APPETIZER LOVERS UNITE

There are National Months for every known thing but appetizers. As a true lover of awesome finger food I ask you, how unfair is that? So I am declaring December to be National Appetizer Month. Each Wednesday I'll feature a delicious appetizer. To kick off this auspicious event I've invited Sara Daniel to share her Easy Deviled Eggs recipe just in time for your holiday planning. The kitchen is all yours, Sara!

I love to eat deviled eggs—as long as someone else makes them! But as I approached my fourth decade of life, I realized maybe I need to cross this item off my bucket list even though the creation seemed way too complicated and fancy. I’m a busy mom with a full-time writing job. When it comes to food, I don’t do complicated or fancy.

But recently, I had a bunch of leftover Easter eggs and a whole lot of company coming over. I needed my guests to eat those eggs, so they weren’t sitting in my fridge until Halloween! So I scoured recipes online (Thanks Google!) and simplified the simplest recipe. I haven’t figured out a way to simplify peeling hard boiled eggs, but once I got past that part, these eggs were easy-peasy to make.

Easy Deviled Eggs

1 dozen hard boiled eggs
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tsp. honey Dijon mustard
Paprika

Peel hard boiled eggs. (Muttering and cursing is optional, but I find the eggs respond better to threats and bad temper!)

Slice eggs lengthwise. Scoop yolks into a bowl. Mash yolks, mayonnaise, and mustard together.

Scoop mixture with a small spoon into egg white halves. (If you want to use some fancy thing to make pretty, complicated designs, knock yourself out!)

Sprinkle with paprika. Cover with cling wrap and store in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve.

Like me, the heroine of Wyatt’s Guilt makes work her priority over food, but I think Nicole should give these eggs a try too!

Here is a short intro to one of my favorite books.

Nicole trusted Wyatt with her heart once. She won’t make the same mistake twice.

Nicole DeMonde’s car breaks down the moment she returns to her hometown for her brother’s wedding. The cop who stops to help her is none other than local hottie Wyatt Truman, who slept with her then dumped her when they were teens. She has no choice but to accept his help. However, she knows better than to trust him with her heart twice.

Wyatt is determined to earn Nicole’s forgiveness and make amends for his callous past. Once he lays eyes on her, he can’t help wanting a lot more than forgiveness, despite his intention never to hurt her again.

Just as Wyatt starts thinking his best intentions are of the forever variety, Nicole decides to work Wyatt out of her system with a one night stand. Can either of them make peace with the past in a single weekend, let alone survive with their hearts intact?

To read an excerpt from Wyatt's Guilt, please click HERE.

To read excerpts from other books by Sara Daniel please click a vendor's name Musa Publishing - Amazon.

Sara Daniel writes what she loves—irresistible romance, from sweet to erotic and everything in between. She lives her own happily-ever-after romance with her hero husband.

Learn more about Sara on her website and blog. Subscribe to Sara’s newsletter.

Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Time for a Harvest Treat

Emilia Mancini has more talents than writing terrific romance. No matter what Em says, she also bakes great treats. Emilia is here today to share a family favorite. The kitchen is all yours, Emilia.

For all the disasters I have in the kitchen (and there are plenty), there is one tried and true recipe that never fails. My zucchini bread. It’s yummy. That is all. I need not say more.

I’ve replaced the zucchini with carrots as well, and it was almost as good. The carrots didn’t have as much moisture so the bread was a tad bit drier, but wash it down with a nice hot cup of Earl Grey and you’ll never notice the difference.

This recipe makes two loaves. That may seem like overkill, but the first loaf never even has a chance to cool down. It’s gone that fast.

Emilia Mancini's Zucchini Bread

3 cups shredded zucchini (about 3 medium)
1 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. ground cloves
½ tsp. baking powder
½ to 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
½ cup raisins (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Grease bottoms of two loaf pans.

Mix zucchini, sugar, oil, vanilla and eggs in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients.

Pour into pans and bake 50-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Cool about 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate.

This is a perfect breakfast bread or snack or treat. Basically, when we have zucchini bread in the house, that’s all we eat.

I hope you enjoy it. If you don’t, bring it over to my house and we’ll finish it for you!

Here's a little teaser from my latest sexy release for your reading pleasure.

It took Kyle one look to realize he wanted to seduce his best friend’s mother. And one kiss to realize he didn't have to.

It was lust at first sight when Kyle met his roommate’s mother Kate. Kyle, a college transfer, was too far from home to visit on short school breaks, so Justin took him to Minneapolis where his mother was serving up a family meal for Thanksgiving.

One look left Kyle with a healthy obsession for Kate which grew with each visit. When he landed an internship in Minneapolis, he moved in with Kate for the summer, and got in touch with his voyeuristic side. It wasn’t until one late evening and a few too many glasses of wine that Kyle began to suspect his attraction wasn’t one-sided.

When he dared to push the issue, he found Kate more than willing to succumb to his seduction.

To read an excerpt from Seducing Kate, please click a vendor's name. Musa Publishing - Amazon

Emilia Mancini is the naughtier side to author Marci Boudreaux. Emilia stays hidden in the shadows like a nefarious side kick, slipping out only when the stories Marci wants to share are a little too grown up to be called sweet romance.

Seducing Kate is Emilia’s second release and, at least for the moment, her crowning glory.

Be sure to check out the Pinterest board for Seducing Kate.

Visit Emilia on her website. Stay connected on Twitter and Facebook.

4th of July Treat

from Dominique Eastwick

Italian Raspberry Torte
1 ¼ cup all purpose flour
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
2/3 cup sugar & ¼ cup sugar
¾ cup sour cream
½ cup butter, melted
2 eggs
½ tsp. vanilla
½ tsp. almond extract
1 8 oz pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 cups fresh raspberries
Fresh mint sprigs (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Grease a 9" springform pan: set aside.

Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl combine 2/3 cup sugar, ½ cup sour cream, melted butter, eggs, vanilla, and ¼ tsp. almond extract with an electric mixer.

Add flour mixture to sugar mixture. Beat until combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake 15 minutes. Remove partially baked cake from oven and place on wire rack.

In a new bowl beat cream cheese and ¼ cup sugar with an electric mixer until smooth.

Beat in remaining sour cream and almond extract.

Spoon cream cheese mixture over top of partially baked cake, Spread mixture carefully to edges. Return cake to oven. Bake 20-25 mnutes or until top is set and edges are brown.

Place cake on wire rack. Mound berries on cake, pressing some of the berries gently into cake top.

Cool 10 minutes. Loosen sides of cake from pan.

Cool 30 minutes more. Remove sides of pan.

Serve chilled. Add mint sprigs, if desired.

Makes 12-16 servings.

While your torte is chilling, how about a hot read?

Even the big mistakes can be forgiven if you love enough.

If you love something...

Riley Sherman knew when to cut her losses. Although she loved Barret, he never seemed ready to commit. His business would always be his first love.

If it doesn't come back...

Barret Briggs grew up poor and would be damned if anyone he loved ever went hungry again. Too late he realized that hunger can eat at the heart too.

But what if loves bumps back into you?

When fate throws them together again, can he prove to her he is now worthy of her love? And can she open herself up enough to let him back in?

To read an excerpt from Kissing the Tycoon please click here.


Dominique Eastwick currently calls North Carolina home with her husband, two children, one crazy lab and one lazy cat. Dominique spent much of her early life moving from state to state as a Navy Brat, because of that traveling is one of her favorite past times. When not writing you can find Dominique doing her second love…photography.

Learn more about Dominique Eastwick on her website, blog, and Amazon author page.

A New Look for Eva Scott

Australia has produced some fine writers. One of them is Eva Scott who is here today with her two latest release. So without further delay take a gander at these gorgeous covers and read a little about these wonderful contemporary romance books!

Talia's marriage to Nick becomes her ultimate renovation project.

Nick and Talia Carmichael were childhood sweethearts. Grief over the death of their baby daughter from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome crushed their marriage. Talia moved to a new city, with a new career and life. Now it’s time to close the door on the past and ask Nick for a divorce.

Nick has other ideas. Once his wife, always his wife. He has no intention of letting Talia off so lightly and proposes terms and conditions to his agreement. It will mean moving back into their marital home, and force her to face long buried grief. Can she do as he asks?

Being with Nick causes her to question everything she thought was true. Has she made a mistake thinking her love for Nick is dead? Can he still love her? More importantly, can he again trust after everything they’ve been through?

To read an excerpt from The Marriage Makeover please click here.

Not only flowers bloom...
Dr Camden James is a rural vet, not a wedding planner, so he quickly feels out of his depth when, in a fit of generosity, he offers to glam up his sister's budget wedding in a secret move designed to surprise her. With only six weeks to make this the wedding of his sister's dreams he needs to move fast.
Stumbling around in the largely female world of weddings he gets a lead on the go-to girl for wedding flowers - Georgiana Mac Intyre. Georgi, reeling from a very public breakup, is not interested in men in anyway shape or form. Not even super-cute vets - even when they are clearly interested in her.
Cam shamelessly uses his story to get her to help. It has all the elements; romance against the odds, true love, orphans (you can't have good story without an orphan or two), and a bride.

To read an excerpt from The Reluctant Wedding Planner please click here.

Eva Scott lives on the Sunshine Coast, in Queensland Australia with her fabulous husband and gorgeous little boy. When she's not writing romance, you can find her on the water kayaking, fishing or swimming. When on dry land its all about the shoes and the coffee.

Learn more about Eva Scott on her website. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

FRENCH Tickler is LIVE!

Musa Publishing and I are thrilled to announce FRENCH Tickler, book 5 and the last story in Naughty Ladies of Nice series is now available.

Lace and handcuffs...tools of the trade.

New Yorker Samantha Bradley has a fun, sexy career designing ladies lingerie. Now that her business is on the rise, she treats herself to a well deserved break on the French Riviera where the women are glamorous and the men are gorgeous. After a few days Sam is eager to sample more than just the local cuisine.

Cisco Bernier is France's key criminal prosecutor, but his courtroom charm falls flat outside the hallowed halls of justice. From family relationships to romantic trysts, his success rate is abysmal until a chance encounter with a sensuous young American businesswoman spins his staid world out of control.

Sam and Cisco sizzle together, but any future is threatened when their pasts collide. Her mob-connected father and his deceitful mother resurface and drag them into a corrupt world of lies and danger.

PG EXCERPT:
Sam tugged on the collar of her black blouse, fidgeted with her purse, refolded her shawl, and straightened the magazines on the coffee table for the third time, all the while she kept a sharp eye on the lobby door. She refused to check the clock over the front desk again. Cisco said he’d pick her up at the hotel, and she believed he’d follow through.

A tender sensation swept through her as she glimpsed a tall black haired man brush his way through the revolving door. Her happiness crashed to the marble floor when a blonde beauty, decked out in an off shoulder gown that screamed Donna Karan, wrapped herself around him like a cheap bath towel.

Patience turned to embarrassment that beat a hasty retreat from the anger building in her.

She hadn’t been stood up since she was fifteen. After her damned father ran off that hood wannabe Freddy LaFrano, the Italian guys had lost their balls. Not one of them asked her for a date again. The only guy who tried was a cute Irish kid. But the little wimp never showed. Now the French were bringing a new contingent to her international list of jerks.

Piss on it.

She’d go out to dinner alone. Sure wouldn’t be the first time.

Whump!

Strong hands clamped onto her upper arms, steadying her as she struggled to catch her breath.

“Excusez-moi, Samantha.”

His minty breath tickled her cheek. She almost purred, and all she wanted to do was snuggle closer into his cashmere jacket with his arms cuddled around her.

Mercy, woman. Get a grip.

She swallowed hard, counted the pastel shades in her new summer line, then stepped away, calm and collected. Almost.

“Good evening, Cisco.” The sound of her husky voice came as a complete surprise.

“You look very beautiful with flushed cheeks.” He beamed a know-it-all smile as he wrapped his warm fingers around her arm. “Shall we go?”

The night air chilled her heated skin. Cisco clucked his tongue when she shivered. He deftly removed the pashmina shawl from her frozen fingers, then draped it around her shoulders. The fine wool warmed her, but not as well as his hands…

For an adult rated excerpt of FRENCH Tickler please click HERE.

To read excerpts from my other erotic romances please click HERE.

I'll be back Wednesday with a new recipe from Sam Cheever. Until then...

Happy Reading!

Sloane

Super Easy BBQ

by Marci Boudreaux

Hi Everyone! I've hijacked Sloane's blog again because I have to share this family favorite recipe with you.

Though July is closely associated with barbeque pits and charred bits of meat, there is another way to get great tasting BBQ Chicken or pork…without risking the loss of facial hair.

This year will be known (at least in my family) as the year I discovered the glorious wonders of a slow cooker. Yes, my friends, I no longer stand over a hot stove (or pit) for hours cooking for my starving family. Our home cooked meals are now done slowly, with minimal effort from me.

And this recipe is one of my personal favorites!

Marci’s BBQ Chicken
4-6 uncooked boneless chicken breasts (or small pork roast)
1 bottle of your favorite bbq sauce (Hey, this still counts as homemade!)
¼ cup white vinegar
1tsp. red pepper flakes
¼ cup brown sugar
1tsp. minced garlic
½ small onion diced

Mix bbq sauce, vinegar, pepper flakes, brown sugar, garlic and small onion in medium sized bowl. Place meat in slow cooker. Pour bbq sauce mixture over meat. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Done!

Seriously?? YES! And it is delicious!

I shred mine and put it on a bun with coleslaw, but my kids eat it straight up with a side of baked beans

This is a great way to have summer flavor without adding to the summer heat. And it’s so easy!

Here's a little from Unforgettable You, my latest contemporary romance, for your reading pleasure while you sit back with a glass of chilled wine and wait for that terrific chicken to slow cook.

Is their love strong enough to survive their real lives?

Desperate to keep her ailing mother-in-law Doreen in the family home, Carrie Gable agrees to board a few of Hollywood’s elite actors. Despite her resentment of their demands, she can’t stop her attraction to actor Will Walker.

