Thursday, July 31, 2014

Spanish Gazpacho Soup


Waiter this soup is cold!

this lens' photo 

This is a delightful chilled soup, for the foot-swelling heat of the searing summer months.

There are hundreds of variations of Gazpacho soup from different regions of mainland Spain. All be it only small differences and usually in the guise of mum's recipe version. Here are some facts and a great recipe from España. buen provecho!

Andalusians claim gazpacho soup was invented in their region, where as others, claim it was originally made by the Arabs when they occupied the Iberian peninsular. The problem with that theory is, the last of the Arabs left Spain as the result of the Recoquista the same year as Christopher Columbus and his explorers discovered sweet and hot peppers in the West Indies and the tomato in South America in 1492. These key ingredients were later disseminated to many parts of the Mediterranean area by the 16th century.

Another claim suggests it had probably evolved from Ajoblanco, a cold soup with bread crumbs, chopped garlic, almonds, olive oil and vinegar with the addition of chilled water, usually served with grapes or slices of melon.

Add pepper, tomato and well, you can see the similarities. 

Ingredients Andalusia


 

2 kg ripe tomatoes
2 cloves of garlic
½ a large onion
½ a large green pepper ½ a large red pepper.
50 ml extra virgin olive oil
20 ml of white wine vinegar ½ cucumber
1 cored apple
3 hard boiled eggs
½ pint of cold water 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 ice cubes (optional)

Preparation:

Wash the tomatoes, peeled, de-seed and dice with the other solid ingredients: apple, onion, garlic, cucumber and peppers. If you use a powerful food processor, no need to peel them. Once blended, add gradually the oil, vinegar, salt and water slowly, emulsifying.

The amounts of oil, vinegar and salt are to taste. Be mindful that if you add ice, you should add a little more vinegar and salt to taste.

It is important to note that:

The apple and onion soften the acidity of the tomato
The red pepper gives it a more intense red colour
It is advisable to use a good quality wine vinegar.

You can serve in a separate bowl or garnish with diced tomato, green pepper, red pepper, cucumber, celery, hard boiled eggs and croutons or tortilla chip.
Or simply drink the soup with added Vodka to create a Bloody Carmen. 

Friday, July 25, 2014

THIEF ALERT!



THIEF ALERT!
www.General-ebooks.com
Is ripping off Authors! Check to make sure your book isn't listed for free download I found all my books on here.

Monday, July 14, 2014

Streaking For Mother Five Star Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars 70's style streaking leads to life changing experiences and to unexpected friends. 17 April 2014
Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
This is a poignant novel about a grandstanding rugby superstar who loses his dream but finds his soul. The unusual people that he feels driven to help give him a sense of family and purpose. After learning of his estranged mother's death, he refuses to grieve and returns to the the rugby field. He has goals to reach and records to break until an unexpected stunt during the game ends his chance and drives him to a brutish act. Driven to make amends, he find friends, himself, and at long last his mother.

I enjoyed the creativity of the marketeers in their schemes to advertise. I had an emotional attachment to each person in the group and to his or her individual heartbreaking pasts. The connection of all the characters was unveiled slowly and surprisingly. They all needed hope in their lives. Lady G. first provided each one with positive guidance, and later Ashley helped them face reality and find better lives. Ashley was my favorite character, and I wanted the best for him. I don't want to spoil the book by telling too much so I will just say that I couldn't put the book down until I finished it.

Mark Shearman is an outstanding author with an innate ability for writing about intriguing characters and plot lines. He always keeps the readers engaged In the story and makes them commiserate with the characters. He crafts great visual imagery with his words. I will continue to read his books just as soon as he writes them. 
5.0 out of 5 stars Original in a fun way that will keep you engaged throughout the late night hours 3 April 2014
 Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
In many ways I found “Streaking for Mother” to be witty, and at times thrilling.

What can be said about this book other then it is filled with originality in a fun way that will keep you engaged throughout the late night hours. In “Streaking for Mother” you find that a both a beautiful underwear model and a Rugby player colliding in a fantastic storyline that is sure to engulf the senses. The main character Ashley is developed well and at times I caught myself cheering all the way through.

One of the aspects that I think most will find in Mark Shearman’s writing is his ability to move the story along in a dynamic fashion without sacrificing the quality of work. While at times there is humor, action and thrills in this book, there is yet a deeper message hidden inside the overall plot.

