Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** with Sheri Whitefeather

Following_RecipeSMALLER Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with SHERI WHITEFEATHER!!

Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!! Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of her favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors. Introducing author, SHERI WHITEFEATHER, and her favorite recipe for INDIAN FRY BREAD!

SheriWhitefeather_BeautifulMusician_2500px.Amazon

BEAUTIFUL MUSICIAN by SHERI WHITEFEATHER

Book Blurb

My name is Seven, and I’m an up-and-coming musician, a so-called bad boy. I’m also madly, painfully in love with Abby Winston. Every wild-hearted song I write is for her. Currently she lives in a psychiatric treatment center, and I slip secretly into her room. Abby is schizophrenic, and I’m a romantic figment of her troubled mind. She created me when she was a child, and now we’re both adults and on the verge of losing each other. I know I’m not real, but that doesn’t change how I feel about her. Nor does it solve the dilemma of how we’re going to survive the ache of not being together for the rest of our lives.

Beautiful Musician is the prequel in the highly romantic, emotionally charged Room 105 series, books intended for readers 17 and older.

This is a free e-book, available anytime!  You can grab it on Amazon, Kobo or Barnes and Noble.

 ~~~

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Musician-Romance-prequel-novella-ebook/dp/B00GOGAJ1E/temptationauthor

Kobo:  http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/beautiful-musician

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beautiful-musician-sheri-whitefeather/1117496655?ean=2940045462600

~~~~

Sheri Whitefeather     About the author, Sheri Whitefeather….

Sheri Whitefeather is a national bestselling author. She pens a variety of romance novels and has earned prestigious awards.

Her writing career began in 1998. Prior to that, she worked as a make-up artist and leather artisan. One of her first professional make-up jobs was at the Playboy Mansion for a photo shoot that featured Hugh Hefner. As a leather artisan, she painted jackets and guitar straps for a host of musicians, including legendary bad boys, Motley Crue, and country legend, Waylon Jennings.

She lives in Southern California and enjoys ethnic dining, shopping in vintage stores, and visiting art galleries and museums. She has two grown children who are tribally enrolled members of the Muscogee Creek Nation.

~~~

Links to Sheri’s website, blog, books, etc.

Sheri loves to connect with readers.  You can reach her at:

Website:  www.SheriWhitefeather.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheri-Whitefeather-Author/204439682948104

Twitter: https://twitter.com/swhitefeather

~~~~

I hope you enjoy the recipe Sheri is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 126 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INDIAN FRY BREAD
(A Native American dish from various sources)

Cornmeal or flour for dusting board
2 cups flour
½ tsp salt
½ tsp baking powder
½ cup instant dry milk
¾ cup water
Oil for deep frying

Dust pastry board.  In a mixing bowl, stir flour, baking powder, salt and powdered milk.  Add water in small amounts, stirring until the mixture reaches the consistency of bread dough.   Knead until smooth and elastic.  Cover and let rest for ten minutes.  Heat oil in a deep frying pan.   Pull off a palm-size mound of dough, roll into a ball, then flatten into a 6-inch disc.  Fry one at a time on both sides until golden brown.  Serve hot, sprinkled with powdered sugar, drizzled with honey or covered with taco fixings.  Makes about 4 servings.

~~~

**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: As noted above, BEAUTIFUL MUSICIAN is the prequel in the highly romantic, emotionally charged Room 105 series, books intended for readers 17 and older.  This is a free e-book, available anytime!  You can grab it on Amazon, Kobo or Barnes and Noble.  Please do comment, but then click on one of her free links above.  Don’t miss this chance to read this story!! Thanks, Sheri, for sharing your book and recipe with us!

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** with Donna Michaels

Following_RecipeSMALLER Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with DONNA MICHAELS!!

Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!! Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of her favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors. Introducing author, DONNA MICHAELS, and her favorite recipe for STUFFED STRAWBERRIES WITH YUMMY CREAM CHEESE FILLING!

HerUniformCowboy 200x300

HER UNIFORM COWBOY by DONNA MICHAELS

Book Blurb

Desperate for change after a verbally abusive relationship, Brandi Wyne leaves a symphony career, her family, and the Poconos to fall back on a designing degree and a chance to renovate a restaurant/pub in Texas. Even though part of a National Guard family, she’d sworn off military men when the last one proved less than supportive of her thyroid condition and subsequent weight gain. Too bad her body seems to forget that fact whenever she’s near the very hot, very military local sheriff.

Texas Army National Guard First Sergeant Kade Dalton never planned on becoming Harland County Sheriff or the attraction to a curvy, military-hating designer from Pennsylvania. Heavy with guilt from the death of a soldier under his command during a recent deployment, and dealing with his co-owned horse ranch and a bungling young deputy, it’s hard most days just to keep his sanity. But it’s the Yankee bombshell who threatens not only his sanity, but tempts his body…and his heart.

Fighting their attraction becomes a losing battle, and Kade soon finds sanctuary in the arms of the beautiful designer.  But their changing relationship only brings more pressure to his guilt-ridden life…does he really have the right to saddle Brandi with his stress issues? And if so, can he take a chance on the town’s newest resident not abandoning him like others in his past?

