Friday, May 30, 2014

Friday Finds: Ebook Romance

Tell Me No Lies


By Rachel Branton

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

.99¢ for a limited time! (Sale ends June 6, 2014)

With her trust fund in jeopardy, Tessa Crawford enters into a relationship with a mysterious neighbor that soon turns into something more dangerous than either of them could have imagined.

Two days before her wedding, Tessa Crawford’s world crumbles, leaving her hurt and betrayed. Worse, if Tessa doesn’t marry and receive her trust fund, her younger sister will lose her house and the homeless girls she helps will have nowhere to go.

But Tessa can’t marry just anyone, can she?

Gage Braxton, the guy from next door, is willing to help her out, but rumors hint that he's an ex-con. Tessa quickly finds herself attracted to a man who has no intention of ever falling in love or of passing on his terrible legacy.

When Tessa stumbles across evidence that may be proof of Gage’s innocence, suspects begin to line up. Someone is willing to kill again to see that the truth remains buried, and if Tessa doesn’t hurry and solve the old murder, she will lose not only her chance at love but may become the murderer’s next victim.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tell-Me-Lies-Rachel-Branton-ebook/dp/B006OUF69K

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tell-me-no-lies-rachel-branton/1113518101

Visit the author's website at:  http://teylarachelbranton.com/

 

The Sweetest Seduction


By Crista McHugh

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

FREE (until June 1, 2014)

A new contemporary romance series that's a sexy, modern twist on Seven Brides for Seven Brothers


Never, ever, mix business with pleasure...


Lia Mantovani has created one of the hottest restaurants on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, but all that could disappear if she loses her lease with Kelly Properties. Having had her dreams ripped away from her before, she’ll do everything in her power to keep her restaurant. Her fate hangs on the whims of the frustratingly handsome Adam Kelly.


Adam has spent years trying to convince world famous chef Amadeus Schlittler to open a restaurant in Chicago, but he wants the prime location held by Lia. Business has always come first… until sparks fly when Adam meets her. When things get hot outside the kitchen, though, they’re both in danger of getting burned.


Warning: Contains a hero who always gets what he wants; a heroine who is just as deadly with gamberi as she is with a baseball bat; meddlesome, match-making mothers; and a Great Pyrenees with a penchant for sweeping the heroine off her feet.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sweetest-Seduction-Kelly-Brothers-Book-ebook/dp/B00HP8J6XC

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sweetest-seduction-crista-mchugh/1117741299

Visit the author's website at: http://www.cristamchugh.com/wordpress/

 

True North


By Marie Force

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

FREE (Sale ends June 11, 2014) 

The first time Travis North lays eyes on Liana McDermott, she's wearing the most hideous bridesmaid dress he's ever seen. He doesn't immediately recognize the world-famous super model who is attending her cousin Enid's wedding at the country club he owns. 

Thanks to Enid's shameless matchmaking, Travis and Liana become acquainted and later embark on a two-week fling intended to be free of emotion and entanglement. As Liana's return to work gets closer, however, Travis wonders how he'll ever let her go when the time comes while Liana considers whether he might be her true north. Two high-powered careers, two amazing weeks and a love that comes along just once in a lifetime. 

Is she ready to give up her career for a different kind of life? Does he want the same things she does? After insisting on an emotionless affair, she can't very well ask him. Or can she?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/True-North-Marie-Force-ebook/dp/B004D9FGD0

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/true-north-marie-force/1030009114

Visit the author's website at: https://marieforce.com/books

Thursday, May 29, 2014

The Ghoul Of Your Dreams

Even though the past two weeks have been rough, battling a kidney infection and running a high fever, I've managed to escape somewhat unscathed. Of course, today was the day I'd planned to do a "soft" release of my ebook, Sebastian's Spell, but the edits never were completed due to the aforementioned bout of ick. So instead I'll have to settle for telling ya'll about one of my more feverish dreams, one that will never make it into a romance, but might one day be a short story Sci-Fi or horror notation under a pen name. lol.  I call it, The Ghoul Of Your Dreams.

The Ghoul Of Your Dreams
by Cass Curtis
©2014

I'm an inspector for the transit authority. I like my job because it's pretty idiot proof, so it's easy. Since all the rails in the States changed to maglift technology, it's been smooth. The system has a redundant  fail safe and everything is run by computers and small robots no bigger than a human finger. But the public likes knowing there is a human inspecting the operations and making sure the robots don't suddenly become self aware or some other weirdness.

Today I'm cruising the lanes on the flagship, MagRunner Conglom's DreamSpinner. Travels from Vancouver to Montreal, then on to New York City and points south, before heading west and completing the circuit.

I got on in Atlanta and had planned to go only as far as Miami, since I'd been on meds the last week, battling the flu, but when I heard that the entire DreamSpinner was booked from Dallas to Los Angeles for the CEO's birthday party, I knew I had to stay.

I'd seen digitals of the celebration in years past and no way did I plan to miss out on having one of the wildest times of my adult life. The theme was Steampunk revival and though I hadn't come prepared, I suspected the organizers would have extra clothing and gear for unexpected guests—even party crashers like me.

I used my clout and got an extended pass to L.A., counting the hours until we hit Dallas. My mouth was sudden dry so I ordered my usual scotch and soda and sat back, taking sips in between looking out at the blur of palm trees soon become oaks then eventually Texas pine.

Sweat beaded my forehead and upper lip, heart beating faster than usual, and my mouth cottony again, I punched in my keycode and ordered another drink. Lines of travelers disembarked the maglift bullet, but I only saw a handful come aboard. Surely that can't be it? My drink dispensed from the mini door of the beverage and food cycler and I grabbed it in appreciation, letting the cold heat of alcohol burn down my throat.

At some point, I must have fallen asleep, because I woke to the sound of high octane partying coming from the mag bullet ahead of mine. I got up to check it out. About fifteen men and women all dressed in Steampunk, dancing and laughing. Someone pulled me to the side and told me to go into the next bullet and change clothes. I did as I was told. Within twenty minutes I was a bustle and corset wearing lady adventurer complete with a frilly little fascinator on top of my red gold curls.

The costume made me sweat, and before long, my legs were shaky, and my mind went for a swim. The first thing that hit me when I sat up was I'd been lying on the floor. On the heels of that realization, was—what was that sickening smell? The room was empty. Where had everyone gone?

A thick red string slid down from the ceiling to plop onto the floor beside me. I glanced around, seeing the same stuff on all the walls, too. What the hell? I got to my feet amid the slippery, sticky yuck and walked to the adjoining bullet. Had some type of mold or fungus gotten into the ventilator systems?

Whatever it was, it covered my costume. I stripped off the bulky material, all the way down to pantaloons and chemise, before going any further. The bullet lurched, tossing me against the forward door. With a press of my hand, it opened and I saw the CEO of the conglom, staggering, a look of abject fear and horror on his handsome face. I followed his eyes and saw a nightmare vision leaning back in one of the luxury seats, a woman covered in strips of red and goo, a bony hand reaching toward him, her lips gone, revealing teeth gnashing, sliding back and forth, taunting him.

"Holy shite," I gasp, unintentionaly drawing her gaze.

The man takes that precious opportunity to rip one of the emergency panels from the wall and grab the heavy flash mag from the recessed box. What's he going to do? Shine the light in the thing's eyes and blind her? But no, he uses the flash as a weapon, bashing it's head in. He opens the door to the next bullet and waves me on.

"What the hell is going on?" I ask, hoping he knows more than I do.

"No clue, but I'm hoping I'm still sick in bed and dreaming this. I just killed my date to my own birthday party, with a flashlight."

"Maybe we are. Sick in bed I mean. I've been ill the last week or so and on meds, but thought I was well enough to go back to work. Sorry about your date."

"Thanks."

It happened in the blink of an eye, but my senses went into slo-motion. The lumbering thing behind me, reaching out with skeletal fingers, jagged teeth taking a huge chunk outta my neck like some ghoul. I could see the open mouth, the wide eyed shock on the man in front of me, but no sound, no screams, not even my own. I faded, my consciousness leaving on angel wings only to wake in my bed. I touched my neck, feeling for a raw gouge and lay back in relief.

Just a dream. I suddenly wondered if somewhere, maybe in Dallas, there was another person, a man waking from a nightmare, a flashlight clutched in his hand.

The End.








Friday, May 23, 2014

Friday Finds: Swoon Worthy Heroes

I hope you'll enjoy some of the swoon worthy heroes I've collected for you this week. ;)

Weddings Can Be Murder
By Christie Craig

Genre: Contemporary romance | cozy mystery
FREE (for a limited time only)

Till Deaths Do You Part . . .

Katie Ray was about to marry a man she didn’t love—and who didn’t love her. Even losing her $8,000 engagement ring wasn’t enough of a sign to call things off. What did it take? Being locked in the closet with a sexy PI, and being witness to murder.

. . . Or They Bring You Together

Carl Hades hardly wanted to be shackled with another man’s soon-to-be-wife, especially when the gorgeous redhead stirred emotions he’d avoided for years. He’d been hired by an elite Houston wedding planner to investigate some missing brides. When those brides turned up dead, Carl saw where the whole situation was headed: just like Katie’s wedding ring and her ceremony, right down the toilet. Because, while Katie was suddenly and delightfully available, he had a feeling she was next in line to die. And before he could ask her to say “I do,” he had to know who would say “I did it.”



Available at:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Weddings-Can-Murder-Christie-Craig-ebook/dp/B005GXNRPQ
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/weddings-can-be-murder-christie-craig/1102297085
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/weddings-can-be-murder/id590268219?mt=11
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87008



 
Blood Blade Sisters Series
By Michelle McLean


Genre: Historical Romance | Western | Boxed set
.99¢ (until 5/26/14)
The Wild West just got a little wilder... 

In a time when justice is hard to come by, three unconventional sisters become one notorious bandit - The Blood Blade - robbing from the corrupt lawmen to give back to the innocent.

A Bandit's Stolen Heart - Under the persona of the bandit, Blood Blade, Cilla Richardson robs from the corrupt and gives to the poor. But an accidental kidnapping leaves her with a very handsome captive named Leo Forrester... and an idea to save her town.

A Bandit's Broken Heart - Determined to make a fresh start with her daughter, widow Brynne Richardson gives up her bandit activities and leaves California for Boston. Working for a handsome doctor fulfills her need to be useful and independent, but he creates another yearning she can't deny. But will he understand when she has to resurrect the Blood Blade?

A Bandit's Betrayed Heart - Lucy Richardson's bandit sisters may have taught her to sling a gun and pick a stubborn lock, but nothing prepared her for the agony of her first heartbreak. Her sisters taught her to fight like hell for what she wants... and she wants Finn.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Sisters-Series-Entangled-Scandalous-ebook/dp/B00JTIOY24
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-blade-sisters-series-michelle-mclean/1119276224


Gladiator Heart
By Alyssa Morgan


Genre: Historical Romance | Roman Empire
.99¢ (sale ends 5/31/14)

When Lady Valeria Augusta Marianus is captured by the savage Pict army, she is fearful of her treatment by their renowned and fearless commander. His enemy is the Roman Empire and she is the Cesar’s niece, but Tristan Caileanach is nothing like the wild beast she imagined. Instead his ruggedly handsome face and toned body makes her long to be held in his powerful arms. And her traitorous body can only resist the heat of this fierce warrior’s touch for so long…

One night in Tristan’s bed is all it takes for Valeria to give him her innocence and her heart. Yet she knows they have no future together – not when his hatred for all things Roman runs so deep. But when the Roman army descends on the camp and Tristan is enslaved and forced to be a Gladiator, facing death every day, suddenly their roles are reversed.

