Archive for 2014

Let’s Talk SIN

March 24, 2014 | New Releases

I’m excited to announce Stockholm SINdrome, Book 2 of Melt the Ice series, an erotic romance from Musa Publishing is now available.

Fire and Ice…

Hot nights and hotter moves melt the ice.

Battered American hockey player Colt Coltrane intends to concur Sweden. A bad spill on their ice and the goalie is at the tender mercies of a hot massage therapist with a grudge against all athletes. All his good intentions to behave go straight to hell when her warm hands stroke him.

Disa Ellstrom is disgusted with sports figures who expect more than a deep massage. She checked her cheating husband and her puck bunny status to build a practice to help people, not hurt them. But her frozen heart melts faster than a spring thaw when a sexy goalie limps into her life.

Combine a hot-blooded American with a Swedish spitfire and they’re sure to sin in Stockholm.

EXCERPT:
Disa ran her fingers along Colt’s deltoids. The strong muscles flex under her touch. His shyness had been endearing, along with confusing. Were his physical problem more than the normal aches and pains of a professional athlete? If so, she intended to help him overcome the situation. If not, he was in for a satisfying surprise. She hoped.

A quick scramble across the sheet gave him more room, and she tugged on his shoulders so he would lie back against the pillow. He winced, but continued to draw his legs up onto the bed.

She combed her fingers through the crisp auburn hairs sprinkled across his broad chest and descended to his beautiful hard dick nestled in a curly reddish tuft. She swallowed hard and foughti her desire to suck him until he came.

“You are a fine-looking man, Colt.” She rose onto her knees and traced a fingernail around his tight balls. Her vaginal muscles clenched.

He laid a hand on her calf and eased it up toward her thigh. He climbed higher. A shudder ran through her from his gentle massage over her rear end, up to the small of her back, then down. He slipped a finger between her cheeks.

Disa gasped and wiggled her ass, encouraging him to slip into her.She nipped at his balls and laved the tight sac, savoring the salty taste. She pumped his cock, starting slow and increasing the speed along with the pressure. His hips jerked, rocking with her rhythm and thrusting along her palm.

Colt maneuvered out from under Disa and knelt, facing her. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her. A new world opened for her, a world of gentleness that brought tears to her eyes. She clung to him, loving his strength, relishing his taste. He pulled away. The skin was pulled taut over his cheekbones.

“It’s time to make you happy, baby. How about rolling over?” He tugged on her hip until she faced away from the brass headboard. “A little more to the center, so we can watch in the dresser mirror.”

She scooted across the rumpled linen and glanced into the antique glass. Their eyes met in the reflection, and breath caught in her throat.

“Spread your legs, Disa.” He gently nudged her shoulders to the mattress. “I promise to go easy.”

Kisses rained down her back as he mounted her. His thick cock played against her wet labia, the swollen head teasing into her. After a smooth thrust, he was inside. Filling her. One firm palm kneaded her lower abdomen, while his long fingers curled through her pubic hair and covered her mons. He stretched a finger along her nether lips, separating the folds, and massaged her fiery clit.

Tingles shot through her as she watched their wavy images across the room. His arm muscles bulged when he moved his hands to her hips, gripped them tight, and guided her to him.

He rocked into her. The strokes faster and faster. His balls slapped against her labia. He clutched her hips and slammed into her, riding her hard. She reared back, yet kept pace, and clenched her muscles to hold him tight and swallow him in deeper. She gritted her teeth to bite back the scream that tore through her. Her body pulsed with his touch, and she hungered for release from the magnificent torture that only he could provide. She clutched the sheets, wadding the warm material in her fists, and burrowed into them, inhaling his musky scent.

“Come for me, baby. God, I need you.” His voice rasped…

To celebrate the release of my newest book, I’m mailing bookmarks and trading cards to everywhere in the world! Please email me with SWAG PACK in the subject line and include your address in the body of the email. The packet will go out this week along with a bonus or two.:)

BUY LINK

To read excerpts from my other erotic romances, please click here.

I’ll be back Wednesday with a new recipe. Until then…

Happy Reading!

Sloane

Fyne Recipe for Mini-brownies

March 19, 2014 | Author Friend Promo, Cooking

Our latest Musa release, The Demise of Fyne Literature, is a short story, brief enough to read in one sitting, just like the single-serving mini-brownies in the picture.

