Oct 18, 2017 | Barbara Devlin, Blog, Boxed Set, Claire Delacroix, Eliza Knight, Emma Prince, Hildie McQueen, Kathryn Le Veque, Laura Landon, Layna Pimentel, October 2017, Suzan Tisdale, Tina de Salvo
The Nutcracker Reimagined by Kathryn Le Veque, Claire Delacroix, Barbara Devlin, Eliza Knight, Suzan Tisdale, Hildie McQueen, Tina DeSalvo, Laura Landon, Layna Pimentel, and Emma Prince.
Hopefully by now you’ve already one-clicked this collection for your holiday reading. If not, there is still time to add it to your e-readers!
On the last day of The Nutcracker Reimagined Blitz the authors wanted to share a favorite recipe. So, from their holiday table to yours Happy Reading & Happy Cooking, or Drinking 😉
~ From the Kitchen of Claire Delacroix ~
We eat a lot of British foods at Christmas in Canada, and there’s nothing more British than a good trifle. This is a showy dessert to bring to the table and serve.
Claire’s Trifle
Custard, fruit and ladyfingers in layers.
For the vanilla custard:
1 tbsp conrstarch
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 cups homogenized milk
2 cups table cream (18%)
1 piece vanilla bean or 1 tsp vanilla extract
3 eggs
6 egg yolks
In a heavy saucepan, blend cornstarch with sugar. Whisk in milk and cream, add vanilla bean. (If using vanilla extract, add it after the custard is cool.) Stir constantly over moderate heat and bring to a simmer. Stir and simmer for 10 minutes to develop vanilla flavor; reduce to low. Beat eggs and egg yolks until smooth: blend in one cup of hot milk, then whisk back into hot milk in saucepan. Stirring constantly with a whisk, cook until custard is thick and smooth, 7 – 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Whisk custard as it cools. If you’re using vanilla extract, add it now. You can keep the custard covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for a day.
Three hours before serving, assemble the trifle.
1 package ladyfingers soaked in sherry
1 pint blueberries
1 pint raspberries
Custard (recipe above)
In an 8-cup glass or crystal bowl, layer the custard with the ladyfingers and fruit – I do ladyfingers, custard, fruit, ladyfingers, custard, fruit. Refrigerate until serving. You may wish to serve the trifle with fresh whipped cream. You certainly want to serve it with dark chocolates and brandy!
~ From the Kitchen of Kathryn Le Veque ~
A perfect Medieval holiday recipe (one I have tried and it’s very good!)
Maximus’ Tart
Guaranteed to make all future knights very happy with full tummies!
4 Tbsp. butter, melted
1/2 tsp. salt
pinch saffron
6 eggs
1/2 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1/2 lb. soft cheese, grated
1/2 cup currants
1 Tbsp. honey
1 tsp. parsley
1 tsp. sage
1 tsp. hyssop (this is an herb with a minty-ish taste)
1 tsp. powder douce (equal parts ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves)
Grind saffron with salt, mix with butter, and set aside.
Place onions into boiling beef broth and cook until just tender and drain.
Beat eggs and combine with saffron-butter, onions, and remaining ingredients, pour into pastry shell, and bake at 350°F for one hour.
~ From the Kitchen of Laura Landon ~
Old Fashioned Candied Pecans
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg white
1 tablespoon water
1 pound pecan halves
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
Mix sugar, cinnamon, and salt together in a bowl.
Whisk egg white and water together in a separate bowl until frothy. Toss pecans in the egg white mixture. Mix sugar mixture into pecan mixture until pecans are evenly coated. Spread coated pecans onto a baking sheet.
Bake in the preheated oven, stirring every 15 minutes, until pecans are evenly browned, 1 hour.
~ From the Kitchen of Tina DeSalvo ~
Cajuns love bread pudding…heck who doesn’t. Best way to not let any food go to waste, right. This is made (or can be) with stale bread. Enjoy
Serve with a nice strong cup of cafe’ au last!
Old Fashioned Bread Pudding – (w Rum sauce)
4 cups of milk
4 eggs, separated
10 slices of stale bread (or use French bread)
1 ½ cups of sugar (cane sugar is best)
1 teaspoon of vanilla
I small can of evaporated milk
1 regular size can of condensed milk
pinch of salt
-Heat the milk and pour it over the bread. Mash it together.
