Foolishly Yours, New Book Published

Woo hoo! My latest book published today.

Foolishly Yours is the latest Last Chance Beach Romance, and the second one I've written for the series.

Heroine Samantha Ruiz, an officer with the Last Chance Beach Police Department, was introduced in my first book for the series, Deceptively Yours. 

Blurbing the Book

Samantha Ruiz didn’t date unsuitable men, and the blue-eyed, blond-haired surfer dude who took her breath away was the poster boy for unsuitable.

Grayson Crawford is everything Samantha disdains—a handsome, devil-may-care slacker full of secrets. A jerk of an ex-fiancé and a stalker taught Sam to be cautious with men. She knows Grayson is up to something, and she's determined to find out what that is.

With her matchmaking grandmother throwing her at him, she finds herself becoming friends with the sexy beach bum despite her suspicions. When he begins romancing her, she's sure he's trying to distract her and keep her from discovering his real reason for being on her island.

She tells him she's not interested in a relationship, but his touch makes a liar of her. 

Can she refuse the desire that flares between them? If she yields, what will happen when she discovers his secret?

Foolishly Yours is a free Kindle Unlimited read for subscribers, or buy it for $3.99 and add it to your keeper shelf.

New Visitor to Last Chance Beach?

If you've not visited this "island paradise where dreams go to live again," grab a free copy of Legend of Last Chance Beach, available at most ebook retailers.

With my new book, there are now 7 published books in the series and 2 new books to be pubished in the next few weeks.

Check out all of the compelling romances in the Last Chance Beach Romance series. 

Some are sweet. Some are spicy. Some are sizzling. Readers will find a heat level they'll enjoy.

All books have a happily ever after ending that will thrill your inner hopeful romantic.

Takeaway Truth

Start your week by reading Romance, the optimistic genre, to brighten your days and make you smile.

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20 Minutes for the Win

If you have a hard time overcoming procrastination, this post is for you.

Sometimes taking that first step toward something is the hardest thing in the world to do.

I know when I came back from my brother's farm in January, I was not excited about doing anything but sleeping. The problem is when I woke up each morning, I was still tired. 

I had a book to write, and no energy to tackle it. The last thing I wanted to do was sit in front of the keyboard for hours on end. It's easier to binge-watch something on Prime or Netflix.

It's so much easier to say, I'll double up tomorrow. Unfortunately, tomorrow the same lack of motivation may exist. Before you know it, you find yourself in deep kimchee and realize there's no possible way to catch up.

Over the years, I've developed a magic formula for dealing with that lack of motivation. I call it the...

20 Minute Rule.

Set a timer on your cell phone (or your stove, watch, etc.) for 20 minutes.

When your timer goes off, immediately reset the timer for 20 minutes then stand up and go to wherever you need to be to begin work on the project you've been ignoring.

When your 20 minutes of working on your project is up, reset your timer and go goof off or do whatever floats your boat.

When that 20 minute timer goes off, return to the important project and reset the timer for 20 minutes.

Continue cycling through 20 minutes of work and 20 minutes of whatever until you find yourself working away and turning the timer off so it doesn't disturb you. When that happens, it means you've conquered procrastination.

Keep Working Away

Rarely do I need to reset the timer more than twice before I'm settled into the writing habit. 

When that happens, I change timers this way.

An hour for writing, at the end of which, I set a 10 minute timer because it's good for me to get up, stretch, and walk around for 10 minutes.

Then I reset my timer for an hour more of writing. This 60 minutes of writing and 10 minutes of movement is perfect for me because my brain is engaged which carries me through the 10 minutes of being away from my computer.

Takeaway Truth

I'm sure there's a psychological/physiological reason for why this works. I've never researched it. I just know that tricking the brain this way works. Try it and let me know if it works for you.

New Jonathon Stone Mystery by James Moushon

For you Jonathon Stone Mystery fans out there, James Moushon has a new story for you, Timeout.

Blurbing the Book

Jonathon is dispatched to San Diego with Chuck Chun, another CIA special agent, because of an alert the CIA received.