Will, out to save his failing career, agrees to a project that bores him. The more time he spends with his egotistical co-stars, the more drawn he is to their hostess. Long nights talking with Carrie make him realize he wants a simpler life, but his ties to L.A. refuse to let him go.

The temptation to regain stardom pulls Will in one direction while the obligation to family tugs Carrie in another. Against all odds, the couple struggles for a solution to save their new found happiness.

To read an excerpt from Unforgettable You, please click HERE.

Check out the trailer for Unforgettable You HERE.

ROMANCE AS IT'S MEANT TO BE

Is the buzz about Marci Boudreaux's new release Unforgettable You. Here's a little for your reading pleasure.

When life throws a widowed innkeeper and a world-famous movie star together they share an unexpected romance. But is their love strong enough to survive their real lives?

BLURB:
Desperate to keep her ailing mother-in-law, Doreen, in the woman’s home, Carrie Gable agrees to board a handful of Hollywood’s most elite actors at the manor. Despite her resentment of the demands being placed upon her, she can’t help but be taken in by actor Will Walker.

Will, in a last-ditch effort to save his career, has agreed to a project he has no interest in. The more time he spends with his egotistical co-stars, the more drawn he is to Carrie. Long nights spent talking about the paths their lives have taken make him realize he’d rather have a simpler life, but his ties to L.A. aren’t as willing to let him go.

With the temptation of stardom pulling Will in one direction and the need to care for Doreen tugging Carrie in another, the couple struggle to hold onto the happiness they were missing until finding each other.

EXCERPT:
“It must be heart-wrenching to see Doreen fading away like that,” Will said.

Carrie’s face sagged. “It isn’t easy.”

“It’s a lot of work trying to keep up with her.”

“Sometimes,” she said dismissively as she looked at the menu. She glanced at the clock again. “Well, I won’t be slow roasting chicken tonight, will I?”

“I’m worried about you.”

“About me?” she asked lightly. “Why?”

“This is a lot for one person to handle.”

“I’m fine.”

“You keep saying that.”

“Because I am.”

“Carrie.” He coaxed gently.

Turning from the menu, she seemed to plea with her eyes. “What do you want me to say, Will?”

“You can start by telling me how you are doing.”

“How the hell do you think I’m doing?”

He took in the deep creases on her forehead and the puffiness of her eyes. “Not nearly as well as you’d like everyone to believe.”

“Falling apart is not an option right now.”

“Well, burying it isn’t either.”

Carrie opened her mouth as if to argue with him but, after a moment, she stepped back, putting space between them. He watched her pull out a Dutch oven and carry it to the sink to fill with water.

Moving to her side, he looked down at her. “Can you just talk to me? Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“What I’m thinking?” she asked. “I’ve spent the last two years pretending that my dead husband is at the grocery store,” she sat the pot on a burner, “returning insane purchases, picking her up from all over the county after she’s driven off to some place that no longer exists, if it ever did exist, but somehow it didn’t seem real until today.”

“The disease—”

“I know,” she said turning to look at him. “I know what it does. But I never really felt it. Pretending Mike is running errands, taking away her access to money, hiding the car keys, it all seemed so ordinary. Laundry? Check. Dishes? Check. Lie to Mama? Check.”

He saw fresh tears shimmering in her eyes before she turned toward the drawer where she’d hidden the knobs for the stove to prevent Mama from turning on the heat.

She tried several times to get the knob in place but it resisted her push, refused to fit. Cursing under her breath, Carrie slammed it down and turned to face him. “I’ve read the books, I’ve done the research, I’ve talked to support groups and doctors, but nothing they said could have possibly prepared me for that,” she said as the tears that had made her eyes shine fell down her cheeks.

“Nothing could have prepared me for her not knowing who I am.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispered as he reached out to her. When he wrapped her in his arms, she leaned into him and buried her face in his chest. A sob escaped her causing her shoulders to shake and he soothed her by whispering softly and running his hand over her back.

BUY LINK

Check out the trailer for Unforgettable You HERE.

Learn more about Marci Boudreaux on her website. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

I'll be back Wednesday with a new menu. Until then...

Happy Reading!

Sloane Taylor
Twitter
Amazon Author Page

Cupid Only Rings Twice

But The Love Demon Rings Once Too!

By Sam Cheever

I’ll bet you never knew there was such a thing as love demons did you? Who did you think the unscrupulous people, the cads, the womanizers used to get fresh victims for their unwelcome advances? That’s right, love demons. What exactly is the difference between a love demon and a cupid you ask? Well, let’s see, I’m pretty sure my fun and sexy book, Cupid Only Rings Twice covered that. Yup, here it is:

Love Demon was directly across the street from Delivery by Cupid. The two businesses advertised basically the same services, but definitely didn’t go about things the same way. Delivery by Cupid truly believed in helping lovers enhance their love experience. The cupid-run business focused all of its considerable efforts on building a loving bond between two people.

By contrast, as the name implied, Love Demon was run by demons and any type of sexual or emotional interaction sufficed for them. They didn’t discern between hook ups and lifetime love, which made them at once the perfect complement to their competition across the street…and a huge thorn in the cupids’ sides.

What the description above doesn’t tell you, is that Zach, the head demon at Love Demon, was also not bothered by scruples. If he had to resort to devious (and ridiculously unethical) means to get the job done, he did it without qualms. Which was why Damios, our sexy Greek hero in the story, is so upset about his client threatening to go to Zach with his ugly little job. Damios is already falling for the lovely Rori and doesn’t want her tricked and humiliated. What exactly is Zach planning to do, you ask? Well, let’s see, I think I can find the part where it explains…ah yes, here we go:

The room thickened with magic. Papers flew off Damios’s desk and swirled in the power-drenched air. The shades on the windows swayed in it, banging against the wood frame as the energy built.

The outer office door opened and Melody from the front desk came in, closing the door firmly behind her. Melody was one of Aphrodite’s granddaughters and had more power in her little pinkie than either man would ever have. “Stop it you two! You’re sucking all the love out of the air and people are starting to squabble. I just had a client tell me my dress was ugly!”

Melody was more beautiful than the sun and the moon, and had vanity to match. She was used to being told how incredible and perfect she was. Nothing put her in a black mood faster than being criticized.

Damios took a deep breath and forced himself to back down. He threw Melody a sheepish look. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

Zach stared at Damios for a moment, his dark blue gaze filled with speculation. Then he inclined his head and turned toward the door. “You’ve lost the client. He hired me this morning. I’m gonna make the pretty girl cry.”

Damios clenched his fists again, but Melody arched a single mahogany eyebrow at him and he bit the rage back. “Rori isn’t going to fall for a bunch of meaningless, pretty words, Demon. She’s too smart and careful for that.”

Zach stepped around Melody and opened the door. When he glanced back his grin was filled with mischief. “You must think I’m stupid, Cupid.” He chuckled. “That’s why I’m gonna put a little extra somethin’ somethin’ on the love note.” He grinned at Melody. “The client’s an idiot, darling. That dress is stunning. But then, you could make an oil-stained newspaper look like Versace, couldn’t you?”

Melody’s mood brightened immediately. She didn’t even notice that Damios vibrated with anger as she followed Zach out of the room.

