Book Giveaway, Novel Scene, & Recipe from Dawn Kinzer's Where Love Is Planted

Book Giveaway, Novel Scene, & Recipe from Dawn Kinzer's Where Love Is Planted
Sunday, June 2, 2024 by Sally Jo Pitts

Investigating Food Used in Novels

This month’s food scene and recipe comes from Dawn Kinzer’s romance novel, Where Love Is Planted—book one of the Meriside Romance series.

Heroine Beth Miller prepares a dinner of Chicken Tortellini soup and the scene serves as a backdrop of appreciation and reflection by hero Tyler Sharp.

Here’s the Scene:

Ty tasted the soup filled with shredded chicken, tortellini, carrots, red pepper, onions, fresh parsley, and spinach. “Wow, this is amazing. It has a slight kick to it.”

“It comes from the combination of onions, fresh garlic, and a small amount of red pepper flakes. Too spicy?

“No, not at all.” He took another bite, savoring the flavor. The biscuits complimented the meal. “Thanks for bringing dinner. I appreciate the offer, especially when you’re so busy at the garden center.”

“I don’t cook much. It feels like too much effort for one person.” Beth broke a biscuit in half. “So when I have the opportunity to make a meal for someone, it’s fun.”

They inhaled the food, and between bites, talked about the renovation. Trying to be discreet, Ty watched Beth as she soaked in the remaining daylight. Where had her mind wandered off to? What was she thinking? By her expression, she felt at peace. He understood. This place did the same for him. It calmed him. Made him feel God’s presence.

It felt natural for him to share this moment with her. Like they could remain like this for days, not saying a word, yet completely comfortable with silence. He’d never experienced this before.

Her trance broke, she returned to the present, and smiled at him. If only Ty could tuck that lovely expression away and carry it with him.

Beth attempted to hide a large yawn and leaned back in her chair. “Excuse me. Along with working at the prison, I’ve been putting in a lot of hours at the garden center. And I’m still popping in to visit George. You remember him? The gentleman with Alzheimer’s?”

“There were moments when he thought you were his wife.” And she’d been so kind and gentle with the man, never correcting him.

“I try to spend time with the other people you met that day as well—Mrs. Middleton, the lady who broke her hip, and Colton, the little boy who is autistic. There are several others who benefit from digging in the dirt. But the three you met have all asked about you.” She grinned. “You made quite an impression on them.”

“I’ve stopped by to see Mr. Middleton a few times and played backgammon. He served during the Vietnam War and has shared some of his experiences. Not all vets want to talk about what they went through.”

“You’re a good listener.” She leaned back and closed her eyes, and her face glowed from the sun’s rays as the orb lowered farther in the horizon.

Was this woman an angel? Everything about her convinced Ty that she could be one in disguise. Beautiful was an understatement, but how she continued to sacrifice her time to serve others daily blew him away. Did she ever put herself first?

Author Dawn Kinzer shares this recipe:

Chicken Tortellini Soup

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

More about Where Love Is Planted:

She’s bound to past promises. He’s captive to future goals. Will their loyalty to others cost them their own happiness?

Or will something beautiful grow where love is planted?

Two years have passed since a tragedy changed Beth Miller’s life forever. Since her father’s and brother’s unexpected deaths, Beth has put her future as a licensed horticultural therapist on hold. The garden center and floral shop that her mom and sister love is struggling. And her young brother’s widow is still trying to find her way. Beth’s devotion puts her family’s needs first.

To further his career and atone for his own tainted past, Tyler Sharp accepts a position as a social worker at a women’s prison. The facility is located near his great-aunt in the small port town of Meriside, Washington. While he’s intrigued with the woman living in the studio apartment behind his aunt’s home, as soon as he can return to Colorado, he and his best friend will initiate a program there for at-risk kids.

As secrets are exposed and hearts soften, their growing feelings for each other bring new challenges. Will Beth complete a necessary internship if it means helping the person who caused her loved ones so much pain? And if she’s unwilling to leave her family, and Tyler will never intentionally disappoint his loyal buddy in Colorado, how could they ever hope to create a life together?

Join Beth and Tyler in the Pacific Northwest as they explore what it means to sacrifice, hope for the future, and experience miracles where love is planted.

About the Author:

Dawn Kinzer, a mom and grandmother, lives with her husband in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Favorite things include dark chocolate, cinnamon, popcorn, strong coffee, good wine, the mountains, family time, and Masterpiece Theatre.

BOOK GIVEAWAY

Share something about your favorite soup in the comments for a chance to win a signed paperback of Where Love Is Planted. The winner must reside in the United States.