A notorious, and elusive, arms dealer is arriving in San Diego with a large number of guns and explosives on a freighter from the Far East. 

At the same time, FBI Agent Jodi Shannon and Agent Brian Baker from LA join the San Diego FBI field office team in a joint investigation to get to the bottom of a white-collar crime, sports fixing.

At the center of things is Willy Payne, a veteran basketball player for the San Diego Bays, who quickly becomes the focus of both investigations.

Timeout is a Kindle Unlimited free read or buy for only $1.99.

Check out the HBS Author’s Spotlight Book Showcase for Author James Moushon.

Visit James at his Website.

Find all of the books in his Jonathon Stone Mystery Series on his Amazon Author Page.

Takeaway Truth

If you haven't read a Jonathon Stone Mystery, try one today.

Super Bowl Sunday Weather Facts

If you're a longtime Super Bowl spectator, you've probably seen some of the games played in warm sunny weather and many in ice and snow.

This year’s Super Bowl is number LVI. That’s 56 for those who don’t read Roman numerals. Of those 56 Super Bowls, weather has played a big part in several of them.

Here are a few weather-related Super Bowl facts to stun your friends with your trivia knowledge.

Super Bowl Weather Trivia

Nearly half of the Super Bowl Sundays had rain on game day.

The wettest Super Bowl was 2007 with 0.92 inches of rain.

Rain’s easy compared to the Super Bowl in 2000 which was played in an ice storm.

Snow days occurred 3 times: 1982, 2006, and 2018.

The coldest game was 9 degrees F. in 2018.

The warmest game was 82 degrees F. in 1973 and 2003.

Then there were those high wind gust games of 1980, 1984, 1989, 2007, and 2016.

If you want to know even more trivia about American football, there are a number of books on Amazon with that subject matter including The Ultimate American Football Trivia Book which was published in 2021. 

Not Interested in the Big Game?

Read a fun Romance instead like Blame It On Chocolate.

Chloe Elliot was a good girl. She’d never been a hell-raiser. Never gotten drunk, used drugs, smoked pot, or slept around. Truthfully, it really hadn’t been that difficult.

Until Hunter Cole returned to his home town. There was just something about the man that addled her brain and created havoc in her body.

Hunter Cole reckoned he had the best of all possible worlds. His life was perfect. Until he dropped by the library to say hello to his best friend's little sister.

Chloe wasn't so little any more. In fact, just looking at her made his common sense evaporate. If he made a move on her, her brother would nail his hide to the wall. So how could he get close to Chloe without risking his life?

Only 99¢ for Blame It On Chocolate, a feel good, happy romance—perfect for a cold February day.

Takeaway Truth

Enjoy the game today! May your team be triumphant and may you be watching from the comfort of your own home.

Photo Credit: Image by Brigitte is happy ... about coffee time :)) from Pixabay

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Saturday Share Recipe, Deconstructed Cabbage Rolls

Everyone hears how cabbage is good for your health, but many people don't have a lot of recipes using cabbage.

Sure, you can make cole slaw, throw some in a tossed salad or a stir fry, or boil it the way your grandmother did. 

If you're really a great cook, you probably know how to make cabbage rolls, but who has the time for this complicated dish?

You can ferment cabbage, but how many of you actually want to do that?

Here's a quick, easy casserole you can throw together. It's kind of like deconstructed cabbage rolls. This recipe serves 6 to 8 hungry people.

Deconstructed Cabbage Rolls

Ingredients

1 medium cabbage

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large onion, diced

1 clove garlic, finely minced

1 1/2 pounds of lean ground beef

1 14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes

1 can Rotel tomatoes (if you don't want it spicy, use 2 cans of the diced tomatoes)

1 8 ounce can tomato sauce

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Cooked rice

Directions

1. Remove the outer damaged leaves of the cabbage and cut out the core.

2. Cut the cabbage in half lengthwise then cut each half crosswise into thin strips.

3. Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan. Add the onion. Saute until soft and translucent. Don't let it brown.

