Paranormal Romance – Siobhan Muir

Recipe for Romance: Skull Cheese Ball

Posted on April 26, 2025April 26, 2025 by Siobhan Muir

Recipe for Romance Two champagne glasses against a purple sparkly background with bells and ribbons at their base

Welcome to Recipe for Romance! Let’s get started. I’m sharing a snippet of THE DREADSTONE KING, and fantasy romance. Allira is supposed to be the lucky Thirteenth Warrior, but she refuses to go into the Dreadstone Tombs. So she remains outside, minding the horses. Then she meets another knight, a little older, but no less a fighter. Available Now: The Dreadstone King Allira shook her head and rolled her eyes, but as she did, she caught something out of the corner of her eye and whipped her head around. A man stood in the shadows of the gate, observing her. He had dark brown hair that hung around his face in shoulder-length waves and a matching beard. He wore leather armor stained a deep oxblood red over chainmail and a black and gold doublet belted to his waist with a long dagger at his side. He appeared to be waiting for her to notice him as he leaned back against the gate, his arms in leather bracers crossed over his chest. Allira scrambled to her feet but kept her hands off her weapons. He hadn’t made any aggressive moves, but she didn’t want to be on her ass when he chose to move. For a moment, neither of them said anything, and she wondered who he was. He wasn’t one of this year’s crop of knights, but he didn’t look worn and grizzled like anyone from previous years. He looked young, fit, capable, and seasoned without being old. “Good morning. Can I help you?” That seemed like as good an opener as any, though she wasn’t sure how she could help someone who looked at home near the Tombs. He laughed, though it never reached his pale green eyes. “I believe that’s my question.” She blinked. “Do I look like I need help?” He shrugged. “Maybe not, but usually all the warriors who come to this place are looking for something.” “Oh.” She scowled and nodded. “Yeah, that’s not really my thing. I’m just watching the horses.” He raised his eyebrows in disbelief. “You’re just here to watch the horses?” She nodded. “Yup.” “Have you no interest in the treasure of the Tombs?” She shook her head. “Nope.” Skull Cheese Ball https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHeJltPi0HM Want a fun recipe that’s gluten-free and adorable for your parties and celebrations? This cheese ball is great as an appetizer and fun to look at. We used it for Halloween, but you can make it in any shape (star, bell, crescent moon, heart) for your current celebration. INGREDIENTS 2 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese 2 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese (we used Dubliner) 2-3 green onions, finely chopped 2 tsp hot sauce or 1 tsp Northwoods Seasoning 1 tsp garlic powder2 garlic stuffed green olives 8 slivered or sliced almonds or 12 pine nuts 1 black olive cut into 2 triangles DIRECTIONS In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and cheddar cheese. Make sure to combine them completely so it’s easier to add in the other ingredients. Add green onions, Northwoods seasoning, and garlic powder. Mix completely, using a spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Press mixture into a ball and refrigerate until ready to decorate and serve. We did it for 30 minutes. Once chilled, shape your ball into your preferred shape (skull, star, bell, crescent moon, heart). Because we made a skull, cut your black olive into two triangular pieces and place where the nose should go. Slice the garlic stuffed green olives in half and trim to show round green eyes. For the mouth, place four almost slices or six pine nuts for the top row of teeth, and four more almond or six more pine nuts for the bottom row of teeth. Serve with gluten-free crackers, celery, carrots, sweet bell peppers.