But coming up with a description for Fyne has taken longer than one sitting, and we’re still not sure we have it right. We labeled the story as satire, though we’re not “attacking” anything, which is a main element of satire. We think Fyne has a touch of noir, but the setting isn’t bleak. Maybe Fyne’s a caricature, yet the tone is not critical.

So we’re stuck, and we’re asking for your help. Read the excerpt below. Then, if you know the right word for this Fyne style of writing, please share, either in the comments or in an email. We’ll send a free e-copy of The Demise of Fyne Literature to the person who comes up with the best description.

While you’re musing through your vocabulary, whip up this Fyne recipe for mini-brownies. Nothing beats a single serving of chocolate—or a Fyne short story—for sparking inspiration.

Fyne Mini-brownies
Non-stick spray
12-cup mini muffin pan
½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 tbsp. butter
2 tsp. cocoa powder
1 tbsp. molasses
1 tsp. vanilla extract
¼ cup flour
1 egg
3 tbsp. granulated sugar
3 tbsp. brown sugar
Directions:
Heat oven to 350 °F.

Place chocolate chips and butter in a bowl and microwave for 2 minutes at 50% power. Stir until smooth. (Your microwave may take up to a minute longer. Just beware that chocolate chips will retain their shape even when melted, and if you nuke them too long, they’ll burn. Not that we would know from personal experience or anything.)

Mix cocoa and molasses into the melted chocolate. (What? You don’t have molasses? Okay. Use a tablespoon of water instead.)

Add vanilla, flour, and egg, and mix well. Add sugars and mix well.

Spray muffin pan with cooking spray, then spoon the batter into the cups, dividing evenly.

Bake 10-12 minutes. Tops of brownies will be puffy. (Don’t overcook or the brownies will be too dry. That’s what we’ve heard, anyway.)

Cool ten minutes, then transfer brownies from the muffin pan to wire racks. The puffy tops will flatten as the brownies cool (So the instructions say. We’ve never actually waited that long.).

Eat one or two brownies while consuming an entire short story. Repeat until the brownies are all gone.

Who killed Fyne Literature? The Fictional Book Investigation Agency is on the case—and the lead investigator is closer to the culprit than he realizes.

BLURB:
Ivy League wants to learn who murdered the love of her life. The Fictional Book Investigation Agency agrees to take the case, and soon discovers a surplus of suspects.

Is the killer one of the victim’s many enemies? Is there more to the story than anyone knows? The Agency’s profiler has a clue, yet she’s remarkably reticent.

For the lead investigator, unraveling the plot means confronting the mystery within.

To read an excerpt from The Demise of Fyne Literature please click here.

HL Carpenter is a mother/daughter writing team. Learn more about HL Carpenter on their website and their latest story “Going Where You Look”, published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Writers.

March 17, 2014 | Holidays

Cast Your Net for a Tasty Meal

March 12, 2014 | Cooking

There are days I just want something fast and easy for dinner or a weekend lunch. Homemade fries and fish sandwiches with tartar sauce are the perfect foods.

Homemade Fries

1 Idaho potato per person
2-3 cups vegetable oil
½ cup lard, optional
Salt to taste

Wash potatoes under cool water. Peel, but it’s not necessary. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise, then lay flat and slice into thirds. Place pieces in a bowl with enough water to cover them. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 200°F.

Heat oil and lard in deep saucepan on medium-high. Test temperature by dropping in a piece of bread. When bread should browns in a matter of seconds the oil is ready.

Drain potatoes then pat dry. Carefully add to hot oil. Deep-fry for approximately 4 minutes. They’re done when a toothpick inserts easily.

Drain the fries on a plate lined with paper towels, salt, then place in the oven to keep warm while you make the fish.

Heat skillet on medium-high. Brush a little olive oil onto insides of the rolls. Test the skillet for heat by sprinkling a few drops of water onto the pan. When the water jumps and quickly evaporates place the rolls oiled side onto cooking surface. Carefully toast until the rolls are a light golden brown. Remove to individual plates and lay a slice of cheese on the roll bottom.

Pour remaining olive oil into the hot skillet. When the oil shimmers add the fish. Sprinkle with herbs. Fry 2-3 minutes per side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.

Remove fish from skillet with a spatula and lay the filets onto the cheese half of the rolls. Add a healthy smear of tartar sauce, the lettuce and tomato, then cap with the other half of the roll.

