Some authors produce quality books year after year and I have the utmost respect for them. They don’t churn out something quickly for the Christmas trade and other celebratory dates. Instead, they research and work, work and polish.

Here are a few of my favourites: 

Most books by Tami Hoag such as Down the Darkest Road and Live to Tell. I think my favourite is Still Waters. Why? Because her novels are so detailed, and the solution of the mysteries is never obvious. In fact, the character of the antagonists and protagonists holds the key to the solutions each time. For example, in A Thin Dark Line, it is the generations-old, warped solution of ways to protect a family that bubbles to the surface and the bloody mindedness of an ambitious female cop who stands up for her rights amongst male chauvinism that would chop most women off at the knees, that points the way to reasons for the crime and the discovery of the perpetrator(s).

Many books by Jayne Ann Krentz, not her very early ones where the hero was a dyed-in-the-wool MCP as was the fashion of the day, but her books from about 1998 onwards and also her historicals. Love the way her heroes say “huh.” It can mean so many things: they can be having a revelation, they may disagree with the heroine but they sure as hell are not going to say so, or it can be simply their version of a civil reply to modern discourse. My favourites are the Eclipse Bay series and her historicals written under the name of Amanda Quick such as Mistress (Regency) and The Third Circle (Victorian). Most of all, however, I enjoy her futuristic paranormals such as Siren’s Call set on Rainshadow Island and In Too Deep set in Scargill Cove. These appeal to me because of her light hand with the paranormal concepts and the quirkiness of the main characters. She creates otherworlds without belabouring the point. Sometimes writers create alternate worlds that require an immense investment on the part of the reader to learn the settings and morés of those worlds which can have the effect of having the reader skip pages and eventually put the book down. Not so JAK who, after many years of writing, knows just how far she can go to create a world not so very dissimilar to our own.

Obviously, I can’t go far without mentioning the greatest modern storyteller – Nora Roberts. I don’t like many of her earlier books which now seem dated, and I don’t feel that her paranormal ones are in the least bit convincing. However, I totally enjoy her recent single titles such as Tribute and Whiskey Beach. And I especially enjoy The Inn at Boonsborough series. I once saw a review where the reader criticised the Boonsborough ones because they had too much building detail in them. Now that’s the part I am intrigued with. I am not a purist romance reader, so I like a bit of meat with my coffee froth. I wait for each new release of Nora’s, as do thousands of others, not all of them women by a long way.

Stieg Larsson, in particular his series of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Anti-right-wing extremist and magazine editor-in-chief, what a shame most of his books were only found after his death in 2004. I suggest for those who want a touch of reality watered down with a little idealism, read Larsson. Whether you see the movies first or read the books first, I promise you will enjoy Lizbeth Salander, the toughest cyber-expert on the planet. 

Rick Mofina, a great suspense writer endorsed by the best suspense writers such as James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Sandra Brown, Tess Gerritsen etc. He is Canadian and so less inclined to use acronyms which can be a relief for a reader steeped in jargon which has to be researched. I thoroughly enjoyed Be Mine and my next choice is The Dying Hour. He writes about a crime reporter and unravelling detective in several of his novels, then switches to another team in his later books. If you like suspense and that ‘unable to put it down’ feeling, then choose Mofina.

Another one to keep an eye on: Going to read more by J.M. Gregson. Have just finished The Fox in the Forest about the murder of a well-liked town vicar. The murdered man is one of those rare characters whom everyone liked. Of course, the reader thinks “mistaken identity?” Gregson has an impressive writing record of both non-fiction and fiction. I enjoyed the British outlook to solving crime – stoic, authentic and painstaking – and the author’s writing experience showed by his excellent characterizations. No character was just a sketch. It was an in-depth exploration of people both likeable and unlikeable. 

So, what authors do you enjoy? Have you stopped to ask yourself Why do you like their writing?

Vonnie Hughes is a multi-published author in both Regency books and contemporary suspense. She loves the intricacies of the social rules of the Regency period and the far-ranging consequences of the Napoleonic Code. And with suspense she has free rein to explore forensic matters and the strong convolutions of the human mind. Like many writers, some days she hates the whole process, but somehow she just cannot let it go.

Vonnie was born in New Zealand, but she and her husband now live happily in Australia. If you visit Hamilton Gardens in New Zealand be sure to stroll through the Japanese Garden. These is a bronze plaque engraved with a haiku describing the peacefulness of that environment. The poem was written by Vonnie.

All of Vonnie’s books are available on The Wild Rose Press and Amazon.

Learn more about Vonnie Hughes on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Goodreads.

