A #HolidayRecipe and an Excerpt from Stormy by @AuthorTinaGayle

Let's start off the Holiday season with one of my favorite recipes from last year.

Thanks Tina for sharing.

Lemon Curd - #HolidayRecipe

6 Tbs unsalted butter--softened at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. grated lemon zest





Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer about 2 minutes. Slowly add the eggs and yolks. Beat for 1 minute. Mix in the lemon juice. The mixture will look curdled, but don't worry...



In a medium, heavy-based saucepan, cook the mixture over low heat until it looks smooth. (The curdled appearance disappears as the butter melts) Increase the heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. Be patient, this takes about 15 minutes. When you dip a spoon into the mixture and draw your finger (careful, it's hot) down the middle of the back of the spoon it will leave a path. Or, if you're like me and cook with a thermometer, it will read 170 degrees. DO NOT let the mixture boil.





Remove from heat and stirr in the zest. Transfer to a bowl and press plastic wrap on the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Chill in refrigerator. The curd will continue to thicken as it cools.

Covered tightly this will keep in the fridge for a week and about 2 months in the freezer.

With every recipe is a story.





Lizzie Starre gave me this recipe. As a member of HWG, she brought it to our Christmas party, which was a delightful tea. I spent some wonderful time with my friends, a heart warming day to remember and a friend to treasure.


In normal, amazon fashion it is available all over the world.

• See book in Kindle Store
  

  
  

  

  Stormy by Tina Gayle

  USINUKDEFRESITJPBRCAMXAU

Blurb – Can friends become lovers? Even after the age of forty?

He’s wife is dead. She’s divorce with adult children.

For two years, Daniel and Karen have consoled each other during the trails of losing their spouses. Now, they are ready to turn their friendship into a loving relationship. After sharing a night of passion, all appears golden for a bright future for Karen and Daniel until she receives a call from her children saying her ex has had a heart attack.

Torn between, her need to support her children and her desire to be with Daniel, Karen leaves him and flees to the hospital. Coming face to face with  her ex-husband’s new, trophy wife, Karen begins to question exactly why her marriage fell apart. Was she to blame, and if so, should she try again?

On the outside looking in, Daniel must now convince Karen to let go of her past mistake and share a future with him?



Excerpt:

The dim light shining up ahead drew her attention. She figured Daniel must have left the porch light on for her. Then why didn’t he return her calls?

Was it his way of keeping her from backing out?

Seeing his new F150 truck in the driveway, she pulled in beside it and gathered her things off the passenger seat. “Daniel Slater, you have some real explaining to do.”

She stashed her keys in her pocket and zipped her nylon jacket closed before she swung open the car door. Rain pelted her as she dashed for the front porch. Splashing through multiple puddles, she skidded to a halt by the oak door.

Breathless and feeling completely soaked to the skin, she jabbed at the doorbell. No sound met her ears except the relentless ting of the raindrops hitting the cabin’s tin roof. She pounded on the wooden partition with her fist. “Daniel, let me in.”

Recalling the key he’d given her, she dug into her pocket and pulled out her key ring. The porch light helped her identify the right one, and she inserted it into the lock. With a quick twist of her wrist, she opened the door and stepped onto the gleaming hardwood floor.

A light in the kitchen lit the large open area. The dining room and living room cast in shadows showed no occupants. 

“Daniel,” she called out and dumped her things on the small table just inside the cabin. She peeled off her wet jacket and dropped it over a hook on the wall before she toed off her muddy sneakers and set them on the plastic mat by the door.

Still not hearing any reply, Karen turned for the stairs leading to the master bedroom, located in the loft above the living room. She noticed the soft glow on the ceiling from a light and decided he must be resting up there.

“Damn it, Daniel, if I find you with a young chickadee like I did my ex-husband,” she growled as she trudged up the staircase. “I might be tempted to...”   

Her gaze immediately fell on the empty king-size bed. Exasperated by her inability to find him, she quickly scanned the entire room...desk area, open closet, bathroom... the door closed. Light glowed through the seam between the floor and the bottom edge. “Daniel, if you’re in the bathroom come out this minute.”

