Beyond the Book: Brunch at Bittersweet Care

Blurb

Baker and pastry chef Melody Johansson has always believed in finding the positive in every situation, but seven years after she moved to Denver, she can’t deny that she’s stuck in a rut. One relationship after another has ended in disaster, and her classical French training is being wasted on her night job in a mediocre chain bakery. Then the charming and handsome private pilot Justin Keller lands on the doorstep of her workplace in a snowstorm, and Melody feels like it’s a sign that her luck is finally turning around.

Justin is intrigued by the lively bohemian baker, but the last thing he’s looking for is a relationship. His own romantic failures have proven that the demands of his job are incompatible with meaningful connections, and he’s already pledged his life savings to a new business venture across the country—an island air charter in Florida with his sister and brother-in-law.

Against their better judgment, Melody and Justin find themselves drawn together by their unconventional career choices and shared love of adventure. But when an unexpected windfall provides Melody with the chance to open her dream bakery-café in Denver with her best friend, chef Rachel Bishop, she’s faced with an impossible choice: stay and put down roots with the people and place she’s come to call home . . . or give it all up for the man she loves.

Review:

Most of the time when I read a book I can figure out how the author is going to get a couple together, but this time I had no idea. Melody has a chance to fulfill her lifelong dream in Denver, and Justin has already committed to a life in Florida. Both of them had a lot to lose, and I really couldn’t see how the author was going to fix things.

I liked both Melody and Justin. They were well drawn and multi dimensional people who were easy to relate to. They made mistakes which kept the plot moving forward. The one thing that came through loud and clear was the growing love between them.

I think the descriptions in the book set the stage perfectly. Melody is a baker, and the book is filled with descriptions of marvelous baked goods. At one point I could swear I smelled fresh bread, LOL.

The book also discusses issues such as friendship, childhood issues, and bad choices in the past. All are handled tastefully as this is an inspirational novel.

I’d recommend it.  Just know that you’ll be peeking ahead to see how it all turns out.

Beyond the Book: The Sentence

everal of my heroines have loved cooking, and one of them was Rachel Amos, heroine of The Sentence. I thought about what I’d have Rachel cook and decided that spaghetti was something a young woman would probably know about. In fact, one of the first things I cooked when I was younger was spaghetti. Rachel is proud of her culinary skills, and in this excerpt she gets into hot water because of it. First a blurb, then the excerpt.

Blurb:

How could he do it! How could her father bring the guy who burned the church into their home for six months? Yeah, it was an accident and her dad’s a minister, but if he wanted to help this man why didn’t he go to the prison to do it? Spoiled and slightly judgmental, Rachel has almost as much to learn as their unwilling guest.

Excerpt:

“What about you?” Clint asked, his face filled with curiosity. “Do you like to cook?”

Rachel preened and knew it. She was proud of her culinary skills. “I do okay,” she assured him.

“Oh, yeah?” Challenge lit Clint’s eyes. “Cook something for me and prove it.”

“You don’t think I can?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Rachel scowled. “No, but you hinted at it.”

Clint just stood there with a faint smile on his handsome face, so Rachel picked up the gauntlet he had thrown down. “Okay, I will. I’ll cook dinner for you tomorrow night.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

Had she totally lost her mind? Why had she done that? She didn’t have to prove anything to Clint Hayes. Well, it was too late to cancel now. If she didn’t cook the stupid dinner for him, he’d think she couldn’t.

She stormed back to the house where she belonged and slammed the door behind her. “Goodness,” her mother exclaimed. “What’s got you in such a snit?”

“Clint!”

Mrs. Amos turned to Rachel and set her coffee down. “What did he do?”

“He manipulated me into cooking dinner for him tomorrow night.”

A faint smile crossed her mother’s face. “And how did he do that in such a short time?”

“He insinuated I don’t know how to cook.”

Mrs. Amos took a seat at the kitchen table. “Sit down with me, Rachel.”

Rachel pulled a chair out and joined her mother. “Yes, ma’am?”

“Honey, you be careful with Clint.”

Rachel’s mother has cause for concern. Burning down the church was an accident, but Clint only did it because he was drunk at the time and threw a cigarette where he shouldn’t have. His prior occupation was nothing to brag of either. He worked at a private club with a bad reputation in the town.

Now about that spaghetti. Here’s the recipe I had in mind when Rachel made her spaghetti. Try if if you like. It really is good.

3 or 4 stalks celery chopped but not too fine

1 stick butter

1 lb ground round or hamburger

4 cloves fresh garlic

½ bottle Worcestershire sauce (big bottle)

2 can tomato soup

1 can tomato paste  (small can)

1 can tomato sauce

1 can mushroom soup

1 small can sliced mushrooms drained

½ bottle garlic powder

3 cloves fresh garlic, not three whole heads

2 large onions chopped but not too fine

1 bell pepper chopped but not too fine

Fry the celery, onions, fresh garlic and bell pepper together with butter until tender.  Add steak, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce and cook to gray color.  Add tomato soup, sauce, paste, and mushroom soup.  Last add mushrooms.  Let cook on low 15-30 minutes.  This sauce tastes better if you give the flavors time to blend.  It can be frozen which is good because it makes a lot.

Time to Say Goodbye

Hello! This is one of my tour stops during my one month book tour for Time to Say Goodbye by Parker J. Cole. This virtual book tour is organized by Write Now Literary Book Tours. This tour runs March 5-30, 2018.  Follow the tour here.  Book your own tour here WNL.   

      

ISBN-10: 1973224151

ISBN-13: 978-1973224150

Genre: Sweet Inspirational Romance

About The Author

I am an author, speaker, and radio show host with a fanatical obsession with the Lord, Star Trek, K-dramas, anime, romance books, old movies, speculative fiction, and knitting. An off and on addict to Mountain Dew and marshmallows who writes to fill the void the sugar left behind.

