1000+ Free Books for One Day Only!

Yup, you read that right. 1000+ free ebooks to fill up your ereaders (I heard a rumor that it’s actually 1300!) I love doing this event. It happens quarterly and I always find new reads that catch my attention. Are you ready to fill up your ereader? All you have to do is head on over to RomanceBookworms and grab your 1000+ books – including THE IVORY ROAD: A WALK IN THE SAND (under Sci-Fi Romance) – from your favorite retailer. This is a great way to get to know new-to-you authors and fill up your ereaders without spending a dime. I found some great tales by Genevieve Turner, B.A. Tortuga, Minerva Howe, Cat Johnson, Kate Pearce, and Zoe York the last time I checked this out. Now I’m part of the crew doing it and you get to benefit from it as well. Fill your ereader, get your books, and happy reading!

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Recipe for Romance: Idaho Sunrise Baked Potatoes

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

Welcome to Recipe for Romance! Each weekend, I share a snippet of a tale that either takes place in the current month (in this case, May) or is coming out in the current month, and a recipe that either goes with the tale or goes with the month. Confused yet? Excellent! lol Let’s get started. I’m sharing a snippet of THE KAROBIS CALLS, book 4 in the 4 part Ivory Road serial, coming on May 22 2023. I pushed the release back to make sure the edits were done and the promo materials gathered. Are you ready for the exciting conclusion? In this snippet, Iliana has returned to Starveshon, only there’s a big problem. Coming May 22 2023: The Karobis Calls Just when she thought they’d be blown off course, the world went white, and static filled her ears before everything grew calm. Iliana slowly lifted her head and looked around. The world was still. Sunshine of early evening burnished the sunflowers in the fields around her and crickets sang in the grasses. Warmth as real as the freezing cold of Australia enveloped her and she took a deep breath of relief. “Do you ever get used to the sharp changes in weather and temperature?” She shook herself to release all the tension in her body from the harrowing ride. “Iliana…” Aristotle’s voice held caution. “What?” “Look ahead.” She swung her gaze ahead and all the comfort and heat left her body in a rush. Black smoke billowed in thick oily plumes from the smoldering trees around the main house of the Ivory School of Tactics and Warfare. The breeze painted the sky with streaks of black as fear ran with little cold feet up her spine. “Sweet glory, what the fuck? Run, Aristotle!” The horse launched into a pounding gallop up the road to the school and Iliana tried to come to grips with what she saw. The unfolding ruin made her stomach tighten and she hauled back on the reins as they made it to the smoking yard. Both the house and the stables had been set ablaze and now stood in blackened ruins, studs and beams sticking up like the ribs of huge animals. The fountain in the center was smashed to nothing but fragments, the water dribbling sluggishly from bent pipes. “Oh, my glory.” Iliana dismounted but couldn’t move a step away from Aristotle as her gaze took in everything. Idaho Sunrise Breakfast This is basically a baked potato bowl with all the fixin’s.  Idaho Sunrise Baked Potato Bowls Ingredients The Potatoes 2 large Russett or Sweet Potatos  Bake the potatoes until they are mostly done, about 35 minutes. Prepare the potatoes like you would normally bake them by oiling their skins and poking them with a fork. Wrap in foil and bake at 350 F for 35 minutes. Take them out of the oven, unwrap, and carefully cut off the top 1/3 of the potato. Use a spoon to hollow out the middle of the potato to make a “bowl”, leaving the potato as thick or thin walled as you like. Do this to both potatoes. Inside Ingredients  1 Tbsp butter 2 eggs 2 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled 2 Tbsp shredded cheddar or gouda cheese 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped 1 green onion, chopped Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste Directions Place 1/2 Tbsp of butter in the middle of each bowl. Gently crack an egg into each bowl, careful not the break the yolk. Top with bacon, cheese, parsley, green onions, and season with salt and pepper. Bake at 350 F (177 C) for 20-25 minutes, or until the egg whites are set. Serve immediately. *Note: Mr. SM often puts 2 eggs in the bowls and uses ham instead of bacon. You can change out the ingredients to fit your taste.

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Snippet Sunday – Please Don’t See Me

It’s time for Snippet Sunday and school starts next week for the Muirlettes. I can’t believe the summer is over. It went so fast this year. The serial is moving forward and the muse seems to want to work on it (and I’m completely rewriting the old version to something I like better, so there’s that). Iliana has quite the adventure, but it’s not without drama, that’s for sure. Today I’m showcasing the first book, IVORY ROAD: A WALK IN THE SAND and it’s available with the old cover. In this snippet, Iliana is trying to get away. She doesn’t know these men and she doesn’t want to interact with them. ~~~~~~ Iliana crawled slowly through the brush, hoping the breeze would disguise her movements. If she could get to the horse, she might be able to get away. She still hadn’t figured out where she’d go, but away from these men and their pursuers would be helpful. “You were dying.” Ahmad crossed his arms over his chest. “How do you know she wasn’t just a hallucination?” “Because I’m still alive, and there’s her horse. Couldn’t patch myself up, now, could I?” Crowe paused, cocking his head and Iliana froze. He scanned the space where she’d been crouching with a sharp look. Please don’t see me. Please don’t see me. She resisted the urge to close her eyes as she hunkered down under a ground palm. God, I hope there are no scorpions using this as a home. The man named Crowe crouched and met her eyes, a frown creasing his brows. “Kyra? Is that you?” Iliana supposed it was too late to do the Jedi mind trick—this is not the woman you’re looking for—but she definitely didn’t own the name he called. She shook her head and he grimaced. “Please, Kyra, we need your help. My colleagues won’t do you harm.” She snorted, but short of running straight out—going where, exactly?—she was caught. She drew herself up to her full height of five feet eight inches and faced Crowe, her hand near her sword. She hoped he wouldn’t push her to try to use it. While she’d taken fencing lessons, this guy looked like he had practical fighting knowledge. The cloth of his shirt stretched taut around his biceps and shoulders. Yeah, he could drop-kick me into next week. When Crowe saw her defensive posture, he backed up a few feet and raised his hands. ~~~~~~~ Guess he saw her despite her wish. 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A few of my favorites are, P.T. Wyant, Karen Michelle Nutt, Veronica Scott, Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for A WALK IN THE SAND – With a New cover coming soon!: Available Wide in eBook The adventure of Ivory’s lifetime might just be the death of her… When it comes to make believe, A-list actress Ivory is a professional. But when a desert hike takes her across a dimensional rift, her real-life self, Iliana Rory, must separate fantasy from reality. The man she swears is the costar in her next movie might share the same surname and appearance, but there are no sets in this Mr. Crowe’s world, no props, and no director to yell “cut” before blood is spilled. With a fortune in stolen treasure and the forces of the Knalish army hot on their trail, Brandon Crowe and his partner, Ahmad, must cross a desert neither of them knows well. Mistaken for their guide, Iliana seizes any chance to stay ahead of the army and survive in this new world. Adventure straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster might be on Iliana’s bucket-list, but she never dreamed there’d be the real possibility of death when the end credits roll. A Walk in the Sand is the first story in the four part serial recounting Iliana’s journey along the Ivory Road.

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Snippet Sunday – How Can You Be Certain?

It’s time for Snippet Sunday and the summer has arrived. It’s been really warm here in Cheyenne, warmer than usual even for August. This year I’m hoping to finish my serial, and considering it’s been about 7 years since the last one was published, it’s about time. But good news is I’m working on the 3rd installment so there’s hope. That means I only have one more to rewrite. But when this new one is finished, I’ll publish all three with the new covers. I already have this one’s new cover below. Today I’m showcasing IVORY ROAD: A WALK IN THE SAND and it’s available with the old cover. In this snippet, we’re in Iliana Rory’s (AKA Ivory) POV and she’s trying to hide in an oasis that magically appeared from the men riding hard toward her. The snippet is a little longer than usual. ~~~~~~ A few moments later, the sounds of horses and men filtered into the quiet of the oasis and the riders pulled their horses up beside the pool. Everyone dismounted and filled canteens and water skins. One of the men strode around to the gray horse, his gaze sweeping the trees as he called out someone’s name. The rich baritone of his voice soothed her ears and reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t remember who. He stood shorter than the others in his party, but carried an air of command with him. “She’s not here, Crowe.” A taller man with odd tattoos below his eyes scowled through his beard. “This was a wild goose chase.” “There’s her horse, Ahmad.” Crowe waved at the gray horse, his gaze still searching the trees. “She has to be here. She’s always here.” At least I can understand them. “How can you be certain?” Ahmad pointed out reasonably. “That horse could belong to the poor fool lying out there dead. If she was here before, she probably saw us coming. What makes you think she’d stay and wait for you? She’s a woman. They’re ever-changing and less trustworthy than a cobra. We have the entire Knalish army bearing down on us. What makes you think she’d stay to greet them?” “Because she said she’d wait for us and show us the way across the sands to the west.” He paused to shout through the trees. “Kyra!” Crowe strode around the pool to stand directly in front Iliana’s hiding spot. “We need her to lead us. Without her, it doesn’t matter if the army catches us. She’s the only one who knows this path outside the Knalish.” He swung his gaze around the oasis. “Kyra!” “Look, Crowe, we are running out of time.” Ahmad stoppered his water skin and slung it over his saddle. “We have to keep moving.” “And where would you have us go, Ahmad?” Crowe turned his back to Iliana. “Kyra is the only one who knows this part of the desert. Without her, we’re just another set of bones in the sand.” ~~~~~~~ Well that puts it into perspective.. 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A few of my favorites are, P.T. Wyant, Karen Michelle Nutt, Veronica Scott, Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for A WALK IN THE SAND – With a New cover coming soon!: Available Wide in eBook The adventure of Ivory’s lifetime might just be the death of her… When it comes to make believe, A-list actress Ivory is a professional. But when a desert hike takes her across a dimensional rift, her real-life self, Iliana Rory, must separate fantasy from reality. The man she swears is the costar in her next movie might share the same surname and appearance, but there are no sets in this Mr. Crowe’s world, no props, and no director to yell “cut” before blood is spilled. With a fortune in stolen treasure and the forces of the Knalish army hot on their trail, Brandon Crowe and his partner, Ahmad, must cross a desert neither of them knows well. Mistaken for their guide, Iliana seizes any chance to stay ahead of the army and survive in this new world. Adventure straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster might be on Iliana’s bucket-list, but she never dreamed there’d be the real possibility of death when the end credits roll. A Walk in the Sand is the first story in the four part serial recounting Iliana’s journey along the Ivory Road.