The entrance opened, and he stood in the doorway.

Problem, he wore only a towel.

Awe, shit... she didn’t need to see his bare chest covered in crisp dark hair, the sculptured muscles of his arms and shoulders, developed pecs, and thick thighs.

Damn, how was she supposed to resist such temptation?

Tina Gayle grew up a dreamer and loves escaping into a good romantic book.

She is currently working on two different series the Executive Wives’ Club and the Family Tree series both combine elements of women fiction with the passion of romance. Read the 1st chapter of any of her books on her website.

Home - www.tinagayle.net

Blog - www.tinagayle.blogspot.com

Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/AuthorTinaGayle

Goodread - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1641826.Tina_Gayle

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/tina.gayle

Thanks Tina,

Anita
www.anitaphilmar.com

Father, Lover, Husband - Some Times the Men in Our Lives Can Be a Pain

Amanda has been married twice. Both are dead. Another man wants to marry her but twice burn she's not excited about the idea.

Doesn't help that her father is the one that has arranged the marriage.

Excerpt -

“Where do you plan on living? His house or yours?” Dee’s question was interrupted when the bell over the door sounded again. She glanced in that direction. Her jaw clenched. “Don’t look now, but I think you have more trouble headed your way.”

Amanda didn’t have to turn to see who’d come through the door. She knew by the loud rumble of the man’s voice. “Hey, neighbor.”

She balled her hands into fists. “Pickled herons, I could have gone all day without seeing that man and been happy.”

Her father greeted Dee from across the room. “Dee, my darling child, bring your dear grand pappy a pint.”
Dee smiled and walked to the bar, where a drink was already waiting for Seth Butterfield. The local bartender knew Seth’s likes. Amanda's father probably came into the café everyday.

Read the first scene on my website.
http://www.anitaphilmar.com/bdbchapter.html

Anita
www.anitaphilmar.com

#EggcerptExchange for Jixit by Jude Liebermann

Another one of my author friends is having a blog hop. Sort of like Blissemas we did at Christmas time, this one is called the Easter Excerpt Exchange and will run from March 5th through April 20th.  To push me into finishing Jixit, I’ve set myself a deadline for the second week of April to have it published online.  Today I created the cover, which I will unveil in this blog, so enjoy!

Blurb:

Colin Jix is a loner. He’s had to be, so he lives in a remote mountain town where he limits his contact with other people.  He’s settled into his solitary life and resigned himself to be alone. That is until Dot Tate shows up with a broken down car and needs his help.  Neither can fight their immediate attraction, but then he discovers a tragic secret and must step outside his comfort zone to make things right.

And here is the eggcerpt:

A persistent knocking woke him early the next morning.  Disoriented and still tired from lack of sleep, he rolled off the couch and stumbled to the door.  Without thought he pulled it open with a yawn and then froze, suddenly remembering he never opened his door to strangers as well as making sure he was completely dressed first.  As the cool air from the hallway hit his naked chest, he realized he still wore the towel from his shower the night before.  Her scent on that unwelcome air hit him harder, and he covered his crotch with one hand and slammed the door shut with the other.

Dot was left standing in the hall, staring at the door, but that’s not what she saw.  The vision of Colin in only a towel would be forever imprinted on her retinas.  Her mouth fell open at those muscles, and the hair lightly sprinkled on his chest and abdomen, disappearing beneath the low riding towel.  His tattered uniform and all that grease had hidden much more than she could have hoped for, and she licked her lips.

“Oh my!” The breath rushed from her lungs, before she sucked it back in and knocked on the door again.

“Yeah, hold your damn horses!” His muffled shout replied from a distance.

Her instincts told her to get the hell out of there. She’d already embarrassed him, and she didn’t want to make it worse, but she knew she couldn’t leave without at least apologizing for taking him so unaware. She thought mechanics always got up early. Glancing at her watch, she winced, having read the time wrong.  It probably was too early to show up at a man’s home, especially one she barely knew.