~~~~

HER UNIFORM COWBOY
By Donna Michaels

EXCERPT

By the time he pulled up to the cottage, he had his emotions under control and hoped to God he could say the same about his body. A few good, solid inhales on his way to her door helped to firm his resolve. He was not, under any circumstances, going to throw her on the couch and pick up where they’d left off on Thursday. He was not.

Knocking a little louder than necessary, he stood back and waited.

The sexy designer opened the door, and her eyes widened while color rushed to her face. “Kade?”

The blush deepened the brown of her mesmerizing gaze, and his gut took an invisible blow.

“I…what…” She drew in a breath. “Why are you here?”

Apparently she didn’t get the memo. “Jen’s tied up at the hospital. She called me at drill and asked if I could fetch Cody.”

“Oh. I hope everything is okay.”

He shrugged. “More tests.”

She stepped back to let him in. “Cody’s asleep on my bed. We had a great day on the beach. He’s tuckered out. Do you want me to wake him?”

Once his brain caught up to her questions, he shook his head. “No. Unless you’d like me to leave.” He had no idea why he was acting and feeling so strange around her.

Probably because he wanted to throw her on the couch and pick up where they’d left off last Thursday.

She shook her head, the pretty blush deepening as she turned and began to pick plastic dinosaurs up off the floor. “No, of course not. Why would I want you to do that?” Dropping the toys onto the coffee table, she avoided his gaze and bent to pick up some more. “I mean, it’s not like I have anything to be embarrassed about. Oh, wait…yeah…yeah, I do.”

A strange giggle-hiccup followed her words along with inaudible mumbles and head shaking. He wondered briefly if she was having some sort of seizure until she stood and brushed past him to shove a box of crackers from the coffee table into a kitchen cupboard.

“And the award for biggest poopyhead goes to…yours truly.” She slapped a hand over her chest and laughed.

God, she was adorable. He knew he should stop her, but he honestly couldn’t get enough of the ruffled unrufflable woman.

She swiped the salt shaker from the table and cradled it to her chest with both hands. “I’d like to thank the academy, and a stupid ex-boyfriend for making me the idiot I am today.”

“Okay, enough.” He sprang into action, removing the shaker from her hand and cornering her against the fridge when she stepped back. “Hey…hey. It’s all right. Calm down.”

She shook her head and closed her eyes. “God, I’m so embarrassed, Kade. And so, so sorry for what I said…and did to you…”

“Brandi, look at me.”

She opened one eye.

“Both eyes, Brandi,” he said, a smile tugging at his mouth.

The other eye opened.

“That’s better. Now, listen to me. You have nothing to be embarrassed about.”

The snort that left her throat caused her head to jerk back and hit the refrigerator. “Yes, I do. A good number of things. But I am really sor—”

He pressed a finger to her lips, intending to stop her apology, but…ah hell, he hadn’t expected the instant awareness that spread through his body, heating his spine. She must’ve felt it too, because her brown eyes widened, and she trembled against him.

