Almost Christmas....

Please tell me, where in the world has the time gone???  It doesn't help that we don't have snow here in Northern Michigan or maybe it would feel more like Christmas.  I think all my shopping is done.  Tree is up, gifts aren't wrapped yet but i have a little time.  My husband and I each have kids and all our kids are with their "other" parent this Christmas :(  It's sad, I don't like having Christmas morning without the kids all excited and loud.  Our house will be quiet but it will give me some extra time to have the presents all wrapped and ready.  The least amount of time the presents are under the tree the better.  Our darn kitty thinks it's her playground.  I'm a traditional mom.  I like presents all unwrapped on Christmas morning and a nice Christmas dinner in the afternoon.  Well not this year and it's driving me batty.  We have decided this year our Christmas dinner will be a New Year's Eve celebration.  We are cooking a big ole ham and all the trimmings and our littlest munchkins will get a nap in the afternoon so they can stay up for the ball to drop on the new Year!  This way i still get to do all the traditional stuff, just a week late.  We'll be having all kinds of finger food.  A cheese ball with crackers, veggies & dip, spinach dip and crackers, maybe even a hot clam dip for mom and dad!   We'll need lots of crackers.  Then Sunday will be all left overs, no cooking for mom, and dad will be parked in front of the TV for football.  Maybe I'll get some writing done. 

Do you have any traditions that you like to follow for Christmas or the New Year with your family and friends?  I'd love to hear about them.

Recipe Day

It's Tuesday and my day to share some recipes, hope you enjoy this one!

I got this recipe from my friends at the Wicked Writers chat group...

Macadamia Nut Fudge

8 TBS (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut up
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup coarsely chopped macadamia nuts (about 4 ounces)
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 ¼ cups sugar
1 5-ounce can evaporated milk
12 large marshmallows

Butter an 8inch square baking pan. Line the bottom of the pan with foil.

In a large bowl, combine butter, chocolate chips, macadamia nuts, unsweetened chocolate, and vanilla.
Attach a candy thermometer to a medium saucepan. Add the sugar, evaporated milk, and the marshmallows. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 238 degrees F.

Pour the hot mixture into the bowl and let stand for 30 minutes. Stir until the mixture begins to thicken, about 1 minute. Spread evenly in the prepared pan. Let stand until completely cooled. Cover with foil and let stand overnight to allow flavors to mellow.

Invert the fudge and remove the foil. Re-invert and cut into squares. Store the fudge at room temperature in an airtight container.

Makes about 2 pounds

Enjoy !

If you're interested in the Wicked Writers, these ladies are amazing writers and you'll love their site... Wicked Writers

Feels like an Indian Summer !!!!

Wow, the weekend weather was fantastic.  For northern Michigan, 50's in mid-November I'll definitely take!!!    Anything to avoid the snow :)   I know...not the place to be living if one wants to avoid the snow.  Well I don't mind snow but I despise driving in it.

Today I think I'll share a recipe or two !!


Stroganoff

2 lbs. hamburger, browned
1 16oz. container french onion dip
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 to 2 cups milk
1 or 2 bags egg noodles



In stockpot, after hamburger is browned and drained, add french onion dip, soup and 1 cup milk.  Mix good.  If mix is too thick, add another cup of milk.  Will all depend on how thick you like the sauce.    Heat thoroughly, set aside on low.  Boil noodles. Dish up noodles per helping and spoon on desired sauce and serve !!!!

This dish is great as a left-over as well.





Dirt Pudding


2 boxes french vanilla pudding
3 1/2 cups milk
1 container cool whip
1 block cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 package Oreos
1 stick butter (melted)



Chop 3/4 of oreos into baking dish, mix with melted butter and pat into dish as a crust.   Set aside.

In medium bowl, mix pudding packets, milk, cream cheese, cool whip and sugar until well blended.  Pour on top of Oreo crust.  Crumble remaining oreos and sprinkle over pudding mixture.

Refrigerate a couple hours to make sure pudding sets up.

