Dylan's Tale - Harry Porter, Author
4:02 PM Posted by MAC
Apple Cinnamon Treats
A Dylan Treat
(for doggies)
(for doggies)
1 large apple
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup of water
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup oatmeal
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/8 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup of water
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup oatmeal
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/8 cup whole wheat flour
Preheat oven to 350 ° F (180 ° C).
Core, slice and mince the apple (use a food processor if you have one). In a large bowl, combine the minced apple bits, honey, water, cinnamon, and oatmeal. Gradually blend in the wheat flour, adding enough to form a stiff dough. In a small bowl, add 1/8 cup wheat flour. Spoon the dough by rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches (5cm) apart. Using the bottom of a glass dipped in the wheat flour (to prevent sticking), flatten each spoonful of dough into a circle. Adjust the size of the drops based on how big a treat you like to feed your dog. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and flip each cookie to brown evenly on both sides. Reduce oven temperature to 325 ° F (180 °C). Return to oven and bake for an additional 30 minutes. Let cool overnight. Makes about 3 dozen crunchy cookies, depending on how big you make them.
Dylan’s Tale - Harry Porter - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
“Do you know what it’s like to wake up every day and be afraid? I did. I was just a few weeks old when I was taken from my mother, a tiny Bedlington Terrier puppy, all cute and cuddly as puppies always are. Being a puppy at home with my mother was just great. My two brothers and sisters would play with me all day long until we’d get tired. Then we’d curl up beside Mum, and have a good sleep. Mum would feed us all regularly, and we soon grew bigger and stronger… After the warmth and the love and security of living with my mother and my brothers and sisters, it came as quite a shock when one day, the lady who looked after all of us took me from my mother and sold me to a man, who, right from the time he got me back to his home, seemed to enjoy making my life as miserable as possible.”
Dylan is a Bedlington Terrier which is known for its speed and the fact that it looks somewhat like a sheep. Dylan’s new owner decided that due to his speed, he would make a good dog for rabbit hunting. But the man was without patience and would kick and beat Dylan when he didn’t follow orders.
If you’ve read Tilly’s Tale you already know that Dylan will be rescued, but it’s the hardships leading up to the rescue, the unlikely person who actually rescues him and how he allows trust back into his life that makes the story so precious. This wonderful true story had me crying tears of sadness by the time I'd reached page 3, and at the end, I cried again, but this time, with tears of relief and happiness for Dylan. If you’re an animal lover, you can’t help but love this series of “Tales” which started with Tilly’s Tale, continued to Dylan’s Tale and will soon be extended to Charlie’s Tale. These heartwarming stories will have you hooked from book one.
2011
4RV Publishing
38 Pages
ISBN# 978-0-9828346-1-9
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: Bedlington Terrier, Book Reviews, Dylan's Tale, Harry Porter, Martha A Cheves, rescue dogs, rescue shelters, Stir Laugh Repeat
Watch Your Back - Lisa Y. Watson, Author
3:06 PM Posted by MAC
Vidalia Deep Dish
a Lisa Y. Watson Favorite
Ingredients
2 cups water
1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
6 Vidalia onions
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 teaspoons fresh parsley, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 cup Swiss cheese, shredded
1 cup whipping cream
Paprika
Directions
Bring water to boil in a medium saucepan. Add rice. Cover and reduce heat, simmer 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Peel and chop onions. Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat; add onion and cook 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in rice, parsley, and next 4 ingredients. Spoon mixture into lightly greased 13x9x2 baking dish. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Sprinkle lightly with paprika.
Ingredients
2 cups water
1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
6 Vidalia onions
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 teaspoons fresh parsley, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 cup Swiss cheese, shredded
1 cup whipping cream
Paprika
Directions
Bring water to boil in a medium saucepan. Add rice. Cover and reduce heat, simmer 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Peel and chop onions. Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat; add onion and cook 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in rice, parsley, and next 4 ingredients. Spoon mixture into lightly greased 13x9x2 baking dish. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Sprinkle lightly with paprika.
Watch Your Back – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
“Hello, everyone, I’d like to personally thank our lovely hostess for allowing me to interrupt what is by far the best party this town has seen in quite a while,” Candace said into the microphone. Loud claps echoed around the room. Candace used the time to look for Devon. She spotted him through the crowd. He was staring at her with curiosity. Good. Emboldened, Candace placed the microphone to her mouth again. “I’m sure all of you know me by now, but in case some of you have never picked up a magazine or watched television, my name is Candace Monroe.” Everyone in the audience roared with laughter, except the two men watching her from opposite sides of the room. Each wore a similar expression of anger. “I hope you all don’t mind my brief interruption, but I have the most exciting news, and I can’t contain myself any longer. You see I just found out my fiancé, Devon Mitchell, and I are expecting a baby! I’m just beside myself with joy,” Candace cried with tears pooling in her eyes. The crowd went wild with applause and cheers. Across the room stood Candace’s shocked and disgusted lover. Ignoring the condemnation in his eyes, Candace focused on her boyfriend. He looked murderous.
Candace Monroe has just informed her boyfriend and half the world that she was carrying an heir to the Mitchell estate. This wasn’t exactly what Devon Mitchell had expected. The last time he had seen Candace it was understood that during his absence due to family business, she was to move out of their apartment by the time he returned home. What Devon didn’t know was that Candace was actually carrying another man’s child. But greed was a personal factor in everything Candace did and since the true father of her baby was nowhere near as wealthy as Devon, he became a secret that Candace planned to keep to herself. And all may have worked out as planned had it not been for the accident that took both her and her unborn child’s lives.
Devon was at the wheel when he lost control of the car that killed Candace and “his” child. In the process of trying to get away from the pain as well as the reporters that camped out on his parent’s lawn, he left, telling no one where he would be, and went to his Uncles farm. His stay with his Uncle Henry was disrupted when he found that “accidents” were threatening the stability of the art gallery he had inherited from his grandmother. Going into the gallery as an unknown he assumes the duties of the retired director. What he didn’t expect to have to deal with was Jayde Seaton whom had been promised she would inherit the position. He also didn’t expect to fall in love with her nor to have to protect her from someone who was doing their best to destroy her, the gallery and his whole family.
