This week we are featuring author, poet and songwriter Kimberly N. Dean and her romance novel Guilty Condolence (Sometimes You Have To Fall)

But before we indulge in her debut of a Military romance series, let us find out what does Kimberly suggest for a cocktail tonight.

I am normally a Corona Light girl, but this time of the year, I love Peppermint Mocha Mudslides!  The candy cane garnish is a necessity though.  I am greedy like that.  During the holidays, I covet everything peppermint!

Ingredients

• 1 oz. Vanilla Vodka
• 1/2 oz. Peppermint Schnapps
• 1/2 oz. Coffee Liquor
• 1 oz. Chocolate Syrup
• 2 scoops Vanilla Ice Cream
• Whipped Cream & Crushed Candy Cane for Topping

(Hint: 1/2 oz. = 1 tbsp.)

Instructions Combine vodka, peppermint schnapps, coffee liquor, chocolate syrup and vanilla ice cream in a blender. (If using a tablespoon measure to measure the alcohols and chocolate syrup, put the syrup in last – it’ll come out more easily if the tablespoon has some alcohol in it.) Blend until smooth. Pour into the glass of your choosing and top with whipped cream and crushed candy cane. Enjoy Immediately!

GUILTY CONDOLENCE is my first endeavor outside of my usual genres of poetry and songwriting.  It was a tad outside of my comfort zone, but these characters haunted me for a couple of years.  They pretty much demanded that I write their stories. My current works in progress include an autobiography of sorts. It’s also a little out of my comfort zone. It’s titled Through A Mothers Eyes. It’s actually my journal from 2009/2010, and it chronicles my oldest sons battle with testicular cancer and his path to the MLB Draft in 2010. Also, in the works are Dark Acceptance Volume Two, Untimely Arrival (novella), and Flight Of Regret Volume Three, all from the Sometimes You Have To Fall series.

Blurb:
Sarie Elizabeth Anna

Sarie Anna has it all.  Despite being raised by over-protective brothers, Sarie moves to Nashville and becomes the lead singer for the number one country rock band Carolina Fierce.  But Sarie gives it all up to move back home to Norfolk Virginia to support the love of her life, Jasen Riggins.

Jasen Scott Riggins

Jasen Riggins’ life is not as it seems.  Co-Owner of Anserve Inc., Jasen and the men of Anserve are civilian contractors to the United States Government.  They handle any mission that the Government doesn’t want to acknowledge.  Totally expendable, Black Ops. When a mission goes south, will Jasen and Sarie be able to overcome the tragedy?  Or will Jasen be lost forever in the downward spiral of a Guilty Condolence?
Here are three of snippets from GUILTY CONDOLENCE.

Man, I know what you’re thinking.  I know that you have every reason not to believe that I can take care of her.  I was there that day too, remember?  This is something that I live with every hour of every day.  Fuck, I am getting your message loud and clear.  Truth is, I have mad feels for Sarie.  Feelings like I have never known before.  Hell, man, it might just kill me to be with her every day, to see her with someone else, but I don’t trust anyone else to take care of her.”

“What is this, Jasen?”  I opened it ever so slowly, afraid of what I would find inside.     “It’s your boarding pass for the flight you are taking to Nashville in the morning.  I know the guys are recording at the Bird, and you are going to join them.  Lay tracks, watch, produce, do whatever the hell you want.  Light a fire under Holland’s ass to get herself in gear and get moved here.  I just want you to go and keep yourself busy for a few days.”     I stare at the boarding pass and realize the return date to Norfolk.  “Jase, this is for five days.”     “Yes, it is.  I figure with no complications we should be back around the same time.  I want you to go and do your thing, baby.  Singing is your mark on this ugly world we are living in.  When you sing everything seems brighter somehow, more alive, pure, and beautiful.  There is no war, no wrong, no evil.  There is just you, touching every heart and soul with your voice, your words, your beauty.  The world needs a song, and the world needs you to sing it.”

I turned my attention back to the Atlantic.  The waves were pounding the beach in a fierce tempo that matched my anger crash for crash.  Yes, today, I was in good company right here.  Somehow though, the ocean was showing me just how ferocious she could be and my anger subsided into a mere aggravated state.  Oh yes, the Atlantic was much bigger than me, and her brutality was much more than I could ever be.  Yes, she eased my aching heart and my shattered soul.
About the Author,

Kimberly Dean lives with her husband and three sons in Conyers GA.  Guilty Condolence is her first endeavor in the contemporary romance genre.  She is currently working on Dark Acceptance which is volume II in the Sometimes You Have To Fall Series and Through A Mother’s Eye’s which is an account of her thoughts and feelings of her son’s cancer and his path to the MLB draft.     Kimberly is the epitome of a die-hard baseball Mom and professes that her favorite team is the New York Yankees.  Her favorite players are Tyler Austin and the Molina brothers Bengie, Jose, and Yadier.  When she’s not at a game or watching a game, she spends her time with her family or reading.