December 22, 2015

Merry Christmas





AMAZON BUY LINK: SIZZLE IN THE SNOW

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December 15, 2015

SIZZLE IN THE SNOW, A SOUL MATE CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

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December 15, 2015


SIZZLE IN THE SNOW: A SOUL MATE CHRISTMAS COLLECTION


Eight steamy romances by eight Soul Mate 

Publishing authors . . .



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BUY NOWBuy Link


This Christmas season, Soul Mate Publishing and editor, Char Chaffin, presents Sizzle In The Snow: A Soul Mate Christmas Collection, an anthology now available on Amazon and Soul Mate Publishing. The featured authors and their stories include:

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Welcome to our eighth and final newsletter in celebration of the release of


Sizzle In The Snow: A Soul Mate Christmas Collection.


Inside you'll find great decorating tips, recipes and cocktails, excerpts, craft ideas, song links, holiday memories, and personalized cards and poems by the authors!

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Book CornerWe promised a sneak peek, so here goes . . .Author Amy Deason shares an excerpt of her short story, Second Chances: A Christmas Story!
           

Octavia turned and was headed out the door when she stopped, looking back over her shoulder, her mouth turned up in a smile. "I just thought you might be interested to know that Michael Dennison is the coach."
          Grace stopped in her tracks. "Michael?" she asked, her heart skipping a beat.
          For a moment, she forgot to breathe. Michael Dennison. Good Lord, that man had been hot. Tall with an athletic build, dark brown hair and incredible blue eyes, he caught her attention no matter where she was. Or he used to the last time she’d seen him, several years ago when she’d been down here for a visit.
          "I see you remember him," Octavia laughed, topping in the doorway and turning back.
          "Of course I do. How could I not? But wait, he’s the basketball coach here? I thought he moved away to the city."
          "Oh, he did, but he got divorced three years ago and moved back. He’s got a little girl, Nicole. Actually," Octavia mused, tilting her head, "she’s about the same age as Gracie. Hey, maybe they could become friends. And no, before you ask, I don’t think he’s involved with anyone. Yet," she drawled out, her intention crystal clear.
          Grace could feel her face heating up. "Come on, you don’t seriously think he’d be interested in me do you? I mean, he was so good looking . . ."
          "And you’re what? Chopped liver? Give me a break."Octavia rolled her eyes dramatically. "I know for a fact that the man had the hots for you for a long time. I doubt that’s changed. Oh and one more thing…"
          "What?"
          "If I were you, I’d find that charger for your phone. I have a feeling that you might be getting a message pretty soon," her friend replied mischievously. "Well, gotta go. See you tomorrow about five.," she said, dashing out the door before Grace could say another word.
          "Mom, Lee won’t get out of my room!" Grace yelled, her voice traveling down the stairs.
          With a sigh, Grace started up the steps and heard Lee giggling hysterically.
Oh man, she thought, I've got to find that charger.
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Cocktail Corner Busy shopping, wrapping and socializing?Kick back with a festive cocktail! 
Recipe shared by Kim Hotzon:
Cuban Mojito
Recipe = single serving
·         2-3 fresh mint leaves
·         1/2 ounce lime juice
·         1 teaspoon white sugar, or more to taste
·         1/4 cup ice cubes, or more as needed
·         1.5 - 2 fluid ounces white Bacardi rum
·         4 1/2 ounces club soda
Place mint leaves, lime juice and sugar in bottom of a glass and muddle with a spoon until mint is crushed. Fill glass with ice cubes. Pour rum and soda over the ice; stir. Serve with stirring spoon and garnish with fresh lime wedge.
Optional: Muddle fresh blueberries, raspberries or blackberries in with mint, lime and sugar for a refreshing switch to this classic cocktail.
Optional: Replace club soda with 7-UP for a sweeter, fizzier drink.