Recipe for Romance: Rosemary Focaccia Bread

Posted on April 19, 2025April 18, 2025 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome to Recipe for Romance! Happy Easter to those who celebrate. There’s a great and easy recipe at the end that is a delicious treat for celebrations. Today, I’m sharing a snippet of THE DREADSTONE KING, a fantasy romance out now. Allira Maplestaff is the 13th Warrior of the Festival of the Relic, but she only agreed to go on this expedition as a glorified stablehand. She’s minding the horses while the other knights go into the Dreadstone Tombs and wreak havoc – but the Tombs are not unguarded. Available Now: The Dreadstone King It took twenty minutes to grab all the horses and calm them down after Allira ascertained there wasn’t a threat. To be honest, her own heart had shot out of her chest when the howl ripped through the forest, and it had taken her several seconds to figure out what had happened. Then she swore and rushed to try to untangle the horses as their tack had slipped off their backs and made a mess. She’d finally calmed them all and got them tacked up just as the men ran out of the entrance to the Tombs. Though she had never been there before, she could tell it was a freaky place that probably should be left alone. Only three of the four men who’d gone in came bolting for the horses. Their faces were whiter than a burial shroud, and none of them were joking anymore. “What happened? Where’s Danville?” Allira released the tether rope holding the horses’ leads. She caught her mount and Danville’s, but no one answered her as they kicked their mounts into a gallop. Allira paused, holding the horses still as she turned back to the Tombs, scanning for the last knight to come out. His horse tugged at the reins, trying to follow the others, but she forced it to wait. Come on, Danville. Where are you? But after ten minutes, he still hadn’t appeared, and she realized he wouldn’t be coming. The Tombs had claimed its first hero of the year. A combination of anger and disgust settled into her belly as she swung up into the saddle and turned from the Tombs, tugging Danville’s horse behind her. What a stupid, fucking waste. The only thing the Tombs brought was death and despair for families. Gluten-Free Rosemary Focaccia Bread https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5O_u3wfC2k For many meals, most folks want a good bread to go with it, but some breads take forever to make. Focaccia is a quick and easy bread that allows for all sorts of flavors. We’re making Rosemary Focaccia, but you could choose garlic, onion, tomato, olives, or any combo of flavors. INGREDIENTS3 cups gluten free 1:1 baking flour 2 tsp salt 1 Tbsp sugar 1 pkg or 2 1/2 tsp instant active yeast 1 1/2 cups warm water 2 Tbsp oil in dough 1 Tbsp oil on bread2 Tbsp dried Rosemary or 1 sprig fresh Rosemary 2 Tbsp grated hard cheese (Parmesan, Asiago, Romano, Manchego) DIRECTIONS Add flour, salt, sugar, and yeast to a large bowl, and whisk it together. Add water, and 2 Tbsp oil, mixing until the dough is pliable. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for a short time until smooth. With gluten free dough, it’s dry enough you don’t have to work it hard or with much extra flour. Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 45 minutes. Because it’s gluten free, it won’t rise much. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and gently press risen dough out until it’s 1/2 inch (13 mm) thickness. Brush 1 Tbsp of oil over the top of the dough. Using a fork, make dimples in the dough all over. Sprinkle the cheese and Rosemary all across the top. Let rise for another 20 minutes. Preheat your oven to 375 F (191 C). Bake for 25 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes and serve.

Recipe for Romance: Carrot Cake

Posted on April 5, 2025April 7, 2025 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome to Recipe for Romance! Each weekend, I share a snippet of a tale and a recipe that either goes with the tale or goes with the month. Let’s get started. I’m sharing a snippet of my upcoming new release, going back to my roots. Did you know I started out as a fantasy author? So, THE DREADSTONE KING is a fantasy ghost story, and a Beauty & the Beast retelling. It comes out April 14 2025. Meet Sir Allira Maplestaff, and she doesn’t want to be at the Dreadstone Tombs. Coming April 14 2023: The Dreadstone King She glanced at the others, taking a breath to tell them it wasn’t a good idea. But after the last two weeks of traveling with the group of alternately belligerent and misogynistic knights who’d been chosen for this year’s Festival of the Relic, she’d learned her voice meant little. They were each bound and determined to be the one guy who finally found the treasure and claimed the Relic. Which would be much easier if they even knew what they were looking for. Nobody did. In fact, in the last three decades of the Festival’s run, no one had ever even glimpsed the storied Dreadstone King’s Relic, the magical artifact that was supposed to grant the finder something fantastic. Unfortunately, no one knew what that was, either. Allira finished tying off the hitching line and checked that each horse was loosely tied to it as the men completed their gear check. She made her way between the horses, loosening girths and making sure nothing dangled off the tack should the men need a quick getaway. There was rumored to be something horrible in the Dreadstone Tombs, but no one had returned to tell anyone what it was. Yeah, there’s a whole lot we don’t know about this whole fiasco. And yet, year after year, men came to Capstone Creek, the nearest settlement to the Dreadstone Tombs at 300 kilometers, and signed up to be one of the lucky 13 Heroes. They were seduced by the legend of gold and riches, and were determined that this year they would find the Relic, and win the hand of the princess. Or one of them would, since there were thirteen of them in all. Including me. Except she wasn’t going into the Tombs. She had no interest in the treasure, the Relic, or the hand of the princess. Gluten-Free Carrot Cake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SkK3jSqREk Carrot Cake, a perennial favorite for a lot of people, isn’t my favorite, but I decided to give it a try. It turned out great and something I’d make for folks who love it anytime, while I snack on my zucchini bread, lol. But if you love carrot cake, this is a good recipe to follow. INGREDIENTS FOR CAKE3 cups gluten free 1:1 baking flour (we used Bob’s Red Mill)2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp cinnamon 1 cup oil 3/4 cup sugar 2 cups grated carrots 8 oz crushed pineapple with liquid 2 tsp vanilla 3 eggs 1/2 cup chopped nuts DIRECTIONS Preheat your oven to 350 F (177 C). In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix together oil and sugar until well combined. Add half the dry ingredients and mix well. Beat in the carrots, pineapple, and nuts. Add the vanilla and the rest of the dry ingredients until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time and beat each time until well blended. Spoon the batter into a greased 9×13 inch pan and spread out to all corners using a spatula. Bake for 35-40 minutes until brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely. INGREDIENTS FOR CREAM CHEESE FROSTING 8 oz of cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup of butter 1 tsp vanilla 1/4 tsp lemon juice 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar DIRECTIONS Melt the butter and blend in cream cheese, vanilla, and lemon juice. Mix until smooth. Add the sugar, 1/2 cup at a time until you reach the desired sweetness and consistency. Spread over the cooled cake and serve.

