Thursday, May 31, 2012

Guest Post with Allen Wyler

WHAT MADE YOU TAKE THE PATH FROM NEUROSURGEON TO AUTHOR AND WHAT WERE YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES?


Writing always interested me. Even in grade school I read like a fiend. So it seemed like a good idea to major in English instead of the traditional chemistry or zoology when I was taking my premed courses. This caused me considerable grief because it was difficult to get in all my required credits. But I figured once I got into medical school I’d never have another shot at the literature courses. And that’s exactly what happened —medical school and post graduate training consumed all my time. Then one Saturday, after starting practice, I came home from making rounds at the hospital and decided to start writing. Just like that. I began a novel that ended up to be really awful. Then I wrote another one, which was better but still not ready for prime time. At that point I started trolling for an agent and finally secured one, but could not sell my work. Years later, I got the call I’d been waiting for. It was quite a thrill. I guess, in the end, my biggest challenge was finding enough time to devote to writing. For me the writing process is difficult and requires a ton of work. I now enjoy the luxury of having sufficient time to work on my craft. It’s a dream come true.


Dead End Deal
World renowned neurosurgeon Jon Ritter is on the verge of a medical breakthrough that will change the world. His groundbreaking surgical treatment, using transplanted non-human stem cells, is set to eradicate the scourge of Alzheimer’s disease and give hope to millions. But when the procedure is slated for testing, it all comes to an abrupt and terrifying halt. Ritter’s colleague is gunned down and Ritter himself is threatened by a radical anti-abortion group that not only claims responsibility, but promises more of the same.

Faced with a dangerous reality but determined to succeed, Ritter turns to his long-time colleague, corporate biotech CEO Richard Stillman, for help. Together, they conspire to conduct a clandestine clinical trial in Seoul, Korea. But the danger is more determined, and more lethal, than Ritter could have imagined.

After successful surgical trials, Ritter and his allies are thrown into a horrifying nightmare scenario: The trial patients have been murdered and Ritter is the number one suspect. Aided by his beautiful lab assistant, Yeonhee, Ritter flees the country, now the target of an international manhunt involving Interpol, the FBI, zealous fanatics and a coldly efficient assassin named Fiest.

Dead End Deal is a fast paced, heart-pounding, and sophisticated thriller. Penned by master neurosurgeon, Allen Wyler—who often draws from experience, actual events and hotbutton issues when writing—Dead End Deal is unmatched as a technical procedural. Its medical and scientific details can impress even the most seasoned medical practitioners. And yet, the technical expertise is seamlessly woven into a riveting plot, with enough action and surprises to engross even the most well-read thriller enthusiast.


A smart, unique, page-turner, Dead End Deal delivers.

You can purchase this book HERE.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Allen Wyler is a renowned neurosurgeon who earned an international reputation for pioneering surgical techniques to record brain activity. He has served on the faculties of both the University of Washington and the University of Tennessee, and in 1992 was recruited by the prestigious Swedish Medical Center to develop a neuroscience institute.

In 2002, he left active practice to become Medical Director for a startup med-tech company (that went public in 2006) and he now chairs the Institutional Review Board of a major medical center in the Pacific Northwest.

Leveraging a love for thrillers since the early 70’s, Wyler devoted himself to fiction writing in earnest, eventually serving as Vice President of the International Thriller Writers organization for several years. After publishing his first two medical thrillers Deadly Errors (2005) and Dead Head (2007), he officially retired from medicine to devote himself to writing full time.

He and his wife, Lily, divide their time between Seattle and the San Juan Islands.


Author's Website:
 www.allenwyler.com/

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

My Book Boyfriend (69)

My Book Boyfriend is a weekly meme hosted by Missie of The Unread Reader, in which we swoon over boys in books!
(I--as in me, Amy--don't like to use commercial photos, I like to use the authors' descriptions and my imagination.)


Loki Staad
Book: Torn by Amanda Hocking
Series: Trylle

He's a Vittra prince with great powers; including the gift to render an enemy unconscious with a simple glance. Caramel eyes and shaggy, almost blond hair. His tanned skin is smooth and flawless, and his jaw is strong, yet somehow delicate. He is willing to give up everything for a girl he has just met because of the kindness she shows to others.








Quotes:

"What would happen if I tried to escape?" I asked.
I didn't see anyone else. If I outran Loki, I could probably get away. Not that I knew where to go, and I still wouldn't be able to free Matt and Rhys.
"I would stop you," he said simply.
"The same way Kyra did at my house?" A pain flared up in my rib, as if reminding me of the damage she'd caused.
"No." Something dark flickered across his face for a second. He quickly erased it and smiled at me. "I would simply take you in my arms and hold you there until you swooned."

"People like me, eh?" He cocked an eyebrow. "You mean devilishly handsome, debonair young men who come to sweep rebellious princesses off their feet?"

He'd never called me by my name before, and the underlying affection underneath it startled me. Even his eyes, which still held their usual veil of playfulness, had something deeper brewing underneath. When he wasn't trying so hard to be devilishly handsome, he actually was.



Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Future Favorites (84)


Future Favorites is an awesome blog feature created by Alex over at Electrifying Reviews. I post about a book that is yet-to-be-released that I can't wait to read!



Release Date: August 7, 2012 by St. Martin's Press

Beautiful. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Thea, and Lexi have caught everyone's attention, including the eye of practical Harper. But it's her sister, Gemma, they've chosen to be part of their group.

Sixteen-year-old Gemma seems to have it all - carefree, pretty, and falling in love with the boy next door. But her greatest passion has always been the water. She craves late night swims under the stars, where she can be alone yet belong to the sea. Lately she's had company. Penn, Thea, and Lexi spend their nights dancing, singing, and partying on the cove--and one night Gemma joins them. When she wakes up groggy on the beach the next morning, she knows something has changed.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. As she uncovers the truth about her new mythical powers, Gemma is forced to choose between staying with those she loves or entering a dark world brimming with unimaginable secrets.



Monday, May 28, 2012

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (103)


This is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Books I read last week:
Torn by Amanda Hocking

The book I’m reading now:
Balkan Magic
Free-spirited Annika Brisby has just turned down a proposal that promises a lifetime of security but no adventure. Seeking some distance between herself and her ex-boyfriend, Annika travels to the Balkan Mountains. A day hike gone to havoc sends her through a broken portal to another world. She is discovered by wood nymphs who seem convinced that Annika's presence is more than just chance, and they vow to get her back home with the help of a slightly debauched elf named Talvi. Unnerved at his advances, Annika makes the best of her situation by learning all she can about this dream-like new world. But the more she gets to know the genuine Talvi, the more she wonders if there's a path leading them toward each other. Together they sail over a monster-filled sea, navigate through a forest of flesh eating trees, and encounter a family of trolls, but the greatest obstacle will be Annika's ability to trust her new friends and confront her deepest fears.

Books that spark my interest this week:
Die For Me by Amy Plum
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead



Sunday, May 27, 2012

Torn by Amanda Hocking

Torn
When Wendy Everly first discovers the truth about herself—that she’s a changeling switched at birth—she knows her life will never be the same. Now she’s about to learn that there’s more to the story…

She shares a closer connection to her Vittra rivals than she ever imagined—and they’ll stop at nothing to lure her to their side. With the threat of war looming, her only hope of saving the Trylle is to master her magical powers—and marry an equally powerful royal. But that means walking away from Finn, her handsome bodyguard who’s strictly off limits…and Loki, a Vittra prince with whom she shares a growing attraction.

Torn between her heart and her people, between love and duty, Wendy must decide her fate. If she makes the wrong choice, she could lose everything, and everybody, she’s ever wanted…in both worlds.



Torn is the second book in the Trylle trilogy by Amanda Hocking, and while it was not as emotionally driven as the first book, I did really enjoy this story. Amanda has created an intricate world, and in this book I loved learning more of the Trylle history, and discovering Wendy's true parentage. Loki was a character that I loved from the very first introduction, and I'm looking forward to more adventures with him. When Wendy's mother, the Queen, becomes extremely ill, life begins to change irreparably for them. The relationship between Wendy and Finn has become extremely strained, their emotional attachment has been driven away due to Finn's place in society and his refusal to acknowledge his feelings. Wendy finds herself becoming closer to Tove, a friend who is teaching her to use her Trylle gifts, and just might be the man she is to marry in order to save her people.





