two decide to run off to California in search of his big break. Fate has other plans though, and several years and three kids later, Ace has traded in his guitar for a job at the local post office and Anna has become a symbol of all he has given up. Ace spends most nights at the local bar, trying to drink away his anger and resentment.

Flash forward a decade, and their youngest child, Jackson, is headed nowhere fast. In a life filled with meaningless jobs and too much partying, music is his only true escape from the pain of a childhood that abruptly ended one rainy night. The accident had destroyed his family and left him with a slew of unanswered questions.

Everything changes the night Jackson meets Leah. Shy and reserved, she doesn’t smoke and barely drinks; she certainly doesn’t put out. Not exactly the girl from the Bon Jovi videos he watched as a kid. Yet, before he knows it, she has become his world.

Then, just when it looks like his dreams might come true, betrayal and loss once again threaten everything he holds dear. As Jackson struggles to keep his world from spinning out of control, he knows one thing for sure, the choices he makes now will either be the start of a whole new life, or it just might be the end of him.

Enjoy an Excerpt

You hear people talk about this feeling, that once-in-a-lifetime, struck-by-a-thunderbolt feeling; you know, like when two cartoon characters are staring at each other and their eyes look like two big hearts bugging out of their heads. You hear about it but never really believe it could happen in real life. That is until it happens to you and then it completely consumes you, leaving you exhausted and worn out from falling for someone so hard so fast. It’s a high that you never, ever want to come down from. I think they call it love at first sight and, well, that’s exactly how I felt when I saw him. I can’t even explain why I was so taken with him – he definitely wasn’t what you’d call “classically handsome” – I just knew I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

About the Author: Anne Holster resides in Northern New Jersey with her husband and two children. When she’s not writing she enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis and reading angsty romance novels. She is currently working on her fourth book.

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Love, Lies, and Bad Guys by Bill Blodgett – Spotlight and Giveaway

March 2, 2020 By 16 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Bill Blodgett will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

When US Marshal Jay Stonewalker sees a possible terrorist comment in a chatroom frequented by anti-government radicals suggesting a nuclear threat to New York City, specifically the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, he can’t get it out of his mind. Against his boss’s orders he heads off to NYC to investigate on his own time. While there he follows a suspicious character into a secluded recess of the New York Subway system and foils what he believes is the terrorist event. In a shoot-out with his suspect he’s wounded and calls the NYC PD for backup. When he sees NYPD Detective KC Daviau and other uniformed officers slipping into the darkness from the subway platform he’s relieved, but to his surprise he’s met with resistance and disrespect by Detective Daviau. Against his objections, KC takes custody of the evidence and leaves the scene. When Jay asks an officer if she is always that way he’s told that, “Since her parents died, she’s been… let’s say… a little cold.” When they are assigned to work the case together, KC’s icy exterior soon begins to melt away as they begin to fall for each other, but KC has to hold back. She has a dark secret and knows he can’t ever know her truths because if he did he would hate her just as she hates herself for what she’s about to do.

Enjoy an Excerpt

“I was surprised to see you had body art.”

“It isn’t body art. It is my belief. I guess that’s why I don’t show them. It’s personal. They are of my Goddess, Mother Earth and the symbol of our tribe, the mighty eagle. The Mother Earth Tree Goddess demonstrates the circle of life. Where all things on land, air and water are connected. They are all one. If one element is removed, the tree will wither and die. We believe that it is the same for people. We must be as one or we will all eventually suffer. The Eagle is our symbol for bravery, something that is essential to take on such a derêp.” He saw her puzzled look and continued before she could speak. “Derêp is our word for job or chore. The Eagle is dedicated to protecting our tribe, which is a very difficult job. I use his image to remind myself each day that my task is difficult and not to falter. If you were just another chick, maybe I’d say they were body art, but I want to share that part of me with you.”

“So…” she teased. “How many other chicks have admired your body art?”

He laughed lightly with maybe a hint of a gallows laugh, “Not as many as you might guess.”

About the Author:

I still live in the community where I met and married my lovely wife, Janice. Actually, she lived around the corner from me and we both ignored each other until our teen years when the hormone thing kicked in and we suddenly realized that the cute little girl skipping rope and that goofy boy riding a bike had both grown up.