4. Reduce the heat a little and add the minced garlic. Saute a couple of minutes. Again, don't let it brown. When garlic overcooks, it becomes bitter. Remove the onion and garlic and reserve. 

5. Add the ground beef to the pan and turn the heat back up. Brown the beef, stirring to break it up. 

6. Drain the excess fat from the pan and add the cabbage and mix to combine with the beef.

7. Add the onions and garlic back to the pan along with all the other ingredients.

8. Reduce the heat, place a lid over the saute pan, and simmer for 30 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the mixture gets dry, add up to 1/2 cup water. Why 30 to 60 minutes? The shorter the length of time it's cooked, the firmer the cabbage will be. Some like it where the cabbage holds more definition. If you like it really soft, cook it the full length of time.

9. Serve hot over rice.

Takeaway Truth

This is a great dish that takes little prep time and little attention once you've got it cooking. Perfect for a busy author or busy anyone. Great for a busy evening's meal.

New Release: Sunshine's Welcome by Kara O'Neal

Today, I'm pleased to welcome my friend Kara O'Neal to SlingWords.

Kara has a new release, Sunshine's Welcome. 

Readers, you're really going to enjoy this latest entry in the Texas Brides of Pike's Run series.

Introducing Kara O'Neal

Award-winning author, Kara O’Neal is a teacher and lives in Texas with her husband and three children. 

She writes stories with strong family ties, lots of romance, and guaranteed happy endings! 

Where to Find Kara

Website – www.karaoneal.com

Bookbub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kara-o-neal

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Kara-ONeal/e/B00FL19TH8/

Barnes and Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/kara+o'neal?_requestid=845025

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/KaraONeal84/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/KaraONealAuthor

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/karaoneal7/

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7278350.Kara_O_Neal

Blog -- http://www.karaoneal.com/blog

Blog – The Story Continues — http://www.karaoneal.com/the-story-continues

A Note from Kara

SUNSHINE’S WELCOME is on the shelves. Delilah’s story is done. And I’m awed.

I started writing the TEXAS BRIDES OF PIKE’S RUN series in 2000. The first book, WELCOME HOME, was published in 2013.

My Texas Brides series is almost done. Only one book left. I can’t fathom this.

And while SUNSHINE’S WELCOME is not the last story in the collection, it is the last that will take place in the past. We’re going to say goodbye to the characters that started Pike’s Run and the Swinging A.

My heart can’t take it.

While Delilah’s story is hers, it’s also everyone else’s. We go on a journey that recalls what came before her, those who shaped her, and made her Little-Bit, Dynamite, and now…Sunshine.

If you’ve been with us through the whole series, I hope you find SUNSHINE’S WELCOME as the proper goodbye to the past. You might want to read it with some tissues. (I sure needed to.)

Blurbing the Book

Pike’s Run, Texas, 1891

Delilah Davis has all she could want—a loving family and freedom to do as she pleases. Nothing has ever disrupted her world. That is, not until a tall, dark and stand-offish wrangler is hired to work on her family’s ranch.

Killian Blake irritates Delilah’s sunshine life, and she’s determined to show him that she’s more than capable of handling herself.

Detective Killian Blake of the Pinkerton Agency must go undercover on the Swinging A ranch to solve a thirteen-year-old murder. Once hired, he expected to be dealing with cowboys.

He hadn’t counted on investigating a family with bonds thicker than frozen molasses. And to make matters worse, there’s a beautiful, wild and headstrong female dogging his steps, and cracking the ice around his heart. The closer he gets to Delilah Davis, the more he wants to keep the family secrets. But fate has other ideas…

Excerpt from Sunshine's Welcome by Kara O'Neal

Killian Blake trotted down Main Street early Tuesday morning, looking straight ahead, senses alert and aware of his surroundings. A variety of shops stood on either side of the road, along with the Royal Hotel that rose two stories and had an upper balcony. The shingle for the sheriff’s office swung in the chill breeze. Not many people strolled the walks, the colder temperature keeping them inside where fires burned, as evidenced by the smoke wisping out of chimneys.