Tartar Sauce

½ cup real mayonnaise
1 small garlic clove, chopped fine
1 tbsp. onion, chopped fine
1tbsp. sweet relish

Mix ingredients together in a small bowl. Taste and adjust to your preference.

I’ll be back Monday. Until then…

Happy Eating!

Sloane

Hampton and Ledwith Get Down to Business

March 10, 2014 | Author Friend Promo, Interviews

I am delighted to turn over my blog to my good friends multi published author SS Hampton Sr. and his guest outstanding middle grade author Sharon Ledwith.

Sharon Ledwith, hello! So, who are you, and where do you come from?

Hey, Stan, glad to be here! Oh, such a complicated question. How long do we have? Seriously though (and I rarely am!) I’m a middle-aged broad who writes for the middle-grade/YA genre. Guess you could say I’m going through my second childhood! I come from my parents—mom still has nightmares to this day—via Streator, Illinois USA while my father was under contract by the government to teach meteorology. That makes me a dual citizen. Currently I reside in the wilds of Muskoka, a tourist area deep in the heart of central Ontario, Canada. Cue the haunting cry of the loon…

Lol, the loon! So, why did you become a graphic artist? Was it difficult to give up that career field for writing (I assume you write full-time)?
Well someone has done his homework! I’ve always loved art throughout school, and wanted to parlay that into a solid business career. Plus I didn’t want anything to do with math again! I took the graphic technician course in college which allowed me to work in the printing trade. This was before computers took over, so everything was done by hand. Um, yeah, slow process, but worth it if you applied yourself and worked hard. My hubby and I started Box Office Graphics in the early 80s and we saw so many changes in the industry which included fax machines, computers, and the internet. The graphic businesses that didn’t change fell by the wayside. We sold our business in 2004, and have never looked back. BTW—our former business is still going strong after 30 years! And NO, it wasn’t difficult to give up that career at all. Somehow I knew deep inside I would be pursuing a full-time career as a writer. After all, something had to be done to stop the voices from talking in my head!

Where and how did you meet your husband? Was he aware that he was courting a soon-to-be writer with all of her quirks? I generally assume all writers have their quirks – I know I do.
Poor hubby. I met him at the first job I was hired at straight out of college—a graphic trade shop that specialized in plastic container packaging. Call him my soul mate or a misguided fool, I knew from the moment I met him that we were destined to be together. I believe he was aware of some quirky karma, ’cause he never gave up the chase, even when the odds were against us. I also believe writers should use all their quirks to their advantage!

Any friendly words of advice for writers, particularly when a future spouse “comes a’calling”? Or perhaps for the future spouse who discovers their love interest is a writer?
Run, spouse, run! Kidding. My advice would be to never stop investing in yourself. Invest in the best. That’s in yourself, in your readers, and in your partner. Your readers deserve the best of what you have to offer them. Surround yourself with the best possible team (this includes spouses). Never stop learning. As you grow, so will your readers, so be prepared for this. Oh yeah, and never give up. That’s a given and should be part of any author’s credo.

How did your family and friends react to you becoming a writer?
Say what? You want to be a writer? Good for you! Ten years later…you’re still writing? Anything published yet? No? Humph. Maybe you should get a REAL job. Um, yeah, tried it, didn’t like it, went back to writing, and got published. Yay me! Once I signed the contract, I was cast in a different light, and everyone was supportive and happy for me. You should have seen the release party I threw – hot damn it was fun and VERY satisfying!

I find it interesting that the inspiration for The Last Timekeepers of Atlantis came to you in a dream, that you believe in Atlantis, and you burn incense when writing. You didn’t mention what types of music you like, or favorite artists. So, not to resort to labels, but are you perhaps, something of a “New Ager”?
Yes, very much so. I’m quite a spiritual person and believe we’re all here for a reason and purpose. This comes out in my stories. I don’t want to come off as preachy (in fact I can’t stand it when other people try to shove their beliefs on me) so I try to inject humor whenever I can in my stories. I think we all learn best when there’s laughter present. And if you want a real laugh, when I first started out writing I listened to the soundtrack of Braveheart (sigh) a lot, as well as some native drum instrumentals, Enya, and Enigma. Now I hardly listen to music while writing.

