The last stop. . . .

Today's interview on this Book for Free marks the end of Hero's blog tour. I don't know about you, but I could use some rest! All this gallivanting around has worn me out!


In other news, someone sent me this link, which is kinda cool. I'm not only on the list, I'm on there twice!

http://news.pluggd.in/booksonboard-reveals-the-hottest-ebooks-and-audio-books-of-the-week-2-221/




So, have a little of Donna's Island beef to sustain you and come on over!



Donna writes:

This recipe just seemed right for this Tropical Heat and Humidity. So I invited my favorite Island Boy over for a pool party for 2.

It's a very Tasty dish. Add some fresh flowers to the table, some candles, some soft Island music and add a few glasses of Sangria, add some Tiki lighting, add a few crickets. Maybe some Key Lime Pie for dessert. I'm ready for fun.

I almost forgot. Lock his skateboard or surfboard in the garage. LOL!!!

Slow Cooker Island Beef (serves 6)

Ingredients

• 1 (20 ounce) can unsweetened pineapple chunks in juice, undrained
• 2 1/2 pounds cubed beef stew meat
• 2 large onions, cut into wedges
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 3/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 3/4 teaspoon ground paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 large tomatoes, cut into wedges

Directions

1. Drain the pineapple juice into a slow cooker, reserving the pineapple chunks. Place the beef, onions, beef broth, 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar, garlic, seasoned salt, paprika, and black pepper into the slow cooker with the juice. Mix well, cover, and cook on Low until the beef is tender, 6 to 6 1/2 hours.
2. Increase the setting to High and stir in green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and brown sugar. In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch, soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar until smooth; stir the mixture into the slow cooker, blending well. Cover and cook for 1 more hour. Just before serving, lightly stir in the tomatoes and reserved pineapple chunks.

Monday Moons!

I'm guest blogging today on Romance Junkies! Freshen up and come on over!

Sunday's Hunk of the Day!

I posted this at 11:42 PM on the 16th--capping a truly marathon run of blog pre-postings--for when I'll be at work and at the lake, doing guest blogs, etc, until the end of the month. I've got two more to do and then I'm done.

I could really use a cute hunk with some cookies right now. . . .

I'm blogging on Wickedly Romantic today about something that I'm sure is truly fascinating!


Or not. . . .

Saturday's Hunk of the Day!

Don't call him a cowboy

until you've seen him ride. ;-)

Enjoy your Saturday!

Coming home. . . .

Don't know why I chose this one. Just did. Coming home from the lake today. *sigh*
Back to the old grind. . . .

Thursday Thoughts

I'm still having fun at the lake. This was the view from the dock after we had dinner at the Sunset restaurant.

No sunburn yet (thanks to spf 70), but no tan, either. :-(

We leave tomorrow. *sob*

But I'm guest blogging today on Debbie's Book Bag.

Grab a hunk and come on over!

Whopping Weasel Wednesday!

I'm at Dale Hollow Lake with the girls this week, and though we've searched the shore,





















Checked out the docks,




















And glanced back in our wake,





















we haven't seen ANYTHING like this!
















Guess we need to go fishing. . . .

Tasty Tuesday Shrimp Scampi

Here's another tasty recipe courtesy of Diva Donna!

SEXY SHRIMP SCAMPI

Ingredients

• 30 medium shrimp - peeled and deveined
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

I'm guest blogging today on Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews. Grab a cutie and come on over!

Monday Moons!

I'm blogging today on Casablanca Authors. Something about change or back to school or something of that nature. Since Mikey went back to Purdue on Saturday, this idea is fresh in my mind. . .
I think. . .

I'm also heading to the lake with the girls today, and I worked last night. If I'm not completely comatose by the time I get there (and the WiFi at the Dairy Queen works) I'll check in later. If not, I know I can trust you ladies to carry on without me!

Sunday's Hunk of the Day!

Food for thought, isn't it?

I'm blogging on Wickedly Romantic today.

Think about it for a while, and then come on over!

Saturday's Hunk of the Day!

I don't think I have anything to add to this one. The eyes are so compelling, I can even get past the short hair.

Enjoy your Saturday!

Friday Fun Stuff!

What do you want to bet he never actually rode that bicycle?

Still, the visual is pretty nice.

I'm guest blogging today on Love Romance Passion.

Hop on your wheels and come on over!