-Cream the egg yolks and sugar together. Add it to the bread mash.
-Add evaporated milk, vanilla, salt and half of the condensed milk to the bread mash and mix well. Make sure it is very moist but not runny.
-place in a buttered, rectangular pan and bake uncovered at 375 degrees for about an hour. Make sure the eggs are cooked and mixture is springy to touch.
-Extra: This is not necessary, but you MAY want to add this to the pudding. Take the egg whites and combine it with four tablespoons of sugar and beat until it is dissolved and stiff. Pour it over the top of the pudding and return it to the oven and brown at 350 degrees.
-Drizzle the remainder of the condensed milk over the top and serve warm.
If you want to add a Rum Sauce to the top of this bread pudding- here is a recipe you may enjoy:
½ cup (1 stick) butter
¼ cup water
1/3 cup sugar (cane sugar is best)
1 ½ tablespoon dark rum
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
-bring the bugger, sugar, water and rum to a boil in a small saucepan. Cook, until the sugar dissolves, making sure to stir continuously. This should take about 3-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir int eh vanilla. Let it stand for a couple of minutes, pouring it warm over the pudding. YUM! You can top it with a little bit of whipped cream too.
For your Fur Babies:
Molasses Cookies recipe (for dogs or three-legged deer)- that Aurora would have used.
Ingredients:
2 cups cornmeal
2 large eggs
2 tbsp molasses
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup powdered milk
Preheat oven to 400º. In a large mixing bowl combine all the ingredients. Blend until smooth. Roll this mixture out ¼ inch thick and cut into shapes or shape into dog biscuits by hand. Place 1 inch apart on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.
~ From the Kitchen of Barbara Devlin ~
Italian Christmas Cookies
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 tsp. vanilla
3 1/2 cup flour
4 tsp. baking powder
Sift dry ingredients. Cream butter and sugar, beat in eggs; add vanilla and dry ingredients.
Knead and add flour as needed to keep dough from sticking to hands. Pinch off dough, roll in your hands to form a log and then twirl into shape. Place on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.
Icing
2 cup sifted confectioner’s sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
6 tsp. water
Stir until creamy
Dip cookies into icing and sprinkle with trim. Place on wire rack with wax paper on counter to collect the dripping icing and sprinkles.
Now, this isn’t a personal recipe. Like most cooks, I collect all sorts of recipes, and I can’t even begin to say where I found this one, but it’s a holiday winner.
~ From the Kitchen of Eliza Knight ~
Spicy Sparkling Sangria
Ingredients:
1 bottle of prosecco (or moscato if you prefer)
1 cup of Fireball whisky (or other cinnamon whisky)
2 bottles of hard apple cider beer
2 cups of apple cider juice
2 of your favorite apples cut into cubes
2 blood oranges sliced in thin rounds
Cinnamon sticks for garnish (optional)
Pomegranate seeds for garnish (optional)
Directions:
Soak the cut up apples and oranges in the whisky for about 2 hours
After 2 hours, mix in the prosecco, beer and apple cider and cinnamon sticks
Refrigerate for about 2-3 hours
Pour over ice, scoop some soaked fruit into the cup, and sprinkle with the pomegranate seeds
~ From the Kitchen of Hildie McQueen ~
Golden Apple Martini.
1 shot
Butterscotch schnaps
Hot Damn schnaps
2 shots
Skyy Vodka
Sour Apple schnapps
add chipped ice
2 dollops or a equivalent whipped cream from can into shaker
Shake and pour into glasses
Sprinkle top with nutmeg
If you try it, let me know what you think. It’s super yummy!!
~ From the Kitchen of Layna Pimentel ~
Great Pumpkin Cookies
Kids will love these fun pumpkin cookies. Decorate with all sorts of goodies like chocolate chips, icing and candies or enjoy them plain
Prep Time: approx. 20 Minutes Cook Time: approx. 15 Minutes Ready in: approx. 35 Minutes. Makes 20 large cookies (20 servings).