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Snippet Sunday – Another Set of Bones in the Sand

It’s time for Snippet Sunday and the summer has arrived. It’s been really warm here in Cheyenne that it feels more like July even though it’s June. We’re hiding inside and spend a lot of time in the basement where it stays cool. This year I’m hoping to finish my serial and that means I have to get the last two installments rewritten and show off the covers. Stop by this week for the cover reveals of the last three installments. But in the meantime, you get this one’s new cover. Today I’m showcasing IVORY ROAD: A WALK IN THE SAND and it’s available with the old cover. In this snippet, we’re in Iliana Rory’s (AKA Ivory) POV and she’s trying to hide in an oasis that magically appeared from the men riding hard toward her. The snippet is a little longer than usual. ~~~~~~ A few moments later, the sounds of horses and men filtered into the quiet of the oasis and the riders pulled their horses up beside the pool. Everyone dismounted and filled canteens and water skins. One of the men strode around to the gray horse, his gaze sweeping the trees as he called out someone’s name. The rich baritone of his voice soothed her ears and reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t remember who. He stood shorter than the others in his party, but carried an air of command with him. “She’s not here, Crowe.” A taller man with odd tattoos below his eyes scowled through his beard. “This was a wild goose chase.” “There’s her horse, Ahmad.” Crowe waved at the gray horse, his gaze still searching the trees. “She has to be here. She’s always here.” At least I can understand them. “How can you be certain?” Ahmad pointed out reasonably. “That horse could belong to the poor fool lying out there dead. If she was here before, she probably saw us coming. What makes you think she’d stay and wait for you? She’s a woman. They’re ever-changing and less trustworthy than a cobra. We have the entire Knalish army bearing down on us. What makes you think she’d stay to greet them?” “Because she said she’d wait for us and show us the way across the sands to the west.” He paused to shout through the trees. “Kyra!” Crowe strode around the pool to stand directly in front Iliana’s hiding spot. “We need her to lead us. Without her, it doesn’t matter if the army catches us. She’s the only one who knows this path outside the Knalish.” He swung his gaze around the oasis. “Kyra!” “Look, Crowe, we are running out of time.” Ahmad stoppered his water skin and slung it over his saddle. “We have to keep moving.” “And where would you have us go, Ahmad?” Crowe turned his back to Iliana. “Kyra is the only one who knows this part of the desert. Without her, we’re just another set of bones in the sand.” ~~~~~~~ She’s talking to someone beyond his reckoning. 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A few of my favorites are, P.T. Wyant, Karen Michelle Nutt, Veronica Scott, Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for A WALK IN THE SAND – With a New cover coming soon!: Available Wide in eBook The adventure of Ivory’s lifetime might just be the death of her… When it comes to make believe, A-list actress Ivory is a professional. But when a desert hike takes her across a dimensional rift, her real-life self, Iliana Rory, must separate fantasy from reality. The man she swears is the costar in her next movie might share the same surname and appearance, but there are no sets in this Mr. Crowe’s world, no props, and no director to yell “cut” before blood is spilled. With a fortune in stolen treasure and the forces of the Knalish army hot on their trail, Brandon Crowe and his partner, Ahmad, must cross a desert neither of them knows well. Mistaken for their guide, Iliana seizes any chance to stay ahead of the army and survive in this new world. Adventure straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster might be on Iliana’s bucket-list, but she never dreamed there’d be the real possibility of death when the end credits roll. A Walk in the Sand is the first story in the four part serial recounting Iliana’s journey along the Ivory Road.

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