Braveheart, eh? And Enya and Enigma—some of my favorite music too. Just a comment here: I like the first sentence of the opening of your blurb – “Children are the keys to our future.” Truthfully, I have always believed that. Might that have something do with the intended audience of Middle Grade/Young Adult readers regarding Last Timekeepers?
Oh definitely! But it is true – children are the keys to our future. It’s up to us adults to supply kids with good role models, people to look up to, and to aspire to. We need to be the best we can be, and offer children a new hope for a better tomorrow. I mean, how else can we pass along our knowledge and understanding to a new generation if we don’t show up in this life?

Would you please share an excerpt from The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis with us? Or, if you feel comfortable, perhaps an excerpt from your prequel, Legend of the Timekeepers?
Would be honored, Stan. Here’s the blurb and excerpt from my newest release, and the prequel to the Last Timekeepers series, Legend of the Timekeepers:

There is no moving forward without first going back.

Lilith was a young girl with dreams and a family before the final destruction of Atlantis shattered those dreams and tore her family apart. Now refugees, Lilith and her father make their home in the Black Land. This strange, new country has no place in Lilith’s heart until a beloved high priestess introduces Lilith to her life purpose—to be a Timekeeper and keep time safe.

Summoned through the seventh arch of Atlantis by the Children of the Law of One, Lilith and her newfound friends are sent into Atlantis’s past, and given a task that will ultimately test their courage and try their faith in each other. Can the Timekeepers stop the dark magus Belial before he changes the seers’ prophecy? If they fail, then their future and the earth’s fate will be altered forever.

“Why are you here?” Lilith asked. “You’ve already got your life seal.”

“I have more questions for Istulo.” She continued to stare at the disk.

Lilith sighed. “My name is Lilith. What’s your name?”

Her shoulders relaxed slightly. A hint of a smile broke out on her face. Her upturned nose wiggled. “She-Aba. I was born here in the Black Land. Both my parents arrived from Atlantis fourteen years ago yesterday. My mother gave birth to me the next day.”

Lilith perked up. “That would make today your birthday!”

She-Aba beamed. “Yes. That’s why I’m here. For my birthday last year, I had my life reading done by Istulo. But recently, there’s been a hiccup in my plans. It’s like my life seal rearranged itself, and now I’m confused. I’m here for a reaffirmation.”

“What’s the problem?”

She-Aba traced her life seal with the tip of her perfectly shaped fingernail. “My lifetime occupation was supposed to be to design clothing for the people of the various positions in the court and temples.”

Lilith smirked. “That makes perfect sense.”

“I know, right? So why, all of a sudden, would my life seal change from designing clothing to something completely different?”

Lilith arched a fair brow. “How different?”

“Well, instead of clothing people in lavish robes and gowns for others to appreciate, the seal suggests that I’ll be doing the opposite by covering up and hiding the truth. I don’t understand it at all. I thought my life was all planned out for me.”

“I thought mine was too, until my country blew up and slid into the ocean,” Lilith muttered.

“Hey, look at the bright side, at least your hair isn’t red like mine.”

Lilith eyed She-Aba carefully. “What’s wrong with red hair? My uncle has red hair and it suits him fine.”

She-Aba moved in closer. “If you haven’t noticed already, there aren’t many redheads around here. The natives think red is magical, and anyone with red hair is considered a freak of nature.”

“That’s ridiculous!” Lilith said loud enough to cause an echo down the marble hallway. “Is that the reason why those artists were rude to you? Because you have red hair?”

“Red is a very powerful color,” a raspy voice said from behind both girls.

Lilith and She-Aba jumped. They slowly turned to find Istulo hovering over them.

Wearing the same white gown and orichalcum headband Lilith saw her dressed in before, Istulo nodded slightly before she said, “Red represents the essence of life—if we are drained of blood, we are drained of energy. The people of the Black Land understand this, and therefore red is reserved only for their gods and goddesses.”

Lilith giggled. “Don’t tell She-Aba that, she’ll think she’s a goddess.”

Here’s the LINK for more information on the book.

Thank you for visiting with us today! Are there any parting words you would like to share with us?
Absolutely! I was once asked by another interviewer to share what inspires me to write, and why am I doing what I do? The truth is that I want to be the change I would like to see in this world. Yes, I stole that from Gandhi, but those words have been my mantra, and have guided me to write stories I would have loved to read as an adolescent. My hope is to give my target audience (upper middle-grade and lower young adult) the kinds of stories the world needs now—force readers to ask why they are here on earth at this time, and what is their major purpose. I guess I’m looking for ways to make the world a better place. I also want to make people laugh out-loud while they’re reading my books, and leave them wanting more when they turn to the last page. Thanks so much for putting up with, er interviewing me today, Stan, and loved your well-researched questions! Cheers!

