A Writer’s Garden–Treasures from the Garden by Pat Jeanne Davis

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A Writer's Garden, flowers, garden pictures, historical romance, Pat Jeanne Davis, Sweet romance, When Valleys Bloom Again, writers who garden

 

Welcome to A Writer’s Garden where writers who are gardeners or just love gardens will be sharing their garden and flower stories, as well as a bit about their writing.

Today’s writer/gardener guest is Pat Jeanne Davis. Pat will be sharing some of her most treasured flowers with us.

Welcome, Pat!

Some of my most treasured early memories growing up in a rural part of Pennsylvania are of my mother lovingly caring for her beautiful flower beds and a large vegetable garden I was expected to help weed. Thanks to her hard work we had desserts and  preserves from fruit on our trees and from strawberries that grew wild in the field and fresh veggies on the table in the summer. From Mom, I acquired a love for the outdoors and for gardening. She most definitely had a green thumb.

 

I’ve lived in Philadelphia for many years close to the lovely and well maintained Gorgas Community Park and in a city with the distinction of hosting the largest annual indoor flower show in the world.

Gorgas Community Park garden

In addition, I’m within a short drive of the renowned Longwood Gardens as well as many other botanical, landscape, and pleasure gardens.

Longwood Gardens

Even though I’m surrounded by parks and gardens I enjoy tending to my own plants and flowers and over the years have experimented with a few new ones.

Several years ago I though I’d try my hand with growing a brugmansia (angel’s trumpets). It took five years before this flowering plant bloomed and only after my horticulturist neighbor suggested I keep it in a very large pot and feed with liquid fertilizer and not the granulated kind I’d been using. My brug shows every sign of providing a spectacular display of yellow flowers that will fill the air with an intoxicating fragrance once more this summer.

 

 

 

 

 

Four years ago my son gave me a calla lily for Mother’s Day. I placed it in the ground in May. Each year since I’ve waited with anticipation for this special lily to produce white blooms but nothing but green leaves ever appeared. Then to my joy and surprise this week there were two white lilies. A lesson for me here—where there is a little bit of life there is still hope.

 

Two autumns ago, I bought a small potted aster—the flower for my birth month—on a trip to Longwood Gardens. I was rewarded with an abundance of asters last autumn that attracted the butterflies.

Some of my gardening endeavors have not worked out this well. Still, successes like these give me reason to believe that the small hydrangea I put in the ground this summer will produce flowers in due time.

ABOUT THE WRITER/GARDENER:

Pat enjoys flower gardening, genealogy research and traveling with her British-born husband.  She met Jim, a gardener, and the hero in her  historical inspirational romance, When Valleys Bloom Again. She has published essays, short stories and articles online and in print. When Valleys Bloom Again is her debut WWII inspirational novel. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

Visit her at  https://www.patjeannedavis.com

Social Media Links:   Facebook:    Instagram:   Goodreads  

 

 

WHEN VALLEYS BLOOM AGAIN

 By  Pat Jeanne Davis

 

After fleeing impending war in England, nineteen-year-old Abby Stapleton works to correct her stammer and to become a teacher in America, only to discover this conflict has no boundaries and that a rejected suitor is intent on destroying her name, fiancé, and fragile faith.

BUY LINK

 When Valleys Bloom Again can be purchased at Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers –Interview with Meghann Whistler author of Falling for the Innkeeper

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author interview, book excerpt from Falling for the Innkeeper, Christian romance, Meghann Whistler, Sweet romance, Wednesday Writers

Today’s Wednesday Writers is interviewing author Meghann Whistler. In addition to her interview Meghann is sharing an excerpt from her book Falling for the Innkeeper.  Welcome, Meghann!

 

Catherine: Please tell the readers about the release that is being showcased today.

Meghann: Falling for the Innkeeper is a sweet Christian romance novel set at a charming beachside inn on Cape Cod. It’s about a wary single mother who meets a workaholic lawyer intent on buying the only home she’s ever known.

Catherine: I love stories set in beachside communities. How did you come up with the concept for this book?

Meghann: I started with the hero—what drove him to put so much of himself into his work? And what would it take to make him reassess his values and priorities?

I’ll also admit that my grandparents owned an inn that’s a lot like the one in the book, and I wanted to visit it again on paper. So, the setting was another key piece of the puzzle when I first started thinking about this story.

Catherine: What a great way to honor your grandparents. Are you a pantser or a plotter? Linear or non-linear writer?

Meghann: I have a rough idea of where my stories are going when I start writing, but I lean heavily on the “pantser” side of the equation. I enjoy the process of discovery as I write. I’m usually a linear writer, but if I get stuck, I will occasionally jump ahead and then fill in the earlier scenes later.

Catherine: What does your revision process look like?

Meghann: I edit as I write. I know a lot of people who suggest writing straight through without stopping to revise until the first draft is done, but I can’t write forward if I know there’s a problem with an earlier scene. I have to correct it before I can move on.