Super Side-Dish Scalloped Potatoes

¼ cup butter

Preheat oven to 350°F

Sauce

To make the sauce, melt butter, onion, and
garlic over medium-low heat. Cook until onion is softened, about 3 minutes. Add
flour and cook for 1-2 minutes.

Reduce heat to low. Combine milk and
broth. Add a small amount at a time whisking to thicken. The mixture will
become very thick, continue adding a little bit of liquid at a time whisking
until smooth.

Once all the liquid has been added, bring
to a boil over medium heat while continuing to whisk. Stir in salt and pepper
and let boil 1 minute.

Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish. Place ⅓ of
the potatoes in the bottom and season with salt and pepper. Pour ⅓ of the cream
sauce over top.

Repeat layers ending with cream sauce.
Cover and bake for 45 minutes.

Uncover and bake for an additional 35-45
minutes or until golden brown, and potatoes are tender. Broil for 3-4 minutes
to obtain a golden top.

Allow to rest for 15 minutes before
serving.

This casserole is also a wonderful
side-dish to include at your holiday get-togethers too, making a great
substitute for mashed or roast potatoes. Try it. You just might love it! 

Once
dinner is done, and you’ve got some free time on your hands, why not dig into
your next read? May I suggest my latest release?

Only a true hero can shine the light in humanity’s darkest time.

As danger closes in, Jordan discovers that true courage is forged through trust, sacrifice, and the strength of those beside you. But will that be enough to change the past – and protect the future? 

A fast-paced adventure rich with historical detail, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS AND THE DARK SECRET is the second book in Sharon Ledwith’s series of novels for middle grade and adult readers alike.

EXCERPT

“I wonder what else is
down here.” Drake beamed his cell phone across the basement, hitting jars of
jams, pickles, and relishes. His stomach growled.

Jordan pulled the cheese
from his pocket and handed it to Drake. “Trade you for your phone.”

“Best. Trade. Ever.”
Drake passed his phone to Jordan.

Jordan walked over and
grabbed a jar of pickles off the dusty shelf. At least they wouldn’t arrive at
the baron’s place hungry. He hoped his uncle had managed to stop Amanda’s
bleeding. His hand tightened over the jar, the ridges of the lid cutting into his
palm. A scrape from behind the shelves made Jordan jump.

“Hello?” he asked,
pushing jars aside. He flashed the cell phone into the small, dark area.

“Who ya talking to,
Jordan?” Drake asked with his mouth full of cheese.

“Shhh, Drake.” Jordan
listened. Hearing nothing, he shrugged and turned back around.

“I thought I heard—”
Jordan stopped and pointed the phone at Ravi. His jaw dropped. “A-Are you
serious, Sharma?”

Drake spat out his
cheese, snorting with laughter.

“Is there a problem?”
Ravi asked, tying the bowtie of his tuxedo.

“You look like a penguin
with attitude!” Drake slapped his knee.

“Say what you want, but
I’m glad we didn’t hit the cleaners on the way to school now,” Ravi replied,
pulling down his sleeves, “or else I wouldn’t have these dry clothes.”

Jordan chuckled.
Suddenly, he heard a door creak open, followed by heavy footsteps squeaking
down the stairs. Panicking, Jordan stuffed Drake’s phone in his track suit
jacket’s pocket and waved Drake over by the shelves. Drake slipped behind
Jordan just in time, before the small light bulb above the bottom of the stairs
clicked on. Jordan swallowed hard. There, staring directly at Ravi was a portly
man in a blood-stained apron. Tufts of blond hair sprouted from the sides of
his balding head. His brown trousers were pulled up past his waist, making him
resemble an evil garden gnome. In one of his hands, he held a huge butcher
knife, its blade flecked with blood.

Wielding the knife, the
man pointed at Ravi. “Who are you?”

Ravi licked his thick
lips nervously. “The name’s Bond. James Bond.”

UNIVERSAL BOOK LINK

 

Thanksgiving is family, food, and thankfulness. It’s when
you have this homing urge to join your people over a huge roasted turkey. When
you were ten you punched your cousin in the nose for some remark he made. When
you were eighteen, you were bored and wishing to be somewhere else, but mom
made you stay. When you were twenty-eight, you were setting up the children’s
table. And so it goes right down to Grandpa who at 90 announced he didn’t need
to watch his cholesterol any more and reached for the butter dish. (I loved it
when he did that.) 

