Witches – Siobhan Muir

Recipe for Romance: Mixed Berry Skull Cakes

Posted on October 13, 2024 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! 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: Gluten-Free Mac N Cheese

Posted on September 23, 2023September 23, 2023 by Siobhan Muir

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, September) 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 SAMHAIN SOLDIER, book 7 in the Cloudburst Colorado series. Kendra MacGillivray was just trying to get read for Samhain, gathering things for her altar. Then this cocky warrior shows up being trailed by a demon. A witch’s work is rarely done. Time for some comfort food. Out Now: The Samhain Soldier “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. Magic wasn’t an alien force—it came from the living beings inhabiting the world. Ironically, this frightening creature held some of the same energy, but it appeared tangled or kinked, like an old garden hose. The energy didn’t flow properly. What’s wrong with you? Kendra took a deep breath and built a ball of power, focusing her mind in the direction she’d cast it. The creature crouched, its hindquarters wiggling just like a cat about to pounce. Kendra waited for the right moment. The spell she had in mind wouldn’t harm the creature, but it would contain it and heal some of the conflicting energy paths. Phinnius moved into her line of fire and she growled. “Get out of the way. I don’t want to hit you.” “Hit me? With what? I’m the one with the sword. Just stay back and I’ll protect you.” He turned his back to her, watching the creature. While she liked his looks, right now, she didn’t need him to be in the way when she threw her energy casting. Goddess only knew what a defensive spell like this would do to him. Gluten-Free Homemade Mac N Cheese INGREDIENTS 8-9 cups of water (boiling) 1 tsp salt 2 cups (or one full package) of elbow noodles (we used brown rice noodles) 16 oz of mild cheddar cheese shredded. We used Dubliner Cheddar and Monterrey Jack (for creamy meltiness) 2 1/2 cups milk 1 cup of bread crumbs (we used gluten free plain) Olive oil DIRECTIONS Fill pot with water and add salt. Bring to a boil, add oil and add the pasta. The oil keeps the pasta from sticking to itself. With brown rice pasta you’ll need to stir constantly because the pasta will stick to the bottom of the pan, too. Boil for 8 minutes. Shred the cheese. If using two kinds of cheese, shred the harder cheese first and mix them together. Set your oven to 350 F (177 C) and allow to warm. Get out the 9 x 13 inch pan. Set aside. Pour the pasta mixture into the 9 x 13 inch pan and distribute the pasta evenly. The mixture will be soupy, but it’ll cook off. Drizzle bread crumbs on top. Bake 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Serves 6-8 people.

2400 Free Books! Holy cow!

Posted on September 20, 2023September 12, 2023 by Siobhan Muir

Holy cow! 2400 FREE BOOKS?! You read that right. 2400 free ebooks to fill up your ereaders this time. And instead of just one day, you get three full days to get them all. Even better, this time it has to be new books – books that haven’t been listed before in the freebie event – so you won’t be getting repeats. 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 2400 books – including THE BELTANE WITCH (in the Urban Fantasy genre) – 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!