That’s all it took to send him to the same state he was in last Thursday on the couch. Just one touch. That was it. One miniscule touch. He had no defense. He was done. His brain shut down and need, fierce and consuming, took over.

Cupping her face, he closed the distance between them and covered her mouth with his.

Donna_Michaels_062012_sm     About the author, Donna Michaels….

Donna Michaels lives in Northeastern Pennsylvania with her military husband, three of their four children, and several rescued cats.  Although she’s been published since 2006, Donna only recently wrote her battle with Hashimoto Thyroiditis into a book. Her latest heroine, Brandi Wyne (HER UNIFORM COWBOY) suffers with the affliction, and Brandi’s battle with the disease was based on Donna’s own experiences. She hopes to spread awareness of thyroid disease. If you suffer from fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, and are constantly cold, discuss it with your physician and ask to have a simple blood test to check your thyroid. Boy, does she wish she’d asked years earlier.

~~~

Links to Donna’s website, blog, books, etc.

HER UNIFORM COWBOY released December 15th, and has already collected over 29 Five Star Reviews!

Available now at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HBWQCAC

*Join my mailing list on my web site: www.donnamichaelsauthor.com  and keep current with the latest book updates, events, book signings as well as special giveaways!*

Donna’s Links:

Website:  www.donnamichaelsauthor.com

Facebook Author Page:  https://www.facebook.com/DonnaMichaelsAuthor

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Donna_Michaels

Blog:  http://donnamichaelsauthor.blogspot.com/

Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/donnamichaels/

~~~~

I hope you enjoy the recipe Donna is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 125 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Donna shares…I’d like to share a recipe my hero and heroine, Kade and Brandi, encountered in both, Book 2 (Her Unbridled Cowboy), and Book 3 (Her Uniform Cowboy) of my Harland County Series. Too bad both times the couple never got to taste the decadent dessert:  Stuffed Strawberries. Yum. While writing the second book,  Her Unbridled Cowboy, I searched the internet for a delicious dessert my hero and heroine could enjoy together. I came across the stuffed strawberry on several sites and modified it slightly, finding that less strawberries and extra chocolate tasted best. (The original recipes can be found on Food.com, allrecipes.com and aboutfood.com.)

~~~~

STUFFED STRAWBERRIES with YUMMY CREAM CHEESE FILLING

Main Ingredient:

30 fresh whole strawberries, large

Preparation:

Slice off the stem of each strawberry so the berries stand upright. Carefully cut each berry into 4 wedges, cutting almost to, but not through, the bottoms. (If you’re a klutz like me, you may want to ask someone else to do that part.) Fan wedges slightly, taking care not to break; set berries aside.

Beat together until light and fluffy:

12 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Gently fold in:

2 tablespoons semisweet or milk chocolate, grated

(I’m partial to the milk chocolate and use a ‘heavy’ hand)

Fill the strawberries using a teaspoon or decorating bag with decorative tip if you’re proficient. Sprinkle them with a little more grated chocolate, if desired. (Okay, I desire and sprinkle with a lot more grated chocolate.)

