Romance Week: Valentine's Day WINNERS!

Thank you all so much for spending the week with me and my cast of characters. I had a blast and I hope you all did too. Have a Love Full Day. 

The Winners are:

Congratulations Aaron R., you are the Grand Prize winner of the Super Romance Bundle!

Congratulations Bethany D., you won the Romance Bundle!

 Congratulations Amy R., you won the Romantic Suspense Bundle!

Thanks again to Authors Susanne Matthews at Living the Dream,  A.B. Funkhauser of HEUER LOST AND FOUND, and Mary Ann Cortez of The Write Place for participating in Romance Week with me. Be sure to check out their pages for more great writing. 

Also, now available, First Love, a Summer Solstice Valentine's Day Anthology.

PLUS, ONE LAST FREE GIFT FROM SOLSTICE PUBLISHING: 
Solstice Publishing is proud to present Sweets for My Sweet, a FREE cookbook full of wonderful recipes from Solstice authors. Download this cookbook and other free books at Solstice Publishing. 

Romance Week Day 6: Cast party!

Song Stuck on the Brain: Everything I Do I Do It For You - Bryan Adams

Welcome to the last day of Romance Week hosted by the cast of Justice Burning and Dysfunction Junction! Every day this week different characters have shared their tips and ideas on how to have the sweetest and/or most romantic Valentine’s Day. It's been so much fun sharing this sweet holiday with all of you.

Today the cast is back for one last minute tip to ensure that tomorrow is the best Valentine's Day it can be.

Aidan McLeod

Keegan McLeod

 Aidan: What a great week. Valentine's Day was a difficult holiday for me after losing my wife, but rediscovering it through the eyes of my kids has changed the way I feel. Romance is wonderful, but love should be celebrated  with everyone - family, friends and co-workers.

Keegan: I agree, and as I learned last year, the gifts are fun - but it's the time spent with the one you care about that makes the time special. Of course, on that note guys (yes, I'm talking to you guys at the station) this is NOT an excuse to avoid any kind of gift at all. Loving someone means knowing them as a person. Give them a gift that suits them personally. 

Rissa Fuller

Rissa: Good advice, Keegan. Girls, if the guys can be satisfied with gifts given from the heart, so can we. Of course chocolates and cards and jewelry are awesome. Sometimes those gifts are possible and sometimes they're not. We can all spend this holiday looking deeper at our relationships and acknowledging to the one we love that, "Yes, I see you. I know what you like. I care about you enough to put time and effort into you. You are my Valentine."

Alexa: That is beautifully put, Rissa.

Ember McLeod

Ember: Yes; and after your help Alexa, I think Dad, Ash, Kindall and Cole are in for a great Valentine's Day supper.

Ash: Yes, thanks for that, Alexa. I don't think we could have handled her special Valentine's Day Chocolate Bar Chili.

Alexa Fehr

Ember: Hey! Remember, it's the gifts given with love that are best for the heart.

Ash: That may be, little Sis', but its how your gift affects my stomach that I was more concerned with.

Alexa: LOL. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, Ash. Ember's culinary skills are growing. 
Kianna: If anyone can make an amazing Valentine's Dinner, it's Alexa. She can Cook! Her food makes me sing. Maybe even deserves a song written about it...

Alexa: Oh, please! Whatever. Your love songs are better focused elsewhere. By the way, you and Ash came up with an awesome Romance Day playlist. I loved the Power Ballads.

Kianna: We had fun finding all the songs.

Ash McLeod

Ash: We were up until after 1 a.m. and I had to force her to stop. I think she's still sneaking songs on the list.

Kianna Ravencamp

Kianna: I am, but I know you are too. Just own it.

Ash: Okay, I admit, I can't leave it alone either.

Alexa: I'm having the same problem with the Romantic Meals pinterest board. I keep finding new meal ideas to add!

Hope: You are such a Pin-head!

Morgan: I do not think that word means what you think it means...

Hope Campbell

Hope: LOL! I meant she's addicted to Pinterest. But I can see you're a Princess Bride fan.

Morgan: I am. Couldn't pass up that opportunity, you just left it wide open.

Kianna: She does that a lot, Morgan. It's one of the things we love about her.

Morgan Daryl

Hope: Good, if you love me so much, how about sending me a friendship bouquet to remind me.

Rissa: I'd send you zinnias any day, Hope.

Keegan: Would you like a zinnia bouquet, Aidan?

Aidan: Sure, baby brother. Go ahead and buy me flowers, just be sure Emily's bouquet is better.

Keegan: Not a problem. This year I ignored the guys taunts and got in touch with my inner romantic. Thanks to everyone here, Emily is going to be blown away. 

Kianna: Aww, that's sweet. I hope everyone here has an amazing day. LOVE to you all.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Don't forget to enter the Valentine's Day Super Romance Giveaway for a last chance to win 1 of 3 prize bundles! Winners will be announced Sunday, February, 14, 2015.

To enter, simply fill out the entry form below and complete at least one option to be entered. Complete additional options for extra entries. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Connect with Hope and her girlfriends on their Pinterest pages! Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Kianna Ravencamp on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Alexa Fehr on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Hope Campbell on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Carissa Fuller on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Independence, MO - Hometown Lowdown on Pinterest.

Looking for more romance and excitement? 

Be sure to visit Susanne Matthews at Living the Dream to read more about her Romantic Suspense The Harvester Series. A sensual romantic suspense series that will take you "From the streets of Boston to the wilds of Alaska..." 

Love beyond this world? For something out of the ordinary, try A.B. Funkhauser's Award Winning post mortem mortuary romance complete with happy ending! HEUER LOST AND FOUND 

Visit Author Mary Ann Cortez at her blog The Write Place and enter to WIN an autographed copy of First Love anthology and a bookmark with heart charm. 

That magic moment for a teen. The realization that the person you’ve liked is a little more than a friend. Chance meetings. Old friendships. Even a social media post. These can all lead to that first love. Solstice Publishing is proud to present First Love, a Summer Solstive Valentine's Day Anthology.

Romance Week Day 5: Petals and Purpose

Song Stuck on the Brain: Then by Brad Paisley

Welcome to Romance Week hosted by the cast of Justice Burning and Dysfunction Junction! Every day this week different characters will be sharing their tips and ideas on how to have the sweetest and/or most romantic Valentine’s Day.

There is also a contest to win 1 of 3 prize packs containing books and music. Be sure to check out the contest and enter at the bottom of the post.

Today, we welcome Morgan Daryl from Justice Burning, book 1 in the Heroes in Justice Series and Hope Campbell from Dysfunction Junction, book 1 in the Dream Big Series. 

Drew Barrymore, my cast as
Hope Campbell

Hey, Morgan, thanks for hanging out with me today.
Guten tag, Hope, I'm glad to be here. Wow, you have a lot of flowers in here.
Aren't they pretty? I found this awesome book about how different flowers have a different meaning. Roses are beautiful, but girl, there are so many other ways to say I Love You with flowers!
That's really interesting. I've heard of a few, but never looked deeper.

My cast for Morgan Daryl

Don't you do handwriting analysis?
Yes, I have a degree in graphology, it was part of my schooling in Germany when I was at University. Why? Do you have a love note you want examined?
Oh, I wish! That could be very interesting! No, I just think that reading the meaning behind the flowers is kind of like reading between the lines, or in your case, between the script. 
I suppose in some ways it is. So do we read the flowers as representing the person sending them? Or, are the flowers a descriptor of the receiver?
Good question, Morgan. I think it can be both. Let's see if we can make up a few bouquets and see what we can come up with. I placed a descriptor tag in front of each flower, we just need to combine them. 
Alright, I want to create an arrangement for my mother. She's Gracious but Spirited. Sincere and Inspiring, Faithful and Caring and I Admire her a great deal. So that would be a combination of: 

Camelia - Graciousness

Freesia - Spirited

Hyacinth - Sincerity

Iris - Inspiring

Violet - Faithfulness

Pink Tulip - Caring

This would be a really beautiful arrangement, but for someone wanting something more simple, just choosing 1-2 of the flowers would be nice too.
Yes and including a handwritten note explaining your message would be nice for those who haven't studied the meanings. 
Right! How touching would it be to know someone cared enough to put this kind of meaning and thought into your gift?
So what about a romantic bouquet? What would you choose, Hope?
Ooo, so many choices! It would depend on where you are in your relationship and the kind of message you want to send. Red Roses for Passion is an obvious and popular choice. Timeless and will probably always be the most popular. But Anemone's are becoming popular and represent fragility and could be for new, fledgling romances. Yellow Chrysanthemums say secret admirer. Forget-Me-Nots are a sweet message to long time lovers that they will always be remembered. 

Red Roses - Passion

Anemone - Fragile

Yellow Chrysanthemum - Secret Admirer

Forget-Me-Not Remembered Forever

All of those are such sweet options, and it's so interesting that one flower can mean different things depending on the color. I chose pink tulips for Mom to represent caring, but Yellow Tulips represent being hopelessly in love.

Yellow Tulips - Hopelessly in Love

I love how there are so many ways to say someone is special. This has been so much fun. These yellow roses are for you, Morgan. I'm glad we've become friends.

How sweet! It has been fun and so wonderfully fragrant. I think these Zinnias are perfect for you. Happy Valentine's Day, Hope. 

Yellow Roses - Friendship

Zinnia - Friendship

Learn more about flower meanings HERE.

Don't forget to enter the Valentine's Day Super Romance Giveaway for a chance to win 1 of 3 prize bundles! Be sure to share this with all your friends and loved ones too, who knows it just might make your day!

To enter, simply fill out the entry form below and complete at least one option to be entered. Complete additional options for extra entries. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Connect with Hope and her girlfriends on their Pinterest pages! Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Kianna Ravencamp on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Alexa Fehr on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Hope Campbell on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Carissa Fuller on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Independence, MO - Hometown Lowdown on Pinterest.

Looking for more romance and excitement? 

Be sure to visit Susanne Matthews at Living the Dream to read more about her Romantic Suspense The Harvester Series. A sensual romantic suspense series that will take you "From the streets of Boston to the wilds of Alaska..." 

Love beyond this world? For something out of the ordinary, try A.B. Funkhauser's Award Winning post mortem mortuary romance complete with happy ending! HEUER LOST AND FOUND 

Visit Author Mary Ann Cortez at her blog The Write Place and enter to WIN an autographed copy of First Love anthology and a bookmark with heart charm. 

That magic moment for a teen. The realization that the person you’ve liked is a little more than a friend. Chance meetings. Old friendships. Even a social media post. These can all lead to that first love. Solstice Publishing is proud to present First Love, a Summer Solstive Valentine's Day Anthology.

Romance Week Day 4: Look What's Cooking Now!

Song Stuck on the Brain: L-O-V-E by Michael Buble

Welcome to Romance Week hosted by the cast of Justice Burning and Dysfunction Junction! Every day this week different characters will be sharing their tips and ideas on how to have the sweetest and/or most romantic Valentine’s Day.

There is also a contest to win 1 of 3 prize packs containing books and music. Be sure to check out the contest and enter at the bottom of the post.

Today, we welcome Ember McLeod from Justice Burning, book 1 in the Heroes in Justice Series and Alexa Fehr from Dysfunction Junction, book 1 in the Dream Big Series. 

Alicia Silverstone,
my cast for Alexa Fehr

Hello, Ember, thanks for joining me today. I hear your a junior at Justice High this year, how is that going?
Hi Alexa! School is great, it keeps me busy. I am so excited to finally meet you.I hear you're an awesome cook. 
Thanks, do you like to cook?