Recipe for Romance: Cheese Sticks

Posted on March 8, 2025March 7, 2025 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome to Recipe for Romance! Let’s get started. I’m sharing a snippet of my newest release, FOSSIL BEDS BED & BREAKFAST, a sapphic dino shifter romance. Maya owns the Fossil Beds Bed & Breakfast, and there’s a public meeting to determine if the community wants a huge resort to come in and take over their town. Short answer: no. But Maya has taught her kids to be activists already. Available now everywhere: Fossil Beds B&B Maya focused on Quinn’s face, her mammalian features full of irritation. “A public meeting about what?” Quinn frowned, her cute, freckled nose wrinkling. “It’s to see if the residents of Deadman want that tool Clifford Krassobaki to come in here and buy up all the land to make a gawd-awful resort for his ultra-wealthy, tax-evading buddies.” Maya blinked. “Wait…I know I haven’t been up on politics and local issues as much as you, but when did this come about?” She set her tea down on the arm of the chair and sat up as Quinn handed her the newspaper, a relict that Quinn still read even though she had an online subscription. “It’s a relatively recent development that started at last month’s city council meeting.” Quinn rolled her eyes. “That douche Mayor Blatherton, who’s friends with Krassobaki, proposed the expansion on Krassobaki’s already palatial ranch. They scheduled a public meeting on Thursday to see what the public has to say.” “Oh, I have a lot to say. That would put The Fossil Beds B&B out of business. And where are they gonna get all the people to work this monstrosity? The town holds maybe five hundred humans. Oh hell no.” Maya rolled to her feet as her daughter beamed. “I love it when you get a fire lit under your butt.” Quinn grinned as she followed Maya into the kitchen of their B&B. “It doesn’t happen often, but it’s awesome.” “You just say that because you’re the firebrand in this family.” Maya shook her head, but a smile curled her lips. “And it’s a damn good thing. Too many people got comfortable and let shit like this slide. But not me, not now. Where’s your brother?” Quinn shrugged. “He’s down at the Deadman Community Center teaching a class on internet scams and red flags.” Gluten-Free Cheese Sticks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykhmtCpEn5I Almost everyone I know loves cheese sticks. And who wouldn’t? They’re warm, hardy, cheesy, and fried. All the great things, lol! INGREDIENTS10+ eggsSalt (optional)1 lb of harder cheese (Mozzarella, Monterey Jack, Cheddar) cut into 1/2 inch (13 mm) wide and 3 inch (7.5 cm) long sticks1/3 cup Gluten Free flour1 can of Gluten Free breadcrumbs3 cups of oilWax PaperLarge PlateFork DIRECTIONSCrack eggs into a medium bowl and beat. In two smaller bowls, drop flour and 1/3 the can of breadcrumbs, respectively. Drop cheese sticks into eggs and let soak a moment or two. Using a fork, spear a cheese stick, transfer it to the flour, and roll, making sure the stick is covered in flour. Return the stick to the eggs to coat again. Once it’s coated with egg, roll the floured cheese stick in the breadcrumbs until coated. Drop it into the eggs again and then into the breadcrumbs to be sure it’s completely breaded (double breading). Set aside on the wax paper on a plate until time to fry them. Repeat the process for each cheese stick, adding flour or eggs or breadcrumbs to the bowls as needed. Pour oil into a deep pan and turn on high. Scrape the last of the flour and the breadcrumbs into the remaining egg mixture. Mix together until it becomes thick. If it’s still soupy, add a little more breadcrumbs until you can form bread balls. Add spices if you like. Scoop out some mixture with a spoon and roll between your hands until it forms a round ball. Do this for all the mixture. To test the heat of the oil, gently roll the bread balls into the pan. They take the longest to cool, so they are great for both testing the oil and cooking them longer. Allow the bread balls to fry in the oil until they’ve browned a little (gluten free breading doesn’t darken much until burned). Roll gently with tongs so they’re evenly cooked. Fry for about 4-6 minutes until the bread balls harden and crack a little. Remove from oil onto a paper-towel covered plate to drain. Add the cheese sticks to cook, 4 at a time. When you hear the oil crackle and spit, turn the heat down to med-high. Keep rolling the cheese sticks to brown on all sides. When you see a little bit of cheese leaking through the breading, the sticks are done. Remove from oil onto a paper-towel covered plate to let drain. Cover the oil and let it cool on the stove.