Printed from AllRecipes.com, Submitted by Libby’s Pumpkin
2 cups all-purpose flour 1 large egg
1 1/3 cups quick cooking oats 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3/4 cup raisins
1/2 teaspoon salt decorating icings,
1 cup butter or margarine NESTLE@ TOLL HOUSE@
1 cup packed brown sugar Semisweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup granulated sugar candies, raisins or nuts
1 cup LIBBYS@ 100% Pure Pumpkin
Directions
1 PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Grease baking sheets.
2 COMBINE flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter, granulated and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until light and fluffy Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract; mix well* Add flour mixture; mix well* Stir in nuts and raisins. Drop 1/4 cup dough onto prepared baking sheet; spread into 3-inch circle or oval Repeat with remaining dough.
3 BAKE for 14 minutes or until cookies are firm and lightly browned Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes remove to wire racks to cool completely as desired with icing, morsel* candies, raisins or nuts.
~ From the Kitchen of Emma Prince ~
Bourbon Balls (one of my favorite holiday cookies)
Ingredients:
6 oz. chocolate chips
1/2 cup sugar
3 tbsp. corn syrup
1/3 cup bourbon (and maybe a wee dram for yourself as you work!)
1/2 box nilla waifers, crushed/crumbled
1 cup chopped walnuts
Directions:
Melt chocolate chips (you can do this in a microwave-safe bowl and just microwave until the chocolate chips are smooth)
Mix all the ingredients together with your hands (yep, time to get messy!)
Form into balls
If you like, you can roll the balls in more chopped nuts for a pretty coating
That’s it! No baking, just mix and enjoy!
Don’t forget…one more day to enter for the giveaway. TWO winners will receive a kindle e-book of The Nutcracker Reimagined! Open to US residents only.
** When you make these recipes please post a picture and tag the authors on social media with the hashtag #NutcrackerRecipe
Happy Reading and Happy Eats!
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Oct 16, 2017 | Blog, Boxed Set, Claire Delacroix, Emma Prince, Layna Pimentel, October 2017
Welcome to The Nutcracker Reimagined, a holiday collection of tales from 10 authors who present their take on a beloved classic story. What will happen ? Where will the story take place? What adventure awaits? For the next four days I’ll present these tales and end with a holiday post at the end.
I’m also giving away TWO Kindle e-books for two lucky readers. Open to US residents only.
Travel to Spain, in 1432 in The Mercenary’s Bride by Claire Delacroix and discover a man that was banished from the one thing he desired. A vengeful father will test the strength of two people who are destined to be together. Can their love survive? Will they ever meet again?
A broken warrior has much to fight for, and the only thing he desires more than winning a battle is Mhairi’s heart. Surviving on promises, two lovers face obstacles, challenges, and family resistance.
Will Mhairi and Quentin discover the feelings sill burn hot after all this time? Will Mhairi’s family banish him again or allow him to finally stay?
Fall in love with a must read tale that in six chapters fill your e-reader with majestic scenery, the sheer determination of strong characters to reunite with their soul mates and prove love conquers all. It’s a love story for the holidays.
I received this story from the author for a fair and honest review.
Author Info:
Bestselling and award-winning author Deborah Cooke has published over fifty novels and novellas, including historical romances, fantasy romances, fantasy novels with romantic elements, paranormal romances, contemporary romances, urban fantasy romances, time travel romances and paranormal young adult novels. She writes as herself, Deborah Cooke, as Claire Delacroix, and has written as Claire Cross. She is nationally bestselling, #1 Kindle Bestselling, KOBO Bestselling, as well as a USA Today and New York Times’ Bestselling Author. Her Claire Delacroix medieval romance, The Beauty, was her first book to land on the New York Times List of Bestselling Books.
Deborah was the writer-in-residence at the Toronto Public Library in 2009, the first time TPL hosted a residency focused on the romance genre, and she was honored to receive the Romance Writers of America PRO Mentor of the Year Award in 2012.
To Kiss a Governess by Emma Prince is set in the Scottish Highlands and what a tale this is. If you love a story about overcoming obstacles and standing up for those who can’t advocate for themselves you will love this story. Misunderstandings can be toxic in a relationship or friendship, will it ring true in this tale?
Edmund MacLainn is an Earl and needs time to sort out the mounds of paperwork threatening to collapse his estate, and a governess for his sister. Tackling the paperwork is easy, finding the right woman to accept this unique assignment, that is the challenge.
