Nothing But Trouble Blog Tour

I am so excited that Nothing But Trouble is releasing on April 25th from The Wild Rose Press. To celebrate, I've planned stops at several wonderful blogs to talk about my book. I hope you'll join me and leave a comment or two.

April

April 24 - Sharon Buchbinder's Blog  Talking about Beginning with a Bang!


April 24 - Cowboy Kisses  Interview with fellow Honky Tonk Hearts author, Sylvie Kaye.


April 26 - Claire Ashgrove's Blog  Because there's just Something About a Cowboy...


April 29 - Mariposa's Musings  An author's roundtable discussion - How do you cope with set-backs?


April 30 - Sherry Gloag's Blog  Find out what my heroine, Honey Jackson, has to say in a personal interview.


May

May 1 - Calisa Rhose's Blog  I've been interviewed - a little about my writing process and some fun facts!


May 2 - Roses of Prose  Fellow Honky Tonk Hearts author, Sylvie Kaye, and I talk about mothers in our books.


May 6 - Wild Woman Author Blog  My hero, Chase Paladin, reveals what makes him tick in an interview.


May 7 - Emma Lai Writes  I answer Emma's questions.


May 8 - Sarah Grimm's Blog  Why Do You Read Books?


May 9 - Honky Tonk Hearts Launch Party  Lots of prizes - join the fun.


May 23 - Wild & Wicked Cowboys  Guesting along with fellow Honky Tonk Hearts author, Brenda Whiteside.


May 24 - Rachel Brimble's Blog  Interviewing with my pal, Rachel.

There's more to come. I'll keep you posted.

Release Date for A Deadly Love!

I just got my release date for A Deadly Love. I've been very quiet about this book up to now, focussing on Bittersweet, which released last month. But I had to share. August 17 is the big day!

In the heart of the redwoods, a madman waits...

Recovering from a broken engagement and determined to start over, Brooke Wakefield flees to her grandmother's home deep in the redwood forest. Discovering her teenage crush lives next door is a less than auspicious beginning. The last thing she needs is another man to break her heart, but every time Dillon glances her way, her heat level soars.

Dillon Tremayne isn't looking for a relationship. With a young son, an eccentric grandfather, and a logging company running him ragged, he can't afford any romantic entanglements. But Brooke's humor and strength are hard to resist.When a woman from his past is brutally murdered and another disappears, Dillon is heartsick—and terrified the killer will target Brooke next.

Can Brooke and Dillon find love in the heart of the forest? Or will a madman's twisted dream destroy their chance at happiness?

Blog Awards Abound!

I am the honored recipient of the prestigious Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award, presented to me by Sharon Buchbinder, a terrific writer and all around swell person. All the dessert recipes I've posted on my blog may have something to do with earning this distinction. LOL

Receiving this award means sharing 7 random fact about me, so here goes.

1)  I grew up in a town of 400 people and went to a 2 room school house. K-4 in one room and 5-8 in the other. Yes, small town schools still exist!

2)  I live in Lake Tahoe, but I don't like to ski. I'd rather snowshoe with my dog.

3)  My favorite National Park is Yosemite. When I camp - I do it in a tent!

4)  I can't write unless the house is quiet. But I can edit when it's noisy.

5)  I love the smell of dirt after it rains, and trees, white and glistening with fresh snow, beneath a cold cerulean sky.

6)  I've never found a recipe I didn't feel the need to change at least a little.

7)  My dog is so spoiled, I'll sit on the carpet rather than kick her off the couch!

Now that you all know how strange I am, I'm giving the award to these 10 stellar bloggers. Ladies, it's time to reveal 7 facts about yourselves and pass the sweetness.

Rachel Brimble
Kat Henry Doran
Jerri Hines
Brenda Whiteside
Margo Hoornstra
Jana Richards
Alyson Reuben
Silver James
Barbara Edwards
Laura Breck

I would also like to thank my good friend, Margo Hoornstra, for honoring me with the Liebster Award. This award is for a stick-to-it attitude, and while I'm only supposed to give it to 5 bloggers, all the above ladies have the perseverance to deserve this one, too!

