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Books worth checking out, Liquid Friday with Eden Freed, My Book, Short Stories from Eden's Garden, soccer mom updates

Desperately Seeking Werewolves- coming soon

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Welcome back to our Liquid Friday blog. We’re excited to announce our next book in the Help Wanted Series.

Here’s the blurb:

What would you do if the guy you’ve been crushing on kept you in the friend zone and you found out it’s becuase you were betrothed to a werewolf? Sasha’s been in love with Jinx since she met him. He’s the perfect geek complete with tech pockets and wide rimmed glasses. She knows there is more to him than meets the eye, but then she meets her betrothed, the very sexy Werewolf King Gavin and sparks fly. Will she end up with her first love or embrace the King of the Werewolves?

Other books in the series:

While we wait for the gods of Amazon to pot our book, books 1 & 2 in the series are still available for purchase and now also on Audiobook with virtual voice narration.

Book 1

https://a.co/d/e9G93DG

In her last year of college, with the promise of an exciting future in veterinary medicine, Autumn discovers she won’t live to see her next birthday.
Before she blinks out, her dying wish is to be immersed in her own movie fantasy of vampires and monsters, even if just for a moment.
For as long as Autumn can remember, Horror films were her favorites. She connected with those monsters on the screen, flawed, strange, and beautiful in their own way. Before the final curtain is drawn, Autumn wants to meet the monsters she’s dreamed of her entire life. She puts up a help wanted ad for a hospice nurse, titled: Desperately Seeking Vampire. 
Andrei, a man hot enough to melt Autumns steel resolve accepts the job offer and agrees to play the game… but is he just pretending? And what happens when things get hot in the bedroom?
As Autumn begins to fall for Andrei, they embark on a monster seeking adventure, and she soon discovers that some fantasies are real.

Book 2

https://a.co/d/4LhLGGn

After finding her twin brother murdered, Madison hunts down the suspected killers, only to find out they are vampires. Needles to say, she gets subdued, captured and placed on trial by the Conclave. She knows to much to be allowed to live, but they seem hesitant to just kill her. One of the Obsidians, a group of Conclave’s enforcers, named Gabriel saves her life by offering to keep her captive for the rest of her life or until she willingly chooses to become a vampire.

She vows to kill them all, even the one who saved her life, while she bides her time and plots to escape. She’d put a stake in his heart, but the longer she is around him the deeper Maddie falls in love with him.

To help put the ghost of her murdered brother to rest, despite never finding his body, she participates in his memorial celebration and all hell breaks loose as werewolves bent on world domination crash the event.

Will Maddie ever find out what happened to her brother? Will she kill every last member of the Conclave or spend eternity with Gabriel?

Butler and Mooshu- enjoying a little sunshine

Since we usually include a cocktail, I’ll be popping open a bottle of bubbly tonight to celebrate the completion of another book and enjoying some Mimosas tomorrow. Since I party with children and the two little werewolves, I’ll also have some sparkling cider, pear is my absolute favorite. If you’re drinking, stay home or uber back safely. Please don’t drink and drive.

While we wait for the big release day for book three, here’s a little author info-

About the author

Eden Freed approaches everything with a Jersey Girl tenacity, whether it’s researching material for her newest book, soccer mom duties, or training the “Perpetual Puppy” a.k.a. Butler the Chinese Crested Powderpuff and his younger brother from another mother, Mooshu. Eden loves the beach, a good cocktail, cozy reading time, and a good walk with Butler. Don’t forget to visit her blog for Cocktail Recipes, Guest Authors’ Insights, and Books . She loves your feedback, so please leave a review or a comment on her blog . Happy reading!

Thanks for reading!

Liquid Friday with Eden Freed, My Book

Liquid Friday- the Audible Edition

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May 30th, 2025

It’s almost officially summer! As a summer baby, I love the beach, carnival rides, and of course being outside with my children, both human and canine variety. Since I’m often the one packing for our adventures, I always toss in a couple books or my Kindle, home to lots of books and my comics.

For car rides, I put on Audible books. Family friendly adventure books work out if I play them on the speakers in the car, or I can go with spicier books if I use my Beats headphones.