We are the proud parents of April and Lindsay; both of whom are now married. April married Darren and they have two beautiful boys, Brian and Owen. Lindsay married Tim and they have two beautiful children: Kailyn and Evan.

I enjoy hiking, kayaking, camping with my family, golfing, making candles, and restoring my antique European sports car, a 1972 MGB.

They say to write from what you know, so I do. I write of love, life and relationships. In addition to the romantic plot we all expect from a Romance novel all of my books deal with a real-world issue as a sub-plot that we all have had to deal in some manner in life, but not in a preachy way. I find that including this sort of theme helps me identify with my characters on a personal level. My hope is that the reader will also feel that connection with my characters.

I have four other published novels. Dead Or A Lie and Saint’s Sword are vampire Romances. Unrequited is a contemporary novel with romantic elements and received 4 stars from Romantic Times Book Review magazine. The Last Prejudice is a family saga that deals with the issues a family must address when a family member comes out.

I have been a member of the RWA and the Central New York Romance Writers since 2004 and have held various posts in my local group. By day I am a construction inspector for an engineering company.

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Winter Blogfest: Jodi Payne

January 1, 2020 By 4 Comments


This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of my new book Soft Limits in either ebook or audio, as the winner would prefer.

Hanukkah Holiday Wisdom

Hello! 

I’m Jodi Payne, and I write contemporary mm and gay romance, sometime a little on the kinky side, sometimes with a western bent, and sometimes with more than two M’s. 

In honor of Hanukkah, which gets slightly less love than Christmas this time of year, I thought I would share a little holiday wisdom for those of you that don’t happen to be Jewish. I am not actually Jewish myself, but my wife is, and I have essentially been a member of her family since I was fifteen, so, I have earned a little cred in this department.

A little cred, a little Yiddish, but sadly, I can’t cook like my mother in law. Especially not at the holidays. You can’t have everything. 

What’s the difference between the seven-branch menorah and the nine-branch menorah?

Something most people who are not Jewish don’t know is that a “menorah” only has seven branches. It is meant to be symbolic of the seven-branched candelabra that Moses set up on the Temple at Jerusalem, which he constructed according to God’s instructions as detailed in the book of Exodus. 

The correct term for the nine-branched candelabra used to light the eight days of Hanukkah is “hanukkiah”. It’s a special lamp used only during the celebration of Hanukkah. 
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It’s not technically incorrect to call a hanukkiah a menorah. All hanukkiah are menorahs. But not all menorahs are hanukkiah. 

Now you have some trivia for your next holiday party!

Chag Sameach! 

(Happy Holiday!)

Have you ever been to an office holiday party? Well, Matthew Kaplan has been to plenty, and he’s not impressed. In fact, he hates attending the annual gathering at his office. This year, though, he’s trying to make partner in his small law firm and does his best to look like he’s enjoying himself, even though he knows the event is really a Christmas party with just the barest hint of a nod toward his own winter holiday, Hanukkah.

Ethan Becker works for a busy caterer, and although all the Christmas music at these holiday office parties used to make his head ache, he’s learned to tolerate it so he doesn’t lose his mind. Sometimes he even sings along. There aren’t enough toe-tapping Hanukkah songs for a party anyway, right?

Matthew is pleased to find latkes on the buffet and escapes the crowd to eat them peacefully in the kitchen, where Ethan recognizes his hunky one-night-stand immediately. Matthew remembers their night together fondly, but certainly hadn’t expected to run into the hottie with the sweet blue eyes again. When Ethan offers to make more latkes for Matthew another day, Matthew jumps to accept the invitation. But Ethan didn’t make them for the party—he hasn’t ever made them at all, in fact—so will their date be delicious or disastrous?

JODI takes herself way too seriously and has been known to randomly break out in song. Her men are imperfect but genuine, stubborn but likable, often kinky, and frequently their own worst enemies. They are characters you can’t help but fall in love with while they stumble along the path to their happily ever after. For those looking to get on her good side, Jodi’s addictions include nonfat lattes, Malbec and tequila any way you pour it.

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Winter Blogfest: Karen Michelle Nutt

December 30, 2019 By 28 Comments


This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card (eCard).