Recipe for Romance: Rhubarb Crunch

Posted on February 22, 2025February 20, 2025 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome to Recipe for Romance! I’m sharing a snippet of FOSSIL BEDS BED & BREAKFAST, my newest PNR Sapphic romance release. Don’t you need LGBTQIA+ dinosaur shifters? I know I do. 😉 Persia Walker takes protecting the sacred fossil sites along the river seriously, and she’s bringing friends. New Release: Fossil Beds Bed & Breakfast “Hey, Nozomi, it’s Persia. Do you have a moment to talk?” “Persia! Good to hear from you. Yes, I’m in my off hour. What’s going on?” “Have you seen the announcement of a public meeting here in Deadman over a resort expansion? I’ll send you a pic.” Persia put the call on speaker and opened the text app. “It’s scheduled for this Thursday at six thirty pm. Do you think you could make some time to gather a few of the grad students and come down to Deadman for the meeting?” There was a short silence as Nozomi absorbed the image. “Yeah, I could do that. Why do you need me there? This seems like a Deadman town issue.” “Did you see the map of the proposed expansion? It straddles the West Washakie River to mile marker seventy-seven on Highway 91.” “Mile marker seventy-seven?” Nozomi was silent a bit longer. “The expansion includes all three of our sites as well as one of the Anthropology department’s sites.” “Yup. And if they put that awful resort in there, all those sites will be destroyed for a rich man’s vanity and friends.” “Oh hell no. That’s not happening. I’ll gather who I can, especially Professor Campbell, and we’ll be there. Six-thirty on Thursday, you said?” “Yup. I’m going to let the folks at Friends of Deadman Paleo know as well. I figure if we get enough people there, the project will be dead in the water.” Nozomi sighed through the phone. “I hope so, but as you’ve said many times, people are very susceptible to money.” “Yeah, but they also like the preserve things and this expansion will hurt their livelihoods and shove them out of their homes. A spark is all it takes to get the community to stand up for their natural resources and way of living.” Gluten-Free Rhubarb Crunch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7seI1dAX9M&t=8s This is a Muir family favorite and now it’s Gluten-Free. Remember, this is a high sugar recipe because of how sour rhubarb is. Recipe below. Ingredients for the crust 1 cup uncooked oatmeal1 cup GF 1:1 baking flour 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup butter 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp each of nutmeg, cloves, cardamom Mix oatmeal, flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom. Cut in butter with a blender or knife until crumbly. Place half the mixture in an 8-inch square pan. Ingredients for the filling: 3 – 4 cups diced raw rhubarb 1/2 cup granulated sugar1 tsp cinnamon 1/8 tsp salt 1 Tbsp water Mix rhubarb with granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt, and water. Spoon over oatmeal mixture in pan. Pat remaining oatmeal mixture over the rhubarb. Bake at 350 F (177 C) for 45 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes (the rhubarb will be very hot) then serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