Sundays with Sarah (4)

To find out more about Sarah and this feature go here.


Thank you all for joining me again with “Sundays with Sarah”. I appreciate all you out there who read my posts and although most are an assortment of topics I always leave important messages with what I want to express. I turn my topic this week to a more serious tone.



This week I want to discuss how emotions, circumstances and things we do can affect the littlest things in our lives. Did you know that I used to be a foster child? Well for the first 12 years I lived out of a suitcase. 30 years ago children like I back then had many parents but no home. Families back then were completely different to how they are today. There are more dysfunctional families than there were in the 70’s and 80’s. Now a days the normal family structure is full of step-parents, half siblings, and even foster care systems plagued with more and more kids from parents who don’t want to be parents, unplanned pregnancies or ravaged by abuse.


Earlier this week I became an official foster parent to a 12 year old girl. Now there is a long story behind this but I won’t get into details. I’ve seen more and more parents in situations where the family structures of parents vs kids are becoming more and more ‘distant’. Being a foster child myself and now a parent, I know what it is like to not have actual parents out there to love and care for. When I was adopted, I learned what true family was. It saddens me these days to see families fight, kids telling their parents ‘I hate you’ and families spending more time on a computer or their iPad/iPhone texting and glued to other electronics, that the definition of family is starting to get distorted by the virtual online world and in a way causing more problems with ‘the manners of families’. Now a lot of you are probably thinking “whoa she’s talking about a lot of things here but doesn’t make much sense’. Well the point I am trying to make is that we need to start going back to the roots of family and start bonding regardless of how busy we are, and our obsessive online behaviours and start respecting the core of the family foundation. One doesn’t “find” time for family, one “MAKES” the time.


Ok...so what does all this have to do with the 12 year old girl and becoming her foster mom? Although I have gained a new family member (so to speak), As parents, we set rules and guidelines to protect our kids and to help them grow by instilling the means of them learning responsibility. Kids don’t understand this as they see the world as a giant playground. So for all those parents out there, hold onto your kids, and make sure that your priority is putting that family first. We all don’t need elaborate or expensive trinkets or fancy dinners, what we do need is each other.


Thanks for taking the time to read my post and I leave you with a poem from my poetry book “Lost in Darkness”


No Place To Go


I carry my suitcase with no place to go,

tears trickle down as my head hangs low,

I wish for a family and someone to hold,

a place to wake up from and out of the cold,


 My heart was shattered, though you cannot see,

mommy and daddy, just didn't want me,

battered and beaten, black and blue,

ever wondering can I come home with you?



Too many places, but not one my bed,

I grow so weary to rest my head,

I hold my teddy so I'm not alone,

wishing for god to find me a home,



Wandering places, trying to find hope,

because I'm invisible and trying to cope,

watching the world as it passes me by,

I'm sick and tired and I want to cry,


I pray to god and ask him so,

to find me a home and a place to grow,

to become a person that someone will share,

to welcome me with love and lots of care,



Like a dream or a prayer that is not heard,

I stand here in silence, without saying a word,

I search for you and a place of hope,

to stop me from the end of this rope,


But there is nothing more for me to say,

my light is gone and so is my way,

I travel alone with my suitcase in hand,

for a mommy and daddy wouldn't that be grand,


My lone companion 'bunny bear' and me,

will continue to hope for a home to be,

but for now i know that it isn't so,

I still have no home or no place to go.


Saturday, May 26, 2012

My Bookish Wants & Gots (4)

My Bookish Wants & Gots is weekly Saturday feature at The Book Vixen. I list the books I want - which can be old, new, or upcoming releases - and the books I recently got.




Déjà Dead by Kathy Reichs
Forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan has finally planned a weekend off to explore Montreal. But when an unidentified female corpse is discovered meticulously dismembered and stashed in garbage bags, her weekend plans--and her life--are turned upside down.













Starstruck by Cyn Balog
Gwendolyn "Dough" X doesn't think she has much going for her—she carries a few extra pounds, her family struggles with their small bakery in a town full of millionaires, and the other kids at her New Jersey high school don't seem to know that she exists. Thank the stars for her longtime boyfriend, Philip P. Wishman—or "Wish." He moved away to California three years ago, when they were 13, but then professed his love for her via e-mail, and he's been her long-distance BF ever since.

At the beginning of her junior year, though, Wish e-mails that he's moving back to Jersey. Great, right? Well, except that Dough has gained about 70 pounds since the last time Wish saw her, while Wish—according to his Facebook photos—has morphed into a blonde god. Convinced that she'll be headed for Dumpsville the minute Wish lays eyes on her, Dough delays their meeting as long as she possibly can.
But when she sees Wish at school, something amazing happens. He looks at Dough like she's just as gorgeous as he is. But Wish is acting a little weird, obsessed with the sun and freaked out by rain. And the creepy new guy working at the bakery, Christian, is convinced that there's more to Wish's good looks than just healthy eating and lots of sun. He tells Dough that a mark on Wish's neck marks him as a member of the Luminati—an ancient cult of astrologers who can manipulate the stars to improve their lives. Is Wish and Dough's love meant to be—or are they star-crossed?





Vanish by Sophie Jordan
An impossible romance.
Bitter rivalries.
Deadly choices.


To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?




Friday, May 25, 2012

Forgotten Fridays (13)


I invite and welcome anyone interested to post their own Forgotten Friday and join in the fun! I feature a book that I have read and have forgotten http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhow much I enjoyed it. Some books might recent reads and some might be older reads, but I hope thist helps these (sometimes forgotten) books earn a spot on your own TBR pile!

Awaken Me Darkly by Gena Showalter
Series: Alien Huntress
First Published: May 2005
Awaken Me Darkly (Alien Huntress, #1)

RIDDING THE WORLD OF EVIL, ONE ALIEN AT A TIME: THAT'S MIA SNOW'S MISSION.

Snow is in the forecast.

In a time and place not too far away, Mia Snow is an alien huntress for the New Chicago Police Department. Heading up her expert team of Alien Investigation and Removal agents, Mia's unmatched at battling the elusive enemy among us, and she's the perfect girl for the job. She's seen her brother die at the hands of aliens. She's earned each of her scars. And she'll die before she cries. Now, a series of killings have Mia and her partner Dallas tracking alien suspects -- but a sudden blast of violence leaves Dallas fighting for his life.

They are ice and fire.

The chance to save Dallas appears in the form of a tall, erotic stranger. An alien. A murder suspect. Kyrin en Arr, of the deadly Arcadian species, holds the power to heal the injured agent but not without a price. For Mia Snow, that price is surrendering to Kyrin's forbidden seduction...and embracing their electric attraction. She's walking a knife's edge, risking her badge and even her life. The closer she gets to Kyrin, the more Mia learns about her own heart, her human needs -- and the shocking secret that will shatter everything she's ever believed.



The Soul Savers Book Tour - Kristie Cook


I must sincerely apologize to both Kristie Cook and to you, my readers. My tour date was confirmed for May 22nd, but the email got tossed in my spam folder for some strange reason, and I also had a ridonkulously large brain fart.

Each stop on the tour will feature one character from the book, and a question related to loyalty or betrayal.


CHARACTER: Solomon
QUESTION: What do you think 'devotion' to someone or something looks like?

Solomon: It can be seen in one’s actions. They are consistent and do not waver in the face of temptation. For example, I am devoted to the Amadis, therefore I shall not bite you although you are an exquisite specimen.


Devotion
With powerful abilities gained from the Ang’dora and Tristan back by her side, Alexis thinks she’s ready for the next challenge— protecting her son from what appears to be the inevitable. But she has so much to learn about her powers, her new world and the people in it. Nothing is what it seems to be on the surface, including the Amadis.