In Watch Your Back, Author Lisa Y. Watson takes you through the flair of tempers, which Devon and Jayde both have cornered the market on. You experience their intense love for each other and the love of a close family. The story had me raking my brain to determine who the real father of Candace’s baby was, if he was the same person out to destroy Devon and his family and more importantly, why. Watch Your Back kept me on my toes and entertained throughout the book.
2009
377 Pages
Urban Soul
ISBN# 978-1-59983-097-1
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: Book Reviews, cookbooks, Lisa Y Watson, love story, Martha A Cheves, Stir Laugh Repeat, suspense, vidalia onion dish, Watch Your Back
I Listened Momma - Darlene Franklin Campbell
5:29 PM Posted by MAC
You get a double treat with this review. Two recipes from the author!
Fried Mud Turtle
This is the way my momma fixed it and the way that Chippie's momma would have fixed it.
Clean meat and cut it into pieces.
Soak the turtle meat in salt water overnight.
Pour salt water off and rinse thoroughly; drain in a colander.
Coat the meat in flour, seasoned with salt and black pepper to treat the taste. Heat 1/4 inch of cooking oil in a large skillet until it is almost smoking. Add pieces of meat to skillet, cover and cook on medium heat until brown on one side. Then turn it over and cook it on the other side. If the meat is not tender enough to suit you then you can place it on a rack or a steamer basket in a heavy covered pan or a Dutch oven with water under the rack.
This is the way my momma fixed it and the way that Chippie's momma would have fixed it.
Clean meat and cut it into pieces.
Soak the turtle meat in salt water overnight.
Pour salt water off and rinse thoroughly; drain in a colander.
Coat the meat in flour, seasoned with salt and black pepper to treat the taste. Heat 1/4 inch of cooking oil in a large skillet until it is almost smoking. Add pieces of meat to skillet, cover and cook on medium heat until brown on one side. Then turn it over and cook it on the other side. If the meat is not tender enough to suit you then you can place it on a rack or a steamer basket in a heavy covered pan or a Dutch oven with water under the rack.
Nanna Puddin'
[just like Chippie's momma made :)]
1/3 cup of flour
2/3 cup of brown sugar
2 cups milk
2 egg yolks, beaten
2 tbls. butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4-6 bananas sliced.
1 package of vanilla wafers
Ina medium saucepan, combine the flour and brown sugar; stir in milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly; cook and stir one minute more. Remove from heat. Stir in about one cup hot mixture into egg yolks. Return all to the saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir for about two minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Layer the pudding into an oven proof bowl, alternating between vanilla wafers, pudding and bananas. Top with meringue and bake in oven at about 325 until the meringue is light brown.
To make meringue. Beat two egg whites stiff, but not dry and add 1/4 cup sugar, one tablespoon at a time, beating constantly until the meringue is very stiff.
[just like Chippie's momma made :)]
1/3 cup of flour
2/3 cup of brown sugar
2 cups milk
2 egg yolks, beaten
2 tbls. butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4-6 bananas sliced.
1 package of vanilla wafers
Ina medium saucepan, combine the flour and brown sugar; stir in milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly; cook and stir one minute more. Remove from heat. Stir in about one cup hot mixture into egg yolks. Return all to the saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir for about two minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Layer the pudding into an oven proof bowl, alternating between vanilla wafers, pudding and bananas. Top with meringue and bake in oven at about 325 until the meringue is light brown.
To make meringue. Beat two egg whites stiff, but not dry and add 1/4 cup sugar, one tablespoon at a time, beating constantly until the meringue is very stiff.
I Listened Momma – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
In I Listened Momma, Chippie Pablos grows into a woman of many dreams and nothing nor no one will take those dreams from her. She knows that God has put her on earth for a reason and through her faith and determination, he will see her through to the end. And believe me, she does!
I Listened Momma takes place in the backwoods of Kentucky where money is tight but family and love is strong. The story takes you through the good times and the bad times of Pablos family as they strive to keep a family of 8 from going hungry. Growing up in the South, with a family of 7, I could relate to some of the hardships. But what really got my memory working was the dialect used by so many of us those hard years ago. So, read through my memory of words as I take you back to the times when life was harder but maybe just a bit better. Who knows, you just might go back in time too.
A branch – no it doesn’t come from a tree it’s actually a creek. Chippie and her siblings caught tadpoles and crawdads in the branch, I remember doing that too. Her mom had a transistor radio. That was a little box radio that ran off a 9 volt battery and had a wire you attached to something metal. This acted as an antenna. I would attach mine to the metal piece running down a telephone pole and pick up conversations from my party line neighbors. Chippie’s grandmother cooked a mud-turtle, I can actually remember my step grandmother doing that but I refused to eat any. Chippie’s brother Jerry Wayne had “chester drawers” in his bedroom, we had those too. They were used to put your folded clothes in. And their TV had a picture tube. I don’t think there is a TV still running that has a picture tube anymore. Chippie’s mother curled her hair with sponge rollers. Boy can I remember those. The only good thing about them was that you could actually sleep with them in your hair.
Now Chippie and her family would holler for each other. Holler actually had 2 meanings. You could live in the “holler” which was down the way or you could holler at each other. I didn’t live in the holler growing up but I did do my share of hollering and still do. And I’ll never forget the hours my family would spend “breaking” beans for mom to can.
A cell phone was something that the Martians would bring with them when they invaded earth, everyone knew there was nothing better than the old wall phones with a rotary dial. Chipper’s family, as well as mine for a while, had outhouses and wash tubs for bathing. And there were always animals, both for food as well as pets. The pigs were fed by using a slop bucket and the dogs and cats were fed the scraps that weren’t given to the pigs.
I hope I’ve sparked a few memories of your own life or maybe a few memories that were passed on by your parents. I Listened Momma shows that there is hope no matter who you are nor what your living conditions may be. Everything is possible if you just trust in God and believe. I also want to make you aware that all royalties from I Listened Momma will go to Relay for Life to help fight cancer.
ISBN: 978-1456355031
Publishing Date: December 1, 2010
Publisher: Moon Gypsy Press
Number of Pages: 260 pages
Genre: Drama/Southern Fiction
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: Book Reviews, Darlene Franklin Campbell, Family, I Listened Momma, love story, Martha A Cheves, Stir Laugh Repeat
The Tumbleweed Family - A Wyoming Adventure - Sharon Hayes, Author
4:30 PM Posted by MAC
EZ Does It Macaroni (Turkey or Chicken) & Cheese Cupcakes
Healthy Fun and tasty for Children, and Adults!
Kids love it and you can alter the veggies to a child’s taste.
Looks just like cupcakes, and appeals to Children!
Total time to prepare- about 45minutes (give or take)
Baking time- 35 minutes
8 to 12 servings (depends on who’s eating!)
1-vegetable oil spray
2-About one and ½ cups or so your favorite bread crumbs
3-2 tablespoons of olive oil, more or less.
4- ¾ pound of lean ground turkey or chicken (your choice)
5- Salt to your preference. (Limit salt, for health conscious)
6-Pepper to taste (about ¼ teaspoon) maybe extra if needed to season.
7-About ¾ pound of small pasta shells (whole grain pasta, if health conscious)
8-1 ½ cup grated parmesan, or choose another lite cheese -Some kids don’t like parmesan)
9-1 ½ C. White Mild Cheddar cheese
10-1 C frozen thawed peas, & (1 C of broccoli chopped, blanched & 1 C carrots steamed.)
11- 1 C chopped tomatoes. (Cherry quartered work fine)
12-2 C chopped blanched asparagus, cut into pieces. (May substitute another veggie)
Directions:
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 F. Spray 2 (12-cup) muffin or cupcake pans with vegetable cooking spray. Sprinkle the inside of each muffin cup with bread crumbs, shake off excess.
In medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey or chicken, salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring frequently until cooked through, and mix in peas. Cool for 5 to 8 minutes. Set aside and cover to keep warm.
Bring 6 cups of water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until ‘al dente’, stirring occasionally to keep from sticking together, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and add to a large bowl. Stir in the cooked turkey and the cheeses. Salt and pepper to desired taste. Spoon the cooked pasta mixture into the cupcake molds, filling evenly to about 2/3. Arrange a few pieces of tomato, broccoli and asparagus into each cup.( remember you can be creative and use your own choice of veggies.) Top with a thin layer of the remaining bread crumbs and drizzle with olive oil, if you desire. Bake until golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes and carefully take out with a spoon to serve.
Blanching takes only one to two minutes in boiling water, while veggies are still a little crisp.
The Tumbleweed Family – A Wyoming Adventure – Reviewed by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
The adventures of the Tumbleweed Twins Willie and Tillie take place in the beautiful fields of Wyoming. As they play around and are tossed amongst the beautiful flowers, a gusty wind comes up sweeping them farther and farther away from their home and family. Even though their little adventure is frightening, it’s not in vain as they meet other plants and animals that work together to protect them until their family comes to take them back home.
This darling story is so cute yet educational. Not only does it give a little history about our beautiful state of Wyoming, it also teaches that through working together we can accomplish just about anything in life. I would love to see this become a series featuring each state. With fun books like this, morals, history and even geography can become more fun for our kids.
24 pages
2011
ISBN# 978-1-4568-6825-3
Xlibris Corporation
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: Book Reviews, children, children books, cookbooks, Martha A Cheves, Stir Laugh Repeat, Tumbleweed Family, Wyoming
The Salvation of Tanlegalle - Tim Ahrens, Author
2:06 PM Posted by MAC
Cookie-Sour Cream Cake
A Tim Ahrens favorite
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup margarine or butter, softened
1/4 cup water
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 egg
8 cream filled sandwich cookies (coarsely chopped to make 1 cup)
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour round pan, 8 X 1 1/2" or 9 x 1 1/2". Beat all ingredients except cookies in medium bowl on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Coarsely chop cookies. Stir into batter. Pour into pan. Bake 30-35 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely on wire wrack. Frost with whipped cream and garnish with additional cookies.
The Salvation of Tanlegalle – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘The small village of Willow Down burns. Flames of unending appetite eat away at inns, shops, and homes; not one building on Main Street or the outlying expanse escapes. A Thick, gray smoke clogs the air, filling the sky with clouds of dancing ash. I cover my mouth with a bloody rag and try to ignore the bitter taste of soot that fills my mouth and nose, though my eyes sting more from the heat of the unbridled inferno than from the smoke. Mounds of smoldering flesh, once living residents of Willow Down, rot in the street. Large birds circle high above, waiting patiently for the fire to die so their feast can begin. “Myra,” someone calls my name. Gradually I begin to advance down what was once Willow Down’s Main Street. “Myra!” The echoing voice becomes more insistent. I quicken my pace, causing the heat-dried mud to crack beneath my worn black boots. I feel the breath of the fire seep into my black leather shirt and breeches. The naked skin of my face and hands turns from pale white to red and begins to blister. Still the voice pulls me onward. “Myra!” In time I reach the center of Willow Down and stand before the largest of the carrion mounds. “Myra, I wait for you, my daughter,” the voice flows from the dead.’
In The Salvation of Tanlegalle, Author Tim Ahrens created places of make believe, both past and present. Through his imagination he has brought these places to life through his creation of characters, both human and not so human. The story above is called “Death and the Widowmaker.” Within this story, the Widowmaker is out to track down Masterson before he destroys other villages and the people within. In “Catherine’s Prayer,” Catherine is being held prisoner for being a witch. And one of my favorite stories titled “Sassafrass One Seven Four” is the tale of a robot who just might be a bit human. Each story has it’s hero and heroine with each fighting for the same cause – justice. Will they succeed?
There are 12 short stories in The Salvation of Tanlegalle, each made up of its own characters but in the end Ahrens has written one last chapter which amazingly brings all of the stories together. I enjoyed them as individuals and really enjoyed them as one.
