AN INTERVIEW WITH MYSTERY AND ROMANCE AUTHOR RHONDA BLACKHURST

Cozy mystery, romantic suspense and Hallmark-style contemporary women’s fiction author Rhonda Blackhurst enjoys hiding behind her computer screen, where she can unashamedly enjoy her addictions of dark chocolate and coffee. Learn more about her and her books at her website.

When did you realize you wanted to write novels? 

I knew I wanted to write before I could write—literally. At four years old, I scribbled with crayon on the knotty pine walls of our home. My parents weren’t impressed! I started out writing poetry but discovered novels were my true love.

 

How long did it take you to realize your dream of publication? 

In 2010, I heard about NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and participated for the first time. That’s when publication popped into my head. In 2012, I published my first novel, The Inheritance. From there, I was hooked.

 

Are you traditionally published, indie published, or a hybrid author?

When I set out for publication, I made a pros and cons list for both trad and indie. The only pro on the trad side was validation, so I chose indie. Validation from my readers was more important. Ten years later, the idea of trad publishing wiggled its way into my head, so I tried it. Inn the Spirit of Murder and Inn the Dead of Winterhave been picked up by The Wild Rose Press.

 

Where do you write? 

I focus best in my home offices in Colorado and Arizona. I’ve placed window film on the windows in CO. It lets the light in, but also keeps my attention in. My desk in AZ faces the window where I see citrus and palm trees, quail, and even a frequent coyote. If my mind gets “squirrely,” I pull the shade.

 

Is silence golden, or do you need music to write by? What kind? 

Silence, nature sounds, or music without lyrics.

 

How much of your plots and characters are drawn from real life?

I retired from the Adams County District Attorney’s Office two years ago, where I handled some off-the-wall weird cases; some were too good from which to not pull threads. When I hear a reader say, “There’s no way that could happen,” I know that yes, it can and it does.

 

Describe your process for naming your character? 

I take care when naming characters. In my latest series, the main character is Andie Rose Kaczmarek. The surname is Polish for innkeeper, of which she is both.

 

Real settings or fictional towns? 

All three series (including the duology) are set in fictional towns loosely based on real ones. I use the real names of close-by larger cities.

 

If you could have written any book (one that someone else has already written) which one would it be? Why? 

Where the Crawdads Sing. It’s absolutely brilliant!

 

Everyone at some point wishes for a do-over. What’s yours? 

Raising my boys. There is so much I would do differently as I’ve learned more. That said, they’ve grown into fine young men I couldn’t possibly be prouder of. 

 

You’re stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?

Coffee, dark chocolate, and a box of books. (A box is considered one thing, yes?) 😊

 

City girl/guy or country girl/guy? 

As a kid, it was always my dream to be a reporter in New York City. Now I’m 100% a country girl!

 

Anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself and/or your books?

Inn the Spirit of Murder was released July 24, 2024. Book two, Inn the Dead of Winter, is well on its way once I hit the final okay button, zipping it off to production. Book three, Inn Hallowed Ground, is well underway. I’m also plotting a standalone mystery from multiple points of view and am included in a mystery merge short story anthology, hopefully to be released by the end of this year.

 

Inn the Spirit of Murder

A Spirit Lake Mystery, Book 1

Six-year-sober life coach and skeptic, Andie Rose Kaczmarek, and her red retriever emotional support animal, Aspen, become the new owners of the surmised haunted Spirit Lake Inn in Minnesota. When Andie Rose finds a body in the inn's kitchen, she fears it will be the death of what's most important-the stellar reputation of the inn her grandparents, Grandpop and Honey, built. Aware of the risk of stress in sobriety, she gets an AA sponsor-feisty, spirited Sister Alice who, 30 years ago, traded in one habit for another. 

 

Andie Rose falls prey to a new, potentially more dangerous addiction—solving the murder. But in typical Sister Alice fashion, she transforms the danger of solving a murder into a spirited good time. Will Andie Rose flip from skeptic to believer?