Damios dropped into his chair, his heart pounding with concern. If the demon used magic against Rori, she wouldn’t have a chance. She’d read the love note, cry, and the ass who’d fired him would get a notch in his belt at her expense.

Or worse, what if Zach’s spell impelled her to sleep with the guy?

Ugly huh? But don’t worry, Damios is determined to stop Zach from humiliating the lovely Rori. Unfortunately, he’s almost certainly going to make her hate him in the process because of his part in the whole mess. Yeah, it’s a tricky business, this love match stuff, which is why only a cupid should attempt it.

Now let me leave you with this final warning, if a love demon ever sends a smile your way, try to ignore the extremely gorgeous and sexy exterior (I’m serious, close your eyes if you have to!) and kick his perfect butt to the curb. No good ever comes from letting those bad boys into your life.

This Valentine’s Day, Rori’s gonna meet an honest to god Cupid. And he’ll use more than arrows to win her love.

Rori Foster is too beautiful to find love. Men just can’t seem to look past her exterior to recognize the human being inside. But, this Valentine’s Day, Rori’s gonna meet an honest to god Cupid. And he’ll use more than arrows to win her love.

Unfortunately he’ll have to save her from the bad intentions of a cocky Love Demon first. But Damios is determined to protect her. Even if he loses her in the process.

Bitten by Paranormal Romance
gives Cupid a 4 – A Pack Howl!

"This is a delightful and sexy story of competition not only in the office, but between a cupid and a demon."

Buy from Musa Buy from Amazon.com Amazon UK Amazon CA Buy from B&N Buy from ARe

Time to Wrap It Up

The Magnificent Men of Munich saga draws to a close with book four. Yesterday's Lovers brings us Rhineholdt Hoffman, a man who has yet to realize his inner strength, and Isabella Carrington, an heiress who always gets what she wants.

Isabella Carrington has everything a pampered heiress wants, except for the most important item - love.

BLURB:
No matter how many designer items she buys or men she conquers, Isabella Carrington never seems to find what she’s looking for. When she meets the one man in the world completely unaffected by her charms, she is determined to have him, even if it means a dunk in the Grand Canal.

Rhineholdt Hoffman has sworn off women after a destructive relationship alienated him from everyone and everything he loved. Now on self-imposed exile in Venice, Holt lives a solitary existence until a wild French Canadian shakes the staid accountant to the core and makes him question his beliefs.

Issy and Holt are forced to come out of the past and face their future as they set the Venetian nights on fire. Especially after an odd turn of events and an old gypsy have them wondering if they were yesterday’s lovers.

EXCERPT:
Heat coiled through Isabella with Holt’s firm hands holding her in place. All those lonely nights she had spent thinking about him stroking her breasts, plunging inside her vagina, driving her closer to orgasm, raced through her mind. The fantasies had been sweet torture, but nothing compared to reality. Sacre bleu! She needed to ride him and end this torment. He had been the true reason she stayed on after the wedding. The hope of having him in her bed for the weekend had been worth a dunk into the canal.

The oval mirror above the sink gave a perfect reflection of her hand clamped tightly on his ass. He pulled open the glass shower door and she trembled with anticipation.

He twisted on the faucet, then slid her down his body, his hard-on pressing against her abdomen. A volley of shivers arced up her spine as she cupped his face.

“You are too impatient, Schatze.” He turned her around and rested an arm under her breasts, holding her in place as he adjusted the water.

She rubbed her butt against his zipper.

“Definitely too impatient.”

“I have waited a long time for you, Holt, and I have no intention of missing this bon opportunity.”

He turned her to face him and teased his palms over her tight nipples.

“Do you feel well enough to do this?” He skimmed a finger down her bruised cheek. “I do not want to hurt you?”

“Non, mon chér, you will not get out of this so easily by using a few dark spots as an excuse.” She squared her shoulders, striving for tough, but failed when her laughter bubbled up at his expression. “Remember? I have been a tres bad girl.”

“You are sure?” His lips trailed a path of fire down her throat to the scooped neckline of her silk robe.

“Never more of anything in my life.” She caressed the dark brown stubble on his chin, the short bristles crisp under her touch. He raised his head, his eyes smoldering. She traced his full lips with her thumb, then glided her tongue across their seam. He pulled away before she could plunge in.

“Nein, Isabella, I thought you had learned the other day, I am the one in control.” His voice thickened.

“Then I must be the submissive?”

He nodded, determination gleamed in his eyes.

She tapped his chin. “You do know the submissive has all the true control.”

He shook his head, a puzzled expression furrowed his brow. Her words were clearly alien to him.

“Oui, mon chér. The sub is the one who stops it all when they say the safe word.”

He looked up, his brown eyes blanked over. “But what if the dominant does not comply?”

Had she misread him? A chill whisked up her spine. Isabella liked sex—loved it, in fact—but she did not like pain. Of any kind.

“Why would you not stop if I told you it was too much?” She had to get this straight or there would be no playtime with the man who set her juices flowing. Instead, she would be on a jet to Canada that very afternoon.

BUY LINKS
Musa Publishing
Amazon

I'll be back Monday. Have a wonderful weekend!

Sloane

Is There Ever A Perfect Lie?

The answer is revealed in my new release Perfect Lie, available from Musa Publishing.

The Magnificent Men of Munich saga continues with a new addition. Book three brings us suave Max Brewer, better known as Heicke to his throng of ladies, and Francine Daniels, a spitfire he can't seem to tame.

A seedling of doubt will unravel even a perfect lie.

BLURB:
After two ex-husbands and a con artist, Francine Daniels has had it with men. Her life is finally the way she wants it — successful and complete. At least she thinks so until a working vacation in Munich brings her face to face with a sexy German hotelier who sees right through her brash exterior and makes her sizzle with his every touch.

Heicke Brewer enjoys his playboy image along with the collection of international beauties on his arm and in his bed. They are safer than another disastrous marriage. Until a chance encounter with a stubborn American pixie too hot not to handle threatens his hard won resolve.

As passion grows between Francine and Heicke, deception threatens to tear them apart, forcing them to fight their way through a perfect lie.

EXCERPT:
Hands clenched at her sides, she stretched to her full five feet three inches. With the movement, her breasts thrust forward and her hard nipples rubbed against the soft fabric of his shirt.

“I’m Francine Daniels and I work with Teddi Howard-Stiefle.” She almost burst into laughter at the shocked look on his face. “Anything else you’d like to know, Pup?”

He trailed his warm palm up her arm, his touch gentle, almost welcome.

“You are freezing.” He took both her hands in his and rubbed them. She pulled back, but he tugged her closer, wrapping his arms around her, enveloping her in a sensual blend of wet and man. “Pixie, I have no intention of harming you, but you need to get warm.”

His body heat and sexy accent conjured up pictures in her mind best ignored. She raised her head to avoid his crisp chest hairs that tickled her cheek, only to be lip level with his dark brown nipple. It looked so tempting. Tasty. Get your brain out of your silk panties.

He rubbed up and down her back, his fingertips grazing across the swell of her ass. His hands slowed to a sensual massage, warming her skin, sending electric shocks to her vagina. He pulled her tighter, his rock hard cock pushing against her stomach. She gasped as her body declared all out war on her common sense, leaving in its trail a burning desire to let herself go. Just this once.

Her breasts grew heavy, aching with each breath she drew. She squeezed her thighs together. Tight. Anything to stop the pressure building in her clit.

He raised her chin and stared deep into her eyes as if he were searching for her soul. After a long moment, while the world stood still, he touched his lips to hers, almost as if he were afraid his strength and size would hurt her. She wanted, no, needed more. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she hooked a thumb in his belt loop and molded her hips to his thighs.

His hands slid under her shirt, skimming upward. She shuddered from the sheer pleasure of his skin against hers. He glided his fingers up her back and flicked her bra hooks. She trembled again, only this time from anticipation. He grazed his fingertips along the sides of her breasts, then cupped them and rolled her nipples between his index finger and thumb. She clutched his back for support, afraid to let go. Afraid it would end.

She moaned as his hot tongue swiped across her lips then opened her mouth, hungry for his taste. Hungry to feel him inside her.

He grabbed her shirttails and drew them over her head. The chilled air stung her burning skin, but did little to cool her.

“You are so beautiful. So perfect.” His husky voice barely a whisper.

One thumb glided over her left nipple, shooting desire throughout her body, and she arched her back from the intense pleasure of his touch. He raised her right breast to his lips and kissed the tip, nuzzling her swollen areola. He devoured both of her nipples, sucking and tugging on them until …

BUY LINK

I'll be back Wednesday with a new recipe. Until then...

Happy Reading!

Sloane

WHY I WRITE SEX

by Arley Cole and Leigh Daley

I write under two pennames—Arley Cole for my YA-friendly fantasy and Leigh Daley for my steamy romance. Arley Cole keeps it out of the bedroom, but Leigh Daley gets into some seriously R-rated territory.

This makes life difficult for me in my tiny Alabama hamlet. When people ask about my latest release, I have to make a quick judgment—do I tell them about the Leigh Daley stuff or will it scandalize them? What would the little women in my church say about me if they read my Leigh Daley stuff? Would they ask me to put a scarlet letter on my choir robe?

But the truth is sex has a hugely important place in women’s lives. We think of men as being the sex-driven beings, but human relationships are cemented together by the physical act of belonging to one another. If we want stronger relationships, we need to be having frequent, mutually beneficial, loving sex.

That is not to say that I am at all in favor of the “jump in bed first, ask questions later” school of relationships. From personal experience, that attitude leads to sleeping with frogs rather than princes. My characters sometimes do sleep with each other before they should – that’s one of the relationship minefields we have to navigate. When they do, I am compelled as a story-teller to deal with their actions in the most realistic way possible. Sex too soon causes trouble they have to work out together.

But sex in the fullness of time in a relationship binds two people together in ways very little else can. I truly enjoy writing about a couple’s exploration of each other. In loving someone else, we really do discover things about ourselves. The sex act opens up all kinds of emotional territory for us, and I love to show my characters discovering themselves through their physical loving of each other.

Our sexual experience affects us profoundly, no matter our age, background, or gender. As an erotic writer, I try to treat the subject with the respect and integrity it deserves. If my readers sometimes find themselves inspired to jump their partners after reading, I am glad of that. Anyone fortunate enough to be in a loving, committed relationship owes it to that relationship to invest in it physically as often and as jubilantly as possible. In fact one of my personal goals as a romance author is to inspire my readers to have more sex!

In my latest Leigh Daley release, Storm Duty - Finally Ever After, a natural disaster shakes up divorced couple Kyle and Jenna. In the midst of the chaos, they both have to learn that all that really matters is who we love, and their love scene is one of my favorites because of the healing that takes place between them.

At this season, especially after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, I think we all need to remember to hold close the ones we love. So I’m going to keep writing romance, and I hope you all will keep reading. Now, go hold somebody!

Leigh Daley

Their careers drove them apart--could disaster bring them back together?

BLURB:
In the aftermath of a series of tornadoes, Kyle Mathis just wants to guide his linemen to restore power to the devastated town of Milton. When reinforcements in the form of corporate deskjockeys come to work storm duty, he's glad for the extra bodies to help serve food and support the crews working eighteen hour days.

But Kyle is not prepared to face one of the latest arrivals, his ex-wife Jenna. Jenna left him years ago, choosing her career over their marriage. However, being back together in their home town brings back memories and desire--for both Kyle and Jenna.

Can Kyle and Jenna find each other again in the midst of the devastation? Or will their jobs pull them apart and leave not only their homes but their hearts shattered?

EXCERPT:
The instant Jenna Harlow heard her ex-husband’s voice, she wished she hadn’t agreed to come.

She certainly wanted to help and Cedar Hill had been home once. But as she stood and saw Kyle face to face, she wished she hadn’t. There were just too many memories.

“Yeah, I’ve got some made already,” she answered him, aware that his eyes had widened at the sight of her. She covered her own desire to stare by pouring him a cup. “Do you still take cream and sugar?” she asked, trying to keep her tone light even though her heart pounded so hard she could feel it in her fingertips.

“I’m drinking it black these days,” he answered, his tone just as even.

As she passed him the cup, her hand trembled. He took the coffee, but the hot liquid splashed out a little over the side. His hands were shaking too.

He cursed under his breath as he sat the cup down on the table and grabbed a napkin to mop up the spill.

“Don’t worry,” she insisted. “I’ll clean it up.” She looked at his face in the dim light. His eyes that same dark green, his hair the same light brown—still cut the same as she remembered from seven years ago.

But his shoulders were broader, and he stood taller, more muscular. His jaw had a strong, determined set, and little sun crinkles had begun to frame his eyes. She’d always thought he was good-looking, but now in the fullness of manhood, he was downright gorgeous...

To read more of Storm Duty, please click HERE.

BUY LINKS
Musa Publishing
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
All Romance E-books

Leigh Daley lives with her husband and kids in the wilds of West Alabama along with her dogs Bruno and Jack. Now on her fourth career, she has spent most of her life writing for other people, but these days she is writing for herself. She eats like a cavewoman, posts crazy fanfic as Arcole, and tries to meet her creative needs by writing romance as Leigh Daley and fantasy as Arley Cole. She’s a really big fan of happily ever after.

Learn more about Leigh Daley on her blog. Stay connected on Facebook.

I'll be back Wednesday with a new menu. Until then...

Happy Reading!

Sloane Taylor
Twitter
Amazon Author Page

A Special Treat from Down Under

Please allow me to introduce you to an author you definitely want to read who is also a phenomenal baker Eva Scott.

Take it away, Eva.

In The Reluctant Wedding Planner Mrs Winter, one of Georgi Mac Intyre’s clients, bakes some delicious Monte Carlos biscuits. Now for those of you who don’t know, Monte Carlo biscuits are an Australian classic. There are a few variations on the theme kicking about but here’s the Australian Women’s Weekly version – tried and tested and scrumptious to boot!



