Free book

February is the deepfreeze month stuck between New Year’s and the March of Leprechauns. Although the shortest of months, it has three auspicious days of note.

Groundhog Day leads the way on the 2nd! This is the day big fat rodents determine the length of our suffering in cold and darkness. Not strange at all, right? Apparently, Pennsylvania and Nova Scotia are the main areas where this weather forecasting animal is used, but regardless of its superstitious origin, someone managed to get this bizarre date included on the national calendar. Having their own day must really puff those little diggers up. I bet from their exalted status, they look down upon all the moles, voles, prairie dogs, and gerbils with utter disdain.

On the 14th, February is suddenly all about romance and love, full of chocolate hearts, flowers, and insanely priced cards. Some people claim Valentine’s Day is a made-up holiday, as though a day to celebrate rodents is completely legitimate but a day to celebrate the one you love is a government conspiracy.

And finally on the 21st, we have President’s Day. I’m old enough to remember it being called George Washington’s Birthday, but apparently it became a birthday celebration for George and Lincoln ( who both had February birthdays) and then finally in the 1970s was officially changed to President’s Day. Probably because the other dead presidents felt slighted. Or more likely, the live ones did.

In Minnesota, February is basically the beginning of our second winter. We get about 4 days of above freezing and then we’re back to black-ice, frost-bite, and a drop in crime as all the criminals head south.

With winter feeling extra long this year and February being a tri-celebration month, I am gifting a book for you! From my own experience, cold months are great reading months! So…

February 11th-28th, ENTANGLED (A Fredrickson Winery Novel) will be FREE at all online stores! Pick up a copy if you haven’t read it yet, and tell your book-loving friends and family members to download a copy too!

Get it here> ENTANGLED

Thanks for stopping! Leave a comment and tell us which February holiday you enjoy celebrating the most, or do you have another one I don’t know about??

Barbara

Christmas is almost upon us.

I have so much I want to do, and so little time left to do it. My organization skills stink. I haven’t even gotten to the good stuff yet. Baking with chocolate. Yes, I am the number one taste-tester around here. Actually, the only taste-tester. So, I get a lot of tastes. It’s a very satisfying job. I could do this all year.

Sadly, it has taken me an entire week shuffling boxes, finding the right ornaments in each, fluffing the fake tree, putting on the lights, and finally hanging and placing each star, ornament, angel, or bow with precision accuracy. You guessed it. I have a mother who is gifted at this stuff. Living up to her example is not only time-consuming but, if I’m honest, a bit mind-numbing. Decorating does not come naturally to me. Writing is my “gift” and I’d much rather be indulging my imagination making up stories than decorating the halls or fluffing throw pillows.

That being said… I have not finished the new book I am working on, and so the only gift I have to present you with this year is a free copy of Christmas in Port Scuttlebutt.

Not to downplay the awesome entertainment value of this Double Barrel contribution. It is truly full of enough suspense, romance, and holiday spirit to satisfy. Add a mug of hot cocoa and a candy cane stirrer and you are on your way to mystery heaven.

Get your free kindle copy December 2-6 only! Don’t wait or procrastinate. Download today> CPS

Leave a comment and tell us one of your favorite Christmas traditions or Christmas cookies/bars. Recipes are welcome. Especially if they involve chocolate. Scroll down for the secret family recipe of my favorite holiday bars.

Thanks for stopping!

Barbara

Creme de Menthe Bars

1st layer> Melt 1/2 cup butter & 1/2 cup cocoa until blended. Add 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp. vanilla and 2 cups graham cracker crumbs. Mix well & pat into 9X13 pan.

2nd layer> Melt 1/2 cup butter. Add 1/3 cup green creme de menthe & 3 cups powdered sugar. Mix well until smooth. Spread over 1st layer. Chill for one hour.

Top layer> Melt 1/4 cup butter & 1 and 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips. Spread over top and put in refrigerator.

I usually cut them within an hour, so the top doesn’t set so hard that it cracks instead of cutting smoothly. Then keep them in the fridge because they do contain egg and butter. Wouldn’t want you to blame me for salmonella. They also freeze well.

Ps. Eat and enjoy! Merry Christmas!