Hello! And thanks to Keri for allowing me to drop by here today on my whirl wind Mini Adventures tour. I’m celebrating my soon to be released Ellora’s Cave contemporary romance book, Personal Adventures. A big motivation for writing this book was to write people like those I grew up around. I’ve lived an odd life, so I’m told.
As a kid, my parents and I traveled all over the United States, Canada and into Mexico working rodeos. My mom was a trick rider and roman rider, and my dad was a world champion calf roper and team roper. You can imagine all the traveling this required. We were often in different states every week, sometimes twice a week, with only a day to get from one location to the other. I’ve seen most of the continent from the passenger side of a motorhome!
With all this traveling, and often having only one parent for – ah – guidance, I was an adventurous kind of kid. Who wouldn’t be when your parents daily do stuff that normal people would find crazy, just to earn a buck? There was a lot of playing cowboys and Indians, or Raiders of the Lost Ark, as a kid. Possibly the biggest gamble I did as a kid, was taking part in the junior rodeos. I got to be a rodeo clown and taunt bulls – with horns – as a ten year old. My friends and I dubbed ourselves as the Junior All American Trick Riders, after our mothers, and did pre-rodeo entertainment. There was no adventure my parents told me was off limits or impossible. They really nurtured me to believe that I could do anything, go anywhere.
For a long time in high school and college I worked with kids, because I didn’t want to let that spirit of wonderful adventure go. I have these crystal clear moments in my memory of riding one of our horses, bareback, through a stand of red wood trees that were hundreds of years old, eating a hand-picked Washington apple, and sitting on top of a hill, watching the clouds, maybe some cars or people. It’s a simple moment in time, but I remember I was looking for the next big adventure.
Most of the time I think of myself as a big kid still. I’m silly. I write ridiculous characters, like Carey in Personal Adventures, who aren’t completely mature or totally serious. There’s something fun about getting older and still acting a fool. I’m a firm believer that you never have to completely grow up.
I’m going to give away a copy of my book, Personal Adventures, and a $5 gift card to the winner’s choice of either Barnes & Noble or Amazon. To enter, answer the following question. The contest will end in 48 hours, and the winner will be chosen at random.
As a kid, I always wanted to be Indiana Jones when we played. That was my adventure icon. Who was yours?
It can never be said that Sidney Bristol has had a ‘normal’ life. She is a recovering roller derby queen, former missionary, and tattoo addict. She grew up in a motor-home on the US highways (with an occasional jaunt into Canada and Mexico), traveling the rodeo circuit with her parents. Sidney has lived abroad in both Russia and Thailand, working with children and teenagers. She now lives in Texas where she splits her time between a job she loves, writing, reading and belly dancing.
You can keep up with her by checking out her Website, where you can see her latest releases, blog and sign up for the newsletter. She’s active on both Twitter and Facebook
Carey’s had the hots for his best friend and outdoor adventures coworker Elise for two years, but the timing has never been right. Now they’re both single and Carey wants to entice her into an adventure that’s about just the two of them. In the bedroom, in the hot tub, under the beautiful Colorado sky…
Elise doesn’t buy into the idea of love, but lust she understands. Carey’s friendship is important, but a relationship doesn’t fit into Elise’s five-year plan. She isn’t looking to repeat her parents’ mistakes.
With secrets coming out from under every rock and desire unchecked, this adventure might make more than the water on their rafting trips rush
But I know what you all really want. The books I’m giving away this week!
I’ll post all the winners of these contests on my blog this Sunday. Tip: if the winner of one of the books fails to contact me, I’ll pick a new winner out of those subscribed to my blog (top right–enter your email).
Yee-hawwwww! Now Go! Comment! Win some books! Take a look at mine while you’re at it!
You do for family, no matter what. Lane Iverson knows that better than anyone. Harboring a secret about his mother’s death, Lane is counting the days until he finishes helping his brothers with some work and can head back to his hiding hole hours away. As long as he doesn’t have to face his three brothers every day, the guilt is easier to carry.
There is only one thing that can risk his plan. All of five foot tall with these deep eyes and a voice that shudders through him. The completely addicting, Gretchen Jones. She’s been watching him the entire time he’s been in town. With courage from her friends behind her, she confronts what she wants. To her surprise, that’s the easy part. Keeping her heart protected when she knows he’ll be leaving? Not so easy, but her only choice.