 

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ROMANCE AND MYSTERY AUTHOR JACQUELINE DIAMOND ON THE BEAGLE WHO (ALMOST) WASN'T

Today we welcome back award-winning and USA Today bestselling romance and cozy mystery author Jacqueline Diamond, author of more than 100 novels. Jackie is also a former Associated Press reporter and TV columnist. Learn more about her and her books at her website.  

The Beagle Who (Almost) Wasn’t

In the early stages of writing a book (and I’ve written more than 100), my brain goes through several processes, more or less simultaneously. If that sounds confusing, it is. I have to do a lot of organizing and backtracking as ideas come into focus.

 

There’s the premise or basic idea and how it fits into the genre, since I write both romances and mysteries. There are the characters, and why they do what they do. In a romance, what draws the hero and heroine together and what drives them apart? In a mystery, what crime was committed, by whom, and how do I build a trail of (sometimes misleading) clues?

 

An image of a setting or character may help to bring the story into focus. In the case of my latest romance, The Secrets She Learns, in which a major subplot involves the cold case disappearance of a con man, that image was a dog.

 

While browsing through a stock photo site that I use for cover and promotional images, I came across a really cute dog with a magnifying glass held up to one eye. What a perfect partner for my detective hero!

 

It wouldn’t be a talking dog, since this isn’t a paranormal, but a pooch who helps propel the romance while uncovering clues. Twists and turns sprang to mind in connection with this mischievous companion.

 

I immediately licensed the use of the picture. After featuring it in a mock-up cover, I got back to work developing the storyline.

 

In my mind, the dog became a beagle named Digger. He entangled my hero and heroine, won over the hero’s estranged stepdaughter, and showered everyone with his lovable personality.

 

Even after more than forty years as a novelist, I’m still in awe of how plot threads interweave, emotions develop and, almost miraculously, there’s a startling turn of events that helps build to a satisfying conclusion. And that’s what happened with The Secrets She Learns. Ultimately, questions were answered in surprising ways, and the heroine and the craggy P.I. discovered they’d fallen in love.

 

Then a problem arose. And it was a big one.

 

When I sent my completed draft and mockup cover to my Beta readers, they reported back that the cute dog with the magnifying glass wasn’t a beagle. It was a terrier.

 

Excuse me, what?

 

(In case you’re wondering, a Beta reader is a friend, fan, subject matter expert or other reliable person willing to do me the huge favor of poking through my draft and identifying its weaknesses.)

 

 Should I make the pooch a mixed breed? Change its breed entirely? But I really loved Digger just as he was.

 

Back to the stock photo site I went. More browsing. More dogs with magnifying glasses. And there he was—my beagle!

 

Why do photographers create these funny pictures of pooches? I guess because they appeal to a lot of people who pay for the images, like me.

 

As for my fictional beagle... After a career of running away from various homes and being locked up in a shelter, Digger has found his forever family. I hope you enjoy his adventures!

 

The Secrets She Learns

A Sisters, Lovers & Second Chances Romance, Book 4 

 

Shocking secrets, unexpected love, a cold-case mystery—and a nosy beagle! At age 50, nurse Anni discovers she has two half-sisters, both of whom were hurt by a con man who has disappeared. Determined to unravel the past, she hires a handsome P.I., and gets more than she bargained for. That includes his newly adopted dog, who isn’t shy about fostering a romance or digging up evidence.

 

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#COOKING WITH CLORIS--A LITTLE ROMANCE, A LITTLE FONDUE FROM AUTHOR ELLE HARTFORD

Elle Hartford adores cozy mysteries, cozy romance, cooking, and above all, learning new things. As a historian and educator, she believes in the value of stories as a mirror for complicated realities. She currently lives in New Jersey with a grumpy tortoise and a three-legged cat. Learn more about her and her books at her website where you can also sign up for her newsletter to receive bonus material, behing-the-scenes sneak peeks, and terrible jokes.

Celebration Fondue: As Easy as Falling in Love

Makes 4 servings (Cut recipe in half for a romantic dinner for two and serve with salad.)

