New Release! Circle In The Sand by @LiaFairchild #Giveaway

(Link to Giveaway located at the bottom of the post.)

 Circle in the Sand

by Lia Fairchild

Four life-long friends bound by two decades of laughter, love, promises, and secrets. Once inseparable, the four grow into independent adults pursuing very different paths.

Sage, raised by career-driven parents, follows a carefully laid out future of success that leaves her wondering what she’s missed out on.

Emily, the college drop-out, now has three children that have become her whole life. She's slowly lost herself, subconsciously seeking dangerous ways to cope. Can she find herself in time?

Jax always lived on the edge, skating through life with no apparent ambition, yet remained the energy and emotional cement of the group. She longs for her friends to accept her without trying to fix her.

Ned, Emily’s twin brother, yearns to stand up and be counted. But his old loyalties and new feelings for one of the girls has him pulled in different directions.

Will the ties that held them together as kids be strong enough for them as adults? These four friends will discover the true meaning of friendship and unveil truths about themselves they never knew existed.

ADD TO GOODREADS

In the US Kindle Store

In the UK Kindle Store

Lia Fairchild is both a traditionally published and independent author who writes contemporary fiction, chick lit, romance, and mystery/thriller. Fairchild was born and raised in Southern California and holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a multiple-subject teaching credential. She is a wife and mother of two teenagers.

Look for updates on me and my books at the links below.

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK



TWITTER

GOODREADS

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Opening Lines - Thrillers and Mysteries - #WomenWriters

This week, I'd like to introduce you to some friends of mine who write thrillers and mysteries. The opening lines of their novels are intriguing and meant to draw you in. Take a look at these amazing female writers who I feel privileged to call colleagues. 

~~~ 

THE SACRIFICE by Peg Brantley

"He shouldn't be here, he thought. Not tonight. A bad idea all around."

Find this book in the Amazon Kindle Store:  US  UK

Also available in paperback: US  UK

About the author: Peg has gone down a few rabbit holes in her life, but writing crime fiction isn't one of them. You can learn more about her by visiting her blog, or meet up with her on Facebook.

~~~

TORN APART by MA Comley

"Saskia Hartley knew she was the luckiest woman alive. She had a man who worshiped her and a son who told her daily she was the best mummy ever."

Find this book in the Amazon Kindle Store: US  UK

In the Nook Book Store: US

And in the iTunes iBook Store: US  UK

Also available in paperback: US  UK 

About the author: MA Comley is a prolific British author who currently lives in France. Visit her blog, or find her on Facebook and Twitter.

~~~

PURE JUSTICE by Linda L. Barton

"Lisa was glad the day was finally over. The art show had been a complete success, and her feet were killing her."

Find this book in the Amazon Kindle Store: US  UK

About the author: Linda L. Barton has done many different things in her life, from working as a hair stylist, a claims processor, to driving a Peterbilt Truck across the US, but writing is her passion. Visit her website, or find her on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. 

~~~

 SHE BELONGS TO ME by Carmen DeSousa 

   "A loud crack startled Jordon from his sleep. His hand flew to his pounding head as he looked around the room for the source of the noise.

   It sounded like a gunshot, or perhaps he was just having another nightmare. Sometimes he couldn't tell the difference."

This book is currently free in the Amazon Kindle Store: US  UK

Also available in paperback: US  UK 

About the author: A romantic-suspense writer, Carmen DeSousa writes novels that overflow with romance, mystery, suspense, a hint of paranormal sometimes, and of course—tragedy; after all, what would a great story be without a heartrending event setting the stage? Visit her online at her blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

~~~

 No Good Deed: Book One of the Mark Taylor Series by MP McDonald

 

"The baby floated face down in the tub. The image hadn’t changed, not that Mark Taylor expected it to. Not yet anyway. He tucked the photo in his back pocket and trotted down the steps from the ‘L’ platform. With any luck at all, the next time he looked, the baby would be fine."

Find this book in the Amazon Kindle Store: US  UK

Also available in paperback: US  UK

About the author: MP McDonald was born and raised in Waukegan, Illinois. The fifth of eight children, she found out early that hiding in a book was a great way to escape the noise and bustle of a large, busy household. Find out more about her at her blog, or visit her on Facebook, and on Twitter.

