Eating small portions, but wanting to snack all the time. So appetizers are just awesome-sauce in my mind! Those little tidbits that let you try a bunch of different things without having to make the decision of what you really want to eat, cause you get to eat a bit of everything.

This is an appetizer that usually shows up at most of our family holiday gatherings and doesn’t stick around long. The kids even enjoy it- not caring one bit that they are actually getting some veggies in!

Vegetable Appetizer

2 pks crescent rolls                                                 1 pk cheddar cheese

1 8oz cream cheese                                                 Veggies: Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots etc.

1 cup mayonnaise                                                   1 pkg Hidden Valley Ranch party dip

Spread rolls and bake as directed, until light brown (350 degrees for 10-12 minutes). Let Cool. Mix cream cheese, mayonnaise and ranch dip and then spread over. Layer with veggies and cheese, pressing down lightly onto the cheese. Refrigerate. Cut into squares and serve and enjoy!

Now, enjoy this excerpt from my guest author, Linda O’Connor and her novel, Perfectly Honest.

Perfectly Honest by Linda O’Connor

You never know where your words will take you.

When Mikaela Finn agreed to be Sam’s ‘fiancée’ for a weekend, she probably should have told him that she’s a doctor.

Sam O’Brien, aka ‘Dr. Eye Candy’, is trying to shed his playboy reputation and convince a small town hospital that he’s ready to settle down. But when his ‘fiancée’ helps deliver a baby in the middle of the meet and greet, it’s a bit of a shock. If he’d known the whole truth, he might have done things a little differently because somehow his ‘fiancée’ ends up stealing his job and his heart. Not exactly the change he wanted.

Lies and deceit – it’s a match made in heaven!

Perfectly Honest will be available at Amazon on January 14, 2015.

As part of The 12 Days of Christmas celebration, Linda donated a $5 Amazon card and ebook copy of Perfectly Honest to the prize list. Click HERE for this and many more random drawings. To follow the celebration, find a new recipe, pick up a holiday decorating or shopping tip, click HERE.

About the Author

I’ve been writing for three years, and I’m thrilled that Soul Mate Publishing will be publishing my latest novel, Perfectly Honest.I love reading romantic comedies so naturally that’s what I write. I never aspired to be a writer, but now I’m addicted. I love it. I balance writing with my work as a physician at an Urgent Care Clinic and being a mom to three sons (luckily grown and capable of throwing together a decent meal, in a pinch). Plus I like to keep active and cycle, cross-country ski, skate, walk with my husband, or dance every day.The idea to write came after working with young adults. There were some basics I thought they should know – mental health symptoms, birth control myths, how to take ownership of their health. I thought hey, if David Chilton of The Wealthy Barber fame can dole out financial advice in a barbershop, maybe I could dole out medical advice in a Romance novel. That’s how my first novel, She’s Not a Fan, was born.

For many years, I taught clinical skills to medical students and spent a lot of time writing detailed roles for actor-patients. It was great practice for developing characters in my stories. Joining the Romance Writers of America, taking online workshops, (and reading) all helped improve my writing. Medical school was challenging, but it was nothing compared to figuring out where commas go, POV, or sorting out verb tense (simple past, past perfect, past perfect progressive – did they know there were 25 other letters they could have used to name those things?)

Obviously I’m still learning, but I love the process.

I don’t write about people I know, but I definitely take inspiration from snippets of conversations or from the emotion I feel when I talk to people. My designated writing space is any place with a view of Lake Ontario, preferably outside (for three of the four seasons).

Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter

The post To be Perfectly Honest, I love appetizers appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Stocking stuffers, gifts for teachers, hairdressers, coworkers, the hostess of the party or that guest that might pop in at the last minute. The gifts for people that you might not be sure what to get them, but what you want is something that most anyone would like. I’ll give you a few suggestions of my favorite go-to gifts, and I’d love to hear some suggestions from yours. (Because I’m not done shopping!)

• Books (Really? You didn’t know this would be my number 1?)
• Journals (I’m a writer, remember? Any office product has my name written all over it and I only assume others would love them as well.)
• Speaking of office products: cute tablets, awesome pens, colorful sticky notes (who has enough sticky notes? I could wallpaper a room with mine)
• Picture frames (For people, unlike me, who get those photos out of cyberspace)
• Big candy bars (no explanation needed and if you don’t like chocolate, I’m open to having them re-gifted back to me)
• Lottery tickets (Cause your gift could be bumped up into super-awesome…but just remember the generous person who bought it for you..key word there- generous.)
• Bath and body lotions – because everyone wants to be sweet smelling (My guest author Sloane knows everybody loves this! It’s part of her prize package!)  

Speaking of my guest… check out Sloane B. Collins book! Could be a great gift for a friend, sister, coworker…or you!

Love Redesigned by Sloane B. Collins

Give American cake artist Genevieve Haywood a picture of anything, and she’ll turn it into a sweet and decadent creation. She’s not going to let hard work or competition stop her from opening her dream business. But when she’s hired as the cake artist for her cousin’s wedding in France, she never expected to run into the French fashion designer who broke her heart fifteen years ago.