About The Book

Gargi Kapoor is the only one convinced her brother, Dev, is innocent of the crime he was convicted of. When he is sent to the hospital with an unexplained paralyzing disease she finds herself having to lean on the last person she'd ever want to depend on -- a man who wants her brother to pay for stealing his mother's life savings.

Leon Reckley is extremely satisfied to find the man who ripped his mother off suffering from an unknown disease that leaves him paralyzed and in need of rehabilitation therapeutic services. He's even happier when he is given the opportunity to be the therapist that makes him fit enough to return to prison to finish his sentence. No one will work harder to make sure Dev Kapoor serves every minute of his prison sentence.

Gargi never dreamed the man who has utter contempt for her brother would be the man she slowly begins to trust. Leon never thought he'd be convinced Dev might be innocent, let alone be drawn to his enemy's little sister. Together, will they find the truth? Or when Leon's job is over, will it simply be time to say goodbye?

 Character Interview

Q. Please tell the readers who are the main characters?

            Gargi Kapoor is a former model who is on a mission to prove her brother, Devansh Kapoor, is innocent of the crimes he was found guilty of.

            Leon Reckley is a physical therapist who is convinced Gargi’s brother is guilty of stealing his mother’s life savings.

Q.  What or is there conflict in the story?

            When Gargi’s brother succumbs to a debilitating disease, Leon is dispatched to help bring him back to health again. But how can he put aside his anger for what he believes Devansh did to his mother. Gargi doesn’t trust Leon at all but she needs his help.

Q. Which characters in “are you most like?

            I think I’m like Gargi the most as I have a deep sense of loyalty to those I care about. My loyalty is like marriage – for better or for worse. It is my strength and my weakness but it is a huge part of who I am.

Q. Take us inside “your book” What are two major events

taking place?

            At the beginning of the book, Dev’s life hangs in the balance when he’s diagnosed with a condition. Due to Gargi’s insistence, he is transferred from the prison infirmary to hospital. Leon, once he recognizes Gargi, spies on them about their illness. This throws two people together who have every reason to hate each other.

Q. Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?

            There is a secondary character who is based off a real person. Shruti who helped a lot out with the story. She’s a darling!

Q. Describe each character in three words?

            Gargi – loyal, determined, and introspective

            Leon – brash, blunt, and caring

  

Q. If your book became a movie who would play the characters?

            For Gargi, it would be Nayanthara  a South Indian actress

            For Leon,  it would be David Beckham with a beard.
           

Q.  Your lead characters have “baggage” that keeps them from wanting to pursue a new relationship. Do you think sometimes we let our past get in the way of what God has planned for our futures?

            Oh, for sure! I’ve been there myself as I held on to all kinds of negative emotions. Once I let that go, I was able to move on. My characters experience the same thing as well.

Q. How do you see yourself in your character’s story, if at all?

I see myself as Gargi due to her fierce loyalty for her family. I care very much for my family and friends who are close to me. I do whatever I can for them because I take my relationships seriously.

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Purchase Links

Amazon ebook 

Amazon paperback

Tour hosted by WNL Book Tours 

www.wnlbooktours.com

Rachel's Dream

Rachel’s Dream

by Lisa Jones Baker

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GENRE: Inspirational Romance  (Amish)

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BLURB:

Rachel Kauffman and Jarred Zimmerman seem to have nothing in common.  She's the outgoing youngest of a large, close-knit Amish clan, while Jarred is a young veterinarian who trusts the animals he heals far more than he trusts people.  However, when Rachel's horse falls ill, Jarred's struggles to save him show Rachel he's a man who cares deeply.  And the respect he feels for her gentle warmhearted ways soon becomes an irresistible bond. When Rachel tries to help Jarred reunite with his parents, it's an unexpected blessing..with one complication.  If he takes this chance to put his past to rest, it could separate him and Rachel for good.  Now, with prayer, love...and her hope chest's small miracles, Jarred and Rachel must find the courage to reconcile their wishes into a joyous life together.

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EXCERPT:

He didn’t know Rachel well, but his instincts were usually right on target.  His keen sense of reading people had kicked in at an early age.  So had his lack of trust.  By contrast, the Kauffman girl was unusually open and honest.  Without a doubt, Rachel represented everything he’d yearned for growing up.  When he was with her, an unprecedented sense of comfort and security filled his heart and soul.

But he had reciprocated her sentiment.  And to his surprise, he’d confessed to her that his parents hadn’t raised him.  It was the first time he’d ever told anyone, but she was a good listener, and the sad story of growing up without his own mom and dad was something he’d carried on his shoulders a long time.

He stood and paced to the living room to glance at the picture of his brother.  At that moment, he knew to stay realistic about this sudden adoration for the beautiful Amish girl.  Although she was of the Christian faith, the Amish way of life differed greatly from his own, so his feelings he had for Rachel could only lead to a dead-end street.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 Lisa Jones Baker is a multi-published author with Kensington Books.  Her debut book of THE HOPE CHEST OF DREAMS series, REBECCA’S BOUQUET, won a Publishers Weekly starred review.  A former teacher with a BA degree in French education, Lisa has been on 5 out of 7 continents, is a dog lover.  She enjoys positive thinkers , volunteering in her church’s food pantry, and strong female characters.    

You can find her on facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009288891265

Website: http://www.lisajonesbaker.com/

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rachels-dream-lisa-jones-baker/1124230256

Kensington - Print: http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/34546

Kensington - eBook http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/34547

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rachels-Dream-Hope-Chest-Dreams/dp/1420141562/ref=sr_1_1

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Lisa will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway