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The Tale of Mally Biddle by M.L. LeGette

When Mally Biddle agreed to spy upon the King of Lenzar and his overbearing knights she knew she was heading into danger. She didn’t know she’d find a family unlike any other.

Posing as a servant in Bosc Castle, Mally serves tea and tends fires for the most dangerous men in the kingdom. Her goal is to learn the truth of what happened sixteen years ago, when the infant princess met her death … a death that is surrounded by more questions than answers.

Along her search for the truth, Mally meets the energized Lita Stump, the strict and matriarchal Meriyal Boyd, and the opinionated Archibald Diggleby. Then of course there are the knights: Leon Gibbs who is slicker than a greased hog, Adrian Bayard, hot tempered and violent, and the worst of the lot: Sir Illius Molick, Captain of the Knights. And then there is Maud, a mysterious woman who just might know everything…

Praise
“To say I loved this book is an understatement. Mally is a wonderful character and she encounters so many quirky folks on her assignment. Very well written and engaging story! And an added bonus of a love triangle! I enjoyed it from beginning to end!! I will definitely be looking for more from this author!”
~April Holgate

Author Melissa LeGette
Melissa LeGette lives in Georgia where she helps run a family farm, so her nails are a fright. The Tale of Mally Biddle is her second novel.

Excerpt -

Galen grinned widely at her. On his chin was a nasty scratch and beside his right eye a faint bruise.

“Are you all right?” Mally immediately demanded. “I heard about the raid.”

“I’m fine,” Galen replied a bit too casually for Mally’s liking. “I’m glad to see you!”

“Don’t change the subject!” said Mally. “What happened?”

Galen looked a little surprised by Mally’s furious demand and a little … pleased? That didn’t make any sense to Mally, so she ignored the slight curve of his mouth and continued to glare at him.

Page: 137

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Junction, Utah

River guide Madeline Kruse has always preferred the nomadic life over a settled home. In early 2003, she’s on the run from the long-standing pain of a missing father and critically ill mother trying to save the world. Madeline’s wandering takes her to northeastern Utah, a corner of the West time has passed over, with its stunningly beautiful wilderness, rivers to run, and room to breathe. In the tiny town of Junction, she meets alfalfa farmer Chris Sorensen, whose family has split apart since September 11 and the enlistment of his brother in the U.S. Marines. Through Chris and a drama taking place deep in the Utah backcountry, Madeline learns that the pristine canyons she loves are being threatened, and she must overcome many obstacles if she is to find peace and her place by the river.

Purchase Junction, Utah:
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About Rebecca Lawton

Rebecca Lawton was among the first women whitewater guides on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon and on other rivers in the West. Her essay collection on the guiding life, Reading Water: Lessons from the River (Capital Books), was a San Francisco Chronicle bestseller and ForeWordNature Book of the Year finalist. Her essays, poems, and stories have been published in Orion, Sierra, The San Francisco Chronicle Magazine, Shenandoah, THEMA, More, and other magazines. She blogs about writing and environmental issues at Writer in Residence. Lawton’s writing about the West has won the Ellen Meloy Fund Award for Desert Writers, three Pushcart Prize nominations (in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry), and other honors. She has received residencies at The Island Institute in Sitka, Alaska, and Hedgebrook Retreat for Women Writers in Langley, Washington. Her debut novel, Junction, Utah, set in the resource-rich Green River valley, is available as an original e-book from van Haitsma Literary. She works as a writer and scientist and serves on the Board of Directors of Friends of the River.

Follow Rebecca Lawton:
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Review – A tiny little town and I truly felt I was there. So many characters who were polar opposites but you really get to see why they are the way they are, each bringing their own little story to Junction, Utah. There are a lot of interesting sub-plots in this story and the author weaved in history of the area bringing in the present with ease. I loved this book. This is an amazing story teaching us to really care for those and what is around us.

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The Blasphemy Box

“You know that nightmare you’ve always had? The one where you wake up one day to find yourself fat, frumpy, fifty and alone? I’m living it.”

Maddy Nelson has an idyllic existence: a handsome husband, great kids, a comfortable, affluent lifestyle. One morning soon after she turns fifty, however, she wakes up in her San Francisco home to find her husband Steven announcing that he’s leaving her for a woman half her age. And a third of her size.

Ouch!

