A Romance Writer’s Favorite Day!

Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s a romance writer’s favorite day after all! I hope you’re having a lovely day and I want to say how thankful I am for your friendship and support. As a Valentine’s Day gift to you, I’ve got some special promotions for the entire month of February, namely several FREE reads on Kindle Unlimited and LOTS of 99 cent reads if you don’t do KU! Check out some of my top picks for you or for someone who has a special place in your heart:

Darkness Calls – https://amzn.to/3SMhqSr
The Fifth Kingdom – https://amzn.to/3w0vvTe
South Beach Love – https://amzn.to/489DbjB
At the Shore Box Set – https://amzn.to/3SPr7Q8
One Summer Night – https://amzn.to/491Xj8D

valentine's day

My Favorite Foods! Share Your Favs!

Everyone has their favorite foods that they would choose almost every time. With my Cuban heritage, my favs lean in that direction. A tasty Cuban sandwich. Roast pork (essential for the sandwich LOL!) Ropa vieja, a flavorful dish of shredded beef in tomato sauce. Maduros, those sweet ripe plantains that everyone devours on Christmas Eve. What are your favorite foods? Share them with us and why you love them! You may know that food sometimes plays a big role in my books, like South Beach Love which has the two chefs and More than a Mission where the heroine is a chef. But you may not know about Tori Got Lucky which I re-released as Charity Pineiro. (Charity is my nickname). Tori Got Lucky is set in Miami and you’ll find mention of lots of my fav foods in that story and its sequel, To Catch Her Man. If you love stories about women facing big changes in their friendships and lives, you might want to check it out at https://amzn.to/338Mcdu. Here’s a teaser for it:

Finding Mr. Right wasn’t what she had in mind . . .

When Tori got lucky, she never imagined that her one night fling would turn into something more. But her birthday surprise turns out to be “the one” and before long, she and Gil are talking about making it something a little more permanent.

There’s just one problem. Okay, maybe more than one. Like Tori’s three best friends who fear that once Tori gets married, she’ll disappear as so many of their friends have over the years. And her mother and father who are making all kinds of noises about Tori and Gil’s plans for a quick and simple wedding. Not to mention Tori’s perfect sister with her new little baby. . .

With pressure building from all sides, Tori and Gil do the only possible thing: Elope. But can their new marriage survive the demands of friends, family, and their own insecurities?

Only time will tell whether Tori truly got lucky.

favorite foods

Favorite Dresses for the Blushing Bride

Good morning! Now that the Super Bowl is over, it’s time to discuss some really important things like what’s the right dress for a blushing bride like Emma from Never a Bride. As a wedding planner, Emma has to deal with all kinds of women, including some pretty awful bridezillas. The funny thing is that even though Emma is a wedding planner, she doesn’t believe in happily ever after and she also can’t see that her Prince Charming is right in front of her nose. But if Emma was going to plan her own wedding, what would she choose? A simple gown or one that was very fancy? What about you? What would you choose? I had a very simple cocktail length dress while my daughter had a gorgeous gown. Both were the right choices for us. P.S. – If you want to find out more about Never a Bride, please visit https://amzn.to/3ODqwOI.

Big Shoutout for 5th Kingdom Review

My daughter and I are headed out early to visit a nearby IKEA and get some things for her house and the nursery! So excited. In the meantime, I want to say a big THANK YOU to Jeanne Jones for her review of The Fifth Kingdom! I love this story about a woman forced to confront her relationship with her mother and an ancient relic that could destroy humanity if it lands in the hands of terrorists. Did I mention the hot former military man working for the CIA who will help save the world but lose his heart. The Fifth Kingdom is on sale for 99 cents and FREE if you’ve got Kindle Unlimited. You can download it at https://amzn.to/47YggrY.

amazon review

OMG January is flying by!

OMG January is flying by and it’s almost time for my next newsletter! My VIP Newsletter subscribers will be able to enter to win a copy of Brickell Avenue Ambush and I’ll pick 10 lucky winners to get a copy of this book. It’s not too late to sign up for the newsletter to receive all the latest information on what’s happening with me, new releases, free e-books, and giveaways. When you sign up, you’ll also be able to download a free copy of South Beach Love! Don’t miss out and sign up at https://bit.ly/CaridadsNewsletter.

newsletter signup

Arroz Con Pollo-Scrumptious and Easy

Yesterday I mentioned that Escape the Everglades was a slow burn kind of book because the hero, ex-marine Carlos Ruiz, is a single dad. I can totally picture Carlos cooking up a big batch of chicken and rice because it’s easy to make, keeps well if you’re running late, and also makes for great leftovers. Did I mention it’s not all that expensive to make as well? So, today I’m sharing my recipe for chicken and rice. I’ve found that the easiest way to make this dish is in the oven, although you start it on the stove. If you have Corning Ware, Le Creuset or some other stove to oven cookware, even better. Who wants to spend time cleaning pots? If you want to find out more about Escape the Everglades, please visit https://amzn.to/3HqJHaN.

Ingredients

One fryer chicken, cut into pieces (Alternatively, 4 thighs and 2 breasts cut in half)
Olive oil
2 small cans tomato sauce
1 cup chopped red & green peppers
1 cup chopped onions
2 cloves garlic minced
2 cups white rice
2 cups water
1 cup white wine
1 tsp BIJOL (this is a coloring agent you can find in the Latin cooking section of your market)
1 Spanish chorizo (also in the Latin section)
2 bay leaves
1 tsp oregano
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 350.

In your pot, put in a little olive oil and brown the chicken. Remove chicken from the pot and set to the side.

In the same pot, add the red and green peppers and sauté for about 5 minutes. Then add the chorizo and the onions. Sauté for another 5 and add the garlic for just a minute. Then add the tomato sauce, bay leaves, oregano and wine.

Simmer for about 15 minutes to get rid of the raw tomato taste. Add salt and pepper to taste. Then add the 2 cups water and also, the Bijol. Give it a stir and add the rice. Stir again to mix and then add the chicken pieces. Arrange the chicken pieces so they are spread throughout the pot.

If you don’t have stove to oven cookware, make it in a regular pan and then move it a large enough rectangular aluminum foil pan.

Place the mixture in the oven and cover tightly. Cook for about 30 to 45 minutes until all the water is absorbed.

To serve, fluff the rice and top with canned sweet peas and some sliced roasted red peppers.

If you can’t imagine eating peas straight out of the can, you can add frozen peas to the mixture in the oven during the last ten minutes of cooking. I’ve actually started using only the frozen peas. They hold up better and keep their color better.

Spanish Chicken and Rice