A quiet place. A small town. Not even on his map. But here he was, on assignment. Who knew for how long, but hopefully the stint allowed him to rest for a few weeks. After chasing Sasha Parker, The Debonair Kid, and his gang of train robbers across five states for six months, Killian was ready for a breather. Even if that reprieve put him back in the corral.

But he’d handle it. After eight years, it might be good to work with horses again. Of course, he still had to get the job with the Swinging A ranch. If he didn’t, Detective Irwin wouldn’t be happy.

It didn’t take long for Killian to reach the end of the line of stores, and he continued on, heading to the cattle ranch located two miles outside of town that was run by the Davis and Lonnigan families. Killian was on the hunt for a position as a wrangler. 

The solitary ride out to the ranch allowed him the chance to survey his surroundings even more. He went past pasture and forests of pine before a homestead came into view on his left. 

A sign proclaiming “J. Lonnigan, Veterinarian” stood at the gate. A one-story cabin about fifty feet in length sat on a gentle rise, while a variety of stables, paddocks, pens and corrals were on the side and behind the dwelling. Someone worked with a mule in one of the paddocks, and children darted around, some carrying out chores while others played.

Though the last name was the same as the owners of the ranch, Killian didn’t stop. He had the advertisement for the needed wrangler folded in his shirt pocket. It indicated that more information could be found at Callahan’s in Pike’s Run, Texas. The bartender at the saloon had told Killian to whom he should apply— J.T. Davis, Kyle Lonnigan or Deacon Tolbert—and that their spread was two miles south of town on the right. It shouldn’t be much farther and once he arrived, he just had to be hired.

When the gate to the Swinging A appeared, black iron against a chill, blue sky, he turned his horse down a path with deep wagon ruts going under the arched entrance. To his right rose a three-story, grand Victorian home, while a dog-run cabin stood to his left. About two hundred yards of freshly plowed land separated the dwellings. Probably for cotton, he surmised.

He trotted toward the cabin as the bartender had directed him to do, but when he knocked on the kitchen door, no one answered.

Frowning, Killian headed out of the dog-run and scanned the field. A barn had been a little behind the cabin. 

Perhaps the owner of the home was inside. Leaving his horse tethered to the hitching post outside the house, Killian walked toward the larger structure.

As he did so, movement in a tall oak grabbed his attention. He slowed his steps as bits of yellow peeked through the branches that, despite the season, still held leaves. Someone was up in the tree.

He moved closer, ducking down to try to get a better view of who sat on one of the higher branches. Petticoats peeked out beneath a yellow linen dress. Struck, Killian barked, “What the hell?”

A feminine squeak and gasp accompanied a crash.

The bright yellow bundle tumbled down, and Killian’s heart flew up into his throat. He shot forward, stretching out his arms, and caught her just in time. He stumbled under the blow but kept his feet, jostling her close against his chest.

Breathing heavily, his pulse beating wildly, he gazed into the bluest eyes he’d ever seen. Auburn hair framed an angelic face that blinked in astonishment. Her full lips parted as she clutched the front of his shirt with one hand and held tight to his shoulders with the other arm.

Oh…what the hell…

He’d just caught a beauty.

Takeaway Truth

The weekend is here. Grab your copy of Sunshine's Welcome by Kara O'Neal and have a great time reading this western romance.

Thursday3Some: Best Online Jokes

My friend Frank keeps me supplied with humor on a daily basis.

I don't know where he gathers all the jokes, cartoons, and funny sayings, but he collates them into an email that goes out to a few hundred of his friends.

Truthfully, I sometimes don't read them because I'm (a) out of time (b) too tired (c) too overwhelmed with other emails.

Last night I was all of the above, but I needed a laugh so I scrolled through his offerings. I'm glad I did because some of them are priceless. When I left my office, I was still chuckling.