 

Fondue might seem fancy and complicated. But magical café owner Sakura and her chef, Glacial, are here to prove that anyone can make this fun dish! It only takes half a dozen ingredients to create an enchanting evening. 

 

The following recipe is adapted from Joy of Cooking, with commentary provided by characters from the Pomegranate Café Romance series. Enjoy!

 

Note: Strict vegetarians may avoid gruyère, which is traditionally made with rennet. You can find vegetarian versions (not vegan, but simply gruyère without the rennet), or swap out for a softer cheese.

 

Ingredients:

1 clove garlic

1-1/4 cups dry white wine (plus extra)

1 lb. gruyère, chopped roughly

1 pinch nutmeg

1 T. cornstarch

Veggies, bread, or pretzels for dipping (see step one)

 

Like love, fondue is a dish that doesn’t like to wait. You won’t have much free time once the cheese starts melting! So, prepare your dipping foods beforehand. Sakura loves to use strips of crusty bread, pretzels, or even large croutons. 

 

Glacial recommends foods with vitamins: carrot sticks, red pepper straws, broccoli, tomatoes (either grape tomatoes or large tomatoes chopped so that the seeds stay intact), potatoes, or green apple slices. How you prepare the veggies is up to you, but roughly chopping and boiling the potatoes leads to greater ease of eating! Likewise, broccoli can benefit from a flash boil. Think of this as a chance to clean out the vegetable drawer and practice those knife skills! (Or an excuse to buy prepped veggies from the deli section at the store.)

 

Once you’ve set aside your dippers, it’s time to focus on the fondue. Grab a medium stainless steel pot and your clove of garlic. Peel and halve the clove, then rub it all over the inside of the pot. Think of this like prepping a baking tray with grease. Sakura says this step is silly, but Glacial insists that the oils and flavors from the garlic are important. Discard the garlic afterward.

 

Add wine to the pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat.

 

Once it’s bubbling gently, add in the cheese chunks and a pinch of ground nutmeg, another flavor which Glacial insists will enhance the cheese.

 

Stir everything together with a wooden spoon until the cheese is melted. It’ll look stringy, and that’s okay. Let it sit for a moment while you:

 

Whisk together the cornstarch with an extra two tablespoons of wine in a little cup. If you’re really fancy, Glacial says, you can use kirsch instead of wine here; but if you don’t have kirsch, you won’t notice it’s missing. 

 

Pour the cornstarch mixture into the simmering cheese. Make sure to keep stirring! Good fondue takes some patience–just like love, according to Sakura. It may take five minutes of gentle stirring and simmering, but the mixture will become smooth.

 

If your fondue is too thick, you can add yet more wine to thin it out (just be careful, because you can’t subtract wine once it’s in!). At this stage, you can also add salt or pepper to taste.

 

We’re almost to the good part! Transfer the cheese to a warm fondue pot, or any heat-proof dish set on a stand over a lit tealight. You could eat the fondue straight from the cooking pot or from a bowl, but having a constant heat source will keep the cheese nice and melty.

 

Time to eat! While you dip your bread or veggies, give the cheese a stir to make sure it stays smooth. If it starts to separate, don’t worry. You can always give it a little more heat–even putting it back on the stove for a moment–and with a little stirring, it’ll return to gooey goodness. After all, fondue–like love–is more forgiving than you might believe.

 

Worthy in Love

A Pomegranate Café Romance, Book 1

 

Sakura is desperate to make her new café a success. So desperate, in fact, that she’ll recruit some unsuspecting help . . .

 

Mel is a big city girl who’d rather live the quiet life. She’d also rather not set up a St. Valentine auction with a grouchy carpenter who seems to hate her guts. But she owes the witchy café owner a favor, and Mel’s not one to back down from a challenge . . . even if, in order to succeed, she’ll have to face her toughest test yet: believing in herself.

 

Ryuko isn’t looking forward to the holiday, and he isn’t excited about being in the auction. And he’s certainly not going to fall in love with the café’s new event planner. She has “fancy” stamped all over her, and Ryuko knows his place. But if the café’s meddlesome owner has any say in the matter, Ryuko’s days of staying silent and going unnoticed are numbered . . .

