Merry Christmas Book Giveaway, Novel Food Scene, & Recipe!!

Merry Christmas Book Giveaway, Novel Food Scene, & Recipe!!
Saturday, November 30, 2024 by Sally Jo Pitts

Investigating Food Used in Novels

This month’s food scene and recipe come from Patti Shene Gonzales’s novel— Cathy’s Christmas Confession, A Christmas Ridge Romance Book 3.

It’s the Christmas season, and Cathy Fischer is attempting to help widower David Martin find joy in Christmas despite his grief over the recent loss of his wife. She has offered to fix him a meal if he puts up her Christmas lights. She’s no cook, and one of the few meals she can prepare is spaghetti with a slight alteration to the recipe.

Here is the scene:

She gave him an odd look as he picked up his knife and fork. “Please tell me you twirl your spaghetti.”

“What?” His eyebrows shot up.

“That’s what the big spoon is for. Like this.” She snagged some pasta onto her fork, then placed it inside the spoon and wound the spaghetti strands around the fork. “It’s the only real way to eat spaghetti.” She teased him with a smile. “How does an Italian food lover not know this?”

He laughed and mimicked her actions. “Not near as messy. This sauce is amazing. It has a secret ingredient.”

“You’ll notice it’s a lot thicker than most sauces. I add chili and call it Mexican spaghetti.” She shrugged. “Just a little variation I thought I’d try one day. I’ve been making it that way ever since.”

“It’s wonderful.”

“Help yourself to garlic bread.” She pushed the basket of bread toward him.

He took a slice and gave her a mocking look. “Already buttered. So why did you give me a knife if I wasn’t supposed to cut spaghetti with it?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

She shrugged. “A place setting without a knife, fork, and spoon is incomplete. Bothers me like wearing one shoe or something. Oh!” She jumped up. “I forgot the salad.” She retrieved the prepared salad from the refrigerator, placed it in the center of the table, and brought two bowls from the cabinet. “If you want to use a knife, cut up the lettuce.” She grinned.

Author Patti Shene Gonzales shares her special “Mexican” spaghetti.

Spaghetti, Patti’s Mexican

For the recipe go to Investigatin’ Recipes above under Investigator’s News or Click Here.

Here’s more about Cathy’s Christmas Confession.

Christmas is not a time of joy for the hurting.

During a snowstorm, widow Cathy Fischer creams a stop sign on her way to work at the Christmas Ridge Community Church. Acquaintance David Martin stops to help. Cathy sees signs of deep grief in David, a recent widower. She reaches out with support in an attempt to help David through this most difficult first Christmas without his beloved wife.

David Martin struggles with grief over the death of his wife. He blames God for her rapid demise after her cancer diagnosis. Cathy reaches out to him with compassion and support and soon enlists him in her mission to bring joy to others at Christmas. Will their joint quest restore David’s faith?

David needs to turn loose of the past and embrace his future. Cathy has a confession to make to the entire community that may give David a different perspective of who she really is. Will her confession set her free?

Does God have plans in mind for the two of them they did not anticipate?

BOOK GIVEAWAY

Leave a comment to be placed into a drawing for a signed print copy of Cathy’s Christmas Confession.

About the author:

Patti Shene Gonzales enjoyed a thirty-year career as a psychiatric nurse and has always harbored a desire to write. She hosts published and unpublished writers on her two blogs, Patti’s Porch and The Over 50 Writer.

Patti was born in New York but has made her home in Southeastern Colorado for the past fifty years. She is a widow with two adult children and one granddaughter, all of them amazing, of course! Patti enjoys reading, writing, critiquing, watching old TV westerns, and spending time with family and friends.

She is the author of Cathy’s Christmas Confession: A Christmas Ridge Romance Book 3, the third book in a contemporary Christmas novella multi-author series. (Each story can stand alone). The book is available on Amazon in Kindle and print format and on Kindle Unlimited.

She is one of the original founders of the Colorado Springs chapter of ACFW.

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Comments

Cherie J From Florida At 12/4/2024 1:43:31 PM

Sounds like a fun read.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Yes!

Patti Shene From SE Colorado At 12/3/2024 10:24:59 PM

Sally, thank you for hosting me and giving me the opportunity to share about the book and the recipe. My goodness, I am overwhelmed by all the comments! If any of you would like to get in touch with me, my email is [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you! Merry Christmas all and thank you!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I'm loving sharing about your book, Patti.

