The Seventh Man

Today I am featuring the book written by another friend of mine. I seem to have acquired many author friends since I started blogging and it is wonderful to know these great people.




Book description:

When a young writer is kidnapped by a man who can't be seen, her only hope of escape rests on the one London cop who believes in ghosts.

On a cold, white, before-Christmas day, an assassin completes a job only to be pursued by police. Dodging through crowded city streets, the assassin nabs a young woman for cover.

Celia Wight, a reclusive American writer is shopping between engagements during a book tour. When a knife is pressed against her back, she loses her tenuous grasp on her carefully controlled existence.

Assigned to the homicide case, Detective Alban Thain, of the Metropolitan Police, suspects an assassin he calls the Wraith. The problem is, only Thain believes the assassin exists. Disregarding the consequences, Thain, who is the only one who believes there is a connection between the murder and the kidnapping, will do whatever it takes to exploit the Wraith’s first and only mistake: the kidnapping of an innocent bystander—if she is innocent.

Available now in ebook and soft cover on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RUE8GOG


About the Author:

Lisa is a mother, wife, sister, and daughter, has waited tables, been a dental assistant, teacher, journalist, gardener and architectural administrative assistant. She's traveled in Europe, New Zealand, and the US. French and English are her languages of preference, with a little Spanish on the side. She grew up in Florida, lived four years in Georgia before moving to Texas for eighteen years. For the moment, she once again lives in Georgia. She writes full time and has completed six novels.
Photo credit: Steven Heddon

If you go to Lisa’s website, there is a Rafflecopter for one of three of her books signed by the author. Wishing you good luck Lisa.


At this time of the year, winter in my hemisphere anyway, I love soups and we often have them for supper. This one looks particularly good.
 

Mushroom-Beef Noodle Soup

 
WebMD Recipe from EatingWell.com

You don’t need much beef in this homey mushroom-beef noodle soup recipe, since mushrooms and a little Worcestershire sauce give it plenty of savory flavor.
 

• 1/2   ounce dried porcini mushrooms
• 1   cup boiling water
• 2   teaspoons canola oil
• 1 1/2   cups chopped celery
• 1 1/2   cups chopped carrots
• 3   cloves garlic, minced
• 1   pound cremini mushrooms, chopped
• 1 1/2   cups chopped onion
• 1   pound boneless sirloin, or flank steak, trimmed, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 2   tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/2   cup dry red wine
• 1   tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 6   cups reduced-sodium beef broth
• 1    large turnip, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1    bay leaf
• 1/2   teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2   teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/4   teaspoon salt
• 2   cups whole-wheat egg noodles, cooked
• 1/2   cup chopped fresh parsley, or dill for garnish

Instructions

1. Place porcini in a bowl; add boiling water and soak for 10 minutes to soften. Line a sieve with a paper towel, place over a bowl and strain, reserving the liquid; finely chop the porcini and set aside.
2. Heat oil in a soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook celery, carrots and garlic, stirring frequently, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Add cremini and onion; cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to the bowl.
3. Add steak to the pot and cook on medium-high, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, 3 to 5 minutes; add tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add wine and Worcestershire and cook until the sauce thickens slightly, about 30 seconds. Stir in the porcini and liquid, reserved vegetables, broth, turnip, bay leaf, thyme, pepper and salt; cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until the vegetables are tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
4. Discard the bay leaf. Stir in noodles. Garnish with herbs, if desired.

Have a great day