Power-hungry politicians comprise the council and make impossible demands. A traitor lurks among them all, inciting trouble that could destroy the Amadis and, ultimately, humanity. The Daemoni wreak havoc in the human world, with the ultimatum that they’ll continue attacking innocents until Alexis and Tristan are expelled from the Amadis’ protection. The couple’s own society begins to shut them out. But that’s not all.

Someone’s keeping a secret. A big one. Faith and hope in Alexis and Tristan will be restored if she can uncover the truth in time.

But the search for answers leads only to the discovery of more betrayals by those closest to Alexis. Her devotion is put to the test—devotion to her husband, to her family, to her people and to her beliefs—leaving her to question whom she’s fighting for and why she should even bother. But if she won’t fight . . . who will?



Giveaway:

One ebook copy of Devotion by Kristie Cook.

Rules for entry:
- Must be 17 years or older.
- Giveaway ends June 1, 2012 12AM EST.
- Open internationally.
- Fill out the form below.



IF YOU LEAVE A COMMENT, YOU WILL BE ENTERED TO WIN THE MAIN TOUR GIVEAWAY INCLUDING: 


  • Grand Prize – Nook Simple Touch (US only)
  • 1st Prize — All 4 of my books signed (US only)
  • 2nd Prize — Soul Savers Swag bag (US only)
  • International Prize — All 4 books as ebooks


 Please leave a comment, with your email address, to be entered to win! If you are international, please let me know.


 The more you comment during the tour, the most chances you have to win! 

 
Find Kristie:
Website | Twitter | Facebook


Tour Schedule:


May 22
    A Simple Love of Reading    
    Late Bloomers Online  

May 23
    Good Choice Reading   
    Living Fictitiously  

May 24
    The Indie Elite   
    Me and Reading   

May 25
    Nightly Reading  
    Ex Libris   

May 26
    All Things About Books   
    Insane About Books   

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Theme Thursday (60)

Theme Thursdays

Theme Thursdays is a fun weekly event hosted by Reading Between Pages that will be open from one Thursday to the next. Anyone can participate in it. The rules are simple:
  • A theme will be posted each week (on Thursdays)
  • Select a conversation/snippet/sentence from the current book you are reading
  • Mention the author and the title of the book along with your post
  • It is important that the theme is conveyed in the sentence (you don’t necessarily need to have the word)
    Ex: If the theme is KISS; your sentence can have “They kissed so gently” or “Their lips touched each other” or “The smooch was so passionate”
This will give us a wonderful opportunity to explore and understand different writing styles and descriptive approaches adopted by authors.

This week's theme is - FRIEND (Buddy, confidant, comrade etc)


I'm not alone. Whinney is good company, even if she isn't human. She's all I have, and I'm all she has. But wouldn't it be wonderful if I could run like her.

The Valley of Horses by Jean M. Auel



Wednesday, May 23, 2012

My Book Boyfriend (68)

My Book Boyfriend is a weekly meme hosted by Missie of The Unread Reader, in which we swoon over boys in books!
(I--as in me, Amy--don't like to use commercial photos, I like to use the authors' descriptions and my imagination.)


Trae Wilson
Book: Destiny Kills by Keri Arthur
Series: Myth and Magic

A draman; half human and half dragon. He's also a clever thief. His body is lean and muscular, his scent is spicy and he carries an aura of confidence and sheer masculinity. His gaze is as blue as the summer sky and there is a wildness in them that speaks of sun and sky and air, and has absolutely nothing to do with humanity. His voice is rich and deep and his aristocratic features become softened when a smile curves his full lips.




Quotes:

He tossed me a grin that was all wildness and dangerous excitement. "You're never trapped when you have wings, sweetheart."

"So you're a one-woman man?"
"I will be when I find the right woman."
I raised an eyebrow. "So you're totally unattached right now?"
His gaze met mine, and something in those bright depths sent a shiver through my soul. This man was hunting, too.
"Currently, I'm single," he said softly. "But you never know when that might change."

"And this is important?" I said softly. Emphatically.
"The most important thing in my life," he said. "And not only for this moment."
Then he kissed me.
It was a kiss that was deep and long, a kiss that explored and aroused. A kiss that spoke of emotions that had been hinted at, but never actually said. They were there nevertheless, thick and real.


Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Future Favorites (83)


Future Favorites is an awesome blog feature created by Alex over at Electrifying Reviews. I post about a book that is yet-to-be-released that I can't wait to read!



Deadly Little Lessons by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Release Date: December 12, 2012 by Hyperion Book CH


Camelia Hammond's trying junior year of high school is finally over...but her troubles aren't. After she discovers a painful truth about her family, she escapes to a summer arts program in Rhode Island. Determined to put family - and boyfriend - drama behind her, she throws herself into her artwork.

At the arts school, she gets caught up in the case of Sasha Beckerman, a local girl who is missing. Even though all signs suggest that the teen ran away, Camelia senses otherwise. Eager to help the girl, she launches her own investigation. She finds a blog by someone named Neal Moche, a psychometric who might have clues to Sasha's whereabouts. There is something familiar about Neal, and Camelia realizes how much she misses Ben, despite being committed to Adam.

But time is running out for Sasha, and Camelia will have to trust her powers if she's to save her. Will the lessons Camelia has learned in the past give her the strength to do so?


Monday, May 21, 2012

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (102)


This is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.


Books I read last week:

Crimson Groves by Ashley Robertson
The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting


The book I’m reading now:
Torn
When Wendy Everly first discovers the truth about herself—that she’s a changeling switched at birth—she knows her life will never be the same. Now she’s about to learn that there’s more to the story…

She shares a closer connection to her Vittra rivals than she ever imagined—and they’ll stop at nothing to lure her to their side. With the threat of war looming, her only hope of saving the Trylle is to master her magical powers—and marry an equally powerful royal. But that means walking away from Finn, her handsome bodyguard who’s strictly off limits…and Loki, a Vittra prince with whom she shares a growing attraction.

Torn between her heart and her people, between love and duty, Wendy must decide her fate. If she makes the wrong choice, she could lose everything, and everybody, she’s ever wanted…in both worlds.



Books that spark my interest this week:
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon



Sunday, May 20, 2012

Crimson Groves by Ashley Robertson

Crimson Groves
Abigail Tate was a normal human girl. Until the day Bronx the vampire barges into her life and turns her against her will. Held captive while forced to deal with never ending cravings for blood, Abby prays for a way to escape. Only when an opportunity arises, it's with the aid of an innocent human named Tyler--except vampires are forbidden to interact with the unbitten. But Abby quickly learns this human has secrets of his own...secrets that can either help her or get her killed. Only Abby discovers that she was the one with the biggest secret of them all.





Ashley Robertson created an interesting spin on vampire lore, and a cast of characters that shows real promise. This was a quick story with a little danger mixed in with a lot of tension. I'm still not sure how I feel about the main character, Abby, she took to the whole "I'm now a vampire" mind set a little too easily, and I found that most of the problems were resolved either too quickly or with little dramatic influence. In the beginning, there were times that I found my attention wandering and it was difficult to get back into the flow of the story. But towards the middle of the book, the action picked up and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I would like to know a little more about some of the side characters that really sparked my interest, and will more than likely be interested in continuing Abby's story in the future.





Sundays with Sarah (3)

To find out more about Sarah and this feature go here.


Hi everyone, well last week I wasn’t able to post anything as I was out of town. So this week I have a special treat for you. One of the biggest inspirations I use to help me write my scripts and books is my love for gourmet food. Cooking at home is becoming a lost art, and with the wave of fast food restaurants and the convenience of eating out, people don’t really cook at home anymore. Well I am going to share for you some of my recipes with you that I make when hosting social parties at home. Feel free to try these recipes out and leave your comments.




Peach Bourbon BBQ Sauce



Ingredients:

2 cups Jack Daniel's Black Label or Bourbon


1 cup puréed peaches (not canned)
1 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons malt vinegar
2 tablespoons dark molasses

1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)



1) Pour 1 cup of whiskey/bourbon into a saucepan and set aside the remaining whiskey. Bring to a light boil and reduce the liquid to about 2 tablespoons. Don't let the alcohol flame.