Dot took a few steps away from the door and waited.  His agitation came through the wood in muffled curses, and she clenched her fingers together behind her back.  When the door finally opened again, black covered Colin from head to toe.  The only bit of skin visible was the part of his face the knitted cap and matching scarf didn’t cover.  She frowned, wanting to see his hair without all that grease, and she missed that opportunity earlier when she couldn’t tear her eyes from his muscular chest and arms.

His whole body blocked the doorway as he glared at her.  “How did you know where I live?”

She gave him what she hoped was her most charming smile.  “So I guess you’re not going to invite me in?”

His objection to that suggestion shone clearly in his disgruntled features.  “I was actually on my way out.”  He closed and locked the door behind him and then marched past her to the stairs.  “I thought you understood that your car won’t be ready for at least a week.”

Dot stared at his ass, wishing his jeans were a bit tighter.  “Of course you made that clear.  I was having breakfast at the diner and mentioned how my phone switches off for no reason. The waitress mentioned you.  I actually think she has a crush on you.”

Colin stopped half way down the stairs and looked over his shoulder at her.  “You mean Rose?”

She nodded, unable to keep the humor from showing in her grin.

“Rose has a crush on every eligible man in the whole town.  I’ll have to talk to her about giving out my address to strangers though.”

Dot raced down the stairs and stopped in front of him.  “I’m not a stranger.”

He stared down at her, his expression unreadable, and she tried not to fidget under his intense scrutiny.  He held out his gloved hand to her, and she stared at it, unsure what to do.  Did he want to hold her hand?  A warm rush flowed through her body at the thought, even though she wouldn’t be holding his bare hand.

“Your phone?”

“Oh, of course.” She couldn’t stop the nervous giggle that escaped as she scrambled through her purse in search of her cell phone.  Once found, she placed it in his gloved palm.

Colin stared at it for a moment, and she saw uncertainty cross his face.  Finally, he pulled off one glove and cradled the phone in his fingers.  She could only stare in awe as his expression changed, as if he no longer saw the phone but something bigger, and his eyes scanned the empty air above his palm.

He blinked a few times and then refocused on her.  “I’ll walk you back to the diner.  I should have your phone fixed by then.”

Without another word, he passed her on the stairs, and she had no other choice but to follow him.

Available for pre-order at Barnes & Noble and will be soon at Kobo Books and iTunes, but you can view it and read the first chapter now on Smashwords.com.

April 11th is the official release date when it will be on Amazon.com. www.judesplace.com/blog @judel

Excerpt from Black Dragon's Heart

Jake released Sarah’s wrists and crowded her against the wall of their bedroom. He nuzzled her throat and rubbed his lips over the fast beat of her pulse. “Easy, Sarah. I’m not using my cuff today, though the very idea has your blood screaming through your veins.”

His hands shifted to the creamy swell of her breasts. He toyed with the rose tips and stroked his thumbs over her nipples until they both hardened into cherry buds. She moaned, and his mouth watered with anticipation of sucking on the tasty treat of dragon candy.

No doubt clouded his mind. She loved him.

“Jake, where does dragon serum come from?” Sarah shoved her hands against his chest.

He licked his lips. How could she talk when he wanted only to sample her heat?

Anita
www.anitaphilmar.com

Another Excerpt from Black Dragon's Blood

“A woman with your level of dragon blood needs a man, needs to have his children.” His strong hand circled her forearm. She sensed the heavy pulse of his blood beating against her tender skin.

“Not a possibility, William, even if I did agree to marry you.” She tugged her arm from his grasp. “I’ve been married twice. In neither case did I have a child. With you, it would be no different.”

His eyes narrowed to slits. “Are you telling me you’re unable to bear children?”

“You’re an intelligent man, William. What do you think?”

“Your father didn’t tell me this.”

“Yes, well, why would he? It would have been counterproductive to his plan, wouldn’t it?” The angry tightening of his jaw told Amanda she’d gained her freedom.

Stepping around him, she slid the door open on the metal railing and stood for a moment staring at his back. Other more pressing business required her attention. If she was lucky, she could get home, pack and get out of town before William picked up her trail again.

Anita


www.anitaphilmar.com