Check out The Last Timekeepers series Facebook Page.

BUY LINKS
Musa Publishing – Amazon Link – Barnes & Noble – Kobo

When Sharon Ledwith is not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, yoga, kayaking, time with family and friends, and single malt scotch. Sharon lives in the wilds of Muskoka in Central Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, a water-logged yellow Labrador and moody calico cat.

Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

Much of SS Hampton, Sr.’s writing is drawn from his extensive military career, including his historical short story The Sentinels.

December 1941 – the German offensive has ground to a frozen halt before an ominous forest encircling Moscow, and a German patrol seeks to discover what secrets the forest hides…

December 1941, and fresh Siberian troops from the Soviet Far East have launched savage counter-attacks against the German invaders. The Eastern Front is torn open with German units driven back, overwhelmed, or isolated. An exhausted Waffen SS infantry platoon outside of Moscow needs to know what the Siberians, hidden in a dark forest before them, are up to. A small patrol is sent into the snowy, otherworldly forest…

To read an excerpt from The Sentinels please click HERE.

SS Hampton, Sr. is a full-blood Choctaw of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, a divorced grandfather to 13, a published photographer and photojournalist, and a member of the Military Writers Society of America. His military career began in 1974. He retired on 1 July 2013 from the Army National Guard with the rank of Sergeant First Class; he previously served in the active duty Army, the Army Individual Ready Reserve, and enlisted in the Army National Guard in October 2004, after which he was mobilized for Federal active duty for almost three years. Hampton is a veteran of Operations Noble Eagle and Iraqi Freedom.

His writings have appeared as stand-alone stories, and in anthologies from Dark Opus Press, Edge Science Fiction & Fantasy, Melange Books, Musa Publishing, MuseItUp Publishing, Ravenous Romance, and as stand-alone stories in Horror Bound Magazine, The Harrow, and River Walk Journal, among others. He is also a published photographer and photojournalist, and a member of the Military Writers Society of America.

After 12 years of brown desert in the Southwest and overseas, he misses the Rocky Mountains, yellow aspens in the fall, running rivers, and a warm fireplace during snowy winters. As of December 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Hampton officially became a homeless Iraq War veteran.

To learn more about SS Hampton, Sr. or read excerpts from his books please click a vendor’s name.
Musa Publishing – Melange Books – MuseItUp Publishing
Amazon Author Page – Amazon UK Author Page – Goodreads Author Page

It’s Wednesday, so What’s Cooking?

March 5, 2014 | Cooking

How about Chicken Thighs with an Italian Flair? This is an easy dish and won’t break the bank. Leftovers don’t freeze well. But the dish does stay for two days in the refrigerator and nukes beautifully.

Chicken thighs, boneless and skinless 1 per person
Prosciutto 1 thin slice for each thigh
Marjoram
Flour
Olive oil
Medium-sized can tomato sauce
¼ – 1 cup dry white wine, the amount depends on how many thighs you cook.
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Handful fresh basil or 1 tbsp. dried

Gently pound the thighs to a slightly thinner size between two pieces of waxed paper. Sprinkle lightly with marjoram.

Lay prosciutto onto thighs and gently pound.

Pour flour into a paper bag. Place one thigh at a time inside bag and shake gently. Remove thigh to a plate while you flour the remaining thighs.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium- high heat until it shimmers. Carefully add the thighs chicken side down. Fry until nicely browned. Turn the meat to finish frying. Regulate the heat so the chicken browns and not burn.

Pour the tomato sauce over the chicken. Add the wine, basil, and gently stir. Sprinkle a good amount of cheese across the top. Heat through.

To Serve:
Place chicken on a plate along with your favorite pasta. Ladle the pan juices over the pasta. Be sure to have a bowl of grated cheese on the table!

I’ll be back Monday with Sam Cheever. Until then…

Mangiare Bene!

Sloane Taylor
Twitter
Amazon Author Page

A BOOK IS BORN

February 24, 2014 | Author Friend Promo

Emilia Mancini dropped in today to share an interesting concept. The blog is all your, Emilia.

As I sat reading the galley for Seducing Kate, I realized what an incredible labor of love this book had been. If you’ve ever raised children, you can relate to the publishing process.