 

Valentine’s Day has come to Belville, and with it, the grand opening of the Pomegranate Café. Can Ryuko and Mel–with a little extra help from Sakura–make it a truly magical holiday? Or will shadows of the past overtake them?

 

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#COOKING WITH CLORIS - AUTHOR KRIS BOCK’S ROCKY ROAD FUDGE BARS AND A BILLIONAIRE COWBOY’S CHRISTMAS

Kris Bock writes novels of romance, mystery, and suspense. Learn more about Kris and her books at her website where you'll find links to her other social media and also sign up for her newsletter to receive a free 10,000-word story set in the world of her Furrever Friends cat cafe, a printable copy of the recipes mentioned in the novels, and an Accidental Detective short story and bonus material. 

Who wouldn't want to be a billionaire? Turns out winning the lottery causes as many problems as it solves.

 

How did you get the idea for this series?

When browsing the top sellers in Kindle romance, I saw lots of billionaires and cowboys, and a few billionaire cowboys. I wondered, how might a cowboy (or rancher anyway) realistically become a billionaire? They’d hardly have enough free time to develop and promote an app that would become the next Tik-Tok and get a billion dollars. 

 

I came up with a family of four brothers and their mother. She plays the lottery, not expecting to win, but simply so she can spend an hour dreaming about being rich. And then she wins. Everything changes, and not necessarily for the better. Friends and family demand a share of the winnings. Strangers come up with scams and sob stories. 

 

People who win huge lotteries are advised to go into hiding, which you can’t really do when you have to take care of animals. This setup allows me to play with questions of dreams, choices, and responsibilities.

 

This is the first book in the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series. The family tries to stick to some Christmas traditions in order to relieve stress – such as the annual cookie exchange. Here’s one of the sweet treats they make.

 

Rocky Road Fudge Bars

NOTE: Carefully read the entire recipe before starting this one; notice that frosting has to be ready when bars come out of oven. Makes 3 to 4 dozen bars.

 

Bar: 

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 square (1 oz.) unsweetened chocolate 

1 cup sugar 

1 cup flour 

1/2 - 1 cup chopped nuts 

1 teaspoon baking powder 

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs 

 

Filling:

6 oz. cream cheese, softened (one box, but reserve 2 oz. for frosting)

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons flour

1/4 c. butter or margarine, softened

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup chopped nuts

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 

 

Frosting:

2 cups miniature marshmallows

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1 square (1 oz.) unsweetened chocolate

2 oz. reserved cream cheese

1/4 cup milk

3 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

 

Heat oven to 350°. Butter and flour 13 x 9-inch pan.

 

In large saucepan over low heat, melt 1/2 cup butter and 1 square chocolate. Add remaining bar ingredients and mix well. Spread in prepared pan. 

 

In small bowl, combine 6 ounces cream cheese with next five filling ingredients. Beat 1 minute at medium speed until smooth and fluffy; stir in nuts. 

 

Spread filling over bar mixture in pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake for 25 - 35 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. 

 

While bars are baking, make frosting.

In large saucepan, over low heat, melt 1/4 cup butter, 1 square chocolate, remaining 2 ounces cream cheese, and milk. 

 

Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. 

 

Remove bars from oven and sprinkle with marshmallows. Bake 2 minutes longer.

 

Immediately pour frosting over marshmallows. Use a knife to swirl toppings together. 

 

Cool. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator. 

 

The Billionaire Cowboy’s Christmas

The Accidental Billionaire Cowboys, Book 1

 

He has everything this Christmas, but all he wants is the quiet ranch life he’s losing…

 

When Josh Tomlinson’s Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery, the formerly tight-knit family is suddenly on edge. Seeking advice, Josh reluctantly contacts family friend and now attorney, Carly Garza. His business is serious, yet he can’t believe Carly’s morphed from a long-legged colt of a girl to a sophisticated woman. Besides, he knows the intelligent Carly has no interest in a quiet, rugged cowboy like him.

 

Carly’s crushed on Josh for years, and she plans to ask him out now that she’s back in Last Stand. She’s hoping he’ll finally see her as someone other than his younger brother’s middle school girlfriend. But when Josh needs advice on how to handle his family’s lottery win, his client and billionaire statuses put him firmly out of reach. If only her heart could ignore the sparks that flare between them.

 

They’re already keeping the family’s lottery win a secret from the town. Can they also hide their budding romance during the most magical time of year?

 

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AN INTERVIEW WITH GEORGIA WEBER FROM ROMANCE AUTHOR JACQUOLYN McMURRAY'S SHELTERED FROM LOVE

Today we sit down for a chat with Georgia Weber from romance author Jacquolyn McMurray’s Sheltered for Love. 

What was your life like before your author started pulling your strings? 

I was happily married. My husband and I took early retirement to live in our dream home in Hawai‘i. I spent most days volunteering at the local animal shelter. Before Jacquolyn killed off my husband, my life was predictable and full, and I was content.

 

What’s the one trait you like most about yourself? 

I think of myself as a caring person. I’m especially concerned about the welfare of animals since they rely on humans to protect them. 

 

What do you like least about yourself? 

I’m overly emotional and cry easily. 

 

What is the strangest thing your author has had you do or had happen to you? She defined my occupation as a retired emergency room nurse and then made me freeze when my husband collapsed. Talk about losing your confidence!

 

Do you argue with your author? If so, what do you argue about? 

I wanted to have more children in the story, but Jacquolyn said it wouldn’t add any value. She, of course, won that battle.

 

What is your greatest fear? 

Ever since my husband died on my watch, I’m afraid I can’t be trusted to care for someone.

 

What makes you happy?  

Having pets to keep me company, seeing my grown daughter, spending time with my best friend, and being with Romel (even though our budding relationship scares me).

 

If you could rewrite a part of your story, what would it be? Why? 

I would maybe spend more time developing the dogs’ personalities. I feel like the birds, Bert and Trudy, stole the limelight.

 

Of the other characters in your book, which one bugs you the most? Why? Harriet, my best friend’s mother, is always making snide comments about me. I shouldn’t let her bother me, but she does.

 

Of the other characters in your book, which one would you love to trade places with? Why? 

Romel. He exudes confidence and is clear what he wants.

Tell us a little something about your author. Where can readers find her website/blog?

Jacquolyn McMurray is published in both contemporary and historical romance and enjoys teaching writing classes and mentoring new writers. She and her husband live on a macadamia nut farm on the island of Hawai'i where they feed a chowder of cats and a flock of hodgepodge chickens. When she's not doing writerly things, Jacquolyn loves spending time with family and friends, sewing, and watching reruns of Monk. Learn more about her and her books and sign up for her newsletter at her website. 

 

What's next for you? 

I’ll be settling into the new me and continuing my work at the animal shelter.

 

Sheltered from Love (available September 20th)

Paradise, pies, and possibilities. Will Georgia give love a second chance?

 

Her husband died on her watch. It should never have happened. As a registered nurse, Georgia knew what needed to be done. Will she relive her failure for the rest of her life and deprive herself of the life she deserves? 

 

Georgia lives in her dream home in Hawai‘i, but she’s lonely. And as much as she’d love to have a couple of pets, and maybe even a male companion, she can’t be responsible for another living thing. Not after she froze when her husband collapsed.

 

She fills her lonely days volunteering at the animal shelter and roams around her empty house at night. Until the day a pie-baking house painter talks her into one supper, and then another. 

#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--MEET ROMANCE AUTHOR, ARTIST, AND CRAFTER DARLENE FREDETTE

Today we welcome Darlene Fredette to the blog. Darlene resides on the Atlantic Coast of Canada where the summers are too short, and the winters are too long. She writes contemporary romances with a focus on plot-driven page-turners. When not working on her next book, she can be found hanging out with her husband, her daughter, and her yellow Labrador. Learn more about Darlene and her books at her website and blog. 

