Lisa J. Lickel – Romantic Excerpt & Recipe for Romance – Part 3 of 3

Shannon here: Black Lyon Publishing author, Lisa J. Lickel shares a romantic excerpt and a recipe for romance from her book, Meander Scar. Leave a comment on any post dated Nov 1 – 5 to win a copy. Deadline Nov 6, 8:00 PM Central. Here’s Lisa:

Crockpot Stew
Beef and Barley stew, serves 6-8. Prep: ½ hour; Cooking Time: 6 hours, medium/low setting 
1 lb good quality beef stew meat, chopped in approx. ½-inch cubes
2 T olive oil
2 T flour, ½ tsp each salt and pepper and rosemary and thyme and sage
1 large chopped onion
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 can light condensed cream of celery soup
6 cups vegetable OR beef broth
½ cup long cook barley
Vegetables to taste: may include 3 fresh carrots; peeled and chopped, 2-3 potatoes depending on size, chopped, may leave peel on; 1-2 stalks of celery, chopped; leeks, turnips, parsnips, okra, corn.  
Dredge the beef cubes in the flour and spice mix and brown in the oil with the onions and garlic, place in crockpot turned on to a medium or medium/low setting. Slowly pour in the liquids, add barley and vegetables. Cover and cook until vegetables are tender, stirring two or three times. Serve with a hearty bread.
An excerpt for you from Meander Scar, by Lisa J Lickel:
Chapter Eleven
After the three o’clock family Christmas service at Hope Church, Mark stopped the car in Ann’s drive. “You sure about me staying to see Ritchie and Colleen?”
“Yes.” Ann unlocked the door and handed her coat to Mark to hang up. “Dinner should be ready soon.”
“Wait.” Mark encircled her. “Then I want to give you my gift.”
“I have something for you, too.”
Ann had made her own version of Mark’s crockpot stew. It seemed the easiest thing to manage so that they’d have a little time together between dinner and Ritchie and Colleen’s visit. Ann clasped her fingers tightly on her lap while she watched him unwrap her present. They sat facing each other on her long tapestry sofa, the multicolored lights of the tree they had decorated together glowing softly in the background.
She felt like part of a Norman Rockwell scene, and considered herself fortunate. She’d bought him an engraved pen and pencil set, but the other gift was one she cared about. Ann closed her eyes when he read the title of the book she’d chosen. Bronte. The handmade bookmark tucked inside told him, for the first time, that she loved him. He was silent so long. Ann felt sweat start at her hairline.
She opened her eyes to see him stroke the entire length of linen she’d embroidered, stitching every letter in the words “I love you” with a permanence that couldn’t be misunderstood. Had she made a terrible mistake? Maybe he’d been so put off by her reluctance to tell her son about them that he wanted to break up with her.
She reached to cover his jerky hand motions, then touched the cheek of his bent head. She pulled away at the odd sensation of dampness, puzzled. All of Ann’s senses heightened, threatening to overwhelm her. The lights became so brilliant they made her eyes sting. The sound of Stella’s Silent Night combined with the scent of cinnamon and frankincense potpourri in a convulsive bubble.
“Mark?” He lifted his head so she could see his tears, the gap in his soul. She knew he needed to hear the words, not just see them. “I love you. I do.”
Mark’s struggle for control was all the answer that mattered. Ann folded his head to her breast and stroked the hair from his temple. She filled her lungs with the warmth and strength emanating from him. Holding him against her like this was not even a remotely parental act. She fit herself into the empty place in Mark as she committed to love him.
In time, he drew back and cleared his throat. “Thank you.” He kissed her fingers. “I love you.” Then he handed her a small package. “This is for you.”
Ann’s heart again spasmed at the feel of the jewelry box. She took in a deep breath and gingerly slit the tape to fold back the paper. She let out the breath—in relief?—at the sight of gorgeous black onyx roses set with sparkling diamond earrings. The name on the box made her cringe at the thought of the expense. “They’re beautiful, Mark.”
He touched her lips before staring at her mouth. Closing his eyes, he rested his forehead against hers. They remained joined by touch and soul until stamping sounds from the front porch let them know Ritchie and Colleen had arrived. 
About Lisa: A graduate of the Christian Writer’s Guild’s Apprentice Course, Lisa Lickel was a top ten finisher in the first Operation: First Novel contest. She has written and produced for radio theater and performed live. Her works have been released in national syndication on FreeQuincy.podcast. She freelances for local newspapers and writes magazine articles, appearing in her national church magazine, Writer’s Digest, and You Can Write for Children, as well as devotionals. She also edits for local historical societies, and holds a bachelors of science in history and RECES.
Lickel’s novels include The Gold Standard, Healing Grace, and Meander Scar. She enjoys membership in local book clubs and writing groups, as well as American Christian Fiction Writers, and Wisconsin Regional Writers. She lives in a hundred and fifty-year old house and is active in local historical societies. Married to a high school biology teacher, she travels, and collects books and dragons.
Learn more at http://lisalickel.com, http://wisconsinauthorreview.blogspot.com, http://reflectionsinhindsight.wordpress.com, http://www.facebook.com/lisalickel, http://www.shoutlife.com/lisalickel, and http://www.goodreads.com/lisalickel.
Come back Nov 8 to help me celebrate. White Roses is finally in stores. I’ll share another glimpse into my real life romance, a romantic interview with questions answered by me and hubby, and a never before released excerpt from the book.