Blog Posts

Posted in Cover Reveals

Marked by the Alpha #CoverReveal

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Marked by the Alpha
Sheritta Bitikofer
Publication date: June 11th 2026
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

An alpha with a storied legacy. An independent woman rebuilding after grief. Forbidden desire—for only one is human….

After her mother’s death, photographer Erica Barrett, buys a home she and her mother obsessed over during her childhood in the quaintly historical town of Tolstone. Her magnetic next door neighbor intrigues and disturbs her. The sensual pull feels otherworldly.

Wolf shifter Dominic Beaumont never wanted to be the prime alpha of the sanctuary city, Tolstone, but when his father dies, he’s forced to step up as pack leader and prime alpha over all the wolf packs sheltering in his town. Erica’s arrival is dangerous. The attraction is fierce and instant, but duty comes first.

When revelations about Erica’s past and parentage create chaos, and she questions everything she thought she knew about herself, Dominic is her strength. But as tension builds in the pack, and his leadership is challenged, love becomes a risk that could cost him his authority, his people, and everything he’s sworn to protect.

Perfect for readers craving illicit wolf-shifter romance filled with fate, secrets, rebellion and an alpha willing to risk everything for love.

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order


Author Bio:

Sheritta Bitikofer writes paranormal romance with a particular fondness for wolf shifters and witches. Her stories are driven by one guiding belief: love inspires courage. Through fierce romances, unbreakable pack bonds, and the magic of covens and family, her characters fight for the lives—and loves—they deserve. Sheritta lives in northwest Florida, where she drinks far too much coffee and joyfully balances life as a wife and mother while crafting her next heartfelt paranormal love story.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Newsletter


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Posted in From My Kitchen

Hearty Cowboy Soup: A Taste of the Wild West

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Anyone who’s lived in a cowboy town knows that the Wild West is still very much alive. Rodeos, cattle drives, and coal-powered railroad rides continue on. There are also mining tours in a picturesque mountain town. In addition to Wild West vibes, the cowboy appetite is also quite real. After a long day of working outdoors, there’s nothing more comforting than a big bowl of cowboy soup.

The best part about this hearty, filling recipe is that it’s super easy to make and almost completely customizable. You can make it with a variety of ingredients you have on hand in the pantry.

What is cowboy soup?

Cowboy soup is a simple yet flavorful dish. It’s packed with filling ingredients like ground beef, tomatoes, green chiles, pinto beans, and other vegetables. It’s a one-pot meal that comes together in about 30 minutes.

Some say cowboy soup is similar to a hearty chili. Cowboy soup has a comparable spice profile thanks to the combination of tomatoes, chili powder, and ground cumin. However, it is not typically as spicy as most chili recipes. It contains additional ingredients that make the soup more filling. These include chunks of potatoes, sweet corn, and canned mixed vegetables.

Ingredients for Cowboy Soup

overhead shot of ingredients for Cowboy Soup; wooden background;
Taste of Home
  • Ground beef: You can use fresh or frozen ground beef for this recipe. It’s best to defrost ground beef in the fridge overnight. If you forgot, you can still cook ground beef from frozen. Just make sure to flip the frozen brick over frequently and scrape off the outer layers as they brown.
  • Onion and garlic: These aromatic vegetables season the ground beef. They add the first layer of flavor to this hearty cowboy soup.
  • Beef broth: Use low-sodium or homemade beef broth if you want to keep the salt content low. Alternatively, you can use chicken broth or vegetable broth.
  • Ranch-style beans: These canned pinto beans are seasoned with tomato sauce, spices, and a splash of vinegar. This combination gives them a tangy finish. They’re available at most grocery stores, but regular pinto beans also work. (You can make homemade ranch-style beans if you prefer to cook from scratch.)
  • Tomatoes and green chiles: The combination of drained diced tomatoes gives the soup a bold flavor. Undrained diced tomatoes with green chiles contribute to this boldness. It provides a stew-like consistency. This combination adds the perfect hint of heat.
  • Veggies: You can use any type of vegetable in this soup. We like peeled and chopped potatoes, frozen corn and a can of mixed vegetables, but feel free to experiment.
  • Seasonings: Chili powder adds a hint of spice, while ground cumin boosts the smoky vibes. A little bit of salt and pepper rounds it all out.
  • Jalapeno pepper: Garnish the soup with thinly sliced jalapeno peppers for some spice.

Taste of Home

Find more recipes like this on my companion blog, “Good Food, Good Meat, Good God, Let’s Eat!”

Posted in #History

Boston in the American Revolution

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

A Town Versus an Empire 

Discover the people and places of colonial Boston during the tumultuous years of rebellion—illustrations included.
 
In 1764, a small town in the British colony of Massachusetts ignited a bold rebellion. When Great Britain levied the Sugar Act on its American colonies, Parliament was not prepared for Boston’s backlash.
 
For the next decade, Loyalists and rebels harried one another as both sides revolted and betrayed, punished and murdered. But the rebel leaders were not always the heroes we consider them today. Samuel Adams and John Hancock were reluctant allies. Paul Revere couldn’t recognize a traitor in his own inner circle. And George Washington dismissed the efforts of the Massachusetts rebels as unimportant.
 
With a helpful guide to the very sites where the events unfolded, historian Brooke Barbier seeks the truth and human stories behind the myths. Barbier tells the story of how a city radicalized itself against the world’s most powerful empire and helped found the United States of America.

Posted in Cookbooks

Dinner Tonight

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

200 Quick Recipes for Inspired Weeknight Cooking

Bold flavors meet time-saving tricks in 200 recipes (all ready in 45 minutes or less) that make weeknight dinners fun and stress-free.

When time is short and bellies are grumbling, America’s Test Kitchen’s streamlined guide to weeknight cooking is ready for you. It offers great meals that don’t require a ton of work. These meals also bring new flavors to the table. No matter your craving, you’ll find a dinner that fits the bill in under 45 minutes with easy cleanup. You might enjoy chicken salad with a fantastic dressing. Try Avocado Chicken Salad Sandwiches with Jicama and Banana Peppers. If you want umami-rich noodles, consider Chili Crisp Noodles. Or perhaps you desire a deeply comforting soup like Spicy Tomato Soup with Tortellini and Sausage.

Edited by Jack Bishop, TV cast member, tasting guru, and creator of the twice-weekly Dinner Tonight newsletter (which goes out to more than 1 million fans), this collection of 200 go-to recipes delivers plenty of ways to improve your weeknight eating:

  • Fresh Ideas for Pantry Staples: Are you staring blankly at your pantry? These recipes give it new life (canned tuna = Spaghetti al Tonno; frozen peas = Pea and Pistachio Pesto Pasta).
  • Modern Flavor Boosters: Every recipe showcases a smart way to add flavor, like an Old Bay–spiked lemon compound butter that melts over salmon fillets and pools into a bowl of confetti grits; or honey and red wine vinegar, which become a sweet yet sophisticated glaze for chicken.
  • Flexible Swaps: Got parsley but no cilantro? Ground turkey but no pork? These recipes indicate when swaps make sense.
  • Riff on Recipes to Make New Meals: The sauce for Murgh Makhani (aka Indian Butter Chicken) is so perfectly spiced, you’ll want to try it with tofu or chickpeas—we show you how.
  • Comfort-Food Flavors in Low-Key Renditions: Chicken Piccata Meatballs, Pork Meatball Bahn Mi (can you tell we love meatballs?), and Mezzi Rigatoni with Spicy Gochujang Tomato Sauce offer maximum appeal with minimal effort. And that’s just the beginning of what you’ll find.

Need help deciding? Themed lists let you choose dinner based on your mood, the season, or what’s on hand. There are even tips for scaling recipes for two. With 200 recipes plus ways to spin them, you’ve got more than a year of great ideas.

Posted in #History

History of New York State

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

A Captivating Guide to Historical Events and Facts You Should Know About the Empire State (U.S. States) 

Explore the history of New York State, the Empire State!

Do you know the WHOLE story of the State of New York, from the first human inhabitants to the years it was a Dutch colony? The state produced four presidents, was the first in many areas, and created its own state of mind.

What made New York into the state it has become? Was there something unique about Manhattan Island? Was there something about the people that made them so successful? Why is it called the Empire State? Why was the Erie Canal so important?

In this book, you will learn the answers to these questions and more about the following:

  • The original Native American tribes that called New York home
  • The rise and fall of New Netherlands and New Amsterdam
  • The English occupation and the eventual Revolutionary War
  • The founding families, like the Livingstons and Jays
  • The creation and importance of the Erie Canal
  • The development of New York City, Buffalo, and Albany
  • The essence of the New Yorker spirit
  • The role New York played in the Civil War, World War I, and World War II
  • How New York became home to the first steamboat, railroad, and electric power plant
  • How New York City and New York State have come to rely on and fight with each other
  • And so much more!