Excited about Reading: Love on a Deadline by Kathryn Springer

Amazon Purchase Link

The Cover Story~
MacKenzie “Mac” Davis left her hometown of Red Leaf, Wisconsin, to pursue a degree in journalism. But when her dad, the town’s beloved Coach Davis, suffers a mild heart attack, Mac returns home to help out. She takes a job at the weekly newspaper but instead of covering serious topics, her editor wants her to write about social events—like the garden club’s flower show and the historical society’s afternoon tea. Mac knows it’s no way to earn her father’s respect—or the attention of one of the newspapers she hopes will hire her when she leaves Red Leaf.

When Hollis Channing, Mac’s high school nemesis, returns to Red Leaf to marry her celebrity fiancé, the editor asks Mac to cover the big event—and all the festivities leading up to—for the newspaper.

The last thing Mac wants to do is reconnect with the person who made her life miserable when she was a teenager . . . unless it’s spending time with Ethan Channing, the bride’s older brother—and Mac’s first crush.

Mac is no longer the awkward girl who wore the school mascot costume to the Homecoming dance but she realizes something hasn’t changed. Her feelings for Ethan.

Sharing my takeaway~
Reporter "Mac" Davis chomps at the bit for a meaty story, anything that'll take her back to the big city, away from Red Leaf where everybody still thinks of her as Coach's daughter. Physician Ethan Channing returns to his hometown, intent on sinking roots in the small community, surprised at Mac's transformation from sideline "water girl" to beautiful woman.

I have read a few books by Kathryn Springer and enjoyed them, so I scooped up Love on a Deadline when it listed on NetGalley. I'm glad I did. The romance between Mac and Ethan moved along at a fairly smooth pace, and the cast of secondary characters really enhanced the story. The faith thread was subtle, and the story kept me flipping pages for a couple hours.

No heavy drama to sift through in this novella, just a really sweet story that makes for light, relaxing reading. A great book to pack in your beach bag or to squeeze in on a lazy weekend afternoon.:)

Disclaimer: Sending my thanks to NetGalley and Zondervan for the privilege of reading and reviewing Love on a Deadline. I was provided a free copy of the book in exchange for my fair and unbiased review. I was in no way compensated for my review.

Excited about Eating by Ernie Hiers

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to the historic south end of Charlotte near the Dilworth neighborhood to Crispy Crepe. 

Exterior

Dora here. Hey, I recognize that cute guy in the red shirt! :)
I would've preferred to sit outside, but the Saturday afternoon of our visit was a scorching 95 degrees. The interior was cozy and air conditioned. Check out that giant bottle of chocolate syrup along the wall. How cool is that? 

Interior

This unique eatery not only serves crepes, but also waffles, salads, flatbreads and sandwiches. 

Making Crepes

I chose the Egg n Turkey Bacon Waffle which is served with two eggs, turkey bacon and fresh fruit. Now this waffle is not an ordinary waffle. It is a Liege waffle, named after a city in Belgium, and is made using brioche style dough and caramelized Belgian sugar, and pressed in a cast iron press. 

This waffle was outstanding, definitely the highlight of the dish, and reminds me of waffles from our trips to Europe. The soft scrambled, not runny eggs and bacon were perfectly cooked. 

Egg n Turkey Bacon Waffle 

Dora here. Isn't that plate huge? I couldn't let Ernie eat that whole meal by himself!  He definitely needed help with the waffle. Wow! Yeasty and yummy and my fork kept sneaking over to his plate. :)

I strategized my order. I knew we were going for a sweet crepe, so I ordered the Smoked Turkey with White Stilten Cranberry Cheese sandwich. Doesn't that sound intriguing? I know, right? And look at it. Sweet caramelized onions, cranberry cheese...need I say more? Yummo! And to be fair, I did share. :)

Smoked Turkey with White Stilten Cranberry Cheese sandwich

The Chocolate Peanut Butter crepe was filled with mini chocolate peanut butter cups, vanilla cream & drizzled with caramel. The chocolate and cream, almost like a donut cream, all mingled together for a sweet ending to a great meal. Check this out!

Chocolate Peanut Butter crepe 

Dora here. The crepes don't normally come split like this. Somebody was a bit too quick with the knife. Lucky I snapped a picture because this crepe vanished within seconds.