 ~~~

If you’ve read either book, then you know the dessert is best when shared with a hunky cowboy…I mean, your significant other.  😉 Although, unfortunately, poor Kade and Brandi missed out twice. Maybe they’ll finally get their just desserts in Book 4 (HER FOREVER COWBOY) due out this April.  🙂

~~~

**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Donna will give away a $5 Amazon Gift Card to one of her lucky readers who comments on her Karen’s Killer Fixin’s blog!! Don’t miss this chance to read this book!! Thanks, Donna, for sharing your upcoming release and scrumptious recipe with us!

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Oriental Steak

Following_RecipeSMALLER   It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s! Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me. I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers. So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is ORIENTAL STEAK!

With the holidays behind us, I know I’m ready for a hearty beef dish. This steak is savory and comforting in cold weather.

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 124 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ORIENTAL STEAK
[Serves 8]

2 lb. round steak, cut in strips
4 T. butter
2 cans cream of mushroom/or celery soup
½ cup water
¼ cup soy sauce
1 tsp. garlic salt
¼ tsp. pepper
2 cups sliced celery
1 cup chopped onion
2 cups green peppers
3 cups instant rice
2 T. slivered almonds
18 whole almonds
6 sprigs parsley

Brown steak in butter quickly.  Add water, soup, garlic salt, pepper and soy sauce.  Bring to boil and simmer until tender, 10-15 minutes.  Add celery, chopped onion, green pepper and cook about 5-10 minutes.  Prepare rice and arrange on serving dish.  Pour steak mixture over rice and garnish with almonds and parsley.  Put slivered almonds over the steak mixture and arrange the whole almonds a few inches apart on the outside ring of rice.  Arrange parsley on dish outside the ring of rice.  Cooking time-1 hour.

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Turtle Cheesecake Bars

Following_RecipeSMALLER   It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s! Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me. I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers. So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancywhich today is TURTLE CHEESECAKE BARS!

Christmas may be behind us but there are still reasons to celebrate the holidays with New Year’s parties to enjoy. This recipe is great for parties, easy to pull together, and yummy! Who can resist the unique flavor of Turtles and cheesecake?  It’s up to you whether you call it a cookie, a bar, or a pie!

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 123 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TURTLE CHEESECAKE BARS

[Makes 1 dozen bars]

1/3 cup caramel ice cream topping
¼ cup semisweet chocolate chips
¼ cup pecan pieces
1 frozen regular piecrust
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 egg
¼ cup sugar

In small bowl, combine caramel topping, chocolate chips and pecans.  Spread in bottom of frozen crust.  In small bowl, beat together cream cheese, egg and sugar until smooth.  Gently spread over caramel mixture.  Bake in preheated 400 degree oven on preheated baking sheet 25-30 minutes.  Cool completely.

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Frozen Caramel Hot Chocolate

Following_RecipeSMALLER   It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s! Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me. I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers. So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancywhich today is FROZEN CARAMEL HOT CHOCOLATE!

With the arrival of winter, many of us began making hot chocolate to warm our spirits and bodies. Now that Christmas is right around the corner I know I’m ready to explore new variations of this heartwarming drink.  This recipe fills both needs! Yummy. Warm.  Special. Impress your tastebuds with this fun version of hot chocolate!

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 122 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FROZEN CARAMEL HOT CHOCOLATE [Serves 6-8]

8 oz. semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
½ cup sugar
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups whole milk
½ cup caramel sauce, warmed
1 cup heavy cream
2 tsp. powdered sugar
4 cups ice cubes

In small saucepan, combine chocolate, sugar, and cocoa powder.  Whisk in 1 cup milk and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until smooth, about 4 minutes.  Remove from the heat, whisk in remaining 1 cup of milk and refrigerate for 1 hour.  Pour warm caramel sauce into a squeeze bottle and drizzle about half in the mugs or goblets so that it sticks to the sides.  In a medium bowl, beat the heavy cream with the powdered sugar until it forms soft peaks.  Using a blender, process the ice and chilled chocolate mixture until smooth.  Pour into the glasses.  Top with whipped cream and the remaining caramel sauce.  Serve with straws and spoons.

Karen’s Killer Book Bench: The Christmas Shift & Shifting Dreams by JM Kline

読書  KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench where, every Wednesday, readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!

christmasshift_01 300dpi

THE CHRISTMAS SHIFT by JM KLINE

A Shadow Hills Shifter Story

Book Blurb
*

It’s Christmas Eve, and Holly Barry’s seventeenth birthday. This is the year she will shape-shift for the first time, and she is terrified of what she may change into. The holidays are already a hard time for her, missing her mother’s Christmas cheer. Her embarrassing seasonal name doesn’t help matters. Her dad doesn’t seem to understand Holly’s reluctance, and decorates to his heart’s content.

When Holly shifts into something truly grotesque, she has to find the Christmas spirit. Will she discover it in time to make dreams come true?

(Short Story)

~~~~~

A Note from JM Kline about The Christmas Shift….

Thank you so much for having me on your blog! Today is the LAST DAY you can get The Christmas Shift for free on Kindle, so head over there right now and download it! It’s about a girl on the eve of her seventeenth birthday, which happens to fall on Christmas Eve. As anyone with a December birthday will admit, holiday birthdays tend to be pretty awful. Unfortunately for Holly Barry, it’s even WORSE for her, because she’s about to have her life changed forever. She’s about to shift into an animal, and she has no idea what she’s going to be! Here’s a small excerpt of The Christmas Shift….

THE CHRISTMAS SHIFT by JM KLINE

EXCERPT

I followed Dad through the front door. I hadn’t realized it would be so cold outside, and I sat on the heating vent in the living room to warm up. I stared at the over-stuffed brown armchair Dad loved and thought about what my life might be like after I turned seventeen tomorrow.

This was one birthday I’d be happy to skip.

Dad didn’t tell me that we were shape shifters until I started high school. Dad had changed into a bird so many times over the last two years, I’d kind of gotten used to the idea. I wish I’d had a chance to see my mom change. Dad always told me she was the most beautiful swan he had ever seen. It was part of why he’d fallen in love with her.

Really, it wasn’t the shape-changing that scared me. The truth is, I was terrified I’d change into something weird.

I’d been thinking about the worst case scenarios for a while. What if I changed into a shark or something and I suddenly couldn’t breathe? I know they have precautions, like having a nearby pool or something, but what if they didn’t get me there in time? I moved through other terrible possibilities. A cow – I can imagine the taunts now. A vulture – has to be the ugliest bird on the planet. A giant snake. I shuddered at that one. I know a couple of snakes. One of my teachers is a rattlesnake, but they still give me the creeps.

shadowhills_shiftingdream 300dpi

SHIFTING DREAMS by JM KLINE

A Shadow Hills Shifter Story

Book Blurb
*

THE TOWN OF SHADOW HILLS HAS SECRETS….

Nestled in the foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains lays the town of Shadow Hills. Driving through, you would never suspect the town’s inhabitants are anything but normal.

SECRETS THAT CAN BE SCARY….

Tessa Brooks has lived all her life in Shadow Hills. She’s always thought she was just another ordinary girl. She is wrong.

When her parents reveal the town’s Big Secret the day before she’s supposed to start high school, she thinks it’s the worst thing that could ever happen to herand that’s when things get even weirder.

SECRETS THAT CAN CHANGE LIVES FOREVER….

Tessa tries to balance high school, family, friends, a new maybe-sort-of-boyfriend with new powers and responsibilities she’s not ready to embrace. Her life as she knows it has ended, and a new one is beginning. Whether she’s ready or not.

SHIFTING DREAMS by JM KLINE

A Shadow Hills Shifter Story

A Note from JM Kline about Shifting Dreams….

As a birthday bash bonus, the first book in the Shadow Hills Shifters series is on sale! Get it for just $1.99 today, December 18th! The price goes up to $2.99 tomorrow, before returning to its original list price of $3.99.

Shifting Dreams is a story about Tessa Brooks, who just found out that she was born into a family of shape-shifters. They tell her she’ll shift into an animal on her seventeenth birthday, but she has no idea what she’ll turn into! Of course, as it happens, things don’t go quite as planned. Here is a short excerpt. Enjoy!

SHIFTING DREAMS by JM KLINE

A Shadow Hills Shifter Story

EXCERPT

Everyone left for school and work. Then I got myself ready and walked to the forest on the edge of town. Vin told us we shouldn’t be there, but I had this feeling I couldn’t shake.

I found the clearing, sat down, and waited. I closed my eyes to relax and hopefully get rid of my headache. I must have fallen asleep because when I opened my eyes, it was hot and the sun was shining directly over me.

Apparently, it was all a waste of time. I stood up and brushed the pine needles off my pants. I walked back to the path, watching the ground for giant roots. I knew those suckers were just waiting to trip the unsuspecting and the clumsy. I’d just jumped over one particularly mangy-looking shrub when I noticed there was someone standing on the path.

At first, all I saw were his shoes – big, black zombie-stomping boots. His long legs were covered in dark jeans, which covered a butt that was to-die-for. He wasn’t big and built, but his arms gave me the idea that he worked out in some way. His hair was blond and scruffy and long, just like I liked it.

I must have made some noise just then, because he turned around to see me. I caught the square jaw and yummy lips before I looked up and saw his eyes. They were ringed with emerald and the bright green starburst was flecked with gold.

I knew those eyes. This was my wolf.

I suddenly didn’t know what I was doing there. What if Vin was right and this guy hurt me for coming back into his territory?

I took a step back and he smiled. Ohmygosh. He’s going to kill me and he was going to enjoy it. What was I thinking?

“Hey, I remember you.” He took a step toward me.

Could he smell my fear? Oh, I hoped he couldn’t. I could only stand there and hope he had some other trait. Maybe he could talk to bugs or….oh, why did I have to come here today?

Jannette  JM Kline, Author….

JM Kline was born in Colorado, and was raised to love books by her mom, a published author. While she grew up reading many different genres, anything with paranormal or fantasy elements caught her eye most often. She grew up writing fantastic stories about Rindercella and her Prince, talking monkeys, and fairy princesses.

The Shadow Hills Shifters series is a Young Adult Paranormal series about a small town in the Rocky Mountain foothills. Shadow Hills is a small town where a pop quiz could include multiple choice, essays, or a sudden battle with your best friend!

When she isn’t writing, JM spends her time with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two rambunctious dogs.

See more about JM Kline and her books at www.jmkline.net

~~~~

Links to JM’s website, blog, books, etc.

Visit me and sign up to receive blog updates at my website, www.jmkline.net

My holiday short story, The Christmas Shift, is FREE on Kindle through December 19th 2013, so pick it up!
http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Shift-Shadow-Hills-Shifters-ebook/dp/B00AN9928Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387208902&sr=8-1&keywords=jm+kline

The first book in my series, Shifting Dreams, is only $3.99 on Kindle.
http://www.amazon.com/Shifting-Dreams-Shadow-Hills-Shifters-ebook/dp/B00DHIR1VS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1387208922&sr=8-2&keywords=jm+kline

 ~~~~

**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:  JM will give away one #FREE signed copy of SHIFTING DREAMS to one of her lucky readers who comments on her Monday Interview or Wednesday Book Bench blogs!!  Don’t miss this chance to read this story!!  Thanks, JM, for sharing your stories with us!

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** with Jennifer Zane

Following_RecipeSMALLER     Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with JENNIFER ZANE!!

Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!!  Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of her favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors. Introducing author, JENNIFER ZANE, and her favorite recipe for NO CLEAN-UP CARAMEL

liar_liar_hearts_on_fire_72dpi_200x300

LIAR, LIAR, HEARTS ON FIRE by JENNIFER ZANE

Book Blurb

Violet Miller is a teacher savoring her summer break until she’s been called in as emergency reinforcements—of the dating kind. She volunteers to help an old flame by pretending to be his girlfriend. In Alaska. At a family reunion. Since the guy is a handsome, lumberjack-sized doctor she’s never quite forgotten, faking a relationship won’t be hard work.

Mike Ostranski is a desperate man on vacation. His mother wants grandchildren and sees a crazy Alaskan woman as a candidate for daughter-in-law. Mike needs Violet by his side to deflect the lady’s advances.

A week in Alaska as boyfriend and girlfriend should be easy for them. They grew up together, even had a brief fling. What could go wrong?

Everything.

 Watch for this Romantic Comedy by Jennifer Zane ~ January 16, 2014!!!!

~~~~

読書     About the author, Jennifer Zane….

Jennifer Zane has lived all over the country–from Georgia to Maryland, New York to Colorado, including an exciting five years in Montana. Her time in Big Sky country was the basis for this book. When she’s not writing, she savors the insanity of raising two boys, is figuring out how many meals she can make with a pressure cooker, and teaches a pretty mean karate class. She currently lives with her family in Colorado.

I love to hear from readers!

http://www.jenniferzane.com
http://www.facebook.com/jenniferzanewriter
http://www.twitter.com/jenniferzane
Email: jennifer@jenniferzane.com

Join my mailing list on my web site (http://www.jenniferzane.com) and keep current with the latest book updates, events, book signings as well as special giveaways!

Gnome On The Range won two RomCon Readers’ Crown awards- Best First Book and Best Contemporary!

