Darlene's Digest

  "...It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." --President Abraham Lincoln, the Gettysburg Address (November, 1863) When I was a child, Memorial Day meant the start of summer. Now I'm an adult and it means so much more to me. Take a moment this weekend to reflect on the meaning of #MemorialDay. Remember that the freedoms we enjoy this weekend, and all year long, to swim, to gather, to have outdoor concerts, to hike in the na...

Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews

When Rand opened the cabin door he spied Julia up on the center of the table, skirt hiked up in her hand. “Snake!” she whispered, pointing with her shaking free hand to a darkened corner of the cabin. He dropped his bag and fetched the lamp and the broom. When he raised the lamp and peered into the corner, there was a faint susurrus—a sound like sand falling on the floor. Looking closer, he set down the lamp and broom and said, “C’mon outta there, fella.” He crouched down and waved his fingers in front of the snake, and when it coiled to leap he grabbed it behind its head. The snake wrapped itself around his arm, but Rand didn’t let go of the snake’s head. He straightened and turned to Julia, the snake clinging to his arm, tongue darting in and out in agitation. “This ain’t nothin’ but a corn snake, darlin’. He’s likely more scared of you than you are of him.” He held the snake up, admiring the red, gold, and brown stripes and chevrons patterning the reptile’s body as the snake squirme...

Cursed Luck by Kelley Armstrong My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews

A Stitch in Time by Kelley Armstrong My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews

The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews

"Mr. Washburn, do you like chicken with dumplings so light they float off the plate? Baked turkey with pecan dressing? Rice that doesn’t taste like paste?" She looked at him through her lashes and drawled huskily, "Sweet potato pie?" --Smuggler's Bride   Springtime is blueberry season in North Central Florida and I love to stock up. According to the Florida Blueberry Growers Association, blueberries weren't a huge crop here until some new varieties were developed and commercial growing began to take off in the 1980s. When I go to the weekly farmers market I bring home a quart or two in season, and what doesn’t get snacked on becomes blueberry pies, muffins, and cakes. Today I was on a Zoom call with #RegencyFictionWriters and I mentioned I was in the middle of baking Blueberry Tea Cakes, so naturally, people wanted me to post a recipe. I confess that I don't especially enjoy baking, but I love eating, especially when it's with fresh, local ingredien...

The Devil Comes Courting by Courtney Milan My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews