Live to Love on the Edge Blog

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Amazing Visit to the Elliott Musuem and Refuge Houses

I recently attended the wonderful Coastal Magic Convention and after took a few days to visit with a friend. We had a lovely time visiting the Navy Seal Museum (more on that next week) as well as the Elliott Museum and Refuge Houses. I’m a car buff as you might guess from automaker Owen in What Happens in Summer. In STAY THE NIGHT, my contribution to the STRENGTH & HONOR charity anthology, there’s also an emotional thread about the hero’s connection to a 1960s seafoam green Ford Falcon that was left to him by his grandfather and lovingly cared for by his wife while he is deployed overseas. The hero in that story is a Navy Seal who is coming home to a wife who is nothing like the young woman he left behind. But back to the Elliott Museum and Refuge Houses. What an amazing collection of automobiles and Florida history! While the museum doesn’t have a lot of space, they have what I guess you could call a car vending machine as you can see from the video below. You choose a car you want to see and a series of elevators, platforms, and rails bring the car down for you to view. Awesome! After we viewed the other exhibits at the Elliott, we went to their related Refuge Houses which are a series of small buildings intended to be havens for shipwrecked sailors along the Florida coast. It was so interesting to see them and the beautiful views along the coast. Turquoise waters and even a shark sighting! If you’re in the Martin County area, I highly recommend you visit. P.S. The STRENGTH & HONOR anthology is available for pre-order and all proceeds go to benefit stopsoldiersuicide.org. You can find out more at https://books2read.com/StrengthAndHonor.


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Introducing the South Beach Security K-9 Division Spinoff

I am so excited to introduce the South Beach Security K-9 Division Spinoff! When danger strikes, trust the South Beach Security K-9 Division to keep you secure! If you’re a fan of military heroes, steadfast heroines, and adorable pups, you will love this action-packed romantic suspense series. The first book in the series, SABOTAGE OPERATION, is available on May 21, 2024 and features Teresa Rodriguez, a hard-working stable owner being threatened by a former trainer under investigation for doping racehorses. The hero, Matt Perez, is a Marine whose life was destroyed by a rich girl’s false accusation. Matt has fought hard to rebuild his life and the last thing he wants is to get involved with another rich girl but Teresa is nothing like he imagined. The action hits you from the very first pages and doesn’t stop! All books in the series are standalone but you will get to see what’s happening with the characters in each story as well as the Gonzalez family from the first three books in the South Beach Security series! P.S. – If you haven’t read the South Beach Security series yet, it’s not too late. The books are available in print, e-book, and audio. You can download them at https://amzn.to/3ImgheA. You can download SABOTAGE OPERATION and the other books in the series at https://amzn.to/3MGpsJ7.

harlequin books

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Takeover Tuesday Anna James

Good morning! Please take a moment to welcome fellow Harlequin author Anna James who is going to share a little bit about her new releases! Take a moment to let her know if you love reading contemporary romance series. I know I do! P.S. HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!

Hi Everyone,

I’m Anna James. I write contemporary romance and romantic suspense. First off, a BIG thanks to Caridad for having me here.
Today, I want to share a recipe with you and tell you about my new Sisterhood of Chocolate and Wine series available from Harlequin Special Edition.

Each story takes place in the small coastal town of New Suffolk, Massachusetts. The Sisterhood is a group of six female friends who support each other through life’s trials and tribulations on the way to finding their happy ever afters.

Book 1 – A TASTE OF HOME is Layla and Shane’s story.
Book 2 – A DEAL WITH MR. WRONG is Piper and Cooper’s story.

Here’s a little blurb for each to whet your appetite:

A TASTE OF HOME:

Leaving Paris—and her cheating fiancé—to return to her picturesque coastal town was the best move Layla Williams ever made. The chef and restaurateur has proven herself by transforming her longtime family bistro into an upscale French eatery. But now her legacy is in trouble. Help comes from an unexpected source: the boy Layla left behind. Wall Street wizard turned EMT Shane Kavanaugh could turn Layla’s homecoming into another chance for them both. If they’re ready to put their hearts on the line.

A DEAL WITH MR. WRONG:

“You and me. We could be the perfect solution for each other.”

Gallery owner Piper Kavanaugh has had enough of her matchmaking mother’s interference in her (nonexistent) love life! But her brilliant plan to recruit her enemy-turned-contractor Cooper Turner to pose as her boyfriend has only created more problems. Like an attraction she never counted on…and is finding impossible to deny.

Cooper spent years feeling guilty about witnessing Piper’s father’s death, so helping her renovate for her big opening day is a no-brainer. But falling for her? Now he’s really lost his mind. Still, after being burned by his ex-fiancée, maybe his lingering trust issues are getting the better of him… Or perhaps their romance ruse will be an unexpected new beginning!

Sisterhood of Chocolate and Wine Book 3 will release in Q4 2024!

Now for the recipe!

Layla’s Gourmet Burgers (featured in all of the stories):

Ingredients:
Equal parts ground sausage and hamburger (you can use ground chuck if you’d like)
Up to 1 TBSP steak sauce or Worcestershire sauce for each pound of meat
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ cup of grated cheese per pound of meat (I like a mix of Parmesan and Romano)

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until well mixed
Form mixture into 5 – 6 oz patties
Cook on the grill over medium heat, or in a cast iron skillet with a 1 – 2 TBSP olive oil until desired doneness is reached (~ 3 – 7 minutes per side depending on how you like it cooked)
Serve on Brioche hamburger rolls (pretzel buns work great, too!)
Add your favorite toppings (sliced cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, bacon, etc.)

ENJOY!

Thanks for stopping by today. If you’re interested in learning more about me and my books, please visit me at:

https://www.facebook.com/annajames.author
https://www.instagram.com/author_anna_james/
https://annajamesromance.com/
News Letter Signup: http://annajamesromance.com/?page_id=1437
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorannajames

contemporary romance

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Breakfast in Bed or a Dinner in a Romantic Restaurant?

It’s time for some truth-telling! Would you prefer to have breakfast in bed with your loved one or dinner in a romantic restaurant? As much of a romantic as I am, I’d have to pass on breakfast in bed. All those crumbs and stuff all over not to mention that klutz that I am, I’m sure the champagne and/or jelly would end up in all the wrong places! LOL (and get your minds out of the gutter, ladies). So my choice hands down is a lovely dinner in a romantic restaurant. What about you? What would be your choice? P.S. Dinner in a romantic restaurant is what unexpectedly happened to Maggie and Owen from ONE SUMMER NIGHT. If you haven’t read that story yet, it’s on sale of 99 cents and also available in Kindle Unlimited but only until June. Download it at https://amzn.to/3SndEie.

this or that breakfast or dinner

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day

It’s a day for the wearing of the green but did you know that St. Patrick often wore blue? Other fun facts: corned beef and cabbage originated in the U.S. and the first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in the U.S., not Ireland. I’m actually about 18% Irish according to a genealogy test but that’s not a surprise since my grandparents were from the province of Galicia in the north of Spain which is one of the Celtic nations. What about you? Any Irish connections? Does your town do a St. Patrick’s Day parade? My town does one and this year was the 51st Annual Parade. I captured video of some of the fire trucks that take part as they took off for the parade!

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Shoutout Strength & Honor Anthology

I am honored to be taking part in the Strength & Honor anthology with 10 other amazing authors. We’ve banded together for this charity anthology to donate the proceeds to stopsoldiersuicide.org, a veteran-founded, veteran-led, and veteran-focused organization, founded in 2010 by U.S. Army veterans Brian Kinsella, Nick Black, and Craig Gridelli. Stop Soldier Suicide is a nonprofit organization that combats military suicides by addressing underlying issues such as mental health, financial strain, and the difficulties of transitioning to civilian life. Their wellness service, ROGER, provides personalized, confidential support aimed at suicide prevention. You can find out more about the organization at https://stopsoldiersuicide.org/. Please consider downloading the anthology at https://books2read.com/StrengthAndHonor. Here’s a little more about the stories contained in the anthology!

Only You by Sharon Hamilton
After a nasty breakup who could save her heart but another Navy SEAL hero? He’ll not only win her heart, he’ll help her forgive and begin to heal.

Fighting For Harmony by Ash Henry
A Delta Force Vet is tasked to protect the one woman he can never have…
The day I enlisted, I swore that I’d never return home. But when my best friend begs me to protect his sister from a stalker, I can’t say no. Even if it means returning to a place that holds more hurt than happiness for me. Even when I’ll have to stick close to the only woman forbidden to me – the only woman I crave.

Knight Reaper (Dangerous Curves Story/Grinch Reaper Sequel) by Donna Michaels
After almost losing his wife in an attack last year, all Matteo “Reaper” Santarelli cares about is her safety, but when the agency sends them to Texas for special training, his former terrorist hunting wife sniffs out a newly forming cell.

Chef McHughs Reporting for Duty by Jill Shannon
Adam and Makita are both adjusting to new lives as she helps him open his new restaurant. They weren’t supposed to fall in love…

Ghost of Khost by Lynessa Layne
Invisible wounds are the hardest to heal, but love is the best medicine.
Vance’s best friend of fourteen years saved his life when he came down with malaria in Afghanistan. But when he finds out Chris was killed on the mission that night, survivor’s guilt shatters the battle-hardened warrior.