 ~~~

Links to Jennifer’s website, blog, books, etc.

Liar, Liar, Hearts On Fire Goodreads page with pre-release reviews:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18803814-liar-liar-hearts-on-fire?ac=1

Contact Jennifer Zane:

Website:  jennifer@jenniferzane.com

Twitter: @jenniferzane

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/jenniferzanewriter

http://www.jenniferzane.com

~~~

Join my mailing list! Want to get a sneak peek of Chapter 1 of Liar, Liar, Hearts On Fire?
Join my mailing list—Go to my website, http://www.jenniferzane.com

~~~~

I hope you enjoy the recipe Jennifer is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s.  Happy eating!

Karen

P.S.  We’re at 121 recipes and counting with this posting.  Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NO CLEAN-UP CARAMEL

Ingredients:

At least 1 can of sweetened condensed milk–(as many as you want to fit in your crockpot)
Water

Directions:

Place unopened can(s) of sweetened condensed milk in your crock-pot and cover COMPLETELY with water. Set to low and leave for 8-9 hours. You can flip the cans halfway through, but not required.

~~~

 **SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:  Jennifer will give away an advanced e-reader copy of LIAR, LIAR, HEARTS ON FIRE to one of her lucky readers who comments on her Karen’s Killer Fixin’s blog!!  Don’t miss this chance to read this funny novel!!  Thanks, Jennifer, for sharing your upcoming release with us!

Christmas Special ~ Wedding Vows by Karen Docter

Bells__Mouse

Wedding Vows
By Karen Docter

Dashing through the files
Looking for the perfect line
O’er the page we pore
Searching all the time
Words do sometimes bring
A smile, a sigh, a fight
A romance is a tender thing
To make things turn out right

Oh, wedding vows, wedding vows
This is what we say
Oh, what fun it is to love
That one man every day
Wedding vows, wedding vows
This is what we say
Oh, what fun it is to love
That one man every day

Our heroine just can’t see
What the hero has inside
Until we do reveal
The words he tries to hide
He may be buff and fine
A financial wiz at work
If we can’t find our line
He just sounds like a jerk

Oh, wedding vows, wedding vows
This is what we say
Oh, what fun it is to love
That one man every day
Wedding vows, wedding vows
This is what we say
Oh, what fun it is to love
That one man every day

So here we sit all day
Looking for the perfect line
That reveals a man’s true heart
A woman can’t decline
She’ll see the man beyond
The words he cannot say
We work to make their love
Turn out in just that way

Oh, wedding vows, wedding vows
This is what we say
Oh, what fun it is to love
That one man every day
Wedding vows, wedding vows
This is what we say
Oh, what fun it is to love
That one man every day, yeah!

[Wedding Vows, Karen Docter © 2010]

[[Inspired by Jingle Bells carol written by James Lord Pierpont (1822-1893) in 1850.]]

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Cajun Bourbon Chicken

Following_RecipeSMALLER   It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s! Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me. I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers. So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancywhich today is CAJUN BOURBON CHICKEN!

Looking for a new way to prepare the old chicken standby? Like the Cajun flavors, a bit of spice, and loads of flavor? This might be the chicken for you! The thing I like about this recipe is that you can throw the meat into the marinade in the morning and it will be perfectly spiced for a quick BBQ grilling when you come home from a long day.  Make up a salad and dinner is on the table in less than 30 minutes!

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 120 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CAJUN BOURBON CHICKEN [Serves 4-6]

1 cup bourbon
1 cup soy sauce
½ cup brown sugar
1 tsp. paprika
Pinch hot red pepper flakes
1 T. molasses
3 cloves garlic, smashed
2 T. freshly grated ginger
1½ tsp. onion powder
1½ tsp. garlic powder
6 each chicken thighs & drumsticks
Salt and pepper, to taste

Combine all ingredients (except chicken) for marinade (may be processed in a blender).  Set aside ½ cup of this marinade in a clean jar (do not use to marinate chicken-this portion will be used for basting the chicken during grilling).  Keep refrigerated.