*** if you have kids, for a fun treat, only pour half of the pudding mix on Oreo crust then sporadically place gummy worms in the pudding then put remaining pudding then sprinkled oreos. 

Enjoy!!!


Hope you're all having a great day !!!

Krista

Men in Uniform

TGIF!!!! and many thanks to all our men and women in the military doing what they do to keep us all safe!!!!!

We also have another New Release from Turquoise Morning Press just in time for Veterans Day.....stop on over to take a look.....

www.turquoisemorningpressbookstore.com/collections/anthologies-1/products/men-in-uniform-short-story-collection

Digital Download - Available Formats - EPUB, MOBI, LIT, LRF, PDFTrade Paperback Print Coming November 21

We admire a man in uniform, and what better way to celebrate it than a collection of stories inspired by men fighting to defend our country, and the women who love them? This sweet collection of romance spans the generations of men of valor from present day dating back to World War II.

The Authors:

The Imposter, Jennifer Johnson

String of Pearls, Margaret Ethridge

Mind over Matter, Ruth J. Hartman

Dorthea’s War, Lozi Hart

Faith, Love, & the Coastguard, Julie Anne Lindsey

Knight in Armor, Jennifer Anderson

Lightning Always Strikes Twice, Patricia Marie Warren


We even have a review already: 

This Men in Uniform collection is perfect for reading and reflecting on the lives and relationships of military families--many of them budding love relationships! Although all of the stories are sweet romance stories, you get a taste for the everyday lives of men in uniform (and their loved ones). I can't say that I have a favorite of the bunch, each author brought a unique voice and style to the collection, and they are all nicely written. This was a perfect read for today, Veteran's Day. As the blurb goes, "we admire a man in uniform" and I admire the authors of these tales -- they did honor to our soldiers and their stories. Nicely done collection, uplifting and definitely romantic!


Don't miss out!!!   You'll be sorry.....

Have a great day and happy reading

Krista

My current releases !!

Howdy.......bet you thought i got lost......me too actually!

I now have 4 releases out now...how exciting!! 


This was my first release, Love in an Elevator!                                                   
Perfect again for our upcoming season....There are also so other really great stories in this anthology by some really great authors.
Second Hand Horses by Amy LeBlancMall Magic by Cat Shaffer
Another Quirky Christmas by Tonya Kappes
Concourse Christmas by Margaret Ethridge
Fixing Christmas by Elizabeth Chalkley
Angel on Board by Janethe Twelve Seductive Days of Christmas                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

2nd...Love Takes the Cake


Also a host of other great authors in this anthology...
Suzanne Barrett, Elizabeth Chalkley,
 Marissa Dobson, Janet Eaves, Jennifer Johnson,
Margaret Ethridge, Amy Le Blanc, Tracy March,
 Nancy Naigle, Cat Shaffer, Bobbye Terry





3rd in line is...Whiskey's Sweet Revenge in the
All Bets are On Anthology
along with....
Remember My Love by Cheryl Norman
The Winner by Jan Scarbrough
Going The Distance by Margaret Ethridge
As Luck Would Have It by Christina Wolfer
Glynda’s Dare by Shanon Grey
Whiskey’s Sweet Revenge by Krista Ames

And last but not least.......and so much fun to write !!!

Surf's Up!   A sweet beach romance...
again, along with some other great authors
Declarations of Dependence by Margaret EthridgeBest Friends by Suzanne BarrettRetrieving Hope by Bobbye Terry
Beach Towel by Grace Greene
Fireworks by Julie Anne Lindsey
The Green House by Amie Denman
Old Devil Moon by Bobbye Terry





All 4 of these are available thru my publisher, Turquoise Morning Press, just click
on the link below and it will take you right to their bookstore.
http://www.turquoisemorningpress.com/p/turquoise-morning-press-book-store.html

As always i welcome any contact and questions so please feel free to comment or email me!!

Krista
Krista@kristaames.com

Great new release......

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Hey everybody, have i got a book for you ....

Darkness Dawns...by Dianne Duvall

First I just have to say WOW !!!!!