Catherine: I always edit as I write, too. It gives me a chance to get back into the story. On to the next question:  What’s the first book, in the genre you write in, that you remember reading?

Meghann: I didn’t start reading Christian fiction until about three years ago. The first Christian romance novel I remember reading is Finding Her Way Home by Linda Goodnight, which was eye-opening for me. I’d always thought romance novels were racy and poorly written, but Finding Her Way Home was sweet rather than sexy, and I was so invested in the characters I couldn’t put it down!

Catherine: Do you have a day job? If so, what is it?

Meghann: I’m a full-time, stay-at-home mom to three little boys, and my job duties got way more intense this past spring when COVID-19 hit!

Catherine: I can’t imagine going through COVID with children. I’ll bet you’ll be ready for a vacation when this is over. Speaking of vacations, what is the farthest place from home that you’ve traveled?

Meghann: Hong Kong! What a great city! Part of the reason my heroine’s parents live in Hong Kong is because I couldn’t pass up a chance to write about what a fabulous place it is.

Catherine: It’s been a pleasure having you here today, Meghann. As you say goodbye, can you leave the readers with an encapsulation of your life’s philosophy?

Meghann: I find a lot of comfort in Philippians 1:6, which reminds me that I don’t have to be perfect. As long as I’m willing to show up and do the best I can each day, God will continue to work in me and through me.

 

Thanks for joining us today. Keep reading for a peek at Meghann’s book.

 

FALLING FOR THE INNKEEPER

By Meghann Whistler

A battle for a charming Cape Cod inn… But what happens when romance checks in?

Single mom Laura Lessoway won’t accept her mother’s plan of selling her late grandmother’s inn without a fight. But when big-city attorney Jonathan Masters arrives to arrange an offer from a client, she’s drawn to him. And working together as he helps with repairs only brings them closer. With his career and her home on the line, can they ever find common ground?

 

EXCERPT

Jonathan had always had this idea that if he could just reach that brass ring, if he could just grab it and hold on, that would be the thing that would make everything in his life work the way it was supposed to, the thing that would make everything okay.

But would it? Would it really?

Making partner at the law firm wouldn’t magically fix his father’s illness. Making partner wouldn’t change the fact that he’d been a scared, bullied kid. Making partner wouldn’t mean that his father, who’d gone missing when Jonathan was just seventeen, would ever come home.

He gave his head a little shake. He knew his mentor, Mike Roe, wouldn’t like this train of thought.

But then he thought about Mike’s life: the penthouse apartment and the fancy sports cars, the top-rated restaurants and the best-tailored suits. Jonathan used to think Mike’s life was what success looked like—and maybe, for some people, it did—but what about Mike’s high-maintenance ex-wife? What about the kid he never saw? What about the fact that he had more money than he could spend in a lifetime and he still spent every waking moment at work?

Was this some kind of early midlife crisis? Jonathan wondered. What would he even do with himself if he didn’t have this job?

He drummed his fingers on the bedside table. What was with him tonight? He was wildly unfocused, and it was messing with his head.

It was the woman—Laura. She’d thrown him off balance with her beauty and her wit and her kind, gentle smile. Just thinking about her emerald green eyes—which could, by turns, be sharp, or playful, or kind—made him feel…strange. Whimsical.

And Jonathan never felt whimsical about women. He was more practical than romantic. Back when he’d started at Harvard Law, he’d made a decision not to get distracted by a serious relationship until he made partner, and he’d stuck to his resolution all these years.

He always kept his promises—to others and to himself. After growing up with his unpredictable father, he was very disciplined that way.

 

BUY LINKS

 AMAZON   CHRISTIANBOOK   TARGET   WALMART   BARNES & NOBLE

GOOGLE PLAY   APPLE BOOKS   INDIGO (Canada   AMAZON.CA (Canada)

BOOK DEPOSITORY (Free International Shipping)

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Meghann Whistler writes sweet Christian romance novels that won’t make your grandmother blush. A hopeless romantic who met her husband on a blind date, Meghann recently left her marketing career to pursue her lifelong passion of writing sweet, hopeful stories that demonstrate the power of love and grace. She loves to hear from her readers, who can reach her at www.meghannwhistler.com.

Meghann’s Social Media Links

Facebook:  Twitter: Instagram

 

Tasty Tuesdays–Upside Down Shepherd’s Pie from Blossom Turner

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Blossom Turner, entree, food blog, historical romance, Inspirational romance, Katherine's Arrangement, recipe, Tasty Tuesdays, Upside Down Shepherd's Pie

Upside Down Shepherd’s Pie: Truly a Comfort Food.

I have taken this recipe to many people over the years who have needed a meal for whatever reason. The results are always the same… a heart-warming thank you for the enjoyment this tasty meal in one pan gave them, and a request for the recipe.

Note: I never just make one pan of this recipe, I double and triple the recipe as it freezes extremely well and can be brought out when needed.

DIRECTIONS

Boil and mash 4 large potatoes as you would mash potatoes with milk and butter added. Press these in the bottom of a 9×9 casserole dish or pan.

