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Lyn Shares a Fall Recipe!

booksbylyncote.com Posted on October 8, 2021 by Lyn CoteOctober 6, 2021
Out My Window-Fall
The view from my porch

I LOVE MAKING SOUP in the fall and winter. It’s a real time saver for me. I make a huge pot and then I serve it for one supper (with extra cheese and crackers or bread) and then for as many lunches as it will last. My husband is not a man who enjoy cold sandwiches for lunch.?

I tried this last year for the first time because previously if I’d suggested to my husband that he would like butternut squash soup, I would have gotten the “LOOK.”
But he has learned to love roasted vegetables. He’s even eating cauliflower and asking for more! AMAZING! This is the man who only ate iceberg lettuce and raw carrots when we married.

Here is the recipe I started with but of course I can’t just follow a recipe. So read my “adjustments” in parentheses.

Ingredients

Original recipe yields 4 servings

2 tablespoons butter 1 small onion, chopped  

1 stalk celery, chopped 

1 medium carrot, chopped 

2 medium potatoes, cubed (I deleted this since we’re low carb people)

1 medium butternut squash – peeled, seeded, and cubed (I avoided all this work but roasting it in the over for about an hour at 350 F so I only had to scoop out the MUCH MORE FLAVORFUL squash for the soup.)

1 32 fluid ounce container chicken stock  

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

(I added half and half just before serving and warmed it slightly–avoid high heat to avoid curdling OR use whole cream and no problem. I also added cinnamon and nutmeg to taste.)

Directions
Step 1

Melt the butter in a large pot, and cook the onion, celery, carrot, potatoes, and squash 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Pour in enough of the chicken stock to cover vegetables. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer 40 minutes, or until all vegetables are tender.
Step 2

Transfer the soup to a blender, and blend until smooth. Return to pot, and mix in any remaining stock to attain desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper.

The soup got rave reviews and I of course, doubled the recipe. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE FALL RECIPE??–Lyn

 

 

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Posted in Recipe | Tagged recipes, soup recipe | 12 Replies

Lyn Reviews Jody Hedlund’s Luther and Katharina

booksbylyncote.com Posted on September 20, 2021 by Lyn CoteSeptember 4, 2021

Luther and Katharina: A Novel of Love and RebellionLuther and Katharina: A Novel of Love and Rebellion by Jody Hedlund

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve been curious about the marriage of Martin Luther, a former monk, and Katarina, a former nun so when I saw this book and written by Jody, I downloaded it!
The story did not disappoint as far as getting the straight history about this unusual couple. The characterization of both spouses was excellent–strengths, flaws and fascinating people. I’ve always been impressed by a lowly monk taking on the most powerful man in the world at the time, the pope. And yet Luther’s strength come from his faith in God and the power of his own spirit. He suffered from many ailments that might have sidelined a less faith-filled or intense character. The history of the time was portrayed in all its horror. I think that most 21st century people have no idea what life was like 500+ years ago. Yet the same struggles such as trying to figure out who to marry and why and reconciling with parents who don’t understand the path a child has taken are the same. Well done, Ms. Hedlund.

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Posted in Book review | Tagged historical fiction, Jody Hedlund, Martin Luther | Leave a reply

NOT ANOTHER COVER MODEL!

booksbylyncote.com Posted on September 9, 2021 by Lyn CoteSeptember 8, 2021

Yes, I need help choosing one more cover model this year. This is for the book you helped me title recently. Here are three choices. Again, I’m looking for the image that catches your attention, the one that makes you want to know more about her and her story. I’m looking for an image that draws you to pick up the book (as if you were browsing in a bookstore–you remember those, don’t you?) Which cover model is evocative, makes you want to take a second look? So here they are:

Cover Model #1

#1

Cover Model #2

#2

Cover Model #3

#3

Do any of these stir an emotion? Make you stop and look? Thanks in advance for your help! I count on it.–Lyn

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Posted in cover art | Tagged book cover art, cover model | 59 Replies

Want to Find Another Fave Author? And Win 31 Books and an Ereader!

booksbylyncote.com Posted on August 30, 2021 by Lyn CoteAugust 30, 2021
Giveaway

 

Giveaway

Click here  to see the array of truly inspirational authors and the books they are giving away! You can win 31 books and an Ereader. So why not enter? Lyn

 

 

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Posted in Giveaway | Tagged BookSweeps, inspirational fiction | Leave a reply

Belong to Bookbub? A Great Giveaway!

booksbylyncote.com Posted on August 23, 2021 by Lyn CoteAugust 23, 2021
Bookbub Giveaway

Bookbub Giveaway

Bookbub.com is a great service which sends out information about free and bargain ebooks (you choose what you like, such as mysteries or Christian romance) everyday. I use it to find books to read. And to promote my books. Click here iBookbub Giveawayf you’d like to find new authors and perhaps WIN A HUGE NUMBER OF INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE EBOOKS. Hope one of you wins!–Lyn

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Posted in Giveaway | Tagged Bookbub.com, inspirational romance | Leave a reply

Lyn Asks the September Question

booksbylyncote.com Posted on August 10, 2021 by Lyn CoteAugust 9, 2021

SUMMER

WINTER

Out My Window-Fall

AUTUMN

These photos are of my front porch view by season. I didn’t include a spring one because we rarely have spring this far north. That season is usually fight between summer and a winter that just doesn’t want to throw in the towel!

Oh, okay here are my daffodils which come up in the midst of the struggle in what should be spring!