Hark! Ye Merry Readers

Christmas music on an old wooden table with Christmas lights romantic scene with selective focus

In my short story, Fake Marriage with a Dash of Desire, featured in Hot Western Nights, my heroine of the tale loves to sing, and at Christmastime, would surely partake in good cheer by playing Christmas carols. Believe it or not, some of our most popular Holiday songs were written in the18th and 19th centuries.

 

Charles Wesley wrote Hark! the Herald Angels Sing in 1739 and appeared in John Welsey’s collection of Hymns and Sacred Poems. The original hymn began with “Hark how all the Welkin rings”; however, in 1782, the lyrics became “Hark! the Herald Angels sing/ Glory to the newborn king”, which is how we sing it today.

 

O Tannenbaum (Oh Christmas Tree), written in 1824, was a German Christmas song based on a folk song. Tannenbaum is a fir tree, and though the lyrics speak of faithfulness and the symbol of constancy, this song became a favorite at Christmastime.

 

Joseph Mohr composed Silent Night in 1818. Sometime before Christmas Eve, Mohr brought his ‘Silent Night’ Lyrics to Franz Xaver Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for the Christmas Eve mass. (A river flooding had damaged the church organ.) It is unknown what inspired Mohr to write the lyrics, or what prompted him to create a new carol. An interesting tidbit: It wasn’t until 1995 that researchers uncovered that Mohr had written the words in 1816, and Gruber composed the music in 1818. Until then, they thought Haydn or Mozart had been the composer.

 

What’s more, everyday issues can be overwhelming to a parent who usually expects the thrill of breaking the last board on the last try and advancing to the next belt level and we have experienced the utter agony of no-change. levitra 20mg australia There is always some kind of medication that can beat impotency efficiently and can help you to make your sexual intercourse last longer and satisfied. deeprootsmag.org cialis online without prescription The former governor general has expressed his desire to tadalafil pills http://deeprootsmag.org/2017/09/18/over-there-when-americana-doesnt-mean-american/ take the correct dose. The reason is that this is a medicine that is available in different forms for example tablets, pill, get etc. female viagra online God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen was published in 1833 and appeared in the Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern, a collection of seasonal carols gathered by William B. Sandys. The lyrics are olde English and thought to date back to the 15th century. Unfortunately, the author is unknown. It is reputed to be one of the oldest carols. This haunting and mysterious carol is one of my all-time favorites.

 

Enjoy the rendition of the song on YouTube performed by Annie Lennox. The imagery is unique with its Victorian Christmas-card-feel but with a twist of medieval and pagan qualities.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlsJD8RlhbI]

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Jewel ran away from home, not wanting to marry a man twice her age. Nash stands to lose his inheritance if he does not find a bride in three months when he turns thirty. Both are at the mercy of their families, but the two concoct a plan that just might work.

A fake marriage. Later, a quick annulment. What could go wrong? Blame it on the hot summer nights, or toe-curling kisses, but pretending to be married isn’t as easy as it sounds.

 

Karen Michelle Nutt resides in California with her husband. Though her three children are grown and starting their own adventures, she still has a houseful of demanding pets. Jack, her Chorkie, is her writing buddy and sits long hours with her at the computer.

When she’s not time traveling, fighting outlaws, or otherworldly creatures, she creates pre-made book covers to order at Gillian’s Book Covers, “Judge Your Book By Its Cover”.

Whether your reading fancy is paranormal, historical or time travel, all her stories capture the rich array of emotions that accompany the most fabulous human phenomena—falling in love.

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Winter Blogfest: Mary Morgan

December 23, 2019 By 16 Comments


This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of any one of my books and a $5 Amazon gift card..

A Midwinter Feast in 13th Century Scotland

Come journey with me as I whisk you away to 13th century Scotland for a Midwinter’s feast. We shall arrive at Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness. This is the home of the Clan MacKay—the Dragon Knights. Their bloodline is steeped in ancient Celtic mythology. Though they respect the new religion that has swept across their land, the Dragon Knights continue to honor the old ways. Midwinter is a celebration of light and warmth here within the walls. The doors have been left open for all to enter in peace. Once you step inside, you are drawn to the holly boughs with ivy, bay, crimson-berried yew and fragrant bunches of rosemary. 

The torches cast a welcoming light as you proceed onward. As we enter the Great Hall, you are met with boisterous laughter and gaiety. A bard is recanting the tale between the aging Holly King (representing the darkness of the old year), and the young Oak King (symbolizing the light of the New Year). Some of the older lasses have chosen to weave a sprig of holly onto their gowns and they nod at you in passing. 