Forward by Piers Anthony
Illustrations by Eric J. Turman
2010
179 Pages
Lucid Style Author Services
ISBN# 978-0-9821992-2-0
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: Book Reviews, cookbooks, gothic, Martha A Cheves, mystic, sorcery, Stir Laugh Repeat, The Salvation of Tanlegalle, Tim Ahrens
The Book of Tomorrow - Cecelia Ahern, Author
2:41 PM Posted by MAC
Tamara's Perfect Scrambled Eggs for Two
6 large eggs
6 teaspoons (1 teaspoon for each egg) low-fat milk
3 dashes of salt (1 dash for every two eggs)
1 Tablespoon butter for frying
Heat a large non-stick frying pan to a setting just above medium. A 12-inch pan works well for 6 eggs. Do not add butter yet. We just want get the pan ready.
In large metal or glass mixing bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk and salt. Beat vigorously for 2 minutes.
Alternatively, you can place the eggs, milk and salt in a blender and blend for 20 to 25 seconds. Allow the mixture to set for a couple minutes to let the foam settle.
Melt the butter in the frying pan. As the very last of the butter is liquefying, add the egg mixture.
Do not stir immediately. Wait until the first hint of setting begins. Start the Martha Stewart scrambling technique ("Using a spatula or a flat wooden spoon, push eggs toward center while tilting skillet to distribute runny parts.")
Continue this motion as the eggs continue to set. Break apart large pieces as they form with your spoon or spatula. You will come to a point where the push-to-center technique is no longer cooking runny parts of the egg. Flip over all the eggs. Allow the eggs to cook 15 to 25 seconds longer. Transfer eggs to serving plates. Add salt and pepper to taste.
The Book of Tomorrow – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
Tamara and her mother Jennifer have moved into the gatehouse occupied by Author and Rosaleen Kilsaney after her father’s suicide. After living a life of luxury, never being denied anything, life in the country becomes quite a challenge. Then Tamara has a visit from Marcus and his traveling library.
‘Dear Diary,
Is that what I’m supposed to write? I’ve never written in one of these before, and I feel like an absolute dork, beyond words. Okay so, Dear Diary, I hate my life. Here it is in a nutshell. My dad killed himself, we lost our house and absolutely everything. I lost my life, Mum lost her mind, and now we’re living in Hicksville with two sociopaths. A few days ago I spent the afternoon with a really cute guy called Marcus who is Vice Present of Dork Central, a traveling library. Two days ago I met a nun who keeps bees and breaks locks and yesterday I spent most of the morning sitting in a ruin- “Ruin” had been crossed out and beside it was: castle on a stairway to heaven that looked very tempting to climb and leap for a cloud that would carry me away from here. Now it’s nighttime and I’m back in my bedroom writing in this dorky diary that Sister Ignatius talked me into doing. Yes, she’s a nun and not a transvestite, as I’d previously thought.’
This is the first entry written into the mysterious book found by Tamara Goodwin in the “traveling library.” It had no name on the cover nor spine but was sealed with a lock. But with the help of Sister Ignatius, the lock is picked and Tamara is encouraged by the Nun that it might be therapeutic if Tamara wrote her activities and feelings every evening. After giving it a bit of thought, she decides keeping a diary just might be what she needs. That is until she opens the book to write her first entry and finds, in her own hand writing, an entry already entered. Problem is, the entry is dated for the next day’s events.
Finding this quite impossible, Tamara decides to test the diary’s words. As the day progresses she remembers what she “had written” and surprisingly it was all happening just as the book had said. To prove this she opened the diary to reread the entry only to find the words disappearing and new words taking form, these becoming the entry for what would happen the next day. After giving this much thought, Tamara decides to see if she can change events by not following the entries that were written for the next day. To her amazement, it actually worked. Now she can change her own history. But should she? What will the repercussions be? Will any changes be for the better or the worse?
Tamara finds herself pretty much on her own to the grounds around the gatehouse. In doing so, she discovers a “secret garden” cared for by Sister Ignatius as well as a burned out castle. Her curiosity has her wanting to know more about the castle as well as it’s fire but when she asks Sister Ignatius, she suggests that she ask her Aunt Roseleen or Uncle Author. But Roseleen is a very mysterious person who refuses to divulge any information about the past. Tamara becomes even more confused as she discovers the “glass woman” and the garden of glass hangings. She has a feeling that these finds must be kept from Roseleen. But for some reason Tamara knows that the castle, the glass woman, Sister Ignatius, Rosaleene and the diary all have a connection.
The Book of Tomorrow is a beautiful book of love, deceit, tragedy and mystery all written into one. The characters come to life as being so real that you feel you actually know them and their lives. But the biggest surprise of the book comes at the very end as all of the pieces of the puzzle are placed together to make it a complete picture.
2011
312 pages
Harper Collins Publishers
ISBN# 978-0-06-170630-1
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: Book Reviews, castles, Cecelia Ahern, cookbooks, Martha A Cheves, Mystery, scrambled eggs, Stir Laugh Repeat, suspense, The Book of Tomorrow
Reunion - Jeff Bennington, Author
3:07 PM Posted by MAC
Jeff Bennington's Perfect Meal
There nothing I like better than St. Elmo's Steakhouse. They make the best surf-n-turf around. The filet is cooked perfectly every time, and the lobster is from New Zealand - home of the best lobster in the world. When I'm at home and I feel like grilling, I might pull a steak out of the freezer and let it thaw out. But then I skip the grill and go to the oven and flop that 10 oz. slab of beef on the pan and cook it up on a med/hi heat for 6 minutes (exactly) on each side - no exceptions. And then I like to eat that with a baked sweet potato glazed with honey-butter and brown sugar. I think it takes about 45 minutes to bake the potato in the oven (@ 400) or atleast 10-15 minutes in the microwave because they are so dense and packed with good stuff. You may be thinking, "but you killed it with the heat and butter and brown sugar - and you'd be right. I did. I don't think much about cooking...I'm a writer.