Twisted by Tamsen Schultz
When a shadowed past meets a guarded present, two haunted warriors see a chance for a new life together; now if they can only stay alive to grasp it.

Stay the Night by Caridad Pineiro
A fateful night of passion will change the future both Elena and Rafe had envisioned.
Forced into marriage by an unexpected pregnancy, they find themselves separated by the demands of impending parenthood. Rafe enlists in the Navy SEALs to support his new wife and the child who is on the way, but Fate is determined to throw them another curve.

Saving the Soldier by EmKay Connor
When Kate Dennison’s husband returns from a difficult deployment, he’s not the same man she married. Kate faces a different kind of battle as she fights to save their marriage…and her husband’s life.

Yours or Mine by Reina Torres
Finnegan Murphy left more behind in the Middle East than his Army career when he was medically discharged. He left a dog that he’d rescued and had rescued him right back. Now he finds out that a woman living just around the corner adopted Amin. Close to the brink, Peyton and his pupper pull him back.

It’s Always Been You by PJ Fiala
Harley Jacobs was forced to retire from the military after a nasty injury. The restorative help he needs is at the Canning Cattle Ranch, but he’s not sure he’ll be welcome there. Shannon Canning is not only the youngest of the Canning brood, but a sought-after veterinarian. And his ex-wife.

Saved by Grace by Kennedy Mitchell
What unfolds when a grief-stricken man finds solace in a bar, only to become the unexpected protector of a bartender with secrets of her own?

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Delicious Papa Rellena Recipes

It was such a treat whenever my grandmother made papa rellenas for us! Funny thing is, it’s often a treat made from leftovers like the ones in the photo. The potatoes in that stuffed potato were from some “mashed browns” from PJ’s Pancake House. Normally the papa rellenas are made from plain boiled potatoes but I’ll tell you two little secrets about making them easier. For starters, bake or microwave the potatoes. That helps control the moisture (also true for making gnocchis). Second secret: have some instant mashed potato flakes handy. I also use them to thicken soups and sauces when needed instead of either corn starch or flour. Normally the potatoes are stuffed with picadillo which is a tasty ground beef with peppers, onions, olives, and tomato sauce. But feel free to make these your own! Substitute some Sloppy Joe mix. Maybe add some cheese. You name it. The hardest part is making the potato patty (unless you follow my two secrets). Another secret: You can totally air fry or bake these to make them healthier. Papa Rellenas were once only appetizers but are now usually served as a meal with rice on the side. Make a dip with mayochup or a remoulade. I use Yummy Yummy sauce because it’s so – lol – Yummy! P.S. This is totally the kind of recipe that the Gonzalez family from the South Beach Security series would have for a meal. To learn more about them, check out the first book in the series Lost in Little Havana. You can download it at https://amzn.to/48MZZ8U.

Ingredients

2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes (baked or boiled)
1 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp butter
2 cups picadillo (or other stuffing)
1-2 eggs, beaten
2 cups regular Italian-seasoned bread crumbs
1 cup regular Panko bread crumbs
Salt and pepper, to taste
Oil for frying

Directions

Make the picadillo or prep whatever other stuffing you want to use. I make the picadillo ahead and let it cool because it’s easier to handle and also not as wet when it’s cooled.

If you’re boiling the potatoes, peel, cook until fork tender, drain and mash. You may want to let the mashed potatoes cook a little more on the flame to dry them.

If you’re baking or microwaving, leave them in their skin, cook until fork tender, and then cool. Scoop out the insides and mash. Bonus: You can make something else with the potato skins.

Add the cornstarch and butter to the mashed potatoes and mix. The mix should be stiff enough to form a ball and if not, add those magical instant potato flakes. Oil your hands to make forming the patties and balls easier. Form a ball with the mashed potatoes and then flatten it into a patty a little larger than the palm of your hand.

Fill the center of the patty with your filling and then bring all the sides of the potato patty up and around the filling. Smooth out the ball, roll it around in the beaten egg, and then roll around in the bread crumbs (mixed regular and Panko), making sure that the entire surface is covered.

I air fry mine so I place them on the creased wire basket that goes with my toaster oven. I give all sides a spray with vegetable oil.

If you’re baking them, place on a greased baking tray, crank up your oven to 400 degrees and make sure you turn them about halfway through the bake (10 minutes or so).

If frying, heat the oil to about 350 and deep fry until golden brown.

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