Today I welcome Reggi Allder to my blog! Reggi writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance. Today she’s sharing
her Quick and Easy Pumpkin Pie Recipe, and a chance to win an eBook if you sign
up for her newsletter. See links below.
Reggi, please tell
us about your latest release and how much research was needed for the book.
The latest book is called Her Country Heart The first novel in the Sierra Creek Series, Small Town Big
Love. Have you ever wondered what happened to your high school crush? Amy Long
is about to find out.
As a contemporary writer, the
research for each book depends on the subject. Sometimes there is a lot of it;
other times the story is straight forward and I don’t have much to look up. But
I do enjoy the hunt for information. Even as a kid I spent a lot of time in the
library learning about any subject that caught my interest. One of the things I
like about writing is that there’s always something new to learn.
Her Country Heart is a
contemporary but it is set in the historic California foothills. Having spent
many years living in California, I knew about the California Gold Rush in 1849.
But with research I discovered not only gold but gems were found in the Sierra
Mountain foothills. This includes garnets and even diamonds. Who would have
thought? J
Choosing a hero: Navy Seal or
cowboy? A fellow writer www.Jacquiebigger.com asked the question.
If an alpha hero is needed either will work. However, I grew up in a small town
where “old timers” told stories of cowboys’ exploits. My mom even had a
collection of old cowboy movies.
So
it was an easy choice for me.
I
mean who doesn’t
like a cowboy? A strong man with a hard body, who, without a gun, can tame a
wild horse, a bad guy or a good woman. What do you
think?
A cowboy needs a horse. Finding
out about quarter horses was a joy for me. As a kid I dreamed of owning one.
Though it never happened, I still admire the animal for its control and
durability. No horse but we had a Border collie named Rex, sweetest, smartest
dog ever. It happens that the breed is very intelligent and works well with livestock.
So I put a Border collie in the Sierra Creek Books and named the dog Rex.
The book takes place on an apple
farm. It could have been on a corn or wheat farm but the apple hold so much
symbolism it seemed right. The apple tree in the Garden of Eden spells temptation.
Amy is sorely tempted by her old crush, Wyatt, but what is his agenda?
Famous sayings concerning
apples:
“An apple a day keeps the doctor
away.”
“You’re the apple of my eye.”
About
Reggi Allder
Reggi likes nothing better than telling tales of love lost
and then found or stories of heroes and heroines who discover love and then
wonder if they’ll live long enough to enjoy it. She studied screen writing and
creative writing at UCLA and is a past chapter president of Romance Writers of
America and is a current RWA member. She’s married and has two kids and two
dogs. She is happy to hear from her readers. “It makes my day when I hear from
them.”
Her
Country Heart
A Sierra Creek Series, Small town Big Love, now available
on Amazon.
Blurb:
Amy Long needs a fresh start.
After years living in San Francisco and vowing never to return home, she’s back
in the town of Sierra Creek to run her grandmother’s farm. Does she belong in
the small town?
Cowboy Wyatt Cameron doesn’t
think so. As half owner, he’s promised to sell the farm and send her packing.
Even though anger toward Wyatt
pulses in Amy, his magnetism calls to her. Damn her female response to his sex
appeal. Her grandmother must have felt the pull of his charm too. Was that how
he got the woman to sign over half the place to him?
Her Country Heart Excerpt
“Sierra
Creek,” the driver shouted as the Greyhound Bus came to an abrupt stop on the
two lane highway.
Amy Long pushed her
hair behind her ears and grabbed her worn suitcase. Surprised to see her hand
tremble, she seized the case with both hands and rushed toward the front of the
bus.
A gust of hot wind
slapped her face as she stepped off the bus. Gravel pelted her bare legs when
it drove away. She squinted and read a faded road sign, Sierra Creek
population five thousand. There wasn’t a building in sight.
After years of living
in the city, she’d forgotten how sweltering and desolate it was here. She’d
vowed never to return to home. Odd it was the first place that came to mind
when she and her young son needed a fresh start.
With Granny gone there
was no family left to welcome her. She swallowed a sob. Maybe it was a mistake
to come back.
The relentless
afternoon sun beat down on her shoulders and her arms began to burn. San
Francisco, the air conditioned city, seemed a million miles away.
Impatient, she cleared
her dry throat, wiped perspiration from her forehead and let out a groan as the
minutes ticked by. What wouldn’t she give for some shade and a bottle of ice
water?
With a sigh, she
pulled out her smart phone and checked the time. Thirty minutes since she’d
arrived at the bus stop and not a single car had gone by. Where was the
arranged ride into town?
Granny’s handyman was
supposed to meet her. He obviously wasn’t a stickler about being on time. She
reminded herself she was in the California foothills not in a busy metropolis
where time was money.
The sound of a truck
rumbled in the distance. With the back of her hand, she pushed her bangs out of
her eyes and squinted. Hopeful, she watched the pick-up come closer. A shiny
black Ford F 150 with extended cab pulled up in front of her.
“Amy?” A man yelled through the open
window as his brown hair fell casually over a high forehead and deep-set blue
eyes sparkled in the sunlight. She moved nearer and stared at his wide cheek
bones, square jaw and full lips. About thirty?
A flutter of recognition stirred in her as
palpable charm radiated from his broad smile, Wyatt Cameron.
His muscular arms flexed as his huge hands
squeezed the steering wheel. “Don’t just stand there. Get in. The judge is
waiting.”©
US
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B012U5UTGW
UK
Australia
Amazon
Author page
Website
Win
an eBook sign
up for the newsletter and a chance to win. #giveaway #romance
Reggi Allder’s
Quick and Easy Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients:
1 frozen deep dish pie shell. If you have a favorite recipe
for crust you can use it, but this is a quick way to get the pie done and go
back to writing.J
1 regular size can of pure pumpkin only, do not use the
pre-seasoned pumpkin.
2 beaten eggs or use three egg whites if you wish.
½ cup sugar or sugar substitute, we use Splenda.
½ cup of half and half or cream.
1 ½ teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice; more or less spice can
be used according to your taste.
Directions:
Pre-heat oven 425 F (220 c) degrees;
the rack should be in the center of the oven.
In a large bowl beat eggs and
mix in spice and sugar or sugar substitute.
Add pumpkin and stir. Slowly add
half and half continue to stir.
Take frozen pie crust and pour
pumpkin mixture into the shell.
Place pie on a cookie sheet and put
it in the oven.
Bake pie at 425F (220 c) for 10
minutes and set a timer.
Reduce heat to 375 F (180c) and
cook for 35 -45 minutes. Check at 25 minutes. Pie is finished when inserted
knife comes out clean. Take out of the oven and cool.
Pie may be eaten warm or cold.
Serve plain or add whipped cream or whipped cream substitute such as Cool Whip.
See my website for more recipes.
http://www.reggiallder.com