The coffee was a different story. Too weak for me. Bummer. 

Three hours of free parking is available in a garage around the corner. Service was a bit slow because of the packed restaurant, but you won't need that long to eat. :)

Parking

We rate this restaurant 4 forks out of 5 for a family friendly restaurant serving great food. 

Have you tried a Liege waffle? What about crepes?

Do you have a favorite? Sweet or savory?

New Release: BECK'S PEACE, a Christian Romance Book

Happy Book Birthday to Beck's Peace,

the second book in the Harmon Heritage series, 

where three siblings struggle to find healing and peace after their father's tragic death. 

Purchase Link ~ Available now
with Pelican Book Group

Burn survivor Savvy McCord doesn't blame her best friend for running away. She can't even look at her scars without wincing. When Beck's disappearing act spans years, she relinquishes dreams of love and marriage. Unable to face Savvy's expectations of happily-ever-after, Beck Harmon deserts her, far away from the rumors that he's just like his father. When the wanderer returns, dreams of forever blossom in Savvy's heart, but she worries he'll leave again. Can Beck convince Savvy that her true beauty comes from her inner strength and faith? Will his idea to help burn victims regain their self-confidence restore Savvy's trust in him? Will love be what the wanderer needs to find peace for his hurting soul?

Harmon Heritage, available with Pelican Book Group

Rori's Healing ~ available now

Beck's Peace ~ available now

Burk's Surrender ~ Coming September 18, 2015

Meet Beck Harmon of BECK'S PEACE, a Christian Romance Book

Tell us your name and a little bit about yourself.

I’m Beck Harmon, the middle of the Harmon siblings, younger than my twin, Burk, by a couple minutes. The one who doesn’t have his act together yet. The prodigal. I kinda lost myself for a while, who I was, what I believed in. Took me ten years, but I finally found my way home.

Tell us about where you live and why you choose to live there.

Anywhere I can find a job. At least, that’s how it’s been for the last decade. But since I came home for my sister’s wedding, that whisper to stay is gaining traction and digging in. And besides, Savvy’s here.

What is a quirk of your personality that most people wouldn’t know?

I reckon I have a few quirks. Don’t we all? When stress hits, I tend to run to the loudest, noisiest place I can find to drown out that voice in my head. The one that screams I’m just like my father. Since coming back home, though, I’ve noticed that the voice is fading. Might have something to do with a certain golden haired beauty…

Over the years, I’ve worked several jobs, but the one I enjoy most? Remodels. Crazy, isn’t it? It’s a sweaty, dirty job, but I’m good at visualizing the beauty beneath the rubble and restoring a space to the treasure it once was.

What obstacles did you have to overcome to reach your happily-ever-after?

Might’ve saved some time if you’d asked what we didn’t have to overcome. First, God had to hit me over the head with a sledge hammer to get me to accept that I am my own person, that my life isn’t determined by my father's choices. As if that wasn’t enough, I had to prove to Savvy that I wouldn’t take off again when things got rough. That got a little dicey when I was offered a job a couple hours away, and it sure didn’t help that there was a hometown veterinarian circling like a vulture, waiting to swoop in and make things permanent with her.

Tell us about your special lady. What makes her special?

She’s honest, doesn’t play games like a lot of women I’ve known. She’s a firefighter, feels called to save lives, and she’s strong physically and spiritually. Her sweet, humble spirit draws me like a bee to honey. Her eyes mesmerize me, always have. Hazel, but when she looks at me, they seem to transform from brownish gold to emerald, melting-like, as if I’m some dreamy guy. Makes me want to be that man for her.

The first time you saw her, what did you think? Did you like her immediately, or did she have to grow on you?

Immediately, no question. In all the years I was gone, I never stopped loving her. That love was what kept me away, but it was also love that brought me back home.

Pre-Order: Coming JULY 24
with Pelican Book Group

Burn survivor Savvy McCord doesn't blame her best friend for running away. She can't even look at her scars without wincing. When Beck's disappearing act spans years, she relinquishes dreams of love and marriage. Unable to face Savvy's expectations of happily-ever-after, Beck Harmon deserts her, far away from the rumors that he's just like his father. When the wanderer returns, dreams of forever blossom in Savvy's heart, but she worries he'll leave again. Can Beck convince Savvy that her true beauty comes from her inner strength and faith? Will his idea to help burn victims regain their self-confidence restore Savvy's trust in him? Will love be what the wanderer needs to find peace for his hurting soul?

