Happy Wednesday Everyone,
Today, I'm honored to have one of my favorite people, Robyn Neeley back on my blog to help us all get into the holiday mood. Robyn isn't just here to tell us about her wonderful new Christmas love story, CHRISTMAS DINNER, but she brought us all a gift. FUDGE! Well, to be more exact, she's sharing her fabulous fudge recipe with us. How I wish I can make a patch and post it for all my marvelous viewers. But since technology hasn't quite caught up with the replicator from Star Trek just yet, the recipe is going to have to do.
Welcome back, Robyn. I can't think of anything better than sitting back on a cold, snowy day with a couple pieces of your fudge and losing myself in a wonderful Christmas romance like CHRISTMAS DINNER. I hope everyone enjoys meeting Amanda and Tate, and watching them fall in love during the most wonderful time of year.
Delicious Holiday Fudge!
2/3 cups evaporated milk
2 cups sugar
1 square of baker’s chocolate
1 stick margarine or butter
4 Hershey candy bars
½ cup of nuts
1 tsp.vanilla
Stir first three
ingredients well and bring to a boil.
Boil for three
minutes. Add margarine or butter the last 1 1/2 minutes stirring all the timeTake fudge from
heat and stir in Hershey bars (broken up) and nuts. Beat until thick, add
vanilla and pour in an 8 x 8 buttered pan. Add nuts to the top if you’d like.
Put in the refrigerator until set, then cut into squares.
News anchor
Amanda Turner used to love everything about the holidays—the eggnog sugar
cookies, the tacky family Christmas sweaters, and a lawn decorated with so many
multi-colored lights that 747s could land safely. That is until her boyfriend
dumped her in front of the whole town on Christmas Eve. Humiliated, she fled
her small town start a new life. Two years later, she’s finally ready to return
to the scene of the emotional crime, until she learns that her ex is engaged.
Now, the only thing worse than going home is going home single.
Tate Ryan,
her tall, dark, and arrogant co-anchor, offers to pose as her boyfriend.
There’s one problem, though: they barely like each other, and he recently
scooped her story on live TV. But she needs a ride home and a boyfriend fast,
so Tate will have to do.
As she
watches Tate interact with her family and town residents, fully embracing the
spirit of the holiday season, she starts to see his kindhearted side. She can’t
help but wonder if she was wrong about him. Perhaps he isn’t the conniving
co-worker that she once thought. And her new feelings for him would definitely
put her on the naughty list.
Tate has his
own agenda for the weekend that includes telling Amanda he’s been in love with
her since the first time they met. He’s ready to reveal all during Christmas
dinner but fate has other plans.
Robyn Neeley
Robyn Neeley is an East Coaster who loves to explore
new places; watches way more reality TV than she cares to admit; can’t live
without Dunkin Donuts coffee and has never met a cookie she didn’t like. If you
have a must read romance suggestion or a fabulous cookie recipe, she wants to
know. Visit her at robynneeley.com.
Enjoy an Excerpt from Christmas
Dinner!
"I'll
have another, please." Amanda waved her empty wine glass and glanced up at
the mounted television. Their explosive local story had made national news.
"I really need to get out of this town," she muttered.
"Excuse
me?" The bartender picked up her glass. He was wearing a Santa hat.
"Oh,
nothing." She pointed at his head, changing the subject. "Do they
make you wear that?"
"Nah, I just
like to get into the Christmas spirit." He grabbed a bottle of wine, refilling
her glass.
"Christmas
spirit," she echoed dryly. She remembered that feeling. It was only two
years ago that it was her favorite time of year-two heartbreaking years.
"Thanks."
She took a long
gulp and went back to brooding over Brad's status update. What if she ran into
him and his fiancée this weekend? Oh, God. What if she knew her?
"Hey, Santa,
think you could bring me a boyfriend to take home this weekend?" she asked
sarcastically. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a flicker of a man in a
suit. She knew its owner immediately.
"Why, Ace,
are you taking resumes?"