New Release! Sapphic Dino Shifter Romance

Posted on February 18, 2025February 16, 2025 by Siobhan Muir

It’s Release Day for FOSSIL BEDS BED & BREAKFAST, a sapphic dinosaur shifter romance. I had a great time writing this story, especially with the added bonus of flipping off some internet prudes. Last year, I was invited to be part of an LGBTQIA+ romance charity anthology because someone went on the internet and said there was no place for dino shifters in adult romance. Here’s an old pic of how we romance authors responded to that sentiment. The anthology is no longer available, BUT you can get my tale, FOSSIL BEDS BED & BREAKFAST today. It has been expanded a little and given a new cover, which was put together by the amazing Kris Norris. It’s a fun story and celebrates not only Sapphic love, but standing up to big money. Happy reading! Here’s the blurb: Maya Sorino loves her life in Deadman, Wyoming. She has two great kids, a successful bed & breakfast, and enough room to freely roam as her dino self. Everything is perfect. Until a rich developer comes to town, trying to undermine her business and seize the town’s open land. Not on her watch. Persia Walker has been guarding the fossil rich lands since she almost became one, but she won’t let a billionaire destroy sacred paleo sites for vanity. She organizes a group to take on the developer at the public meeting in hopes of preserving her territory. Then she sees Maya. Finding another dinosaur shifter in Deadman is a dream for both Maya and Persia, but the developer has something up his sleeve. What’s a better first date than going Mesozoic on a bunch of drunk vandals-for-hire? It’s a match made in Prehistory! This story was previously published in the Cretaceous Crushes LGBTQ+ Romance Charity Anthology. It has been expanded and given a new cover. SHORT EXCERPT OF FOSSIL BEDS BED & BREAFAST “You gotta be fucking kidding me!” Persia Walker stared at the online announcement of the public planning commission meeting. It wouldn’t be bad if it was in somewhere like wine country in California or near Aspen, Colorado. But no, the uber wealthy newspaper tycoon wanted to build it in Wyoming, at the foot of Deadman Mountain in Sublette County. The town had a population of five hundred, making it one of the larger settlements in the state, but still not populous enough to support the staff needs of a snooty rich people’s resort. It would drive up the property taxes and push out the locals, making it impossible for ordinary people to live there. As if they haven’t already done that to Jackson Hole. Persia scowled at the announcement, which included a map of the proposed location of the expansion. She traced the West Washakie River until she reached Little Blind Bear Creek and froze. The proposed site would cover not only both sides of the river, but it would encompass all of Blind Bear and Little Blind Bear creeks, decimating the fossil site she’d been guarding for millennia. “No. No fucking way.” She brought out her phone and took a photo, then headed down the sidewalk toward the little café that had the best peppermint tea this side of the Cretaceous. Once she had her tea, she headed out to the little sitting area in the front and claimed a bench that could take her full, but muted weight. She set her tea down beside her and pulled out her phone. She hadn’t spoken to Professor Nozomi Shimizu in a couple of months since the end of last year’s field season, but she’d kept the professor appraised of anything going on near the site. She dialed the university and waited to be connected. Persia sipped her tea and watched the community awaken around her. Fortunately, she had time to organize people to speak up for both the community and the fossils under her care. There was no way they could let this development go forward, despite what the mayor wanted. She was well aware that Mayor Blatherton was best buds with Krassobaki—everyone was. Blatherton had made it a point to show their connection—so the townspeople would be facing a huge advocate of Krassobaki’s development. But there are more of us than there are of them. The phoneline clicked over and started ringing. Persia waited until someone picked up. “Hello?” “Hey, Nozomi, it’s Persia. Do you have a moment to talk?” “Persia! Good to hear from you. Yes, I’m in my off hour. What’s going on?” “Have you seen the announcement of a public meeting here in Deadman over a resort expansion? I’ll send you a pic.” Persia put the call on speaker and opened the text app. “It’s scheduled for this Thursday at six thirty pm. Do you think you could make some time to gather a few of the grad students and come down to Deadman for the meeting?” There was a short silence as Nozomi absorbed the image. “Yeah, I could do that. Why do you need me there? This seems like a Deadman town issue.” “Did you see the map of the proposed expansion? It straddles the West Washakie River to mile marker seventy-seven on Highway 91.” “Mile marker seventy-seven?” Nozomi was silent a bit longer. “The expansion includes all three of our sites as well as one of the Anthropology department’s sites.” “Yup. And if they put that awful resort in there, all those sites will be destroyed for a rich man’s vanity and friends.” “Oh hell no. That’s not happening. I’ll gather who I can, especially Professor Campbell, and we’ll be there. Six-thirty on Thursday, you said?” Grab a Copy