~~~

VIGILANNIE by Lia Fairchild

"The dusk sky loomed heavy over inner-city Detroit as she parked her crimson sports car in the empty lot. She hoped she wasn't too late."

Find this book in the Amazon Kindle Store: US  UK

In the Nook Book Store: US

In the iTunes iBook Store: US  UK 

About the author: Lia Fairchild is both a traditionally published and independent author who writes contemporary fiction, chick lit, romance, and thrillers. Learn more about her by visiting her blog, or find her on Facebook and Twitter. 

~~~

And last, but certainly not least, I offer you one of my favorites...

ETERNAL BEAUTY by Linda Prather 

 

"One more, sweetheart, and we'll be finished." He folded her hands across her chest, carefully arranging them to hide the missing fingers. "That's perfect."

Find this book in the Amazon Kindle Store: US  UK

Find it in the Nook Book Store: US

In the iTunes iBook Store: US  UK

Also available in paperback: US  UK

About the author: Linda Prather has a love of mystery, metaphysics, and the paranormal. Her books are clear evidence of this. Learn more about her at her blog, or visit her on Facebook and Twitter. 

~~~

I do hope you'll check out these books authored by extraordinary women writers! 

Top 10 Incredibly Romantic Quotes @DonnaFaz

ro-mance

noun –

1.    a feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love.

2.     a quality or feeling of mystery, excitement, or remoteness from every day life.

verb –

1.     court; woo.

2.     another term for romanticize.

Most women crave it. Most men are either scared of it or think it's a waste of time. That's why women turn, again and again, to romance novels. Love stories satisfy that need for excitement and mystery. 

I've searched out some entertaining quotes about romance. Enjoy!

"I love your feet because they have wandered over the earth and through the wind and water until they brought you to me." ~Pablo Neruda  (Sounds like Pablo might have had a bit of a foot fetish. Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

"Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, only with what you are expecting to give—which is everything." ~Katharine Hepburn (Ah, Ms Hepburn… beautiful and wise.)

"I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. " ~Rita Rudner (I used this quote in The Merry-Go-Round.)

"We loved with a love that was more than love." ~Edgar Allan Poe's Annabell Lee (Okay, this is a tad cheesy and if my husband ever said this to me I would respond, "Huh?".)

"Love doesn't sit there like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all of the time, made new." ~Ursula K. Le Guin (This quote appealed to the cook in me, AND for the fact that it's true.)

"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." ~Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights (Ah, Heathcliff. *drool*)

"I don't wish to be everything to everyone, but I would like to be something to someone." ~Unknown (That's not asking for too much, is it?)

"Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it." ~Swedish Proverb (Damn right!)

"Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze." ~Elinor Glyn (THIS is what I try to capture in my romance novels.)

And lastly, although I am a romance author and I love happy endings, this quote touched my heart.

"True love stories never have endings." ~Richard Bach

Wishing you all the love your heart can old in 2014!

My Top Eight New Year's Resolutions for 2014 - @DonnaFaz

As the New Year approaches, we look back to the past to assess our successes and failures, and we look into the future with thoughts of doing better. We reflect on the changes we'd like to make and resolve to do our best to follow through on keeping them. Did your New Year's Resolutions make my list of the Top 8?

1.     Spend more time with friends and family – All of us need to socialize. Work is necessary, but spending time with people we enjoy will make us happier individuals. And who doesn't want to be happier?

2.     Lose weight – I don't know about you, but I put on a few extra pounds every Thanksgiving and Christmas. *sigh*

3.     Get fit – As I get older, staying firm and fit becomes more difficult. But I refuse to give up!

4.     Spend more time communing with nature – I love being out in the open air, listening to the birds sing, feeling the sunshine on my face. Albert Einstein said, "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." He wasn't considered a genius for nuthin'!