An Artist at Heart

I’ve always been a crafter, from painting free-hand and ceramics, to needlepoint and cross stitch, diamond art beading, and pencil sketches. While I pencil sketch a picture once a week for my daughter and have a diamond art beading project started but not finished, I haven’t done other crafts in a long while.

 

During visits to see my aunt, who lives in a small town nestled on the Atlantic Ocean, we take walks along the beach to find sea glass. I wanted to design a sea glass project from all the little treasures I’ve found. I checked online for inspiration and came across an artist who works with sea glass. In one of her projects, she incorporated acrylic paint. I’ve always loved painting and the pouring technique piqued my interested, which led to following several painting artists.

 

I decided to haul out my paints and give painting a try. My first couple of paintings weren’t too bad, but I knew I could do better. I hadn’t painted in years, so I was a little rusty. I received plenty of painting supplies for Christmas and all I needed was an idea. My husband requested a painting design with The Rollings Stones tongue. I was thrilled with the result, as was my husband who requested another design.

 

Since then, I’ve done several more paintings, and I’m getting better with each one. There are many different elements to use instead of a paint brush, and I’ve already tried balloons, chains, and bubble wrap. My Daisy Balloon Burst is one of my favourites. Today, I finished another painting using red, pink, and white for the background and I painted a deep red heart on top. This painting will go on our front door for the next two weeks.

 

I have many designs I want to try, such as a themed series of fire and water, and earth and outer space, as well as a skull with a spooky background. The painting project ideas I have are endless!

 

I am happy to have rediscovered my love of painting, and while I may not consider myself an artist, I have been told by many that the title is appropriate.

 

If you want to check out more of my paintings and pencil drawings visit my website or blog.

 

Finding Home Again

A Redford Falls Novel, Book 5

A missing dog, a potential poisoning, and a suspicious death. Will Jordan and Logan find their happy-ever-after before another mysterious accident occurs?

 

Caretaker of a historical home, Jordan McKenzie, promised to keep a secret, but doing so gets harder by the minute, especially when an innocent kiss misses its intended target. Entangled in a web of mysterious mishaps, she discovers a surprising family connection. Is putting her trust in her boss' handsome nephew a risk worth taking?

 

Chef Logan Crane returns to Redford Falls hoping to claim an inheritance to open a restaurant, but he side-lines his plan after meeting Jordan. When past secrets intermingle with a present attraction, will Logan open his heart to the possibility of a future in Redford Falls…and with Jordan?

 

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#COOKING WITH CLORIS--A VOLUME OF ROMANCE AND A COCKTAIL WITH AUTHOR VICKEY WOLLAN

Today we welcome back romance author Vickey Wollan to tell us about the First Coast Romance Writers' holiday anthology and share a cocktail recipe with us. Learn more about Vickey and her books at her website.

Most people have a variety of traditions relating to holidays. Everyone has their own version, and that’s a good thing. Ringing in the New Year is no different. Some folks eat certain foods or consume a specific beverage because that activity brings good luck for the upcoming year.

In Romancing the Holidays – Volume 2 one of the short stories, “Holiday Fixation” by Karen Renee, Alex (the hero) uses a drink to tell Deanne (the heroine) that he knows her better than she thinks. 

 

Deanne is the office manager at a PI firm and Alex is a lawyer at a firm that uses the investigative services of Deanne's employer. A subtle work-related change occurs that gives Alex the opportunity to show Deanne he’s wanted to date her for a long time. She goes to ask for a drink at a holiday party at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes, but Alex places the order for her. A Sidecar is not a common cocktail. The fact the Alex knows Deanne’s drink of choice opens her eyes. How romantic is that?

 

This festive tale is just one of fourteen short stories, and some are written by newly published romance authors. Proceeds from this novel benefit First Coast Romance Writers (FCRW), a non-profit organization that helps writers hone their craft and expand their knowledge of the publishing industry. In 2020, FCRW started an annual tradition. The next volume releases on September 22, 2022.

 

It’s an amazing sight to see the joy of an author holding a book in which they are published for the first time. The FCRW members are incredibly supportive of one another. The amount of learning that occurs as the writers go through the steps of independently publishing a novel is immeasurable. 