Since my hands are often busy with tasks, I’ve found that I can use my Kindle for narration for books I don’t have a chance to page turn. Knowing that lots of readers prefer to have an audible version of books available, I have gone ahead and listed my books available for Audible download through Amazon. We used an ai voice instead of a human voice so we could get it out to you sooner. That being said it may have some of the more comical ai pronunciation mishaps I’ve heard in other books, so if you catch and error please message me and I’ll try and get it corrected. If you have a prime account on Amazon, you may even be able to get these books free-just click the links and check. I’m hoping to have the next book in the Help Wanted Romance Series available in late June and the next book in the All Tied Up In Knots series should be coming out in time for Halloween, edits, edits, edits…

Remember these books are all stand alone books, so you can read just one or all of them. I just didn’t want readers that missed a book to feel overwhelmed when the next one comes out and they feel like they have two to read or need to read them in a specific order. I despise cliffhangers. As a reader, waiting for that next book to drop while I’m stuck on a cliffhanger ending just kills me, so you get a complete story in every book.

Please, also check out your local authors. The only thing holding them back from reaching bigger audiences may be your five (5) star review. Ah, algorithms!

Since this is a Liquid Friday listing, I am also including today’s drink.

Ready for Summer Iced Tea-(serves 4)

What you need:

Tea pot (to brew the tea)

Pot to boil the water (it’s ok if you boil the water in a glass pot and add the loose tea in that, however you make tea works)

4 Glasses

6 cups water

2-3 Tablespoons loose assam tea in a tea ball or 2-3 of your favorite teabags(you can get creative and mix and match flavored teas or go for high antioxidant teas for your health)

Sliced lemon or other fruit

Ice

Flavored alcohol/spirits (optional- I’m going without so I can hydrate today)

How to:

  1. Bring the water to a boil and carefully pour over tea leaves in a pot/carafe… whatever heat safe container you have. Nothing stings like a burn, so be careful here and if you’re using glass make sure its heat safe borosilicate glass with no defects or cracks.
  2. Steep the tea. I like bitter so I do 5 minutes or omit the tea ball completely and just leave the loose tea to settle and continue to steep. You can do 2-3 minutes if you like a more mild taste.
  3. Let the tea cool before you add the fruit, so you get some vitamin c
  4. Add lemon slices, fruit, herbs… to reach the right flavor profile. I’ve done everything from cranberries to grapefruit and mint, so good.
  5. Optional: Add 3 to 6 ounces of flavored alcohol to the carafe for guests over 21 (should be .75 ounce to 1.5 ounce per serving). I like Peach Schnapps or Blackberry Brandy, but I’ve heard Lemonade Flavored Vodka is great, too. It’s always a good idea to list the ingredients for your guests, since lots of people have allergies or choose to opt out of alcohol. Serve teas with alcohol exclusively to adults and get juice boxes or water bottles to younger guests so there are no mix ups.
  6. Serve and enjoy

Now, onto the books. I have links below to the books, just select the audible versions. If you have an Audible Premium Plus account, they should be free, otherwise they are the low price of $3.99 plus tax.

Here are the links:

My monster series, ’cause every good girl loves things that go bump in the night.

Desperately Seeking Vampire, Book 1: Help Wanted Romance Series

https://www.amazon.com/Desperately-Seeking-Vampire-Wanted-Romance/dp/B0F9BD4LGZ

Desperately Seeking Vampire Hunter, Book 2: Help Wanted Romance Series

https://www.amazon.com/Desperately-Seeking-Vampire-Hunter-Romance/dp/B0F9BBV3NQ

All Tied Up In Knots Series, spicy fun reads

Knot An Actress

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F9B91Q66

Knot A Criminal

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F9B8H8RW

Knot A Geek (short read)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F3GVRPRH

Knot His Superior (short read)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F4NP6T8L

Knot Daddy’s Girl (short read)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DNGG5KZL

Knot A Photographer

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F9BBG7TH

Knot A Bunny

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DZDCCWQ6

Knot A Princess

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F9BBSKFG

Every author loves five(5) star reviews and of course, I’m no exception, so please leave a review. It helps me fight the algorithm and get my books on the first page in their category, so I can reach lots of readers like you.

Don’t forget your purchases support our crazy Chinese Crested puppies. Mooshu is still fighting his blood disorder like a champion and Butler is giving him all the love a big brother can.

Thanks so much! Have a fun summer!

Liquid Friday with Eden Freed, soccer mom updates

Friday Night and I’m in a Funk

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Friday!