3 Gifts of Humor

I don't know the origin of these jokes, but I wish I did. I'd like to thank the humor specialist who created these.

1. Brain cells, hair cells and skin cells—they all die constantly, but freaking fat cells seem to have eternal life.

2. Blow on the wine in your coffee mug to convince the rest of the Zoom meeting that it's coffee.

3. Since we're in another quarantine, why don't they train Amazon delivery people to give the  vaccine? That way, the entire population would be immunized by Saturday. Wednesday if they were Prime subscribers.  

Okay, I can't stop at 3. Here are 3 more.

1. If you stir coconut oil into your kale, it makes it easier to scrape it into the trash.

2. Wife: "Did I get fat during quarantine?" Husband: "You were never really skinny to begin with." Coroner: "Time of death, 11:00pm. Cause: Covid."

3. I hate it when people act all intellectual and talk about Mozart while they've never even seen one of his paintings.

Takeaway Truth

I think it's good to start and end the day with a laugh. Have a wonderful Thursday.

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Kindle Vella Now Available for Android

Read on to get Free Kindle Vella Tokens.

Kindle Vella episodes can now be read on your Android and Fire devices, i.e. cell phones and Fire tablets, etc.

You've probably heard about Kindle Vella, the stories that can be read episode by episode if you think about it like a TV series.

Or chapter by chapter if you think about a Kindle Vella story like a book which is what my Kindle Vella actually is: a long paranormal romantic thriller novel.

Want to try out this new story format? Drop by my Kindle Vella STONE ANGEL. You can read the first 3 episodes free. After that, purchase Tokens and redeem them to unlock episodes.

How Kindle Vella Works

Kindle Vella brings you stories released one episode at a time.

You can follow the stories you like to keep up with the latest episode. When you like an episode, give it a Thumbs Up to let the author and other readers know you liked it.

The first 3 episodes of every story are always free. Tokens may only be used to unlock Kindle Vella story episodes in the Kindle app and on Amazon. 

When you unlock episodes, you will receive one Fave a week that you can award to the story you're enjoying most that week. Top Faved stories are listed so other readers can find them too.

If you're looking for a particular story, you can search the Kindle Vella storefront by Title or Author.

Free Tokens

If you're a first time user and the 500 free tokens offer is still available, click the hot linked words, "Start reading any story free," in the banner on the Kindle Vella Storefront. If the offer is still valid, you'll immediately receive 500 tokens.

Takeaway Truth

If you love to read but have little time, Kindle Vella is made for you!

Click here to SIGN UP for my free NL!

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Saturday Share Recipe: Salad Dressings

I've been trying to concoct a salad dressing recipe that was made by my mother's generation.

Mothers and grandmothers of decades past didn't buy bottles of salad dressing at the store. They made their own.

I want to do that because I want a salad dressing without the vegetable gums that are commonly found in commercially made salad dressings—and so many other products that it's mind boggling.

As it turns out, I have an allergic reaction to guar gum and other substances like that. 

Go Natural Means Homemade

Here are 3 homemade dressings that mimic the most popular salad dressings sold. If you want to try them all, just cut each recipe in half. 

If you find one you like, leave a comment and let me know which one worked for you.

Italian Dressing (Makes 1 quart.)

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

1 and 1/2 cups olive oil

2 large cloves of garlic, crushed

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon oregano

* Optional: 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes if you like it hot and spicy

In a large jar with a well-fitting lid, combine all of the ingredients. Shake well. Place the lid on and store in the refrigerator.

French Dressing (Makes 2 cups.)

This is similar to Catalina Dressing. If you don't like a French dressing that sweet, use the lesser amount of sugar.

2/3 cup ketchup

1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar (amount according to your taste preference)

2/3 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

salt to taste

1 to 2 cloves of crushed garlic

2 tablespoons finely minced or grated onion

Combine all ingredients in a jar with a lid. Shake well. You can also throw this in a blender so the onion is completely disolved. Store covered in the refrigerator.

Ranch Dressing (Makes 2 cups.)