Now all Valeria wants is to give him back his freedom, but Tristan’s only chance is to win it in the arena…

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Gladiator-Heart-Alyssa-Morgan-ebook/dp/B00EAPX6GG
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gladiator-heart-alyssa-morgan/1116295946

Monday, May 19, 2014

Cover Reveal: El Lobizon: The Midnight Effect

As many of you who read my blog know, I've been busy with edits and rewriting on several stories I wrote years ago (and were published) but recently got back the rights. I hope to release most of these books if not all of them, this year. Of course, that means I need new covers to go with my rewritten and expanded new stories. So I'd like to share with you the newest cover for one of my upcoming rereleases: The Midnight Effect.

Coming September 2014!

Animal habitat designer Allison Caufield sees a rare sight. A wolf thought to be extinct, roaming the underbrush of a Central American jungle. What she captures on her camera is pure myth, a dark legend brought to life–but this is one myth that could either vindicate her or destroy her.

Javier López is used to the shadows. To save his people, he must stop the one woman who can prove his kind exist. Her sweet scent and lush curves call out to him even as duty to his pack forces him to lie and steal from the beautiful American.

Cast into the role of rescuer by the hand of fate, Javier must now bring all his considerable skills and heightened senses into play if he has any hope of saving Allison before the midnight effect.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Sunday Writer's Corner - Adverbs

Today on Writer's Corner, I'd like to talk about adverbs. For those of you who aren't sure what an adverb is, here's a handy definition: Adverbs are used to modify verbs. They modify a verb by telling us when, where, in what way, how, or to what extent something is done. Adverbs are also used to modify adjectives and other adverbs. Often the adverb can be spotted by finding words ending in -ly in a sentence.


Examples:

She answered the question fastest. (to what extent)
He jogged yesterday. (when)
She jogged quickly. (when)
He stopped suddenly. (how)
They were extremely quiet. (in what manner)

But also there are adverbial phrases and clauses:

While I was waiting for Judy, I noticed your dog jump the fence.
I noticed your dog jump the fence while I was waiting for Judy

(Note the placement of the comma. When an adverbial phrase or clause is at the front of the sentence, a comma is needed. When it ends a sentence, no comma is needed.)

In the past no one questioned the use of adverbs and I'm sure you'll find them easily in novels published before 1980. The tendency today is removal of as many adverbs as you can find in your manuscript. I think this is at least partly due to the rising popularity with Deep POV.  But remember, rules are made to be broken, so if you slip and insert an adverb or two in your book, I don't think it will hurt your sales. It is your writing voice after all. Only you can determine which path to take, with or without adverbs. :)

So, did you spot all the adverbs and adverbial clauses and phrases in that last paragraph? Good work!

Until next time—
Cass

Friday, May 16, 2014

Friday Finds: Three Broken Promises (New Adult)

Three Broken Promises
By Monica Murphy

Genre: New Adult Romance

Buy your copy today for only .99¢ (sale ends 5/17/14)

Breakout sensation Monica Murphy returns with a hot new contemporary romance—a heartfelt story of second chances, forgiveness, and redemption.

Commitment
. That’s what I really want from Colin. Ever since my brother, Danny, died in Iraq, Colin’s done so much to help me, including giving me a job at his popular restaurant so I can leave my crappy waitressing job at the strip joint. But lying in bed with him every night to comfort him from his horrible nightmares isn’t enough anymore. I know he feels guilty about Danny’s death, about not going to Iraq, but I can’t keep living this double life.

I love him desperately, but he’s got so many demons, and if he can’t open up to me now, then he’ll never be the real partner I need him to be. I gave him a month, and now I’m out of here. If he truly loves me like he says, he knows where to find me.