MONTE CARLO BISCUITS
125g (8 tablespoons) softened butter
¾ cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons honey
a pinch of salt
2 cups self raising flour
1/3 cup raspberry jam, warmed
2 cups icing sugar (powdered sugar)
15g (1 tablespoon) softened butter, extra
1 teaspoon vanilla essence (vanilla extract)
2-3 tablespoons milk

Preheat oven to 180°C which is 350°F.

Line a biscuit tray with baking paper also known as parchment paper.

Cream butter and sugar until well blended. Add egg, honey and a pinch of salt. Fold through sifted flour.

Roll mixture into a log. Cover with plastic and allow to rest for about 20 minutes.

Uncover and slice into 1/2 centimeters or 1/4 inch slices. Place on tray and bake for 15 minutes or until golden.

While still warm brush ½ the biscuits with the jam. Set aside to cool.

Sift icing sugar into a bowl. Add butter, and vanilla essence. Mix in enough milk to form a thick icing. Spread other half of the biscuits with the icing and sandwich together.

Serving size: Serves 10 or more
Cooking time: Less than 60 minutes

Here's a little from my latest release to enjoy with your biscuits.

Not only flowers bloom...

BLURB:
Dr Camden James is a rural vet, not a wedding planner, so he quickly feels out of his depth when, in a fit of generosity, he offers to glam up his sister's budget wedding in a secret move designed to surprise her. With only six weeks to make this the wedding of his sister's dreams he needs to move fast.

Stumbling around in the largely female world of weddings he gets a lead on the go-to girl for wedding flowers - Georgiana Mac Intyre. Georgi, reeling from a very public breakup, is not interested in men in anyway shape or form. Not even super-cute vets - even when they are clearly interested in her.

Cam shamelessly uses his story to get her to help. It has all the elements; romance against the odds, true love, orphans (you can't have good story without an orphan or two), and a bride.

To read an excerpt from The Reluctant Wedding Planner, please click HERE.

Eva Scott lives on the Sunshine Coast, in Queensland Australia with her fabulous husband and gorgeous little boy. When she's not writing romance, you can find her on the water kayaking, fishing or swimming. When on dry land its all about the shoes and the coffee.

Learn more about Eva Scott on her website. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

I'll be back Monday with Arley Cole and Leigh Daley. Until then...

Happy Reading!

Sloane

Free from Musa Publishing and Sara Daniel

In celebration of the most romantic holiday of the year, Musa Publishing is offering every romantic a free download of Second Chance Valentine by Sara Daniel. Click HERE to claim a copy, then sit back and enjoy.

What would you do if you got a second chance at love…with your husband's best friend?

Rick has always been a shoulder for his best friend's widow to lean on, but to him she will always belong to his friend. Gianna is ready to move on with her life, and no other man affects her like Rick. To give them both a second chance at love and life, Gianna must convince him that her husband would have wanted him to be the man she moves on with.

EXCERPT:
Gianna Viterelli-Smith was conspicuously single as she followed the maître d’ to the table for two. The beachfront restaurant on Florida’s southeast coast was elegant and in demand on a slow day. Today, Valentine’s Day, was not a slow day. In fact, it was impossible to get a table unless one had made their reservation weeks in advance, which Gianna had.

She might not have been on a date in over four years, but she had made the decision to jump back in the dating pool and try again. What better time to start than the mushiest, most romance-friendly day of the year?

LINK TO FREE READ

Learn more about Sara Daniel on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

Be sure to subscribe to Sara’s newsletter for updates on her latest books and contests.

I'll be back Monday with Eleni Konstantine and next Wednesday with a new menu. Until then...

Happy Reading!

Sloane

Like Tiger and Vin, only prettier

by Holley Trent

There’s this bit in my new release Her Resident Jester where my protagonist, Shane, waxes poetic about her identity:

I’d almost forgotten about that ultrasound. I didn’t generally volunteer for medical studies, but one of my coworkers’ kids was on the investigative team and I got strong-armed into it because I’m from an underrepresented ethnic group. That is to say no particular ethnic group. I’m more mixed up than Vin Diesel, but far less coy about it. I leave that to Marcia. She’s really uptight about that sh*t.

Shane and Marcia are sisters (you’ll meet Marcia formally in April in Love by Premonition), and constituents of the Great American Melting Pot. They can’t simply itemize what they are, because at some point in the family tree the colors blur. They’re sort of a lot of things and nothing in particular.

Shane’s fine with that. She’s okay with her ambiguity and having people ask her about it. Culturally, she’s North Carolinian, Southern, and American. Marcia is far more sensitive about her perceived identity. She’s not self-hating, exactly, but as a lapsed physicist, she sort of likes being able to put things into neat little boxes. So, when people question her on what she is (and isn’t), she dances around the subject and deflects. It’s not easy for her to answer, and she doesn’t like other people guessing about it, either. She could hedge and say “I’m black,” but she isn’t. Bi-racial wouldn’t be accurate, either. Tri-racial would work, but it’d be imprecise.

Shane doesn’t mind imprecision so much, but it makes Marcia twitchy.

I made this a “thing” with Marcia because I think people should sometimes come in shades of gray (even if they don’t have cool names for themselves like Cablinasian)…and I think sometimes they should be sensitive about not having a tidy label.

Although I identify very well with characters like Shane and Marcia (good luck trying to itemize all my components), they make requesting cover art extremely tedious. I could spend an hour scanning through stock art depositories looking for models who are suitably ambiguous and only come up with one or two.

For Her Resident Jester, we stepped around that casting issue and put the hot doctor Derek on the cover instead of Shane or a couple. (Isn’t he pretty?) We’ll see what happens with Marcia’s story.

Here’s the gist of Her Resident Jester:

Marketing executive Shane Andrews’s reluctant participation in a research study leads to the stunning discovery she needs immediate surgery.

Out of sorts, and in a moment of spectacular tactlessness, she insults a man wearing a red rubber nose and big floppy shoes. He turns out to be Derek Palmer: Edenton’s hottest young surgeon…and the resident observing her operation.

With her body and pride both on the mend, Shane hides out to prevent further humiliation. She can’t avoid the gorgeous clown too long, however. Edenton is a small town, and Derek isn’t content with letting her wallow. What kind of clown would he be if he did?

Her Resident Jester is available for purchase in most major eBook formats at the Musa store and also at third-party retailers like Amazon and All Romance eBooks.

To learn more about Holley Trent, visit her website or watch her navel gaze on Twitter.

It's a NEW RELEASE

Meet the Magnificent Men of Munich, starting with suave David Steifel in Heated Negotiations, book one in the thigh-clenching four book series.

Mergers and negotiations are not just for the boardroom, especially when things heat up high over the Atlantic.

BLURB:
Travel agency owner Teddi Howard is Hell in high heels when she jumps a plane to Munich. Her goal—strangle the German tour operator who reneged on their exclusive contract.

German businessman David Stiefel well knows the feeling of being screwed over and is resolved to avoid emotional attachments. This strategy has served him well, until his chance encounter with the enticing Ms. Howard.

EXCERPT:
David Stiefel’s eyes kept track of the copper-haired female while he rolled up the sleeves of his striped shirt. The woman was oblivious to the stir she created as she strolled through the crowded O’Hare Airport Business Class Lounge. He stroked an index finger over his lips and studied her sleek figure clad in formfitting slacks. The appealing rear view was too good to miss. The pleasure of not seeing a panty line forced him to shift in his chair to adjust for the sudden pull in his jeans.