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Holiday Memory Corner

Authors CD Hersh share their unforgettable holiday memory . . .
 Holiday memory: 
A Paper Christmas Tree

What do you do when you’re poor and don’t have the money for a Christmas tree?

Years ago when we were recently married college students, we were in that predicament. Not only did we not have a tree, we didn’t have much floor space to spare in our on-campus studio apartment. What we did have was access to hundreds of discarded, rectangular, IBM punch cards which Catherine liked to turn into paper wreaths. So, we got creative.
Using the IBM punch cards, some staples, a few cardboard rounds, and some string, we created a one-of-kind, paper Christmas tree that we hung from the ceiling. 













We put the Christmas cards we received in the center of the wreaths as decorations.

After the holiday was over we pitched the paper tree (we had no storage room either), but the memories of that first Christmas tree linger—unique and precious like our love.

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Recipe Corner 

Company coming over? Author Tina Susedik dishes up her favorite holiday recipe:Holiday Recipe:  Fruit Nut Sheet Bars 


This is a recipe that was a favorite of my siblings (there are seven of us) as we grew up. I made it a few times for my husband and kids, but I'm the only one who ever ate them, so I stopped. Last year we were at one of my older sisters' for a Christmas party. To my joy, there they were, sitting right on top of other bars. She said she was the only one who ate them, but since several of us siblings were coming, she made them. Ah, the joy of sitting with her, dipping the bars in hot chocolate, just like the old days.

 
Fruit Nut Sheet
Ingredients
1 cup chopped English walnuts
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 cup seedless dates - cut into small pieces
1 cup flour
3 eggs
1 tsp. baking powder
Powdered sugar

Beat sugar and eggs together. Dredge dates and walnuts in flour/baking powder mixture. Add to sugar and egg mixture. Pour into shallow, greased baking pan. Bake for 1/2 hour at 300 degrees. Cut and shake bars in powdered sugar until coated.

These tend to get hardened after a time, so dipping them in coffee or hot chocolate is a fun way to soften them up.

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Music Corner

   Listen up! Cheryl Yeko shares her favorite holiday song:



Song Title: O' Holy Night
By Susan Boyle

Song Link: https://youtu.be/JxCO5BGQIcs

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Craft Corner


Looking for a simple craft to do with your children or grandchildren? Feeling crafty?

Crystal Firsdon shares an easy to do, festive DIY craft:

When I open the ornament box every year and see pictures of my family and how they looked 2 or 5 or more years ago, I love it. Photo ornaments are my favorite, and so easy to make yourself. I take a favorite family photo from the past year, or my kids’ school pictures, and glue the picture to the cover of an old Christmas card. I cut out the shape I want the ornament to be out of the card, punch a hole in the top, string some ribbon through the hole, and voila! Instant picture ornament. Getting it laminated will help keep it safe.

You can also glue the picture to some cool wrapping paper, then glue the wrapping paper to a piece of cardboard or other sturdy backing. And of course, there are lots of pre-made kits out there where you put the pieces together and then insert your picture. Those are great, too.

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Decorating Corner

Time to bring out the mistletoe! Author Beth Carter has a great decorating tip!

Fill a glass bowl with a bag of cranberries. Add water. The cranberries will float to the top.  Add several white tea lights. These will also float. 

Enjoy this natural, pretty holiday decoration! 

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Holiday Card


What's a holiday without a personalized card by one of your favorite authors? Author Ryan Jo Summers shares her holiday wishes:



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Of course, as authors we love our readers, and we couldn't pass up an opportunity to offer swag, free books, and a grand prize which was awarded to one lucky blog/newsletter follower!

Congratulations to our grand prize winner Brooke Patricia! Several other winners were chosen for free gift cards, books and prizes!


Grand Prize

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Thank you to everyone for joining our Facebook Launch Party on November 19th!

Missed the Facebook party? You can now purchase a copy of Sizzle In The Snow: A Soul Mate Christmas Collection! 

Follow the authors' blogs for a sneak peek of this wonderful collection!


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