Where are they all going?

I admit, sometimes I have insomnia. So, what can I say? When it happens I read, or watch television (there's some horribly silly stuff on in the middle of the night!) or I write. So, I fill the hours, although I'd rather be sleeping.

This morning, it was maybe 4 am or so, I heard traffic in the distance. Mind you, I live on a long, quiet stretch of road, and it's usually deserted at 4 am. But this morning I heard car engines, and they came steadily closer. I peeked out the window and eventually they passed right by my house...five cars. Not speeding, or driving erratically. Just driving, one after the other.

Now where do you think they were all going?

It's been bugging me for hours. If you know, please share with me. Because really, now that I'm sleep deprived, who knows how much longer it's going to bug me? My guess is, all damn day.

Timing Cover!

Isn't this gorgeous?! I love this cover, just love it to pieces. It matches the story so well, and I love the little sparkle in the gal's eyes. And the man...isn't he hot and hunky?! April Martinez, the Art Director at Liquid Silver Books, designed this cover. More of April's work can be seen here.

I'm just going to sit here and smile, because I'm so happy with the way Timing is turning out. Oh? A release date? Nope, I don't have one yet, but as soon as I do I'll post it here. Until then, you'll have to do what I'm doing...enjoy the cover and imagine the possibilities...

Praline Tart

I didn't forget about this week's baking lesson! Yesterday I went to the bakery and had my lesson...I won't even try and tell you how many of these tarts we made. Let's just say it was more than two, LOL.

I had fun learning how to make this. These tarts are yummy and easy to make so I think you'll enjoy the recipe. At least, I hope you do!

Praline Tart

1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup heavy cream, liquid
6 tablespoons butter
2 1/4 cups chopped pecans
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
10-inch pre-baked tart shell
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
1/4 cup bourbon
14 toasted pecan halves

Place liquid cream, sugar and butter in large pot and stir until sugar dissolves. Then, boil mixture rapidly, stirring until it reaches soft-ball stage (236 degrees F on a candy thermometer). Remove from heat. Add the chopped pecans and vanilla extract. Whisk until mixture is creamy. Pour mixture onto a baking sheet to cool.

When mixture is cool, tear off pieces and chop them in a food processor. Press the praline mixture into the tart crust, making an even layer.

Before serving, add bourbon to the whipped cream and spread on top of the praline layer.

Decorate top with pecan halves which have been toasted 5 to 10 minutes in a hot skillet or oven.

Irish Eyes in print!

Talk about excited! I got the test print copy of Irish Eyes in the mail and I'm just so excited--I can hardly find words to express myself, that's how thrilled I am! Holding my book in my own hands is such a wonderful experience, one that makes me want to scream for joy and also cry...for joy.

Irish Eyes is beautiful. The cover is gorgeous, and it's hard to believe my little story is what fills up the pages. Who could have known that a glimmer of an idea could grow into something that brings such pleasure--to me, at least! To everyone else, I hope, beginning July 1st.

I'm going off to catch my breath. Maybe. After I squeal a few more times!!

Summer Scorchers

Good news! The Summer Solstice Scorchers Anthology from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid is getting rave reviews! To all those who have written to say they've enjoyed this volume, I thank you. And for those who have yet to read it, but who might still want some steamy summer reading material, you can pick up your copy here.

Enjoy!!

First review for upcoming release, The Mead Steed!

Tanya at Joyfully Reviewed had this to say about my upcoming Whiskey Creek Press Torrid release, The Mead Steed...

"The Mead Steed is a fun fast paced story with quite a few well written steamy scenes...Rusty Wicks obviously enjoys writing humorous scenes and does a good job in this story. This story is for you if you can’t resist a hot man, irresistible girl and a Moose or two thrown in."

Edits!

Just a quick note, something exciting I want to share. I've been working on edits for a book called Jackie's Beanstalk. It is scheduled for release this summer with Whiskey Creek Press Torrid and I've got to say, I'm just tickled about this story. It is one of the Torrid Twisted Tales and I know I would've enjoyed fairy tales much more when I was younger if they were as interesting as the Torrid Tales!! They are pure fun...sexy, hot fun.

Friday's Lesson

Since I skipped out early last week on the baking lesson (in favor of swimming, remember?) I decided to hang tough on Friday, despite the zillion-degree heat in the bakery kitchen. We made some tried and true oldies, nothing new, but I'm sharing a few of the recipes with you here. Hope you enjoy them! But a word to the wise...every cookie tastes better if the cook hasn't had to brave a blazing furnace kitchen to bake them. :)

Anise Cookies

1/2 pound butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons anise flavoring
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups sour cream
4 1/2 cups flour

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat well.

Add baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, anise flavoring and salt. Mix well.

Alternate adding sour cream with flour, mixing well after each addition.

Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet and place in pre-heated 375-degree oven. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown.

Icing with a mixture of anise flavor, powdered sugar and milk. Add small amounts to bowl, mixing well, until desired consistency is reached. Ice cooled cookies.

Amaretti

3 cups blanched slivered almonds
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3 egg whites
1 teaspoon almond extract

In a food processor, grind the almonds into a fine meal. Add the sugar and pulse six or seven times. Add egg whites and almond extract. Process until a smooth dough forms around the blade.

Place well-rounded spoonfuls of dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake in preheated 300-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes. Cookies should be golden brown. Allow cookies to cool completely on the paper before removing. Store in a dry place.

Irish Eyes Excerpt

As promised, here's a tiny taste of my upcoming release, Irish Eyes. I hope you enjoy it!

“So, Miss Maddy, what do you think of our Crag?” Shamus had a voice that would charm a rabid woodchuck. It was the kind of soft, sultry voice that made Maddy quiver despite the warm night.

“I like it…the stars are gorgeous. So close.” She wrapped her hands around herself and slid her hands along her upper arms. It wasn’t cold, but she felt a whole herd of goose bumps rise on her body.

He moved nearer to her in the big truck. The wide bench seat was large enough to hold two more adults, but when he moved to sit beside her it became a cozy spot.

“They’re not the only things that are gorgeous tonight, colleen,” he said, his voice stirring the hair that lay against her forehead. His warm breath smelled minty—refreshing—and she wondered what it would be like to taste Shamus’s mouth on hers.

Maddy didn’t have to wonder for long.

Circling her with his strong arms, Shamus pulled her body close against his as his mouth dropped to cover hers. In the first instant she learned that he was skilled at more than driving. His tongue danced with hers, sometimes leading, sometimes following, but always in step.

Maddy ached for his touch—for anyone’s touch. It had been far too long since she’d been held. Since she’d been made love to.

Moistness grew between her legs and she fought the urge to squirm against the seat of the truck.

“I’ve wanted to do this ever since I first saw you the other day. You looked as sweet as a lamb’s ear in the back seat of my cab—as pretty as a picture.” His tongue slid into her ear before he whispered, “I’ve been hard since I saw you, colleen. Does that shock you?”

Irish Eyes - Or "Ain't He Pretty?"

Now, I ask you...isn't this a pretty cover? I love it, with that firm body in the forefront and Sir Ian on horseback behind it. And in the distance, a castle...

Makes you wonder what Irish Eyes is all about, doesn't it?

It releases on July 1st from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid. I'll see if I can't post a blurb before then. Until I do, just enjoy the cover. I know I am!!

Weekly lesson

I didn't forget. Really. All right. I forgot. Not to go to my baking lesson, because that would cause chaos in my world, but I forgot to share my recipes with you. This week there's only one, as I admit I blew the hot kitchen early in favor of going to the beach and swimming. Yes, the Atlantic is heinously cold this time of year but I went swimming anyway. Maine is not for sissies, I assure you.

So here it is. The one recipe I snatched this week from the bakery before hitting the waves. It is a simple one, and pretty common, I think. But man oh man, are these good!

Enjoy!

Walnut Cookies

1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 cup milk
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups flour
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 teaspoon salt
granulated sugar
walnut halves

Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs. In a small bowl, dissolve soda in milk, then add to mixture. Add flour, salt and chopped walnuts. Place by heaping spoonfuls on ungreased baking sheet. Sift sugar over top and press walnut half into each cookie. Place in pre-heated 375-degree oven and bake for 8 minutes.

Summer Solstice Scorchers Releases!

Summer Solstice Scorchers released yesterday! It is available from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid and it can be purchased here.

My story is called Vows.

At the Harbor Street Inn years pass, people come and go but Mariah and James remain. Ghosts tied to the historic halls, they are also bound to their own vows. Hers? To make a mortal man love her. And his? To entice Mariah to fall in love with him. Again.




Chrissy Dionne at Romance Junkies gave Summer Solstice 4.5 Blue Ribbons! She said:

"SUMMER SOLSTICE is a fun-filled anthology which readers of various types ofparanormal stories will thoroughly enjoy. Each story provides anentertaining plot, fascinating characters, unexpected events, and truly hotsex. Vampires, fortune tellers, ghosts, witches, demons, wizards and elvesall come to life within the pages of this book...It's the perfect way tokick back and enjoy the summer heat."