She bent over, hung her jacket across the chair back, and glanced over her shoulder at him. Their gaze held as a smile tweaked the corner of his mouth. He crumpled the wrappings from his beef sandwich and knew he’d just been offered dessert. Now all he had to do was make his move.

As his good luck would have it, right there on the floor just a few meters away was an airline ticket dropped by some unsuspecting person. He knew that delicious-looking woman had done it as a ploy to meet him.

He stood and paced off the few steps, never taking his eyes from her. He stooped, scooped up the packet, and walked the few extra feet before he glanced at the name printed in bold marker across the front. When he held it toward her, she fumbled with her purse and carry-on as if she did not know she had lost such an important set of documents. Very cool.

Standing in front of her, he leaned down just enough to catch her scent. A fragrance that reminded him of herbs.

BUY LINK

Craving a little more David? Check out my answers to the Five W's on Holley Trent's blog.

Please visit me on my website, and of course this blog. We can stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

I'll be back Monday with the Queen of Hot Jan Springer. Until then...

Happy Reading!

~Sloane

Friday Fun with Holley Trent

I can’t write a short story to save my life. Seriously. I try every so often, and the typical result is an editor telling me, “Nope, try again.”

That’s what happened with Mrs. Roth’s Merry Christmas. (Actually, that wasn’t the original title.) It started as a little novelette I tried to get in and get out of, and I guess it read that way, too. Calliope’s head editor Jeanne De Vita sent it back to me with a, “Yeaahhhh, no. Try harder,” note [I’m paraphrasing].

I paced for a while and slept on the story a few days, then figured, “Hell, if I’m write campy smut, I’m gonna go for the gusto and see what happens.”

So, I did some world-building, added a jumbo cast (it’s a fantasy, after all), gave the heroine a bit of back story, and maybe bumped the corniness up a little. Ended up with a dandy vigilante Santa, a sexually adventurous teacher with a penchant for holiday sweaters, some back-stabbing nymphs, a bunch of politically-motivated elves, and a traitorous dog.

All that in 35,000 words. I know, right? Trust me, it moves fast.

I think to date, Gillian from Mrs. Roth’s Merry Christmas is probably my number two favorite heroine. She’s got a lot of spunk and takes no prisoners. Here’s a bit of her in action:

**

Santa gets more than he bargains for in his marriage of convenience to the queen of snark.

I cut my gaze toward Kori and she shrugged. I hadn’t been at work the previous Friday or Thursday because on Thursday morning I got into a knock-down drag-out catfight with Hortense that spanned ten minutes and two dimensions. She’d shown up at my Zumba class clad in teeny tiny shorts and a tank top that was damned near see-through. I had held my tongue until water break then she walked up to the front of the room and thrust a ring box at me.

“Mother ordered me to give that to you.”

I opened the box to find a large oval-cut ruby flanked by emeralds all mounted in an antique-looking gold band.

“Why?”

Hortense didn’t answer. She was too busy flipping through my CD binder and sucking her teeth at my apparent lack of taste. Kori had walked over, looked inside the box, and squealed with glee.

“I can’t believe Grandmother made her give it up. There’s only two of them. Now she’s going to have to use the portals like the rest of us.”

“What is it?”

“Spoil of war. I don’t remember which. Say, you should probably read up on elf history. Anyway, there were two. Grandmother has the other, but she doesn’t use it much. She doesn’t like leaving the palace. Basically, it’ll let you do what Uncle Nick can do naturally—go from one place to another without having to use a portal.”

“Cool.” I’d taken it out of the box and tried it on for size on my right ring finger. “It looks valuable.”

“Of course it is, you gold-digging slut!” Hortense’s head finally popped up.
I’m not exactly sure what happened after that. I had sort of went into a red, violent rage and my body moved on its own accord. She was crouched there in front of the CD player and so I grabbed the base of her ponytail and yanked her backward so her head slammed against the hard floor. From there, there was a lot of scratching and swatting from both parties. When the Zumba ladies started filing back into the studio from the hallway, Hortense and I were on our feet throwing blows in earnest.
My adrenaline must have been so hopped up that it took me a while to realize I was blowing blood out of my nose with every exhalation.

“Uh, ladies?” Kori had tried to intercede. She didn’t want to get too close, though, not that I blamed her. She couldn’t exactly take sides in a battle between her blood aunt and her queen.

I managed to get an arm around Hortense’s neck and dragged her out into the hallway. No one followed. I started thinking about how much I wanted to kick Nick’s ass for getting me into that mess, and the next thing I knew we were in the bedroom of Nick’s winter lodging at the North Pole where he spent most nights, crashing through his glass coffee table.

**

Fun, right? If fracases are your thing. Now if you want to read another excerpt from Mrs. Roth’s Merry Christmas, please click HERE.

There may be a sequel for next Christmas in the works…me finishing it will depend heavily on whether or not the Mayans were right.

For more on Mrs. Roth and other Holley Trent stories, you visit HolleyBlog. When Holley’s not writing campy smut, she’s Tweeting. A lot. She loves to chat, so please say “hi”!

AN EARLY BIRTHDAY GIFT

from Kelly Shorten, the awesome cover designer at Musa Publishing. 

I LOVE IT!!

I'll be back Monday with Sharon Ledwith. Until the...

Enjoy life!

Sloane

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Lena Austin is not only a talented author of many genres, she is also a marvelous cook. Below is her fun recipe for all your Trick or Treaters of any age.

BLUE SLIME
One six-ounce package blueberry flavored gelatin
2 cups boiling water
4 cups cold water
3 cups lemonade, chilled
3 cups lemon-lime carbonated beverage, chilled

In a large mixing bowl, combine gelatin and two cups boiling water; stir until dissolved.

Stir in cold water. Cover and chill at least four hours. Gelatin will be partially set.

To serve, stir gelatin with a large spoon, fork, or wire whisk until gelatin is broken into small pieces.

Place ¼ cup of the lemonade in a large, clear glass or plastic tumbler. Add ½ cup of the gelatin to the lemonade, then add ¼ cup of the carbonated beverage.

Stir slightly and you're ready to slurp some slime. Do not over-stir.

Makes 12 servings.

While you're waiting for the Blue Slime to set, here's a little from Lena's exciting romance novel BERDACHE.

Lizard must convince the warrior Red Wolf to become a shaman –and a Berdache—or Red Wolf will go insane.

Red Wolf has always been the perfectly controlled Choctaw warrior. His childhood friend, the Berdache shaman Lizard, must convince Red Wolf to take the shaman’s training and learn to walk in both worlds safely. With the help of the captured Chickasaw maiden Moon to help, Lizard just might keep Red Wolf from going insane.

BUY LINK

Learn more about Lena Austin, also known as the Duchess of Depravity, on her website and blog where you’re sure to find some of the best recipes on the internet. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

Have a great week. I'll be back Monday with Patricia Yager Delagrange. Until then...

BOO!