Reunion – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘Breathing heavy from carrying the tote across the parking lot, David barged into the cafeteria, shot one round into the ceiling and shouted, “Attention everyone! Attention! My name’s David Ray, and some of you…are gonna die!” For a moment, the crowd sat quiet and still. David made a mental note of their blank faces. They probably think it’s a firecracker or a joke, he thought. I’ll show ‘em it isn’t a joke. Mr. Gardner strutted toward David, exuding his authority, but David pulled the trigger and shot a couple of the students nearby. Mr. Gardner threw his arms over his head, ducked down and crawled toward the wounded students to help. David squinted hard, looked into the crowd with dead eyes, and began shooting. Bodies scattered as the cafeteria erupted with screams, falling bullet shells, the squeaking of sliding sneakers and the turning over of chairs. He watched their scared bodies hide and tremble in fear and listened to their voices question who and why. Their fear gave him strength, feeding his adrenalin, pressing him deeper into the crowd. He knew exactly where to go. His tormentors’ locations were too predictable. The cliques always sat in the same places. David stepped forward and located his prey. He shot another round and heard another scream. He repeated the process, over, and over.’
The school massacre took place 20 years ago ending with eight students dead, several wounded physically but many more wounded mentally. Maria Vasquez lost her beloved Darrin, and to cope with her memories became a counselor working with PTSD patients. As the 20th anniversary of the killings as well as the 20th reunion of her graduating class approached, Maria decided that there were probably others from her class that might benefit from a reunion as a way of facing their memories and fears.
Of those Maria was able to contact, only five responded and agreed to the reunion. Up until the day of the massacre, senior student Bryan Jacobs had planned to become a doctor. His plans changed and he became a policeman in hopes of helping to prevent the event from reoccurring. He would attend the reunion. Kate Schmidt Tooley still lived in the town of Crescent Falls and was married to Nick. Nick’s twin brother Randy was killed when David Ray mistakenly shot him instead of Nick. Nick deals with his memories by drowning them and seeing “ghosts” of David who he feels is trapped within the school Kate will be attending but probably without Nick. Lana Jones became a writer who, along with her daughter Zoe, travels around the country talking to students about the David Rays in the world. She will attend. Tanner Khan deals with his memories by creating challenges. He climbs mountains, crosses rivers and sails oceans. But when the invitation came to return to Crescent Falls for the reunion, he saw this as his biggest challenge and accepts.
These are the five who accepted the invitation to create a reunion. When it is decided to hold the actual event at the school itself, Bryan starts to have second thoughts. As part of his duty as a policeman he checks on the now deserted school. He has heard sounds and seen things at the old school that are out of the norm. But he also feels, like the others, that this may be the best place to start healing.
As I read Reunion I felt like I had stepped into a movie. As I followed each character’s story and their method of coping with their own tragedy I felt as if I knew them personally. This book is so well written that if it isn’t picked up to be made into a movie then the industry is missing out. The characters, story and events are so believable that you can’t help but picture each as something you’ve just read in the paper or seen on a news strip. For those of you who enjoy a great paranormal mystery, Reunion is a must read!
2011
334 Pages
Nexgate Press
ISBN# 9780615450865
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: Book Reviews, cookbooks, Jeff Bennington, Martha A Cheves, Murder, paranormal, Reunion, suspense
Deadly Currents - Beth Groundwater, Author
1:54 PM Posted by MAC
Today, A Book and A Dish has the pleasure of having Author Beth Groundwater as a guest. Throughout the day she will be stopping by to read your comments and answer your questions. So, take a minute to stop by and chat with this award winning author.If you’d like to see what the other stops are on Beth Groundwater’s virtual book tour, go to: http://bethgroundwater.com/2011_Virtual_Book_Tour.html , and if you’d like to order an autographed copy of Deadly Currents, go to the website for Black Cat Books (http://manitoubooks.com/) and click on "Contact Us”. Either call the phone number or fill out the form with your contact information.
Lamb Curry
by Beth Groundwater
(I concocted this combined recipe from two I received from old family friends.)
3/4 – 1 lb boneless lamb meat cut into small cubes and trimmed of most fat
2 Tbsp olive oil, divided
1 Tbsp chopped garlic
1 onion, diced
1 firm cooking apple, chopped
(optional) 1 sweet pepper, color of your choice, diced
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup raisins
1 – 2 Tbsp yellow curry powder
1/2 tsp ground ginger
salt & pepper to taste
1 Tbsp lemon juice
Warm 1 Tbsp olive oil in a non-stick skillet on medium heat. Add lamb cubes and stir-fry until cooked through. Remove meat and set aside. Add 1 Tbsp olive oil to skillet and garlic, onion, apple, and pepper. Stir-fry until tender and onions are translucent. Sprinkle flour over vegetables and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk, then raisins and spices. Stir constantly until thickened. Add lemon juice and lamb cubes, stir and warm to bubbling. Serve over basmati rice and with condiments such as diced peanuts, sliced green onions, mandarin orange segments, and chutney. Yum!
Deadly Currents – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘This was her second week on patrol as a brand-new seasonal river ranger, still under the supervision of Steve, the head river ranger. Sure, she had run all the whitewater sections of the Upper Arkansas for years as a rafting guide… But now guides like Gonzo relied on her to rescue their customers who’d been snatched out of their grasp by the river. Slowly Mandy gained on the second swimmer, a young woman. The man in front of her must have fallen out of the raft first or been swept up by the main current sooner. Though Mandy couldn’t see his face, the man seemed strangely calm, unmoving. In contrast, the woman’s arms and legs flailed in the seething whitewater. She bounced off a rock and got smacked in the face with backwash from a hole… “Grab on!” Sputtering, the woman slung an arm over the nearest pontoon… Nearing the man, Mandy blew on her whistle, but he didn’t respond… “Looks like he’s unconscious,” Mandy shouted to the woman. “I’m going to need your help pulling him in.”
Mandy Tanner has just made her first rescue as a river ranger. Hannah Fowler and Tom King were both knocked out of the raft while going through some class IV rapids. Hannah will survive from her scrapes and bruises but Tom King is another story. He has a slight pulse but even with the CPR Mandy gives him, he’s too far gone. King and Hannah’s father are both bidders for water rights needed for their developments. Fowler will hopefully give some of the rights back for recreational purposes but King will need his rights to water the help water the greens of the golf course he plans to build. The trip down the Arkansas was planned by environmentalist Lenny Preble in hopes of opening the eyes of both men to just how important the river in its natural state really is, not just for recreational purposes but also for the wild and plant life of the area.
Mandy’s real problem comes in when King’s wife decides to sue the outfitter’s owner who just happens to be Mandy’s uncle. The only way to help out Uncle Bill will be when the Medical Examiner discovers that King died of a heart attack and not something stemming from neglect on the part of Bill’s company. But… he didn’t have a heart attack. He was actually murdered. Who did it? Why did they do it? How did they do it? These are the questions Mandy must find answers to before someone else dies and her suspect list took off with leaps and bounds right from the beginning.
I’ve read Beth Groundwater’s books A Real Basket Case and To Hell in a Handbasket, enjoying both tremendously. Now she has taken me on a trip down the Arkansas River in a fast moving raft. In Deadly Currents you will be taken through the rapids just as fast and just as deadly as the river itself. She will also give you one last Class IV ride at the very end as she reveals the true killer. Reading Deadly Currents has made me feel as though I’ve actually ridden the river myself.
2011
Midnight Ink
300 pages
ISBN# 978-0-7387-2162-0
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: Beth Groundwater, Book Reviews, cookbooks, Deadly Currents, lamb chops, Lamb Curry, Martha A Cheves, Murder, Mystery, Stir Laugh Repeat, suspense, white water rafting
Once Upon a Dark and Eerie... A. F. Stewart, Author
2:35 PM Posted by MAC
Dark and Decadent Black Forest Trifle
An A. F. Stewart Favorite
This is a variation on Black Forest Cake
1 chocolate pound cake, sliced
1-2 cups of prepared custard
1-2 cans of cherry pie filling
Whipped cream
In a trifle dish or large bowl layer the bottom with chocolate cake, pour over half the custard, then a layer of cherry filling. Then add another layer of chocolate cake, the remaining custard, and another layer of cherry filling. Top the whole thing off with a layer of whipped cream. You can decorate with chocolate shavings and maraschino cherries if so desired.
Refrigerate until served.
Notes:
· You can use any type of chocolate cake, but I find the pound cake works well. Also, you can sprinkle the cake with brandy, as you would for traditional Black Forest Cake, but it’s not necessary.
· The amount of custard and pie filling you will need depends on the size of the dish you are using and how much you want in each layer.
Once Upon a Dark and Eerie… Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
The Artwork
Through the smudged portal, I watched the eerie dancing lights.
This was the third time my artwork, my mural, had come to life, but the first time it had opened a doorway to another dimension. In wondered why now, maybe it was because I had smeared the paint or maybe it was just evolving.
Whatever the reason, the lights, those tiny bright fairies were beckoning…
Haunted
The moonlight illuminated the cemetery with an eerie glow, making shadows seemingly dance around Cheryl. Dark clouds swept past the pale orb; a storm was on the horizon.
“I’m here. I’m waiting.” Cheryl listened, but she heard no answer; there was simply the sound of the wind and approaching thunder. She sighed; she had been here an hour and still nothing.
“What did I expect? I’m trying to talk to a dead man. I must be crazy to think it would work.” She tried, but she couldn’t stop the tears. “You promised you wouldn’t leave me, even in death! You said you would stay, that spirits were real, that you would wait for me!”
Thunder crashed and a few drops of rain fell; Cheryl turned and began to make her way from the cemetery.
A strange glow appeared, whispering.
“Don’t go…”
The noise of the storm swallowed the words.
I don’t normally read nor do reviews on poetry. The main reason is that most of it makes no sense to me so it makes it hard to write a good review. Once Upon a Dark and Eerie… turned out to be different. It is extremely on the dark side but written in a style that I could actually picture most of what I read. So I have to admit that I kind of enjoyed reading Once Upon a Dark and Eerie… And just wait until you read Learn the Alphabet the Creepy Way!
2010
Smashwords Edition
http://afallon.bravehost.com/Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: A F Stewart, Book Reviews, cookbooks, darkside, Martha A Cheves, Once Upon a Dark and Eerie, poetry, Stir Laugh Repeat
Honored Daughters - Gerri Ferris, Author
2:58 PM Posted by MAC
Recipe for Brewster's Brunswick Stew
from Gerri Ferris
Ingredients
2 lbs venison (or beef) cubed or chopped
Bacon drippings
Homemade chicken broth
5-7 fresh garlic cloves
1 tbsp red pepper sauce
1 t. fresh basil
1 cup Vidalia onions
2 red potatoes cubed
3 carrots sliced
Small rutabaga diced (sub one turnip if desired)
1 green pepper chopped
1 cup fresh lima beans
1 cup wild mushrooms
3 tbsp flour
¼ cup cold water
Putting it together:
Brown venison in hot bacon drippings in a heavy iron pot. Add broth, covering meat and add an inch. Add garlic, pepper sauce, basil and onions. Cover and simmer two hours. Add vegetables and cook 20 minutes until tender. Adjust the seasonings and liquid, making sure all ingredients are below liquid surface. Mix flour in water and stir into stew and bring to bubbly.
Honored Daughters – Reviewed by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘They parked at the side of the big house. She led him through the rhododendrons, past the ornamental pond, to the back terrace. Nyan stopped, and she watched his eyes roam over the antebellum mansion. He wrinkled his nose and turned away. “Let’s sit over by the pond,” he said. “I like being outside.” (Laura Kate said,) “If the sky opens, I’m going inside.” He moved his shoulders up and down. “If I have to, I have to.” The wrought iron chairs were uncomfortable without cushions, but he didn’t seem to mind as he watched the carp flashing their gold tails in the rippling water. After a time, he said, “Eight years ago, a freshman named Maribel Serrano was killed in a hit-and-run on Indrio Road. Six years ago Lydia Franklin was shot by a hunter’s stray bullet in the woods of the school’s property. Lisa Brownfeld hung herself in the bike barn. A year ago Doris Potaki drowned in Hewatt Homeister’s catfish pond. Ten days ago Dari Birdsong was murdered and left in a black farmer’s field.”