Cover Reveal – FOSSIL BEDS BED & BREAKFAST

Posted on January 15, 2025January 15, 2025 by Siobhan Muir

It’s time for a cover reveal of my upcoming book. This is technically a re-release because the books was published in early 2024 in an anthology. The anthology was called CRETACEOUS CRUSHES: A [GATECRASHING] CHARITY LGBTQIA ROMANCE ANTHOLOGY, and mine was the only Sapphic (F/F) romance tale in it. Helped to get us on the Amazon Lesbian list, though, so yeah. 😀 But now I have the rights back and I’ve extended the tale, so while you won’t get a whole new tale, there has been a bit added to it to make it more robust. 😉 blurb Maya Sorvino loves her life in Deadman, Wyoming. She has two great kids, a successful bed & breakfast, and enough room to freely roam as her dino self. Everything is perfect. Until a rich developer comes to town, trying to undermine her business and seize the town’s open land. Not on her watch. Persia Walker has been guarding the fossil-rich lands since she almost became one, but she won’t let a billionaire destroy sacred paleo sites for vanity. She organizes a group to take on the developer at the public meeting in hopes of preserving her territory. Then she sees Maya. Finding another dinosaur shifter in Deadman is a dream for both Maya and Persia, but the developer has something up his sleeve. What’s a better first date than going Mesozoic on a bunch of drunk vandals-for-hire? It’s a match made in Prehistory! This story was previous published in the Cretaceous Crushes LGBTQ+ Charity Anthology. It has been expanded and given a new cover. Purchase Links excerpt The warm evening air curled around Maya’s body and she tipped her head back to take a deep breath. A subtle scent tickled her nose. It smelled of sun-warmed stone, fresh water, and waterlilies. Maya dropped her chin and focused on the people around her as a pleasant and soothing vibration hit her breastbone. Someone important is here. She’d felt that kind of vibration before, when she found her kids. They’d been on the streets, but their innate kindness and strength had called to her and before she knew it, she was a mom. The same sort of vibration radiated from the people in front of the Deadman City Hall. She stood up on her tiptoes, as the humans liked to call it, looking for the source of the beguiling vibration, but there were too many people in the way. Quinn and Bailey pushed their way through the crowd toward her and she snorted. It must have been them she sensed. She grinned and opened her arms as her kids closed on her. While most people gave them amused looks, she hugged her daughter and son as if she hadn’t seen them in weeks, rather than hours. She liked the human need for contact and she employed it every chance she got. “How did it go?” She stood back to look at them. “Great!” Bailey high-fived her. “We passed out all our flyers and even found people who weren’t planning to come to the meeting. We should have a full house tonight.” “And bonus, all the folks who are coming from the university are staying at the B&B.” Quinn nodded with satisfaction. “As they should,” Maya agreed. “Damn straight. Let’s go in. I want to get a good seat to watch this tonight.” Quinn hooked her arm through Maya’s and they all went inside to find a place to sit for the meeting. Maya noted most of the people at the meeting were either business owners or conservationists, but she also noted that Thomas Stone stood with several other council members away from Mayor Blatherton, their expressions intense and focused. The soothing vibration hit Maya again and she glanced around, but Bailey settled in the chair beside her, his expression excited and expectant. She frowned a little because while it was similar to her kids’ energy, this vibration felt different, yet familiar. Not mammalian at all, but with the same feeling of rightness. Could there be someone like me here? The idea sparked both hope and trepidation in her chest. She’d been so sure she was the only one of her kind. In Wyoming at least, but possibly in the world. She’d mostly accepted it as her lot in life—she had no idea how she became who she was now, but she’d resigned herself to being alone. But the idea that there might be someone else like her, and there in Deadman as well, made excitement flutter in her chest. But who is it? She let her gaze slide around the room, looking for someone new and different. Most of the people in the room were mammalian. Although, Blatherton is completely reptilian, and not in a good way. Leave me a comment to tell me what you think. This title is a stand alone and will be out February 14 2025, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Great thanks to Kris Norris for the fantastic image. Happy reading!

