Monday, February 3, 2025

On the Brightside, Ten Special Editions of My New Book

Not long after I ordered paperback copies to sell at the Stupid Cupid Art Market, I realized the recipe I had put in the back of my book was missing butternut squash on the list of ingredients. Folks, I put the recipe for butternut squash soup in my book! 

I share this in case it makes anyone feel better about any mistakes they've made. I'm so glad I have an editor and a proof reader. In my next book I'll make sure to add the recipe before the book is proofread. I know both my editor and my proofreader would have caught my error.

Morals of my story:
1. Everyone makes mistakes--thankfully mine was easy to fix! I revised my files and uploaded corrected versions of my ebook and paperback! 
2. It's good to work with others! Teamwork makes my dream work!
This picture of my orchid is ten days old, now the buds are even bigger. Very soon it will bloom in Feburary for the third year. Something to look forward to in these trying times. 


Saturday, February 1, 2025

Happy Black History Month! The Sunday Post

 


The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.


Happy Black History Month! I read that the administration is trying to cancel the celebration of Black History. Now IMO, Black History is America's history and it can't be canceled. This week I'm sharing some of my favorite Black authors and their books. 



Wishing you a good week in these trying times.










Wanna Read A Bodyguard Romance? BETRAYED by Eveline Rose

Do you enjoy Bodyguard romances? Enjoy a damsel in distress theme?  If you really crave a nice opposites attract, BETRAYED is one to read! BETRAYED is the fourth book in the Shepperd and Sons Investigations series. Each book features a member of the SSI staff saving someone. 

This is a standalone series. The series features found family--something I love! The romance happens behind closed doors. In this book, there is a big action-filled climax. We end the book with a nice HEA. I give this five stars based on me wanting to pick it back up as soon as possible every time I was interrupted and had to set it down!

Happy weekend reading! As always, if you read a book take a quick second when you are done to rate and/or review! It makes a big difference! Then tell a friend!

Here is a link for more info or to purchase: https://a.co/d/eKNaVgQ
 

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Book Birthday Today! It App-ened One Night!


Out into the world, it goes! I hope people like it. I write stories I'd like to read, so hopefully there is a nice bunch of people out there who enjoy reading the same things I do. I also hope that we caught the typos between my editor, my proofreader, and my reviews!

When I was writing this book in October and November, there were days when I didn't think I'd ever finish it! Then I had it finished a week before it was due. 

Sometimes authors talk about their book babies and I didn't understand why until I was revising my first book. Writing a book is like being in labor. Once it's done and the baby has arrived you quickly forget the finer points of how arduous the whole process was to endure! 

So now the drafting process is almost a warm fuzzy memory and the finished version is ready for everyone! 

Here is the link to my website if you'd like to get any of my books or become a subscriber for bonus scenes, ARC opportunities, and other special perks. 

 

Sunday, January 26, 2025

This Month Has Been Years Long, But We're Finally In The Last Week!

 Time for the January Cozy Mystery Book Club on YouTube!


This is my first time reading a book by author Olivia Blacke. Vinyl Resting Place, like all of the book the club reads, is a first in a series. First in the series books can be tricky, the author has to introduce us to characters and setting plus have a whole murder mystery on top of it! 

This book is about sisters who open up a vinyl record store outside Austin, Texas. When they are having their soft opening night a body is found! Their uncle is suspect, so the sisters have to clear him. Since the youngest sister Juni's only job is to work at the new record store, that is now a crime scene, she is the main character who is trying to solve this mystery. 

If you've read this book, come join us for the live stream on Tuesday. I had a 'wait, what?' moment in the book and I'm looking forward to seeing if I was the only one! 

It's going to be warm enough as this week continues that I won't have to wear my fleece-lined snow boots to work, which will be nice! 

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Say There, Would You Like A Bunch of Free Books? The Sunday Post

 


The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

On Tuesday, over 1,000 romance ebooks will be free. Some are free on Kindle and some are free on a bunch of different places, so if you don't do Kindle but you do Nook or Apple Books or Kobo, you are in luck! You can go to https://romancebooklovers.com and pick what books you want to grab on Tuesday.



My first book No Gouda Without You is free under the small-town romance section of the website. If you plan to pick up some books let me know!

I have a cold or a sinus infection--to be determined, so I've been laying around hoping to feel better and trying to read. Here is what I've been reading:








Sunday, January 19, 2025

Surviorship and a Blue Apron Meal I made my own.

 

I like Lynn Cahoon's Kitchen Witch series. I also loved the idea of this series since it is supposed to be about a cancer survivor starting a book club for survivors of cancer. Being diagnosed with cancer, cancer treatments, and losing friendships and romantic relationships as a result of the cancer experience are talked about early and often in this book. That can be triggering for some people who are looking for a cozy mystery. 