That message remains: How far would you go to help the people you love?

I enjoyed this book. It developed well, the characters were easy to get along with and it flowed perfectly.

5 Stars 
5.0 out of 5 stars Different and entertaining 31 Mar 2014
Format:Kindle Edition
Different, entertaining, at times funny, and moving with a shocking ending.

Entrepreneur collects the abandoned from her Greenwich pawnbrokers, most prized, four twenty something guerrilla marketeers.

She's gone leaving them the responsibility of the business and recruitment of her estranged son, Ashley, England fly-half, playboy and underwear model. The press go out their way to wind him up and his antics keep them in front page material.

Her agenda eventually bonds them in a collection of cringing publicity stunts. The reality he doesn't know their patron was his mother and they don't know that she has died. A councillor, the father of Ashley's ex-girlfriend has his eyes on their property and is going to do whatever it takes to procure it from them, armed with Knowledge of Ashley's scandalous family past.

They band together and fight using their skills as Streakers and guerrilla marketers. And set up a risky stunt to expose the councillor in more ways than one.

It soon becomes apparent to Ashley the reason he is in the house is to finish were his mother left off and help these people come to terms with her death and also help them move on. He unselfishly gives up everything

Highly recommended.
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Was this review helpful to you?
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
The dialogue between Ashley and Nadine is priceless, as good as any Hollywood script. There are moments when my cringes burst into laughter finding myself saying OMG a lot.

The house is reminiscent of a shared house by university students, but ten years older and a touch more manic.

What I liked:

Nadine's character is a sexy feminist, crazy and forgiving. Yanna is the mother hen again sexy and probably the most level headed. Spam Solo is a troubled and secretive black man, as geeky as he could be, and a genius with his hands.

Shaun's denial has kept him in the closet all his life. But when it comes to streaking he is king until Ashley comes along.

All have unresolved issues, that's why Ashley is there to help them get through the death of their Matriarch and they are there to straighten out Ashley from a life of a playboy.

They all have to team up and fight off a local Councillor and art gallery owner Streaker style - I won't elaborate her it's priceless and again cringe.

The ending was full of twists and a shock.

They don’t streak for the sake of exhibitionism they do it to survive and maintain the lifestyle behind the doors of their Pawnbrokers.



5.0 out of 5 stars Streaking for mother, a win for me! 3 April 2014
Format:Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
I was immediately drawn in by the title and book cover but the story didn't let down either. Streaking for mother is an entertaining story that I couldn't put down. The well planned plot, well developed characters and witty writing all contribute to a great piece of fiction, in my eyes. I won't go into plot here as I don't want to give you any spoilers but believe me and the other reviews when they say that there's a unique twist to the ending. I'll be looking out for more titles by this author. Love it!

Saturday, July 12, 2014

JESSIE by Rebekah Lyn (16 - 18 July)



The four Cole boys suffer abuse at the hands of an alcoholic father, while largely being left to their own devices by a heartbroken and overworked mother.  Their adventures on their island home have become a welcome escape, and one of the only things in life the boys can truly rely on. Jessie, the youngest and a dreamer, becomes enamored with US plans for manned space flight and its race to the moon, stirring his own dreams of one day becoming an astronaut. In a strange twist of fate, it is the space program and the momentum it gains that abruptly brings their beloved island life to an end. The family is forced to move to the city and start anew.

Life in town creates new challenges, financial pressures, news of the Vietnam War and the impending threat of the military draft for Max the eldest of the Cole brothers. 