Recipe for Romance: Rosemary Focaccia Bread

Posted on January 11, 2025January 11, 2025 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome to Recipe for Romance! We made it to 2025 and I’m both glad and apprehensive. I’m just kinda riding along and trying to miss the potholes. If you’re in the same SUV, how about some fantasy with a side of comfort food? Sound good? Let’s get started. I’m sharing a snippet of ANGEL INK, book 3 in the Concrete Angels MC, available now. Haley Michaels is a fluff-piece reporter and she’s covering a Museum exhibit. Until a hot guy appears out of nowhere, smelling like rosemary and basil. Available Now: ANGEL INK Damn, I was bored with writing fluff pieces. To be honest, I wanted to run through the vaulted rooms of the museum screaming, “Let It Go” at the top of my lungs. Maybe with a cute, long-haired electric guitarist following along. It would definitely be more exciting than this story. A scuffle in one of the side rooms drew my attention and I slipped to the entrance to see what was going on. A tall guy with angelic features around his large nose and wearing a leather cut ran through the room, but paused in front of a painting with light filtering through an autumn forest. For just a moment, I swore I saw huge black wings rising up behind him. He met my gaze and darted to me before he grabbed me by the strap of my camera bag, pulling me to his chest. He planted a hot and stunning kiss on my lips. I dropped my jaw and his tongue slid along mine, electrifying me more than the long-haired guitarist in my fantasy. I tasted cinnamon rolls and hot coffee before he pulled back with a wild smile. “I saw wings.” Okay, not the best response to a sexy kiss. “Don’t worry, love. It’s an illusion.” And then he was gone. I stood there, completely non-plussed and out of words for the first time in my life, only barely registering the rest of security streaming past me. It took me several minutes to get over the kiss and the scent of the man who’d laid it on me. He’d smelled like freshly baked bread with a hint of rosemary and basil. They reminded me of safe, comfortable places where I’d always had enough. My cellphone rang, bringing my attention back to the room. The art and people around me came back into focus like hoodoos reappearing as the fog retreats from the lowlands. Hell, a lot of them look like hoodoos. Gluten-Free Rosemary Focaccia Bread https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5O_u3wfC2k For many meals, most folks want a good bread to go with it, but some breads take forever to make. Focaccia is a quick and easy bread that allows for all sorts of flavors. We’re making Rosemary Focaccia, but you could choose garlic, onion, tomato, olives, or any combo of flavors. INGREDIENTS 3 cups gluten free 1:1 baking flour 2 tsp salt 1 Tbsp sugar 1 pkg or 2 1/2 tsp instant active yeast 1 1/2 cups warm water 2 Tbsp oil in dough 1 Tbsp oil on bread 2 Tbsp dried Rosemary or 1 sprig fresh Rosemary 2 Tbsp grated hard cheese (Parmesan, Asiago, Romano, Manchego) DIRECTIONS Add flour, salt, sugar, and yeast to a large bowl, and whisk it together. Add water, and 2 Tbsp oil, mixing until the dough is pliable. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for a short time until smooth. With gluten free dough, it’s dry enough you don’t have to work it hard or with much extra flour. Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 45 minutes. Because it’s gluten free, it won’t rise much. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and gently press risen dough out until it’s 1/2 inch (13 mm) thickness. Brush 1 Tbsp of oil over the top of the dough. Using a fork, make dimples in the dough all over. Sprinkle the cheese and Rosemary all across the top. Let rise for another 20 minutes. Preheat your oven to 375 F (191 C). Bake for 25 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes and serve.

Recipe for Romance: Mixed Berry Skull Cakes

Posted on October 13, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome to Recipe for Romance! Happy October! I’m sharing a snippet of THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER book 7 in the Cloudburst Colorado series. Kendra is just trying to get ready for Samhain when she literally runs into Phinn. Then the demon shows up. Available Now: The Samhain Soldier Kendra MacGillivray had met many cheeky men in her time, but the tall, dark-haired beauty with sapphire blue eyes took the cake. Or maybe it’s the big-ass sword rising over his right shoulder that’s doing it. Whatever it was, he wore arrogance like a new suit and seemed as fishy as Pier 59 in Seattle. He smelled like warm vanilla, the scent of Ponderosa pine bark baking in the sun, and she reminded herself men didn’t like women sniffing after them like bitches in heat. And if they do, they aren’t worth it. “You can call me Kendra. Now, off you go.” The tall warrior gave her a sardonic smile through the sexy scruff on his cheeks, but bowed and made to move past her. However, he tensed up and lost his smile at the sound of something big moving through the underbrush behind her. All the hair stood up on the back of her neck as the fetid scents of rotting wine and old sex hit her nose. Swallowing against the gag reflex, she shifted sideways, presenting her back to neither the man nor whatever approached. “Aw, hellfire.” Phinnius yanked the sword off his back with a metallic hiss and took on a battle stance. “What the hell is that?” Kendra fought bile back down her throat as she took in a creature resembling an organic version of the cat-like thing from the movie about robot aliens who transformed into innocuous objects. A ridge of fins from each vertebra protruded along the back and tail, and oddly jointed limbs ended in long, sharp claws. “Stay back, Mistress Kendra. This demon is here for me.” “Oh, that’s comforting.” The demon’s glowing green eyes shifted from Phinnius, and it just had to lick its slavering jaws as its gaze settled on her. “I promise I won’t let it hurt you.” Kendra snorted and tried to settle her mind enough to gather the life energy around her. Gluten-Free Mixed Berry Skull Cakes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC5zK0-DHT4 Have you ever attempted to bake something and made a mistake that turned out both funny and delicious? That’s what happened when I first made these muffins. I mixed the berries in so efficiently, I made black muffins. Perfect for Halloween or Samhain. Or Yule when you need coal muffins, LOL. INGREDIENTS 1 3/4 cups gluten-free all purpose baking flour (We used Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 baking flour) 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 2 large eggs at room temperature 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt 1 1/2 tsp vanilla 1/4 cup milk DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 425 F (218 C) and line a 12 count muffin pan with cupcake liners. Or if using an oddly shaped pan, spray the cake wells with nonstick spray and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together until well mixed. Set aside. In a large bowl, using a handheld mixer (or in the bowl of the stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment) beat the butter on high speed until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute). Add the brown sugar and beat on high until creamed (about 2 full minutes). Add the eggs, sour cream or yogurt, and vanilla, and beat on medium for 1 minute then turn up to high speed until mixture is combined and creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and beat on low speed until just about combined. Add the milk and continue to beat on low until combined. Add in mixed berries and beat until the batter turns purple and the berries are completely mixed in. Spoon batter evenly into each cup or muffin well, filling each all the way to the top. Bake the muffins for 5 minutes at 425 F (218 C), then keeping the muffins in the oven, reduce the temperature to 350 F (177 C). Bake for an additional 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the muffins to cool for five minutes in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. GLAZE 1/2 – 3/4 cup powdered sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla 1-2 Tbsp milk 3-5 drops of food coloring Add all the ingredients except the food coloring into a small bowl and whisk gently until smooth. Drizzle over the cool cakes and let harden (about 10 minutes). Arrange on a plate and serve.