Excited about Eating by Ernie Hiers

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to the Boone/Blowing Rock area in the mountains of North Carolina.

Our first stop is Our Daily Bread, a casual upbeat delicatessen. 

From the menu, you can tell this deli focuses on blending unique ingredients together to make unusual sandwiches.

I chose the Smoke Stack, a combo of smoked components (smoked turkey, smoked applewood bacon, melted smoked Gouda), along with chipotle aioli, tomatoes, and spring greens on sourdough bread with a side of Sweet Basil Corn Chowder. Loaded with corn in a creamy broth and a sweet basil undertone, the soup was great. But the sandwich was outstanding. All of the different smoked flavors worked well with the chipotle aioli, and the toasted sourdough bread held it all together.

Smoke Stack

Dora here. Since we visited on the Fourth of July, I opted for the daily special, the Red White & Blue Chutney Sandwich. Smoked ham, melted brie, balsamic blueberry chutney, tomatoes, roasted red pepper aioli and basil leaves pressed in cranberry French bread. Hello! Blueberry chutney? Doesn’t that sound fabulous? Well, it was. A melt-in-your-mouth mixture of everything I like about breakfast and lunch. Yum! Definitely adding this place to our “must visit” list.

Red White & Blue Chutney Sandwich

We rate this restaurant 4 forks out of 5 for a family friendly restaurant serving great food.

Our second stop is Town Tavern in downtown Blowing Rock.

It was a beautiful day, so we decided to sit outside.

Dora here. Great choice! Restaurants with an outdoor patio score bonus points. :)

For lunch I chose the Tavern Philly Cheesesteak served on a Milano roll with a huge amount of thinly sliced rib eye steak, American white cheese, peppers and onions and a side of Tater Tots.

Tavern Philly Cheesesteak

This sandwich was unique in that the components were all cooked together giving it great flavor, as opposed to cooking individual ingredients and layering. Not only was the sandwich great, the tater tots were just the way I like them. Crispy.

Dora here. Burgers are my go to meal when we’re away from home, and I hadn’t had one all week. The Bacon & Cheddar burger satisfied my burger craving. Meaty and juicy, and the slightly toasted bun makes this meal a winner! Oh, and the creamy ranch dip for tater tots now replaces boring ketchup!

Bacon & Cheddar Burger

We rate this restaurant 5 forks out of 5 for a family friendly restaurant that serves outstanding food.

Your turn. What's your favorite go-to meal when you're away from home?

Reviewers and Bloggers Needed for Christian Romance Book

“I won’t let you down.” His fingers fanned out to her cheek, his giant palm cupping half her face, his gentle touch sending quivers of delight to skip up and down her arms. A tremor rocked her torso.


“Cold?” Cinnamon flavored breath puffed so close to her lips, she could almost taste the candy herself.

Uh…no.

Definitely. Not. Cold.

She shook her head, only a slight wag. Because if she moved anymore, his hand might drop away from her skin, dragging his warmth with him. Her heart practically thumped out of her chest.

What was wrong with her? Why was her heart betraying her?

“Lacie—” his voice came out hoarse and ragged, so unlike his typical confident tone, and she witnessed the vulnerable little boy in his eyes, the one he might’ve been before the world took his dad away too soon, before he was forced to become the head of his family prematurely.

Instinctively, her hand covered his fingers. Maybe he needed someone to protect him, too.

“Lacie, I want to talk about—”

He wanted to talk? She gulped, embarrassment heating her neck. Talking wasn’t what she had on her mind right now.  

Like that little goodie? Hope so! I'm looking for reviewers and bloggers to help spread the news about the release of Burk's Surrender on Sept 18. Interested in reading and leaving a review on Amazon, Goodreads or any of your other favorite online sites? How about featuring on your blog? 

Here's the back cover blurb:

Deputy City Manager Burk Harmon has always been the strong one for his family, but recently those responsibilities have dwindled. When Lacie Heatherton, Assistant Director for Parks and Recreation, ropes him into a city-sponsored trip to the mountains with fifty seniors, Burk has two things on his mind: considering a possible promotion and wooing Lacie past friendship and into a future. Lacie has emotional scars and a thirteen-year-old daughter to remind her that men can be cruel and unforgiving. Can Burk convince Lacie to relax her "no dating" policy or will he surrender his dreams of family and love?