I listened to the audio version of this book. I liked the narrator's voice but I didn't like when she changed her voice for the main character Rarity or the sidekick Sam. Overall I liked characters in the book. I wasn't sold on the killer, I thought I knew the motive, but I was off a bit. This is a book worth reading and I will pick up the second book in the series. I almost always like the second book in a series better than the first!

A couple of years ago, I got an order from Blue Apron and one of the meals was baked eggs and kimchi. It was so good! I make this dish often now, especially in the wintertime. It's good any time of day and it's delicious if you add gochujang sauce on top! 

Preheat oven to 430 degrees F.
Use cooking spray to coat a 9x9 baker or an oven-safe skillet
Then add these ingredients to the pan:
2 tbsps minced ginger ( I use the frozen ginger that is minced already.)
2 tbsps minced garlic (or more if you love garlic)
3 green onions chopped
1 cup of mushrooms chopped
6 oz of baby spinach
2 tbsp sesame seed oil
3/4 cup of kimchi
1 cup of rice 
2 cups of water.
Mix that all up and cover the pan or skillet with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes.
Take it out of the oven and mix everything up.
Then make 4 wells in the kimchi rice, crack an egg in each well. 
If you want--add rinsed sugar snap peas on top wherever you don't have an egg.
Put back in the oven for 5-8 minutes or until the eggs are set!

Then enjoy! If gochujang sauce is too spicy, try a little drizzled hoisin sauce on top. 

Saturday, January 18, 2025

The Sunday Post. I'm Ready For a Day Off, How About You?

  


The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

I've been trying something new to better organize my writing/author time. I get up at 4:45am. I started participating in Monday through Friday Zoom that's called the Five a.m. call.  On the call, each person says a win for the previous day and shares three things they will accomplish for the day. Just saying out loud what I plan to achieve makes it about 85% more likely to happen. 

Do you have any tricks to get things done?

Yesterday I was a guest on the podcast Skip to the Good Parts


Here is a bit about the podcast:
We interview your favorite romance authors! Join your co-hosts, Cara Lockwood/Cara Tanamachi, a USA Today bestselling author of more than 35 books whose first novel, I Do (But I Don't) was made into a Lifetime Original movie, and her co-host, husband, and real-life romantic hero, PJ, (co-host of the Braving Business Podcast) as they get to know the writers behind your favorite Happily-Ever-Afters. 

We'll skip to the good parts - of new books, backstories, and inspirations. Join us and add a little more Happily Ever After to your day! 

It was really fun and when the episode comes out, I'll let you know. 

I'm currently reading Cara's book The Second You're Single it's a really fun rom-com that takes place in February, so a perfect mood read! 


Thursday, January 16, 2025

Do You Know How To Read Cursive?

 I came across this information in a news story and had to start sharing it with everyone I know!

Cool Thing I Must Share With You!

Do you know how to read cursive? It has become a skill that fewer and fewer people have, and that means you are special! The National Archives needs volunteers to help transcribe documents. All you need to do is go to their website, create an account, and pick your mission! Here are a few missions I saw that looked interesting:

If you are a history buff or made a resolution to try new things, here is something you can do, and then you can say you are a part of the historical record! This is the link to the website to sign up: https://www.archives.gov/citizen-archivist/get-started-transcribing


What do you think? If I do this, can I add it to my resume? 

I hope you are having a great day! I'm working on my goal to read books I own. Here is this week's read! 



Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Can You Ever Have Enough Notebooks?

 Meet my new notebook. My husband was very befuddled that I need a notebook to write down recipes when I could just save the links to the online recipes I like. He's not wrong. I don't need this...


In my defense, look at these pages!

There are little boxes you can check and lines for lots of ingredients and there is a big box to make future notes! I can't wait to fill it up with only the best recipes! I recently made a tomato soup from Blue Apron and it was very tasty so now I'm working on making some changes to it and adding a few ingredients. I'm thinking of adding zucchini and maybe orzo pasta to the soup. I will keep you posted! 

How is your week going? Have you gotten any reading in? Here is a quote from On The Edge that I loved. This is from the first book in Anne at Books of My Heart's read along. If you'd like to get in on the read along here is the link: https://booksofmyheart.net/2024/12/01/read-along-giveaway-edge-innkeeper-by-ilona-andrews/





Saturday, January 11, 2025

The Sunday Post- First Full Week of January is Complete

 


The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.


How did your week go? It was busy here, what with the having to go back to work after break and my mother-in-law's funeral. It was also cold and that makes me being able to run more difficult. Not only is it cold, but you have to try not to slip on ice. I don't know about you but I don't like falling down! 