1 cup mayonnaise (try to get a good quality without a lot of chemical ingredients or make your own)

1 cup buttermilk

2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions (just the tops)

2 teaspoons finely minced parsley

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

* Optional: 1/8 teaspoon cayenne

Combine all ingredients in a jar. Shake well. Cover and refrigerate. 

Takeaway Truth

If you're trying to eat more naturally, salad dressings are a good skill to master.

Random Friday Facts About Roses

Since Valentine's Day is 10 days away, here are some facts about Roses since most guys give roses to their sweeties on that day.

Red Roses symbolize love, romance, courage, and beauty.

Yellow Roses symbolize new beginnings, joy, and friendship.

Orange Roses symbolize desire, sensuality, and fascination.

Deep Pink Roses symbolize gratitude and appreciation.

Pale Pink Roses symbolize sympathy as well as admiration.

White Roses symbolize innocence, purity, reverence, silence, and also secrecy.

All Flowers Have Meanings

It's true. All flowers have meanings. Your sweetheart may prefer Stargazer Lilies over Roses.

If you'd like to learn more about the symbolism of flowers and the various colors of the respective flowers, try The Language of Flowers.

It's a nice book to add to your home library especially if you're into gardening.

Takeaway Truth

Of course, many women have their own favorite color of roses or variety of flower. Do yourself a solid and find out what color rose or flower variety your sweetheart likes, and give her those. That will make her Valentine flowers even more special. 

No Shadow Here on Groundhog Day

Goodness! I broke a tradition today. This was the first Groundhog Day that I did not watch the movie of the same name starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.

Yep, I missed the endless playing of I Got You, Babe by Sonny and Cher.

I've had the writing equivalent of "nose to the grindstone" since returning from my latest trip. I'm so far behind I can't see daylight, but I'm plugging along, hoping to finish my latest book by the deadline.

No Shadow

Today was the first Groundhog Day I can remember where we had no sunshine here in the Houston area. Overcast, windy, cold, sleet, and snow flurries tonight.

I can attest to the climate changes because I've lived in the Houston area about 40 years, and I've never seen the kind of winters we've had for the last 10 years.

I, like everyone in Texas, am praying that we don't have another Ice-Apocolypse like last February. At our new house, we'd planned to have a generator installed by now, but time got away from us.

New Episodes of Stone Angel

I'm still rocking and rolling with my Kindle Vella, Stone Angel.

This paranormal romantic thriller is a departure for me, and I'm having fun with it.

Be sure and take a look at it. The first 3 episodes are free reads. I hope it intrigues you enough to try the next few episodes. There are now 10 episodes in all available to read. I'll be publishing a new episode this weekend.

Takeaway Truth

In the meantime, stay warm and stay safe. Oh, and read some of the episodes of Stone Angel. If you like it, click Follow and please leave a review.

How to Develop the Reading Habit in Others

Develop the reading habit in a child by reading a bedtime story every night. 

If you do this every day, you'll have read 1,825 books to your child by his/her 5th birthday.

To develop the reading habit in an adult is more difficult, but I think it can be done. 

Learn what interests the adult—what TV programs, movies, and hobbies appeal to them? 

How do they spend their leisure time? What are they passionate about.

Find a book with some aspect of that passion. 

Maybe it's characters who share that interest in some way, perhaps as a job or a hobby, or it's in their background. Look for books with plots that revolve around that special interest, books with information plots about that.

There are millions of novels out there so I know there are some that can appeal to everyone. 

Enter a topic into Amazon's search box and be amazed at how many books pop up.

True Story

When my daughter was a baby, I'd read the newspapers to her. I wanted to read them, and I found the sound of my voice made her content.

She'd lie on a quilt looking up at me, and I'd read the daily newspaper to her as well as articles in the Wall Street Journal. She's always been a reader, and she married a man who reads too. Their home library is almost as large as mine.

Takeaway Truth

Give books as gifts. Give them as print, ebook, or audio. Donate books to shelters, libraries, and schools. Share the gift of reading.

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