Trapped!

I cannot think of a better way to be trapped than this.

Trapped!

Once more she inserted her foot in mouth and now she is trapped. Trapped against a wall with tall, dark, and too damn handsome pressed against her, his mouth mere inches from hers.

She closed her eyes and cringed. What had she been thinking? Oh! That’s right! She hadn’t been thinking. She just blurted!

When a man you despise asks you if you want him, the correct answer is “No” she berated herself. “No, I don’t want you, you arrogant son of a …..” Or “No, I like my men humble and subservient.” She had to stifle the bubble of laughter that threatened to escape. That probably would have sent him scurrying on his way.

Instead, when her back was against the wall, quite literally, and she saw the heat in his intense blue eyes, and the seductive grin at the corner of his lips, she said, “Yes.” Yes!

It wasn’t as if she lifted her chin and told him flat out, “Yes, I’d like to do you right here, right now, against this wall.” No, she of course, flushed a hot shade of red and answered in a meek voice, “Yes.” Her. Meek. What was this world coming to?

Now here she was. . .Trapped! Pinned between this gorgeous hunk of a man’s arms, her back against the wall and no escape in sight. From her nemesis.

She hated this man. Hated his know-it-all, I’m better than everyone, every woman wants me attitude.

His warm breath brushed against her throat. A shudder of desire feathered up her spine and her already weak knees trembled.

Oh, geez! His mouth was only a breath away from hers. All she had to do was pucker up and their lips would connect. As her eyes connected with his, her heart beat a rhythm she had never experienced. It fought for escape, but like her it was fenced in.

Blood rushed through her veins in anticipation of the kiss. OH-MY-GOSH! She wanted that kiss. Realization struck her like a two-by-four to the head.

A slow grin slid across her lips and her chin lifted a tad higher. She wanted this man. She meant to have him. Now.

The things women talk about…

The things women talk about…

Haven’t you men always wanted to know what women talk about when they get together? Well, I am about to enlighten you. . .somewhat, partially, a little.

Be warned! This could be dangerous information I am about to expose. If you have sensitive ears or feelings you may not want to read further.

Yesterday, a couple of lady friends and I were chatting. Yes, we chat. We were talking and somehow we got on the subject of “Life Tools for Women.” Don’t ask how we got there but we did. Of course, that got me thinking (very bad) and inspired to write this blog post.

I know, you’re asking yourself, “What the heck are the Life Tools for Women?”

For those of you in the know, you are already laughing. For those of you not in the know, you are about to get a lesson.

Life Tools for Women consists of four things every woman needs for a happy night or a happy life. Yeah, it’s true. We only need four things. Isn’t that amazing? And men think we're high-maintenance. Ha!

Now you want to know what those four things are? Hm, well, be prepared.


#1. Number one is a bottle of wine. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a bottle of white, red, or zinfandel. It could be a wickedly expensive bottle of champagne (my fave!) or a cheap bottle of Muscatel. Wine is wine.

Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.
~ Benjamin Franklin

Reality is an illusion that occurs due to a lack of wine. ~ Anonymous

Good wine is a necessity of life for me. ~ Thomas Jefferson


#2. The second item on the women’s list of Life Tools is good chocolate. Notice that unlike the wine, the chocolate must be good. This is where our taste buds, match our taste in men. Not any chocolate or man will do.

Anything is good if it's made of chocolate. ~ Jo Brand

Chocolate is nature’s way of making up for Mondays. ~ Anonymous

Don't wreck a sublime chocolate experience by feeling guilty. Chocolate isn't like premarital sex. It will not make you pregnant. And it always feels good. ~ Lora Brody

It's not that chocolates are a substitute for love. Love is a substitute for chocolate. Chocolate is, let's face it, far more reliable than a man. ~ Miranda Ingram


#3. The third tool is a romance novel. Yup, you read that correctly. A romance novel. With a bottle of wine and good chocolate the mood is all set for a relaxing evening. Let the fantasy begin! Not just any fantasy. Again, this is boy meets girl, they have hot, steamy sex, boy and girl have conflict, but even in conflict they have sex. When all is said and done, conflict is resolved, they have sex and they live happily ever after.

Okay, that’s my fantasy.

According to one survey, the number one reason women read romance novels is the hero. We get to fall a little bit in love with the hero every time we open a book to read.

In that same survey, the number four reason we read romance novels is the Happily Ever After. We love a great ending and knowing that no matter how many troubles and problems to mount up eventually they are solved and go away. Ahhh.

Maybe if men read more romance novels they would understand women better. BONUS!