Snippet Sunday – Something Was Coming

Posted on November 5, 2022November 5, 2022 by Siobhan Muir

It’s time for Snippet Sunday, and the end of Daylight Savings Time. Yay? Yeah, not as thrilled with that, but at least there are books to read. I’m showcasing THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER, Book 7 in the Cloudburst Colorado series, AND a sequel to book 2, THE BELTANE WITCH. In this snippet, Kendra MacGillivray, earth witch, wakes up in a little shack in the Fae realm and not everything is as it seems. ~~~~~~ Kendra woke to unnatural silence. She shot a look at the fire in the fireplace and found the flames still licking the last log she placed, but they made no sound. She sat up and glanced at Phinn. He slept hard, but his breathing was better, less labored. Marbles hadn’t returned from her expedition, but Kendra didn’t expect her for a while. Hopefully the tracker demon would hide the sword in a place no one, not even the conniving Fae, would think to look. Still, the thick silence gave her the heebie-jeebies. She rolled to her feet and slipped back into her jacket. Something was coming and she wanted to be ready for it. She settled on the floor beside Phinn and shoved her feet into her boots, zipping them up. Then she reached for his to make sure he was as ready to travel as he could be. Not that I can carry him if we have to get away. The fire still burned, but a chill entered the shack. Kendra listened hard, but the unnatural silence continued. Awareness shot up her back and made her shiver. Kendra sent the Goddess a note of thanks for what time She’d kept them hidden. The Fae were coming and would discover them soon, and she was grateful Marbles had the time to take the sword nowhere near them. Kendra set about gathering up their meager gear and making sure Phinn was ready to move without much fuss. The threat loomed in the dark silence, and she tried to quell her racing heart as she waited for the ax to fall. They hadn’t been hiding, exactly, but she wondered if one of Marbles’ abilities was to disguise herself from detection, at least from the Fae. And since she’s gone… It didn’t take long for Kendra to hear the footsteps of several beings moving through the woods outside the shack. ~~~~~~~ Oh dear, something wicked this way comes. 😉 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, Jessica Subject, Kathy Griffith Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER: Coming Oct 17 2022 It’s all fun and games until a tracker demon comes for you… Phinnius Winterbourne, a soldier in the Summer Court of the Sidhe, has inherited his maternal grandfather’s sword. But the Winter Court of the Sidhe now wants it and him. Seeking help from his older brother seems like a good idea, until he runs into a witch. And the tracker demon sent to fetch Phinn. Not a great day. Kendra MacGillivray is preparing her altar for Samhain when she runs head-on into Phinnius and his problems. She doesn’t have time for the arrogant fool who has irritated the Fae. When her healing spell clashes with that of the tracker demon, they end up in the Sidhe realm with no way home and a tracker demon familiar. Every witch needs one. Trapped in the Fae realm, they must work together to keep the sword out of the Winter Court’s reach and get back home again before Samhain, when the veils close for the year. Nothing is as it seems and Phinn’s family secrets may break everything—him included. If they don’t protect the sword, they could lose more than a family heirloom—they could destroy the world. No pressure.

Snippet Sunday – You’ve Lost Your Mind

Posted on October 22, 2022October 21, 2022 by Siobhan Muir

It’s time for Snippet Sunday, and I’m celebrating my new release. Woohoo! I’m showcasing THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER, Book 7 in the Cloudburst Colorado series, AND a sequel to book 2, THE BELTANE WITCH. In this snippet, Kendra MacGillivray, earth witch, is currently stuck in the Fae realm with an injured man and a healed tracker demon. as she gets ready for Samhain. She’s just met the hero Phinnius Winterbourne, and she’s not impressed. ~~~~~~ Phinn moaned as he rolled onto his back and opened his eyes just as she tucked the blankets on the bed up to his chin. His sapphire gaze held her attention more than any bird or flower had during her fieldwork for her master’s thesis. The primal part of her growled and put up an emphatic demand. Mine. “Look who’s awake. About time.” She grumbled to remind herself what a jerk he was and keep any lusty ideas at bay. “How are you feeling?” His brows lowered as he opened his mouth to speak, but only a dry croak came out. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Groggy and stiff. Where are we?” Kendra shook her head. “I don’t know. Wherever we ended up, it’s winter already and Marbles led us to this cabin to get you out of the snow.” “Marbles?” “Yeah.” She shot a look at the dark cat-like demon lying in front of the woodstove. “The tracker demon.” Phinn jerked and tried to sit up, grunting in pain. “The tracker demon is here? And you named it?” “Yes. What else was I supposed to do when she helped us avoid the mounted patrols?” He shook his head. “You’ve lost your mind.” “No, I’ve lost my marbles, and she can track them down for me. Which is where she got her name.” Kendra sighed. “Look, if it weren’t for the two of you, I’d be home getting ready for Samhain. Instead, I’m here, nursing you back to health, and Marbles has done nothing but help me. So, you’re just going to have to get over it.” “I’ll get over it. Oh yeah.” Phinn’s eyes narrowed as his hands slid behind his back, then they widened with concern. “Whoa. Where’s my sword? What did you do with it?” ~~~~~~~ At least she’s looking on the bright side of everything. 😉 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, Jessica Subject, Kathy Griffith Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER: Coming Oct 17 2022 It’s all fun and games until a tracker demon comes for you… Phinnius Winterbourne, a soldier in the Summer Court of the Sidhe, has inherited his maternal grandfather’s sword. But the Winter Court of the Sidhe now wants it and him. Seeking help from his older brother seems like a good idea, until he runs into a witch. And the tracker demon sent to fetch Phinn. Not a great day. Kendra MacGillivray is preparing her altar for Samhain when she runs head-on into Phinnius and his problems. She doesn’t have time for the arrogant fool who has irritated the Fae. When her healing spell clashes with that of the tracker demon, they end up in the Sidhe realm with no way home and a tracker demon familiar. Every witch needs one. Trapped in the Fae realm, they must work together to keep the sword out of the Winter Court’s reach and get back home again before Samhain, when the veils close for the year. Nothing is as it seems and Phinn’s family secrets may break everything—him included. If they don’t protect the sword, they could lose more than a family heirloom—they could destroy the world. No pressure.