What an awesome read. 

If you like Paranormal Romance, you have to read this.  I swear it had me hooked after the first 2 paragraphs on the first page and it didn't let me go until i finished the very last page.

I loved it !!

This is Dianne's first book in the Immortal Guardians series, just recently released on February 1st and I for one can't wait for the second, Night Reigns, which so far looks to have a tentative release date of December 2011, from Kensington. 



Once, Sarah Bingham’s biggest challenge was making her
students pay attention in class. Now, after rescuing a wounded stranger, she’s landed in the middle of a battle between corrupt vampires and powerful immortals who also need blood to survive. Roland Warbrook is the most spelling man Sarah has ever laid hands on. But his desire for her is mingled with a hunger he can barely control . . .

In his nine centuries of immortal existence, no woman has tempted Roland as much as Sarah. But asking her to love him is impossible -- when it mean forfeiting the world she’s always known, and the life he would do anything to protect

 Sound good?  I knew it would, so head out and get your copy today at the following retailers...

 Order from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1420118617?ie=UTF8&tag=dianduva-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1420118617x za

Indie Bookstores   http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781420118612?aff=romreads   


Barnes & Noble   http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Darkness-Dawns/Dianne-Duvall/e/9781420118612/?itm=1&USRI=darkness+dawns

The Book Depository  http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9781420118612/?a_aid=dianneduvall

  Borders  http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9781420118612/?a_aid=dianneduvall



Please feel free to come on back and let me know how you liked it !!

Happy reading....... :)

Free Read time again !!!!!

These free reads are all Amazon links.....get 'em while they last!!



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NEW RELEASE !!!!! Mac Liam..... by Renee Vincent

A fellow Turquoise Morning Press author, Renee Vincent has recently had her most current book release and it looks fantastic! 
She has also been kind enough to give us an excerpt from the book and i hope you enjoy and run out and grab your copy today!!



Mac Liam:  The Emerald Isle Trilogy  Book 2  by Renee Vincent

Excerpt:

Breandán woke to the sound of a twig snapping under foot. He remained still against the hard, uncomfortable trunk of the tree, examining his surroundings with only a careful shift of his eyes. Marcas was sound asleep a few feet from him, the fire burning warmly, and his dinner—which Marcas must have cooked anyway—beside him on a spit.


Despite that their two horses were not stirring, their ears were perked high and their faces alert. Peering in the direction the horses stared, Breandán unsheathed his dagger and stood carefully, knowing full well the sound he heard was not of a nightly scavenging animal. Its weight was too large to make such a prominent snap, more closely resembling the accidental misstep of a prowling human.

He tried to awaken Marcas with a hard shake of his shoulder, but Marcas only grunted and rolled over, muttering something about “get your own wood.”

While keeping his eyes on the distant spread of darkness ahead, Breandán frowned in irritation and decided to search the woods alone. He didn’t bother with his bow, as it was too dark to make out a target anyway. His plan of attack was to sneak up on the intruders in the same manner as they had snuck up on him, all the while hoping he would not be too terribly outnumbered.

He slowly rounded the horses and darted to the right behind a tree. Cautiously, he looked again, allowing his vision to adjust from the bright light of the fire to the dim obscurity of the dense woods. Once the woodland objects started to emerge and be recognized, he scurried past a few more trees, taking refuge behind a larger one. His path was deliberate, wide and circular, scouting the area as he crept, in order to flank whoever was trespassing his hunting grounds.

Suddenly, he caught sight of a single dark figure, in a hood and cloak, moving closer to where he and Marcas had made camp. The stranger was not close enough to the fire to do any harm to Marcas yet, but it was obvious the person was advancing in that direction.

Breandán reached down and picked up a stone. To distract the man, he launched it distantly behind the prowler, hitting a tree. As planned, the hooded figure turned in the direction of the sound and walked guardedly away from Marcas, but foolishly in the direction of the ricocheting stone.