**Comments are closed so not to confuse anyone. If you want to win a book, you have to post at the blog I’m visiting. My posts will go live on the day they’re listed. So if it’s Tuesday, don’t be looking for me on the blog I’m scheduled for on Thursday until it’s Thursday**
Happy Mother’s Day out there! Thanks for all you do. Without you we’d all be running around in our undies with food on our faces, sand in our drawers and hair sticking up everywhichaway. Thank You.
And since I’m a couple days late announcing the winners of my Apple Trail Series (omg, what happened to Friday and Saturday?!?), I’ve picked two winners! (I only have your emails, so I only posted the first parts of your email so you wouldn’t be spammed by webcrawers. I’ll be emailing you both shortly!)
theba71[ ....] and mariann29[ ...]
Thanks for commenting! I can’t wait for my blog tour to kick off tomorrow with a sneak peek at Rough Play (book 2 of the series) and a post on sexual tension.
Remember the strawberry pie I teased you about a couple months ago? The recipe is below! I’ll be posting several recipes as part of my recent new release, Rough Ride. Why pie recipes? Because the heroine loves to bake pies and the heroines of the series have pie eating contests!
You do for family, no matter what. Lane Iverson knows that better than anyone. Harboring a secret about his mother’s death, Lane is counting the days until he finishes helping his brothers with some work and can head back to his hiding hole hours away. As long as he doesn’t have to face his three brothers every day, the guilt is easier to carry.
There is only one thing that can risk his plan. All of five foot tall, with these deep eyes and a voice that shudders through him. The completely addicting, Gretchen Jones. She’s been watching him the entire time he’s been in town. With courage from her friends behind her, she confronts what she wants. To her surprise, that’s the easy part. Keeping her heart protected when she knows he’ll be leaving? Not so easy, but her only choice.
**Before I lose you in all this information–there’s a giveaway at the end! Don’t click away yet!**
I am so excited about everything happening, so just follow right along. See that subscribe button in the top corner? That will be the best way to keep up with this blog tour. Enter your email in the box and every post on this blog will be emailed to you. From giveaways to enter, sneak peeks, recipes and everybody’s favorite—winners!
For the next four weeks, I’ll be celebrating the release of Rough Ride. Come August, it’ll be Rough Play. And then in November if I haven’t died from all the blogging, another blog-fun-filled-few-weeks for Rough Tumble
Recipes, you say? Keri you write sexy, southern, contemporary romance books. Why are you posting recipes? Because the heroine of Rough Ride is a fattening, sugar baking machine. And her friends love her for it because Gretchen can crank out some seriously large number of pies. And you want those pie recipes. Trust me!
Don’t miss Monday Play Peeks! Over the next four weeks I’ll post the first chapter from book two of the seires, Rough Play, wherever I’m guesting on that Monday.
Lots of wonderful, wonderful author friends have donated their book for me to giveaway. Every single blog stop I have will feature a book giveaway from yours truly or one of these fabulous authors who have thankfully donated their book. Some are print. Some are digital. Some are US only and some are international!
How about we go ahead and kick this thing off right?
Leave me a comment on the blog to be entered once. Tell me you’re excited about the tour, tell me hi, or just tell me I’m nuts.
If you subscribe to my blog (top right, enter your email) and all those subscribed will automatically be entered two times!
Do both and you’ll be entered three times!
If I draw your name, you’ll be entered to win my entire Uninhibited in Apple Trail, Arkansas Series. That’s six novellas that will be sent in two easy ebook volumes AND in your efile format of choice. You have all week before I’ll close the comments. I’ll pick a winner on Friday afternoon. If you already have the set, then you get to pick a friend to give them to!
Blog tour kicks off Monday, May 14 with a Monday Play Peek! Can’t wait to see you all then!
Rough Ride releases this week! I know many of you are waiting for this release. I’ll post links on here on my blog, the coming soon page, the home page and the website page as soon as they become available. The Roughnecks Blog Tour starts up soon, starting with a giveaway here on my blog tomorrow! Enter your email address in the Subscribe box at the top right of the blog so you don’t miss any of it!
You do for family, no matter what. Lane Iverson knows that better than anyone. Harboring a secret about his mother’s death, Lane is counting the days until he finishes helping his brothers with some work and can head back to his hiding hole hours away. As long as he doesn’t have to face his three brothers every day, the guilt is easier to carry.
There is only one thing that can risk his plan. All of five foot tall, with these deep eyes and a voice that shudders through him. The completely addicting, Gretchen Jones. She’s been watching him the entire time he’s been in town. With courage from her friends behind her, she confronts what she wants. To her surprise, that’s the easy part. Keeping her heart protected when she knows he’ll be leaving? Not so easy, but her only choice.
Help me give a warm welcome to Babette! Be sure to leave a comment for your chance at a set of her Romance Trading Cards!
Thanks so much. Keri, for letting me visit here today and share a little about my debut novel, Clear As Day.
Clear As Dayis a sweetly scorching contemporary romance from The Wild Rose Press, about two friends with benefits facing the fears and uncertainties of their changing relationship. I loved writing Clear As Day, it’s been a story of my heart in many ways, so seeing this story published is a dream come true. Receiving the 4 1/2 star scorcher review from Romantic Times and being able to hold my book in my hands have been truly thrilling moments. I hope you enjoy Nate and Kay’s journey as much as I have.
Most of Clear As Day takes place at a campsite on the shore of Lake Mohave, a reservoir downstream from the Hoover Dam formed out of stretch of the Colorado River by the Davis Dam. It’s a vacation setting and my characters go backcountry camping at Lake Mohave every July to get away from it all for two weeks of friends, fun, fast boats and fishing.
One thing that camp life always circled around when my family went camping, whether just ourselves or with a group of friends, was food. Breakfasts, lunches, suppers, snacks—someone was always hungry. A meal might be peanut butter quick slathered between two slices of bread and washed down with orange soda or a full breakfast of bacon, eggs and pancakes. If the fishing was good, supper was a full-out fish fry and boisterous talk about the ones that got away, or if the fish weren’t biting, it was hotdogs and boisterous talk about the ones that got away. Corn chips, potato chips, and onion dip were favored snacks, along carrot sticks and pretzels. Tart lemon drop candies were kept handy for just a little something sweet when out fishing or hiking. Dessert was usually cookies: oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip, and peanut butter. Or there might be marshmallows toasted over the campfire and made into messy, scrumptious s’mores.
I had fun reminiscing over those camping trips and writing some of my own experiences and favorite summer foods into Clear As Day. Here’s a recipe I like to make with tomatoes fresh from the garden or farm stand. It’s even better when you can use heirloom tomatoes.
My Tomato Salad
The measurements are all approximate, since it depends on the quantity of tomatoes and your tastes.
About 4 ripe tomatoes, cut into bite-sized chunks or slices
1 Onion, roughly chopped
About 1 clove Garlic, minced or chopped, to taste
Parsley and basil (About 2 tablespoons fresh. Less if dried), to taste
Salt and black pepper to taste (a little pinch of red pepper flakes is nice if you like a spicier kick)
About 2-3 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
About ¼ to ½ cup Olive Oil (you want roughly 1 part vinegar to 3 parts olive oil)
Toss all in a bowl to mix and put into the refrigerator to marinate for about one half hour.
Serve up and enjoy.
Here’s an excerpt sharing a little glimpse of suppertime at camp with Nate and Kay’s friends:
Dave frowned at the catch. “Got a lot of catfish in here. Knew I should have gone out with you three.”
Kay always wondered how an adrenaline junkie like Dave could hold still long enough for such a peaceful pastime as fishing, but he did. She’d done a portrait of him fly-fishing several years back for a birthday gift and the painting remained one of her favorite works.
Chuck whacked him with his Tigers cap. “Don’t complain to me, Mr. Fish Snob. Fish is fish. I’ll take anything legal that bites. I think we did damn good for the afternoon.”
Lloyd hoisted a catfish. “You want more bass, next time you come along and coax them.”
Margie grimaced, looking pale. “I didn’t know catfish were so big and ugly.”
“This one’s just a little baby.” Lloyd patted his “little baby.” The channel catfish weighed eight pounds, easy. “Have to be careful when you go swimming out in the deep water, Margie baby.” His voice dropped to a rolling old-pirate, tall-tale cadence. “They say there’s some out there a couple a hundred pounds, could just slurp a little thing like you right up.”
Margie looked wide-eyed at Christopher.
Christopher was choking down a laugh and trying to look serious and supportive at the same time, and failing miserably.
JoAnn rolled her eyes and flicked the back of Lloyd’s head.
“Ouch! Damn it, Jo.” He rubbed his head.
JoAnn grinned. “Margie, sweetie, don’t listen to Lloyd. He’s just pulling your leg.”
“Oh.” Doubts still flickered over her face. “What do you need pliers for?”
“You don’t scale a cat, hon. You got to skin them. Watch how Scott’s doing it.” Christopher dispatched his own bass.
“Oh, that’s the old way. Try it this way.” With a brisk, sure slip of his knife, a snap of the backbone, and a smooth pull head to tail, Dave had the smaller catfish in his hands neatly peeled and gutted.
A kittenish cry escaped Margie as she turned seriously green. Christopher quickly rinsed off his hands and hugged her close, murmuring something soothing.
She hid her face in his chest, and a hiccupping sniffle squeaked from her. “But there it’s wrapped and everything.”
He smiled and patted her back as he whispered into her ear, his craggy, lined face transformed by tenderness into something exquisite.
Kay stared, transfixed.
Christopher whispered more. Margie’s gentle laughter rippled out, and she tipped her face to him. He kissed her and her smile bloomed.
Patti and Olivia deftly fileted and portioned the cleaned catch, and Dave and Rich manned the fry pans.
Food was served up, seats taken, and the lively banter, jokes, and catching-up conversation flew around Kay.
Lloyd handed Kay the tomato salad. “Kay, we put this trip together per Nate’s request so we could all get some serious fishing in, and what does he do on the first day? Deserts us!”
Nate laughed. “Hey, I caught four fish today. Tell them, Kay.”
Kay merely smiled as she scooped the savory tomatoes onto her plate and passed the bowl to Nate.
“Took you all afternoon to catch four fish? You said you’d be right back with Kay for lunch.” Dave rolled his eyes and gave Kay a friendly wink.
“Got sidetracked. The fish, lunch…you know.” Nate grinned smugly.
A flaming blush rushed over Kay.
JoAnn laughed dryly. “Uh huh. ‘You know’ always takes some time, when done right.” She leaned over to whisper in Lloyd’s ear and, as Lloyd choked and flushed, turned smoothly to Nate. “Nate, honey, pass that salad on down here.”
Blurb:
What’s a girl to do when her summer lover wants forever?
Haunted by dark memories of her parents’ volatile marriage, artist Kay Browning keeps her heart locked behind a free-spirit facade and contents herself with the comfortable affair she has every summer with easygoing photographer Nate Quinn.
The only trouble with her plan? This summer Nate’s come to Lake Mohave to claim the lover he can’t let go. He’s done with the endless traveling and settling for temporary homes and temporary loves. Kay’s always been more than just a vacation fling, and now he must convince this woman, who sees love as a course to certain heartbreak, to take that leap of faith and learn how safe love with the right man can be.
Bio: Babette James writes contemporary and fantasy romance and loves reading nail-biting tales with a satisfying happily ever after. When not dreaming up stories, she enjoys playing with new bread recipes and dabbling with paints. A teacher, she loves encouraging new readers and writers as they discover their growing abilities. Her class cheers when it’s time for their spelling test! She lives in New Jersey with her wonderfully patient husband and three extremely spoiled cats.
Come fall in love at the river. What’s your favorite summertime or vacation food? Babette will be giving away a set of Romance Trading Cards to one lucky commenter. Please leave your E-mail address with your comment.
Add the book to your shelf (to-read, want-to-get –any shelf you want!) and you’ll be entered for a .pdf ARC! I’ll pick a winner on Friday afternoon. That’s about a week & 1/2 before the book releases and just in time for some weekend reading.
"I’m always amazed at how involved I feel with the characters in Keri’s books. Once again she has written a short story that reads like a long novel"-Guilty Pleasures
"Satisfying Her Tastes is novella number 5 in the Uninhibited In Apple Trail series that has broken Keri Ford out of up and coming author status to full blown grade “A” wonder author!"-Nikki Brandyberry
Barnes & Noble or Amazon. To enter, answer the following question. The contest will end in 48 hours, and the winner will be chosen at random.
Coming May 18th from Ellora’s Cave.