RELEASE DAY – The Samhain Soldier

Posted on October 17, 2022October 16, 2022 by Siobhan Muir

It’s Release Day for THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER!. Woohoo! I’m so pleased this book is out. It’s been 8 years since I started writing and it’s now finished. 😀 I started writing this in 2014 just after The Beltane Witch came out, figuring I’d write a story about Darius Winterbourne’s younger brother, Phinnius. And I did get it started, putting the first chapter in an anthology. But then, it sat and sat and sat… I tried finishing it last year (2021) but the Muse was having none of it and it sat some more. This year (2022) I was determined to finish it and get it out in time for Halloween. Woot! I got it done early! Here’s the blurb: It’s all fun and games until a tracker demon comes for you… Phinnius Winterbourne, a soldier in the Summer Court of the Sidhe, has inherited his maternal grandfather’s sword. But the Winter Court of the Sidhe now wants it and him. Seeking help from his older brother seems like a good idea, until he runs into a witch. And the tracker demon sent to fetch Phinn. Not a great day. Kendra MacGillivray is preparing her altar for Samhain when she runs head-on into Phinnius and his problems. She doesn’t have time for the arrogant fool who has irritated the Fae. When her healing spell clashes with that of the tracker demon, they end up in the Sidhe realm with no way home and a tracker demon familiar. Every witch needs one. Trapped in the Fae realm, they must work together to keep the sword out of the Winter Court’s reach and get back home again before Samhain, when the veils close for the year. Nothing is as it seems and Phinn’s family secrets may break everything—him included. If they don’t protect the sword, they could lose more than a family heirloom—they could destroy the world. No pressure. Excerpt of THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER Kendra took a deep breath and waited a long time after the sounds of hoof-beats had diminished. They might have a rear guard or scout with them. The demon beside her kept its gaze on the road, its ears swiveling from time to time. Despite waiting another twenty minutes, no one appeared on the trail and she stood up to relieve her knees. Thank the Goddess I was wearing my thick winter coat today. The air around her had turned frigid and her breath steamed in a pearlescent plume. But her coat wouldn’t help much when the sun set. “Do you hear anything suspicious?” She had no idea why she talked to the demon, but she couldn’t help it. Next thing you know I’ll end up naming it. The demon whined and nudged Phinn’s still form. “I know, we need to find a place to take care of him.” Kendra looked around the white winter landscape. “What we really need is an abandoned cabin to hole up in.” She snorted in amusement. “And while we’re wishing, maybe it could be fully furnished and stocked with supplies like herbs and food.” The demon tilted its head as if considering her words, then coughed. Or barked. It was hard to tell which as it clamped its jaws around Phinn’s collar. “What are you doing?” The creature sighed and dragged Phinn down a game trail she hadn’t seen when they ducked into the bushes. “Hey, where are you going?” The demon warbled an encouraging sound and waved a clawed hand in a way that suggested it wanted her to follow it. I’m completely nuts. But she went after it, dodging low-hanging snow-covered branches deeper into the woods. Phinn’s bootheels left obvious drag marks in the snow, but it couldn’t be helped. Maybe it’ll snow more to disguise them. She’d lost her marbles. She wanted it to snow more? Hell, I’m talking to a demon who’s dragging a man I barely know into the woods for which I have no map—I’m certifiable. Despite her disbelief, the demon pulled Phinn into a clearing containing a few snow-shrouded stumps and a cottage with a thatched roof and a well-stocked woodpile. A steel chimney poked out of the thatching and smoke curled out the top just as they reached the door. Kendra peeked in the windows, but the interior remained too dark to see anything. “Think anyone’s in there?” She glanced at the demon, but it only nudged the door with one clawed hand. “You want us to go in?” When it whined, she sighed. “Okay, but it better be safe.” The door easily pushed open and a blast of warmer hair stung her cheeks. Kendra’s body moved inside before her mind could catch up, and the demon crowded in behind her, towing Phinn. A cheery fire crackled in an open woodstove and lit the fairly large one-room cabin. Despite blankets laid out on the double bed and the floor clean of debris, the cabin didn’t look occupied. Kendra closed and latched the door as the demon laid Phinn on the floor beside the bed. “You’re going to have to help me lift him.” She gave the demon an expectant look. “He’s too heavy for me.” To her surprise, the creature sat back on its haunches and picked Phinn up in its powerful forearms. It laid him on the bed, boots and all, and looked over its shoulder as if to check if it had done correctly. “Yeah, that’s good. Thank you.” It nodded and sat back out of the way as she tugged Phinn’s boots off his feet. Kendra shook her head. I’m seriously losing my marbles talking to a demon. She shot a look at the feline-like creature, but it just sat there and watched her tend to Phinn. Phinn said it’s a tracker demon. Maybe it can find my marbles for me. “There. He should rest better that way.” Kendra swung her gaze around the cabin. Canisters marked with foreign symbols lined the shelves near the fireplace over a washbasin. A pump…

