Just Show Up was just what I needed to read. I am that person that wants to help when something happens to someone else. I want make them feel better. I want to make all the bad go away. The problem is I don’t know how to help. Just Show Up goes into detail on what you can do for others and how to “show up” and really be of help.

Kara Tippetts’s story was not a story of disease, although she lost her battle with terminal cancer.

It was not a story of saying goodbye, although she was intentional in her time with her husband and four children. Kara’s story was one of seeing God in the hard and in the good. It was one of finding grace in the everyday. And it was one of knowing “God with us” through fierce and beautiful friendship.

In Just Show Up, Kara and her close friend, Jill Lynn Buteyn, write about what friendship looks like in the midst of changing life seasons, loads of laundry, and even cancer. Whether you are eager to be present to someone going through a difficult time or simply want inspiration for pursuing friends in a new way, this eloquent and practical book explores the gift of silence, the art of receiving, and what it means to just show up.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

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Last hope or second chance? 

Ranching was Angus Ketchum’s first love—until his last tour of duty shattered that dream. The wounded ex-soldier gets his second chance when he’s recruited to go undercover to protect a widowed ranch owner. But from the moment he meets Reggie Davis, Angus can tell holding on to her land and keeping her young son safe is taking its toll. Especially when someone threatens her livelihood and her life. As the attacks escalate, Angus must rely on his combat skills to keep Reggie and her boy alive. And he must rely on his commitment to the mission to keep their powerful attraction in check.

 

 

 

Bon Appetit and a Book

Elle James

 

High Country Hideout is based in the Colorado Rockies in the winter time. Normally I would say a hearty beef stew would be in order. But as I’m writing, I’m craving one of my favorite recipes I only cook in the cooler months. Cheese Soup! When you cook this, don’t be alarmed at the amount it makes. It’s even better as leftovers. And be sure to make garlic bread sticks to tip into the thick soup. You can’t go wrong. Use a large stock pot and prepare to enjoy a wonderful meal while you sit back and read an exciting story.

 

Cheese Soup 

Melt: 1 stick butter

Add:

6 small onions (scallions) chopped

4 stalks celery, chopped

3 carrots, grated

Sauté until tender on low heat

 

Add:

48 oz chicken broth

Cover and simmer for 45 minutes

 

Add:

65 oz potato soup (you can buy cans of this)

½ lb Mexican Velveeta

½ lb grated longhorn cheese (or sharp cheddar)

½ tsp parsley

1/8 tsp pepper

2 Cups Sour Cream

 

Simmer for 15 minutes after adding sour cream. DO NOT BOIL!

Stir constantly to avoid scorching soup to the bottom of the pan.

 

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

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Her sexy neighbor turns savior in this next Dangerous in Dallas romance! 

Despite her job as a wedding planner, Violet Richardson doesn’t believe a happy-ever-after is in her future. And when she’s kidnapped by a killer, she’s surprised that rescue comes in the form of her tempting yet irritating neighbor Max Baldwin.

Trying to forget his dark past, Max never meant to take on his attractive neighbor’s troubles. But now the bickering pair must outrun a thug who’s determined to get his hands on mysterious jewels he thinks are in Violet’s possession. And as they race for their lives through Dallas’s summer heat, Max and Violet may finally open their eyes to the burning passion they share.

Thanks so much for having me today on the blog! I love talking books and I love talking food so I figure today’s sort of my idea of blog heaven.

So a few things to know about me. I love to eat. You’ve got a serious foodie here and there’s very little I won’t try or don’t enjoy. I also think that food is a wonderful way to spend time. There’s an intimacy that builds when you eat with someone and whether it’s family or old friends or the process of getting to know someone new, food has a wonderful ability to bring us together.

I think that’s why romance writers blend food scenes so often into their books. When you’re writing a story about two people and the increasing intimacy between them, time spent getting to know each over a meal is an essential way to do that.

Now, while I will admit to being somewhat better at actually eating my food than cooking it, I do have a few dishes that are my specialty. I often default to what I call “Oven Fried Chicken” as a place to start. It’s pretty much universally enjoyed and it’s easy to make before everyone arrives and then pull out of the oven to enjoy with a few quick sides. You can easily manage hostess duties and cooking duties and make it look effortless!

OVEN FRIED CHICKEN

[One quick note – chicken thighs actually work best with the recipe, either bone in or deboned. Breasts work well, too, but if you use them you definitely want to pound them a bit and/or do them as chicken strips to let them get juicy all the way through while they cook.]

• 1-3 pounds of chicken pending party size (estimate about a pound to every 3 people)
• Bread crumbs
• Mayo
• Cooking spray for cookie sheet

1 – Clean the chicken of any extra fat and coat in a layer of mayo, then a layer of breadcrumbs. Make sure the pieces are well-coated for cooking (and for yummy deliciousness while eating)

2 – After coating with the mayo and breadcrumbs, place close together on a greased cookie sheet

3 – Bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes, then turn each piece, cooking another 20-25 minutes.

[Note – if you’re making bone-in pieces, cooking time is more 25-30 minutes per side. If it’s boneless, 20-25 should do it.]

And there you have it. Easy prep, easy clean up and a delicious meal everyone will love. These also make outstanding leftovers so don’t hesitate to make a little extra and enjoy for a few more days or as pieces to cut up on salads.

While I haven’t incorporated Oven Fried Chicken into any of my books yet, I definitely think this is the sort of first meal my heroine, Violet, would cook for my hero, Max. Max is a big man – salt of the earth and ex-military – and he’s the sort to enjoy home cooking and hearty sides in equal measure. Their adventures take center stage in my October release, THE PROFESSIONAL, out in early October.

Thanks so much for joining me today!

XO,

Addison

Bio:

Despite early ambitions of being a diver, a drummer or a doctor, Addison Fox happily discovered she was more suited to life as a writer. She lives in Dallas and – thankfully – doesn’t have to operate on anyone. You can find her at her home on the web at www.addisonfox.com. Her latest book, THE PROFESSIONAL, will be out in October from Harlequin Romantic Suspense. You can visit her at her website at www.addisonfox.com

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

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