I'm so excited to kick off the Plotting Princesses' New Year's Blog Hop!!! Who are the Plotting Princesses? We're a group of writers living in North Texas. We get together to brainstorm and plot and to have more fun than a gopher in fresh dirt! (Pardon the Texas twang. I just finished writing a cowboy romance. **giggle**)
****Fanning Myself! Goodness gracious! Talk about Cowboy Eye Candy!!*******
I'm about to pop the cork off this champagne!
Cheers to you and yours! 2012 was a great year for the Plotting Princesses and as a way to say thank you, we're giving away lots of wonderful prizes and books!
Follow the Princess Blog Hop every day for a chance to win more books and prizes!!! The Grand Prize will be awarded to one lucky winner on January 12th, 2013! 10 ebooks/print books from all 10 participating Princesses!
We'll all be sharing an excerpt from a book and a yummy recipe! My newest release is MY LITTLE TEXAS TORNADO, set in the Texas Hill Country about a rancher who falls in love with a snobby wine heiress. Here's the blurb and an excerpt!
**Read on for the recipe for Colt Daniels' Cowboy Steaks! I'd love to hear your recipes too so feel free to leave a comment and share! You'll be entered to win an electronic copy of MY LITTLE TEXAS TORNADO. Winner announced January 12, 2013 along with the GRAND PRIZE WINNER of 10 books from all 10 participating Princesses!
NEW YEAR'S DAY WE CONTINUE THE PARTY AT PRINCESS VICKI BATMAN'S PLACE!!
NEW YEAR'S PRINCESS BLOG HOP DAY 2
BLURB:
Colt Daniels is a Texas rancher known for his award winning steaks. The king rancher has known his good neighbor and vintner, Mr. Moon for years. In fact, he recommends the Moon Wines as the ideal label paired with his mouth watering steaks. When Mr. Moon dies and leaves the vineyard to his long lost niece, Savannah Moon, Colt offers to show her the ropes since the California girl is clueless, not only about Texas but about wine. Even his Southern Charm is lost on the snob who doesn't even have the decency to thank him for saving her life her first day in town.
Thing is, he ain't cut out to train someone he can't stand, even if Mr. Moon was like a grandfather to him. But there's no denying it, the Moons know how to grow 'em...wine and women. Savannah isn't a woman he can easily forget. Bitchy or not, he finds reasons to teach her about grapes, among other things. And while he's finding reasons to stomp the grapes with his new neighbor, a plan is brewing to bring the wine heiress down.
EXCERPT:
The crowd cheered, hooted and whistled as Savannah made her way to the microphone, now more nervous than ever. “Wow, what a big turnout. I want to thank all of you for coming out and sharing in our celebration. Now, without further adieu, if my vintner, Mr. Colt Daniels will join me, we’ll stomp the grapes!”
More cheering and clapping erupted as Colt joined Savannah. He took off his boots and socks as Savannah kicked off her sandals, then tipped his hat at her as he took her hand and helped her up the wooden steps that led into the tub of plump, purple grapes. Colt ignored the steps and hoisted himself over the side as if mounting a horse. The crowd cheered as the two of them held hands, grimacing and laughing as they crushed the juicy grapes between their toes.
The crowd’s hoots and hollers had been replaced by a buzzing in Savannah’s ears as Colt guided her around the tub, smiling and squinting at her in the bright sunshine.
One stray thought entered her mind.
Thank God Skip was too busy at the restaurant to attend.
Soon, guests who had paid five dollars to stomp the grapes were entering the tub. Within seconds, it was elbow to elbow with grape juice flying and splattering all over their faces and into their hair. Savannah gave Colt a crazed look of panic, one that he read instantly. He laughed and picked her up, carrying her up and back down the stairs, all the way to the big house.
She pulled the key out of her dress pocket and handed it to him. Colt unlocked the door and carried her inside, all the way to the bathroom where he deposited her into the bathtub.
“You look nearly as bad as you did after that tornado,” Colt said, picking off pieces of grapes from her cheeks and hair.
Savannah slugged him on the arm. “Gee, thanks. You have grape all over you, too.”
“Is that so?” Colt asked, watching her as grape juice dripped from her hair.
“Right there,” Savannah said, pointing to his face.
“Get it off.”
She picked off a piece from the side of his mouth. When he pretended to bite her, she jumped and pulled her hand away. “Hey, you aren’t supposed to bite the hand that feeds you.”
“Really? Thank God I landed this cushy job. I was penniless before you came along, your wine highness.”
“Shut up! You ungrateful ranch hand!” Savannah teased, punching him in the chest.
“Ranch hand! Is that all you think I am?” Colt asked, reaching for the shower nozzle above her head and then turning the shower on full blast.
She screamed as he held her into the spray, knocking off her sunhat. Purple juice streamed down her face, drowning her with a mouth full of grape water.
Colt Daniels' Cowboy Steaks
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup red wine
1 cup brewed Columbian Coffee (THE SECRET INGREDIENT)
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon cumin
good grinding black pepper (or crushed chili to taste)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a non-metallic bowl. Spoon marinade over steaks. Cover and refrigerate several hours or preferably overnight (but even 1/2 hour will do). Grill over hickory wood for best cowboy flavor!
Goes great with red wine!!
PLOTTING PRINCESS NEW YEAR'S BLOG HOP SCHEDULE
Monday - Dec. 31st ~
Alisha Paige
Tuesday - Jan. 1st ~
Vicki Batman
Wednesday - Jan. 2nd ~
Kathy Ivan
Thursday - Jan. 3rd ~
Michelle Miles
Friday - Jan. 4th ~
Karilyn Bentley
(We're skipping the 5th and 6th since that is the weekend.)
Monday - Jan. 7th ~
Liz Lipperman
Tuesday - Jan. 8th ~
Sasha Summers
Wednesday ~ Jan. 9th ~
Sylvia McDaniel
Thursday ~ Jan. 10th ~
Willa Blair (Guest Princess for a Day)
Friday ~ Jan. 11th ~
Lynn Rush (Guest Princess for a Day)
The more blogs you visit and comment, the more chances to win! So visit with a Princess every day and see all the wonderful books you might win. Don't forget to share your own recipes with your favorite authors!
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM DALLAS, TEXAS!!!
~Alisha Paige and Ruby Vines
