I love writing romance but one of the hardest parts of fashioning a story is deciding whether it’s going to be a fast burn or a slow burn between the hero and heroine. It changes from book-to-book and as a reader, I like reading books with different levels of romantic tension and heat. When I was writing Sabotage Operation, I realized that this was going to be a fast burn kind of book because of the danger involved and how quickly the hero and heroine are tossed together and immediately form a bond. In Escape the Everglades, the second book in the South Beach Security K-9 spinoff, it was very much a slow burn because the hero is a single father and there’s a child’s emotions to consider. What about you? Do you like fast or slow burns? Either depending on the story? I’d love to hear from you!
Chase Away This Seriously Arctic Chill
OMG it’s cold out there. We’re in the teens and that’s not something we normally see on the Jersey Shore. It’s a perfect day to just hunker down with a nice hot cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and a book that’s sure to chase away the chill, like one of the books in the South Beach Security series. With their Miami vibes, family ties, action, and of course, romance, they’re sure to chase away this seriously arctic chill! You can download them at https://amzn.to/3QBMj9J. While you’re chilling, I’ll be presenting a workshop on writing memoirs at the Edison Public Library from 2 to 3 pm. If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll check it out! For more info, please visit https://edisonpubliclibrary.libnet.info/event/9776374.
Shoutout to Terry for Her Review of The Prince’s Gamble
Today’s Saturday Shoutout is to Terry, an Amazon Reviewer, for her review of The Prince’s Gamble! Thank you for this awesome review, Terry.
“THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE by Caridad Pineiro is an exciting romantic suspense. A quick read full of passion and love. With a Russian Prince, the FBI, Russian mafia, money laundering, white slavery, prostitution, an Atlantic City casino, romance and love how can you go wrong. Follow, Special Agent Kathleen Martinez and Prince Alexander Ivanov on a fast paced, action packed adventure and danger.”
This book is special to me as we had just finished the final edits of the book when Hurricane Sandy hit the Jersey Shore. Since many of the scenes in the book are set in Atlantic City, we went back to work and added the effects of the storm to the book. I also contributed part of the royalties to a Hurricane Sandy fund to help my fellow New Jerseyans. I hope you’ll take a moment to check out the book at https://amzn.to/3TYPhbE.
Free Read Deadly Chase
It was very exciting when Harlequin asked me to write a novella to introduce the characters in the K-9s on Patrol series (all books are standalone). I mulled over who would be the K-9 hero and decided it would be Lily, my grand fur baby! LOL! She’s such a bundle of energy but so loving and protective. In Deadly Chase, a K-9 officer and a DEA agent join forces to combat a deadly enemy and confront their own complicated past. You’ll get to meet Alex and Miriam, the two law enforcement heroes in this story and of course, Lily! Read Deadly Chase for FREE at https://bit.ly/DeadlyChaseFreeRead. If you’re a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, you can also read Decoy Training for FREE on Kindle Unlimited at https://amzn.to/3tMnwIP.
A Visit to New Orleans and Temptation
I’ve been lucky to visit New Orleans several times for various conferences. One of the most fun visits was for a Romantic Times Convention many years ago. I loved being with the readers and other authors but it was also so much fun to visit so many interesting places in and around New Orleans. One of the highlights was a visit to Mardi Gras World where they keep many of the floats that are used during the Mardi Gras festivities. Another fun part was doing a “vampire” tour with friends. It started off eerily as we waited for the guide at dusk and the bats started flying out of the church belfry in Jackson Square. Last but not least, a walk with friends through the French Quarter that started with beignets at Cafe du Monde and finished with Hurricanes at Pat O’Brien’s and roasted oysters at Felix’s. Today I’m sharing some photos from that trip! P.S. – Temptation Calls, the third book in The Calling is Reborn vampire novel series is partially set in New Orleans. Temptation Calls is the story of a woman who is abused and turned into a vampire but still finds the courage to help other women escape the same fate. The story also features an origin story for a villain who is a take on a chupacabra! Temptation Calls is free on Kindle Unlimited at https://amzn.to/424MKij.
Watcha Watching Wednesday?
Let’s do something completely different today! What are you watching? Hubby and I recently watched Quiz Lady with Awkwafina and Sandra Oh and LOVED IT! We also just finished watching Season 2 of Surreal Estate. If you love stories about ghosts and otherworldly happenings, I highly recommend it! Now for another completely different thing. My newsletter went out today and my newsletter VIPs got a chance to download the South Beach Love e-book for FREE. It’s not too late to sign up and get your copy for FREE. Plus, if you sign up now, the next newsletter will have an exclusive VIP giveaway of 10 print books of Biscayne Bay Breach! You can sign up at https://bit.ly/CaridadsNewsletter and open the January 31 newsletter to find out how to enter the contest!
Caldo Verde
On a cold winter day, there’s nothing better than a bowl of nice, hot soup. One of my favorite soups is a Portuguese soup called Caldo Verde. We have a large Portuguese population in New Jersey and you’ll find this soup in many of the Portuguese restaurants in the Ironbound section of Newark and some of the towns along the water. My hero in Never a Bride, Carlos da Costa, is Portuguese and his family lives in the Ironbound. I had fun showing that culture in the story and sharing his strong family ethic which is something the heroine, Emma, has never had which is why she’s shy of marriage even though she’s a wedding planner. LOL! You can find out more about Never a Bride at https://amzn.to/47QkK3n. If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think!
Ingredients
2 chourico sausage (or Spanish chorizo sausage – not fresh Mexican chorizo)
32 ounces Chicken Broth (paper container)
16 ounces water
2 cups chopped Tuscan Kale (or regular kale)(Ribs removed)
2 cups Yukon Gold potatoes (cut into medium chunks)
1 large onion chopped
4 tablespoons virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Slice chorizo into 1/4 rings. Heat olive oil in pot. Add chorizo and cook through. Remove from pan and set aside.
Add onions to the oil and cook until soft. About 4 or 5 minutes.
Add potatoes, chicken broth, and water and simmer until potatoes are fork tender.
In the traditional recipe, you would blend this potato, onion, and liquid for a smooth consistency. I prefer it chunky, but leave it up to you and your own taste.
Add kale and cooked chorizo and simmer for another 5 or so minutes. Serve and make sure each bowl gets some chorizo.
Serve with a nice hard roll or Italian bread and maybe some Manchego cheese and red wine. A perfect winter meal!
If you can’t get chorizo, use kielbasa or a similar sausage. Don’t like kale? Substitute swiss chard or spinach!