Guest Post:
So, Who's Your Publisher?
My best friend's son text me out of the blue to tell me his buddy was finishing up a book that he thought had a great plotline and wanted to know if my publisher only took Christian books. I smiled at the text from this kid I've known for twenty years but haven't seen since his high school graduation. This was the latest in a serious of similar inquires from friends, relatives, or perfect strangers who happen to be friends with someone who knows me.
I replied to the text with the answer I am starting to get down pat. Self-publishing is the way to go if your friend has the nerves for it. Have him call or email me and I'll share everything I know.
When I started this publishing journey I was working with a writing partner, DiVoran Lites, who is several years older.  She'd gone to writing conferences as a young woman and even had one of her books considered by HarperCollins. She never got published though and focused her energy on raising a family. We both finished our books and while I started working on a new story she went back to do more polishing and refining. With my second book written I decided it was time to start looking into publishing.
I read tons of articles, started following literary agents on Facebook and Twitter, subscribing to their blogs, and crafting query letters. I sent out a few queries and kept reading everything I could find on publishing. That's when I discovered self-publishing.
I liked the idea of having complete control over my manuscript, being able to follow it from start to finish, keep track of sales and manage pricing. I talked about all I was learning with my writing partner, hoping she would take the plunge with me. She smiled and encouraged me, but didn't think her book was ready yet. In October 2011 I uploaded my first book, Summer Storms, and learned that publishing was only the second step in the writing journey. Now I had to learn how to get my book in front of people who might find it interesting.
About six months after I published Summer Storms, DiVoran started asking questions about my experience and before I knew it, she was pulling out that old book that had been sent to HarperCollins, dusting it off and getting it ready to publish. I'd found an editor and a cover designer by this time and they were both working on getting my second book ready for print so I put my friend in touch with them. At this point our publishing journey took a small split as DiVoran was more than happy to have the editor do the book formatting while I like to maintain that control.
Another friend of a friend, Dean Gaschler, asked me for direction when he started working on his book of short stories from his career at Walt Disney World. For many years Dean chose the family that would be the grand marshal of the Magic Kingdom parade and had collected their stories. I shared with him all I had learned from my first two books as he and his wife helped me complete the trailer for my third book. In the end, Dean chose to go with a local small press and he seems very happy.
Everyone is going to have a different comfort level and I try to make sure those who ask for my advice know the pros and cons of self-publishing. If you want your book to succeed, this becomes a full-time job and there are days when it may not seem worth it. But then there are the days you get to interact with a reader and hear what they enjoyed about your book and there are the days when aspiring writers will come to you for advice. Those days make all of the hard work worthwhile. I love sharing my experiences with others as well as learning from those who have more experience. That is one of best parts of the indie writing scene, the camaraderie and support.




Set Back
April 25, 1961

Jessie stood at the edge of the playground with two other boys, anxious for the next space launch. Recess would be over any minute. There would be no time for a hold in the countdown. Two weeks earlier the Russians had announced the successful launch of Yuri Gagarin into space. Once again the Americans had been left behind but today’s launch would hopefully be the last before America put their own man into space.
Jessie held his breath as the rocket appeared above the trees. Then it happened. The plume of white smoke erupted into a fiery ball, debris flying in all directions. Jessie didn’t wait for the teacher’s frantic call to take shelter in the school. He shook his head and turned his back on the carnage. At the door, the teacher gently laid a hand on his shoulder and gave him a sympathetic look. Any other day and Jessie might have resented it, but he knew, today, it had nothing to do with his father and the reputation he’d developed for himself the past couple of years.
When school was out, Jessie dragged his feet along the familiar path home. He kept walking when he came upon his brothers, his head down, watching the sand shift beneath his worn-out sneakers.
I heard the explosion.” Max draped an arm over Jessie’s shoulders. “Sorry.”
Jessie nodded.
Maybe we should go out to the beach, see if we can find any pieces,” Ricky suggested.
The thought turned Jessie’s stomach, but then he stopped. “That’s not a bad idea. I’d like to have something to remember we at least tried to get to space.”
Don’t talk like that,” Sam said. “We’ll get there, it’s just going to take time.”
Jessie knew Sam was trying to be encouraging, and so attempted a smile of thanks before shifting course across the large field of scrub grass.
The boys spread out when they reached the beach. The tide was low but turning. Jessie took the section closest to the water, knowing the rising tide would cover it in another hour. The salty tang of sea spray filled his nostrils and he inhaled, while his eyes and ears locked away every detail of the sand and surf.
He saw a flash of light ten feet ahead and quickened his pace, keeping his eyes on the spot. The ocean foamed up, then slowly retreated. Jessie squatted down to find a silver and black triangle, partially buried in the sand. Another wave rushed toward him, splashing over his feet and soaking the bottom of his shorts. He held onto the metal afraid the undertow would pull it out to sea. When the water receded, Jessie pulled the debris free of the remaining sand. It was five inches tall and three wide. Turning it over in his hands he noted scorch marks and part of what he thought might be the letter U or A from the USA painted on the side of the rocket.
Guys,” he waved to his brothers.
Max arrived first. “What’d you find?”
Jessie handed him the piece of metal.
Cool.” Ricky joined them and reached for the newfound treasure.
Good job, Jess.” Sam clapped his brother on the back. “I didn’t think we’d find anything that big.”
Jessie reached for the metal and traced the rough edges. “You don’t think they will give up do you?”
Sam shook his head. "Since the Russians have gotten into space already, I don’t see how we can give up now."
"I hope they don’t.” Jessie tore his gaze away from his find and looked at his brothers. “I want to be an astronaut."
Max laughed. "You can't be an astronaut."
"Why not?"
"Cause you gotta have money to be an astronaut. You don't think Shepard and Grissom and all those other guys are dirt poor do you?"
"Maybe they’re not dirt poor, but they aren’t filthy rich. They were chosen because they were in the military and had good records."
"So you gonna enlist when you turn eighteen? We'll probably still be in that dag gum Vietnam and you'll go and get yourself killed the first day in the jungle."
"Nuh-huh. I know how to take care of myself. I hide from you in the woods all the time." Jessie balled his hands into fists and planted his feet.
Sam stepped between them. "Cool it, Max. If Jessie wants to be an astronaut, then maybe he can be. Lots of things are changing."
Max snorted. "Yeah, and I could be President."
"If that happens, then I'm moving to Mexico," Ricky quipped.
Jessie laughed and unclenched his fists. Yet again Sam had brokered peace without anyone coming to blows. Maybe Sam was the one who would become President.
Sam stepped back. “Let’s head home.”
Did you hear Mom and Pop got another letter from the government yesterday?" Max asked as they walked along the hard packed sand.
"About what?" Jessie asked, turning up the beach, shuffling through the soft sand to a well-worn path across the dunes. Thick saw palmettos, sea grapes, and sea oats grew on either side of the path, slowly thinning as the boys moved farther from the beach.
"About buying our land. They want to expand the missile complex more. They've been buying up all the land around here." Max swatted at a dragonfly buzzing around his head.
"But they already have so much land, what do they need more for?" Jessie ducked under the wispy needles of an Australian Pine tree, his brothers close behind.
"How'm I supposed to know? I didn't see the letter, I just heard them arguing about it after we went to bed. Mom wants to take their offer, but Pop doesn't want to move."
"I don't want to move either," Ricky agreed. "I like being close to the beach and huntin' in the woods."
"I don't think we have much choice. Sounded like the government letter said we take the offer or they'll just take the land away from us."
"They can't do that," Jessie cried. "We've lived here forever."
"Not forever, you moron," Max sneered. "Mom and Pop only moved here during the war, when Pop got assigned to the Banana River Naval Air Station."
"Still, that's practically forever." Jessie let his fingers run through the thin pine needles as they emerged from the copse of trees into a clearing.
"There are families that have lived here since the 1800s and they’re being bought out too. I don't think the government is going to consider our twenty years here more important," Sam replied.
Jessie rolled his eyes. Leave it to Sam to know the history of the island.
"But they can't just take our land," Jessie insisted.
"Yes, they can, it's called eminent domain. If they can prove to the court that private property is needed for public use and fair compensation has been offered, the court will likely rule in favor of the government."
"But this isn't public use," Ricky interjected.
"Yes and no." Sam leaned forward, obviously warming to the subject. "A public park isn't being created, but the research being conducted and the satellites being launched are for the public good. Plus, the government will probably be able to make a pretty good case for public safety. Think about how close this piece of the rocket landed to our house. The government can use this incident and the others before as evidence of danger to the people still living on this end of the island."
"All right, professor, we get it, but it still doesn't mean I want to move," Ricky interrupted.
Up ahead, Jessie could see the orange grove that bordered their land, and glanced back over his shoulder. He couldn’t see the beach through the trees, but it had taken less than five minutes to stroll home. Sam was right. This one had been a little too close for comfort.


About The Author



Rebekah is a Christian with a heart for new beginnings. She is a Florida native and a graduate of Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, Fl. A love of history, research and journaling led naturally to a passion for writing. She enjoys travel and has traveled extensively across the United States and Canada as well as Europe and the Caribbean. Her reading taste run from the classics to light fiction. When she is not working or writing, she enjoys cooking, baking and sharing recipes on her blog.

Her current works include, Summer Storms and Winter's End, books one and two in The Seasons of Faith series, and Julianne the first book in The Coastal Chronicle series. She is currently working on Jessie a coming of age novel set in coastal Florida during the early days of the United States manned space flight program. Jessie is the second book in the Coastal Chronicles Series.





Connect with Rebekah through:

Blog:  http://www.rebekahlynskitchen.wordpress.com/
 Rebekah Lyn Books
Faith-Adventure-Hope
379 Cheney Highway #230        Titusville, Fl 32780 

JESSIE by Rebekah Lyn (16 - 18 July) Giveaway

Please find below the giveaway link or code (whichever you prefer to use.)

The giveaway consists of:

So for the US
Gift Bag
Autographed book $15.99
NASA Retrospective DVD $29.95
Tote bag $10
Necklace $10
Apollo 11 patch $5.95
Pen $3
Space Ice Cream $4.00
Magnet

International
$50.00 PayPal Casand and digital copy.

Reviewers:
$15 cash or amazon GC and autographed copy for favorable review.



Link:

Code:

<a id=rc"-a455c748" class=rafl"" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a455c748/" rel=nofollow"">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script>

Fabulosity Reads Book Promotions is a book touring website that promotes authors and their precious works to an extensive audience using blogs, twitter, Facebook and other Social Media, with the aim of introducing them to an appreciative readership. 
They offer a diverse range of both complimentary and affordable products to help the reach of your book go that much further.


Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Never Upon a Time Book Release Friday 11th


Synopsis

You’ve always hated her, but you might not know the whole story. . .

Edith may not be brazen and enchanted like her twin sister, Ember, but in a world of dying magic, perhaps her simple desires are enough.

After a Selection Banquet gone awry, Edith is left without a suitor or a plan. Befriending a little white fox and occupying herself with a philanthropic project outside castle walls, Edith soon rebuilds morale and musters enough courage to reach out to her estranged twin sister.

But Ember’s been harboring an evil secret - and thwarted love and jealous can turn acts of merit into classic tales of wickedness in this new twist on an old tale.


Excerpt

“Away with you! Or I will scream as if I’m being murdered.” Gretchen’s voice grew shrill.
The fact that the word “murder” was in a small child’s vocabulary scared Edith more than the threat itself. “I will go, I will go,” she said hurriedly. Edith decided to leave her cape and make a run for the Wood. Secrecy was more important than the shawl and gifts, so she decided to make a getaway and hoped abandoning the cape would perhaps serve as a reason to return. Whether or not she wanted to brave such a return was still up for debate.
“Father and Mother will be walking up the same pathway you took to come here. To avoid them, you must go a different way or stay parallel and concealed in the forest beside it. Unless you want to bump into them?” Her tone was sarcastic. “I’m sure after yet another futile day of hunting and foraging for squirrels, they’d love to see you.”
Edith didn’t acknowledge Gretchen. Instead, she ran headlong toward to forest’s edge for fear of what might happen if Ember discovered that her most hated rival was at her cottage. When she reached the edge of Elfin Wood, a curious pull behind Edith’s ribcage had her look over her shoulder for one last glance at the dilapidated cottage. She saw her nephews standing at the window. Rune was waving profusely, hands full of the cookies Edith had made. Dash, whose eyes could be seen peeking happily from under the hood of his aunt’s cape, blew kisses with razzleberry tart stained hands. Edith clutched her chest and stepped into the tangled brush of the Wood.

Buy Links


About the Author

Meredith Jade was raised in a small town by parents who taught her to love reading. From the moment she could hold pencil to paper, she wrote. After graduating college and traveling abroad teaching English in Uttaradit, Thailand for a year, she came home. Writing was that home. Her writing has a range of inspirations, all a result of her voracious reading as a child and young adult. Anything from Victorian Literature to bird watching guides to NY Times best sellers have served as an agent for her imagination. Never Upon a Time is her first novel.


Connect with Meredith

Email: meredith.jade7@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Meredith-Jade/648465681892404?ref_type=bookmark
Blog: http://thereaderproject.wordpress.com
Twitter: @meredithjade

Fabulosity Reads Book Promotions is a book touring website that promotes authors and their precious works to an extensive audience using blogs, twitter, Facebook and other Social Media, with the aim of introducing them to an appreciative readership.
They offer a diverse range of both complimentary and affordable products to help the reach of your book go that much further.