Molly Quinn,
my cast as Ember McLeod

I do! I like trying new ingredients and creating new recipes. I watch the cooking shows sometimes to get ideas.
That's impressive. What was your most creative dish?
Peanut Butter Tuna Fish casserole.
Oh... well, *cough* that sounds... interesting. How did it turn out?
Not as well as I'd hoped. I watched a show about Thai recipes and they used peanut sauce a lot and it just looked so good. Fish seemed like a good option, but all we had was tuna in a packet. I added some chunky peanut butter to the casserole and thought it would be great, but no one but dad even made an effort to eat it. I have to admit, it did smell a little funky. 

Aidan McLeod is a good dad. :) It sounds like you have creative ideas that just need refining. With practice you'll be great. How would you like to help me plan a Valentine's Day dinner?

That would be fantastic! I would love to surprise Dad and the family with an awesome dinner. 

Good. What did you plan to cook?

I had a couple of ideas. The guys at the firehouse love chili and I saw a really cool magazine picture for Chocolate chili. That seemed like a cool twist. I bought chocolate bars to stir in so it would be really creamy.

Okay, well, chocolate is used in a mole sauce, but it's not made with regular candy bars. The sugar wouldn't flavor well in the chili. Plus, for those wanting a romantic dinner... well, beans should probably be avoided. Chocolate could be used in the dessert though. How about steak or roast?

That sounds good, roast is popular, but it doesn't seem very special. How do we get it to stand out?

Oh there are lots of recipes to make a roast stand out, but when it comes down to it, a super tender, slow cooked pork tenderloin or beef brisket that melts in your mouth is a star all on its own. Check out this Garlic Rosemary Pork Tenderloin.

Oh, this looks delicious. I think I could cook this. 

Garlic Rosemary Pork Tenderloin

Sure you can, just follow the directions. Spicing up a recipe isn't bad, but you need to know flavors and how they work together first and that takes practice. 

So, now I need a side dish. Oh, how about twice baked sweet potatoes? Sweet potatoes are so popular right now. We could add brown sugar to mash with butter and garlic, maybe some green onions. Top it with bacon, cheddar and sour cream.

My, you do have a creative palate. Twice baked sweet potatoes might taste fine, but I'd skip the garlic onions and other traditional toppings and maybe use cinnamon and mini marshmallows instead. Or, you could try Parmesan-Herb Roasted Potatoes instead. 

Yum, those look delicious. You're good at this. What would you serve for a Valentine's Dinner?

Oh, I've got a dinner for you! Let's start with an appetizer, stuffed mushrooms are delicious with beef. Then for our vegetable either roasted asparagus or roasted Brussels sprouts. Serve that with a perfectly seared steak and buttery soft homemade rolls. Sounds good right?

Sounds amazing! What about a potato or starch?

The roasted potatoes would be perfect and for dessert? How about a strawberry chocolate tart? 

That's beautiful. This looks like a lot of work, do you think it's too hard? 

No way, with practice and good time management, you can do all of this, it's wonderful rich flavors but not overly complicated to cook. And if your family or sweetie likes things less fancy? Then do that. Serve those amazing chocolate chip cookies that Keegan mentioned earlier this week. The dinner should be about celebrating the relationship of those enjoying it. Don't try to be something you aren't - but don't be afraid to be adventurous either. New flavors are fun to find! 

This is so cool, I can't wait to surprise my family this Sunday. Thanks for the tips, Alexa. Happy Valentine's Day. 

You're welcome, Ember. Bon Apetite!

Bacon Blue Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms 

with Creamy Hot Sauce

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Asparagus with Garlic and Parmesan

Parmesan Herb Knots

Pan Seared Steak

No-Bake Strawberry Chocolate Torte

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you want to add a finishing touch, try one of these super tasty and refreshing drinks. 

Mock Champagne and Raspberries

Mint Limeade Fizz

 Want more dinner ideas? Check out all the yummy options on the Romantic Meals Pinboard.

Follow April's board Romantic Meals on Pinterest.

Don't forget to enter the Valentine's Day Super Romance Giveaway for a chance to win 1 of 3 prize bundles! Be sure to share this with all your friends and loved ones too, who knows it just might make your day!

To enter, simply fill out the entry form below and complete at least one option to be entered. Complete additional options for extra entries. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Connect with Alexa and her girlfriends on their Pinterest pages! Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Kianna Ravencamp on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Alexa Fehr on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Hope Campbell on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Carissa Fuller on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Independence, MO - Hometown Lowdown on Pinterest.

Looking for more romance and excitement? 

Be sure to visit Susanne Matthews at Living the Dream to read more about her Romantic Suspense The Harvester Series. A sensual romantic suspense series that will take you "From the streets of Boston to the wilds of Alaska..." 

Love beyond this world? For something out of the ordinary, try A.B. Funkhauser's Award Winning post mortem mortuary romance complete with happy ending! HEUER LOST AND FOUND 

Visit Author Mary Ann Cortez at her blog The Write Place and enter to WIN an autographed copy of First Love anthology and a bookmark with heart charm. 

That magic moment for a teen. The realization that the person you’ve liked is a little more than a friend. Chance meetings. Old friendships. Even a social media post. These can all lead to that first love. Solstice Publishing is proud to present First Love, a Summer Solstive Valentine's Day Anthology.

Romance Week Day 3: A Gift Your Guy Really Likes

Song Stuck on the Brain: This Magic Moment by the Drifters

Welcome to Romance Week hosted by the cast of Justice Burning and Dysfunction Junction! Every day this week different characters will be sharing their tips and ideas on how to have the sweetest and/or most romantic Valentine’s Day.

There is also a contest to win 1 of 3 prize packs containing books and music. Be sure to check out the contest and enter at the bottom of the post.

Today, we welcome Fire Chief Keegan McLeod from Justice Burning, book 1 in the Heroes in Justice Series and Rissa Fuller from Dysfunction Junction, book 1 in the Dream Big Series. 

Winona Ryder,
my cast as Rissa Fuller

Keegan, so great you can join me! Ready to get crafty?
Hi Rissa, nice to meet you. Crafts. Maybe? What kind of 'crafty' are we talking about?
Crafting gifts for your sweetheart that include more than construction paper and paste. I hear you and your girlfriend Emily get rather inventive with your Valentine's Day. Have you ever exchanged homemade gifts?
Does homemade dinner count? We've cooked special meals for each other, we both work crazy schedules that don't always line up, so we enjoy getting that time together. 
Sure, anything made with love that's special to you both is a great option, but are you willing to toss some new ideas around with me? I often make Ty, my husband, a gift. It will be interesting to get a second man's point of view.

Joaquin Phoenix,
my cast as Keegan McLeod

Why not? I'm always game for something out of the box. 
If you had your choice, as a guy, what would you like as a gift?
Well, what I would like might not be the same as another guy. We're just as unique as you girls and what one guy likes another might hate. I love that Emily gets that I can attempt to be a classy foodie guy for fun, but appreciates that I'm really a blue collar firefighter that is happy with her amazing chocolate chip cookies and pizza. 
Are you telling me to "Know your audience"?
There you go. Know your guy and he'll appreciate whatever you give him. We can even appreciate the sentimental as long as it's not overdone. We're basic creatures that really don't need much more than food and the love of a good woman. 

Good to know! Okay, so with that in mind, I'm going to toss out some ideas I found on Pinterest and you give me your male perspective. 

1. A homemade Fleece blanket featuring your favorite sports team. Maybe one featuring the KC Chiefs on one side and World Series Winners the KC Royals on the other?

 

As long as your guy is into sports, then this would be a nice gift. I'd like it; as long as Emily made sure it was long enough for my tall frame. Most throws are too short for me. Plus, if she makes it big enough she can share it with me.

2. Storm Trooper Star Wars Crochet Helmet/Hat. Or any type of Crochet/Knitted gift for that matter.

I think this one goes back to knowing your guy and what he likes. I love Star Wars, but I can't ever see myself wearing this. Then again, I'm not one to wear anything crocheted or knitted, it's just not my taste. If a SciFi gift was coming, I'd rather have a coupon book granting me pick of the movie, choice of dinner or time spent together at a favorite location. Emily did this one year and we had a lot of fun. She kept her promise for every coupon she made. Nothing's less romantic than broken promises. 

That is very true! I'll tell you crocheting/knitting projects is a lot of work, but it really isn't for everyone despite what some social media sites say. Ty isn't much into this either, but Pinterest would have him in yarn from head to toe if he allowed it! LOL How about bath products? I know some guys like a good soak in the tub. How about manly scented bath products like these?

3. Bath Bombs and Mountain Man Herbal Bath Blend

DIY Lemongrass and Sage Bath Bombs

Well, those are mighty nice looking and I'm sure they smell pretty good too, but I'm a shower guy. If you're guy likes baths though, I imagine lemon and sage would be preferable over the floral scents a lot of girls use. Emily likes fruity scents like grapefruit and pomegranate. She'd probably like the lemon bath bombs a lot. Maybe I'll try surprising her by making those this year. 

I like that idea. I love citrus scents too. Here's a link to help you with making those bath bombs for Emily.

How To Make Homemade Bath Bombs. 

4. So last up, lets talk food. Mama always said the way to a man's heart was through his stomach. What's your take on these ideas?

Chocolate for your lady, Candy Tackle Box for your guy!

Homemade Beef Jerky

Mmm! Now we're getting to the good stuff! Score on the beef jerky. I'd have to hide it from the guys at the firehouse. The Tacklebox is cute. I like chocolate, but this is fun and if you know your guy likes fishing, that's not a bad idea. I'm not sure about the Bacon Jam... but then again bacon makes everything better, so I wouldn't say no to it. 

You mentioned earlier that guys can be sentimental, what is the most sentimental gift you've received, if you don't mind my asking.

It was a simple gift, but Emily knows that fire fighting runs in our family for several generations. She found old pictures of my father and grandfather in uniform with their crews and she framed them along with my current family and crew, and displayed them in my office. It's inspiring to see all the dedicated service men that left big shoes behind to fill. 

That is a great gift. Thanks for hanging out and talking crafts with me today, Keegan. If you need help with those bath bombs for Emily, let me know, I'll be glad to help. 

I'll keep that in mind, happy Valentine's Day, Rissa. 

Don't forget to enter the Valentine's Day Super Romance Giveaway for a chance to win 1 of 3 prize bundles! Be sure to share this with all your friends and loved ones too, who knows it just might make your day!

To enter, simply fill out the entry form below and complete at least one option to be entered. Complete additional options for extra entries. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Connect with Kianna and her girlfriends on their Pinterest pages! Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Kianna Ravencamp on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Alexa Fehr on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Hope Campbell on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Carissa Fuller on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Independence, MO - Hometown Lowdown on Pinterest.

Looking for more romance and excitement? 

Be sure to visit Susanne Matthews at Living the Dream to read more about her Romantic Suspense The Harvester Series. A sensual romantic suspense series that will take you "From the streets of Boston to the wilds of Alaska..." 

Love beyond this world? For something out of the ordinary, try A.B. Funkhauser's Award Winning post mortem mortuary romance complete with happy ending! HEUER LOST AND FOUND 

Visit Author Mary Ann Cortez at her blog The Write Place and enter to WIN an autographed copy of First Love anthology and a bookmark with heart charm. 

That magic moment for a teen. The realization that the person you’ve liked is a little more than a friend. Chance meetings. Old friendships. Even a social media post. These can all lead to that first love. Solstice Publishing is proud to present First Love, a Summer Solstive Valentine's Day Anthology.


A big thanks to Chris R. and Andy S. for letting me pick your brains for an inside peek at a guys perspective.