 

Peel and slice 2 large carrots and cook until tender crisp.

Cook ½ cup frozen peas and ½ cup frozen corn

Layer all veggies on top of mashed potatoes

 

Brown 1 pound lean ground beef and drain (You may add 1 chopped onion if you like onion, sauté with ground beef)

1 teaspoon salt or seasoning salt (Not both)

¼ teaspoon pepper

I teaspoon thyme.

Put back on heat and add one cup prepared gravy mix and stir until thickened, or 1 cup beef consommé with 1 Tbsp of cornstarch to thicken (you want the nice consistency of gravy.)

Layer this on top of veggies.

Add a generous topping of any grated cheese you like. I usually combine Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Parmesan, but really anything works.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes until cheese is golden brown and bubbly.

Enjoy this truly amazing comfort food with a bun and pickles, or any salad.

NOTE: I asked Blossom at what stage in the preparation you should freeze the pie and if it needed thawing before cooking after freezing. Here’s what she said:

“It can be frozen right after it is layered and the cheese is put on top, before putting into oven.

If brought out, yes, it’s best to thaw for the day. If I know I’m having company, I just bring it out in the morning and let thaw at room temperature and pop in the oven by evening. Cooking time will be a bit longer…you will know when it is done by having bubbly golden cheese all over.”

I also suspect you could thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring out shortly before popping in the oven. Baking time will depend on how thawed the dish is.

While you’re waiting for the Shepherd’s pie to bake  check out this great summertime read: Katherine’s Arrangement, the first book in Blossom Turner’s 5 book series.  available August 4. 

 

KATHERINE’S ARRANGEMENT

Inspirational historical romance at its best.

 

Marrying him is her only choice to save her family,

but Josiah Richardson isn’t at all the man she expected.

Katherine William’s family was left destitute when their home was burned to the ground by Yankee soldiers, so the ready solution presented by the prominent Mr. Josiah Richardson seems almost too good to believe. He’ll provide a home, work for her pa, and a new beginning for her family…if only Katherine will accept his proposal.

A marriage of convenience is the last thing she wants, but there doesn’t seem to be a better option for her family or herself. Setting aside her dreams of love, Katherine agrees to the arrangement.

The gentleman in Josiah Richardson can no more force his frightened bride into his bed, than he can force her into loving him, so he sets out to gently woo her. He works hard to befriend her, to earn her trust and win her love.

Katherine is pleasantly surprised to find herself drawn to the man she thought she would never love, until an unexpected friendship tears apart all they’ve worked for. Where once the promise of love had budded between Josiah and Katherine, now they wonder what to do with their so-called marriage. Is love strong enough to weave its healing power through two broken hearts?

BUY LINKS

Barnes and Noble   Apple    Kobo   Amazon    Amazon for Canada

About the Author:

Blossom Turner is a free-lance writer published in Chicken Soup and Kernels of Hope anthologies, former newspaper columnist on health and fitness, avid blogger and novelist. She lives in a four-season playground in beautiful British Columbia, Canada, with gardening at the top of her enjoyment list. She has a passion for women’s ministry teaching Bible studies and public speaking, but having coffee and sharing God’s hope with a hurting soul trumps all. She lives with her husband, David, of thirty-eight years. Blossom loves to hear from her readers. Visit her at https://blossomturner.com  and subscribe to her quarterly newsletter. Don’t miss Blossom’s other book, a contemporary romance, Anna’s Secret. A Word Guild semi-finalist.

Social Media Links:  Facebook    Instagram

Visit me @ https://blossomturner.com

 

 

Musings from a Writer’s Brain–Personality Behaviors by Eris Field

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Eris Field, essay, hoarding, Musings from a Writer's Brain, personality modifications, The Gift of Love

by Eris Field

Image by Alexandr Ivanov from Pixabay

People use different behaviors to help themselves through difficult situations. A behavior familiar to all of us is the Fake It Until You Make It. We act as though we are confident, enthusiastic, and in control of a situation. This approach tends to be used for a new or challenging experience that we are not totally prepared for. It is a temporary modification of our personality, not a permanent part of our personality.

In contrast, the As If behavior tends to be part of all of a person’s relationships and interactions. They assume the role they believe is correct and appropriate at the expense of genuineness. They perform as if they were a successful member of society, a devoted, caring partner, or a concerned parent.

Image by Mandy Fontana from Pixabay

The As If personality is thought to be related to a disturbance very early in life of the child’s attachment to others, usually their caregivers. Something prevents them from forming the image that people can be depended on to meet their needs and that they are worthy, competent, loveable individuals. This disturbance influences their later ability to interact with people. They compensate by adopting the behaviors they observe others using in their interactions. However, they often experience feelings of emptiness. Some who are fortunate are able to find a loving relationship that enables them to feel secure and to practice more genuine behaviors.

Here is a brief intro to one of my contemporary romances that is a good example of the As If personality.