#4. Here is where we reach the risqué portion of our tools. Please, if by now you have not figured out where I am going with this then close your eyes, imagine yourself being a woman. Now, you’re sitting in front of a fireplace with your wine, box of chocolates, a steamy, sexy, romance novel, and a. . .TOOL.

Here you have the four Life Tools for Women. Go and enjoy!

Writing Prompt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and you know what that means...Writing Prompt!!

Every now and again we all need a little creativity boost. It doesn't matter that you aren't a writer. We all need that extra incentive now and again and a writing prompt is a good way to get your mind to open up and have some fun.

How does this work?

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can write one sentence, a paragraph, or even a page if you like. Just let your mind go and write whatever comes into it. You'd be amazed at the results.

Today's writing prompt - Trapped!. . .

Now all you have to do is write. Finish the sentence and if you feel like sharing we would love to see what you come up with. It's amazing to see how we all go in different directions.

Most of all Have fun!

Should your hero be flawed?

Is your hero a man? Then duh! He is flawed.

It is fun to fantasize about ‘Mr. Perfect’, but when reality meets fantasy let’s face it, perfection is a pain in the butt.

As women we come pretty dang close to perfect so we should know. To compete against Mr. Perfect would truly put a crimp in our lives.

So yes, your hero should be flawed.

How is he flawed? Does he have a scar on his cheek or his chest?

No, that’s not a flaw. That just adds interest or character to your otherwise rugged and/or good looking physique.

Is your hero flawed because he drives a non-descript beige sedan instead of a Mercedes convertible, a bright red sports car, or ride up on his black stallion he raised from a colt?

This is not a flaw. It just means your hero has terrible taste in transportation.

What is a flaw?

A character flaw is a limitation, imperfection, perhaps a phobia, or some kind of deficiency in your fictional (and real) character’s personality. A flaw may be a fear of commitment, a jealous temper, arrogance, or a gambling addiction.

Why is a flaw good?

Well, as I stated above who wants to compete with Mr. Perfect. Other than that, the reason for a flaw is that a flaw adds depth to your character, makes the character seem more human and someone the readers can relate to.

Let’s revisit our hero with the scar on his face or chest. Perhaps he is ex-military and while overseas he got into a fight with a man who was physically abusing a woman and saved her from a fate worse than death. The scar is a badge of honor so to speak. But, underneath that badge he is a man who cares for all women and whenever he sees a woman in distress he is compelled to go to her aid.

Now this is not necessarily a bad thing…except he forgets that women can also take care of themselves and has a tendency to step in where he is not wanted. Not a good thing when the heroine is an independent woman who has taken self-defense and can verbally out maneuver any man within fifty feet of her.

At some point this hero has to learn self-discipline and let loose of his over-protective attitude. He’ll have to wait to be asked for his help.

This could prove to be a long and interesting journey for our hero and heroine.

Chocolate Lover's Cookie

If you read romance, if you write romance, heck if you just plain like romance then this cookie recipe is for you.

Guys, the next time you wat to demonstrate to your woman your kitchen prowess then try surprising her with one of these delicious cookies.



Chocolate Lover's Cookie Recipe

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.


Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter (unsalted butter)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 granulated white sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

10 oz. package NESTLE Dark Chocolate Morsels (I used the chunks) - divide (2/3 Cup and 1 Cup)


Directions:

MELT 2/3 cup dark chocolate morsels in microwave-safe bowl on MEDIUM-HIGH power for 30 seconds; STIR.
Microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until all morsels are melted. Set aside.

SIFT flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt into medium bowl.

BEAT butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add melted chocolate and mix well. Add egg and vanilla extract, mixing until well blended.

ADD flour mixture, mixing just until blended.

STIR in remaining 1 cup morsels.


Ready to bake:

DROP tablespoon dough 3 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets. (I use an ice cream scoop to get an even and round cookie.)

BAKE for 16 to 18 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs and the tops have a cracked appearance. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Ready to eat:

These cookies are like chocolate heaven. Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!

For a special dessert, place one cookie on a plate, add a large scoop of ice cream on top then cover the ice cream with another chocolate cookie. Add to that a sprinkling of chocolate sauce (just like the chef's do). Voila! You have Chocolate Lover's Decadence and a romantic dessert made by your own hands.

Little things like this make me glad I'm a writer

It is always nice to hear from a reader, get their feedback on a book that they've read. It's especially nice when you receive a quick email from a new reader.

Check out what I found in my email yesterday.

I recently won some of your books in a contest. I finally read all of them and really liked the books.

I especially liked the story in Killer Bunny Hill. I like the way you wrirte and how the characters relate to each other. Thanks for sharing them with me.

A new fan,
Joy

Thank you, Joy and all the other readers out there who take the time to write your author. It is always a pleasant surprise and very much appreciated.