Snippet Sunday – Oh, That’s Comforting

Posted on October 15, 2022 by Siobhan Muir

It’s time for Snippet Sunday, and I have a new release this week! Woohoo! I’m showcasing THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER, Book 7 in the Cloudburst Colorado series, AND a sequel to book 2, THE BELTANE WITCH. This tale is released TOMORROW, Oct 17th 2022, but you can get it for pre-order at Smashwords. 😉 In this snippet, you meet Kendra MacGillivray, earth witch, as she gets ready for Samhain. She’s just met the hero Phinnius Winterbourne, and she’s not impressed. ~~~~~~ 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. ~~~~~~~ Things just got a whole lot more interesting. 😉 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, Jessica Subject, Kathy Griffith Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER: Coming Oct 17 2022 It’s all fun and games until a tracker demon comes for you… Phinnius Winterbourne, a soldier in the Summer Court of the Sidhe, has inherited his maternal grandfather’s sword. But the Winter Court of the Sidhe now wants it and him. Seeking help from his older brother seems like a good idea, until he runs into a witch. And the tracker demon sent to fetch Phinn. Not a great day. Kendra MacGillivray is preparing her altar for Samhain when she runs head-on into Phinnius and his problems. She doesn’t have time for the arrogant fool who has irritated the Fae. When her healing spell clashes with that of the tracker demon, they end up in the Sidhe realm with no way home and a tracker demon familiar. Every witch needs one. Trapped in the Fae realm, they must work together to keep the sword out of the Winter Court’s reach and get back home again before Samhain, when the veils close for the year. Nothing is as it seems and Phinn’s family secrets may break everything—him included. If they don’t protect the sword, they could lose more than a family heirloom—they could destroy the world. No pressure.