Feeling totally unmoored and grieving for her married life and husband, Maddy finds herself thrust into an unfamiliar and uncomfortable world of middle-aged singledom. There, she must come to terms with her situation and embark on her new life: divorce proceedings, single parenting, internet dating, and trying to earn a living. It’s enough to drive her over the brink. To help her cope, she shares her struggles in a smart, wry blog named The Blasphemy Box, after her ex-husband’s obnoxious habit of having her drop a quarter into a wooden box every time she said something off color. Her madcap middle-aged adventures find her devoted readers who identify with her challenges.

In time, Maddy recreates herself and finds happiness in the arms of a good man, and a fulfilling new career as a novelist.

Purchase Kindle / Paperback

About Author Mandy Behbehani

Mandy Behbehani grew up in England and now lives in California. She holds a journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and is a professional journalist whose work has appeared in a variety of publications from the Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle to W magazine, Town & Country magazine and Travel & Leisure magazine.

Follow Mandy Behbehani:
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Review – This book really touched home for me. When I was terribly young I got married. I wasn’t with him years like Maddy was with her husband but at the time my heart was ripped out and it hurt. Now I call it my faux marriage.  I knew everything that Maddy felt, my heart was with her as she made her journey.

Maddy started blogging to help deal with her grief and to spark her writing career. As sad as it is to go through a divorce the author added a lot of humor. Watching Maddy try internet dating , deal with being a single parent, and juggling her job was funny. I bet you are wondering what is the Blasphemy Box? It’s where Maddy has a potty mouth and has to throw money in there every time she cusses.

You don’t have to be divorced to enjoy this book. Even if you know someone that is (and don’t we all?) This is the perfect book to curl up with by a fire or read on the beach.

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The author is offering a signed paperback book, and a Swarovski crystal bracelet that is part of her jewelry line for a tour prize. Fill out the form below to Enter! a Rafflecopter giveaway

All of Sweet Sally’s home baked goods, confections and sweet gifts are custom made and contain the freshest ingredients.
Every product is created from scratch, the way Mom and Grandma always baked and we never use artificial ingredients, trans fats or preservatives. Whenever possible, they source local ingredients.

One reader will win a Bucket of Treats as reviewed by Mommy Lesson Plans.

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Spring’s Surprise

Sara Michaels is single again. And she’s celebrating her thirtieth birthday with a complete spa makeover and a day of boutique shopping with her two best friends. After a ten-month battle for freedom, a long weekend in Nashville, Tennessee is just what she needs to erase the memories of a broken heart.

Jack Tanner is the soon-to-be new partner at Chester & Dorsey Development Firm. Jack’s love life has been on the back burner for years as he’s built a successful career. But the moment he meets Sara, he takes a hard look at his life and his priorities.

Sara steps out of her comfort zone and spends an unforgettable weekend with Jack. She’s never felt so carefree. Until she realizes too late that three days can change everything

Purchase Spring’s Surprise ($2.99) on Amazon

Read an Excerpt

Winter’s Magic

Owner of La Bella Vita, a five-star day spa nestled in the affluent suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee, Beth Sergeant knows her elite clientele first hand. She attended their private schools. She was even engaged, although briefly, to one of their most recognized bachelors. But she never fit in to their social-elite world.

After losing his parents to a car accident at a young age, Nick Chester was raised by his grandfather, the wealthiest man in Nashville. When he chooses to socialize, he has a never-ending list of exclusive events and beautiful women vying for his attention. Yet he never lets himself forget that everyone has an agenda.

Beth can’t resist Nick’s charm and accepts an invitation to dinner, despite her deep-seated insecurities. She proves she’s nothing like other women he’s dated and learns to trust him in return. But just as the last of their resistance crumbles and true love is within reach, challenges from Nick’s past threaten to destroy everything and force Beth to reveal her most guarded secret.

Available Now Through: Amazon Barnes & Noble Soul Mate Publishing

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How to Make Paper by Hand

Craft expert Gretchen Schermerhorn demonstrates how to make paper by hand.

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Dear Theresa,

 

I have been wondering what is the difference between juicing and whole food smoothies? Which one is better if you are trying to healthy?

 

Thank you,

What to Drink?

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Dear What to Drink?,

 

Interestingly both are good for people on different journeys.