Who can resist chocolate on Valentine's Day?

The Ultimate Chocolate Cookie

¾ cup shortening

¼ cup peanut butter

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar (packed)

1 Tbsp. milk

2 cups flour

1/3 cup cocoa

1 tsp. baking soda

Dash of salt

2 cups oatmeal

1 cup chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375°. Blend together first 7 ingredients, shortening through milk. Add flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Mix well. Stir in oatmeal and chocolate chips. Form into walnut sized balls. Place on cookie sheet and flatten slightly. Bake for 10 minutes. Yields 3 dozen cookies.

I made up this recipe, combining bits and pieces of other cookie recipes. The oats give it texture, the hint of peanut butter adds that extra something, and a double dose of chocolate - yum! Enjoy for Valentine's Day or anytime.

Perfect Valentine's Day Salad

Avocado and Hearts of Palm Salad

2 lettuce leaves (Bibb, Butter, or Romaine)

1 ripe avocado

½  14 oz. can hearts of palm drained and sliced ¼ inch thick

1 Tbsp. lime juice (1/2 a lime)

¼ tsp. minced, peeled fresh gingerroot

¼ tsp. sugar

Dash of cayenne pepper

1 ½ Tbsp. canola oil

1 tsp. sesame seeds

Line two plates with lettuce leaves. Halve avocado and cut into ¼ inch thick slices. Arrange slices on lettuce, overlapping. Top with hearts of palm. In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, gingerroot, sugar, and cayenne. Add oil in a slow stream, whisking until dressing is well combined. Drizzle over salads and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serves 2

This is a tasty, pretty salad, perfect for Valentine’s Day! It’s one of my husband’s favorites.

Today, I'm also visiting with Amber Leigh Williams, talking about my all time favorite romance novel. Please stop by The Cozy Page to chat.

Exciting News - Bittersweet Releases February 1st!

Today's recipe has been pre-empted! Finally, the news I've been waiting for. Bittersweet, my western historical romance from Whiskey Creek Press, will be available on February 1st. Friends and fellow authors have stepped up to help me promote. I'm forever grateful! Here's my list of blog stops. I hope you'll visit me on my tour and leave a comment or two...

February 2 - The Roses of Prose
February 3 - AJ's Tattered Pages
February 4 - P.L. Parker's Blog
February 6 - The Cozy Page with Amber Leigh Williams
February 7 - Penumbra with Silver James
February 9 - Vintage Vonnie
February 12 - Rachel Brimble Romance
February 17 - Wild Woman Author with Kat Henry Doran
February 18 - The Roses of Prose
February 27 - Author's Lunch: A Bite of Reuben Sandwich

Blurb:

Eight months after her husband is killed in a train robbery, Tess Moran knows she must pick up the pieces of her shattered life and build a future for herself and her infant daughter. Daniel Moran’s love for Tess is bittersweet. Acting on his feelings for his sister-in-law will betray his dead brother’s memory. Watching her search for love elsewhere may very well destroy him.

In 1880, life in rural Colorado is filled with hard work and simple pleasures, but trouble looms on the horizon. Together Tess and Daniel battle drought and the outlaw who killed the man they both loved, but the greatest challenge of all is finding solace for their battered hearts.

Buy links will be found on my website just as soon as they're available. Thanks for sharing in my excitement!

What Happened to Winter?

January 2011 The girls and Ginger buried!

Is anyone else having the weirdest winter in the history of...well, forever? We live in Tahoe. This is January. To me that means - SNOW! Last January, we were buried in the white stuff. This year, nothing, nada, zip! The ski resorts have been relying on man made snow to limp along. My kids' Nordic ski races were cancelled.



January 2012 Not enough snow to roll in!

Then, finally, a series of storms that left us with a couple of feet of snow. Hope was renewed. Winter had finally started. The skiers were happy, happy, happy. Nordic races were rescheduled. Then today, it's RAINING! Let's not get into global warming, but seriously, where's winter?



Happy Dog in the snow - last winter!



Is your winter as crazy as mine? Let's hear about it!