Beth Reimer From Maryland At 12/3/2024 1:51:53 PM

Merry Christmas sounds like something I would enjoy reading.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

It's a good read.

Joy Isley From ARIZONA At 12/2/2024 10:54:12 PM

I would love to read your book

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Thanks for dropping by.

Nigel Evans From Yeovil Somerset U.K, At 12/2/2024 7:57:42 PM

Thank you for the opportunity

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Thanks for commenting.

Jane Squires From Wasola Mo At 12/2/2024 6:20:06 AM

I don't know your work and would like to. I review printed books

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Thanks for checking us out!

Andrea Carroll From Rock Springs, WY At 12/1/2024 11:09:34 PM

Thank you for the giveaway! I can't wait to read it.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Good luck on the giveaway!

Kim Cox From Colorado At 12/1/2024 9:52:47 PM

Sounds like an awesome book!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

It is a sweet Christmas story!

Anne-Marie Webster From Pittsfield, MA At 12/1/2024 9:47:28 PM

Sounds like a helpful book for dealing with loss around the holidays. Perhaps could give a few pointers to those who try to encourage those dealing with lonliness.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Yes. A good observation.

Linda Kish From Nuevo, CA At 12/1/2024 9:40:49 PM

Your book sounds wonderful. Thanks for the chance to try to win a copy.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Good luck.

Kimberly Bowie From Missouri At 12/1/2024 9:04:59 PM

This sounds like an amazing story and I’d love to read it!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Good!

Jacqueline Graves From Atlanta At 12/1/2024 8:22:13 PM

Sounds like a fun book. I twirl my spaghetti, too! Thank you for the chance to win.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Love the twirling spaghetti idea too.

Anita Yancey From Georgia At 12/1/2024 6:32:08 PM

Merry Christmas! I love Christmas books and would enjoy reading yours. Thanks for this chance.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Thanks for commenting.

Grace L Newton From Carmichael, CA At 12/1/2024 6:00:16 PM

Very good books

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Laura From USA At 12/1/2024 5:25:35 PM

I would love to win a copy of your book as it sounds delightful. Thank you for the opportunity. Happy holidays.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Merry Christmas and good luck!

Karen D From California At 12/1/2024 4:03:03 PM

I also love reading and writing!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Nothing like a Christmas book to add to the season.

Betty Smith From Pennsylvania At 12/1/2024 2:50:10 PM

It sounds like a great book to read. Thank you for the opportunity. Betty

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Thanks for submitting!

Lori R From At 12/1/2024 1:53:31 PM

Thanks for the chance!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Yes. Good luck.

Deborah Clark From Eugene, Oregon At 12/1/2024 1:06:52 PM

I would love to win this book. Thank you for a chance to enter the giveaway. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Christmas greetings to you too.

Crystal Stewart From Bruin, PA At 12/1/2024 11:44:26 AM

I really enjoyed reading this post about an author I just met yep you're new to me, actually I'm an unpublished author myself always looking ideas and just love meeting new authors. Love reading print books because I usually review print books, thanks again for such a great post

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Thanks for stopping by my blog. It is a delightful book.

Sharon Jennings From Florida At 12/1/2024 10:16:11 AM

The recipe sounds good will have to try.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

It does sound interesting, doesn't it? Thanks for the comment,

Julie Rupert From Tennessee At 12/1/2024 9:42:05 AM

This book sounds great and I would love to try that recipe.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Good! Thanks for stopping by.

Debby From Florida At 12/1/2024 9:38:01 AM

I think I will try the spaghetti and the books as well.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Good. Enjoy!

Renee Mirsky From Simsbury, CT At 12/1/2024 8:53:27 AM

Would love to win a copy. Thanx!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Good luck!

Robyn Moody From Colonial Heights VA At 12/1/2024 8:34:01 AM

That recipe for Mexican Spaghetti sounds delicious. Will have to try it

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

It does sound interesting.

Diana Hardt From California At 12/1/2024 5:41:03 AM

It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Glad you commented.

Mary Preston From QLD At 12/1/2024 5:23:54 AM

The story sounds wonderful. I enjoyed the scene.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

It is a sweet Christmas story.

Becky Van Vleet From Colorado Springs At 11/30/2024 7:44:27 PM

Stopping by to say hello Patti and Sally Jo. Hey, I already have a copy of this engaging, romantic Christmas book and I loved it. So my name doesn't need to go in a drawing. But if anyone else sees my comment, I'll say--GO BUY THE BOOK! Merry Christmas to both of you.