Writing Prompt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and you know what that means...Writing Prompt!!

Every now and again we all need a little creativity boost. It doesn't matter that you aren't a writer. We all need that extra incentive now and again and a writing prompt is a good way to get your mind to open up and have some fun.

How does this work?

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can write one sentence, a paragraph, or even a page if you like. Just let your mind go and write whatever comes into it. You'd be amazed at the results.

Today's writing prompt - She tore down the alley. . .

Now all you have to do is write. Finish the sentence and if you feel like sharing we would love to see what you come up with. It's amazing to see how we all go in different directions.

Most of all Have fun!

Writing Prompt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and you know what that means...Writing Prompt!!

Every now and again we all need a little creativity boost. It doesn't matter that you aren't a writer. We all need that extra incentive now and again and a writing prompt is a good way to get your mind to open up and have some fun.

How does this work?

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can write one sentence, a paragraph, or even a page if you like. Just let your mind go and write whatever comes into it. You'd be amazed at the results.

Today's writing prompt - The building shook. . .

Now all you have to do is write. Finish the sentence and if you feel like sharing we would love to see what you come up with. It's amazing to see how we all go in different directions.

Most of all Have fun!

While Mondays are for work, Sundays are for...

lazing about and grilling out.

I spent Sunday afternoon lazing about on my hammock in the backyard and smoking my first pork babyback ribs.

I told you I would share my homemade BBQ sauce with you so here you go.


The Sauce:
1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup cider vinegar (vinegar is the best part of the recipe and key to a good bbq sauce)
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
1-1/2 tablespoons yellow mustard (I actually used dry yellow mustard and the kind you put on a hot dog)
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon chili powder (use Mexican chili powder if you want more heat to your sauce)
Tabasco sauce to taste (I use habanero Tabasco sauce)

To make the sauce:
In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, warm the vegetable oil. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the remaining sauce ingredients, including Tabasco sauce to taste, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes. Set aside. Pour some of the sauce in a small bowl to use for basting the ribs. (I don't actually baste. I leave sauce ro everyone's taste.)

The Ribs:
2 to 3 slabs baby back pork ribs

I went ahead and soaked the ribs the night before in a brine, the same brine I used on pulled pork. You don't have to do this but what the heck.

Make sure to remove the membrane from the back of the baby back ribs. It's totally disgusting but definitely the right thing to do. Then use the rub from the recipe I shared last week. Click here for rub recipe.


Cook the ribs for at least 4 hours at 200 to 220 degrees. The longer you cook the more tender and the more smokey flavor you get.

I like my rub the same way I like my men. . .

Hot and Spicy!

The 4th of July holiday weekend I decided to try my hand at smoking meat. Pork butt to be specific, AKA pulled pork.

Let me start at the beginning. First, I had to get a smoker. I did.
Then I had to put it together. That took two days! Note to self: Don't try following directions and pictures after drinking a margarita or three. (Click here Perfect Margarita Recipe.

Sunday morning I managed to take the smoker apart and put it back together again so by late Sunday morning I was ready to cook some meat.

First step in smoking pulled pork is soaking the meat in a brine.

Brine Recipe:

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sea salt
4 cups water

Soak meat in brine for 4 hours upto overnight.

Then you have to rub the meat. Now be careful here. If you rub the meat right, uh, wrong, this could cause excitements and giggles. Oh! And it will definitely be messy.

Pork Rub Recipe:

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup paprika (half regular paprika/half smoked paprika)
3 tablespoons sea salt
2 tablespoons black pepper
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 tablespoons Mexican chili powder
1 teaspoon white pepper

Once you have throuroughly rubbed your meat, you then are ready to smoke it.

To smoke the meat you heat up the grill to 220 to 230 degrees. The charcoal (which is the only thing I use...no gas for this girl) is heated up to the side of where the meat will be placed to cook. This is indirect heat. No flames are allowed to kiss this butt.

Depending on the size or weight of you meat you will be slow cooking AKA smoking the pork for at least 4 to six hours. The key to making this fun is to invite a few friends over to keep you company. That and bring out the beer.

About the time you finish one beer you will want to go back and check the heat, more than likely add some more charcoal to the fire. Sometimes my heat got a little too hot, well, duh, we are talking about me. Of course the meat got overheated.

Not to worry, just walk away slowly, no swish in your hips, have another beer and the next time you visit the meat its temperature will be back down to warm and not smokin' hot.

The pork is ready when it's meat thermometer says 160 degrees or when you can pull the meat apart with your bare fingers or a fork, whichever you prefer.


When the meat is done, Pull it apart and chop it up and serve it with homemade BBQ sauce and coleslaw. Something I had to teach a few friends this weekend. You cannot have southern style pulled pork without having coleslaw. It's a MUST!