Breandán was glad to see the man was quite short in stature and virtually unintelligent, or at the least, not at all skilled in the ways of combat or hunting. He could easily take him alone, considering he wasn’t getting much help from his sleeping friend. Taking a deep breath, he pressed on, this time, cutting a path straight toward the stranger.

He padded a bit further between the scores of trees and shadows, and once he was close enough, he leapt forward, taking the hooded man’s back by surprise. With one arm around the man’s forehead, Breandán stretched his neck to meet a well-placed dagger. “Who are you? Speak your name!”

“Please!” a woman’s whimpering voice proclaimed. “Do not kill me!”

Breandán’s heart stopped and his breath caught deep in his throat. He knew that voice, but he couldn’t believe his own ears. He frantically spun the woman around, jerking the hood from her head, only to gasp at his find. His feet automatically retreated a bit, his steady hunting hands shook at his sides, and the knife dropped from his grip.

Breandán was the first to speak, but Mara’s name came out so erratically, he sounded more like a stuttering fool.

She smiled in relief, hearing her name on his lips. “I feared perhaps you would have forgotten me.”

Breandán stared at her, thinking he was only having another dream and she would soon disappear. But he watched her step forward and heard the sound of the wet autumn leaves beneath her feet. He saw the few wisps of hair blow back from her face. And he even swore he felt her light, warm breath on his cheek as she neared.

He swallowed hard, trying to pull himself together, but he was failing. Even his breathing refused to cooperate, staggering out of him in the same troubled fashion as her name. And now, to make things worse, he could smell her. He could smell the fragrant oils from her body and the honeyed scent of her hair falling out of the hood and down around her shoulders. It was the most pleasant scent he could ever imagine—like honeysuckle, only sweeter.

This is not a dream, Breandán convinced himself. Mara was real and standing before him. The only thing that helped him to finally react like a sensible, grown man was the flashing image of him holding the dagger at her precious throat. His eyes widened and his stern, rich voice returned.

“My God, Mara! I could have killed you!” Immediately his hands came up and cradled her jaw, tilting her head to the side to examine her neck. To his relief, her skin had not even reddened from the gruffness of his choke hold.

Mara looked deep into his eyes and spoke ever so softly to him. “You would never harm me.”

Breandán caught her sensuous stare and held it with his own, a slight grin tugging warmly at his lips. “Aye, I would never harm you, Mara.”

She melted against him and laid her head upon his chest. “I thought I would never find you.”

Reality smacked Breandán sharply in the face and he gripped her shoulders, withdrawing her from his body. “You came alone? Surely your new husband would not approve of such recklessness.”

When she didn’t answer him, he immediately searched within the darkened woods, knowing full well even a neglectful husband would never allow her to journey this distance alone.

“Did you come alone?” Breandán asked demandingly. “Answer me, Mara.”

“Aye,” she replied. “No one is aware of my travels.”
 
 

You can find Renee at the following:

Website: http://www.reneevincent.com/    

Blog: http://pasttheprint.blogspot.com/ 

 

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

                                  

You can find Mac Liam at the following:

 

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Mac-Liam-Emerald-Isle-Trilogy/dp/1935817329/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1294208807&sr=1-1

 

Amazon Kindle:  http://www.amazon.com/Liam-Emerald-Isle-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B004E3XGVE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1290950692&sr=1-2

 

Nook:  http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Mac-Liam/Renee-Vincent/e/9781935817345/?itm=1&USRI=mac+liam+by+renee+vincent

 

1 Place for Romance:  http://1placeforromance.com/romantic-fiction/mac-liam/prod_2747.html

 

All Romance Ebooks:  https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-macliam-488906-162.html

 

Smashwords:  http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/31384

 

Digi Books:  http://www.digibookscafe.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=127&products_id=1137&zenid=447d94e518b9a0476d0ef14e02e43437

 

Coffee Time Romance:  http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookStore/index.php?main_page=pubs_product_book_info&cPath=113&products_id=4273

 

Turquoise Morning Press:  http://www.amazon.com/Mac-Liam-Emerald-Isle-Trilogy/dp/1935817329/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1294208807&sr=1-1