Roman Duchaine is done with living life in the fast lane. Tired of being in the haute couture spotlight, he’s moved back to the small French village where he was born and raised.

Roman’s ready to settle down and have a family until the lost love of his life arrives for his cousin’s wedding. Seeing her reminds him just how devastating falling in love can be.

Their fragile truce is meant to last through the wedding, yet every second together makes their attraction and long-buried feelings undeniable. But old habits and hurts die hard, and while Roman is ready to weave their lives together, Genevieve can’t afford to lose herself in his shadow.

Pick up your copy today from Amazon.

As part of The 12 Days of Christmas celebration, Sloane donated a Paris-scented shower gel/lotion/mist set to the prize list. Click HERE for this and many more random drawings. To follow the celebration, find a new recipe, pick up a holiday decorating or shopping tip, click HERE.

About the Author

Debut author, Sloane Burke Collins, is thrilled to be a Soul Mate author. Her novella Love Redesigned won 1st place in the Contemporary category of the 2013 Indiana Golden Opportunity contest. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Dallas Area Romance Authors, and Contemporary Romance Writers.

Since Sloane and her husband love to travel, she has vowed to write a novel set in just about every place they visit. From the wilds of Maine, to the rocky coast of Oregon, to the lush paradise of Oahu, and the rolling hills of Ireland, all of it is fodder for Sloane to craft stories of love, intrigue, and perhaps a Paranormal or two.

Sloane is a fifth-generation Texan, and after a stint in Missouri and Florida, she is back home now and lives in the Dallas area with her husband of over twenty-six years, and their four rambunctious cats (all named after characters in her favorite Julia Quinn novel).

Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

The post Money can’t buy love, so buy stuff instead appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

After this frenzy of shopping for everyone else. It might be nice to win some stuff for yourself…or you could give it away and forget about the shopping.

The post Is it better to give or recieve appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Happy Book Birthday today to Sophia’s Kimble’s release

 Protect Her

One thing I liked immediately (and I think you’ll like too) about Protect Her was this…the cover! Feast your eyes upon this beauty! The details, the sense of story all came across to me immediately, it is absolutely breathtaking.

Another thing I love about Protect Her is the story. Check out this blurb:

Golden Alexander flees her hallucination of a demon, and runs heart first into the brooding alpha male she’s been dreaming about for years.

Kris Pietka is done with women…he’s broken. But when he meets Golden, an overwhelming need to protect her tests everything he knew about himself.

A centuries old Druid’s curse prophesying their demise thrusts them together and they race across the country trying to break the ancient bond.

But something evil watches—it covets.

Yet Another thing
…I’m trying to limit it, but there’s just so much I love about Sophia Kimble’s writing (and you will too)…
I love to hear from authors is how the story started, where it all began. Here’s a peek into an interview Sophia did with her main character, Golden Alexander. From Golden’s lips to Sophia’s ear:

“Do you ever wonder if you’re going crazy, or are already there?”
I assured her I had and she closed her eyes. “Heavenly blue morning glories.”
“Pardon?” I had no idea what she was talking about.
“It’s my favorite flower. It also happens to be the color of the man’s eyes I’ve been seeing in my dreams since I first saw the demon seven years ago. I know his eyes almost better than I know my own. Almond shaped with scattered flecks of violet, long lashes surrounding the piercing blue color, light-brown eyebrows, and sandy-brown hair hanging to his shoulders. He comforts me.”
I kept quiet, waiting for her to continue.
“God, I wish he was real. Dr. Rosenthal said I invented him to help with the traumatic loss in my life, and I guess he’s right about that, even though he’s full of crap about the other diagnoses.”
“What other diagnoses?”
Her lids popped open, deep green eyes boring into mine.
“The demon, Sophia . . . it’s real.”

Okay…One more thing..
I promise, then I’ll stop so you can buy Protect Her right now, don’t wait, do it now! (I love being bossy about other people’s stuff)

A cool fact about Protect Her is that Sophia’s great, great aunt was Golden Alexander and there were two other Golden’s in her family tree. Sophia’s genealogy research on her own family helped mold much of the story for Protect Her. Resulting in a story with details so vivid and rich that Sophia made me a potential lover of historicals!

I spy with my little eye:

Take a look at Sophia’s beautiful picture below and compare it to the cover of Protect Her, then tell me in the comments below if you notice any similarities.

Sophia Kimble has always wanted to be an author, but for years, life got in the way. She wouldn’t change a thing about how her life turned out, though. Her family keeps her laughing and loving. Her wonderful husband and two extraordinary children stand beside her every step of the way and make this journey called life worth living.

Sophia has worked as a nurse for twenty years, but has put that career path aside to devote her time and imagination to writing down the stories that keep her up nights.

She takes her love of the paranormal, history, and genealogy, and weaves them into tales of family, fated love, and supernatural occurrences.

Connect with Sophia at the following sites:
Website:
Facebook:
Twitter

The post Stuff I love about Sophia Kimble’s release, Protect her appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.