Buy your copy today for only .99¢ (sale ends 5/17/14)

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

New Release: Woo’d in Haste by Sabrina Darby

Posting this for a friend who writes historical romance. If you like historical and the Regency time period is a favorite, then please check it out.  —Cass

An earl pretending to be a tutor. A woman determined to make her own choices. A decree that could keep them apart forever. Woo’d in Haste (The Taming Series #1) $.99

Woo’d in Haste releases today! What’s with the apostrophe? Find out at http://SabrinaDarby.com

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Happy Mother's Day

Wishing All The Moms
 Both Young and Old, 
image courtesy openclipart.org creative commons;

A Very Special Mother's Day! 
Brightest Blessings.

And to those remembering 
a wonderful mom who has passed on,
a huge hug from me to you!

—Cass

Friday, May 9, 2014

Friday Finds: Something For Everyone

This week's Friday Finds offers up something for just about everyone. Don't forget to leave a review on Amazon or B&N if you enjoyed one of these books. Authors are people too, and love responses from readers like you!


Beyond Desire Boxed Set

Genre: Boxed Set

**Limited Edition, Limited Time 99 cents SALE from NYT & USA Today Bestselling authors!**
 Get this set now before it's gone! Retail for this collection is over $25.00!




THE BILLIONAIRE'S OBSESSION ~ SIMON by J. S. Scott


Reclusive billionaire Simon Hudson would rather be behind a computer creating computer games ...until he meets Kara Foster. But when she ends up in a situation that could very well be her destruction, Simon steps up to help her, not realizing that in saving Kara, he might very well be salvaging his own soul.


ONE MORE DAY by M. Malone


When Ridley Wells finds herself on the wrong side of a mafia don, she runs to the only person she trusts. But her twin sister is out of town and she has no where to go. So when resident bad boy Jackson Alexander mistakes her for her sister, she does something she knows she shouldn't. She lies.





FOR YOU by Mimi Strong


Aubrey's fled her shabby past for a reason, and won't let anyone close enough to discover her secrets. Sawyer talks his way into one date, and then another. Aubrey finds herself smiling, and falling in love. But when the truth comes out about Aubrey's past, will Sawyer stand by her side?





ONE SWEET SUMMER by Cali MacKay


Riley never got over her first love, Thorsen, so when he shows up at the quirky inn she manages 12 years later, she falls for him all over again. She soon finds out the inn is being sold to Holt Enterprises, who'll strip it of everything that makes it unique. When faced with the real reason Thorsen's returned and his unbearable betrayal, will she be able to save the inn and her chance at true love?





DEFINING DESTINY by Deanna Chase

Singer-songwriter Lucy Moore has already met her soul mate. But when he betrays her she returns home with some decisions to make. After a horrific accident, Seth Keenan's own destiny is shattered. Now he's abandoned his career in favor of his tattoo gun and has vowed to never to get close to anyone again...until he meets Lucy.

A MOMENT by Marie Hall


Lili would much rather be doing homework on Valentine's then hanging out in a Burlesque bar, until she meets the brooding Ryan. What she doesn't know is that Ryan has decided tonight he'll end it all, but fate has other plans for him. Lili is determined to save not only his body, but his soul too.



IN KELLY'S CORNER by Roxie Rivera


Former Marine Kelly Connolly will do anything to keep Bee Langston safe, but winning the underground cage fighting tournament to save his family's legacy comes at a high price--one that might just cost his sweet Bee her life.





REUNITED IN LOVE by Nadia Lee


Billionaire Ethan Lloyd gets the second chance he wants when he runs into Kerri Wilson. She's the only woman who ever touched him, but she vanished after their one night of passion. He offers her a job and a home, but with her past catching up to her, Kerri may have to bolt again--



THE TEMPORARY PROMISE by Bonnie Dee


Struggling actress Tara has grown used to the idea that her career might not progress beyond an occasional commercial--until her best friend's brother, Luis encourages her to make a big move. Soon Tara is taking more than career risks as she plunges headlong into a steamy relationship with the guy she crushed on as a teenager.





ESCAPE IN YOU by Rachel Schurig


Jet Taylor is the quintessential bad boy. The type of guy most girls do their best to avoid. But Zoe Janes is no saint herself and the more time they spend together, the harder it is for Zoe to stick to her "fun only" mantra.

AMAZON:
http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Desire-Collection-Limited-Billionaire-ebook/dp/B00J0CHUGQ 
 
BARNES & NOBLE:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beyond-desire-collection-js-scott/1119423630


Out on a Limb
By Carolyn Jourdan


Genre: Mystery
Only .99¢ (Sale ends 5/11/14)

Phoebe McFarland has just moved back to her hometown of White Oak, Tennessee, a sleepy rural community nestled in the mist-shrouded ridges and isolated hollows of the Smoky Mountains. 

Now she spends her days working as a rural home health care nurse, making calls on a quirky roster of housebound characters she’s determined to take care of whether they cooperate or not. 

She applies this same optimism to her love life, despite the fact that she’s been dating for 38 years without locating any husband material. When she runs into her childhood sweetheart, Henry Matthews, a wildlife ranger for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it looks like she might’ve found her man.



But Phoebe and Henry’s chance for romance has to be put on hold while they undertake a desperate search for a young woman who mysteriously vanished from the park during a gathering of world famous biologists and botanists, including a charismatic Frog Whisperer.

AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Out-Limb-Mountain-Mystery-Phoebe-ebook/dp/B00B9FKLS6
Visit the author's website at: http://www.carolynjourdan.com/

Bared
By Stacey Kennedy


Genre: Erotic Romance

Only .99¢ (sale ends 5/17/14)

In a novel that’s perfect for fans of Fifty Shades of Grey, Stacey Kennedy returns to Club Sin with another wicked and wild tale of submission, seduction, and love.
 
At Las Vegas’s exclusive Club Sin, Aidan Knight is the Master, unleashing the erotic yearnings of his submissive lovers. But his dominant façade conceals a devastating loss—something he instantly recognizes in his personally trained submissive Cora Adams.

Sworn to unearth her secrets, Aidan uses his seductive skills to ignite her wildest desires until Cora yields to the pleasure she can find only with him.



Cora came to the BDSM club to act out her sub-and-dom fantasies without ever revealing the heartbreak that haunts her. But Aidan’s masterful touch is bringing her closer to the edge . . . and deeper into a world of control and surrender. He refuses to allow her to submit to any other man—nor does she want to. It’s a dangerous game they’re playing. For as they give in to passion, they must lay bare their souls for a love that could heal—and free—them both.

Bared is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.  

AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Bared-Club-Sin-Stacey-Kennedy-ebook/dp/B00EMXC022
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bared-stacey-kennedy/1116525826
Visit the author's website at: http://www.staceykennedy.com

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

New Release: Homicide In High Heels by Gemma Halliday






My friend Gemma Halliday just had a new book released in her High Heels Mysteries series! Homicide In High Heels! Maddie is up to her old tricks. Read on for more...

High Heels Mysteries book #9

It's springtime in California! The flowers are in bloom, the fashion week runways are fierce, and fans of America's favorite pastime are filling the baseball stadiums to root for their favorite team. But when the girlfriend of the L.A. Stars rookie MVP winds up dead at a chic Beverly Hills salon, it's suddenly up to fashion designer Maddie Springer to track down the "Tanning Salon Killer." Armed with the help of her wacky cast of friends and family, Maddie finds herself with a list of suspects that includes the cast of the reality TV show Baseball Wives, a desperate blackmail victim, and an entire baseball team! If Maddie can brave the hot dogs and cat fights, she just might be able to catch a killer...before he strikes again!