Recipe for Romance: Amish Sour Cream Apple Pie

Posted on August 24, 2024August 24, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome to Recipe for Romance! I hope your last weekend before school starts is awesome. Oh, it’s not this weekend? Well, it is for us and it’s our last “back to school” weekend, ever. Muirlette #2 is entering her senior year and I’m amazed we’re here. I’m sharing a snippet of TAKE THE REINS, book 1 in the Rifts Series, and winner of the 2015 Best PNR award! Bethany Stanton was just taking a walk when she stumbled across a rift between worlds and ended up getting captured by centaurs. Would that she could tempt them with a delicious apple pie. Available Now: Take The Reins “So, human, why have you come here?” Bethany returned her gaze to the general and fought against a grimace. “I didn’t mean to come here. As I told the captain, I was just going for a walk and I ended up here.” He tilted his head and strode around her, his gaze assessing, but not sexual. He waved one hand through the air behind the small of her back and grunted with surprise. “You’re truly not a centaur.” “No, I’m not.” Bethany narrowed her eyes. “And not a gorgon or a druid?” “No.” “Humph. We’ll see about that.” An appaloosa male sneered as he paced closer, striking out at Bethany’s head to grab her hair. She ducked and pivoted away from him, wishing she had a rope to hogtie his arms. Instead, she kept her gaze on the bigger beings, mentally calculating how fast she’d have to run to make it to something she could climb. “Enough.” The general hadn’t spoken loudly, but the authority in his voice stopped everyone in place. Bethany braced herself for evasive action, but held her ground. Men had been trying to railroad her for years and she’d hit her threshold of tolerance. “You will be respectful of those in our village.” Bethany raised her chin. “Tell him that.” A smile quirked the general’s lips. “It was a warning for him.” “Oh.” Bethany grimaced. “Sorry.” The general grunted and turned his attention to the other centaurs. “I will take care of this disturbance and determine its danger to us, Stal Corbin.” The appaloosa man glowered, but nodded and led the other elder centaurs back toward the large barns. Bethany watched them go and reminded herself men with too much power appeared the same no matter the species. They’re just like dear ole daddy. She didn’t have much hope this general would be any different. “Have you a name by which we can call you?” The general returned to stand in front of her. “Bethany Stanton. From Kentucky.” She refrained from holding out her hand to him. “Greetings, Mare Bethany, I’m General Warrick Spearthrower.” He gestured toward one of the smaller structures to the side. “Come with me and explain how you encountered the Rift through which you came.” Amish Sour Cream Apple Pie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlGZHh6kqQU Apple pie is a very traditional sweet dish in most American households, but this one has a different twist on the traditional favorite that makes it both delicious, but less goopy (that’s a technical term, BTW). It has quickly become the go-to apple pie in our house. INGREDIENTS FOR PIE1 cup sour cream1 egg3/4 cup sugar2 Tbsp gluten-free flour1/4 tsp salt1 tsp vanilla2 1/2 cups peeled, grated apples (about 5 apples)1 9 inch (23 cm) unbaked pie crust (I make my from scratch gluten-free – see pumpkin pie recipe) INGREDIENTS FOR CRUMB TOPPING1/2 cup packed brown sugar1/4 cup butter1/3 cup gluten-free flour DIRECTIONS Preheat oven at 400 F (204 C). Beat sour cream and egg together until smooth. Add sugar, salt, vanilla, and flour. Mix until smooth. Stir in apples until completely coated by sour cream mixture. Spoon into pie crust. Bake for 25 minutes. While the pie is baking, mix the crumb topping ingredients together until crumbly. Remove pie from oven and spread top with crumb topping until completely covered. Return pie to oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes. Cool and serve.