I have a handful of pdf review copies available. Interested? Message me here or email Dora(at)DoraHiers(dot)com. Thank you!

Travel or work? Which would you choose?

Some people enjoy hanging out on the beach in the summer, baking in the sun. 

Not us. We head to the mountains, where the temperature drops a solid twenty degrees.

Where we can kick up our feet and soak in the view.

Where there's nothing on the agenda except sipping coffee, walking the dog and reading. 

Where the crows caw, and swans, ducks and geese share the same space without squabbling.

Where the soft breeze kisses my skin, the fog clings to the mountain tops, and lazy pewter clouds drift by. Where it's green and lush, full of life and energy, yet whispers peace to my soul. 

Everybody needs a space that rejuvenates them, right? This is mine. 

Imagine the books I could crank out if I lived in this environment! Inspiration, peace, beauty, nature...what more could a writer ask for? It's a romance writer's dream!

I tried to sweet talk hubby into renting a cabin for an entire month next year. But, he's not quite ready for thirty days with no radio, no pager, no fire calls, and no internet. 

After close to 40 years in the fire service, he still loves to work. He needs social interaction and thrives on...noise. Who'd have guessed? :)

What about you?

Travel or work? Beach or mountains?

Excited about Eating by Ernie Hiers

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to the Elizabeth neighborhood of Charlotte and to Hawthorne’s New York Pizza and Bar. 

Nice covered patio!

Elizabeth is named after Anne Elizabeth Watts, the only Charlotte neighborhood named for a woman. You can read more about the history here. 

Interior

Dora here. Don't let this picture deceive you. We arrived right at eleven, and by the time we left, both inside and out was jammed. Hawthorne's appears to be a popular place for locals as many people walked here.

The garlic cheese bread appetizer was cheesy with just the right amount of garlic. It came out fast, the cheese bubbling and gooey, and browned to perfection. 

Garlic Cheese Bread

Dora here. This cheesy bread reminded me of our favorite pizza place in Florida. We always divided it up into equal portions because our son ravaged it. Same thing happened this time, but with our grandson. A sure sign that it was a winner. :)

We wanted to pace ourselves, so we ordered the 9” Meat Eaters pizza, and we were glad we did.

9" Meat Eaters Pizza

This pizza was loaded with meat (pepperoni, Italian sausage, beef, ham, bacon) and mozzarella. In each bite, I tasted all of the different meat flavors, and they all worked together. One thing we noticed, unlike other meat pies which tend to be greasy and heavy, this pizza was light with no greasy aftereffects. 

Slice of Meat Eaters

Dora here. I really wanted to order the Sicilian, but that only comes in GIANT size, so since we were ordering cheesy bread and dessert, I compromised on this. Not my favorite pizza, but it was good. I appreciated that it wasn't heavy on the sauce or spice. 

Check out the Cannoli Plate, three mini cannolis. 

Cannolis

Dora here. We first sampled cannolis in Sicily, and loved them! Since then, we've tried the US versions, and none of them have come close to what we experienced overseas. Not that we're food snobs, but buttercream filling..really? Yuck! Hawthorne's cannolis tasted like the real deal, ricotta and cream cheese goodness in a fried pastry! Three minis were just the right size to cap off our meal. Well, Little Man didn't think so. :) 

We rate this restaurant 4 forks out of 5 for a family friendly restaurant serving great food.

What's your favorite pizza hangout?

Enjoy Christian books? Come by and meet Savvy McCord, heroine of BECK'S PEACE

Tell us your name and a little bit about yourself.

Hi! I’m Savvy McCord. My day job, if you could call it that, is firefighting, and I teach second graders at my church.

Tell us about where you live and why you choose to live there.

I live in the country just outside Harrison, North Carolina. Rori Harmon is my closest neighbor and my best friend since elementary school. I hung out at her house more than I lived in mine. My parents, well, we didn’t have the best relationship. Not since my sister died.

I almost moved away after Beck left, but I just knew that eventually, he would come back.

What is a quirk of your personality that most people wouldn’t know?

