The Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop is back! We took some time off to enjoy summer, but we are all set to head into fall full of energy and vigour. This week, A.S. Fenichel http://asfenichel.com/blog/ asks: We’re getting into the dog days now. What do you do to relax? Is it a hobby, laying about in the sun or something else? How do you unwind and how does it feed your soul? Summer in Northern British Columbia has been…odd, to say the least. We started July with record heat. I’m not sure what the official high temperature was, but it was near enough to 40C (104F) not to matter. That is INSANELY hot for where I live. Since then, we’ve bounced from cool, rainy weather back to unusually hot days and back again. It’s like we’ve been having mini-summers LOL! That being said, my all-time favourite thing to do when the heat is here is to head out in our small boat. My area is blessed with dozens of beautiful, clear lakes. Sometimes we fish, but all the time I have a book with me. I love to swim right from the boat (thereby avoiding weeds and yucky bottoms) and then laze in the prow soaking up the sun. What do you like to do on the hot days of summer? Be sure to drop me a comment and let me know. Then continue your hop with Clair Brett.
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The last week or so has been VERY COLD in much of North America, so this week’s topic on the Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop seems just right for while we are all hunkering down and staying warm! Let’s talk about food. What’s your favorite food or dish? Does it evoke a memory or is it something new that you adore? I am not a picky eater. If I don’t like something it is more because of the texture than the taste. So, when I started thinking about what to write for this blog, I had too many choices. But then I started thinking about the memories behind the food, and that made it easier. One dish that evokes a strong memory for me is moules et frites. In 2017 my husband and I went to Europe with my parents. We visited my mother’s family in Belgium, and then spent a week in the south of France. One day we drove to a village on the Mediterranean and had mussels and French fries at a restaurant overlooking the sea. While the food was amazing, the view, the company and the experience made it all one of the best days of our trip. Every once in a while I make the dish here at home and it never fails to remind us of that trip. I don’t think I ever realized how much sharing a meal contributed to our human experience until this past year. Eating together deepens the sense of community and belonging between family and friends in a way I don’t fully comprehend. It is that new understanding that made me choose my other favourite meal – turkey dinner. Like many families, I don’t think we’ve ever roasted a turkey for anything other than a special occasion. That must be why it has extra meaning. Of course, the trimmings that are served along side contribute to the “specialness.” Who can resist stuffing, after all! What about you? What meal has deep significance for you? Let me know in the comments! Then, hop on over to Leslie Hachtel and see what she has to say. Don't miss the countdown to my next release, RICHLY DESERVED! Click here to Join my newsletter to see the cover first, read sneak peeks, and generally keep up with the news leading up to the launch day on March 29. Here's what it's all about:
More than twenty years ago, Claudia Aronson escaped an abusive marriage. She built a secure, stable life, and is now only weeks away from realizing a long-held dream—opening her own art gallery. But her well-ordered world is threatened by the compelling, abrasive man essential to bringing her new venture into the spotlight. Artist Titus Wilcox is reclusive, nomadic, and passionate. His solitary, drifting habits have fed his creative soul, but played hell with his love life. Soon after he meets the statuesque, seemingly-serene Claudia, however, he feels a compulsion to paint a new reality—with her. When an antique painting reveals mysterious documents concealed behind its frame, Titus and Claudia unite in a hunt for lost riches—a pursuit that takes them into the remote hills surrounding the fabled gold rush town of Barkerville. To these two skeptics, true love is as phony as fool’s gold. But this improbable search for buried treasure could lead to their hearts’ hidden desires. I took a few weeks off from the weekly blog hop to celebrate the end of 2020 and welcome the beginning of 2021. But it’s time to get back into the groove (especially since I have a new release coming up in March. More on that in future blog posts!). This week, I challenged our members to write Flash Fiction using the phrase/words: Happy New Year, cigars, and orchids. If you joined me from Clair Brett, welcome! Here is my contribution: Eloise had never felt the slightly hysterical excitement so many others did watching the seconds tick down to the new year. It was a completely arbitrary distinction between one moment and the next, something dreamed up by whey-faced administrators centuries ago. There was no magic in it. Nothing ever changed. It was the same old same old, just with a new number next to it. She had planned to sleep away the last hours of the year, much as she'd slept the last week away. Instead, she found herself curled in bed, the glow from her phone the only light in the room, streaming the countdown from New York City that had already happened three hours ago but was being replayed for those in the Pacific Time Zone. Just one more indication of how fake the whole celebration was. Like another version of the movie Groundhog Day, only without the saving grace of Bill Murray’s comic insanity. “Happy New Year!” the crowd in Times Square shouted. “Yeah, yeah,” she mumbled. “Happy freakin’ New Year.” The doorbell rang. Eloise blinked. Had it really been the doorbell, or was it one of the bells and whistles shrieking from the video on her screen? She muted her phone. The doorbell rang. Who could possible be at her door at midnight on New Year’s Eve? Well, it was New Year’s Day, she supposed, but midnight New Year’s Day was still twenty-four hours away technically, so it seemed calling it New Year’s Eve made more-- The doorbell rang a third time, cutting off her dribbling thoughts. She flung back the covers, trod barefoot through her darkened home to the front door, and peered through the sidelight. Jax stood on the stoop and she recoiled, pressing her back against the wall, her heart racing. Rapid knocks thudded on the wood panels of the door. “Eloise! I know you’re in there. Please, I just want to talk.” “Go away!” The words blurted out and she shoved her fist against her mouth. Damn it. If she’d stayed silent, he would have left eventually. Now she’d given him proof she was home, he’d never leave. “Please, Eloise.” His tone softened. “I made a mistake. It’s a new year. Can’t we start over?” A mistake. Hah! That’s what he called it? “Go back to your whiskey and cigars or whatever it is you rich people do on New Year’s,” she said bitterly. “I’m just the poor waitress you had a fling with. No need to worry about me.” “It was more than a fling,” Jax said. “Really? Then why did you pretend you didn’t know me?” What they’d had was still so new, they’d agreed that meeting each other’s families over the holidays would put too much pressure on their relationship. But that meant they wouldn't see each other for a few days, so when she’d gotten off work earlier than expected on Christmas Eve, she’d gone to his apartment, hoping to surprise him before he joined his family that evening. Instead, she’d been the one stunned when he’d opened the door with a tall blonde in a sleek, simple black sheath that screamed expensive draped over him. He'd stared at her in shock as the heavy scent of orchids had wrapped itself around Eloise, the woman’s perfume as cloying as the smirk on her face. “Who’s this, Jax? A friend of yours?” she’d said. Which was when Jax had broken Eloise’s heart. “No,” he’d said, “she’s not a friend.” She hadn’t stuck around to hear more, simply spun on her heel and fled. Now, in the silence of a new year, his voice came muffled through the door. “I was surprised to see you,” he said, “but I didn’t say what you thought I did.” “Oh, trust me, I heard exactly what you said.” The words were branded on her brain, still sizzling and smoking more than a week later. “You heard the words, Eloise. But you didn’t hear what I meant.” “What the hell does that mean?” “You aren’t my friend. You’re so much more.” Eloise realized she was standing with her palms pressed against the door's surface as if she could reach through to Jax’s warmth and strength. “I’m wh-what?” she stuttered. “I love you, Eloise. Please, let me in so we can talk properly.” “If you love me, then who was that with you on Christmas Eve?” “My sister.” Eloise closed her eyes. “I don’t believe you.” “Her name is Helene. We were driving to my parents together that night.” “If that’s the truth, why didn’t you call me to explain? Why did you wait until now to come see me?” “Because I was scared. I was scared you wouldn’t listen. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I didn’t realize how much it would hurt, to have the person I love distrust me.” They came from such different worlds. The dress his sister had worn was probably worth more than Eloise’s monthly rent. But when she was with Jax, all she could feel was how right they were together. Did she love him enough to work through her issues, to find the trust he deserved? She opened the door. I hope you enjoyed this little story. Now hop on over to Jenna Da Sie https://jennadasie.com to see what she came up with! This is probably going to be my last blog post of 2020. And what better way to end the year than by sharing some of my Christmas decorations? A.S. Fenichel asks: Are your decorations up? We’d love to see some pictures and if you have an ornament with some special meaning, how about the story? In our house, my husband is the King of Christmas Lights. He makes sure both inside and outside are bright and cheerful—which, given how early it gets dark in Northern British Columbia at this time of year, is wonderful. He is also in charge of putting up the tree, though it is my job to decorate it. This year felt like it needed some extra cheer, so we’ve had everything up and on since November 12 (we like to wait until after Remembrance Day). Speaking of decorating the tree, I found myself needing to buy more ornaments this year. You see, ever since our son was born in 1998, I’ve bought him and his two sisters a Christmas ornament for their stockings. For a few years, I had so many I couldn’t put them all on the tree! But then the girls left home and took their ornaments with them. Then our son moved out this summer, so his ornaments moved, too. All of a sudden, the tree looked very bare! One of my favourite ornaments is made from dough and has five snowmen, one for each of us in the family. Even though we’ve added two sons-in-law and have grandbabies on the way, it is still a wonderful memento of the many Christmases we’ve shared. I also treasure homemade ornaments and decorations, and a special one featuring the Nativity that we were given for our very first Christmas as a married couple.
As seems to befit 2020, winter has come early to Northern BC. At least, that’s what it feels like. And while the holidays aren’t going to be the same as in previous years, we’ll still do our best to celebrate with family and friends. That being said, on the Romance Weekly Blog Hop today, we’re sharing our favourite holiday recipes. Leslie Hachtel has asked us to name our favorite Thanksgiving food and provide the recipe. Since we Canadians have already enjoyed our Thanksgiving meal, I’m sharing a recipe that is often requested no matter what the occasion – Portuguese Red Potatoes. This is a recipe I learned from my mother-in-law. I have no idea if it’s a traditional Portuguese dish or one that she created herself. But if you’re looking for an alternative to mashed potatoes and want to add some colour to your table, it’s pretty and delicious. Portuguese Red Potatoes 5 lbs. medium potatoes (any kind) peeled and cut in half if on the very of large. Do NOT quarter as they will cook too quickly. 1 tbsp. paprika 2 tbsp. oil ¼ tsp. black pepper ¼ tsp. white pepper 1 tsp. chicken boulion 7.5 ounce can tomato paste 4 tbsp. sweet red pepper paste (see note below) Put potatoes in large casserole dish or slow cooker. Mix remaining ingredients together and pour over potatoes. Mix well so all potatoes are coated. Cover. If using oven, bake at 350 for 1 hour and test for doneness. If using slow cooker, cook on high 2.5 hours or low 5 hours. Cooking times may vary depending on how well done you like your potatoes. I prefer them firm, not mushy, so this might not be long enough for you. Sweet Red Pepper Paste is a very simple mixture made with red bell peppers cut or ground into small pieces seasoned with a little salt and preserved in jars. My mother-in-law made her own, but I believe it is available in delicatessens. I hope you give this wonderful dish a try. Now hop on over to Clair Brett for another holiday treat! To Reread or Not to Reread: Is that even a question? - Romance Writers Weekly - #lovechatwrite10/6/2020 Like most writers, I found my way in the writing business because I am a voracious reader. This week on the Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop, Christina Alexandra says: “I can’t imagine a man really enjoying a good book and reading it only once.” ~ C.S. Lewis Do you reread books? Are there certain books you reread at certain times of the year? If you joined me from Leslie Hachtel, welcome! I DEFINITELY reread books, and always have. It’s a different kind of enjoyment when you’re reading something that you know the ending of. Romances are especially easy rereads for me because even on a first read you know the couple will get together—it’s the journey that’s intriguing. But a well-written suspense or mystery is fine, too. You see nuances of the story that you might not have noticed on the first read. And sometimes the characters are just so amazing it’s like visiting with old friends. I’ve slowly curated my collection of physical books over the years. Now, I only keep (and buy) books I know I’ll be rereading. Some of them are from my childhood. I had to buy new copies of my Lord of the Rings books because I reread them so often the paperbacks were wearing out. And my Anne of Green Gables series is almost as worn – I think I’ve read it more often than LOTR but I took better care of it. Then there’s my Rex Stout and Dick Francis collections, of course. Ebooks are great for re-reading, since they never wear out LOL! I own all of Courtney Milan’s historical romances as ebooks and have reread them numerous times, along with books by Jennifer Cruise, Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Eloisa James. And while I have the Outlander series in physical form, I also bought it in ebook – Jamie and Claire’s story is simply so massive that having them digitally makes it easier to reread. As for rereading books at a certain time of year, I don’t think I do that. But I do go through stages when I can’t find anything new to enjoy and I fall back on my old favourites as comfort reads. Sometimes the world feels too uncertain to take a chance on anything new, and an old book friend is the best way to go. Now, on to Christina Alexander, the instigator of this topic, who is next in the blog hop. The honor of your presence is requested by The Earl and Countess of Stapleton at their house party to celebrate TWELFTH NIGHT. Festivities include: a titillating masked ball, ice skating, a romp in the local village, a naughty treasure hunt, midnight kisses in the garden and the Twelfth Night Ball where holiday magic brings about seven perfect matches. This week only, the holiday anthology ONCE UPON A TWELFTH NIGHT is only 99 cents! It includes "A Twelfth Night Wager" by Christina Alexandra. After spending half her life in service, lady's companion Adelaide Shipley longs for a modest life of her own making. But a midnight wager with Win Maddox has her dreaming of more. Losing to the silver-tongued barrister would cost her everything, but winning could lead to her dreams coming true forever. One of my favourite blog hop topics with my Romance Writers Weekly buddies are recipe swaps. This week, Jenna Da Sie asks: Besides the usual baking of cookies or treats, has anyone baked a really good loaf of bread? Do you have a special bread recipe from a loved one, or one that you’ve come up with yourself? Share your recipe! If you joined me from Clair Brett, welcome! Yeast and I have a difficult relationship. For years I avoided making anything that required it, because my efforts never seemed to have good results. But recently I’ve been trying to repair that relationship with patience and understanding (I’m too impatient to wait for the yeast to start working properly, and didn’t understand that step is necessary for success).
Last week on the Blog Hop we looked ahead at 2020. This week, A.S. Fenichel asks: Two weeks into the New Year...tell me the good, the bad and the ugly. How were your holidays? If you joined me from Leslie Hachtel, welcome! Christmas holidays can be so hyped up that it is hard for the reality to match the anticipation. As for New Year’s Eve – I rarely make it to midnight. 😊 We still laugh about the first time we allowed our daughters to stay up to midnight on New Year’s Eve. It was when the calendar flipped to the new millennium, and since they were 7 and almost 6 at the time they were old enough to want the experience. We watched the countdown on TV and cheered Happy New Year, then there was a pause. “That’s it?” our oldest asked. “Pretty much,” we said. She shrugged and headed to bed. Now the kids are older and we have two son-in-laws, balancing family time at the holidays can be stressful. But we may have found a lovely balance this year. We had the family over on Christmas Day to open gifts and visit, then they came back on Boxing Day for dinner. It was actually a great way to do it. We could take our time over presents without worrying about what was going on in the kitchen, and then on Boxing Day we had time for games as well. How about you? How did your holidays go this year? Leave me a comment below, and I’ll be sure to reply. Then hop over and visit Caro Kinkead to hear about her good, bad and ugly! Caro's new release, THE ACCIDENTAL VISCOUNTESS, is available everywhere! Spinster and poor relation Dorothea Hindley is in London for one reason: to help launch her cousin into society, something that would be a great deal easier if Dorothea’s aunt hadn’t revived a long-standing feud with the mother of a viscount. The best Dorothea can expect for herself is a dreary marriage to a vicar. But in trying to keep her family from becoming the laughingstocks of London, Dorothea finds a surprising ally in the viscount himself. Martin Drayton, Viscount Abernathy, can’t afford the distraction of the ancient feud his mother insists on reviving. King George III lies mad at Windsor Castle and Martin is involved in supporting the Prince of Wales’ cause in the Regency Bill. But when he enlists Dorothea’s help to cool the flames of the feud, their undeniable attraction simply adds fuel to the fire. Marrying a viscount never entered Dorothea’s head. But a moonlit kiss could lead to a scandal neither of them can afford. Can the accidental viscountess and her unexpected husband get their families to stop feuding long enough to save both the monarchy and their marriage? Buy Links: Amazon US: http://bit.ly/jtos01 Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/379gpJm Kobo: http://bit.ly/2MuwO3n Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/377fdX2 Google Play: http://bit.ly/2PTBX79 Apple Books: https://apple.co/35dQNKf Also available on Scribd
This is our last Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop of 2019. We’ll be taking the next couple of weeks off and then get back at it in the new year. This week, Leslie Hachtel asks: What do you really want for Christmas? It seems very selfish to want anything for myself this Christmas. I have a wonderful family, good health, and financial security. Really, what more can I ask for? On the other hand, wishing for a perfect world seems so naïve. Peace in the world, no hungry children, and equality for all are awesome goals, but only actions will get us there, not wishes. That being said, all great achievements start with small steps. So this Christmas, I’m wishing for patience (to deal with the normal frustrations of life gracefully), generosity (to help those who need it quietly and sincerely), and understanding (to take each person as they are). And to become a New York Times bestselling author. 😊 Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! Now hop over to A.S. Fenichel to see what she really wants for Christmas. Why is it that celebrations and special food go together? I imagine it hearkens back to when an abundance of food was a sign of prosperity. This week on the Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop, Jenna Da Sie asks: Do you do a holiday cookie exchange? If so, what cookies do you make? If you don’t, what treats do you and your family make for the holidays? If you joined me from Elizabeth Schechter, welcome! This topic came at a particularly opportune time. I had already planned to do baking this weekend (which is when I write and prep my blog). So I can share a photo with you of my endeavours! First off – I am not much of a baker, so holiday cookie exchanges are not in my plans. But that being said, the only time of year my family can depend on me to do any baking at all is Christmas. I have two main traditions - butter tarts and what we call chocolate haystacks. Both of these are traditional recipes from my dad’s side of the family. Butter tarts is actually a misnomer – they should be called margarine tarts. 😊 But the one time I made them with butter I didn’t like them as much. Chocolate haystacks are a coconut/oatmeal macaroon-style no-bake treat (so right in my wheelhouse!) A couple of years ago I adventured in the world of using yeast, and attempted a Portuguese sweet bread made traditionally only at Easter and Christmas called massa. That Christmas my mother-in-law was having health issues and didn’t think she’d be able to make it, so I googled the recipe and baked a couple of loaves without letting her know (in case it was a total bust). It actually turned out quite well, and I have made it since. But I’m just the backup plan – if my mother-in-law can, she still makes it for everyone. 😊 How about you? Do you have holiday baking traditions? Share your recipe in the comments below if you like, then hop over to A.S. Fenichel for her Christmas treat plans.
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