Our turkey is carved in the kitchen, makes it easier for serving. But when
the grandchildren were young, they always expected that rooster to
make an appearance at Thanksgiving. It’s a tradition as such. They are grown-ups
now, but they still search the china cabinet for the collection of salt ‘n
pepper shakers, each person has his/her favorite set. Our dining room table is
custom made wide at the bottom to seat two people comfortably. As a result, I
have no matching pad. Straw oversized placemats do an admirable job of
protecting the wood surface from the heated dishes. I use a table cloth, but
still enjoy the colorful cloth placemats to echo the vibrant Fall colors. With
the addition of fruit cups, water glasses, and matching candles, the table
arrangement is complete, waiting only for the train of hot dishes and the
blessing before the feast is begun.

Turkey for everyone! White for the kids and dark meat for my
hubby and me. They have always been convenient preferences. We reserve baked
ham for Christmas dinner.  Lima beans
(butter beans) for my son, green bean casserole for my daughter. Each person
has a favorite. I love yellow squash while my hubby adores sweet potato
soufflé. My daughter makes all the pies, usually pumpkin and apple. The grands
like the fruit cups that are sometimes surrounded by red Jell-O and sometimes
by whipped cream. Dressing??  We make a
raison (Crasins substitute) and walnut type topped by a couple of baked chicken
parts. The recipe changes almost every time. There is a fresh veggie plate with
tomatoes, celery, carrots, and sliced zucchini for nibbling. Other dishes may
be added each year. 

 Once I had an idea to
bake a mid-sized (huge) Hubbard squash and stuff it with a mixture of squash,
onion with a touch of maple syrup topped with scrambled southern style sausage.
It was so tasty, but a bear to get to the table. I dropped it from the menu.
What memories does your family love each Thanksgiving get together? 

Happy Thankful Day to you and yours from my home to yours.

Emma

How about a glimpse into my 

new Cozy Mystery, MURDER AT THE LOOKOUT while you digest your feast? 

When is it not fun to be a blond? 

What happens
when a blond beauty hits town like a tornado stirring up memories and causing
turmoil? Detective Kevin Fowler and his wife, the former Beverly Hampton, owner
of the local newspaper, are settling into blissful married life. Although
Beverly is sanguine over the demand on Kevin’s time by the good people of
Hubbard, she is more than dubious when his duties include the escort of a
drop-dead gorgeous female from his past.

There is some concern over the persistent
vandalism of residential mailboxes, but an infamous arsonist has decided
peaceful but dull Hubbard would make a great place from which to operate. He
brazenly locates down the block from the detective and his wife.

What bait and tackle shop in the village has a
dual purpose? Kevin ponders why two goons have invaded town shooting at and
attempting to kidnap and murder three women. A state patrolman, aptly nick
named Rooster, teases Fowler at the riotous scene of a traffic accident where
the press, not the police, wins the day.

Another mystery and adventure with a satisfying
ending unfolds in peaceful Hubbard, New York, small-town Americana, where
Detective Kevin Fowler keeps an ever-vigilant watch.

Amazon Buy Link

Emma Lane is a gifted author who writes cozy mysteries as Janis Lane, Regency as Emma, and spice as Sunny Lane. 

She lives in Western New York where winter is snowy, spring arrives with rave reviews, summer days are long and velvet, and fall leaves are riotous in color. At long last she enjoys the perfect bow window for her desk where she is treated to a year-round panoramic view of nature. Her computer opens up a fourth fascinating window to the world. Her patient husband is always available to help with a plot twist and encourage Emma to never quit. Her day job is working with flowers at Herbtique and Plant Nursery, the nursery she and her son own. 

Look for information about writing and plants on Emma’s new website. Leave a comment or a gardening question and put a smile on Emma’s face.

Stay connected to Emma on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to check out the things that make Emma smile on Pinterest.

Most people think of Halloween as a holiday for trick or treating, dressing up in costumes, a time for ghouls, ghosts and monsters to roam, a celebration of the harvest, or an excuse to have a really scary party.

In reality, Halloween has its roots in four religious holidays, three that deal with death:

• The celebration of the Celtic Druidic holiday Samhain

• The celebration of the pre-Christian Roman goddess Pomona

• The Roman festival of Feralai

• And Christianity’s All Hallow’s Eve, also called All Saints’ Eve

Samhain, celebrated on October 31st, marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter for the Celts. Druid priests performed ceremonies in honor of their sun god Baal, whom they thanked for the harvest and asked for support to battle the coming winter. They also believed that the veil between the world of the living and the dead was opened during the celebration of Samhain, and the souls of the dead roamed the earth. The ghosts were believed to play tricks on the living and cause supernatural events to happen, the origins of today’s belief that ghosts and ghouls roam freely on Halloween evening.