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Comments

Linda Herold From CA At 6/5/2024 6:47:31 PM

I like soup in a bread bowl especially from Panera Bread!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Sounds good.

Anne-Marie Chandler From Ft Worth TX At 6/5/2024 5:52:09 PM

I love a bowl of Italian Wedding soup and my favorite: French onion soup with cheesy croutons as the topper.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Love the croutons, too.

Dawn Kinzer From Port Orchard, WA At 6/4/2024 5:33:11 PM

Readers, I'm enjoying your responses! You've shared some of my favorite soups: broccoli cheddar, chicken and wild rice, tomato bisque, and others. My husband is a fan of stew, chili, and creamy soups, but he also enjoys my Chicken Tortellini Soup (recipe shared).

Name Teresa Warner From usa At 6/4/2024 3:22:14 PM

I enjoy broccoli potato soup!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Sounds good.

Joannie Sico From Maine, U.S.A. At 6/4/2024 10:24:52 AM

I'm not a fan of soup. The closest I come to eating soup would be chilli and beef stew once in a while. I do really enjoy chilli though.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Thanks for sharing your favorite. That is one of mine too.

Julie Rupert From Tennessee At 6/4/2024 10:13:02 AM

My favorite soup is homemade chicken noodle and only my mom knows how to make it right.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Moms are like that!

Marti From TX At 6/4/2024 12:17:44 AM

My mom and I used to make potato soup from scratch. It would usually take a couple of hours, so we'd make it on days that were cold or wet. Though later on, cooking the potatoes in an Instant Pot cut the time in half.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Potato soup is a great comfort food.

Maryann From New York At 6/3/2024 11:08:40 PM

My favorite soup is turkey and wild rice soup. It’s perfect for chilly days with some crusty bread. Chicken could also be substituted. It’s a family favorite.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Sounds delicious.

Shelia Hall From USA At 6/3/2024 10:56:33 PM

my favorite soup is a cheesy potato soup

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

The cheese sounds like a great addition. I haven't had potato soup that way.

Anne-Marie Webster From USA-Massachusetts At 6/3/2024 10:20:31 PM

Love many soups. Recently a Ham and Potato soup.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

A nice combination--ham & potato.

Phoebe Howard From Byhalia, Ms At 6/3/2024 10:04:57 PM

I do a copycat of Olive Garden (Italian restaurant near us) chicken gnocchi soup. Really good . But I love alot of different soups. My husband doesn't care for alot of soups.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I love soups, too. Ditto on the husband who didn't care for soup very much.

Miranda Summerset From Georgia At 6/3/2024 8:56:01 PM

My fave soup is the broccoli cheddar from panera bread.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I like to pick this soup up at Wal-mart.

TexasMomma From Texas At 6/3/2024 7:13:07 PM

My favorite soup is a chicken gnocchi soup made in the crock pot. It's so easy to throw everything in the crock pot in the morning & have delicious soup by dinner time!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Good idea.

Shelley Beachy From Florida At 6/3/2024 3:36:30 PM

My favorite soup is the Taco Soup that my daughter's boyfriend makes. It's so deliciously flavorful and filling. I don't know the recipe because he says it is a family secret, but as long as he makes it for us occasionally, I will be happy with that.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Sounds like a good deal.

Rhonda Mayner From Eloy, Arizona At 6/3/2024 3:19:03 PM

My favorite soup is French Onion, with lots of onions and cheese

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Yum.

Amber From PNW ?? At 6/3/2024 1:52:18 PM

As a mountain dweller I make a lot of soup - it's pouring, windy & a bit nippy - can't say I have a fave cause I love it all! Tip...Use Bear Creek packaged soups as a base. I add seasonal veggies and local meats.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Thanks for the tip.

Becki Wisner From Frederick, Maryland At 6/3/2024 1:48:16 PM

My favorite soup is Chicken Gnocchi from Olive Garden. I have not ever made it myself, but hope to one day. The soup you gave the recipe for looks yummy and I can't wait to try it. I may have to use less spicy for the hubby. Thank you for the recipe and opportunity to win this book.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Thanks for stopping by the blog.

Shonda From Missouri At 6/3/2024 1:44:00 PM

White bean and kale soup! Its hearty, plus its so good on a cool fall or winter day with homemade bread. Comfort food??

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Sounds very nutritious!

Deborah Clark From Eugene, Oregon At 6/3/2024 12:51:48 PM

Homemade chicken noodle soup or turkey noodle soup is the best soup. I make them the way my mom taught me and use homemade noodles in them.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Wow. Homemade noodles. I bet that makes it special.

Crystal Stewart From Bruin, PA in the USA At 6/3/2024 12:49:40 PM

My favorite soup is Campbells Chicken Noodle and the favorite thing about it is the Broth.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

A classic.

