Guest Post: Sins of the Mind by L.J. Garland & Debbie Gould

Red River and Red Velvet Cake… Both Sinfully Delicious

Debbie: Since Sins of the Mind (Decadent Publishing) is set in Red River, Vermont, today we’re going to give you a tour. It was the middle of winter during Ethan and Abby's story, so we’ll start with a picture of the woodshed that sits behind the lake cabin.

Laura: Oh gosh, Debbie! Go straight for the jugular, why don’t you? LOL You guys will find this cabin toward the very end of the story. Lots of action happens here. Like, life and death stuff. We can't show you the actual cabin because the family still wants it kept out of the media. But heck, who needs to see the house? That woodshed gives me the creeps.

Debbie: And here, I’ve dug up a couple of pictures of the lake where the infamous cabin is located.

Laura: Wow, those are gorgeous shots. Who would’ve thought that such horrible things could happen at a cabin overlooking such a truly at beautiful place?

Debbie: I know, right!

Laura: Hey wait…is that a jetski? Oh, man…can I test that puppy out??

Debbie: This is part of the Red River that flows behind Ethan's house. We chose a summer picture because it’s such a beautiful place. Ethan gets to look at this every morning out his kitchen window.

Laura: Now, that’s what I’m talking about. Man, I could so see myself, looking at that every morning, coffee cup in hand. Ahhh. What a way to start the day!

Debbie: And along those same lines, here we have a picture of sunset in Red River.

Laura: Oh yeah. Now I’m feeling it. Let’s kick back and chill while we bask in that awesome red glow… Wait a minute. That’s a red sunset. Good gosh! Now, I’m thinking about blood and all those horrible things that happened back at the cabin!

Debbie: All right, chill woman! Here we go, back to winter, then. Here’s a picture of the snow covered Red River roads Ethan and the gang have to travel over.

Laura: Yeah…while they’re on their way to a crime scene where someone’s been murdered. This isn’t helping.

Debbie: Okay then… How about we end with a pic of Abby's house? Will that settle your nerves?

Laura: Well, yeah. It’s a nice house and all. But isn’t she the one who’s being stalked? Aren’t all the people she loves getting murdered? OMG! Is Ethan on the killer’s list?? Is Abby? 

Debbie: There is obviously much more to Red River. This is just a taste. Maybe Laura and I will show you more when the next book in The Red River series comes out. Thanks for joining us on our mini tour.

Laura: Yes! It was great to roam around and see the places where all the action took place in the book. At least Debbie had the good taste not to show you a shot of the bed where Ethan and Abby, um, well you know.

Debbie: (shakes head) You can dress her up but you can’t take her out!

Laura: Well, how about we end with something sweet? The title of this blog is Red River and Red Velvet Cake…Both Sinfully Delicious. Do you have a recipe or anything? These readers are expecting something spectacular!

Debbie: Yes, we do. Right here….

Red River Bakery’s Red Velvet Cake

Cake:

1/2 cup Crisco

1 1/2 cup sugar.........cream above 2 together

2 eggs beaten............add to above and beat a little

2 bottles red food coloring

2 tsp cocoa powder...mix with food coloring and add to above mix

1 cup buttermilk

2 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp salt  ...................mix flour and salt then add, alternating with buttermilk, to above mix

1 tsp vanilla.........…..add

1 tsp vinegar

1 tsp baking soda.......mix last 2 ingredients and add at last min

Make 2 layers and bake at 350 for 20-25 min

Frosting:

4 1/2 Tlb flour

1 1/2 cup milk.............cook together over double boiler until thickened and then cool to room temp

1 1/2 cup butter softened

1 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla.....beat last 3 ingredients, then add flour/milk mix and beat about 2 min till fluffy

Slice the two cake layers in half, frost all layers.

BLURB:

Seven years ago, Abby Montgomery survived a brutal attack. Now she is ready to put her pain in the past and move on with her life. The problem is, one by one the men in her life are being viciously murdered.

The detective assigned to the case, Ethan Parker, has demons of his own to hide. As the danger gets closer to Abby, so does Ethan. But can they get past his secrets before the killer gets to them? Sometimes the sins of the mind are more depraved than the sins of the heart.

BUY LINK 

EXCERPT:

“Moment?” He raised his eyebrows, tried for a surprised expression. “We were having a moment? Where was I?”

A husky laugh escaped Abby’s lips. She gave him a playful shove, but he caught her hand, his fingers encircling her delicate wrist. With great care, he bowed his head and pressed his lips to the center of her palm. Her sharp intake of air told him she liked it.

“Is this the moment you were referring to?” He kissed her wrist. “Or this?” His mouth grazed along her skin, up the side of her neck to the tender point below her ear.

“Mmm.” She tilted her head, offering him better access.

He inhaled, reveled in her unique scent. A mixture of spicy vanilla and exotic flowers invaded his senses and sent the room slowly spinning. Primal lust roared through him, demanded he possess her in a rush of carnal passion.

But Ethan resisted.

Intent on enticing Abby into a wild, heated frenzy, he trailed the tip of his tongue along her throat. Her pulse hammered beneath his ardent attention, and he reveled in her response. His fingers slid over her supple skin. One hand sought the silky tresses adorning her head while the other coaxed her legs across his lap then slipped around her waist.

He pulled back, stared into her lovely face. Eyelids fluttering, she sighed in his arms. When she looked at him, desire burned bright in her eyes. His heart stuttered at the sight, and hot need rushed to his groin.

“Abby.” Her name rolled from his tongue in a mix of desperation and lust. A voracious hunger to taste every inch of her body washed over him. The urge to kiss the small of her back, to run his tongue along her skin, delving and dipping into her secret, sensitive places, all but overwhelmed him. “Tell me to stop. If you’re not ready, honey, tell me to stop right now and by all that’s holy, I will. But you need to know how much I want you right now.”