Thea Reynolds is excited about her new post, but questions the wilds of the highlands upon her memorable arrival. With absolute certainty, there are obstacles she must overcome if she’s to gain the trust of her new charge and her charming employer. If he doesn’t stop wearing a kilt, she might find herself falling for more than she bargained for.
Thea must assimilate to the new environment and when a stranger threatens to reveal her secrets, she will make a decision that impacts everyone. Kinfallan Castle has a rich history, plenty of secrets and it’s share of problems, but it might be the best thing that ever happened to Thea, if she doesn’t run from her fear.
Are you ready to fall in love with an Earl this holiday season? It’s a delightful tale and I look forward to reading more stories from Emma in hopes of reuniting with these characters again.
I received this story from the author for a fair and honest review.
Author Info:
Emma Prince is the Amazon All-Star and Bestselling author of steamy historical romances jam-packed with adventure, conflict, and of course love!
Emma grew up in drizzly Seattle, but traded her rain boots for sunglasses when she and her husband moved to the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. Emma spent several years in academia, both as a graduate student and an instructor of college-level English and Humanities courses. She always savored her “fun books”—normally historical romances—on breaks or vacations. But as she began looking for the next chapter in her life, she wondered if perhaps her passion could turn into a career. Ever since then, she’s been reading and writing books that celebrate happily ever afters!
Visit Emma’s website, www.EmmaPrinceBooks.com, for updates on books, future projects, inspirations, newsletter sign-up, and more!
You can follow Emma on Twitter at: @EmmaPrinceBooks
Or join her on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/EmmaPrinceBooks
All She Wanted by Layna Pimentel is a story of love at first sight with a blend of sweetness and just a dash of spice. A fast moving story that brings out the goodness in people and the selfless acts people do for those they love.
Clara Sedgewick has found herself smitten when a new guest stays at her house unexpectedly. Unfamiliar feelings bring out a desire for something she can’t explain, a few extra surprises leave her besotted and a health scare no family so experience keeps the story moving with lots of excitement.
Laird Andrew Cameron has to put his family first and would give anything to find someone he can confide in, and raise his son with. Will happiness and love strike twice? Fearing he may never feel that way again for another woman, he’s shocked when his heart squeezes upon meeting Clara. Could she be the one to rescue his heart ?
Discover a little spice makes the holiday nice in this tale of family, new love and characters that scream for more.
For mature readers 18+. I received this ARC from the author for a fair and honest review.
I received this story from the author for a fair and honest review.
Author Info: Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Layna discovered her love of reading at an early age. She’s a bestselling author at All Romance eBooks and a multi-published author of historical, paranormal, and contemporary erotic romances. When she isn’t devouring salacious romance novels or writing, she enjoys hiking and researching ancient history, mythology, and weaponry. She lives in Northern Ontario with her husband and two daughters.
For updates on her upcoming releases, or to leave her a comment, you can find at:
Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Newsletter
Pre-order your copy by clicking on the cover.
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Aug 1, 2017 | August 2017, Blog, Boxed Set
Official blurb:
Go the distance, fall farther than you planned…
Don’t bother with your passport – you can watch our HOT couples fall in love from the comfort of your couch! USA Today bestsellers Christi Barth, Eliza Knight, Misty D. Waters and Piper J. Drake, and Christina Elle take you along on sexy, romance-drenched vacations all over the globe. Enjoy the exotic settings, the steamy vacation flings that become something more. Take the plunge with five couples as they throw caution to the wind and give in to temptation. The final destination in this itinerary is love, and you’re in for the trip of your life.
Cruising Toward Love by Christi Barth
Can an unexplained breakup and ten years of heartache be cured by the romance – and endless buffets – of a tropical cruise? When her sister is left at the altar, small town librarian Zoe Balis jumps at the chance to take the bride’s unused ticket for the honeymoon cruise. But she didn’t count on sharing a cabin with the man who broke her heart ten years ago!
Wherever You Are by Eliza Knight
After life takes a heart-breaking turn, Calista Adams indulges in a fling while on vacation. But that steamy encounter fills her heart with something she thought never to have again. Maxwell Dane can’t stop thinking about Calista, but he’s home in Paris, she’s an ocean away. Until Calista takes a nine-week sabbatical to travel Europe. With a second chance in sight, Max won’t let her push him away. This could be the forever kind of love, and there’s only one way to find out.