Jackie Wisherd From La Mesa, CA At 6/3/2024 11:50:15 AM

My mom made the best Potato Soup. She made her own egg noodles to put in it. It was a.ways served with Corn Bread which she made from my grandmother’s recipe.No box mixs in her kitchen. One of my favorite meals.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

This soup sounds great.

Melissa A. Alexander From Billings, MT At 6/3/2024 11:16:50 AM

My favorite comfort soup is broccoli/cheese. YUM, YUM!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Yes. One of my favorites, too.

Shondra From Wakarusa, IN At 6/3/2024 11:15:12 AM

We have a family recipe that's been passed down for potato soup. No matter how many times I try I can never get it to turn out like my mother's or my grandmother's.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Moms and grandmoms always make things special.

Maria Mast From Mississippi At 6/3/2024 10:41:00 AM

I love seafood gumbo but don’t make it much! I do make lots of soups in the wintertime though!! ?? Thankfully my family likes soup! We have a cheeseburger soup recipe that’s probably our favorite! ?? And now my mouth is watering and I’m wishing it wasn’t crazy warm outside! ??

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Cheeseburger soup. That is a new one on me.

Dana Boersma From Illinois At 6/3/2024 10:30:52 AM

My favorite soup is chicken dumpling- which has been hard to find so I guess I need to learn how to make it.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I love chicken and dumplings, too. I think of it as a pot luck favorite in the South.

Ethelann Conner From Shepherdsville, KY At 6/3/2024 10:15:19 AM

I really love broccoli cheddar soup. And a friend of mine gave me a recipe for cheddar potato soup. It's amazing too.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Sounds great.

Kathleen Gardiner From Kingsford, MI At 6/3/2024 10:13:09 AM

My favorite soup is cream of asparagus. I always put in a LOT of asparagus. I try not to use heavy cream and opt instead for half and half. I can eat more that way!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

That sounds like a delicious way to prepare asparagus. I've never mastered cooking it very well.

Britney Pelletier From Illinois At 6/3/2024 9:55:42 AM

I love a good cream of chicken and rice. Pair that with some fresh Italian bread and butter and I'm done for. Perfect on a chilly night.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Sounds delightful.

Debby From Florida At 6/3/2024 9:32:03 AM

I enjoy chicken tortilla soup. I am looking forward to trying this one.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Hope you enjoy it.

Beth R From Maryland At 6/3/2024 9:10:16 AM

I loved my grandmother's homemade beef vegetable soup; all the veggies were grown in garden.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Now that is special.

Susan Heim From Florida At 6/3/2024 9:07:51 AM

I love potato soup! I have fond memories of being sheltered inside on a cold winter's day where I grew up in Michigan and being warmed by a tasty bowl of potato soup.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Sounds comforting!

Patricia Cyr From Lebanon ME At 6/3/2024 8:42:20 AM

My favorite soup is Minestone, it's very hearty and filling and economical because almost any cooked vegetable can be added to stretch out servings, sometimes I add rice or extra beans.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Good tips.

Peg Fornefelt From Marshfield, WI At 6/3/2024 8:26:03 AM

I LOVE chili but what I will generally do is add canned pumpkin to it. I love the taste and texture. I also will sometimes serve it as a "Haystack". You put lettuce, tomatoes, etc., on a plate or in a bowl and put the chili on top. My author friend, Patricia Davis, taught me about that.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I love the pumpkin and haystack ideas.

Amanda Gardner From Alabama At 6/3/2024 8:22:43 AM

I love Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese . This soups looks really good . We gave soup suppers at our Church this would be a good one to take and different type . Thank you

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

That combo gets a check mark!

Sharon Jennings From Pinellas Park FL At 6/3/2024 8:07:01 AM

Oxtail Soup

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I've never had the opportunity for oxtail soup. I'd love to try it.

Lisa Sabatini From Pittston, PA At 6/3/2024 7:31:14 AM

My 96 year old mother-in-law loves to cook for us, and she makes several soups. While it is difficult to choose a favorite, I am looking forward to a bowl of her Cappaletti soup later today!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Your mother-in-law sounds like a treasure.

Darlene Owen From usa At 6/3/2024 6:41:18 AM

I love chicken wing soup, nice and warm on a cold winter night

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

A great way to use chicken wings!

Linda Anne Gawthrop From At 6/3/2024 5:47:21 AM

I went to a community event where "Turbo Soup" was on the menu. It was billed as both filling and good for you as an antioxidant. It became a regular family staple - just consider all the healthy ingredients including beans, spinach, kale, sweet potatoes, onions, sweet peppers and olive oi