More Guest Blogs!

In my quest to find more pics of last weeks cutie with the dangly bits, I found this one. It reminds me quite a bit of another dangling participle picture, (my personal fave, btw) and may be the same guy.

But, no matter. It's still pretty hot. This fellow has the most clearly defined gluteal muscles I think I've ever seen--not to mention his other interesting parts.

Kinda makes your mouth water, doesn't it?


I'm guest blogging on Literary Escapism today. Come on over and win some books!

Whopping Weasel Wednesday!

I'm guest blogging today on Fresh Fiction!

After you've shown this bad boy who's boss, come on over for a chance to win a free copy of Hero!

Happy Birthday, Peaches!

Today is Peaches' first birthday! It's hard to believe she's all grown up. Too bad she doesn't act that way. She's got the run of the place and it's a good thing we've got thirty acres for her to roam around on, or I have a feeling we'd be hearing from the neighbors. As it is, she seems to respect the borders of our domain and is usually within calling distance. She goes with me to the barn all the time, but doesn't stick around like she used to. I think she feels she has the horses and cats trained well enough that she doesn't need to supervise them and she has her own agenda. I haven't got any special dinner planned, but I bet she'd love some French toast for breakfast!



















And with that in mind, here's another great recipe from our own Diva Donna!

She writes:

Well it's Sunday and we just got up . We slept in a Bit. My Boy Toy wants some PB French Toast. So while he's making the bed. I decided to whip up a Batch. It's Tasty. But not as tasty as my Frenchie.

PEANUT BUTTER FRENCH TOAST

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup milk
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 4 slices bread

Directions

1. Whisk together milk, eggs, peanut butter, sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
2. Heat the oil in a griddle or frying pan over medium heat.
3. Dunk each slice of bread in egg mixture, soaking both sides. Place in pan, and cook on both sides until golden, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Serve hot.

---

Here's one with a little more hair on him, Nancy.

Enjoy!

Monday Moons and Guest Blogs!

I'm guest blogging today on Book Junkie! Smack the buns and come on over!

He deserves a good smacking for cutting his hair so short. It shouldn't be allowed!!!!

Sunday's Hunk of the Day!

"OMG! My dick is pointing north! It's a compass and I never knew!!!"


I'm blogging on Wickedly Romantic today.


At least, I think I am.

I'm not sure.

Could someone please point me in the right direction?

Happy Birthday, Lisa!

Or as we like to call it, Simon Dexter is HOT Day!

See what you can do to cool him off!

Friday Fun!

The Importance of Walking

Walking can add minutes to your life.
This enables you at 85 years old
To spend an additional 5 months in a nursing
Home at $7000 per month.

I like long walks,
Especially when they are taken
By people who annoy me.

The only reason I would take up walking
Is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.

I have to walk early in the morning,
Before my brain figures out what I'm doing..

I joined a health club last year,
Spent about 400 Bucks.
Haven't lost a pound.
Apparently you have to go there.

Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise',
I wash my mouth out with chocolate.

The advantage of exercising every day
Is so when you die, they'll say,
'Well, she looks good doesn't she.'

If you are going to try cross-country skiing,
Start with a small country.

I know I got a lot of exercise
The last few years,......
Just getting over the hill.

We all get heavier as we get older,
Because there's a lot more information in our heads.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

AND

Every time I start thinking too much
About how I look,
I just find a Happy Hour
And by the time I leave,
I look just fine.

















This might be the only good reason to take up walking,
though it might be even more beneficial to be driving a
pickup truck.

I've got an interview going up
on My Overstuffed Bookshelf today.

Hitch a ride and come on over!

Thursday Thoughts

I was chatting back and forth with Kate Douglas via email the other day, and she told me she reads five books a week, plus the various manuscripts she's been asked to give cover quotes on. All that in addition to writing so many books? How does she do that???? I've never been what you'd call a voracious reader. I mean, I've read a lot of books--and, interestingly enough, most of them Regencies--but five a week? Never!

I suppose if I wasn't the sort who reads the same books over and over again I might have a bigger Already Read Already pile, but there are those stories that have a certain feel to them that keep me coming back, and those which I associate with certain events or seasons. For example, I used to read Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy every fall, and never got tired of them. In fact, they're sitting right here on my desk next to Steinbeck's Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday. Kate's Sexy Beast III is there, too, along with The Tales of Beedle the Bard, by JK Rowling.