Laura Kate O’Connell is now the owner of Live Oaks Plantation which is located deep in the heart of South Georgia. Just down the road from Live Oaks stands Honored Daughters. Honored Daughters is an elite school for girls but not just any girl. To become a student or even a teacher you must be a direct descendant of a Confederate veteran. Dari Birdsong was one of those descendants, but her forced admittance brought attention to groups of the Old South that would have been better left alone. Dari’s mother was a direct descendant, but Dari's father was a black man. So when she was murdered and a cross was carved in her stomach it made most people look to the Klan and its offspring as being responsible. And, as Laura Kate checks deeper into the other deaths, she finds the possibility of an “ethnic-cleansing” taking place at the school. But again, are the deaths Klan related or is there a serial killer on the loose?
To make matters more confusing, the property owned by the school and the property owned by a male descendant, Hewatt Homeister, could be joined if Homeister died without an heir or if the school went under. This feud had been going on for several generations and wasn’t letting up, leading some to believe the cross proved the Klan, which has its own reasons for keeping the school open, may have been involved; but there were also those who believed Homeister created the deaths to discredit the school enough for it to close and the property to revert to him.
Following Laura Kate as she gets close to some of the hate group members, kept me on the edge of my seat. Growing up in the South myself, I remember stories about the Klan. They weren’t people I wanted to come into contact with and hoped I never did. In Honored Daughters Gerrie Ferris gives you enough suspects to keep you guessing throughout the book. There were times I even thought it might be the SBI agent or even that Laura Kate’s boyfriend might be somehow involved. When the true murderer was disclosed, I have to admit that I suspected them a couple of times but couldn’t see how it would have been possible. The ending was a real shock for me, and has me wanting to go back and read Book One.
2009
Desert Breeze Publishing
183 pages
ISBN# 978-1-936000-18-0
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: Book Reviews, Brunswick Stew, cookbooks, Gerri Ferris, Honored Daughters, Martha A Cheves, Murder, Mystery, South Georgia, Stir Laugh Repeat
A Court Lady - Clova Leighton, Author
2:50 PM Posted by MAC
British Lemon Scones A Clova Leighton Favorite
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup light cream
- 1 cup lemonade (your favorite mixture)
- Confectioner's sugar for dusting
Directions
- Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F
- Place the flour in a mixing bowl with a hollow in the middle; add the cream and lemonade; mix until combined into a very sticky dough
- Pour the mixture onto a floured surface; roll with a floured rolling pin until the mixture is approximately 1 inch thick
- You may need to sprinkle extra flour on top, given the stickiness of the mixture
- Cut into rounds and place on a floured baking sheet with each round a few centimeters apart
- Bake in the preheated oven until the tops of the scones are lightly browned and sound slightly hollow if you tap them, about 15 minutes
- Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar
Great for Afternoon Tea
A Court Lady – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
“Von Lichtenberg, I wish that you would consider this offer. I want to see you married off. It is your duty, as a soldier, to found a family, before you go to fight. And there are several young ladies who might be acceptable. There is Mlle. DeBelmaris. If you were to take her, I’d be very generous with your next command…” Sebastian cursed himself. For the first time, he began to wonder why he had put himself under this vulgar upstart’s patronage. Was he right in supposing that in the end, Napoleon’s abilities as an administrator would triumph and greatly improve the condition of the French and their satellites? He was beginning to doubt it. Certainly Napoleon had made many improvements; he had modernized France, and had improved the lot of many people. He had improved the tax system. Sebastian admired the way the man, working all the hours of the day, had slaved to revitalize the economy and to promote French industry. He liked the fact that there was also greater religious freedom. As things stood, Sebastian knew that he was indebted to his commander, and it would be expedient to obey him. He was prepared to agree. Having a wife would not really change his life. “Very well, sire. If it is your wish that I consider marriage, of course I will do so.” Napoleon gave a short laugh. “Indeed, if you have some other woman in mind, provided she’s of suitable rank, I would be happy enough. As long as she is a lady…”
Sebastian Von Lichtenberg, of German descent, had served under Napoleon since his youth. His admiration for this great leader had been what kept him from joining his own small country’s forces. But, after a minor wound and a rumor of his being more than an admirer of Napoleon’s sister Paulette, it was decided that Sebastian should marry. And Sebastian sees that if he wants another command, he must do as his leader says.
Now, to find a wife. There are many to choose from but Sebastian finds most of the court women to be silly in their actions, unable to carry on an intelligent conversation and with interests that seem be to geared completely to spending money. That is until he finally met and got to know Mlle. Corisande DeBelmaris, a protégée and very distant relative of Josephine. She turned out to be outspoken in her thoughts and enjoyed listening to his military stories. But, could he tame her? Did he really want to?
A Court Lady is filled with history, bringing out the personality of Napoleon as well as Josephine. It’s a story that brings to light the changes made in France during his time of rule. But it’s also a beautiful love story of two people who are both afraid to admit their true feelings for each other. I must warn you, there are some really “heated” love scenes so if you are a truly romantic reader, you will simply love A Court Lady.
2011
Smashwords Edition
ISBN# 978-1-4581-5621-1
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: A Court Lady, Book Reviews, Clova Leighton, France, History, Josephine, love story, Martha A Cheves, Napoleon, scones, Stir Laugh Repeat
Stay Tuned for Murder - Mary Kennedy, Author
2:07 PM Posted by MAC
Cheddar Cheese Quiche
A favorite recipe by Mary Kennedy
Ingredients:
one pound chedddar cheese
one cup milk
one cup mayonnaise
one large onion
4 eggs
2 uncooked pie crust shells
one tablespooon corn starch
Saute onion and divide between the two pie shells. Shred cheese. Beat eggs and add milk, mayo, cheese and corn starch in mixing bowl. Pour over the onions in the pie shells. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes. Makes 2 quiches.
Ingredients:
one pound chedddar cheese
one cup milk
one cup mayonnaise
one large onion
4 eggs
2 uncooked pie crust shells
one tablespooon corn starch
Saute onion and divide between the two pie shells. Shred cheese. Beat eggs and add milk, mayo, cheese and corn starch in mixing bowl. Pour over the onions in the pie shells. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes. Makes 2 quiches.