Put marinade into Ziploc bag with chicken pieces and distribute evenly.  Marinate chicken for 6-12 hours in refrigerator, turning occasionally. Remove chicken from marinade and drain.  Allow to sit at room temperature while grill heats up.  Grill over medium high heat (grill open) for 5 minutes, and then close grill and reduce heat; continue cooking over low heat for 15-20 minutes or until chicken is done (juices will run clear when pierced with fork).  Baste with fresh marinade every few minutes, turning chicken to cook both sides evenly.  Season with salt & pepper, to taste.

NOTE: If you prefer white/breast meat, you may have to make more marinade. If preparing for four people, the marinade is likely to be enough to cover 4-5 chicken breasts.  You can always make more marinade by making an additional 1/2 recipe of the marinade ingredients.  If your partiality is chicken wings, the marinade will cover more wings. Recommend cutting off the end of the wing you don’t usually eat to stretch the marinade.  Of course, BBQing the chicken wings will take less time to cook than its meatier counterparts. This would be a great football treat, both hot and cold, for the wing lovers out there!

Christmas Special ~ ‘Twas the Week Before Christmas

Mrs_Claus[1]

‘Twas the Week Before Christmas
By Karen Docter

‘Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the land
My dust bunnies had grown bold, joined the Editorial Band;

Revisions were hung by the critique rank and file,
In hopes that my manuscript would soon top the pile;

Characters were canoodling in their own special way,
While villains of danger snuck into the fray;

And my hero in his splendor, and heroine bathed in moon’s light,
Had just dissed their love for the fourth time this night;

When out of my brain there arose what I’d been missing,
Had to rush to the office to tweak a bout of kissing;

Away to my chair, I stumbled and swore,
Ripped open a Window and widened my eyes more;

The cursor, blinking cheerily on the computer screen, teased,
Tormenting my poor muse, more than it appeased;

When, what to my beleaguered senses should un-wend,
But my muse on a lotus blossom, and a close writer friend;

With a great mighty shove, so swift the prevention,
I knew in a thrice, this was editorial intervention;

So swift the editor kicked off her perch, ideas they came,
And my muse danced and sang, I knew this was the game.

“Now, Narrative! Now, Point of View! Now, Adjective and Verb!
On, Sentence! On Paragraph! On, Synopsis and Blurb!”

“To the top of the list! To the top of the pile!
Now print away! Print away! Print away, smile!”

As manuscript pages that before crazed muse envision,
When they hide behind walls, come out with permission;

So rise to the occasion the plot points they grow,
With a screen full of characterization, my muse did yet glow;

And then, in that moment, I heard my hero speak,
Those sensuous words and statement of love’s peak;

As I reached for the words, and was putting them down,
My heroine laughed and tried on her wedding gown;

From her fingers danced stars, my muse had donned glitters,
Her crown was tipped over from too many gin-and-bitters;

But she sat on my poor editor, not allowing her vent,
My muse looked like an angel, or maybe an agent;

Her face – how it glowed! Her dimples how naughty!
Her eyes full of mischief, her nose not one bit haughty!

Her gleeful expression was fixed on the page,
And the stubborn tilt of her chin was as firm as a sage;

An eraser-less pencil she clenched tight in her hand,
And an aura of contentment encircled the land;

She had purpose to her step, was lithe enough to bend,
To the winds of creativity, she was surely there to wend;

She was the vision of my heroine, an odd little perk,
And I laughed when I saw her, my psyche at work;

With a gracious smile and a nod in my direction,
She gave me the notion I could bow to her perfection;

She spoke not at all, but took over my work,
And filled all the holes; then turned with a smirk.

And saving her words, I would tomorrow sigh,
And giving me a look, out of the office she did fly.

She freed my sorry editor, dusted her off with a smile,
And away she tottered without the least bit of guile.

But I heard her exclaim, as she packed up her bikini,
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good ‘Finis’!”

[‘Twas the Week Before Christmas, Karen Docter © 2007]

[[Inspired by ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, attributed to Clement Clarke Moore.]]

 

Karen's Book Bench