I'm continuing to work on less scrolling and more reading! How are you doing with your New Year goals? 

I've wanted to read this book for a while and when I saw it on Hoopla I grabbed it. 


I read and reviewed On the Edge for Anne's Blog:
And I also read Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke. I'll write about that later this month becuase it's the January read for the Cozy Mystery Book Club! 





Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Where do you read your audiobooks?

 

Our little city put in a new park over the last few years and it has a little pond. Over the summer they put a paved trail around the pond. I love a paved path because it's easier for me to run on and it's accessible for parents with strollers and people with wheelchairs or walkers. 

I took this picture on January 3rd, the temperature was in the low  20s (aka -4 Celcius) but the wind chill was wicked cold!  My ears were freezing under my hat. Luckily I always have a story to keep me distracted from the weather. 

 I picked up a free audio book from the Chirp newsletter. I love a free thriller! Where do you read your audiobooks? 


Sunday, January 5, 2025

I Love This Recipe So Much I'm Putting It In My Book

In It App-ened One Night, Susan makes a butternut squash soup for her mom. It's a soup I love to make in the fall and winter because the veggies are in season and usually on sale and it is vegan as made so a good choice for any diet. You can of course add cheese or a protein to the finished soup.
I'm putting the recipe in the back of my book, this isn't traditionally done in romance books. Those of you who read cozy mysteries know many of the books include recipes.
I think I'd like to include a recipe in the back of each of my romances going forward. It adds to my desire to embrace coziness as my author brand. Is there anything better than enjoying a cozy day? 
And now on to the recipe:

Butternut-Leek Soup

Ingredients:
Peel and dice one butternut squash - Or use a package of precut squash
Slice two leeks, just the white and a little of the light green portion.
Peel and dice one potato or sweet potato 
Peel and slice one parsnip. (optional this is my secret ingredient)
4-5 cups of vegetable or chicken (if you don't need it to be vegetarian) broth 
a tbsp of dried poultry seasoning or thyme
or 1-2 tbsps fresh rosemary and thyme
Salt and pepper to taste.

Put it all in a slow cooker on low and cook for 6-8 hours or until the vegetables are soft. Then use an immersion blender to puree the soup. 
Serve with gruyere or Swiss cheese grated on top or add a couple of tbsps of diced ham or crumbled bacon. 
This soup pairs very well with a nice crusty bread. I would pair it with a Reisling if I was having a glass of wine.
The leftovers taste great and this soup freezes well. 
If you try it let me know! 

 

Saturday, January 4, 2025

The Sunday Post- Back To The Old Grind Tomorrow

   


The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. you can write about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.


I just remembered I signed up to bring a dish to the breakfast potluck we have at work tomorrow. It's an institute day so not only do I need to bring a dish, I start work at 8 a.m. instead of 8:45 a.m. On the plus side, we have a three-day weekend coming up. I also reviewed the school calendar and there are only 22 weeks left of the school year and only 11 of them are full five-day weeks. 

This all probably sounds like I don't like my job, but I do! I love it.  It can been draining so I cherish the time off to recharge. One thing I need to do to make life easier is to meal plan for dinners, and better yet, meal prep so I don't have to spend as much time cooking after work. Do you have any easy recipes you make?

This week I'm reading: 









Thursday, January 2, 2025

The Beast Takes a Bride by Julie Anne Long

I borrowed this book via the Libby app from my local library. I thought it was a book club selection for January. I was about sixty pages in when I realized it wasn't. This book is part of a longer series and you really don't need to read any of the other books to enjoy it.  I read it over four days and it held my interest even when my husband was watching the new Harlan Corben limited series on Netflix. It was also a good distraction from my itchy face.

Why was my face itchy?  A few years ago I had this goal to set aside money and get a chemical peel for myself for Christmas. But that didn't happen for a couple of years. Then I researched and found out I could get a less intense chemical peel for a lower cost at Massage Envy. Plus unlike my dermatologist, you can join the Massage Envy club and pay for one credit a month for your choice of facials or massages. 

In September, I promised myself I could get a facial once I finished drafting my book. Then I got busy and didn't do that--but on the plus side, I accrued credits and was able to use two to get the chemical peel I'd been promising myself for quite some time! I'm welcoming in the new year with a hopefully more luminous face once the itching subsides. It's not that bad, I'm being a little dramatic. 

The Beast Takes a Bride has some Beauty and The Beast vibes but not too much. Lots of pride getting in the way of love for our leads, which I enjoyed. It doesn't have a true third-act breakup, so if you like books without one, this would be a good one to add to your list. 

Next up I am going to read Vinyl Resting Place which is The Cozy Mystery Club book for January. I was pleasantly surprised to see it is available on KU. 

What are you reading to the start the new year?