The pregnancy—the creating a new being, the hopes and dreams of what this being will eventually grow up to be, then finally, you start pushing thing out of you. Painful as it may be, there’s just no stopping it. You. Just. Have. To. Push.

Once it’s out, it’s not the most attractive thing, but you love it all the same.

Then it starts growing up and you realize that, much as you love it, your baby isn’t perfect. It’s colicky, cranky, and sometimes it takes a dump on you. You and your parental partner, your editor, go to task to mold this thing into a respectable fully-grown manuscript.

It hurts you, it breaks your heart, but at the same time, you swell with pride as you get ready to release it upon the world.

Seducing Kate was like this. The pushing out process was fairly easy. Kate and Kyle had a solid story and they were ready to share it with the world. It was the growing (editing) part that nearly killed me. Luckily, I have an incredibly patient editor who can see through all my personal writing ticks to the beauty that lies beneath.

She saw through my repetitive wording and my filtering and all those other bad author things I do. She saw through all the bullshit I pile on, scraped it away, polished this up, and made it shine.

I am so excited and so proud to be sending this respectable and fully-grown manuscript out into the world. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into this one, and those disgusting bodily fluids weren’t just mine. Jeanne De Vita did a fantastic job helping me raise this little bugger.

I feel like a proud mama and I can’t wait for you to meet my baby.

It took Kyle one look to realize he wanted to seduce his best friend’s mother. And one kiss to realize he didn’t have to.

It was lust at first sight for Kyle when he met his roommate Justin’s mother Kate. Kyle, a college transfer, was too far from home to visit on short school breaks, so Justin took him to Minneapolis where his mother was serving up a family meal for Thanksgiving.

One look left Kyle with a healthy obsession for Kate which grew with each visit. When he landed an internship in Minneapolis, he moved in with Kate for the summer, and got in touch with his voyeuristic side. It wasn’t until one late evening and a few too many glasses of wine that Kyle began to suspect his attraction wasn’t one-sided.

When he dared to push the issue, he found Kate more than willing to succumb to his seduction.

To read an excerpt from Seducing Kate, please click HERE.

Emilia Mancini is the naughtier side to author Marci Boudreaux. Emilia stays hidden in the shadows like a nefarious side kick, slipping out only when the stories Marci wants to share are a little too grown up to be called sweet romance.

Seducing Kate is Emilia’s second release and, at least for the moment, her crowning glory.

Be sure to check out the Pinterest board for Seducing Kate.

Visit Emilia on her website. Stay connected on Twitter and Facebook.

Be sure to enter Musa Publishing’s January Giveaway.

She is All About Reading and Writing Romance

February 17, 2014 | Author Friend Promo

Sexy Sara Daniel is here to share her true feelings about what makes the world go round. Take it away, Sara!

1. The Love Story: Obviously, right? I love to read about two people who care about each other so much that they’ll fight for each other. I love that they believe in each other more than anyone ever has before or will again. There is something so satisfying, so heartwarming to watch two characters fall in love, usually against their will, and rise above all the conflict to live out that love they deserve.

2. The Emotions: No other genre does the roller coaster of emotions like romance. One minute I’m laughing at a particularly witty line of dialogue, and the next I’m sobbing as the hero or heroine takes a figurative (and occasionally literal) punch to the gut. Does your life feel stale and blah? For the hours that you’re reading a romance, you’re living the gentleness of the hero caressing your cheek, the frustration of that one person who always has to make life difficult, the thrill of finally giving said person their comeuppance, the sweetness of a first kiss, the stark terror of falling for the person who could cause you to lose everything, and absolute joy of spending forever with the love of your life.

3. The Happily Ever After: Of course, we all know how a romance novel ends. The hero and heroine get together and live happily ever after. Some people scoff at this guarantee, but it is my number one reason why I will always read and write romance novels. Every day you can pick up the newspaper and read about a life that ends in tragedy. In our own lives and in the lives of our friends and neighbors, there are problems that we can’t wave a wand and make everything magically turn out okay. Who needs to read about more pain, suffering and general cynicism? Definitely not me. Instead, sit down for a couple hours and escape to a romance. Vicariously conquer every roadblock thrown at you. Best of all, no one can take away your happily ever after when you reach the end.

See what I mean with this short intro to one of my favorite books.

Nicole trusted Wyatt with her heart once. She won’t make the same mistake twice.

