Wednesday, October 28, 2015

A #HolidayRecipe for a Special Quiet Night with Your Lover from #MFRWauthor Anita Philmar

The holidays can get a little crazy. Why not plan a quiet night with your lover? I post this last year, but thought I'd remind everyone to take time to enjoy the holidays with the one you love.

First, choose your favorite wine. (Opening the bottle is something you can have your lover do.)

Make a quick dip of combining a mashed avocado with your favorite salsa. (Stir together and you are done.)

Open a bag of your favorite corn chips and you are ready to party.
Personally, I like to enjoy my wine and munch on the dip while I’m cooking the fajitas.


Now slice up a
1 medium size onion
1 green pepper
Sauté in non-stick pan with two tablespoons of oil
add 12 medium size shrimp (Shelled and deveined)
Sprinkle with tablespoon of taco season. (Vary this to your taste.)
and cook until shrimp are done.
Add some flour tortillas and dinner is served.

Now for desert – might I suggest you share a hot read, of any my books. They should put you in the mood for some extra fun.

Also if you are looking for other easy date night recipes – download for free Passionate Cooks
Have a great evening,





Deputy’s Bride is an erotic, historical western that is a stand-alone story with a satisfying HEA. Texas Deputy Bo Kildare is looking for a special kind of lady, one that is willing to meet his special requirements. No sweet little virgin will do, he wants a woman who knows how to please a man, perhaps two.

 Recently widowed, Sarah Elizabeth Foster-LaFever has lived in the public eye for the last few years and wants out. Her reputation as Micah LaFever’s wife has left her penniless and without many viable options until Bo comes calling. Now, she believes she found the perfect man until her past rears its ugly head.

Can murder and corrupt dealings keep these two lovers from making it to the alter?

Excerpt: “God, when is he going to get here,” Sarah muttered and strolled to the freestanding, oval mirror in the corner.
Critically, she examined her silk dressing gown’s high collar. Unable to breathe with every button running down the front of garment secured, she’d only connected a few at her waist. The dark red robe highlighted her creamy complexion and light blonde hair.

Through the open at the top, she viewed the curve of her breasts and the tight fit of her corset. The cream color almost matched her skin, creating the illusion that she was nude underneath. Tugging aside her wide skirt, she examined the long line of her legs. She’d opted to omit her bloomers. One, because with the fire raging in the fireplace, she was hot. Two, because she thought Mr. Kildare should get a glimpse of what he’d receive if he decided to make her his wife.

 Granted from what Madeline had told Sarah, the man wanted more than a dutiful wife. He sounded as if he were more like her deceased husband. Micah enjoyed playing extreme bedroom games.

 She frowned, thinking how much she’d missed sex in the last year. Not because she hadn’t had the chance to indulge. More because she hadn’t wanted to fall victim to the same power hungry crowd that Micah had belonged. She’d done enough for those bastards and she had no intentions of doing... 

Knuckles hammered against her door.

 Brushing a nervous hand over her hair, she offered up a silent prayer that everything would work out before she rushed back to the doorway. After a quick breathe, she asked, “Who is it?”

 “Bo Kildare, I was sent by Madeline Cowden.”

A masculine tone rang from the other side.

 His voice alone sent shivers racing over her skin. She flipped back the lock and inched open the door. “Yes, she said you might be stopping by.”

Bio for Anita Philmar
Anita Philmar likes to create stories that push the limit. A writer by day and a dreamer by night she wants her readers to see the world in a new way.
Influenced by sci-fi programs, she likes to develop places where anything can happen and where erotic moments come to life in a great read.
Naughty or Nice?
Read her books and decide.

Email: anitaphilmar@yahoo.com






Monday, October 26, 2015

The Challenge by @KimHeadlee #romance #fantasy




The gauntlet is thrown. One must die. Refusal is not an option.

Arthur the High King of Breatein has fallen captive of a longtime enemy, the Saxon warrior-princess Camilla, who lusts to avenge the death of her betrothed at Gyan’s hands and will stop at nothing, even the black arts, to achieve her goal. Because Gyan and Arthur have grown estranged, she fears that Arthur may side with Camilla and make her his new queen.