Stay Tuned for Murder – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘I ran down the list of suspects, feeling more frustrated by the moment. Chantel Carrington was the first name that leap into my mind. Why did I think of her as a suspect? I wrote down everything I knew about her. She was here in town under an alias, her background was murky, and somehow she’d made a name for herself in the motivational field. Could Mildred or Althea have suspected who she really was, or maybe they uncovered some dark secret from her past? Did they threaten to reveal it? I thought of Althea and Mildred. I couldn’t picture either one of them as a blackmailer. Irina said that Vera Mae told her Chantel reminded her of someone. Did she mean a celebrity? Or someone close to home? Could Chantel have relatives living in the area? Maybe there was a family resemblance that Vera Mae picked up on? Why had Chantel come to Cypress Grove? Yes, I knew the standard answer, but I didn’t buy it. My gut instinct told me she would never choose Cypress Grove as a place to kick back and pound out her memoirs. She’d lived all over the country, and I found it very hard to believe that she’d chosen our little town as a retreat. I put a star and a question mark next to her name. Chantel was still in the running, even though I was drawing a blank as to her motive.’
Maggie Walsh, talk show psychologist for radio station WYME is pondering the murder of two longtime Cypress Grove residences, Althea Somerset from the Cypress Grove Historical Society and Mildred Smoot the town’s librarian. Both have were murdered but for no apparent reason. Nothing was stolen and there was no abuse. Other than them being friends, the only thing Maggie can find in common between the two women was their excitement about the upcoming opening of the time capsule and their attendance of a séance given by Chantel Carrington. But, as Maggie questions others in town, her list of suspects starts to grow.
Trevor McNamara is on her list due to her feeling that his story about scouting out vacation properties in Cypress Grove is bogus. Mark Sanderson wants to build a towering condo project on the grounds where the court house stands. Why? Candace Somerset is the sister of Althea and she stands to inherit her sisters estate, which Maggie learns is quite substantial. Bob and Shalimar Hennessey are on her list but only because of their suspicious actions after inviting Maggie and a reporter friend Nick to dinner. But what motive would they have? And then there’s Chris Hendricks who Althea talked with about reframing a painting that she had found in the basement of the Society building. When Maggie interviewed him, she was disturbed by his high level of nervousness. She feels he has something to do with the murders but can’t seem to find his motive either.
I’ve had the pleasure and enjoyment of reading Mary Kennedy’s books Dead Air, Reel Murder and now Stay Tuned for Murder which is the 3rd in the Maggie Walsh series. After reading Reel Murder, I thought I had the Author’s style figured out and would be able to come up with the killer early on in Stay Tuned for Murder. Wrong! There are so many possible suspects with just as many reasons, that she kept me guessing until the very end. This was really a book I hated to not only put down but also to end.
305 pages
2011
Obsidian Mystery
ISBN# 978-0-451-23235-9
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: A Lesson in Murder, cookbooks, Jack Staal Mystery, Martha A Cheves, Mary Kennedy, quiche, radio show, Stay Tuned for Murder, Stir Laugh Repeat, talk shows
"This book is made up of 3 individual stories. All three are short reads and other than the setting, which is Mexico, all three are completely different."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"You'll follow Logan as she tramples through kudzu, goes to her first Testicle Festival, rents a room from a woman who runs around at night in the nude and connects with a wolf. You will also follow her as she gets her man, or should I say men."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"Will the people of Hollow Gap pull together and defend themselves from the Indian up-rise or will they fall apart. Find the answers to these questions and more when you read this book of taming the West through love."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"I would NEVER have guessed the turn of events that make up the last 20 pages of Fresh Frozen. The hiring of the spy will surprise you and the murder will surprise you even more. So if you love a good mystery, this book is definitely for you."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"As I read I felt as if I was a witness watching this evil man do the things he did to these young women. As I read through the trial I felt like one of those ready to convict him. As I listened to the comments by his wife, I could feel her pain and confusion."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"After reading Breaking My Silence I saw Jane as a strong person who was determined to do whatever was needed to get her children back into her life and to do whatever it took to make her life as complete as possible without the prostitution. This was one of the most informative books I've ever read about a subject that is normally kept behind closed doors."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"
While reading Genesis Beach I found myself not wanting to put it down. Each page had a piece of evidence that would help me solve the mystery before Logan. I really thought I had pin-pointed the murderer. Boy was I in for a shock."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"I've enjoyed reading this book. It's a cross between a "fiction" and a "true crime." So if you enjoy either genre you will enjoy A Study in Red. Do keep in mind that this book is very descriptive."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"The story captured me from the beginning, the evil of Rovella never ceased to amaze me, and the love that was always there but didn't surface due to guilt made me feel the pain that I'm sure she felt. The ending was perfect."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"This has been a really enjoyable book.
I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. Beth, don't change your way of writing! I've really enjoyed reading Basket Case and will be reading more of Beth's books."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"I feel this is a wonderfully written book that would be helpful not just for young people who are overweight but also for those who look at a person, no matter the age, call them names, shun them and refuse to accept them as they are."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"Bertha Speaks Out is a very enjoyable book to read. Bertha finds herself in positions that will make you laugh and cry. You will feel her pain but also feel her pride when she stands up for what is right. It’s a must read for children as well as adults.
"
(Martha A. Cheves)
"Read Thicker than Water and ask yourself these questions. Did the wife make the right choice? Was her decision worth 15 years of her family’s life? Would you have made the same decision?
I highly recommend Thicker than Water. As I said, it was a joy to read."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"As I read I kept asking myself “Who would put out a hit on David and why?” “Who are The Chosen Few and what do they have to do with David?” “Will Max get to David before it’s too late?” You will have to read The Chosen Few yourself to find the answers to these questions."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"This book has taught me that life is like a chain. Everyone we meet becomes a link in our chain. Some links may be weak, but the strong ones keep the chain from breaking. And as memories and secrets are shared with those strong links, they become even stronger."
(Martha A. Cheves)
I'm from Georgia, moved to North Carolina by way of Florida. I've been in Charlotte for 14 years and love it. The recipes in my book Stir, Laugh, Repeat are all tested by "Food Testers" of which I now have 24. They try a dish and rate it from 1-10 with only those scoring at least an 8 making the book. My website is a holding place for my 2nd book Stir, Laugh, Repeat... Again. Please visit my site to find new recipes and tips. All recipes are easy, using common ingredients and according to my testers, great!
