Birds and Books: Toasted Strawberry Shortcake, An Improvment on Perfection: Welcome Donnell Ann Bell

I’ve always believed strawberry shortcake was one of those perfect desserts; impossible to improve upon.

Bake, Love Write author, Donnell Ann Bell, adding one simple ingredient, proved me wrong. Her Toasted Strawberry Shortcake is simple and quick, but dressed with what I like to call “liquid gold.” And any pastry that can be toasted is one step above great. What Donnell did to strawberry shortcake was to brushed each piece of pound cake with Grand Marnier and broil each side until nice and toasty before adding the strawberry topping. She turned a fabulous dessert into an unforgettable one.

Donnell is a contributor to Bake, Love, Write: 105 Authors Share Dessert Recipes and Advice on Relationships and Writing, edited by Lois Winston. The book features mystery and romance writers sharing not only their favorite recipes for fabulous cakes, pies, cookies, candy, and more, they also share the best advice they’ve ever received on love and writing.

What’s Donnell’s advice on love and writing? In a nutshell: fall in love with your best friend, but don’t fall in love with your words.

Diana Reid is an investigative reporter skilled at uncovering other people’s secrets. It’s her own that she works to keep buried. Eight years earlier, she promised to leave her fiancé and hometown of Diamond, Texas forever. That pledge vanishes when she receives a letter stating people are going to die, implicating her hometown’s largest employer, and making a veiled threat against her mother. With no other choice, Diana will return to Diamond, albeit in disguise, to discover the anonymous author.

Brad Jordan moved on with his life after Diana walked out on him. Needless to say, she’s an unwelcome topic. Just as he rebuilt his life, the newly elected mayor of Diamond, and newly engaged to be married man, plans to rebuild his struggling hometown. Those plans are threatened, however, when an El Paso physician notifies Brad that she believes his family’s company, Jordan Industries, is conducting illegal practices and sacrificing the public’s health.

When the doctor suggests bringing in Diana to uncover the wrongdoing, Brad opposes the idea. Still, when she appears despite his wishes, he is forced to accept that a woman he vowed to forget may be his only option to get to the truth. Together Diana Reid and Brad Jordan face a dangerous adversary—one whose only intent is keeping a deadly agenda buried.

Donnell Ann Bell is an award-winning author of three romantic suspense novels, all of which have been e-book bestsellers. Buried Agendas is her fourth published novel. Currently she is working on her first suspense series for Bell Bridge Books. Donnell and her husband live in Colorado. You can visit her website at www.donnellannbell.com

Cookbook authors include: Brenda Novak, Lois Winston, Debra Holland, Dale Mayer, Shelley Noble, Caridad Pineiro, Diana Orgain, Lisa Verge Higgins, Lynn Cahoon, Jasmine Haynes, Jan Carol, Meg Bellamy, Bobbi Chukran, Melissa Keir, Amy Gamet, Kristy Tate, Terry Shames, Barbara Phinney, Kitsy Clare, Raine English, Cathryn Cade, Haley Whitehall, Shilpa Mudiganti, Melinda Curtis, Jessa Slade, Jill Blake, Daryl Devore, Molly MacRae, Elizabeth Rose, Helena Fairfax, Lourdes Venard, Jessica Aspen, Maegan Beaumont, Kay Kendall, Elizabeth John, Victoria Adams, Cyndi Pauwels, Alice Loweecey, June Shaw, Donnell Ann Bell, T. Michelle Nelson, Nina Milton, Pam DeVoe, Skye Taylor, Conda V. Douglas, Pepper Phillips, Judy Alter, Cadence Denton, Lesley Diehl, Erin Farwell, Regan Walker, Kaye Spencer, Barbara Monajem, Kathleen Kaska, Catherine Kean, Rose Anderson, Suzie Tullett, Deborah Hughes, Cynthia Luhrs, Judy Baker, Alicia Dean, Leslie Langtry, Janis Susan May, Mitzi Flyte, Ruby Merritt, Renee D. Field, Kathryn Quick, Susan Cory, Judy Penz Sheluk, Kay Manis, Kathryn Jane, Debra Goldstein, E. Ayers, Chantilly White, Sloan McBride, Triss Stein, Ana Morgan, Adele Downs, L.C. Giroux, Pamela Aares, Nancy Warren, Barbara Lohr, J.J. Cook, Lynn Reynolds, Cori Arnold, B.V. Lawson, Lynn Franklin, M.L. Guida, Irene Peterson, Sue Viders, Liese Sherwood-Fabre, Susan Santangelo, Sheila Seabrook, Elaine Charton, Sharleen Scott, Kathy Bennett, Jody Payne, Reggi Allder, Ashlyn Chase, Beverley Bateman, Susan Lohrer, Donis Casey, Barbara Leavy, Stacy Juba, Karen Rose Smith.