Candles illuminate the hall in a soft glow as you make your way toward the feasting tables. The Dragon Knights and their wives are seated at a longer table near the hearth. Ale and mead are flowing, along with the tempting dishes you survey as you take your place. You are tempted by the trencher of wild boar stuffed with onions and cabbages to your right. Or maybe you would prefer the spiced apples and damson tarts.

In my story, To Weave A Highland Tapestry, I’ve incorporated the kissing bough for the Winter Solstice celebration. Holly, ivy, pine, and evergreen herbs (bay and rosemary) were most commonly used, along with twigs and fruit. Since the women in my story have journeyed back in time to medieval Scotland, I might have introduced these round balls a bit earlier in time. Regardless, I enjoyed weaving a tradition within the story. 

Kissing boughs for the Winter Solstice and Christmas hail from medieval times. Evergreen branches were placed throughout the halls of manor houses and castles. It was thought to bring good cheer and health to anyone passing under them. The kissing bough was the precursor to kissing under the mistletoe. In addition, this plant was also sacred to the Druids. It was believed to bring good fortune, fertility, protection, and healing. 

Merry Christmas and a Happy Winter Solstice! 

 

PLUM TARTS aka…DAMSON TARTS

2 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup finely chopped almonds 

3/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

12 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), cut into small pieces
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1 egg yolk

2 pounds firm, ripe plums, pitted and quartered lengthwise

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Combine the flour, almonds, and sugar in a large bowl. Add the butter and the egg yolk. Mix by hand or with an electric mixer, until crumbly.

Press 1 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture in an even layer into the bottom of a 9 1/2-inch springform or tart pan. Arrange the plums in the pan, skin side down to form a flower pattern; begin at the outside and work your way in.

Sprinkle the rest of the crumb mixture evenly over the plums. Bake the tart for 40 to 50 minutes, or until it’s lightly browned and the plum juices are bubbling. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and transfer tart to flat plate.

Serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

Patrick MacFhearguis, hardened by battles won and lost, desires what he can never have—peace within his heart and soul. Yet, the ever-meddling Fae weave a new journey for him to conquer—a task this highlander is determined to resist.

When skilled weaver, Gwen Hywel, is commissioned to create a tapestry for the MacFhearguis clan, she embraces the assignment. While seeking out ideas, she finds herself clutching the one thread that can alter the tapestry of her life and heart.

A man conflicted by past deeds. A woman with no family of her own. Is it possible for love to unravel an ancient past, in order to claim two badly scarred hearts? Or will the light of hope be doused forever?

Award-winning Celtic paranormal and fantasy romance author, Mary Morgan, resides in Northern California with her own knight in shining armor. However, during her travels to Scotland, England, and Ireland, she left a part of her soul in one of these countries and vows to return.

Mary’s passion for books started at an early age along with an overactive imagination. Inspired by her love for history and ancient Celtic mythology, her tales are filled with powerful warriors, brave women, magic, and romance. It wasn’t until the closure of Borders Books where Mary worked that she found her true calling by writing romance. Now, the worlds she created in her mind are coming to life within her stories.

If you enjoy history, tortured heroes, and a wee bit of magic, then time-travel within the pages of her books.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 

Buy the book at Books2Read.

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Advice for Writers by Mark Spivak – Guest Blog and Giveaway

September 23, 2019 By 7 Comments


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Mark Spivak will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Advice for Writers

For the past four years, I’ve been mentoring beginning writers via a local Meetup group, and we’ve had several hundred people pass through during that time. People come and go according to their levels of commitment, but it’s been a very rewarding experience. For the most part, I get a sense of déjà vu when I deal with folks at the beginning of their careers, many of whom face the same obstacles and challenges I did.

The number one thing I tell them is: Don’t give up. Learning the craft can be a long process, and it can be grueling. Very often the people who succeed aren’t the most talented ones, but simply those who refused to quit. It becomes doubly hard if you have to face years or even decades of rejection. But the fact is that you will succeed if you stay with it long enough, and the important thing is to stay in the game: people who don’t buy tickets can’t win the lottery.