Now for the September Question:

We are over halfway through 2021 and I’m wondering: Has your weather this year been the usual? Or is there “a usual” where you live? 🙂 My new book on pre-order, Ellie’s Forever Family, coming out Sept 8th, has a Habitat for Humanity project hampered by weather. Does weather affect your life or can you ignore it? That really interests me! Tell me where you live and how this year has gone weatherwise. Please leave a comment and be entered into a random drawing for a free ebook.–Thanks. Lyn

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Posted in Question of the Month | Tagged hometown, seasons | 35 Replies

Need title help! Please.

booksbylyncote.com Posted on July 18, 2021 by Lyn CoteJuly 18, 2021

Title Search Continues…

I’m trying to come up with a title for my next book in my Northern Shore Intrigue book, the last one in the series, #6. It takes place in Midsummer and I need a good “dangerous” sounding title. Many of you sent me suggestions but some were “lovely” but not “dangerous!” Here are the three I was most struck by:

Treacherous Midsummer

Sinister Midsummer

Ominous Midsummer

So which one do you favor? Please leave a comment and give your vote for your favorite. Again, I will choose a few to gift ebooks to. Thanks!

NORTHERN SHORE INTRIGUE BOOKS 1-5

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Posted in Question of the Month | Tagged Northern Intrigue series, romantic suspense | 73 Replies

Lyn Reviews Jennifer J Chow’s Mimi Lee Reads Between the Lines

booksbylyncote.com Posted on July 12, 2021 by Lyn CoteJuly 18, 2021

Mimi Lee Reads Between the Lines (A Sassy Cat Mystery, #2)Mimi Lee Reads Between the Lines by Jennifer J. Chow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I often comment on the fact that most 21st century mystery writers (or their publisher’s marketing dept) evidently think mystery readers only want cats, witches, dogs, recipes, and new beginnings in a small town. So get ready for a shocker!

I was visiting my local library and saw this on the new books shelf. I hadn’t read a print library book since Feb 2020 for obvious reasons but this one enticed me and I checked it out! Yay! Anyway I started reading it skeptically. What was the SASSY cat going to do? Well, he wasn’t magical and where he learned how to communicate with our heroine Mimi introduces a whole new mystery. But I like Mimi. I didn’t dislike her cat and the mystery was inventive with many quirky and very unexpected characters.

Also how often is a grade school the scene of a murder and teachers under suspicion? (The question comes: Did Jennifer distrust her elementary school teachers? Or was she just being unique? ‘-) And I like the sweet romance between Mimi and Josh. Awwww….

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Posted in Book review | Tagged cozy mystery, Jennifer J Chow | Leave a reply

Lyn Asks Is Your Summer…Precarious?

booksbylyncote.com Posted on July 6, 2021 by Lyn CoteJuly 6, 2021
PRECARIOUS SUMMER

I HOPE NOT! ‘-) HOWEVER, My book Precarious Summer is on sale for 99 cents down from $2.99 until July 12th.

PRECARIOUS SUMMER

This may be the only time it’s on sale for this low price this year. Already read it? Why not gift it to a friend? Just click the gifting option on any retailer.  

Blurb: Faith-filled romantic suspense from a Carol Award–winning author: When an arsonist targets a Lake Superior tourist town, café owner Audra and sheriff Carter team up to uncover the culprit… Book one in a compelling series!

Click here for more info:

https://booksbylyncote.com/SWBS/books-by-lyn/precarious-summer

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Posted in Book sale | Tagged ebook sale, northwoods, ROMANTIC SUSPSENSE | Leave a reply

Lyn Reviews Charlotte MacLeod’s The Wrong Rite

booksbylyncote.com Posted on July 2, 2021 by Lyn CoteJuly 2, 2021

The Wrong Rite (Madoc Rhys #5)The Wrong Rite by Alisa Craig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Since mystery writers think current mystery readers only want cats, dogs (magical or non-magical), witches, heroines who are opening B&B’s, bakeries, cafes and spending a lot of time following and sharing recipes, it’s always a relief to discover a mystery without any of these elements. Charlotte MacCleod wrote mysteries BEFORE all these popular 21st century trends.

(BTW, if a writer wants to write cats, dogs, magical or non-magical, witches, heroines who are opening B&B’s, bakeries, cafes and spending a lot of time following and sharing recipes—she or he is free to do so. But personally I can only take so much!)

Anyway this book is set in of all places, Wales. That’s uncommon. However, it fits with the Madoc and Janet Rhys series. Madoc is a Canadian Mountie and his wife is a woman suited to being married to one. Anyway, the Rhys family gathers in Wales to celebrate the 90th birthday of an uncle, the head of the Rhys family. All would have been well IF they hadn’t included a couple of annoying shirt-tail relations, a brother and sister who were some of the most unique and annoying characters I’d ever read. But so real! We’ve all met variations of them—people who have unique—oh, let’s be honest—odd or outlandish ideas and theories. And they want to share them with everyone all the time. Goodness. I was ready to lock these two in a closet myself.

But their propensity to bore people to distraction isn’t what caused disaster. Many years before a locomotive of circumstances (for which one of them was responsible) had begun and the brother and sister couldn’t stop the train that led to murder. I must say that the whole cast of characters ran true and fascinating in their unique personalities and connections. In an age where families are becoming smaller and smaller and less connected (that’s my take on this), to see the portrayal of a large family of 2nd, 3rd, 5th cousins was definitely interesting. And the mystery elements were consistent, arriving just in time to keep the story rolling along! If you like quirky characters in an interesting locale with an unusual mystery, you might give The Wrong Rite a try.

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Posted in Book review | Tagged cozy mystery | Leave a reply

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