It’s Friday and I’m done with tax season. My accountant has the goods, I have copies of everything, and now I wait on a refund (no, I don’t do the refund anticipation loans). I should be over the moon that all that needed to be done has been done, but the abrupt completion of one task and the pending three have me out of sorts.

I could post another guest author for you, or a cocktail recipe, or maybe even one of my favorite cupcake recipes, but I’m going to share my crazy instead. When I get in a rut, I find that movement is the best thing that works. The dogs have been walked and fed treats, so there are a few other ways I can get back to my happy endorphin crazed existence. Any guesses?

If you have a dirty mind, that works too, but tonight while my bows soak up a beeswax and oil conditioning treatment to keep them supple, I am charging my sabers and preparing for glorious battle. The bow shooting will wait until my bows are ready, it’s too cold to make mistakes with natural wood (osage orange and coffee wood).

I have amassed quite the collection of lightsabers from several different small businesses. I try and keep everyone in business 😉 but I do have my favorites.

I have more shopping to do! LOL

I have a few doubles and a half a dozen different single sabers, so the imps and I can practice sword(saber) fighting techniques. Do you know what position number three is? I was fortunate to enroll my children in a school that trained for the Olympics, so I learned techniques including footwork by watching them and helping them practice. To that point, I’ll bet there are a lot of moms and dads out there that could have a black belt in Karate or other martial arts because they had to learn everything to make sure the children were practicing their kata correctly.

My doubles come apart, so you have options.

The hum of electronic sabers is calling, so off I go. I hope you have something fun planned for the weekend. I hope to go back and visit with some NJ vampires soon and regale you with stories of their exploits.

Let me know what fun things you have planned! Have fun!

Books worth checking out, Liquid Friday with Eden Freed

Mocktails & Mayhem

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Cranberry Mint Mojito Mocktail

For dry January we have some fun mocktail recipes. Since the Lunar New Year is just weeks away we have guest author, Deserie Kelly, with some book previews.

Book 1

https://a.co/d/0EXoxo9

A bullied orphan. A life-changing martial arts contest. An ancient rivalry showing its bloody claws…

Chinatown, New York City. Silver is tired of never fitting in. After years of teaching at her adoptive uncle’s kung-fu school, the loyal seventeen-year-old is depressed to see a mediocre student promoted above her. So she’s thrilled at the chance to redeem her honor by competing in a high-level tournament where the winner performs the complex dragon dance during Chinese New Year.

Training hard to win, the determined young woman forces herself to ignore the instant attraction she feels to a handsome boy at a rival school. But after she emerges victorious, Silver is horrified when her triumph is rewarded with a deadly attack by a demon-in-disguise.

On the run from a sinister enemy she can’t remember, with only the cute kung fu master as an ally, will this accomplished fighter discover her destiny before her flame is eternally extinguished?

Book 2

https://a.co/d/43OTdF1

Kuàilè Shu has just settled into a new life and found her place in Silver’s Kung Fu school where she has both admiration and respect from other students, friends, and immortals. She’s now a junior in high school with all the hopes and dreams of any girl, mortal or otherwise: finding the perfect prom dress, going to college, finding love. Then, Monkey shows up…..
Thrown in the whirlwind of jealousy, insecurity and a mission she has left incomplete, Kuàilè bets all on a mortal existence. But is giving up immortality the right choice when a demon capable of possessing even the immortals themselves is after her and those she loves the most?

Book 3

https://a.co/d/86N1SSK

Kelly, one of the Zodiac Shifters, has a terrible secret that has kept her from pursuing love. She has all but given up on ever having happiness, but life is full of surprises. Jamin, for all his size and strength, is just as shy. Despite their personal hangups, it looks like the stars might finally align on the couple until tragedy strikes.


Silver is ready to have her baby when the magic begins to fade around her. Damian is off battling demons that have the worst timing, and that says a lot for a dragon capable of freezing time. Silver isn’t sure she’s even ready to be a mother. Fushi is there to help, but Silver needs Damian, now!


Can Kelly overcome her own dangerous secrets to save the love of her life or has time run out on her as a Zodiac Shifter? Will Silver have her baby on the earthly plane or make it back to the Jade Palace in time with Damian? Find these answers and more in the latest Tales of the Zodiac Shifters story: No Time for Regrets-Tales of the Zodiac Shifters Book 3

Tales of the Zodiac Shifters series has more books to come so catch up now before you are left behind.