 

Juicing is the process of removing juice from the pulp of vegetables and fruits.  It concentrates the nutrients of many whole foods into a form that is easy to assimilate .

 

Whole food smoothies use a high speed blender to turn those same vegetables and fruits into a nutritious drink while retaining the pulp.  This makes a nutrient dense food that supports health and weight loss as well as increasing cravings for more healthy food choices overall.

 

The main difference, as you may have noted, is the presence of pulp in the smoothies.  The added fiber in smoothies makes them move more slowly through the digestive system.  Our Standard American Diet (SAD) is seriously lacking in fiber and removing even more causes me to be concerned with the concentrated sugars.

 

While juicing can be very helpful in creating a healthy environment for people who are healing their body, I believe using juices indefinitely can deprive the body of the whole food.  When you begin to take foods apart, elements we have not yet identified are lost from our food.

 

Nutrition is a very young science and there is more that we don’t know about food and it’s impact on our body than we are clear about.

 

Working with my clients I encourage them to use smoothies over juicing for this reason. If a person is trying to heal a severe illness, juicing can be a faster way to clean out the body (see the movie “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead”).  But if you are healthy and just want to increase your nutrients or lose weight, add whole food smoothies to your diet and you will get all of the benefits without losing any of the good stuff our bodies need.

 

Love & Light,

Theresa

 

Theresa Grisanti has studied nutrition and psychology with experts in this field for over 20 years. Using her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Master’s degree in Nutrition, along with Energy Medicine, she coaches people to understand how their body works and ways to eat that promote health and vitality. You can find more information about Theresa’s work on her website: http://theresagrisanti.com

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Every morning, I have to have coffee. I blindly walk to my grinder, hit the button then scoop it into my coffee maker. The smell of the fresh group coffee does as much for me as actually drinking it. It opens my senses and helps start my day.There are two things I like1. Fresh Ground coffee2. Gourmet CoffeeDon Pablo sent me a bag of their Don Pablo Gourmet Coffees to try. I received the Med- Dark Post.They haveSignature BlendColombian SupremoBrazil SantosClassic Italian EspressoWater Process Colombian DecafPride CoffeesGustavo’s Reserve Colombian EstateGenuine Guatemala AntiguaArtisan BlendI love the fact that they are recognized by the Florida Restaurant Association!They Also offer Organic Coffee!

Subtle Earth Organic Coffee is certified organic but this company also takes care of their employees.All of the farm’s permanent workers are provided with housing – equipped with drinking water, electricity and modern bathrooms. San Antonio also runs a school for its employees’ children.I received coffee to facilitate the review, no other compensation was received.Be sure to check out.How To Get A Better Form of Calcium

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Summer is almost here!  Or so the calendar tells me.  We haven’t really had much of a spring here yet this year.  This weekend is in the 70?s though, so maybe it has finally arrived!  To get you ready for summer, I made you chocolate    You know, because summer means ice cream!  You can’t have ice cream without hot fudge, it is just wrong.

 

                

 

So what do you normally put on your ice cream?  Obviously I am a hot fudge kind of girl.  I also like caramel sauce if it is an option.  I am not much into fruit toppings though,  which is unfortunate because my husbands favorite topping is strawberry sauce.  Maybe I will have to give in and make that for him this summer.  So stay tuned!

 

                        

 

This sauce is so smooth, velvety, and rich.  It comes together in 10 minutes, and lasts in the fridge for at least a month.  You can see I used it here to top some brownies.

 

                

 

My 8 year old (man it is hard to get used to typing that!), had some on his ice cream last night for his birthday dessert.  It does harden up in the fridge, but all you have to do is microwave it for a few seconds, and it gets all smooth and glorious again.  The biggest challenge is, actally having it make it to the fridge.  I ate way more spoonfuls of this stuff than I care to admit.

 

Hot Fudge Sauce

 

Ingredients

 

• ½ cup butter

• ? cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 1 cup sugar

• 6 oz evaporated milk

• 1 tsp vanilla

• ½ tsp salt

 

Instructions

 

1. In a saucepan combine butter, chocolate chips, evaporated milk, sugar, and salt. Heat over medium until it starts to boil. Boil for 7 minutes, stirring frequently.

2. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla extract.

3. Serve while warm

 

Notes

 

Store in the fridge for up to a month

 

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