Nicole DeMonde’s car breaks down the moment she returns to her hometown for her brother’s wedding. The cop who stops to help her is none other than local hottie Wyatt Truman, who slept with her then dumped her when they were teens. She has no choice but to accept his help. However, she knows better than to trust him with her heart twice.

Wyatt is determined to earn Nicole’s forgiveness and make amends for his callous past. Once he lays eyes on her, he can’t help wanting a lot more than forgiveness, despite his intention never to hurt her again.

Just as Wyatt starts thinking his best intentions are of the forever variety, Nicole decides to work Wyatt out of her system with a one night stand. Can either of them make peace with the past in a single weekend, let alone survive with their hearts intact?

To read an excerpt from Wyatt’s Guilt, please click HERE.

Sara Daniel writes what she loves—irresistible romance, from sweet to erotic and everything in between. She lives her own happily-ever-after romance with her hero husband.

Learn more about Sara on her website and blog. Subscribe to Sara’s newsletter. Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Be sure to enter Musa Publishing’s January Giveaway.

Six and a Half Tips

February 12, 2014 | Author Friend Promo, Cooking

and a Recipe for Perfect English Muffins

by HL Carpenter

You don’t have to be British to enjoy hand-made English muffins, which is fortunate for the heroine in our young adult novel, The SkyHorse, since Tovi Taggert and her family are southerners through and through.

The Taggerts are also fans of fun, easy menu additions for Sunday morning brunch or a special breakfast. English muffins are a snap to prepare, require only an hour to rise, cook quickly on a griddle or frying pan (no heating the oven!) and taste great, either plain or with butter, jam, or your favorite topping. An added bonus is the delicious, yeasty scent of fresh bread that fills the kitchen.

Here are tips to help you make perfect muffins.
1. While the yeast is dissolving, fill a 13” x 9” pan with hot water and place it in your unheated oven. Muffins rise best in a warm, humid environment.

2. If your recipe calls for honey, spritz your measuring spoon with cooking spray. The honey will slide right off the spoon.

3. Instead of using a rolling pin and cookie cutter to form your muffins, divide the dough into even parts. Then press out the dough pieces in your hamburger patty mold. You’ll get just-the-right-size, perfectly round muffins.

4. Once your muffins have risen, hand-transfer them to the heated griddle. They’ll keep their shape better than if you try to slip a spatula beneath them.

(Bonus tip: Prefer using a spatula? Dip the edge in cornmeal so it slides easily under the muffins.)

5. To test for doneness, lightly tap the top of the muffins with your fingertip. A hollow sound means your muffins are cooked.

6. When you’re ready to toast, split the muffins with a fork instead of a knife. Your toppings will fill the resulting nooks and crannies.

And here’s the perfect recipe for Perfect English muffins.

What you’ll need:
2-3 quart bowl
Standard-size cookie sheet
Griddle or frying pan
1 package yeast
1 cup warm water
3 cups flour (all-purpose or whole wheat)
3/4 cup shortening
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon salt
Cornmeal

Dissolve yeast in bowl in warm water for five minutes. While yeast is dissolving, sprinkle cookie sheet with a light coating of cornmeal.

Add flour, shortening, honey and salt to yeast-and-water-mixture to form dough.
Coat dough with flour; knead until elastic.

Divide dough into 12 equal balls. Use a hamburger patty mold or the flat end of a glass dipped in flour or sprayed with cooking spray to flatten each ball into a 3-inch circle. Put the muffins on the cookie sheet as you form them.

Cover the cookie sheet and let the muffins rise for an hour.
Heat the griddle or frying pan to 375 degrees (no oil necessary).

Cook the muffins, turning once, until golden brown on both sides.

Split with a fork, toast, and enjoy with your favorite topping.

While your enjoying those delicious muffins, how about settling in with a good book?

Tovi thinks finding a flying horse is fabulous luck – until a mysterious stranger says finders aren’t always keepers.

When fourteen year old Tovi Taggert moves to Honeysuckle Hollow to take care of her grandmother, she has a hard time fitting in. For one thing, she’s been tagged with the hated nickname Too-Tall Tovi. For another, everyone at Honeysuckle Hollow High believes Tovi played the Choking Game with someone else’s boyfriend – and made out with him besides.

As if she doesn’t have enough problems, after the latest stand-off in the school hallway, Tovi finds a gorgeous speckled egg nestled in a feather lined nest.