Cranberry Mojito Mocktail Recipe

Before we get started, since I have diabetics in the family, I also offer substitutes for sugar whenever possible in my recipes.

Ingredients:

2-3 Tablespoons fresh or frozen cranberries

5-6 cranberries to garnish

1/2 ounce simple syrup/ or sugar free lemon lime soda

1/2 lime for juice

1 slice lime for garnish

1 sprig (7-8 leaves) mint for mix

1 sprig mint to garnish

Seltzer

(Optional) Alcohol free/ sugar free rum flavoring

Ice

You’ll also need:

Mortar and pestle to muddle cranberries and mint

Spoon to mix

Glass with ice and straw to serve

How to:

  1. Muddle cranberries and mint together until flavor is released
  2. Mix in simple syrup or sugar free lemon lime soda
  3. Pour over glass filled with ice and garnish with lime wedge, cranberries, and sprig of mint.
  4. Serve and enjoy

If you have trouble finding cranberries and mint you can use mint flavored seltzer and unsweetened cranberry juice or use cranberry juice cocktail (sugar free cranberry juice mixer) and omit the simple syrup/sugar free lemon lime soda.

soccer mom updates

Friday the 13th, December

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We are dangerously close to some major holidays and even my puppies are feeling the strain. My human boys are busy with Highschool and college exams, and my daughter is feeling the pre-holiday shopping frenzy at her job as orders get filled, possibly some for Santa himself. This leaves the two crazy canines starved for attention.

They bring me piles of toys to play with and prefer rough play to fetch. Every room has some of their toys and I’ve taken to using a grabber stick to pick them up instead of spending my day bending(clever girl).

It’s not hard to love them even though they act like toddlers, constantly needy for attention while awake. I brush them out, go through their treat fueled tricks (while trying to add new ones), and we enjoy playing and long walks together. What more could a girl want?

Butler has fully adjusted to having a little brother, and lets the tyke get away with a lot. He will drop a toy Mooshu wants, and play with another rather than fight for a toy. He is a wise and benevolent teacher and Mooshu has learned some tricks quickly, by watching Butler.

Butler’s grey hairs can’t stop his inner puppy and he outruns Mooshu and other dogs at the park, but pauses long enough to let them catch up.

Mooshu(left) Butler(right)

Mooshu is still recovering from his medical mishap. We are still sans diagnosis, but everything you can imagine has been ruled out which leaves me with the prospect that his bleeding is autoimmune. Before I subject him to another battery of tests, I’ll conduct some research. Unarmed with information as I was last time he had an emergency, I blindly agreed to do everything necessary and we were lucky to make it out of there.

With my autoimmune illness it took 14 years for a diagnosis, and every now and again I have my doubts that we hit the right one. I’m not a textbook case. The medication should have gotten me into remission in 6 months, but I’m still on it some fourteen years or so later.

We have already gotten one surprise on 23&me, and found genetic markers for a second autoimmune disease, which may be why my treatment is not having the desired results after hella more than 6 months.

Mooshu has similarly been tested. Every big genetic disease has been ruled out, but maybe he’s like me and not a textbook case for anything despite his frightening lab results and the spontaneous symptoms.

For now, I’m content to just support him and love him until we find out more or don’t find out anything at all- someone supported me through 14 years of medical failures, so it’s fair I do the same. I don’t see the need to run another battery of tests as we have ruled out all the colon stuff and would be looking for a needle in a haystack, with whatever is causing his issues. I’m not going to devote 14 years of his life to a diagnosis when he may not have that long, so here we are, ready to treat each event but no closer to knowing what the problem is.

Mooshu enjoying the outdoors

This situation brings me back to preparation for my wedding. Our church ran some pre-marriage classes and they asked us what was most important. We both said “love” and have stuck with that with everything we approach.

Embarking on writing, running three businesses, five children, and dealing with these two crazy pooches has been lessons in love everyday. I may lack a little practicality, free time, and money, but if all dogs go to Heaven I know I have two beautiful souls willing to sneak me in.

Butler smiling at me-

In the meantime, there are dog treats to bake, presents to wrap, and maybe even some pictures with Santa for the canids.

I’ll have some human and canid cookie recipes up next week, so stock up on goodies and check back.

What are your holidays plans? How do you manage having pets and people in a shared space for the holidays?