She spun around
and shook her head. Tate had taken the empty seat next to her. Her knees
briefly touched his. "What the- where did you come from? Are you following
me now?" She drank her wine. "I hate you," she mumbled.
"I'll take
that as a no." He pointed to her fresh glass. "I see you're
celebrating. Mind if I join you?"
She pushed off her
seat. "Sorry, I was just leaving." Her legs wobbled, and she felt a
little tipsy. When had she become such a lightweight? She sat down to regain
her equilibrium. "On second thought, I was here first."
The bartender came
over. "Sir, can I get you anything?"
"A stocking
full of coal would be appropriate," Amanda interjected sweetly. She glared
at Tate and raised her finger directly at a group of women on the other side of
the bar who were looking their way. She suspected they were gushing over Tate.
Most women did.
"See that
cougar in the tight sequined silver top and black hooker stilettos? I'm sure
she's one of your fans. I'd bet my paycheck she'd love to have the great Tate
Ryan make her night."
Tate nodded to the woman and pulled Amanda's arm down. She felt his
hand linger.
"I think I'll
pass." He signaled the bartender and said, "Hey, buddy, could I get a
Manhattan?" Then he turned back to Amanda. "Okay, talk to me, Mandy.
Why so glum?"
"Don't call
me that. My brother calls me Mandy, and I'm angry with him right now,
too." She stood once again and reached for her purse, determined this time
to get away from her co-anchor. "I think I'll get a table-for one. Merry
Christmas, Tate," she said flatly.
She walked over to
the dining area and scanned the room for an empty table. There was one near the
window. She plopped down in a chair.
Tate sauntered
over.
"Oh, no. No,
no." She raised her hand in protest. "You are not sitting here."
"Look, you
can't still be angry with me for what happened earlier."
"Why can't
I?"
"Ace, you
know I didn't sabotage you." He pulled out a chair and took a seat.
Amanda sighed.
"I know."
"Listen,
let's order some dinner. My treat. I'm starving, and I'll bet you are, too.
We'll eat, and you can tell me why you're here drowning your sorrows because
this can't all be my fault. Start from the beginning. I'm a great
listener." He scrolled through his iPhone. "Was it really that bad of
a day?" he asked, glancing up.
"You can't be
serious. You did not just ask me that."
Tate shrugged.
"It's one story. There will be others."
"Not like this
one."
"You really
believe that?"
Amanda shrugged.
"I don't know what I think anymore. Let's just order. Will you promise to
leave me alone after we eat?"
"Deal. Okay,
where to begin? All right, why do you hate me? No. Wait." Tate jerked his
hand up in the air in a halt. "Don't answer that. Let's start with a
softball question. Why do you hate the holidays?" He grabbed the other
menu on the table.
"I don't hate
the holidays."
Tate smirked.
"Amanda, you pretty much tell anyone who wishes you a Merry Christmas to
go to hell."
"That's not
true."
"Not to
mention I had to twist your arm for you to do the kick-off story on this year's
toy drive."
"That hardly
makes me a scrooge. I agreed to it, didn't I?"
He pointed at the
window. "Speaking of toys, did you see that huge Santa and sleigh on the
flatbed truck in the parking lot? It's filled with all kinds of fun things.
What do you think they're doing with all those toys?"
Amanda followed
his gaze out the window. In the darkness, she could just make out a life-size
Santa and sleigh. God, she hated sleighs.
She could also see
Tate's reflection in the glass. The man certainly knew how to wear a suit. Why
did he have to be so incredibly good looking? His eyes met hers, causing her
cheeks to warm. She glanced away and reached for the breadbasket. "Does it
really matter?"
"I'm just
trying to lighten the mood." He flipped his menu to the other side.
She sighed. He was
right. It was common knowledge around the station that she wasn't a big fan of
the holidays.
"You're right.
I do get somewhat uptight this time of year," she admitted. "I was
planning on going home tomorrow, but now I don't know-"
Tate looked up and
interrupted. "You're not going home for Christmas? Why?"
"I don't know
what to do. My mother will kill me if I don't. My older sister's about to have
a baby."