Laurel, a 26-year-old slightly impulsive pediatric nurse learned her survival skills through early years in foster care. Her life dream is to provide a home for six abandoned children. But, before she can do anything about the dream, she must sell the huge old house her adoptive parents left her. She must sell it before she falls even deeper into debt. To put it on the market, requires tackling the escalating compulsive hoarding of her reclusive half-sister who lives with her. Paper of all kinds is filling the rooms and hallways of the house. She has tried reasoning, nagging, and threatening. Now in desperation, she borrows from her Union’s Retirement Fund to go to a conference on the latest treatments for Compulsive Hoarding.

Andrew, a 39-year-old psychiatrist, is never impulsive. A reticent, somewhat austere man, he limits his interactions with people to his work. His life is strictly planned and modelled on the life of his grandfather who was one of hundreds of orphaned boys raised by Father Baker. Despite the scorn of his father, an entrepreneurial plastic surgeon, he prefers to practice psychiatry in the underserved communities of Buffalo, New York. Being handed Jamie, the mute two-year-old grandson of his father’s second wife, as he is about to leave for the conference where he has agreed to fill in for a colleague is definitely not part of his life plan.

When they first meet, a series of unfortunate events cause Laurel to view Andrew as arrogant, rude, but disturbingly attractive and Andrew to view Laurel as a dangerous distraction to be avoided. Faced with a crisis, they are forced to work together, but will they be able to put aside their protective armor and trust each other enough to let love in?

Amazon Buy Link

Eris Field was born in the Green Mountains of Vermont—Jericho, Vermont to be precise—close by the home of Wilson Bentley (aka Snowflake Bentley), the first person in the world to photograph snowflakes. She learned from her Vermont neighbors that pursuit of one’s dream is a worthwhile life goal.

As a seventeen year old student nurse at Albany Hospital, Eris met a Turkish surgical intern who told her fascinating stories about the history of Turkey, the loss of the Ottoman Empire, and forced population exchanges. After they married and moved to Buffalo, Eris worked as a nurse at Children’s Hospital and at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

After taking time off to raise five children and amassing rejection letters for her short stories, Eris earned her master’s degree in Psychiatric Nursing at the University at Buffalo. Later, she taught psychiatric nursing at the University and wrote a textbook for psychiatric nurse practitioners—a wonderful rewarding but never to be repeated experience.

Eris now writes novels, usually international, contemporary romances. Her interest in history and her experience in psychiatry often play a part in her stories. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Western New York Romance Writers. In addition to writing, Eris’s interests include: Prevention of Psychiatric Disorders; Eradicating Honor Killings, supporting the Crossroads Springs Orphanage in Kenya for children orphaned by AIDS, and learning more about Turkey, Cyprus, and Kurdistan.

Learn more about Eris Field on her website. Stay connected on Facebook.

Catherine’s Comments—The Marital Bargain Book Review by Catherine Castle

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Book review of The Marital Bargain, Catherine's Comments, Eris Field, The Marital Bargain

An excellent and well researched contemporary romance that captivates the reader from the first page through the last. Readers who like novels with characters who must find strengths within themselves to overcome their difficulties will enjoy this story. They’ll learn different cultures’ approaches to families, marriages, and finances, about the Kurds who fought beside Americans in Iraq, about refugees, and about abuse. They will also learn about the power of love.

For Laury, growing up on American Naval Bases in the Middle East resulted in a fluency in languages and a wariness of men. Now, after completing a psychiatric nurse practitioner program, she faces a mountain of student loans. While waiting to learn if she’s been accepted for her dream job, she works as a private duty nurse caring for Roberta, an elderly matriarch living alone in a 30-room mansion on Billionaires’ Row. Roberta’s granddaughter had agreed to stay with her while she recovered from eye surgery, but she has disappeared along with Roberta’s money and credit cards.

Damon, Roberta’s grandson who is volunteering with Doctors Without Borders, requests emergency leave to fly home from Iraq. After his wife divorced him, Damon had vowed never to marry again, but with only days to find a way to safeguard his grandmother, he offers Laury a bargain—a five-month marriage. She will protect Roberta while he returns to perform reconstructive surgery for child refugees and he will pay off her student loans. What could go wrong?

My Review:

What could go wrong? Plenty, and it does. Left alone to care for her new husband’s grandmother and teenaged daughter, Laury risks her own safety to insure their well-being.

I loved the flavor of the Middle Eastern culture the author wove into the book. Knowing she had a background in this culture made those touches in the book real for me.
Well-written and engaging The Martial Bargain-Wife for Five Months fulfills all the expectations of romance readers with suspense and danger thrown in. I loved the heroine as well as the secondary characters, especially the hero’s grandmother.

The one caveat I would add (for readers of completely sweet romance)  is that while the book is clean there is one short open-door love scene, not graphic or too sensual, between the hero and heroine after they are married.

This was a great story!