To meet Camilla’s challenge, Gyan must face all her demons—public as well as private.
The Challenge
by Kim Iverson Headlee
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Historical Fantasy Romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~


EXCERPTS:

 photo MediaKit_THE CHALLENGE graphic novel teaser_colored_zpsy3pz5ugg.jpg
The guard drew a long breath. “Your Majesty, it is time.”
Time to face all my demons, private as well as public.
At her nod, he returned to his post outside—a mite reluctantly, she observed.
“Any last advice?” she asked Merlin at the tent’s entrance. She barked a mirthless laugh. “How
“You must not forget your shield.”
She felt her eyebrows rise. “You know I am no novice warrior.”
“I am not talking of wood and metal, Your Majesty.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kim Headlee lives on a farm in southwestern Virginia with her family, cats, goats, Great
Pyrenees goat guards, and assorted wildlife. People and creatures come and go, but the cave
and the 250-year-old house ruins—the latter having been occupied as recently as the mid-
twentieth century—seem to be sticking around for a while yet.


Kim is a Seattle native and a direct descendent of twentieth-century Russian nobility. Her
grandmother was a childhood friend of the doomed Grand Duchess Anastasia, and the romantic
yet tragic story of how Babushka escaped Communist Russia with the aid of her American
husband will most certainly one day fuel one of Kim’s novels. Another novel in the queue will
involve her husband’s ancestor, the seventh-century proto-Viking king of the Swedish colony in
For the time being, however, Kim has plenty of work to do in creating her projected 8-book
Arthurian series, The Dragon’s Dove Chronicles, and other novels clamoring for attention. She
has been a published novelist since 1999, beginning with the original editions of Dawnflight
(Sonnet Books, Simon & Schuster) and Liberty (writing as Kimberly Iverson, HQN Books,


AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – http://www.amazon.com/Kim-Headlee/e/B001KE2LK2
This book will be offered FREE on Kindle Oct 27-28
WORLDWIDE AMAZON KINDLE LINK – http://getBook.at/The_Challenge_by_KIH_Kindle
GOODREADS – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25906481-the-challenge
INDIE BOOK DISCOVERY – http://www.indiebookdiscovery.com/ibd/book/b00zgrocuq_the-
challenge-the-dragons-dove-chronicles_by_kim-headlee/
ABOUT.ME PAGE – https://about.me/kimheadlee
AUTHORGRAPH AUTHOR PAGE – https://www.authorgraph.com/authors/KimHeadlee
Book Gorilla Author Page – http://www.bookgorilla.com/author/B001KE2LK2/kim-headlee
WEBSITE  – http://kimheadlee.com
FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/KimIversonHeadlee
Street Team “Kim’s All-Stars” – https://www.facebook.com/groups/705479912880602/
TWITTER – https://twitter.com/KimHeadlee
GOOGLE+ – https://plus.google.com/+KimHeadlee
PINTEREST – http://www.pinterest.com/kimheadlee/
LINKEDIN – http://www.linkedin.com/in/kimheadlee/
BLOG – http://kimiversonheadlee.blogspot.com
TRIBERR PROFILE – http://triberr.com/KimHeadlee
ARTHURVERSE TRIBERR TRIBE – http://triberr.com/pages/tribe-overview.php?tid=61110
GOODREADS – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/845537.Kim_Headlee
Indie Book Discovery Author Page – http://www.indiebookdiscovery.com/ibd/author/439_kim-
YOUTUBE CHANNEL – http://www.youtube.com/user/gyanhumara
YouTube video interview 2013 – http://youtu.be/DV5iKrEIROk
YouTube video interview 2015 – https://youtu.be/UcjvCJ-TjN8
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Kim will be awarding an autographed print copy of DAWNFLIGHT to a randomly drawn
winner (US Only) via rafflecopter during the tour, and a set of autographed note cards
from The Dragon's Dove Chronicles to a randomly drawn (International) host.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Want a Complete #series? - Check out the Executive Wives' Club #ASMSG #romance


Executives' Wives' Club series - the last book is out - CEO's Widow


Genre: Contemporary Romance with strong women fiction elements

Four women...
One fatal car wreck...
Everyone's lives changed...


CEO’s Widow


Tagline: Facing the possibility of having breast cancer, Marianne must decide if she wants to give love another chance and build a future with whatever time she may have left.

 Blurb:

After surviving the grief from her husband’s death, Marianne Clark has built a new life with the help of the other Executive Wives. She plans to enjoy grandchildren and friends until her doctor tells her he found a lump in her breast. Her world turned upside down. She re-evaluates her priorities and decides she grab hold of life with both hands.

Knox Turner lost is first wife to cancer. He’s determined not to let Marianne face this challenge alone. 

Can this couple face the trails ahead and build a future together?


Excerpt:

“Wait—”

“Marianne, what are you doing here?” Sylvia Wilshire stood in the middle of the hallway. Tall and slender, she offered a radiant smile and brushed a wayward hand through her dark auburn hair. As beautiful as ever, Marianne couldn’t help but marvel at how her friend had changed in the last two years. She’d lost over a hundred pounds and had married Vince Wilshire. He also happened to be like both of their deceased husbands, an executive for Knox.