She takes the egg home – and mysterious visitors begin appearing almost immediately. Even more worrisome, whatever is inside the egg starts chipping its way out.

When the egg hatches, revealing a winged horse, Tovi’s troubles multiply.

As she struggles to return the horse to the magical land where he belongs, Tovi must make a courageous decision – and accept what that decision will cost her.

To read the first chapter of The SkyHorse, please click HERE.

BUY LINKS
Musa Publishing
Amazon

HL Carpenter is a mother/daughter writing team. Learn more about HL Carpenter on their website and their latest story “Going Where You Look”, published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Writers.

The Temps are Freezing in the USA

February 3, 2014 | New Releases

but it’s Hotter than Hell in Finland!

ON FIRE IN FINLAND, Book 1 of Melt the Ice series, is now available.

Fire and ice…

White nights…White hot passion

Scorching vacation sex is uppermost in jingle writer Kate Adam’s mind during her few days in Finland. That was the plan until her sports car dies on a lonely ribbon of country road. Her fantasies reignite when a delicious looking blue collar local crawls past in his beater truck.

Hot women and expensive cars are always a temptation for Rurik Jaacko, and his downfall. This time he must stay focused and drive right past the shapely woman stranded on the side of the road. But manners force him pull over. A few moments with Kate sparks a sizzling attraction that has Rurik offering more than a simple tow.

Roadside assistance spins into a white-hot ride as Rurik and Kate butt heads and burn up the sheets.

EXCERPT:
With his hard-on raging, Rurik watched her nipples harden and peak through the thin knit shirt. Obviously their heated exchange excited her. Or perhaps that he had taken control.

Women want to be dominated.

“There are times a man must take a stand with an unruly woman.” He caught her wrist and tugged her closer.

“You wouldn’t dare!”

Color drained from her cheeks. But was that a sparkle in her eyes?

He stopped. What about the consequences? Either he would be a hero or Kate would pack her bags right after she rang the police.

“Yes, today I would.” He dropped onto a birch stump and, with a quick yank, upended her over his knees. Her perfect ass across his lap was too tempting not to continue.

“You’d better stop before it’s too late, buddy.” She turned her head and shot him a glare that could melt steel.

“It already is.” His palm came down with a resounding smack.

“Ouch.” She kicked her legs and wrestled beneath him.

He laid an arm over her shoulders to keep her in place and prayed he had made the right decision.

“Rurik, you are so going to pay for this,” she wailed, startling the birds from the trees.

And he would, right after he laid another open-palm swat on her firm ass.

Whack.

She yelped at the contact. And he loved the sound. He might have been wrong about her being a spoiled, over-privileged woman, but a good spanking was in order to assert his authority. But he had better run like hell when he finally let her up because she was going to murder him.

His hand came down again, not quite as hard, and lingered on her sexy rear, petting away the sting. He ran his fingers along the curve of her cheeks hidden beneath the tight denim shorts. What did his handprint look like on her milky flesh? A stirring below his belt pressed against his fly and forced him to shift unsuccessfully under her weight.

She wiggled against his cock, enhancing his torture, and he failed to stifle the groan.

“Are you through beating me into submission?”

Her words came out breathlessly and reminded him of how she had purred against his balls the night before.

“No. I do not think so.”

Whap.

His hand smacked solid on her ass. She shrieked. And he loved her reaction.

He grazed a finger under the ragged edge of her shorts and inched up the inside of her thigh, seeking the heat beneath her thong. He hooked the lacy strap and tugged, drawing it tight against her labia. He released it and yanked up again. Her soft gasp traveled on a gentle breeze.

The musky scent of her arousal drifted up and encouraged him to please her. He glided a finger closer to her folds, teasing along the way with light pinches to her flesh, until he slipped inside her hot channel. Her wet pussy flexed against him, clenching—relaxing, and milking his finger like her mouth had done to his cock.

“I think you like this, Kate.” He did.

A whimper rose like a caress. Her hair tumbled free as she nodded.

He pulled out, then slid back in with two fingers and pressed firmer against her wall.

“Should I continue your torture or”—he massaged up and down until she bucked against him—“take you into the house and fuck you fast and hard?”

A soft gurgle washed her words away, and his balls tightened.

BUY LINKS
Musa Publishing
Amazon

To read excerpts from my other erotic romances, please click HERE.