Books worth checking out, Liquid Friday with Eden Freed, My Book

Just In Time for Halloween Reading

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Desperately Seeking Vampire Hunter: A Help Wanted Romance (Help Wanted Romance Series Book 2) has been published and we’re pleased as punch, cranberry punch to be precise (recipe below).

Cranberry Punch for your Halloween Party (see recipe below)

About the Author:

Since it’s me, I’ll be candid. I am a beach loving Jersey girl with a spooky obsession. I blame all those books on cryptozoology and monsters that I read as a child for making me the lady that’s just bat-shit crazy over Halloween.

Even before the autumnal equinox, I’m busy as a bee preparing for Halloween. It’s my absolute favorite holiday and I kinda put a spooky twist on everything, even my favorite treat- candy apples.

When you are a fulltime writer and Mom to a large family, you learn to make due and save the splurges for science center memberships and walking sticks for our hikes. Instead of buying overpriced costumes, I let the imps pick out cool weapons and implements (gotta have swords) and make more unique costumes for Halloween with the aid of a sewing machine (or 3) we use year round for alterations and my ebay store (paying for the tiny sickly canid monster’s medical care with my earnings).

This year my youngest imp, Soph, decided to make his own costume and I couldn’t be prouder. I supervised while he picked out a pattern, shopped for fabric (coupons, coupons, coupons), and read the instructions to prepare himself. He pinned and cut everything out and slowly the garment began to take shape. There was a small accident with pinking sheers that left a little hole as he was trimming his edges, but he patched it up and you can’t tell even up close. Costume finished, he put it on and paraded around the house, victorious.

His older brother Esteban found some cool weapons in one of the many Halloween stores we visited. Spirit Halloween is his favorite store and he will probably stop by every one within a two hours drive of our home-it’s an obsession. This year he needs a black cape for his costume and is now completely out of children’s sizes that we have at home, so it may give Soph an extra sewing project to do before Halloween.

Unless it’s raining, the plan is to put our the big folding table complete with spooky tablecloth, the black flame candle, the book, and wait for a virgin to arrive-or something like that. We will have safe spooky treats like spider rings and candy for the thirty to fifty trick-or-treaters brave enough to stop by and let me ooh and ahh over their costumes.

This will be my first year having two crazy canids (dogs) to dress for Halloween and I haven’t even started on their costumes yet, so I have to play catch-up now and come up with something truly brilliant. Wish me luck.

Book Blurb:

After finding her twin brother murdered, Madison hunts down the suspected killers, only to find out they are vampires. She gets subdued, captured, and placed on trial by the Conclave. She knows too much to be allowed to live, but they seem hesitant to just kill her outright. Gabriel, one of the Obsidians, a group of Conclave’s enforcers, saves her life by offering to keep her captive for the rest of her life or until she willingly chooses to become a vampire.

She vows to kill them all, even the one who saved her life, while she bides her time and plots to escape. Madison would put a stake in his heart, but the longer she is around him the deeper Maddie falls in love with him.

To help put the ghost of her murdered brother to rest, despite never finding his body, Madison participates in his memorial celebration and all hell breaks loose as werewolves, bent on world domination, crash the event.

Will Maddie ever find out what happened to her brother’s body? Will she kill every last member of the Conclave or spend eternity with Gabriel?

A word from the Author, Eden Freed:

I hope you get to read Desperately Seeking Vampire Hunter: A Help Wanted Romance (Help Wanted Romance Series Book 2). Yes, Autumn is still in there, but we have switched focus to Madison for this book. I have some more fun in store for Book 3 and even bigger plans for the series. If you have KU, you’ll get to read them all for FREE. I’ve kept the price down for eBooks and you can always order a signed copy from me or get yours at one of my book signing events. If you’re saving your money for Halloween costumes and candy, ask your library to order a copy.

I always appreciate likes, stars, and shares for both the blog and the books, so thanks for making this Jersey girl smile. It take a lot of juggling squeezing in writing time with two amazing dogs and five busy children, but you keep me motivated, thanks. Enjoy the recipe below.

Cranberry Punch Recipe: Perfect for Cocktails, Mocktails, and little Monsters at the door

Ingredients:

64 ounces Cranberry Juice (cran-grape or sugar-free work great, too)

1 liter Gingerale or Lemon Lime Soda(can be sugar-free)

Juice of 1 lime

Juice of 1 lemon

Optional: Gummy spiders, gummy worms, and gummy bugs to adorn glasses, eyeball ice cubes look cool floating in the punch.