Sylvia strolled forward with the grace of a model, her green-eyed gaze full of curiosity. “I just drop by to talk to Vince for a minute.”

The man in question walked through the doorway of another office. He winked at Marianne and slid an arm around Sylvia’s shoulder. “It looks like these two beauties are keeping us from our conference call.”

 “Damn,” Knox groaned and checked his watch. “We better get in there before Foster has a cow because we’re late.”

Marianne stepped aside to give him room to walk around her.

He paused next to her and glared. “I’ll call you later, and we’ll work out a time for us to get together.”

Tempted to disagree with his plan, she proposed instead, “As long as it doesn’t interfere with my other social plans.”

He groaned and dropped a kiss on her cheek. “Someday I’m going to be the first and last thing you see every day. Then your activity calendar won’t matter.”

She lifted her hand ready to point out he shouldn’t say things like that to her in front of their friends. “Knox—”

Vince tugged on Knox’s arm and interrupted, “Come on, buddy before you get yourself in more trouble than you can get out of.”

Buy Links:

Available at Amazon Worldwide exclusively:


 Other books in the series visit Tina's Amazon Page
http://www.amazon.com/Tina-Gayle/e/B002BM9GR8
Marketing Exec's Widow
IT Exec's Baby
CFO's Affair
CEO's Widow 
(Bonus - exclusive off for people who sign up for Tina's Newsletter:

As an exclusive member of Tina’s List, you'll receive a free short story – “My Future StepBrother.” This story leads you right into the story of the CEO’s Widow.



Tuesday, October 20, 2015

An Italian Tradition #HolidayRecipes and Excerpt for A Bloody Good Cruise

An Italian Tradition, Struffoli (Honey Balls)


When my grandparents came from Naples and landed at Ellis Island in the early 1900s they brought many recipes with them, but only in their heads. No one brought cookbooks or written recipes on the boat along with their possessions. A favorite Chrismas treat is Struffoli, better known as Honey Balls. One Christmas when I was a kid, I watched my grandmother make them and scribbled down the ingredients as she sifted and mixed and baked and drizzled. Here's an accurate recipe in English!
Ingredients
Dough:
•2 cups flour, plus extra for dusting
•1 large lemon, zested (about 2 teaspoons)
•1/2 large orange, zested (about 2 teaspoons)
•3 tablespoons sugar
•1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
•1/4 teaspoon baking powder
•1/2 stick (2 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces, at room temperature
•3 large eggs
•1 tablespoon white wine, such as pinot grigio
•1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
•Canola oil, for frying
•1 cup honey
•1/2 cup sugar
•1 tablespoon lemon juice
•1 1/2 cups hazelnuts, toasted (see Cook's Note)
•Vegetable oil cooking spray
•Sugar sprinkles, for decoration
•Powdered sugar, for dusting, optional
Directions
For the dough: In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together 2 cups of flour, lemon zest, orange zest, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add the eggs, wine, and vanilla. Pulse until the mixture forms into a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Cut the dough into 4 equal-sized pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each piece of dough until 1/4-inch thick. Cut each piece of dough into 1/2-inch wide strips. Cut each strip of pastry into 1/2-inch pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a small ball about the size of a hazelnut. Lightly dredge the dough balls in flour, shaking off any excess. In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour enough oil to fill the pan about a third of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 375 degrees F. (If you don't have a thermometer a cube of bread will brown in about 3 minutes.). In batches, fry the dough until lightly golden, about 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. (The rested and quartered dough can also be rolled on a floured work surface into 1/2-inch thick logs and cut into equal-sized 1/2-inch pieces. The dough pieces can then be rolled into small balls and fried as above).
In a large saucepan, combine the honey, sugar, and lemon juice over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the fried dough and hazelnuts and stir until coated in the honey mixture. Allow the mixture to cool in the pan for 2 minutes.
Spray the outside of a small, straight-sided water glass with vegetable oil cooking spray and place in the center of a round platter. Using a large spoon or damp hands, arrange the struffoli and hazelnuts around the glass to form a wreath shape. Drizzle any remaining honey mixture over the struffoli. Allow to set for 2 hours (can be made 1 day in advance). Decorate with sprinkles and dust with powdered sugar, if using. Remove the glass from the center of the platter and serve.
Note: To toast the hazelnuts, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven until lightly toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool completely before using.
Total Time: 4 hr 12 min
Prep: 1 hr 30 min
Yield:8 to 10 servings

 

Blurb:

A BLOODY GOOD CRUISE is a fun-filled blend of the vampire world and luxury cruises. 
Romance author Mona is human. Ship’s doctor Fausto is a vampire. He can never be one of her kind, and she’s afraid to become one of his. As they sail the Mediterranean on a writers’ cruise, the couple is stalked by vampire hunters, and by Fausto’s notorious ex-wife, Lucrezia Borgia. Events force Mona and Fausto to team up with the hunters to capture Lucrezia, but where can they go from there? With Fausto’s friend and Mona’s editor vamping it up and hunters on the loose, can this bloody good cruise have a happy ending?

Excerpt: 

 Mona forced a dose of cheer through her jangly nerves. Vampire hunters wouldn’=t have the balls to attack Fausto and his friends on this ship. Security was tight. “Well, you’re here, so does that mean you’ve been going out, and aren’t confined to your house any more?”

Fausto shrugged. “Almost. I couldn’t wallow in self-pity forever. And I knew seeing you would make it worthwhile.”

She smiled and gave him a genuine Italian cheek pinch. “I’ll cheer you up, faccia bella, you can count on that. You must feel safe.” She gestured at the tacky duds. “I mean, relatively speaking.”   

“Don’t let this scare you, but –” He glanced around over the rims of his shades. Uh-oh. Whenever he said “don’t let this scare you,” it scared her. “I got an ominous message at the doctor's office earlier.”

“What?" She swallowed a lump. “What kind of ominous message?”

He looked away, shaking his head. “Nothing to get alarmed about. The hunters just want me to know they’re here. After the initial jolt wore off, I said, ‘okay, I’m being stalked again.’ But I’m used to it. It doesn’t make me constantly look over my shoulder like in the old days. My family’s murder gave me a reality check. If they want me, they’ll get me. I can’t let it interfere with my work, or what little leisure time I have here. And you shouldn’t either.” He gazed at her adoringly and cupped her cheek. His hand was surprisingly warm. “But you’re still scared. All the blood’s drained out of your face, and not in a good way.”

Purchase links:

Kindle: www.amzn.com/B00ILXYAI6
Paperback:
 http://amzn.to/1loSASo
The Wild Rose Press: bit.ly/1k8Vlrs

Bio & Author Links:

Diana Rubino’s passion for history and travel has taken her to every locale of her stories, set in Medieval and Renaissance England, Egypt, the Mediterranean, colonial Virginia, New England, and New York. Her urban fantasy romance, FAKIN’ IT, won a Top Pick award from Romantic Times. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Richard III Society and the Aaron Burr Association. She lives on Cape Cod with her husband Chris. In her spare time, Diana bicycles, golfs, plays her piano and devours books of any genre. Visit Diana at www.dianarubino.comwww.DianaRubinoAuthor.blogspot.com,https://www.facebook.com/DianaRubinoAuthor, and on Twitter @DianaLRubino.


"The best we can do is tell a likely story." - Plato

www.DianaRubinoAuthor.blogspot.com

www.DianaRubino.com
http://www.facebook.com/#!/dianarubino
https://www.facebook.com/DianaRubinoAuthor
https://twitter.com/DianaLRubino

Hope the holidays are as wonderful as you want them to be,

Anita




Sunday, October 18, 2015

Banished Hero - #6BestHop Fun on a Sunday by @AnitaPhilmar



Today, I'm sharing six paragraphs from Banished Hero.


 Banished Hero

“Why won’t you eat, Faye Lynn?”

The sound of Havyn’s voice in her head startled her so much she lost her grip and fell forward. She kicked out her wings and glided to wall between two abandon stalls. Her heart pounding, she told herself he couldn’t be any where nearby. She must be imagining things.

The other bird might squawk, or send her his feelings of unease as a warning, but he couldn’t talk to her in a language she could understand.

She glanced around nervously, trying to catch her breath. Havyn wasn’t here. He left her several hours ago after bringing her home from the market. He probably planned to leave her in the barn for a few days until her father left the area. Then he’d try to train her to be his pet. She’d gone through the drill before.

“You’re not getting away.” His voice sounded in her head again.
At the same time, the large black falcon swooped down beside her and landed on the wall.

The shock of both Havyn’s voice and the bird knocked her off balance. She tumbled onto the hay in one of the stalls. She rolled and tried to right herself, but a large wing covered her chest and held her down.

Transform Faye Lynn.

Read the first scene of the book on my website 



Happy reading and make sure to check out the other authors on the list.
Anita