Stay tuned and I will share the BBQ sauce recipe on Saturday.

This weekend I will be trying my hand at pork ribs. Going to use the same rub and sauce, so I'm all set except for cooking the meat and making some fresh coleslaw.

She watched his. . .

Yesterday was Writing Prompt Wednesday. I could have gone so many ways with this prompt and this is certainly the cleaner of all versions that popped into my creative little head.

How did you do?

Here is my clean yet creative shot at yesterday's writing prompt.

Writing prompt: She watched his. . .


She watched his lips slide into a sly grin as he tilted his head closer, within an inch of her own lips. Then his mouth parted ever so slightly and she felt his warm, sweet breath breeze across her lips.

The tug to lean into him, close here eyes and let her self be taken by this man was so strong that for a moment she felt as if a tidal wave engulfed her and she would soon sink in. At the last minute, she shook herself back to reality. She shoved at his chest and stepped out of his reach.

In slow motion, she watched his arms windmill, his feet give way, and then. . .SPLASH!

Writing Prompt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and you know what that means...Writing Prompt!!

Every now and again we all need a little creativity boost. It doesn't matter that you aren't a writer. We all need that extra incentive now and again and a writing prompt is a good way to get your mind to open up and have some fun.

How does this work?

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can write one sentence, a paragraph, or even a page if you like. Just let your mind go and write whatever comes into it. You'd be amazed at the results.

Today's writing prompt - She watched his. . .

Now all you have to do is write. Finish the sentence and if you feel like sharing we would love to see what you come up with. It's amazing to see how we all go in different directions.

Most of all Have fun!

Brief 4th of July poem

Wearing my red, white, and blue
Thinking of you,
On this sunny 4th of July afternoon.

Happy 4th of July!

A recipe for the Firework Weekend

For this 4th of July holiday weekend, I thought I would share with you my favorite drink recipe that will add a few more sparks to all those fireworks.

This recipe is for "The Perfect Margarita". It's the smae recipe that had me winning the margarita contest last year at this time.

Hope you enjoy!


The Perfect Margarita

2 oz. Gold Tequila (I use Patron Gold)

1/2 oz. Cointreau (I use Patron Citronage - Orange Liquor)

1/2 oz Grand Marnier

1/2 oz Orange Juice (no pulp) and this is the secret to the “perfect” recipe

1 oz. Rose’s Sweetened Lime Juice

4 oz. Lemate’s Sweet & Sour Mix

Put in pitcher and add some ice. This will only fill pitcher about 1/4 of the way so quadruple this recipe if you want enough to have some friends drinking with you. [GRIN]

Happy fourth of July!

Sometimes you just have to grab the bull by the horns

What is it with men?

It’s okay for them to always want to “fix” it when all we want is for them to listen. But when the tables are turned they don’t want to hear us tell them what to do.

So what? I am just supposed to let a friend tell me his woes and frustrations and then nod my head. Let him give every excuse not to chase his dream even if the excuses are the investors’ excuses. If you want it, don’t let some jackass holding the purse strings stand in the way. Man up and go find another investor with a wad of cash!

Oh! And then when I throw all these ideas at him that he could do or show the investors that what he said made sense, what do I get in return? I get the “Investors aren’t emotional” crap.

I just have to say this because at this point I did want to get emotional and scream. Just because women are usually more passionate than men does NOT make us more emotional. Only a jackass of a man will say such an idiotic statement when he is losing the argument.

I wanted to say to him, “Look, pull your head out and screw it back on. You can sell yourself to anyone even someone who has no money and they will give you their last dollar.” He is that good.

I also wanted to tell him, “At least you have a business idea to invest in. Something tangible that an investor would want to spend money on. I don’t have that. My dream is not a tangible thing that I can say, ‘Please, Mr. Investor, can you give me some money while I write this book or these twenty books or as many books as I can until I die. Please, Mr. Investor, I want to quit my day job so I can pursue my passion of writing.’”

But I didn’t say that, because hello, I was focusing on him.

Now that I have ranted and gotten this out of my system let me tell you men and women. If you want something, then “man up” and go for it. Stop coming up with excuses or listening to someone else’s excuses and chase that dang dream all the way to the end goal.

Take the bull by the horns and make that dream a reality. Listen to the family and friends who push you and ignore the others who would hold you back. Cuz why are they holding you back? Not for your sake but for their own. If people volunteer help, don’t be a man and try to do it on your own, take the help because it might just get you to that end goal that much sooner.

In this life, we make it what we will. If you settle for something less then you get what you deserve. If you strive for something more, then guess what, you WILL get more.