 

Romancing the Holidays – Volume 1 and 2 include stories with Fall and Winter holiday themes. Thus, the inspiration to have Alex order Deanne’s sidecar. Romancing the Holidays – Volume 3 will include holidays celebrated throughout the year.

 

Since New Year’s Eve 2021 is upon us, First Coast Romance Writers wish all romance readers a safe and prosperous 2022. May a hero in your life do something incredibly romantic to show you how much you are loved. Happy New Year!

 

Classic Sidecar Cocktail

Ingredients

1-1/2 ounces cognac

3/4 ounces orange liqueur (such as Cointreau)

3/4 ounces lemon juice, freshly squeezed

Garnish: orange twist

Garnish: sugar rim (optional)

 

Coat the rim of a cocktail glass with sugar, if desired, and set aside. 

 

Add the cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. 

 

Strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with an orange twist. 

 

Romancing the Holidays

Volume Two

 

Looking for a Happily Ever After? How about fourteen of them?!

 

Romancing the Holidays, Volume 2 is a collection of romantic short stories all with the happy ending you crave. Genres include: contemporary, historical, paranormal, romantic suspense and young adult. 

 

And what better time to find romance than during the holidays? Escape into these Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Three Kings Day and Valentine’s Day adventures, and swoon anew with each couple as they fall in love. 

 

Proceeds from this anthology benefit First Coast Romance Writers, a non-profit organization that helps writers hone their craft and expand their knowledge of the publishing industry.

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#COOKING WITH CLORIS--ROMANCE AUTHOR K.M. FAWCETT WHIPS UP A CHRISTMAS CASSEROLE AND A HOLIDAY ROMANCE

K.M. Fawcett writes contemporary, sci-fi, and paranormal Romances featuring underdogs and fish-out-of-water characters who find their place in the universe. When not writing about true love conquering all, she can be found teaching Isshinryu karate and weapons with her husband at their dojo in NJ. Learn more about K.M. and her books at her website where you can also find articles on self-defense. 

Thank you for inviting me to the blog today to share Lacey Wilde’s Christmas Casserole recipe from Wilde Christmas. Wilde Christmas is part of the Candlewood Falls shared-world series, a unique world of connected stories by three different authors whose characters, business, and events appear in each other’s stories. How fun is that? We like to think of it as a literary soap opera. The Candlewood Falls books can be read in any order, as every book features a new couple who finds love. 

 

Lacey Wilde’s Christmas Casserole Recipe

 

Ingredients

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 onion, diced 

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

8 eggs

12 oz evaporated milk (1 can)

2 cups shredded cheese (Lacey uses a cheddar and Monterey jack mix) 

1 - 28 oz package of frozen Tater Tots (Lacey prefers mini Tater Tots)

 

Preheat oven to 350º. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking oil and set aside.

 

Heat olive oil in a sauce pan over medium heat. Sauté diced peppers, onion and salt and pepper to taste until onion are translucent (about 4-5 minutes).

 

In large bowl, beat the eggs. Whisk in evaporated milk. Add cheese, Tater Tots, and sautéed vegetables. Mix well. 

 

Pour mixture into the baking dish and place in oven for 1 hour or until eggs are set. Serve hot.

 

Lacey’s Christmas Casserole can be enjoyed anytime of the year. You can even try adding other vegetables (broccoli works well) or add some diced ham. However, the red and green peppers makes this egg casserole a little more festive for the holidays. Enjoy!

 

Wilde Christmas: A Candlewood Falls Novel

Small Town Wilde Romance, Book 2

 

Christmas is about to get Wilde!

 

All Lacey Wilde wants for Christmas is to open her long-awaited bed & breakfast. When her only guest is a sexy stranger who claims her adopted Military Working Dog is his, Lacey isn’t about to lose her fur baby—or her heart—to charming Marine veteran Dean Hunter.

 

But the K-9 controversy is the least of their troubles. Danger lurks in the shadows of Candlelight Inn, and someone will stop at nothing to steal Lacey’s heirloom ornaments. Can Dean protect the woman he’s fallen for against a deadly threat, or will this Christmas be their last?