Many years ago, there was a book written by Studs Terkel (a legendary newspaperman from Chicago) called Working. It was a compilation of interviews with subjects who worked a variety of occupations, everything from garbageman to film critic. And it was a very depressing book to read, because most of them said the same thing: they said they thought they had wasted their lives, that they had talents they had never used, that they could have succeeded if only they had received a break, etc. In many cases, they said the same thing virtually word for word.

When I read that book, I resolved not to become one of those people. I realized that the road to a happy and successful life was littered with the corpses of people who gave up; they may have been fearful, lazy or unlucky, but the result was the same. I tell my students they don’t want to end up that way. If you speak to elderly people about their lives, the main emotion you’ll hear is regret. That’s an ending you want to avoid.`

Becoming a writer is incredibly difficult—unbelievably so. It’s even harder because it requires a type of schizophrenic personality. You really have to believe that you are the self-contained master of the universe, someone possessed of a God-given gift. At the same time, you’ll receive endless crushing rejections from people who think you have absolutely no talent at all. And you have to persist, secure in the belief that you are God’s gift to literature. A psychiatrist or psychologist could have a lot of fun with someone like this.

When you persist, you will have moments of soul-searching doubt. You won’t be able to reconcile you own formidable talent with the fact that no one else seems to see it at that moment. Hard as it is, there’s only one solution:
Don’t give up.

A power-hungry vice president, a bad batch of shady intelligence, and a sinister plot to destroy Western civilization.

Just another day in America.

On May 1, 2001, a group of radical Islamic terrorists crash a Boeing 737 jet airliner into the Mall of America—and Vice President Robert Hornsby knows his moment is coming.

The attack kills three thousand American citizens and throws an entire nation into a panic, but all Hornsby sees is an opportunity, a chance to imprint his fanatical values on the soul of the country he loves and become the most powerful vice president in American history.

With the aid of his affable but ineffectual president; the reluctant, conscience-stricken secretary of defense; and a preening, foppish faith leader with more than a few skeletons in his closet; Hornsby declares war on terror—and anyone who stands in his way. But as media scrutiny of the administration’s actions overseas intensifies, Hornby’s one-man campaign against evil begins to unravel—with striking parallels to the thirteenth century’s doomed Fourth Crusade—and sends the nation spiraling toward another deadly tragedy.

The American Crusade paints a grim and often cynical picture of America’s recent past, reflecting the attitudes, politics, and fears that shaped our nation in the new millennium. By sampling the contemporaneous French text on the Fourth Crusade, On the Conquest of Constantinople, author Mark Spivak reminds us of that ever-vital adage: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Fans of The Castle by Jack Pinter, The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson, House of Cards by Michael Dobbs, The Whistler by John Grisham, and the Aaron Sorkin–penned TV drama The West Wing will love this book.

Enjoy an Excerpt

To President George Cane, the assembled group represented “the full force and moral authority of the United States of America.”

To the Reverend Sanford J. Bayer, head of the White House Office of Faith and Reconciliation (known internally as the Woofers), they symbolized “the lawful arm of God’s righteous Kingdom … preparing to strike at the heart of our enemy.”

To Salman Al-Akbar, leader of the worldwide terrorist organization Husam al Din and the reason the dignitaries were gathered at this press conference, they were “the cancerous core of modern civilization, bleeding like an ulcer that must be removed.”

They included the heads of both houses of Congress, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Directors of the FBI and CIA, most of the Cabinet, and the Chief Justice of the United States.

And to the Vice President, who had assembled this improbable group, they were the usual suspects.

About the Author: In the realm of non-fiction, award-winning author Mark Spivak focuses on wine, spirits, food, restaurants and culinary travel. His first book, Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History, was published by Lyons Press in 2012. He followed this with Moonshine Nation (Lyons Press, 2014), hailed as the definitive book on illegal corn whiskey in America. From 1994-1999 he was the wine writer for the Palm Beach Post, and was honored for excellence in wine criticism “in a graceful and approachable style.” Since 2001 he has been the Wine & Spirits Editor for the Palm Beach Media Group, and contributes to a number of national magazines. He is also the holder of the Certificate and Advanced Diplomas from the Court of Master Sommeliers.

Mark’s first novel, Friend of the Devil, was published by Black Opal Books in May 2016. Set in Palm Beach in 1990, it tells the story of America’s most famous chef, who has sold his soul to the Devil for fame and fortune.

Mark also has an endless fascination with the American political system and is an avid follower of Washington politics. His second novel, The American Crusade (a gripping political thriller set during the invasion of Iraq, which dips into the shadowy world of government conspiracy and political sabotage), was released by TCK Publishing on April 4. He is currently at work on Impeachment, the sequel to The American Crusade.

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Buy the book at Amazon.

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A Dash of Christmas by Samantha Chase – Spotlight and Giveaway

September 18, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Long and Short Reviews welcomes Samantha Chase who is celebrating the upcoming release of A Dash of Christmas. Enter to win the first four books in the Montgomery Brothers series.

“The perfect blend of heart and sass.”—Publishers Weekly for Holiday Spice

With a dash of Christmas magic…
Two people who have spent most of their lives being rivals…
Learn a little something about following their hearts…

Carter Montgomery broke the family mold when he went to culinary school. Now a successful restauranteur, he’s at a crossroads: should he continue on his successful path or look for a new challenge? What he needs is time alone to think things through. But his matchmaking family has other ideas…

Emery Monaghan’s no-good fiancé has embroiled her in scandal and she needs a way out. When mentor Eliza Montgomery offers her a refuge, she’s relieved—until she realizes that the deal means rubbing elbows with Eliza’s son Carter—Emery’s childhood nemesis.

The Montgomery Brothers series:
Wait for Me (Book 1)
Trust in Me (Book 2)
Stay With Me (Book 3)
More of Me (Book 4)
Return to You (Book 5)
Meant for You (Book 6)
I’ll Be There (Book 7)
Until There Was Us (Book 8)
Suddenly Mine (Book 9)

Praise for Samantha Chase:
“Utter rock star perfection. I dare you to stop reading until the end.”—Rachel Van Dyken, New York Times Bestselling Author, for One More Moment
“Chase’s three-dimensional characters leap off the page, encouraging readers to sit down, put their feet up, and enjoy…charming.”—Publishers Weekly for Until There Was Us
“Chase just gets better and better.”—Booklist

Excerpt:

“Don’t go.”

His voice was raw and it wasn’t hard to tell there was a battle waging within him. Normally, Emery enjoyed watching Carter squirm and struggle, but for some reason seeing him this emotional after a call with his mother affected her in a way she didn’t expect.

She felt compassion for him—a need to comfort him and tell him it was going to be all right.

She made her way toward him. “I think it would be best for everyone if I did. You didn’t deserve to be blindsided like this, and I’m sorry it happened this way. I truly believed you were aware of what was going on and you were coming here specifically to work on the book. I had no idea your trip here had nothing to do with it or that you were so against giving it more attention.”

Carter’s shoulders sagged a little. “At any other time…”

“I know,” she said softly, moving a little closer. “I get it. Hey, there isn’t anything I can do about whatever else you’re dealing with, but on this particular subject, I can. I’ll work with the files you sent your mother and I’ll make it into something closer to what she’s looking for, okay? And in the meantime, I’ll stay out of your way so you can have at least one night’s peace.”

They stood in silence for a long time, and as much as Emery wanted to pack and get out of his way, she couldn’t seem to make herself move. In all the years they had known one another, they had bickered and poked fun at each other and essentially gone out of their own way to make the other miserable. It was what they did. It was comfortable. But right now, she couldn’t think of a single snarky or antagonistic comment.

And that freaked her out.

Swallowing hard, she took a step back. And then another. Next thing she knew, she had spun and was walking back to her bedroom, mildly trembling. She went straight to her closet and pulled out her weekender bag. Knowing she wasn’t going to be going out or doing anything other than vegging in her hotel room, she walked over to her dresser and pulled out a couple of pairs of yoga pants, a few T-shirts, a pair of pajamas, and a pair of shorts and tossed them in the bag. Next, she opened her lingerie drawer and was pulling out a handful of panties when a large male hand closed over hers. Gasping with surprise, she turned and found herself face-to-face with Carter.

While they both held her panties.

Awesome.

Emery wanted to be outraged—or at the very least annoyed that he had invaded her space when she was clearly trying to be the bigger person here, but for some reason she couldn’t seem to make herself speak or react.

What was happening to her?