Optional: Add 1/2 liter of your favorite vodka and 8 oz blackberry brandy for partygoers over 21

Instructions:

Mix ingredients in a large punch bowl with plenty of ice and serve. Have some Gummy body parts, eyes, spiders, worms… to adorn glasses for extra fun.

Caution: If serving children and adults, make it alcohol free. Children tend to try everything at a party, so its safer to stick with a mocktail. You’ll be certain adults can drive their children back home safely, if they haven’t ingested alcohol. If it’s only an adults party and you are drinking, pre-plan transportation (party bus, Uber, Lyft…), so everyone is as safe as can be. DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE

Have a Safe and Spooky Halloween!

Books worth checking out, Liquid Friday with Eden Freed

New covers for the Tales of the Zodiac Shifters series

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We fell in love with this series with the first book. It has taken some time for the next two installments of the series to come in, but while you wait for book four- here are the new covers. Enjoy! I think they look every bit the porcelain like goddesses they portray. If you haven’t picked up the series yet, follow the links.

Book 1

Time of the Silver Dragon

Time of the Silver Dragon: Tales of the Zodiac Shifters – Book 1 https://a.co/d/a9XTJxm

Book 2

No Time for Immortality

No Time for Immortality: Tales of the Zodiac Shifters – Book 2 https://a.co/d/1nKb6e3

Book 3

No Time for Regrets

No Time for Regrets: Tales of the Zodiac Shifters – Book 3 https://a.co/d/dbd6unx

A limited number of books are available with the older covers, visit http://www.DeserieKelly.com for more information

We never have a Liquid Friday without a drink of some kind.

Outside of green tea which she drinks all day, Deserie is fond of 3 parts black tea (Assam is you have it- though any black tea works fine) and 1 part Passionfruit juice. No tapioca balls or sugar required- just serve over ice and enjoy.

We hope you try our mocktail and get some good reads in this week.

Have a great weekend!

Liquid Friday with Eden Freed

Liquid Friday on Location

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We’re privileged to be at Brook Hollow Winery this evening for an author meet and greet.

I’ve got a glass of the Rose, a perfectly grilled hamburger, and my bestie Dimitri for company. He hasn’t written anything this time but my vampire book is turning pages as we listen to John Cain singing.

We’ve been waiting all year to come out for this event and we hope you can make it. Deserie Kelly’s Zodiac Shifter trilogy and a Sci-fi book will be available in limited quantities. If you haven’t gotten your copy yet, why not get a signed one for yourself and a friend?

Come for a wine tasting and stay for the books!

Come joins us for music, stories, and lots of amazing reads!

I’ve heard from Dimitri himself that he will have balloons courtesy of MoonOnTheWater Entertainment so bring the kiddies.

Enjoy your Friday. Hope to see you tomorrow.

I’m going back to my Rose and the other authors. Ciao.

Liquid Friday with Eden Freed

Happy Mardi Gras

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This week is so filled with celebrations, I want to take a moment and wish everyone Happy Mardi Gras, Happy Lunar New Year, Happy Valentine’s Day, and more. There is also a special birthday on Valentine’s Day, so happy birthday Claire- hope it’s the best yet!

If I missed any of our reader’s birthdays, I hope it was amazing and you had lots of fun.

Enjoy this last week before the Christian Lenten season begins and people turn to more spiritual pursuits.

During lent I look for organizations to work with either through sponsorship or stewardship to help out those in need, local and abroad. Since the troublemaker and I wear many hats that can mean entertaining for charitable walks, food pantries, fundraisers… or donating to some local charities or people in need.

For this weekend, however, I’m going to some festivals and parties. I’ll be making some hurricanes (see my 2023 blogs for the recipe and make them at home or somewhere you don’t need to drive to, just to be as safe as possible) and some gumbo for one party and spicy chicken skewers for the other.

I’m also stopping by a Super Bowl party with some treats. I don’t know who you want to win this Super Bowl Sunday, but I’ll be watching and then continuing with festivities for Mardi Gras and the Lunar New Year.

Then, just when the week is going to start and you think there would be a break to settle down, blam!!! I’ll be making chocolate covered everything for Valentine’s Day (candied orange rind, strawberries, marshmallows, and pretzels).