ORDER on AMAZON

 

Eris Field was born in the Green Mountains of Vermont—Jericho, Vermont to be precise—close by the home of Wilson Bentley (aka Snowflake Bentley), the first person in the world to photograph snowflakes. She learned from her Vermont neighbors that pursuit of one’s dream is a worthwhile life goal.
As a seventeen year old student nurse at Albany Hospital, Eris met a Turkish surgical intern who told her fascinating stories about the history of Turkey, the loss of the Ottoman Empire, and forced population exchanges. After they married and moved to Buffalo, Eris worked as a nurse at Children’s Hospital and at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

After taking time off to raise five children and amassing rejection letters for her short stories, Eris earned her master’s degree in Psychiatric Nursing at the University at Buffalo. Later, she taught psychiatric nursing at the University and wrote a textbook for psychiatric nurse practitioners—a wonderful rewarding but never to be repeated experience.

Eris now writes novels, usually international, contemporary romances. Her interest in history and her experience in psychiatry often play a part in her stories. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Western New York Romance Writers. In addition to writing, Eris’s interests include: Prevention of Psychiatric Disorders; Eradicating Honor Killings, supporting the Crossroads Springs Orphanage in Kenya for children orphaned by AIDS, and learning more about Turkey, Cyprus, and Kurdistan.

Learn more about Eris Field on her website. Stay connected on Facebook.>.

A Writer’s Garden-My Garden Retreat by Suzanne J. Bratcher

Tags

A Writer's Garden, clean romantic suspense, Garden Retreat, Suzanne J. Bratcher, The sliver Lode

Welcome to A Writer’s Garden where writers who are gardeners or just love gardens will be sharing their garden and flower stories, as well as a bit about their writing.

Today’s writer/gardener guest is Suzanne J. Bratcher. Suzanne is treating us to a glimpse of her Garden Retreat.

welcome, Suzanne!

My Garden Retreat

I discovered gardening as a retreat when I was in my mid-thirties. After a long week of teaching, I often meandered through the native plant nursery in Flagstaff, Arizona where I lived and chose from among the surprising variety of plants that thrive in that dry mountain climate. Then the real fun began: finding  just the right spot to plant, digging in the dirt, and making sure my new purchase had everything to make it happy. In the summers I hung feeders to attract broad tailed and rufous hummingbirds.

Now in my early seventies, I live in central Arkansas, where the temperate climate is less challenging. I have Multiple Sclerosis, a progressive auto-immune disease, so I tire easily and rely on a cane or a walker to get around. My garden here is dramatically different from the gardens I had in Arizona, but it’s still my retreat.  A dear friend, a master gardener, has filled my back deck with ferns, vines, elephant ears, jumbo varieties of philodendron, and other foliage plants I’m still learning about. She also supplied flowers in pots so something is always blooming. Red, pink, and white dianthus bloomed early in the spring, followed soon after by two varieties of clematis. Now lantana provides a splash of yellow, a miniature bush is filled with red roses, and two giant begonias are covered with pink and yellow blossoms.

To my delight, central Arkansas is a wonderland of birds. My garden retreat has become an open-air aviary. Cardinals, blue jays, chickadees, titmice, wrens, seven species of woodpeckers, along with three species of nuthatches visit my four feeders regularly. Orioles, indigo buntings, and three varieties of grosbeaks stop by as they migrate through. Goldfinches and juncos spend the winter and spring here. Ruby-throated hummingbirds and tanagers arrive for the summer. I also keep a birdbath filled with clean water for drinking and bathing.

 

Thanks to the temperate climate, I’m able to sit outside nine months of the year. I close my eyes and listen to the squeaky door call of blue jays, the warbling song of Carolina wrens, and the dee-dee-dee call of chickadees. In early spring I’m treated to the haunting song of the wood thrush. A recirculating fountain provides a soft background accompaniment to the variety of songs and calls.

I love relaxing and reading in my lounge chair, but my garden retreat also has an important role in my writing life. When I was working on The Silver Lode, the second book in my Jerome, Arizona mystery trilogy, I ran headlong into writer’s block. After trying freewriting, outlining, character dialog, and every other trick I could think of, I went out to my garden retreat. After getting comfortable in my lounge chair, I began praying for guidance. I wound up falling asleep, but God offers grace freely. When I woke up, I knew the answer to my dilemma. I had tagged the wrong murderer!

 

About the Writer/Gardener

Professor Emeritus, Northern Arizona University, Suzanne J. Bratcher now lives in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains in central Arkansas. A lifelong gardener, she has created an open-air aviary on her back deck filled with foliage plants, a recirculating fountain, and multiple bird feeders. A reader and a quilter, she takes orders from her two rescue cats, Scamp and Mini Pearl. She writes inspirational romantic suspense and fantasy with a twist of mystery set in the majestic, mysterious Southwest.

Connect with Suzanne on her social media sites: Website: Facebook: Instagram:

THE SILVER LODE

By Suzanne J. Bratcher

The mountains near Jerome, Arizona, guard a secret … an unsolved mystery that intertwines a young girl’s future, an old man’s past, and the fate of a teenager’s life.

Beneath the ghost town that clings to Cleopatra Hill, a labyrinth of abandoned mine tunnels hides a vein of silver ore mixed with pure gold—a silver lode. Decades ago, the silver lode’s discovery led to murder. Will more murders follow?

Historian Paul Russell is at risk of losing his job, and the woman he loves, Marty Greenlaw. He doesn’t have time to chase legends and ghost stories. But when a student drops clues to a 70-year-old case on his desk—a case connected to the silver lode—Paul seizes the chance to work with Marty and win her back.

Marty loves Paul but feels she cannot marry him. When she learns finding the silver lode can save a dying child, guilt from her little sister’s death resurfaces. Marty agrees to delve into the mine’s history.

As Paul and Marty’s search deepens, suspicious deaths occur. When Paul’s son disappears, the case becomes personal.

Will they find the truth in time to save Paul’s son and the little girl? And before greed triggers more crime? Will they survive to build a future together?

Genre: Inspirational Romantic suspense/Mystery

Heat level: clean, sweet

BUY LINK

 

 

Wednesday Writers—The Hitman’s Mistake by Sally Brandle is up for a Raven Award!

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2020 Raven Award, clean romance, romantic suspense, Sally Brandle, The Hitman's Mistake, Wednesday Writers

This Wednesday Writers’ guest today is Sally Brandle.  Sally’s a regular guest on my blog series, and we are both part of Soul Mate Publishing. Although Sally will be talking about her book The Hitman’s Mistake, today’s post is a bit different from Wednesday Writers’ usual posts. However,  I thought the subject matter was worth the change. So, without further ado, let’s welcome Sally!

 

Hi, Catherine.

Thank you for allowing me to share wonderful news. The first book I wrote (at 61), The Hitman’s Mistake, finaled in Uncaged Book Reviews Raven Awards in the Mystery/Suspense category. To qualify for the semifinals of this neat award, my novel had to garner 4/5 Stars from their review team, then receive enough votes to land in the finals. To win, I am up against an Amazon Bestseller and a NYT Bestseller.

I’d really appreciate your vote. The final poll runs through Friday, August 1^st. I write clean (sensual without intimate scenes) stories weaving slow-burning romance into edgy suspense, motivating women to trust their inner gifts. To vote, simply click on the link below, scroll to the circle next to The Hitman’s Mistake in the fifth category and click. Then click on the ‘Vote’ button below the group. Reader support provides the motivation for me to keep writing. I’m at eight books, with three published in this series. Thank you for your love of reading.

A Note from Catherine:

I’ve read The Hitman’s Mistake and loved the book. If you like clean romance that’s full of suspense, I hope you’ll head over to the Raven Awards link and vote for Sally. It’s one vote per category.  To vote for Sally’s book once  you reach the page, scroll down until you come to Mystery/Suspense category, find Sally’s book The Hitman’s Mistake (she’s the first one on the mystery suspense list), click in the little circle to the left of the book, and hit VOTE at the bottom of the category box.

Raven Award Voting Link:

http://uncagedbooks.com/raven-awards-final-voting/

 

Here’s a peek at Sally’s book.

 

The Hitman’s Mistake

By Sally Brandle

 

Now it’s her life or his.

After Miranda Whitley stops crooked cops from assassinating a prominent Seattle judge, she’s next on the hit list, and her survival depends on the buff FBI Agent she’s had one awkward encounter with. But can she find him in time?

The last person Grant Morley expects to discover on his annual supply run to a Montana mountain hermit is alluring Miranda Whitley, nearly dead from a bullet wound in her side. An accidental witness or the cold-blooded accomplice to would-be assassins?

Miranda must convince Grant of her innocence, evade the killers intent on preventing her testimony, and fight her unwanted attraction for the agent…an attraction which seems to be mutual. If you love sizzling chemistry, Montana’s mountain landscape, and fast-paced action, then you’ll love Sally Brandle’s galloping thriller, The Hitman’s Mistake.

 

About the Author:

Multi-award winning author Sally Brandle weaves clean, slow-burning romance into edgy suspense stories. Sally left a career as an industrial baking instructor to bring to life stories motivating readers to trust their inner gifts

Sally’s Social Media  Website:  Facebook:  Instagram

 

 

 

Tasty Tuesdays–Succulent Sour Cream Pork Chops from Sharon Ledwith

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Blackflies and Blueberries, Fairy Falls, food, recipe. pork chop, Sharon Ledwith, Tasty Tuesdays

from Sharon Ledwith

The perfect comfort food to serve your family or friends in late fall or the dead of winter, these melt-in-your-mouth chops are the most tender—dare I say succulent pork chops—you’ve ever tasted. Food seems to be the source of comfort in all family matters, and I’ve found that meals bring us together to celebrate, cry or support each other in so many ways. Call me sentimental, but there’s something about those family chats at the dinner table after a long day or weekly family get-togethers on Sunday that you’ll hold in your heart for years to come.

Succulent Sour Cream Pork Chops
6 pork chops
Salt and pepper to taste
Garlic powder to taste
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. (15ml) olive oil
1 large onion, sliced ¼ inch thick
2 cubes chicken bouillon
2 cups boiling water
2 tbsp. (30ml) flour
1 8 oz. (250 g) container sour cream

Season pork with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Dredge in flour.

Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add oil. When the oil shimmers lightly brown chops.

Place chops in slow cooker, and top with onion slices. Dissolve bouillon in boiling water and pour over chops. Cover, and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours.

Preheat oven to 200° F (95° C).

After the chops have cooked, transfer them to the oven to keep war. Be careful, the chops are so tender they will fall apart.

In a small bowl, blend flour with sour cream. Stir into meat juices in slow cooker. Turn cooker to HIGH for 15 to 30 minutes, or until sauce is slightly thickened.

Spoon sauce on pork chops, and serve over rice or noodles.

With a prep time of 15 minutes and cook time of 8 ½ hours, there’s plenty of time to get some weekend reading done while you wait for your guests to arrive. May I suggest a visit to Fairy Falls, or if you’re feeling really adventurous, a trip back in time with The Last Timekeepers? Whichever you choose, I guarantee either series will take you on a journey far away from dirty dishes and messy pots.

Here’s a glimpse into one of the books from Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls, my teen psychic mystery series.

The only witness left to testify against an unsolved crime in Fairy Falls isn’t a person…

City born and bred, Hart Stewart possesses the gift of psychometry—the psychic ability to discover facts about an event or person by touching inanimate objects associated with them. Since his mother’s death, seventeen-year-old Hart has endured homelessness, and has learned ways to keep his illiteracy under wraps. He eventually learns of a great-aunt living in Fairy Falls, and decides to leave the only life he’s ever known for an uncertain future.

Diana MacGregor lives in Fairy Falls. Her mother was a victim of a senseless murder. Only Diana’s unanswered questions and her grief keeps her going, until Hart finds her mother’s lost ring and becomes a witness to her murder.

Through Hart’s psychic power, Diana gains hope for justice. Their investigation leads them into the corrupt world threatening Fairy Falls. To secure the town’s future, Hart and Diana must join forces to uncover the shocking truth, or they risk losing the true essence of Fairy Falls forever.

AMAZON BUY LINK

 

Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, and the teen psychic mystery series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, exercising, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, one spoiled yellow Labrador and a moody calico cat.

Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter, Goodreads, and Smashwords. Look up her Amazon Author page for a list of current books. Be sure to check out THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS TIME TRAVEL SERIES Facebook page.

Musings from a Writer’s Brain–Fairytale Brownies from Anne Montgomery

Tags

A light in the Desert by Anne Montgomery, Anne Montgomery, Brownies, Chocolate, Musings from a Writer's Brain

from Anne Montgomery

Sometimes, life throws you a rose. Or, in my case, a brownie.

Let me explain.

Recently I received an e-mail.

Hello, Anne!

I was looking at our records and noticed that you have been a Fairytale Brownies customer since 1995. Thank you for loving our brownies!

Our co-founders, Eileen Spitalny and David Kravetz, will be giving special VIP tours of the Fairytale Brownies bakery before our annual Open House next Tuesday and we would love for you to be a part of it. Are you available for a 2:30 p.m. tour? We would love for you and a guest to join them. Please let me know if you can make it. Spaces for the tour are reserved.

Thanks!

How cool is that!

Of course, I jumped right on the opportunity to see the fairies bake the brownies I’ve been sending friends for years. I’ve spread those chocolaty delights worldwide. So, I called my youngest son – who has dabbled with the idea of becoming a pastry chef – and made the date.

Upon entering the massive kitchen in Phoenix, a fabulous aroma makes visitors swoon.

It might be all that butter and those big bricks of chocolate shipped in from Belgium.

It might be giant racks of brownies, with lovely names like Toffee Crunch, Chocolate Chip Blondie, Espresso Nib, Mint Chocolate, and Raspberry Swirl.

Whatever it is, my son and I agreed it was magical.

As we toured the facility, I was on the lookout for the brownie fairies, but they were often shy and elusive. We caught this one hiding behind a massive pile of sugar.

Others were tasked with sorting scads of swirly, cream cheese brownies.

Then there was the freezer. A good 50 yards of frozen treats, packed high to the rafters on both sides. Though I’m a desert dweller and quite averse to the cold, I contemplated remaining in that fridge, setting up a tent and one of those high-altitude sleeping bags, a warm cap over my head, a matching scarf perhaps, and some mittens. In the advent of a zombie apocalypse it might be the perfect place to stay.

Unless, of course, zombies like brownies.

Gosh. Maybe I’ll have to share.

Here’s a little from my suspense novel based on a true incident. I hope it intrigues you.

A LIGHT IN THE DESERT

BY ANNE MONTGOMERY

As a Vietnam veteran and former Special Forces sniper descends into the throes of mental illness, he latches onto a lonely pregnant teenager and a group of Pentecostal zealots – the Children of Light – who have been waiting over thirty years in the Arizona desert for Armageddon.

