Synopsis

 

All it takes to change everything is an enraged woman and a dare…

Love is not for me. Nope. I don’t deserve it, so I keep far, far away from relationships.

Archer – a drifter who won’t stick around – is perfect for me. I can touch those sexy broad shoulders and stare into those smoldering hazel eyes to my heart’s content.

Except, it turns out Archer isn’t Archer at all. He’s Cedar. He’s not some random drifter. He grew up in the quirky small town of Winter Falls.

When I find out the truth, my rage boils over, my mouth opens up, and before my mind can catch up, I’m daring Cedar to stay in Winter Falls for six months.

I must have been temporarily insane.

Because the longer Cedar sticks around, the more my feelings for him grow. And pushing him away is about as easy as getting the eccentric townspeople to respect my privacy.

Especially when he keeps drawing me in, claiming he’s going to prove to me I not only deserve love but everything my heart desires. Easy for him to say. He doesn’t know what I did.

Can a dare spoken in a moment of anger result in my happily ever after?

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

If you are looking for a steamy romantic comedy, look no further than this author, especially the Winter Falls series.

There are two different Winter Falls series. One features the West sisters, and this new series features the Dempsey sisters. In this one, we get to know Cassandra Dempsey. She has some baggage that you will discover, and it takes a lot of convincing before she doesn’t hold herself responsible for some things in the past. We also meet Cedar, Rowan’s younger brother. We actually meet him as Archer first. Cedar is a bit of a nomad or has been for most of his life due to some baggage in his past.

This book is a little different from the others. We don’t see the gossip girls as much in this book. I, for one, was glad to see them have a much smaller role. They can be a bit over the top with their betting and matchmaking. They mean well and add some humor to the story, but after seven previous books, it was time for a slight breather from them. We also see the town take a more minor role in the book, and the relationship between Cedar and Cassandra is front and center.

I still love the concept of Winter Falls and its carbon-neutral stance. The townsfolk care about each other, despite their inability to stay out of everyone else’s business, and they seem to have a good time. The West and Dempsey sisters are still a bit crazy and tend to pull pranks on one another, but deep down, they have each other’s back and will protect their family to the bitter end.

We also get our first look at Olivia Dempsey. Her story is coming next, but so many questions are swirling around in my head, wondering what her story is.

The book kept me chuckling, and the pages were a bit spicy. But it is enjoyable all the same, and I know I’ll be sad with the next book that will wrap up the Dempsey sisters series.

We give this book 4 1/2 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

D.E. Haggerty is actually just plain old Dena, but she thinks using initials makes her sound like one of the cool kids. She was born and raised in the U.S. but has spent the majority of her adult life abroad, living in cool-sounding places like Istanbul, Heidelberg, and The Hague. She has job hopped from military policewoman to lawyer to B&B owner. She finally jumped off the job-hopping bandwagon a few years ago when she decided to turn her addiction to romance novels into a career. If anyone has ideas on how to turn a love of wine into a job, she’s all ears.

 

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Synopsis

While her colleagues investigate the brutal murder of a prominent businessman, Jessica Niemi must battle demons from her past in this terrifying new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Witch Hunter.

Powerful executive Eliel Zetterborg has been found murdered in his upscale Helsinki home. What at first seems like a straightforward case soon proves to be anything but when it becomes clear the murderer has other targets. The only clue the police have is a photo of Zetterborg with three men whose faces have all been scratched off.

Detective Jessica Niemi has taken some time off from her work with the Helsinki police to track down the coven that nearly killed her, and her partner, Yusuf, is assigned to lead the investigation. But as Yusuf delves into the case, he realizes he needs Jessica’s help. And as they dig deeper, they realize that the evil they’ve been hunting all along has returned and is lying in wait for the right moment to strike.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Bookshop * Penguin Random House

 

 

About the Author

 

International and New York Times bestselling author Max Seeck writes novels and screenplays full-time. He lives with his wife and children near Helsinki.

 

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Synopsis

 

A mysterious package.

A new school.

A chance to be someone new.

A new virtual reality school where students get a fresh start.

The pandemic was rough on everyone, especially since school went from being a fun place where you could hang out with your friends to a bunch of heads in small rectangles all trying to talk at once. For Bradley, Edelle, Hunter, Jasper, and Keiko, that’s about to change.

A mysterious box arrives at each of their houses, and they’re invited to attend a virtual school. More than just being online, they’ll be able to create an avatar of themselves and interact with their friends and other classmates in real time using VR headsets.

For each of them, that presents an opportunity to become someone they’re not, or someone they haven’t been. For Bradley, it’s a chance to come out of a self-imposed shell. Edelle hopes everyone will see her for who she really is, not just for how she looks. Hunter is looking forward to pretending he’s still the person he was last year. Jasper wants to get over past assumptions. And for Keiko, it’ll allow her to disappear into the crowd.

For all of them, it’s a chance to see just how much they’ve assumed about each other in the past and maybe an opportunity to become friends.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * BAM * Deseret Books * Bookshop * IndieBound * Walmart

 

 

Praise

 

“Amid a pandemic…Students attend classes via virtual reality and interact with one another by creating avatars…or disguises. When a gaming tournament forces [a] trio to work together they make surprising discoveries about themselves and each other. The protagonists’ evolving views of friendship and self-acceptance will resonate with readers who struggle to be-or to find-themselves. Warmly supportive parents are a welcome bonus. A timely, feel-good tale of learning to accept oneself and others.” —Kirkus

 

“Engaging novel…three adolescents attend an experimental virtual junior high school. The program has fascinating aspects, like team video game tournaments and replicated classrooms and gymnasiums. Concepts of individuality and peer perceptions are handled with humor and compassion. Bradley, Edelle, and Hunter evolve through their virtual interactions, learning emotional and social lessons that resonate in real life. Beyond its wondrous simulations, at the heartfelt core of Virtually Me is the awkward, funny, and incomparable essence of being truly human.” —Foreword Reviews

 

 

Review

 

I love when middle-grade books share a life lesson but aren’t overt about it.

This book focuses on three teens – Hunter, Bradley, and Edelle. It is the height of the pandemic, and they are attending a virtual school. While other issues brought them to the virtual school besides the pandemic, it was a chance for them to start over again. It takes time for them to learn the lessons they are meant to learn, but I enjoyed watching them grow and appreciate life in a whole new way.

These three attended school together before the virtual school, but not all knew who the other was. Part of it is due to the names they gave themself in the virtual school; it was also how their avatar was displayed. Edelle’s mom would not approve of an avatar that wasn’t “plain” since she wanted Edelle to learn that life is more than how you look. Bradley loves K-Pop and went wild with pink hair and some cool dance moves. Hunter was the only one that didn’t try to hide who he was via his avatar. However, because everyone knew who he was and how he acted outside of the virtual school, that had some repercussions for him down the road.

Jasper is a somewhat main character, but none of the chapters are from his point of view. However, he is integral in forming cohesiveness between friends and is just friendly to everyone. We learn more towards the end about Jasper, which is part of what brings everyone together.

This book addresses themes such as bullying, selfishness, image, and self-awareness. Each of the characters, even outside of the main three, contributes to a well-told story that anyone who reads it will walk away with some new perspectives.

We give this book 5 paws up! Wonderful read for everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Authors

 

CHAD MORRIS loves the VR set he got for Christmas and is much better at it than he is at video games, but that’s still not saying much. Still, he would love to try to keep his balance on Skatecoaster, laugh like crazy in The Furriest, and punch light blasts at alien bugs in Infestation ExtermiNation. He occasionally dances in public, and he’s pretty terrible at social media.

SHELLY BROWN went to junior high in a regular ol’ building (boring) and has never transformed into a round fuzzy animal. But she has been listening to K-pop since before BTS’s first album and feels a deep affection for well-made falafel pitas. She’s an aunt to some incredible young people, a substitute teacher, and a wannabe Kyoshi warrior.

As a married couple, Chad and Shelly both love writing books and hanging out with each other and their five kids. They’re grateful they get to spend time with students in assemblies across the nation talking about topics from kindness to writing.

 

Chad’s Website * Chad’s Twitter * Shelly’s Website * Shelly’s Twitter

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Before Rosalind weds, she wants to experience ten things. Meeting Charlie wasn’t on her list.

England, 1820

Rosalind Newbury is counting down the days until her wedding to the Duke of Marlow, a man she has only met twice, and she knows exactly how she wants to spend her time. As a child, Ros created a list of ten things to do before her wedding day. So far, she has done none of them.

She is determined to tackle each item, though she’ll have to accomplish them all in secret. After all, a soon-to-be-duchess is not usually allowed to bury treasure in the pasture, eat sweets all day, or learn how to swim. She enlists the help of her best friend, Liza, who brings along her cousin, Charlie, a prodigal son-turned-boxer who has come to the countryside to mend his reputation and learn how to be his father’s heir.

Together, the three of them work to complete the list, and as each item is crossed off, an unlikely friendship blossoms between Ros and Charlie. The more time they spend together, the more Ros falls in love with this imperfect man and his good heart.

With the wedding looming, Ros must decide to either admit her romantic feelings for Charlie and risk her family’s future, or keep her promise to marry the duke and start a new life as a noblewoman.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Deseret Books

 

 

Review

 

Regency novels take us back to a time when things were very different. Women didn’t have much of a say in what happened to them, men could be brutes, but sometimes, true love was discovered.

Rosalind is engaged to a Duke whom she met by chance when he came to purchase land from her father. Seeing a step up for their family, she agrees to marry the Duke. What she doesn’t expect is to meet Liza’s cousin, Charlie, and fall head over heels in love. Granted, it takes some time for that to actually happen, but I think many others could see it before she does.

I always found it interesting that women had to have chaperones if they were unmarried. All for propriety and to not sully her reputation. Not that the women back then weren’t a little crafty. Take Rosalind, for example. She spent a lot of time with Charlie but usually had Liza or her brother Ben with her. Ben might have been her little brother, but he took his role seriously as the heir in the family and made sure she wasn’t compromised. He may have been 18, but I don’t think he was fully mature yet. But I loved his devotion to her.

The purpose of this story was for Rosalind to complete a bucket list that she wrote when she was around 12. She got this great idea from her Aunt Alice and saw it as a way to celebrate the last of her singleness. I loved the idea, but why didn’t she think to update the list? Most of the items were innocuous and would have been the same whether she was 12 or 20. However, some were a little dangerous. Doesn’t matter; she worked her way through that list with the help of Liza and Charlie.

This was a fun story to read, and I appreciate the world today compared to then. However, sometimes times were simpler, and I know that I admire the strides women made over the last 200 years to bring us to where we are today.

I also enjoyed all of the antics and even some of the heart-pounding moments. We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

MEGAN WALKER was raised on a berry farm in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, where her imagination took her to times past and worlds away. While earning her degree in Early Childhood Education, she married her one true love and started a family. But her imaginings of Regency England wouldn’t leave her alone, so she picked up a pen. And the rest is history. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband and three children.

 

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Bestselling author Isa Chandra Moskowitz shows you how to create your own vegan meats, like deli slices and ground beef, that will satisfy every craving.

“I’m an animal lover, and that love doesn’t end when I get hungry. Do I miss meat? Not really. But here’s what I do miss: Aromas. Experiences. Methods. Traditions.

“I remember all the tastes and sensations from my omnivore days, even though they were so long ago. My grandmother’s meatballs burnt on one side. Slurpy seafood pasta at a café along the bay, my teeth scraping against the hard oyster shells. My favorite pizza burger from a diner underneath a Midtown office building, the feel of the vinyl seat as I bounced with excitement at the sight of the melty mozz arriving at the table.

“These are the moments you could say I miss. Maybe you do, too. But we don’t have to.”
—from the Introduction

Fake Meat is packed with 125 recipes that will satisfy every kind of meat craving, from a vegan Philly cheesesteak and a basket of wings to a rich, gooey lasagna.

 

 

 

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My thoughts

 

I am not a vegan, but I am not opposed to the variety of foods and recipes that tend to make up a vegan diet. Many times it is a nice healthy alternative with only a few odd things, which are probably only odd to me because I haven’t heard of some of these ingredients. However, a cookbook like this will take me out of my comfort zone and expose me to new dishes.

I will say that if someone has been vegan their entire life, or a majority of it, they aren’t obsessed with finding a way to eat meat in a non-meat way. But for those that have recently changed how they eat, this cookbook could be right up their alley. You’ve seen the memes that bacon is the best food; well, this cookbook has several “bacon” recipes made from mushrooms.

This is not a cookbook to use when trying to cook a quick meal, as several recipes include additional recipes. So if you want to make the Sheetpan Tandoori Chick’N, for example, be prepared to also make the chick’n. Granted, it is a dish you could make ahead and use for multiple recipes, but if you don’t have it made already, it will add additional time.

If you are a meat eater, you can easily substitute meat for the faux meat. I want to try the Tandoori Chick’n and a few other recipes.

I showed this to a Vegetarian friend, and I think she is eyeballing the book and might just have to borrow it to try for herself.

This is aimed at a very specific audience, but there are aspects that any cook could incorporate into their weekly dinner menu.

 

 

Recipe

 

I had to figure out what recipe to share that didn’t involve multiple recipes for some of the ingredients. I thought this Carrot Lox was a good one because it is something that I would enjoy since I don’t like seafood.

 

Carrot Lox

Makes a 12″ “fillet”

 

Ingredients:

1 lb carrots, preferably large (at least 1″ thick)
3T organic sugar
2T rice vinegar
1 tsp kelp powder
1T smoked salt
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/3 cup aquafaba (chickpea cooking liquid)
1T olive oil, plus additional for oiling parchment paper

For garnish:

Sprigs of fresh dill
Paper-thin lemon slices

 

1. Thoroughly scrub carrots and trim off any stems. Use a peeler to make ribbons that are as long as you can manage.
2. In a 9×11 pan, mix together the carrot ribbons, sugar, rice vinegar, kelp powder, smoked salt, and smoked paprika. Toss to coat with spices and set aside for 30 minutes, tossing occasionally.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper; lightly grease the paper with olive oil.
4. Stir the aquafaba and olive oil into the carrot ribbons, coating completely.
5. Neatly layer the carrot ribbons over the parchment paper. Arrange the ribbons in the same direction, with strips overlapping one another. Ideally, the longer strips will be in the middle and the shorter ones at the ends so they taper in a diamond shape. Brush the top with the remaining aquafaba mixture.
6. Tightly cover the pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes, until the carrots are tender. Transfer the paper to a cooling rack and keep it covered until cool enough to handle.
7. Transfer the cooled lox, still on the parchment, to a small cutting board or something that will fit in the fridge. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using.

 

 

Synopsis

 

Roxy Constantine is the jam queen of Shavano, Colorado. But her social life is a bust, and she’s still recovering from a bad experience as a line cook in Denver. Things improve when she meets tasty local chef Nate Robicheaux, but she’s also fending off the attentions of another local, Brett Holmes, who won’t take no for an answer. When Brett threatens to derail Roxy’s career, the two have a very public fight. A few days later, Brett is found murdered in his restaurant kitchen, and suddenly Roxy’s a prime suspect. Now Roxy must find the truth about Brett and his murderer before the town of Shavano decides her reign as jam queen is over for good.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Bookshop

 

 

Review

 

I enjoy discovering new towns in cozies. The towns are usually small, filled with interesting characters, and a killer. And not just one killer, but many, especially if it is a longer series!

Shavano, Colorado, seems like a quaint and quiet town, and Roxy is back home and has become the jam queen. But what brought her back is an incident that shook her to her core and has her wary of men. That is until she meets Nate. Nate also had an incident in his past that brought him home too. What neither expects is to become potential suspects in the murder of Brett Holmes.

When you read this book, you will quickly realize that Brett is not someone you would want to know or associate with. He is sleazy, conceited, and a bully. Maybe he doesn’t deserve to be killed, but sometimes some characters just need to go away in one way or another. There are a few suspects, but it takes some sleuthing by Roxy and her bestie Susa to uncover the truth.

We see Roxy talking to various potential suspects, but the clues are few and far between. Once the killer was revealed, it probably should have been an obvious answer based on other factors, but I just didn’t see it. I don’t think that the book really points the reader in any specific direction in regard to the killer. I would have liked to have seen a few more clues or even some red herrings. However, very little of the information pointed in any specific direction.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Roxy and Nate progress. However, I wonder if there is a potential triangle coming with Chief Fowler. Only future books will tell.

I loved reading about all the jam flavors. While I’m not a jam maker, I would have loved to have seen a few recipes included in the book.

This is a good start to a new series, and I look forward to future books and visiting Shavano again. We give this 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Meg Benjamin is an award-winning author of romance. Her newest series, the Folk, is a paranormal series from Soul Mate Publishing set in Colorado. Meg’s Konigsburg series is set in the Texas Hill Country and her Salt Box and Brewing Love trilogies are set in the Colorado Rockies (all are available from Entangled Publishing). Along with contemporary romance, Meg is also the author of the paranormal Ramos Family trilogy from Berkley InterMix. Meg’s books have won numerous awards, including an EPIC Award, a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Holt Medallion from Virginia Romance Writers, the Beanpot Award from the New England Romance Writers, and the Award of Excellence from Colorado Romance Writers.

 

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Rivalry Gone Wrong: A Cheer Moms Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Seris
Setting – Southern Illinois
Independently Published (January 10, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 105 pages

Synopsis

 

These cheer moms are not content to sit on the sidelines.

 

Abby Winters is not your typical cheer mom. She doesn’t have time to micromanage her daughter’s competitive cheer group. She’s got her business, Scoops Ice Cream Shop, to run.

But when a rival team’s coach turns up dead and all signs point to murder, Abby wants to make sure her daughter is safe.

Can she catch the killer before they strike again or is the culprit going to murder the competition?

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

This was a fun short read filled with mystery that I certainly didn’t figure out until the end.

I live in Texas, and cheer is a big thing here, including the moms that might go a little crazy with all that is involved. I definitely saw that to a minor degree in this book. I was actually more fascinated with Abby’s ice cream shop, The Scoop, and the various ice cream flavors she created. I hope to see more of that in future books.

While Abby doesn’t intentionally set out to solve the murder of a cheer coach, she does manage to ferret out information from the other moms, and it isn’t until one final clue is revealed near the end do all of the pieces fall into place.

There is even a potential budding relationship between Abby and Detective Barrett, if not romantically, then definitely a friendship. Future books will reveal all.

I am looking forward to future installments in this new series, and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

As a child, L.C. thought she would either be a truck driver (thanks to Jerry Reed in Smokey and the Bandit) or work at Taco Bell (her favorite restaurant as a child). As she grew older, she realized her talents lay in other areas, and for the last several years has been a college professor teaching business and English.

Through all her career choices, she has continued to have a passion for writing stemming from childhood, where, as an only child, she developed a vivid imagination.

She is proud of her vast experiences in life, from barrel racing to being on the dance team for a semi-pro basketball team, to being a mom of 2 amazing kids.

She decided to follow her dream as an author in 2009 and has worked her way up to having 5 fans (maybe 6 now). She often tells her family and friends that no one is safe from his or her ventures slipping into her books. She lives in Indiana with her husband, kids, and two very spoiled dogs.

 

Facebook * Twitter * Amazon Author * Instagram * Website

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Synopsis

She’s an outsider desperate to belong, but the cost of entry might be her darkest secret in this intoxicating debut of literary suspense following a clique of dangerously ambitious students at the University of Edinburgh.

Edinburgh, Scotland: a moody city of labyrinthine alleyways, oppressive fog, and buried history; the ultimate destination for someone with something to hide. Perfect for Clare, then, who arrives utterly alone and yearning to reinvent herself. And what better place to conceal the secrets of her past than at the university in the heart of the fabled, cobblestoned Old Town?

When Clare meets Tabitha, a charismatic, beautiful, and intimidatingly rich girl from her art history class, she knows she’s destined to become friends with her and her exclusive circle: raffish Samuel, shrewd Ava, and pragmatic Imogen. Clare is immediately drawn into their libertine world of sophisticated dinner parties and summers in France. The new life she always envisioned for herself has seemingly begun.