All scheduling aside, I find myself working at lightning speed on my pursuits because I live day to day with an autoimmune disease that can shut me down for a week or two at a time. If I seem a little maniacal it’s only because I know I am racing the clock to get things done before something like pollen, perfume, dairy, or weather forces me to take a break.

I find myself planning things just to keep motivated, not that I need the extra work with a house full of imps that drive me bonkers and the cutest dog in creation, but still… I feel like Alice In Wonderland some days with one pill that makes me feel smaller and another that makes me feel bigger. Better living through chemistry has its moments. I’ve had undifferentiated autoimmune disease for about 14 years since diagnosis (probably an additional 14 years living with it before the doctor discovered what it was) at this point and sometimes I need to just live through my stories because the body won’t cooperate regardless of what potion I drink or eat.

We all have things we work through and I know it can be hard at times. I find something wonderful and go with it as long as I can. A supportive partner or friend is also a game changer, and sometimes if all you can have together is misadventures remember to laugh about it.

On the plus side, Spring is on the way. A few conspiring rodents decided it, so let’s just go with that.

Some goodies for our readers-

Don’t forget these two treats are available on KU for a limited time and are also at a special price for download or paperback.

King of the Mardi Gras: A Short Story From Eden’s Garden https://a.co/d/3AbiBmK

Desperately Seeking Vampire: A Help Wanted Romance (Help Wanted Romance Series Book 1) https://a.co/d/02rPlny

So have a happy!

Books worth checking out, Liquid Friday with Eden Freed

LIQUID FRIDAY WITH AUTHOR K. M. FAWCETT

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Hello my friends, today we will welcome back K.M. Fawcett, author of Small Town Wilde Romance Book Series and will focus on Wilde Christmas: A Candlewood Falls Novel; book 2 in the series. But first let us kick back and relax with her favorite drink, which as you will find out soon is super appropriate for this season.

Here is a word from K.M. Fawcett:

Thank you for inviting me to the blog today!

I’m happy share one of my favorite drinks during the winter months and especially around the holidays—spiked peppermint hot chocolate. I love this drink so much that it made its way into my holiday small-town romantic suspense, Wilde Christmas. Bed and breakfast owner Lacey Wilde makes this for wounded warrior Dean Hunter while wrapping gifts together in her kitchen during a pivotal scene in the book. Wilde Christmas is free until the end of the year. Enjoy the story while sipping on a delicious spiked peppermint hot chocolate!

SPIKED PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE
Ingredients:

2 cups milk (skim, 2%, or whole)
4 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 oz peppermint schnapps
1 oz cream de cacao (optional)
whipped cream (for serving)
candy canes (for serving)

Directions:

1) Heat milk in a small saucepan over medium heat.
2) While milk is heating, microwave chopped chocolate for 30 seconds. Remove chocolate and stir. Repeat microwaving and stirring the chocolate until it’s just melted. 
3) When the milk reaches the scalding point (180ºF with bubbles on the side), turn off the heat and add the melted chocolate, whisking to combine.
4) Serve hot chocolate in glasses fortified with a jigger (1.5 oz) peppermint schnapps or peppermint schnapps and creme de cacao. (I used 1 oz of each)
5) Top with whipped cream and crushed candy cane pieces on top. Add a candy cane to stir.

Enjoy!

K.M. Fawcett

Now that we got our drink, let’s dive into the books.

Wilde Christmas

As Lacey Wilde works to open her bed-and-breakfast in time for Christmas, she meets Marine veteran Dean Hunter — who claims her adopted military working dog is his! Can Dean and K-9 Remi protect Lacey from a mysterious threat? A suspenseful small-town romance to warm up the holidays.

And here is some more info about our wonderful guest K.M. Fawcett:

Whether her romances are set in a charmingly quirky small town or on a dangerous alien planet, award-winning author K.M. Fawcett writes emotional stories featuring underdogs and fish-out-of-water characters who find their place in the universe. She believes in happy endings, that humor is food for the soul, and that if true love can’t conquer it, then it probably deserves a good throat punch.

K.M. and her husband—the inspiration for all her heroes (and some of her villains)—own a dojo in NJ, where they teach Okinawan karate and weapons. Incorporating two decades of martial arts experience into her stories, she forges resilient, timeless characters who aren’t afraid to fight for the life and love they deserve.

Become a member of K.M.’s lively reader community by signing up for her monthly newsletter and joining her Facebook Readers Group.