Right next to the bed, however, is the stack of Harry Potter books that I read continuously, but only as the reading I do before calling it a night. Something about those stories diverts my mind from anything that might be bothering me enough to keep me from falling asleep. I sometimes read an author friend's book at bedtime, but, particularly if it's a romantic suspense, it makes it more difficult to nod off. Those are the books I read when I'm at work and there's nothing going on and I'm trying to stay awake. There've been a lot of nights like that lately; our hospital has undergone some major changes and the census has suffered. Not sure where our patients have gone, but the ICU has been empty more often than I can ever remember it being before. Things will probably get back to normal eventually, but until then, it will continue to be a major source of stress.

Perhaps my tendency to read favorite books over and over again is a good thing. Publishing a book requires that it be revised and edited many times before it goes to print, so I've had lots of practice, but even though I enjoy reading what I've written, reading the same book three times inside a couple of weeks gets old.

As I've mentioned before, I'm working on an erotic short story, and having no rules has energized my creativity considerably. It might also be the result of the recharging effect from attending the RWA conference, but being able to write purely for pleasure (though hopefully for profit!) has certainly been a joy.

Well, it's getting late now, and Harry Potter is calling me, but I've just got one more thing I have to do. . . .





There! How's that?

I'm guessing these boys are trying to build a naked pyramid, but why?

Food for thought, isn't it?

Whopping Weasel Wednesday!

No guest blogs today, but there's another one coming up on Friday. Next week there are four of them!

Sharon, our own Professor Penis, may not be able to post any comments on the blog (she's having cookie problems or something of that nature) but there's nothing wrong with her emailing ability, and she's sent me enough whoppers to last a good, long time.

This was one of her favorites. I wasn't sure I liked it at first, but he's grown on me. He looks even better when you click on him.

Enjoy your hump day!

Tasty Tuesday Sausage Balls!

Donna sent me this recipe recently, which is similar to one I got from a friend about... yikes!... at least thirty years ago! The recipe I have is for more of an appetizer or party food version, and calls for 1 cup Bisquick mixed with 1/3 cup milk, which you then mix with 4 oz of shredded cheddar cheese and 1 lb of sausage, but however you make them, they're still darn good! I mean, how could anything that mixes sausage, cheese, and biscuits not be delicious???

Donna's 1-2-3 Sausage Balls(Gotta love these breakfast Balls) 1 pound bulk pork sausage or 1/2 bulk pork sausage and 1/2 bulk spicy pork sausage) 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese 2 cups all-purpose biscuit baking mix

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Stir the sausage, Cheddar cheese, and dry baking mix together in a mixing bowl until evenly combined; roll into 1 inch balls and place onto an ungreased baking sheet.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until the pork is no longer pink in the center and the balls are golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Enjoy !!!

---

This guy is so darn cute, I just want to eat him up!

I'm guest blogging on Night Owl Romance today!

Grab some balls and come on over!

Monday Moons!

Hero's blog tour marches on! I'm guest blogging on Books 4 Moms today, so when you're finished inspecting the buns, come on over!


















This is the buns picture Vincent sent me. Since I have no idea who these girls are or whether or not they want their pictures on my blog, I'm disguising them, but their expressions (not to mention the cat o' ninetails our birthday girl is wielding!) were so terrific, I couldn't edit them out completely, and had to at least leave their smiles.

So, what say you, ladies? Does Vincent have the right stuff?


This guy would be SO much better with the flowing tresses of a Zetithian, but we can't have everything!


















While I was up at the barn yesterday, I got to thinking more about book nine, and wrote down a few ideas, and I even have a title for it. It helps to think ahead so the ol' brain has time to mull it over before I actually start writing, and especially before I have to pitch it to someone.

It's also good to have something to work on while I'm waiting to hear from my editor. No word yet on what she thinks of Virgin, so I'm plowing ahead with book 8 and the erotic short story--*pause for wicked laughter*--which will knock your socks off!

Sunday's Hunk of the Day!

Take some time to kick back and relax this Sunday.

After you've rested up, come on over to Casablanca Authors and Wickedly Romantic.

I've GOT to do something about these blogs falling on the same day! Between these and the guest blogs, I'm starting to feel like a ping pong ball!













And here's that dangling participle I was telling you about. Whoa, MOMMA!!!!!