Then Tabitha reveals a little project she’s been working on, one that she needs Clare’s help with. Even though it goes against everything Clare has tried to repent for. Even though their intimacy begins to darken into codependence. But as Clare starts to realize just what her friends are capable of, it’s already too late. Because they’ve taken the plunge. They’re so close to attaining everything they want. And there’s no going back.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Bookshop

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Heather Darwent was raised in Yorkshire and moved to Scotland to study at the University of Edinburgh. The Things We Do to Our Friends is her debut novel.

 

Website * Twitter * Instagram

 

 

Southern Living graciously invites you to enjoy the latest annual compilation of top-rated recipes from the editors of Southern Living magazine—now in full colorFor decades, Southern Living Annual Recipes has collected every recipe from an entire year’s worth of Southern Living magazine in a single complete volume, creating an indispensable companion for devoted readers and an inspiring discovery for all who know and trust the authority that Southern Living magazine brings to great Southern cooking. Inside, the editors at Southern Living magazine share beautifully photographed, step-by-step recipes for regionally inspired dishes, from quick and easy meals to family favorites, as well as special-occasion treats. Along with the go-to Southern recipes cooks crave—delicious Sunday suppers, mouthwatering desserts, regional favorites, and traditional holiday meals—readers will find helpful tips and creative menus from the legendary Southern Living Test Kitchen. A special bonus section presents a surprise selection of reader-favorite recipes that cannot be found anywhere else.

 

 

Amazon * Abrams Books * B&N * Bookshop

 

 

My Thoughts

 

Since joining Abrams Dinner Party, I have been exposed to many new recipes spanning a range of cuisine types. I also love to stretch my skills, so I never oppose to these opportunities.

I have received the Southern Living Annual Recipe book for several years now, and I am always amazed at the number of dishes available in the book. And the photos help me visualize the dishes and what they should look like. I might not always follow a recipe to the letter, but knowing what the finished product should look like always helps.

While I haven’t had time to dive into every single page of this book, my mouth is already watering at the photos of the various dishes that I have perused. I have a feeling I will be bookmarking a lot of these recipes to try over the coming year.

The contents are divided by month and pull in ingredients that are in season or fit with the season. There is everything from salads to main courses to desserts.

My goal is try at least 1 recipe per month starting in 2023. Here is my initial thoughts:

January – Creamy Chicken Sausage and Kale Soup
February – Sesame Crusted Chicken Breasts with Sugar Snap Pea Salad or Chipotle Maple Chicken Thighs with Candied Acorn Squash (or both!)
March – Fire roasted Tomato and Beef Ragu or Sesame Shrimp Stir-Fry
April – Garlic Oregano Chicken with Grilled Leeks and Lemon
May – Creamy Baked Eggs with Leeks and Spinach or Bacon and Egg Tarts with Goat Cheese
June – Blistered Cherry Tomatoes with Red Pepper Feta Spread
July – Peach Cream Kuchen (a Texas favorite in the Hill Country!)
August – Chipotle Chicken Tacos & Chipotle Shrimp Tacos (2 separate recipes)
September – Applesauce Snack Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting
October – Smothered Pork Chops with Rice and Sweet Potato Topped Southwestern Cottage Pie
November – Crispy Smashed Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potato Pie Squares
December – Cheesy Chorizo Stuffed Chilies and many options for my annual sweet treat exchange!

As you can see, this barely scratches the surface of all the included goodness in this book.  I can see this as a book I will use over and over.

If you like trying new recipes, pick up a copy for yourself and try your hand the deliciousness inside.

 

 

Synopsis

 

In a war between humans and shifters, sparks, and fur fly…Until scales appear.

 

Princess Kisa, the middle daughter in the shifter nation of Dar, is often overlooked and underestimated. Always the devoted caregiver of family and country, she’s come to terms with her future as a Shield-Mate in a political marriage. Many, including Kisa, are surprised when her father names her as heir to his throne.

Kalman, once a privileged son of the former protectorate Sorota, is an outcast and a man without a future. The people of Ruinae consider him a weak, self-indulgent man. Only his trusted servant knows the heart of the soldier beneath the veneer.

