I consider myself blessed to live in a place in which the pounding of horse hooves and the song of the blackbird are its heartbeat. At night the sky is filled with the brilliance of a million stars, the Milky Way, and on some occasions the Aurora Borealis. I live in a place where grizzly bears, mountain goats, and elk are not strangers, but instead the stewards of the craggy, timbered mountains and the endless wheat-filled plains. I live in the Last Best Place, under the Big Sky, and in the unforgettable state we call Montana.Right now my ‘backyard’ has finally seen the last bit of the winter snows melt and the soil has begun to churn with the new lives of the delicate yellow kisses of the Glacier Lilies and the native purple and sage green Lupines. Soon the beautiful, but deadly, soft-leaved Arnicas will begin to dot the ground, filling the land with untouchable beauty. As beautiful as the spring and summer are in Montana everything is appreciated with a bated breath—nothing in this land of enchantment lasts long—nothing is permanent except the stars in the sky and the passing of time.
The constantly changing beauty serves as the backdrop for my new novel Montana Mustangs (out today!), the second book in the Nymph Series. In fact, Montana Mustangs takes place in Somers, Montana which lies just south of the (small and humble) city of Kalispell—the city that many fly into in order to visit Glacier Park, one of the best and most picturesque parks in the contingent United States.Somers, Montana lies at the edge of one of the largest (and coldest) freshwater lakes in the U.S., Flathead Lake. At the beginning of Montana Mustangs we first get the chance to meet our characters as they are standing at the edge of this picturesque lake, where they have made a macabre discovery—one in which sets the book into motion.My love of life, horses, and Montana are represented in every aspect of this book, but please know that just like our beautiful spring flowers, to everything there is possible impermanence—especially for the main character, Aura, a nymph cursed to never keep true love. Like the others of her kind, she has been struck with a curse by Zeus that if she falls in love, the man is fated to die a tragic death.When her sister is kidnapped, she must team up with a local Sheriff’s deputy, Dane, and work together to solve a case steeped in mythology, lies, and deeply hidden secrets. If you have a love of Montana, horses, the unexplained, and paranormal romance (which is centered in the not-so-supernatural world) then this book is a must read. Montana Mustangs is my own spring flower, a story filled with such beauty it will never be forgotten even long after you have turned the last page.Image Courtesy of http://www.gloriousphu.com/places/national-parks/united-states-canada/united-states/47-glacier-national-park
Authors In Bloom Blog Hop
Spring is upon us and the showers are here--which means the blooms are coming. What is the best way to spend a warm, wet Spring day? For me, it's spending time with a great book and good food (oh, and don't forget the people I like and love). Even better than just any book is a book about love! If you are interested in a great read I wholeheartedly recommend The Nymph's Labyrinth the first book in the Nymph Series. The second book Montana Mustangs will be released May 6th, but is available for pre-order now! These books have been well received by critics and have been featured in USA Today! I would love to have your support in reading my books. You keep me writing :)Okay, as for the food.... (Mmmmm...) One of my favorite recipes this time of year is a
Chocolate Strawberry Torte:Ingredients
- 5 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 3/4 cup butter, cubed
- 1-1/2 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1-1/2 cups water
- STRAWBERRY FILLING:
- 4 cups sliced fresh strawberries
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- GLAZE:
- 3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
Directions
- In a microwave, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Cool. Transfer to a large bowl; beating sugar until blended. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to chocolate mixture alternately with water beating well after each addition.
- Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 28-33 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
- In a large bowl, combine filling ingredients; set aside. For glaze, in a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Stir in confectioners' sugar, water and vanilla until smooth. Cool slightly.
- Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread with half of the whipped topping; drizzle with half of the glaze. Top with half of the filling. Repeat layers. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 10-12 servings.
Recipe thanks to Taste of Home.NOW THE BEST PART!! To take part in my Giveaway (for a $20 Amazon Gift Card and Book Swag) please take part in the Rafflecopter below!a Rafflecopter giveaway
Montana Mustangs--Now Available for Pre-Order! (Let's Party!)
Montana Mustangs
I'm so pleased to announce that Montana Mustangs (the second book in the Nymph Series after The Nymph's Labyrinth) is now available for pre-order. I would love for you to check it out. Early reviews are starting to come in and as of today all are 5 star reviews!! (This is almost unheard of!) I can't wait for you to get your hands on this book. You will love it!
Book Description:
A Nymph. A woman with the ability to seduce at will, shift to protect, but cursed with the fate to have the man she falls in love with die a tragic death. As one of the ill-fated nymphs, Aura Montgarten has spent her lifetime drifting from one place to another hiding from love. Until she meets Dane.
When a body washes up on the shore of a rural Montana lake, police officer Dane Burke is faced with the task of finding the killer—even if it means he will be forced to put his life and heart at risk by working with a drifter. As the truth of Aura’s Mustang-shifting Nymph ways are revealed, Dane learns exactly the amount of danger he and Aura are in, but can’t force himself to leave a case unsolved when the truth is right outside of his grasp.
When the killer decides he needs to take another victim—Dane—Aura must choose between their forbidden love and her immortal life… Can there be life without love, or is death her only choice? Book Excerpt:
Chapter One
The waves of the lake crashed next to Dane Burke like greedy reporters descending onto a crime scene. Dane picked up the severed hand, careful to touch it only with the tips of his gloved fingers, all in an attempt to save what little evidence remained.
The fingers were wrinkled and pale, the color of rotting fish. The skin of the palm flapped back, exposing the white lines of the tendons and the bloated pink muscles of the victim’s hand. He pushed back the skin, covering the hand’s viscera. The flesh was rubbed raw in several places, but whether it was from the time in the water or something else Dane couldn’t be sure. Behind him, the secondary officer, Grant, talked with the woman who’d phoned in the find. The woman was blonde, thin, and uncomfortably beautiful. “So, Aura, are you in Montana for business or pleasure?” Officer Grant asked, with just a little too much glee in his voice. Dane tried to ignore the amateurish come-ons the officer threw at the blonde with the large blue eyes and plump lips that pulsed with the pink hues of life. He turned the gruesome hand over in his. The fingernails of the victim were painted a vivid red, now brighter than the blood that had settled in the person’s flesh. He snickered quietly as he thought about the stark difference between the woman behind him who was the embodiment of life and the macabre sloughing object of death he stared upon. Maybe the kid wasn’t so wrong for focusing on the woman. If he’d been just a few years younger, maybe he would have been acting that way too—focusing on the beauty of the woman instead of the gore of the job. But he’d long since given up on the things in life that only brought bitterness—death was easier to handle...
About Danica Winters
Danica Winters is a bestselling author who is known for writing award-winning books that grip readers with their ability to drive emotion through suspense and often a touch of magic. When she’s not working she can be found in the wilds of Montana working on her patience while she tries to understand the allure of various crafts (quilting, pottery and painting are not her thing). She always believe the cup is neither half full nor half empty, but it better be filled with wine.