5.     Do more of what makes you happy – This one doesn't need much explanation.

6.     Quit smoking – I don't smoke. I never have. But I just spent 3 months nursing my wonderful aunt through chemo and radiation treatments for lung cancer. If you smoke, resolve to quit. Your health depends on it.

7.     Volunteer more – Nothing makes me happier than doing something that puts a smile on someone else's face.

8.     Get organized – This is on my New Year's Resolutions List each and every year. Not that I could be featured on the TV show Hoarders or anything, but I would like to be a little more organized. I'd love to have a place for everything and everything in its place.

What resolutions are YOU making for 2014?

WISHING YOU A HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

Marvelous Molasses Cookies #Recipe - OMG Delicious! #rt4amo

I didn't intend to post yet another cookie recipe before Christmas. But I created a recipe today that just needs to be shared.

These cookies are rich, buttery, and flavorful. Cinnamon and ginger team up with molasses to make these delectable bites the perfect accompaniment to hot tea, coffee, or cider.

Marvelous Molasses Cookies

1 cup dark brown sugar, packed

¾ cup butter, softened

⅓ cup molasses

1 egg

2 ⅓ cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon salt

Granulated white sugar (for dipping)

Heat oven to 375º.

Cream the brown sugar and butter. Add molasses and egg, and beat to incorporate. Stir in the flour, soda, cinnamon, ginger, and salt until thoroughly combined. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls. Dip tops in granulated white sugar. Place balls, sugar side up, onto lightly greased cookie sheets and bake until just set, between 10-12 minutes. Makes about 4 dozen mouthwatering cookies.  

Peanut Butter Cookies #Recipe - Happy Holidays from @DonnaFaz

Mmmmm. My house smells like warm cookies. Is there a better aroma than that at Christmas time? I just finished making Peanut Butter Crisscross Cookies. This recipe is easy enough to make with your children.

Peanut Butter Crisscross Cookies

½ cup peanut butter

½ cup vegetable shortening

½ cup white sugar

½ cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 ¼ cups all purpose flour

¾ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

Heat oven to 375º.

Mix together the peanut butter, shortening, white sugar, and brown sugar. Add the egg and stir until well incorporated. Add in the dry ingredients.

Roll dough into ¾ inch balls and place on cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Press a fork into each cookie, flattening slightly, to make a crisscross pattern.

Bake for approximately 9 minutes. Let cookies cool for a few minutes before removing them from the cookie sheet.

*****

Peanut Butter and Jelly Thumbprint Cookies:

Make dough as above and roll into balls. Press thumb deeply into each cookie and bake for 9-10 minutes. Fill thumbprints with your favorite jam or jelly.

*****

Tomorrow, I plan to make Spritz Butter Cookies and Molasses Crinkles.

One of my Christmas guests is vegan, so I'll also make a vegan Chocolate Torte. I'm kind of excited to make this as it's a new-to-me recipe. Can't wait to taste it!

What desserts are you making this holiday?

For Vegetable Lovers! Roasted Brussels Sprouts #VeganRecipe

Come on! Don't wrinkle up your nose like that! Brussels sprouts are delicious. Especially when they're roasted. This easy side dish is delicious and good for you. It’s low-fat, low-calorie, and tastes SO yummy… you can’t ask for more than that.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

1 ½ pounds of Brussels sprouts

1 teaspoon course salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

a misting of olive oil

Wash and prepare Brussels sprouts; trim off ends, pull off any yellowed or damaged outer leaves, and cut larger sprouts in half. Mist sprouts lightly with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and arrange in a single layer on a roasting pan. Roast in a 400º F (204º C) oven for 20-30 minutes or until sprouts are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. Shake pan occasionally so sprouts brown evenly.

Perfect for the vegans and vegetarians who are coming to visit for the holidays.

Ho, ho, ho!