Forces are gathering against the two countries, and now dragons, long banished to the outland, have returned. Kisa and Kalman are charged by King Dar to find out how entrenched the dragons are with the enemy. Since a long-ago meeting, Kalman never forgot the spitfire Lynx-shifter. He’s no longer the boy she’d met, but a man. One determined to have her despite their differences. But Kisa can’t fall in love with the enemy. Can she? Would her people accept not only the son of Sorota but one whom her family also seeks retribution?

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Excerpt

 

“How may I serve you, Father?” Kisa glanced around. “It’s been long years since I’ve been in here.”

This was his personal lair. Darkly masculine with shelves filled with books. Maps lined the walls and a side table with a miniature replica of the kingdom and surrounding areas. It was where he could find peace from all the demands of running the empire. Though no respite from the ghosts who haunted him.

Amaya’s portrait stared down at him with accusation I left my daughters in your care. You’ve disappointed me, Shield-Mate.

“We have much to discuss.” He turned from the portrait, his chest tight with pain as he walked behind his writing table and lifted the stack of papers he’d collected. “These are all Shield-Mate offers for you.”

She stared first at them and then him. Barely a whisper squeezed out, “So many?”

“Is it love and Shield-Mate you want?” He asked with a penetrating look. “What is your greatest desire, daughter?”

Kisa’s mouth opened and closed as she stared at him. He had never asked her about her dreams. Shouldn’t a father know his child? “Well, what is it?”

“What do you mean?” She tugged at her earlobe as she’d done since she was a babe.

“If I throw this pile of papers into the fire —” he grasped the stack into his large hand and pointed to the hearth with them, “—will it disappoint you? Or give you relief?”

She blinked at him. “I don’t know what you are asking me.”

“It’s simple––disappointment?” He shook the papers. “Or relief.”

Kisa whispered, “Relief.”

Dar threw the communiqués into the fire, where they flamed and sparked. Neither spoke while the letters—some paper, some parchment—curled at the edges, turning brown, then black, then nothing but ash.

When the last cinders drifted away, his daughter sobbed, and he thought he would too. “Someone must rule when I’m gone.”

“What?” Her voice cracked. “I always thought you intended to bind Lansdowne and Dar into one kingdom, and Orsolo and her Shield-Mate would co-rule.”

“Orsolo is shrewd and intelligent but frivolous. Before her Shield-Mating, I informed your older sister that she would not be Queen here.” Dar folded his arms across his chest. “Before you ask, she was relieved.”

“I know as children of the Darrian royal house, there is no guarantee to ascend the throne.” Kisa hugged her arms around her waist. “Who did you decide it would be?”

Dar went to the matching high-backed chairs near his desk and, with a groan, sank into the cushions. “Come, sit. This will be a lengthy conversation.”

 

 

About the Author

 

D.V. Stone is an award-winning, multi-genre, traditionally and independently published author. She writes books people want to read. Whether romance or fantasy, contemporary or mid-grade, her stories are about the importance of friends and family. About overcoming obstacles while often with humor.

Around the Fire is a popular weekly blog where she introduces both established and new authors giving an insider’s look into their lives and books as well as tidbits about her own life.

Now retired, she is a full-time author and incorporates her life experiences into her books.

A former Emergency Medical Technician, she volunteered in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. At the same time, she worked as a professional EMT in a women’s state prison. She was the proprietor of a coffee shop and a small restaurant/ice cream stand in the years that followed. The years following were as a manager in an animal emergency hospital, while her last position was in a human medical office.

When not behind the wheel of 2Hoots—a 41-foot long 13.2 feet high 5^th Wheel camper, she rambles around town in Northern New Jersey in a white Camaro. She also loves travel and history.

D.V. is a wife to an amazing husband, mother to one son, and not your average grandma to three beautiful grands. A woman of faith, she believes and trusts in God.

“My greatest pleasures are spending time outside with friends and family, cooking over the open fire, sipping a glass of wine, and reading.”

Hali, her rescue dog, always reminds her to let readers know, “Woof, woof.” Which is loosely translated as support your local animal rescue.”

 

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