2) Add 1 cup of the whiskey and the other ingredients in saucepan. Add more honey for thickness. Simmer over a low heat for 30 minutes stirring frequently and reduce it by about 1/3. Use it immediately or bottle it and keep it in the refrigerator for a month or more. Drink the remaining whiskey. When ready to use baste over steaks or pork when BBQing and enjoy.


Sarah’s Traditional Holiday Wifsaver



Ingredients:

Approx. 16 slices of Bread (white, or brown whole wheat work best) – amount needed will vary on size of baking dish used.


6 eggs

4 tsp Tobasco sauce

2 tbsp Worcester Sauce

Cooked Ham or bacon (1 lbs) - diced

Cheese (cheddar or mozza, other cheeses work too)

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp dry mustard

1/4 minced white onion

3 cups whole milk (2%)

1/2 lb butter (Not margarine)

Corn flakes or Special K cereal

Preparation – Night before serving


In a 9x12 buttered baking dish...

  • Butter your cooking pan to prevent sticking. Do not use spray on for non stick.
  • Put slices of bread to cover bottom - remove crusts. Use smaller pieces to fill in gaps/holes not covered by bread.
  • Place cooked ham or bacon on bread. Make sure bacon is not crunchy but cooked. Can chop bacon as well. Strain grease and fat from bacon before laying on bread.
  • Lay slices of your favorite cheese on top of bacon or ham. Do not use feta. Makes dish too salty nor does it melt.
  • Cover with remaining bread and repeat process of placing smaller pieces to fill in gaps and holes to make a solid top.
  • In bowl, beat eggs, salt, pepper, dry mustard, onion, cinnamon, Worcestershire sauce, milk and Tabasco completely. Do not froth eggs.
  • Pour sauce over sandwich, let stand in fridge over night. In the morning strain rest of liquid mixture if there is an excess.

* If making dish in morning, let dish sit in fridge for min of 6 hours *

Preparation - Day (Morning)

  • Crush up corn flakes or Special K cereal and spread over top of sandwich.
  • Melt butter and lightly pour over top of cereal evenly. If not coated completely , melt more butter
  • Bake for 1 hour at 350F (in middle of oven), check periodically to prevent blackening or burning to bottom of pan. Reduce heat to 325F if needed.
  • Topping will bubble in some places. Pop with fork.
  • Let it cool for 15 min before serving
  • Serve with fruit or yogurt.



I will be adding 1 new recipe with my posts each week in addition to my posts.



I leave you now with another poem from my book “Lost In Darkness”, (which can be purchased here)



“Reflection”



I sit here on this bench, my quiet spot,

staring into the world and what it’s got,

See, I've been hiding out in a dark cave,

and all this time avoiding my grave,



did you know that I once was shy,

didn't want anyone or to give it a try,

my world where I hid from you,

because I was always blue,



Stuck as a child in a world of hate,

trying to heal my mental state,

but as a little girl I was afraid,

so I sat here on my bench and prayed,



Growing up can be very hard,

especially when your life was scarred,

and when your young you never know,

that in the darkness you can still grow,



But sitting here reflection in silence,

of the choices before me on this fence,

many roads that I can take,

but still hoping I don't make a mistake,



How can I trust those who had shut me out,

swallowed by shadow that made me doubt,

that in a world that left me to die,

I sit and always wonder why,



And when I grow up and leave my time behind,

I know that one day love I will find,

its harder when one lives in darkness,

because your whole world is a mess,



But I wish I had a place to call home,

so I can stop being alone,

I wish I had friends to be with,

but I believe friendship is a myth,



I'm tired of being left on a fence,

deciding what to do makes me so tense,

Part of me wants to stay a little girl forever,

the other part of me hopes that I never,



I know that one day I will stumble and fall,

but the world around me is a crumbling wall,

falling down around me as I try to hide,

from what I had lost I solemnly cried,



I'm afraid to let go of my past so dark,

it’s all I have known for it left its mark,

why am I now so very frightened,

my heart races fast and is tightened,



The world before me which is now at my feet,

where food is scarce to find something to eat,

but I know one day god will save me so,

and give me a home, to heaven I go.