Gemma Halliday Website

Buy Homicide In High Heels paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Homicide-High-Heels-Mysteries/dp/1499321147

Buy the ebook for Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Homicide-High-Heels-Mysteries-book-ebook/dp/B00K4FJRQ4


Grab Fearless In High Heels now for only .99¢
 (sales ends May 11, 2014)
 
Morning sickness sucks. Which is why fashion designer turned amateur sleuth Maddie Springer has spent the last six weeks being a couch potato and Moonlight vampire movie devotee. But when Maddie's best friends finally convince her to venture out, Maddie stumbles on a dead body of a girl who has been bitten on the neck, and life suddenly imitates art in the most deadliest of ways. Now Maddie is smack in the middle of a murder investigation involving a deadly dance club and a coven of Hollywood "vampires". Not to mention navigating the world of baby showers, diaper genies and Lamaze classes with her LAPD Homicide detective husband who would rather his pregnant wife not continue popping up in his murder investigation. Between the hormones, the homicides, and a flurry of fangs, Maddie and her gang work to track down the deadly truth... before the killer bites again! 

AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Fearless-High-Heels-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B006Q5W3I0

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fearless-in-high-heels-gemma-halliday/1107586761

SMASHWORDS:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/118279


Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Tuesday Blue Plate Special: Outlander

Quite a while back, I was browsing in a bookshop, waiting for my car to be repaired, and spied something intriguing. I've always loved time travel romances and anything set during the WW2 era, so when I saw this book that seemed to combine the two, I wanted to see if anyone else had read it. The girl working behind the counter said it was a truly amazing novel, and I should try it. Good enough for me.

So I bought this oddly named book, Outlander, and rubbed my fingers over the slightly embossed thistle and crown on the cover. Since I'm also part Scots on my mum's side, I thought it might be fun to read something of the history of Scotland set to fiction.

I had no real expectations, despite the girl at the bookshop saying it was amazing. I'd been told that before, only to realize my taste in reading and other readers tastes can vastly differ.

To say I was floored by this epic story was an understatement. Only three times in my life have I read something that affected me so profoundly (Stranger In A Strange Land, and The Power of One). This work of fiction touched my soul, and I knew I would read the book again and again, in some special kind of literary pilgrimage. My old copy is so beat up, dog-earred, and the spine so cracked, anyone could tell at a glance it was a well read and loved up book.

A few years ago, I bought Outlander in ebook format to reread. It's just as great a story, but I admit something was lost in the feel of a real book in my hands, so I bought it again in paperback.

In celebration of one of my favorite books of all time (and the ever delicious Jaime Fraser) plus the new Starz mini series coming this month, I'm sharing some Scottish recipes today, both old and new.

Enjoy!

Grandda's Scottish Shortbread

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 2/3 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup pure cane sugar
pinch of sea salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).

In mixing bowl, place butter, salt, and sugar then mix on medium speed until well blended. Add flour and change setting to slow, mixing thoroughly.

Press thickened dough batter into a rectangular pan/jelly roll size. Prick cookie dough repeatedly (close together) with a fork making sure the fork hits bottom.

Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce temperature to 300º degrees and continue to bake for 40 additional minutes. Let cool for a few minutes, then cut shortbread into two inch long bars. Let cool to room temperature, then place on decorative tray or in treat bags or cookie jar. Servings 12.


For more Scotland-inspired tasty recipes, check out these links:

http://www.rampantscotland.com/recipes/blrecipe_index.html
http://www.scotland.org/celebrate-scotland/recipes/
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/burns-night


Do you have a favorite book? The Tuesday Blue Plate Special honors those books with themed recipes, like the one I posted here. Anyone can submit a recipe to be featured as part of The Tuesday Blue Plate Special.  Are you an author? Promote your own book here by sending in a recipe themed around your book or books setting. It's free and it's fun.

By submitted your recipe and short article (why you chose that particular book to feature) you are giving casscandracurtis.com and Ms. Curtis, the right to electronically reprint your submission. Payment is byline only. Please remember to provide a link to the book's cover art. Thank you.