Easter Egg Hunt/Hop

Welcome, hoppers! Spring in Kentucky means blue skies, daffodils and redbud trees in bloom, and fields dotted with newborn foals. This spring, I’m celebrating the release of One Thing Leads to Lover, the second book in the Love and Let Spy series, out April 6. If like me, you enjoy celebrating with something sweet, I hope you’ll try a slice of Shaker Lemon Pie. Its bright flavor is perfect for spring!

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, is a historic site that preserves the buildings and traditions of the 19th century religious community of Shakers (so called because of the way they stomped and whirled in worship). The Shakers were noted for their strict separation of the sexes, as well as their craftsmanship and their labor-saving devices. If you visit Shaker Hill today, you can see their living and working conditions, buy handmade brooms and boxes, and enjoy a fabulous meal, topped off with—what else?—lemon pie!

Shaker Lemon Pie (adapted from the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill’s recipe)
For the filling:

• 2 lemons
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Pastry for 2 crusts

1. Slice the lemons paper-thin. A mandoline is ideal, but if you are using a knife, freezing the lemons briefly first will help in cutting. Remove the seeds. Place the lemon slices in a bowl, mixed with 2 cups of sugar. Let the bowl sit at room temperature for at least 24 hours, stirring occasionally.

2. When you are ready to make the pie, lay out the bottom crust in the pie pan and refrigerate while preparing the filling. For the filling, beat 4 eggs and mix in 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Mix the lemons and any remaining syrup/juice with the eggs, then pour the mixture into the unbaked pie shell. Add the top crust and cut small vents for releasing steam. Place in a 425-degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes (the crust should turn light golden), then reduce heat to 375 degrees. Bake for about 20 to 25 more minutes, or until a knife inserted into the pie comes out clean. Cool for an hour, then enjoy!
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One Thing Leads to a Lover takes place just as spring turns to summer. The days are lovely, the nights are sultry, and what better place for a rendezvous between a spy and an adventurous widow than the flower-filled garden of Bartlett House?
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Amanda Bartlett, widowed Countess of Kingston, is a woman beyond reproach. Married at nineteen, she dutifully provided the Earl with an heir and a spare before his death three years ago. Since then, Amanda has lived a simple, quiet life. A life that, if she were honest, has become more than a trifle dull. So when an adventure literally drops into her lap, in the shape of a mysterious book, she intends to make the most of it—especially if it brings her closer to a charismatic stranger....

​​Major Langley Stanhope, an intelligence officer and master mimic known as the Magpie, needs to retrieve the code book that has fallen into Amanda's hands. The mistaken delivery has put them both in grave danger and in a desperate race to unearth a traitor. It's also stirred an intense, reckless attraction. Langley believes the life he leads is not suitable for a delicate widow, but it seems he may have underestimated the lady's daring... and the depths of their mutual desire....

Did you spot my Easter egg? Before you “hop” away, I hope you’ll sign up for my newsletter and follow me on Facebook or BookBub. Once you’re ready to keep hopping, you’ll find a complete list of participating authors here.