Tell Me No Lies by Misty D. Waters
A handsome B&B owner plus an exotic vacation equals a rare opportunity for overworked single mom Amelia Spenser: a chance to be someone else. For one week, she’s free to be anyone he wants. And she wants to be his perfect match. He doesn’t have to know who she really is. What’s a few lies for the sake of a week they’ll never forget? It’s not like they’ll fall in love…
Finding His Mark by Piper J. Drake
Security chief Michael Hunt brings in wet work specialist Sushar “Su” Sakda to pose as his woman, find his mark, and eliminate the threat—an assassin hunting in his organization. They make a potent pair for this job, and if they survive, their sizzling pretense could become the real thing.
Anywhere With You by Christina Elle
Teegan Michaels has attended six weddings for her sorority sisters dateless and she refuses to go to the last one alone. Not when she has a perfectly respectable—not to mention hot—NFL player ready to save her from humiliation. Who cares that he’s the bride’s ex-fiancé and only wants to go for revenge? What’s the worst that could happen?
***This anthology is filled with original content, brand new from the authors. On sale for a limited time for only #99cents !***
Be sure to check the blog tomorrow for Coffee With Eliza Knight and my reviews of Destination Love later this week.
Dec 26, 2014 | Blog, Boxed Set, December 2014, Romance
Kick Start (Cross Springs Series, Book 1) by Caren Crane explores the unimaginable offense in a marriage, a spousal affair, and then navigates through the aftermath as both partners battle it out for a new beginning. So what do you do when you wake up and discover that your marriage is over? That’s what happened when Linda Dowling faced the unexpected situation in her marriage. After 20 years of being in a relationship, she was suddenly on her own, this time with three kids. She is determined to find a way to make this new change work. Faced with anger, disappointment and no career, she has to discover who she is and what she wants to do. Having to juggle everything while raising and protecting her children from all the negative fall-out that comes with any divorce, much less one where a partner cheated is even trickier.
When Linda decides to go back to school she meets Jack, a hunky man who knows exactly what he wants and will stop at nothing to get it. It’s time for Linda to decide what’s important, fitting into the town’s expectations or breaking the ”Stepford Wives” kind of mold she feels she’s been in, and doing her own thing. Will Jack be a passing fling? Will Linda finally find out she can actually trust someone? What will transpire when Jack discovers what really happened, and all the problems that led to her divorce and her scumbag ex?
Unfortunately, while all of this is going on, Linda’s best friend Connie is going through her own issues, and that complicates everything. Linda will have to decide what to do when she realizes that for once she must balance the scales and put herself first. Will she be able to do it and maintain the friendship with Connie? Everyone should have a friend like Connie but can Linda trust that it will stay steady when she speaks from the heart?
Even more frustrating is when Linda’s kids decide that now is the perfect time to show her how much they need her. The craziness that ensues is epic. This book is filled with a fresh and comedic voice, lots of sexy chemistry and characters that will melt your heart and knock your socks off! If you’re looking for something new check out the first start in this fantastic series! This is a must read and a must gift this holiday season!
I received this ARC in The Perfect Date bundle which has 17 full length stories and 3 novellas by 20 fabulous Red Door Reads authors! If you’re looking for something to warm you up this holiday week then download this deal now! At $2.99 on Amazon Kindle it’s a deal for both you and a friend! If you want to know more about Caren Crane check out my Coffee With post ( https://booksilovealatte.wordpress.com/2014/12/11/coffee-with-caren-crane/ ) I’m looking forward to the next installment!
BIO:
Caren Crane grew up in Nashville, TN, and as a result does not care for country music. However, she cares a great deal about family, friends and men in boots. She blames her love of reading on a childhood devoid of TV and heavy on amusing oneself. Reading books was a lot more fun than playing with Barbies and playing “library” was far superior to playing “school.”
Caren now lives in North Carolina with her tall, handsome husband and a semi-feral and very demanding rescue cat. She fills all her books with family, friends and happy-ever-after endings. Which all books should feature, in her opinion. Connect with Caren on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CarenCraneAuthor or get the latest book news at https://www.CarenCrane.com.
Author Info:
Prelude to the Highlander’s Gift by Eliza Knight is a tale of misunderstandings, acceptance for inner beauty, and overcoming assumptions. A story that will leave you craving a dram served by a man wearing a kilt. 