The Roman celebrations honoring the goddess Pomora and the festival of Feriala were also held in late October. Pomora was the goddess of fruits and trees. The use of these fruits for fortune telling stems back to her celebration. The feast of Feriala honored the dead, much like the Celts’ Samhain festival.

The Christian festival of All Hallow’s Eve is a celebration honoring the dead saints and martyrs of the church.

When the Romans conquered the Celts their autumn festivals and the Celts autumn festivals were combined until the Romans decided too many of their Roman citizens were adopting the Celtic religion. Rome’s answer to this problem was to ban the Druidic religion and kill its priests. However, the Romans could not wipe out the old Celtic beliefs and many people continued to keep the traditions alive.

When the Christians came into power they, too, wanted to do away with the very popular, old pagan rites. So, the church moved their feast of the saints (which was held in May) to November 1st , and later to October 31st, in an attempt to absorb the ingrained Samhain traditions and rites into a Christian holiday. By doing so they hoped to hold onto their new followers by allowing them to celebrate a festival on a date they had long held sacred. Once they had established the new Christian festival the church tried to discourage the old practices in favor of more Christian ones, but, like the Romans, they were not successful.

Using Christian holidays to absorb pagan ones was a tactic the church used often. Elements of pagan celebrations can be found in Valentine’s Day, Easter and Christmas celebrations. Over the years, most of the pagan holiday traditions in these celebrations were christianized. Not so with Halloween. Both the Roman Catholic Church and the Puritan founding fathers of America, who banned the celebration in the New World, could not christianize this pagan holiday.

It’s no wonder that Christianity hasn’t been able to overcome the pagan elements of Halloween. Celebrating all that death seems to be a perfect transition into one scary holiday. Ghosts, ghouls, and all things magical keep Halloween’s roots firmly planted in the otherworld that many people are drawn to…and you have to admit, they are perfect elements for stirring up for a wild paranormal tale.

While not normally thought of as a romantic holiday, Halloween has its share of divination traditions for finding true love. Since this is a website of romance authors, we would be remiss not to include some of this holiday’s romantic folklore in this article.

• Insert a plain ring, a coin, and other charms in a fruitcake, known as a barmbrack (báirín breac), before baking. The one who gets the ring in their slice of cake will find true love in the following year.

• You can divine your future spouse by peeling an apple in one long strip. Toss the peel over your shoulder. The peel will land in the shape of the first letter of your future spouse’s name.

• Unmarried women should sit in a darkened room and gaze into a mirror on Halloween night and the face of their future husband will appear in the mirror. But beware. If you are destined to die before marriage a skull will appear instead of the face of your intended.

• Name nutshells after prospective love interests and place them near a fire. If they burn steady it indicates true love. If they crack or pop or fly off the hearth your prospective love interests are only a passing fancy. Another version of this divination involved throwing two hazelnuts, named for two different suitors, into the fire. The nut that burns steadily is the suitor who will be true. The nut that bursts will be the one who will be unfaithful.

• Bobbing for apples is a traditional game used for fortune-telling on Halloween. (Bet you didn’t know that when you had your head in the barrel with some boy, or girl.) The first person to pluck an apple from the water without using their hands will be the first to marry. If a bobber catches an apple on the first try it means he or she will experience true love. If it takes many tries they will be fickle in their romantic endeavors.

• Water was often used for divination. To determine someone’s romantic fate, fill four bowls with water. Place soap in one, pebbles in another, clear water in the third, and leave the fourth bowl empty. Ask blindfolded guests to stick a hand in one of the bowls. If they choose the bowl with the clear water they will have a happy marriage. Soapy water foretells widowhood, the pebbles predict a life of hard work, and the empty bowl represents a single, happy life.

• Another popular, and dangerous, activity practiced when young women wore long dresses, was jumping over lit candles. If a woman made it over all the lit candles without extinguishing them she would be married before the year passed. Every candle her long skirt blew out meant another year without a husband.

Do you have a romantic divination you’ve practiced on Halloween or another time? Share with us in the comments.

C.D. Hersh–Two hearts creating everlasting love stories.

Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to co-authors C.D. Hersh. They’ve written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s. As high school sweethearts and husband and wife, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after.

They are looking forward to many years of co-authoring and book sales, and a lifetime of happily-ever-after endings on the page and in real life.

Social Media Info:

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to protect your heart health or reverse fatty liver disease—but not sure what
to cook?

Enjoy delicious, wholesome meals that truly support your
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Universal link to the book on Amazon and in multiple
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*The Amazon links given here are affiliate
links. That means that if you purchase anything from Amazon after clicking on
them, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.