Snippet Sunday – Just Forget About This

Posted on May 1, 2021May 1, 2021 by Siobhan Muir

It’s time for Snippet Sunday and this weekend is Beltane. Are you ready for it? Have you set up your altars and May poles? The weather is going to be beautiful in Cheyenne and we’ll be outside for sure. Because Beltane is this weekend, I thought I’d showcase CLOUDBURST COFFEE & SPA, the companion tale to THE BELTANE WITCH. Both occur around May Day, and both are currently on sale at Edenbooks.org this weekend. There’s a sequel to them coming in October this year, THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER (cover reveal soon). In this snippet, we’re in Moira Callahan’s and she’s been trying to convince herself that her life is perfect as is. ~~~~~~ Moira took a deep breath and resettled her shoulders. She was fine. She was safe, had her business, her over-protective family, and her best friend. Life was good. She didn’t need anything else. Leave the heavy-duty romance to the likes of Sabrina Foxglove and Darius Winterbourne. I’m good the way I am. Rounding a corner, her heart jumped into her throat when she caught sight of an old, rusted Chevy pickup, nosing the barbed wire fence like a curious puppy. Moira skidded to a stop and gaped, her mind skipping like a broken record. Oh my glory, oh my glory, oh my glory… Aiden’s pickup. No, no, it can’t be his. Easing her 4×4 Jeep to the side of the road, Moira squinted to see through the glass of the pickup’s windshield reflecting sky. She turned off the engine and listened. Silence greeted her as her windows fogged up with her warm exhalations. She debated getting out, arguing she shouldn’t even be curious, but helpless to the lure of the old truck. It just looks like his old truck. She pushed her door open and got out. Right down to the rusted heart we carved in the front fender. Shit. Moira scanned the quiet road and the trees barely starting to bud as spring tried to show its face. The snow had stopped and a thin layer of white blanketed the roof and bed of the truck. But the hood remained bare. The truck’s still warm. Where’s the driver? She let her senses drift, searching the energies for a human occupant, but only forest calm came back to her. I should really get back to the shop and just forget about this. It’s not Aiden. But curiosity gripped her body and she took the time to look for footprints in the newly-fallen snow. ~~~~~~~ Apparently, she’s going to think about Aiden a lot. 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. And this weekend, CLOUDBURST COFFEE & SPA is on sale at Edenbooks.org Here’s the blurb for CLOUDBURST COFFEE & SPA: Available Wide Moira Callahan knows a thing or two about fresh starts. Second chances are a different story… As an empath synced into the energies of spaces around her, Moira always understood what people needed, and tried to provide. But after escaping an abusive D/s relationship, she’s ready to make her own rules as the owner of the Cloudburst Coffee & Spa. Life is good. Until her first love shows up in town seeking his second chance. Aiden Westmorland escaped Cloudburst to learn to control his sexual needs, but he left behind the one woman who calmed his statistical empathic abilities. Now he has a chance to rekindle the fire they’d shared as teenagers, with the flavor of BDSM. But earning the trust of an emotionally scarred woman after his long radio silence is easier said than done. When Moira’s past comes to Cloudburst, threatening the life she’s fought to rebuild, Aiden insists she go to the police. But her former Dom has a past of his own, and he isn’t willing to let go so easily this time….

Snippet Sunday – If I’m Staying Longer

Posted on April 10, 2021April 10, 2021 by Siobhan Muir

It’s time for Snippet Sunday and it’s starting to look a lot like springtime out there, but since I’m in Wyoming, I expect snow any moment, lol. I thought I’d showcase CLOUDBURST COFFEE & SPA, the companion tale to THE BELTANE WITCH. Both occur around May Day, which is coming up, and there’s a sequel to them coming in October this year. In this snippet, we’re in Aiden Westmorland’s POV and he’s talking to Kieran Callahan, one of Moira Callahan’s brothers. Kieran is the first one to speak. ~~~~~~ “She pined over you for years after you took off in the dead of night.” The news made Aiden’s heart twist, but he shrugged. “I got the impression I wasn’t real welcome here.” “Yeah, I can see how that might be given the way my older brothers and parents treated you.” Kieran nodded with a half-smile curling his lips. “My dad always said never trust a man who won’t look you in the eye.” Aiden grunted. He couldn’t look anyone in the eyes. He’d see too much and sometimes could even hear their inner thoughts, thoughts not meant to be shared with anyone. Moira had been the only one who’d offered him total silence and peace from the unrelenting statistics when he met her gaze. He could’ve fallen in love with her for that alone. “But Moira never had a problem with you and I trust her instincts more than I trust my brothers’. I figure they all had it wrong about you.” “Thanks.” “Yeah, well, back to my earlier point. If you’re only here for a two-week spell and then gone again, stay away from my sister.” “And if I’m staying longer?” Aiden had come back to Cloudburst for only one reason. He’d lost the one woman the inner statistician said had a ninety-seven percent chance of being his life partner. She’d been too young and too naïve then. But she’d grown up and he wanted to be with his heart. “I might just let it slip where she lives now.” Kieran winked and patted the bar. “You just let me know.” He offered a sly grin as he headed over to serve another customer. Aiden sat rooted to his stool and blinked a few times as the information settled over him. ~~~~~~~ Well that should throw him for a loop. 😉 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, Jessica Subject, Kathy Griffith Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for DUDE WITH A COOL CAR: Available Wide Moira Callahan knows a thing or two about fresh starts. Second chances are a different story… As an empath synced into the energies of spaces around her, Moira always understood what people needed, and tried to provide. But after escaping an abusive D/s relationship, she’s ready to make her own rules as the owner of the Cloudburst Coffee & Spa. Life is good. Until her first love shows up in town seeking his second chance. Aiden Westmorland escaped Cloudburst to learn to control his sexual needs, but he left behind the one woman who calmed his statistical empathic abilities. Now he has a chance to rekindle the fire they’d shared as teenagers, with the flavor of BDSM. But earning the trust of an emotionally scarred woman after his long radio silence is easier said than done. When Moira’s past comes to Cloudburst, threatening the life she’s fought to rebuild, Aiden insists she go to the police. But her former Dom has a past of his own, and he isn’t willing to let go so easily this time….