When the Amtrak Sunset Limited, a passenger train en route to Los Angeles, is derailed in their midst in a deadly act of sabotage, their lives are thrown into turmoil. As the search for the saboteurs heats up, the authorities uncover more questions than answers.

And then the girl vanishes.

While the sniper struggles to maintain his sanity, a child is about to be born deep in the wilderness.

BUY LINKS

Amazon Paperback – Kindle – Midpoint Books

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Anne Montgomery has worked as a television sportscaster, newspaper and magazine writer, teacher, amateur baseball umpire, and high school football referee. She worked at WRBL‐TV in Columbus, Georgia, WROC‐TV in Rochester, New York, KTSP‐TV in Phoenix, Arizona, ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut, where she anchored the Emmy and ACE award‐winning SportsCenter, and ASPN-TV as the studio host for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Montgomery has been a freelance and staff writer for six publications, writing sports, features, movie reviews, and archeological pieces.

When she can, Anne indulges in her passions: rock collecting, scuba diving, football refereeing, and playing her guitar.

Learn more about Anne Montgomery on her website and Wikipedia. Stay connected on Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.

A Writer’s Garden–Through the Fuller Garden Gates with Linda Shenton Matchett

Tags

A Writer's Garden, flowers, Fuller Gardens New Hampshire, garden pictures, Historic gardens, Linda Shenton Matchett, Murder at Madison Square Gardens

Welcome to A Writer’s Garden where writers who are gardeners or just love gardens will be sharing their garden and flower stories, as well as a bit about their writing. Today’s writer/gardener guest is Linda Shenton Matchett.

Linda will be taking us on a tour of Fuller Gardens.

Welcome, Linda!

The Fuller Garden House

 

I love flower gardens. There is nothing more that I enjoy than walking through a well-maintained, colorful garden. Unfortunately, despite coming from a long line of farmers and gardeners, genetics failed me, and I have a “brown thumb.” Even house plants tremble when they enter my home. Because of my lack of gardening skills, I live vicariously by visiting public and private botanical gardens.

Dalhia bed

Several years ago, I took a day trip with several members of my church to Fuller Gardens located in North Hampton, New Hampshire in the historic area known as Little Boards Head. The property, which was the summer estate of self-made businessman and Massachusetts governor Alvan Fuller, encompasses three acres overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Because of its proximity to the sea, the scent of salt-air mingles with the aroma from the flowers and foliage, and added dimension to my experience.

Desert garden

T

Bee balm

 

 

 

 

 

 

The gardens were originally installed in 1927 in honor of Mr. Fuller’s wife Viola. Four years later, Mr. Fuller purchased  an adjacent property and contracted with the Olmstead Firm to redesign and expand the gardens.

Rose garden

Rose Garden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Formal rose gardens, a Japanese garden, English perennial borders, tropical and desert conservatories, tulip and annual beds, a hosta garden, and a dahlia garden are enclosed by a privet hedge and cedar fence upon which are trained apple trees.

Apple trees

Statuary collected by Mr. and Mrs. Fuller during their travels as well as several pieces gifted by their daughter can be found among the plants. Grass pathways lead visitors through the property.

Statue

Staff and volunteers maintain the property year-round. Normally open to the public daily from mid-May through mid-October, Fuller Gardens opened its gates this year on June 22nd. Each season there are social and horticultural events.

The Fullers were quite wealthy, and they practiced wide-ranging philanthropy to include art, hospitals, religion, municipalities, and social services. In 1878, Mr. Fuller established The Fuller Foundation that continues to benefit agencies in the Greater Boston and Seacoast area of New Hampshire.

If you’d like to see additional photos or learn more about Fuller Gardens, please visit https://fullergardens.org.

 

About the Writer/Garden Lover:

Linda Shenton Matchett will travel far and wide to catch a glimpse of a beautiful garden. She has visited Kew Gardens in London, Leu Gardens in Orlando, and The New York Botanical Gardens, just to name a few of her favorite destinations. She writes Christian historical romance and mystery fiction.

Social Media Links:  Website/Blog: Facebook: Pinterest:

Linda’s  most recent release Murder at Madison Square Garden is book 2 in her Women of Courage series set during World War II. 

Murder at Madison Square Garden

by Linda Shenton Matchett

The dream of a lifetime becomes a nightmare. Photojournalist Theodora “Teddy” Schafer’s career has hit the skids thanks to rumors of plagiarism. With any luck, a photo spread with Charles Lindbergh at the America First Rally will salvage her reputation. After an attempted assassination of Lindbergh leaves another man dead, Teddy is left holding the gun. Literally. Can she prove her innocence before the police lock her up for a murder she didn’t commit? Private Investigator Ric Bogart wants nothing to do with women after his wife cleaned out their bank account and left him for another man, but he can’t ignore the feeling he’s supposed to help the scrappy, female reporter who is arrested for murder at the America First rally. Can he believe her claims of innocence and find the real killer without letting Teddy steal his heart?

 

Click the following link to purchase from your favorite online retailer: https://books2read.com/u/31qK17.