Saturday's Hunk of the Day!

We had one that curved downward a few days ago. Here's one that's more on the up side!

Enjoy your Saturday!

Friday Fun!

I'm guest blogging today on Sia McKye's Thoughts over Coffee. She wanted to know what I do for fun aside from writing, and if writing gets in the way of this other hobby. Come on over and find out!

In other news, I have it on good authority that Hero will be available in all electronic formats sometime next week!

For today's fun here on the CBEB, we have Pianista! Yes, the video is a very poor quality, but it's still a hoot!





And since we need a hunk you can see in focus, here's one more! I think I've used him before, but he's definitely worth another look!

Thursday Thoughts

Tuesday 10:27 PM

I just finished filing my nails, and they are easily twice as long as they were prior to going to Orlando. Why is it that one's fingernails always look like crap prior to vacation or attending a conference, but look fabulous a few days after you get home? (No, these are NOT mine!)



















I mean, I know why they don't break--I'm not shoveling manure or washing my hands a hundred times a night--but it seems as if they actually grow faster when I'm away from home. Why can't it ever work the other way around?

Yeah, I know. Stupid topic for a blog, but the brain is a bit fried at this point, and this was what it spat out when I tried to think of some thing "thoughtful" to say.

Fast forward to Wednesday 9:31 PM

Just got back from seeing Inception, and if that movie doesn't provoke some thoughts, nothing will. Very intricate plot, but the initial suspension of disbelief that you can actually enter someone else's dreams is critical to the enjoyment. However, even though the idea is far-fetched at best, it was still very engrossing.
















I find myself watching movies in terms of plot much more than I used to, which makes it pretty hard to surprise me, but I do admire the layering and I'm very glad I'm not expected to write anything that complex!

No guest blogs today, which is good because I go back to work tonight. It's so odd going from the writer conference thing to the nurse thing. Two totally different worlds. And then there's the blog world where hot guys send me pictures of themselves to post. Well, okay, so there's only been the one so far, but who's counting?

Not sure we had a topic for this week, so I'll just pick a random hunk. How about this one?

Whopping Weasel Wednesday!

The blog tour marches on with an interview today on Fumbling with Fiction. I can't remember what I wrote for that one, but I'm sure I was fumbling!

See anything else you might like to fumble around with?

I checked on Amazon yesterday, and Hero was ranked 7,634, which is probably the best ranking I've seen for any of my books.

And, yes, authors do look at those rankings from time to time. Even though I was actually there to see if there was an ebook or a Kindle version yet.

No, really! I'm not lying!

Tasty Tuesday

Thank goodness Donna keeps providing me with recipes or Tuesdays wouldn't be nearly as tasty! Now, if she was only here to cook it for me, that would be even better.

I still haven't recovered from RWA. I didn't feel that tired at the time, but the adrenaline has worn off and I've been falling asleep in front of my computer in the middle of the day.

No guest blogs today, thank goodness, but some of the Indiana RWA gang wanted to get together and write an erotic anthology, and I've been working on it, but even with no holds barred, I'm still falling asleep!

*yawn* So, without further adieu, here's Donna's cure for the tired, sleepy, and under the weather!

Salisbury STEAK
(for 6 normal people, or 2 of Donna's men)

Ingredients

• 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed French onion soup
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1 egg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix together 1/3 cup condensed French onion soup with ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, salt and black pepper. Shape into 6 oval patties.
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown both sides of patties. Pour off excess fat.
3. In a small bowl, blend flour and remaining soup until smooth. Mix in ketchup, water, Worcestershire sauce and mustard powder. Pour over meat in skillet. Cover, and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. ENJOY!!!

Oh, yes, and a hunk. Mustn't forget the hunk. . . .

Well, ladies, it's finally happened. I got an email from a guy asking me to put his picture on the blog, and, believe it or not, he's actually read some of my books!

This is Vincent wearing what he refers to as his "uniform." He works in a club somewhere in Wisconsin and wanted to be a Monday Moon candidate.

He's plenty cute, but for Monday Moons, he needs to send me a shot from a different angle!

Monday Moons and Hero's Launch!

Look closely, ladies. . . He's a cowboy!

Today is Hero's launch party on Casablanca Authors!
Come on over and join the party!

When you're done there, Hero's first guest blog is today on Star-Crossed Romance!