Most of the time, I wear pants and long sleeves to cover the scars on my arms and legs from the same gas explosion that killed my sister. Prevents the gawkers and rude questions. Mostly.

What obstacles did you have to overcome to reach your happily-ever-after?

You mean besides Beck actually coming home, right? LOL. Well, Beck surprised me by showing up at Rori’s wedding, and my date, Corbin, the local vet, wasn’t exactly thrilled. Corbin knew it was over then. But the biggest issue? Whether Beck was back home for good or just stopping through.

Tell us about your knight in shining armor. What makes him special?

When we were kids, he was always trying to make me feel better about my home life. He was always finding ways to make me laugh when I was down. But now? Can you believe I stumbled upon him at the hospital? I’d stopped by to visit Maria, a teenager we pulled out of a house fire. He was amazing. Kind and gentle, and trying to make her feel better about her scars. Did you know he was the one who brainstormed “Savvy Scars,” a support group for teen burn survivors? As if that weren’t enough, he fixed my house after a storm rolled through while I was working, surprised me with a picnic dinner at the fire station, and gifted me with Purrtygirl, a homeless kitten. And did I mention the man can kiss? Oy!

But none of that compares with his newfound faith and how he’s always whispering that I’m beautiful...

The first time you saw him, what did you think? Did you like him immediately, or did he have to grow on you?

Haha. That’s kind of a trick question. We grew up together, so a little of both, I guess. It just took him a few years and much life experience to get to the same point. But, that’s OK because now he’s home to stay.

 Coming JULY 24-Preorder here

Burn survivor Savvy McCord doesn't blame her best friend for running away. She can't even look at her scars without wincing. When Beck's disappearing act spans years, she relinquishes dreams of love and marriage. 

Unable to face Savvy's expectations of happily-ever-after, Beck Harmon deserts her, far away from the rumors that he's just like his father. When the wanderer returns, dreams of forever blossom in Savvy's heart, but she worries he'll leave again. 

Can Beck convince Savvy that her true beauty comes from her inner strength and faith? Will his idea to help burn victims regain their self-confidence restore Savvy's trust in him? Will love be what the wanderer needs to find peace for his hurting soul?

Excited about Eating by Ernie Hiers

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to Nantucket Grill, located at the corner of Hwy 54 & Farrington Rd in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 

With its friendly casual environment, Nantucket Grill caters to couples, families and UNC fans with a wide variety of menu options. 

We visited on Saturday night for their much anticipated free cake night,  a free slice of mile high goodness with each entree over $13. 

Dora here. Confession time. We come up with excuses to make the two hour drive here on a Saturday just for the cake. Feast your eyes on this dessert case. Wouldn't you?

Cake case. Bam! Right as you enter.

Since I judged BBQ that day, my wife and I shared the full portion of the Grilled Scallop Kabobs (2 skewers), served over herb rice and mixed vegetables and drizzled with lobster cream sauce. 

We were surprised when the meal came out already divided on two plates. 

Grilled Scallop Kabobs (full portion divided in half)

Dora here. Yeah, this plate is only half the meal! Yowza!

Generous scallops perfectly cooked, golden on the outside, tender and meaty on the inside. The rice, peppers and onions complemented the dish, but the main star was the lobster cream sauce. Creamy, with only a hint of seafood, a sauce that would raise any seafood to the next level. Outstanding!

Dora here. Oh. My! Smooth. Luxurious. Every bite leads to one more. I practically licked my plate clean!

And then...the Chocolate Peanut Butter cake. Six layers of chocolate cake separated by peanut butter filling and topped with chocolate butter cream icing, a Reese cup and peanut butter drizzle. Normally, I am not a big chocolate cake lover, but this cake was great with the peanut butter taking a back seat to the chocolate. So rich, it was difficult to eat the entire slice in one seating.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Dora here. Speak for yourself, Ernie. I had no problem eating mine! 

Every time we visit, I scan the case for something different, but I always opt for my usual, Coconut Cake. Moist and rich, but not so rich I can't eat every bite! A tip, though, get it to go and enjoy it later when you're not so stuffed. You can thank me later. :)

Coconut Cake

We rate this restaurant 5 forks out of 5 for a family friendly restaurant serving outstanding food.

Ernie & Dora Hiers

Fiction Faith & Foodies Blog