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#COOKING WITH CLORIS--ROMANCE AUTHOR VICKEY WOLLAN BAKES UP AWARD-WINNING CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Vickey Wollan writes sweet and clean Christmas-themed contemporary romance. Her short stories appear in the annual fund-raising anthology series Romancing the Holidays for the First Coast Romance Writers. Learn more about Vickey and her books at her website. 

Do you have a fond memory of your holiday traditions as a child? I do. My mom would remind my sister and me that our maternal grandmother handed down this recipe and manual cookie press. It’s a metal cylinder with caps on each end and an inner snug fitting disk that pushes out the dough when one presses the handle. It seems simple and ordinary. But, when you add your decorating flair and cookie baking love, this recipe can win contests.

 

In December of 2019, as pictured, this platter of cookies won the First Coast Romance Writer’s annual holiday cookie competition. All the party attendees voted. The moistness of the cookie’s texture and level-up decorations were the prime reasons for the crowning glory.

Olga Vogel, the protagonist in A Snowflake Christmas – The Nutcracker is known for baking gingerbread men sold in the gift shop at the tree farm, Christmas Trees of Snowflake, which she recently inherited. A native of Snowflake, a fictitious, snowy, rural Montana mountain town, Olga participates in or hosts the Twelve Days of Christmas celebrations. She’s focused on her business, but two attractive men keep trying to romance her.

 

The spark of an idea came to me while driving from Grand Teton National Park traveling to Yellowstone National Park in May of 2018. The small rural towns along the way had fewer than three-hundred residents each according to signs that boasted their populations. Then I drove past their downtown. Blink, and you’d miss it. That fueled the idea for the setting for the A Snowflake Christmas series. The plot points became clearer while hiking into the snowy elevations of the mountains.

 

Snowflake Currency is an ongoing theme in the series. Bartering favors and kindness to help your neighbors through the rough winters is a theme. Seeing how the residents of this area treated tourists and each other galvanized how my characters would act toward one another.

 

Each novel in the series has a mystical element to keep the joy-of-the-season shining all year round. The legend of the nutcracker says a nutcracker given as a present will protect the home of the recipient. Olga thinks one of her nutcrackers is faulty. She gifts it at no charge to a young boy, Quinn, who cherishes it beyond words. The toy seemingly answers Quinn's questions. When the arm springs forward on its own, that means yes.

 

Butter Cookie Recipe

1 egg

2 sticks butter (1 cup creamed)

3/4 cup white granular sugar

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon of vanilla OR other flavored extracts like peppermint, almond or walnut.

1 & 1/2 teaspoons food coloring (or more as preferred)

2 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

 

Bake 5-6 minutes in a 400-degree oven. Decorate immediately after taking cookies out of the oven. Snow effect via powdered sugar can be added anytime, or not at all.

 

Using a mixer, blend ingredients in a bowl in the order that they are listed above. Add flour in small amounts, not all at once. If you add more extract or food coloring add more flour to make the dough a stiffer consistency. Use a manual or electric cookie press to make the shapes.

 

Pictured are almond-cinnamon poinsettias with a dusting of snow where almond extract made the poinsettias come to life and peppermint-chocolate trees with snow covered branches decorated with mini semi-sweet chocolate chips to create bountiful trees.   Enjoy!

 

A Snowflake Christmas: The Nutcracker

Olga Vogel, a native of small-town Snowflake, Montana, knows the value of hard work and focused determination. When she finds herself the sole inheritor of the Snowflake Christmas Tree Farm, she decides her personal life must wait while she concentrates on successfully running the business. Olga turns to her father for support and is astounded when he questions her management suitability.

 

Olga’s decision to step away from romance gets complicated when Eric Lund, a sexy single father seems determined to capture her attention. Then Grant Miller, who broke up with her to become a college football star, returns to Snowflake acting as if he wants to rekindle their relationship. Drawn to each man individually, Grant’s charisma and Erik’s giving nature, Olga struggles with decisions about her future. 

Can she run a prosperous company, and find her one true love?

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