“This is crazy,” he said, his voice deep and low and borderline hypnotic.

So he felt it, too? This sudden, crazy pull toward one another? The change in the air around them?

“I already said I didn’t want you to go, Em,” he went on and that’s when she realized what he was talking about.

Forcing her gaze away, she carefully pulled her hand and underwear from his. “I think it’s for the best.” Then she moved away, tossing her garments in the weekender bag along with the rest of her clothes. For a few minutes, she busied herself collecting odds and ends—her laptop, her e-reader, her iPod—before going into the bathroom and grabbing her toothbrush, makeup, and brushes. Anything else she needed she’d get from housekeeping. When she walked back out into the bedroom, she found Carter sitting quietly on her bed.

And her weekender bag emptied.

Okay, now she was outraged.

“Seriously, Carter?” she cried. “Why can’t you just let me do this?”

He shrugged. “I already told you. It’s not necessary.”

“To me it is! There’s no reason for me to stay here. And, might I remind you, I’ve been a thorn in your side since we were kids!”

It pleased her that he paled a little at having his words thrown back at him.

“I would think you’d be thankful that I was leaving,” she said, hating the tremor in her voice. “One less thing for you to worry about.”

The curse that flew out of his mouth followed by a huff of annoyance didn’t really surprise her. This was them. This was the relationship they had. And honestly, she preferred this to the strained silence and whatever it was that she was feeling just minutes ago.

Carter stood and walked over until they were toe to toe. “What I said to my mother,” he began and then stopped. “What I mean is, that was said in the heat of the moment and really, it couldn’t have been news to you. I’ve been telling you that to your face since we were twelve.”

“Eleven, but…whatever,” she corrected and smirked when he growled with frustration.

“That! That right there is why I said it! Can’t you just let some things go?”

“Me?” she cried. “How about you? I was being the bigger person here! I was putting your feelings first, and where did that get me, huh? I should be in a cab on my way to a hotel with room service, but instead I’m here arguing with you again! Why couldn’t you just let me leave?”

They both instantly fell silent and Emery felt herself holding her breath while she waited for his answer.

“What’s the matter?” she finally asked. “Is it possible the arrogant Carter Montgomery has nothing to say for himself for the first time in his life?”

Yeah, she was taunting him, but…she needed to. Needed things to be like they always were. If she didn’t get them back on solid ground—back on the familiar turf of a lifelong rivalry—she wouldn’t know what to do. For years she’d been aware of Carter as a person. She couldn’t deal with suddenly being aware of him as a man.

When his only response was a slight tick in his jaw, she figured she’d poke the bear a little more. “Did you burn the sauce? Is that why we’re not eating yet? Or maybe you realized all that pretentious crap you bought was no better than grabbing a couple of slices from the pizzeria on the corner.” She noted he seemed to be almost inflating before her eyes—his posture straightened, his shoulders seemed to grow broader…

Go big or go home, right?

Leaning in, she said, “I bet you really don’t know how to make homemade pizza. At least not good homemade pizza.” She let out a devious little laugh. “Probably thought I would be too naive to know the difference. You probably could have served up one of my frozen pizzas and I wouldn’t know the difference.”

He was breaking molars now, no doubt.

“Not that it matters. I’ve got some microwave popcorn I can have for dinner, along with the last brownie. That’s the kind of stuff I can count on—and will probably be a lot more enjoyable.”

This time when Emery tried to move away, Carter’s large hand on her arm stopped her.

She had to hide her smile of satisfaction. “Problem?” she asked innocently.

“You’ve got a real smart mouth, Emery, but you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

“Oh, really? Care to explain?”

But he shook his head. “As a matter of fact, no. I don’t.”

She shrugged. “Fine, whatever. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my dinner awaits.”

“If you so much as think of making popcorn for dinner, I’ll strangle you,” he said, tugging her closer.

When she leaned in until they were nose to nose, she said, “I dare you.”

“Such a smart mouth,” he said right before he claimed it.

***
Excerpted from A Dash of Christmas by Samantha Chase. © 2019 by Samantha Chase. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Samantha Chase has published more than twenty romance novels, with over half a million copies sold. Visit her at www.chasing-romance.com. She lives with her husband and their two sons in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Website

Buy the books at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, IndieBound, BAM, or Walmart.

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