"Everything
okay?"
"With her,
yes. It's just I received some unsettling news about my ghost from Christmas
past."
"Huh?"
"Never
mind." She slid back in her chair and took a drink. "It's just hard
to be single during the holidays, I guess."
Tate studied her.
"I wouldn't have pegged you as the type of woman who gets down in the
dumps for being single this time of year."
"I'm
not." She paused. "Well, maybe I am a little. You think you're headed
down this precise path to achieving all of your carefully planned out
goals-good grades, great college, solid career, the guy, perfect marriage,
great sex-"
"Why, Ace, I
could help you with that last goal."
Amanda rolled her
eyes. Of course he could. She continued, "Adorable kids and a nice
house." She sat up in her chair. "Don't get me wrong. I'm happy in
Wilmington. I've got a wonderful career, good friends, and my beautiful
beachside condo bought and paid for. It's just . . . I don't know. You think
everything is on track and then a-"
"Teleprompter
jams," he finished.
Her eyes started
to water. "Something like that." She immediately looked out the
window to hide the evidence. Tate could not see her cry.
"So how long
has it been since you've been home?"
"Two
years." Amanda grabbed a piece of bread and broke it apart.
"That's
nothing. What's kept you away?"
"Long
story." Amanda grimaced and shoved the bread in her mouth.
"Might help
to talk about it."
She swallowed.
"If you must know, my boyfriend of five years dumped me two years ago on
Christmas Eve in front of all my family and friends."
"Ouch."
"Tell me
about it." She picked up her glass and swung it up in the air. "Then
I get a text tonight telling me to check my Facebook, and guess what?" she
asked, her voice rising. She didn't wait for Tate to respond. "The
bastard's getting married!" She slammed her glass down. "Freakin'
engaged."
"Is it really
the end of the world?" Tate motioned for the waiter to bring Amanda a
glass of water.
"Clearly
you've never been in a relationship."
"You just
said you were happy here."
"I am."
"Are you
still in love with him?"
"No."
She shook her head. "He might have broken up with me, but I realized we
really weren't meant to be. It's just . . ."
"Just
what?"
Amanda stared at
Tate. Why was he so interested in her love life? "I guess I don't understand
why Brad gets to have his happy ending before me. Two years ago he didn't want
it." Her eyes watered. This time she couldn't hide the evidence as one
tear slid down her cheek. "At least not with me."
Tate grabbed a
napkin from the table dispenser and handed it to Amanda. "Let's turn this
around."
"How?"
She sniffed, dabbing her eyes.
"Okay, here's
how I see it. Your sister is radiantly pregnant and about to pop out your
mother's first grandchild. Is your brother in a relationship?"
"Yes, with my
best friend from high school."
"I see. It's
all making sense. There you will be at Christmas dinner, sandwiched between
both couples. You have a great career and some would say a pretty good life
here down south, but the humiliation of what happened with Brad will be the
unspoken elephant in the room all weekend. Am I painting an accurate
picture?"
With each stroke
of his verbal brush, he certainly was. "I think you should order your
dinner to go," she said icily. It had obviously been a bad idea to share
her love life with Tate.
"I think I
can help-no, I know I can help you."
"Help me?
How?"
"If you
brought a new man home, it would show everyone that you've moved on."
"Maybe, but
it's not like I can rent one." She thought for a second-could she?
"No
need." Tate reached for his drink and took a sip. "You can take
me-free of charge."
Amanda studied
Tate. Was she hearing things?
"Take me home
with you and introduce me as your boyfriend. I'll fill that seat at Christmas
dinner this year."
"I was
kidding with the bartender." Amanda scoffed. The idea of bringing home a
handsome boyfriend was intriguing. It would prove to everyone she was over Brad
and past the humiliating breakup. But this was Tate. Handsome, yes. Her
boyfriend? She didn't think so. He rattled her on most days. They'd never pull
it off.
Hugs to all,
Nancy C. Weeks
As always, Robyn and I would love to hear from you. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to leave a comment below by clicking on the small pencil.