Snippet Sunday – What Can I Get You?

Posted on April 4, 2021April 4, 2021 by Siobhan Muir

It’s time for Snippet Sunday and it just happens to be Easter. A good time to sit back, eat some chocolate, and hunt for eggs. The witches in Cloudburst approve. Since it’s Easter and Beltane is right around the corner, I thought I’d showcase CLOUDBURST COFFEE & SPA, the companion tale to THE BELTANE WITCH. Both occur around May Day, which is coming up, and there’s a sequel to them coming in October this year. In this snippet, we’re in and he’s come back to Cloudburst to reconnect to the woman he left behind. He just has to find her first. ~~~~~~ Aiden zipped up his jacket as the cold Cloudburst wind stole all the heat from his body. Damn, he’d forgotten how bitter it could be in the mountains of Colorado. His strides lengthened and he found himself standing beneath the overhang of the Cliffhanger Bar. Don’t go inside. You’re asking for trouble. But he pushed the door open and sighed in relief as heat flooded over his chilled body. He shouldn’t be there, not with all the animosity he’d experienced with Moira’s family, but tonight he couldn’t stay away. He settled on a stool at the bar. “What can I get you?” Aiden glanced up to take in the bartender and recognition dawned as quickly as the man’s stats. Kieran Callahan, Moira’s younger brother. Blood type AB positive, BMI twenty-two point four, life expectancy ninety-one point six years, ninety-four percent chance he will marry outside his profession. Aiden dragged his eyes away from Kieran and focused on the handwritten menu on the wall. “I’ll take a Powder Keg Stout.” “Comin’ up.” Kieran moved away and Aiden breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t been recognized yet, but he’d changed a great deal. Hopefully, it’d keep him safe. At least for tonight. Kieran set a glass and a chilled bottle on the bar in front of Aiden and gave him a neutral smile. Aiden didn’t meet his gaze, but focused on the beer. “How long you in town for, Westmorland?” Aw, hell, that didn’t take long. “Dunno. Just got back in tonight to visit with family.” Aiden took a swig from the bottle. “You got a problem, Callahan?” “That depends.” “On?” The younger man scanned the rest of the bar. When no one waved him down for anything, he turned his attention back to Aiden. “On whether or not you’re here to break my sister’s heart again.” ~~~~~~~ Her brother’s not makin’ it easy for him. 😉 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, Jessica Subject, Kathy Griffith Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for DUDE WITH A COOL CAR: Available Wide Moira Callahan knows a thing or two about fresh starts. Second chances are a different story… As an empath synced into the energies of spaces around her, Moira always understood what people needed, and tried to provide. But after escaping an abusive D/s relationship, she’s ready to make her own rules as the owner of the Cloudburst Coffee & Spa. Life is good. Until her first love shows up in town seeking his second chance. Aiden Westmorland escaped Cloudburst to learn to control his sexual needs, but he left behind the one woman who calmed his statistical empathic abilities. Now he has a chance to rekindle the fire they’d shared as teenagers, with the flavor of BDSM. But earning the trust of an emotionally scarred woman after his long radio silence is easier said than done. When Moira’s past comes to Cloudburst, threatening the life she’s fought to rebuild, Aiden insists she go to the police. But her former Dom has a past of his own, and he isn’t willing to let go so easily this time….