Slonae Taylor

Experience Blind Lust with Annie Seaton

Hi Eveyone, I’m Annie Seaton and excited to tell you that Blind Lust, my paranormal novella, has been released by Musa Publishing. This is my third book published since I retired from teaching twelve months ago. It is my favourite and I hope readers love it, too. Aunt Helen, the ghost, is actually based on a real person and a real ghost!

All things historical and paranormal have always fascinated me. I'm happy my niche is writing steampunk and romance, both contemporary and paranormal.

The beautiful east coast of Australia is my home. I share it with my husband, ‘Bob’ the dog, and two white cats. Our house is next to the beach so I spend hours gazing at the ocean that inspires me to create new stories. When I’m not writing, my time is divided between the garden, walking on the beach, and spoiling my two grandchildren.

Now here's a bit form Blind Lust.


A wager between the gods can change your life. Even if you are a witch…

BLURB:
When Venus has a wager with Cupid, that prudish librarian Lizzy Sweet cannot be enticed to love, she neglects to tell her son that Lizzy is a three hundred year old witch. The first man Lizzy sees after Cupid shoots his arrow is Josh Deegan, a famous country and western singer who has come to town to rediscover his muse, in an old farmhouse haunted by a culinary ghost. Local warlock, Wesley Gordon, who has been hitting on Lizzy to no avail for over one hundred years, is not impressed. The quirky old folk of Silver Valley watch fondly as the battle between love and lust plays out. Leaden and golden arrows zing around, spells are magicked, potions stirred, and ghosts hunted. Who will fall in love and who will let the other go forever?

EXCERPT:
“You’re quiet today, Liz. Everything okay in your world?” Wesley’s other hand landed on her knee and crept along her thigh. Wesley had fallen in love with Lizzy the instant he moved to the valley, delighted to find another of his kind in the quaint little town. Lizzy spent her time saving him from a variety of scrapes, unbelieving of the constant professions of his love for her. Lizzy laughed, removing his hand from her leg.

“Just a peculiar morning, Wes. It’s left me feeling a bit strange.”

She scratched at her neck. Wesley’s protective instinct kicked in. “If somebody has upset you—”

Lizzy interrupted him before he could get going. She always spoiled his fun; his lack of success with simple spells was a source of great amusement to her.

“I met a man,” she said softly.

“What sort of man?” His stomach dropped. Lizzy looked at him, a far away dreamy look in her eyes. Now he really started to worry, he had never seen that look on her face before. In fact, he had been trying to get her to look at him like that for a very long time.

Wesley had been in love with Lizzy for many years and his love remained unrequited. He had vowed to himself that he would not give up. He knew in his heart that Lizzy did really love him, she just had to realize that. Or that’s what he told himself each day.

They had plenty of time. He was the only man who knew of her Wiccan world, and why she could never fall in love with a mortal man.

Lizzy was old.

Really old.

Over three hundred years old.

BUY LINK

Learn more about Annie Seaton on her website and blog. Stay connected with Annie on Facebook and Twitter.

I'll be back Wednesday with a new menu. Until then...

Happy Reading!

Sloane Taylor

Top Ten Things To Do in Paris

Not what you might expect

by Libby Mercer

Quite a large chunk of my novel, Fashioning a Romance, takes place in Paris, so this city’s been on my mind a lot lately. (I really must get back there at some point...) Anyway, I thought I’d come up with a Top Ten list of Paris sights for this blog post, but as I Googled for details, I kept discovering so many wild and wacky Paris sights and shops, it seemed silly to reiterate what’s pretty much common knowledge – that one must visit the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, go for a walk on the Seine, etc. And now, without further ado, here’s my somewhat offbeat list:

(Apologies to any guys reading this for the overt girly slant.)

1. Saint-Séverin
This stunning church was once the main place of worship for everyone who lived on the Left Bank. Construction begun in the 11th Century, and its bells include the oldest one remaining in Paris. It’s got some wacky architectural details, including pillars in the shape of palm trees. In Fashioning a Romance, my characters visit Saint-Séverin, and as my hero, John, points out: the architects must have been proponents of the “more is more” design philosophy.

2. Parc de Belleville
The English translation for “belleville” is “beautiful town” and that’s exactly what you will see before you when you visit this peaceful park. At 108 meters, it’s the highest park in Paris and offers a gorgeous panoramic view of the city.

3. La Fée Verte
The atmosphere in this charming, old-fashioned absinthe bar and café is sophisticated, while at the same time laid back. La Fée Verte, or “The Green Fairy” has a distinctive, magical feel to it. Not sure if it has more to do with the enchanting 19th Century Parisian style or the effects of the absinthe…

4. The stock and secondhand shops
Top Parisian designers like Azzedine Alaïa and Sonia Rykiel have specific shops where they sell last season’s fashions at deep discounts, and the secondhand shops are flush with goodies after the runway shows – after all, if Giselle wears it once for twenty minutes, they can’t sell it as “new”. If fashion’s your thing, consider scheduling your visit shortly after Fashion Week, which takes place in early March and early October each year. Sadly, I don’t wear the same size as Giselle & Co. except when it comes to shoes. A few years ago, I was able to score a sassy pair of gold Gucci heels for about 80 bucks!

5. Musée de la Poupée
I guess I’m still a little girl at heart, because I had to include the Doll Museum on this list. The permanent exhibit displays dolls from 1800 to 1959, but they have an ongoing rotation of special exhibitions, focusing on such things as dollhouse art, baby dolls and Barbie et Ken. They also have a clinic onsite, so you can bring your own “sick dolls” in to be restrung, to have new eyes put in or whatever you need.

6. The Rodin Museum
Yes, I know. It’s not exactly a revolutionary choice, but there are some important scenes in Fashioning a Romance that take place there, so I couldn’t not include it on this list. Rodin’s iconic sculptures, including “The Thinker”, “The Kiss” and The “Gates of Hell” are magnificent to behold, and the museum’s surrounding gardens are absolutely sublime.

7. Canzi Biocosmetique
A skincare boutique unlike any other, Canzi offers unique products made with the finest organic ingredients from around the world including pure plant powders, rose petals, olive oil, lavender and calendula. Owner Stefan Mottay mixes the cosmetics himself, sometimes right in front of customers.

8. Bibliotheque Nationale de France
This, as you may have deduced from the name, is the national library and it’s a must-see for book-lovers visiting Paris. It’s built to look like four ginormous books open and standing on their ends. Only in Paris…

9. La Gare
“Gare” means station as in “train station” which is what the building that houses the restaurant within once was. It’s a huge space with high, peaked ceilings and a massive skylight running down the center of it. A meal here will cost you dearly, and the portions are miniscule, but dining at La Gare is an experience. And a light dinner might be a good idea if, like me, you overindulge on the pains au chocolats in the morning.

10.Le Comptoir
Crafty visitors will definitely want to check out this top quality craft shop. They stock a massive selection of gorgeous wool yarn, pattern books and magazines, ribbons, embroidery thread and exquisite buttons.

So there you have it. These are my Top Ten picks for things to do in Paris. Now, how much are airline tickets going for these days…

Now a little about Fashioning a Romance:

BLURB:
Faced with a man so smooth he can charm the clouds from the sky, will Caitlyn be able to stick to her strict No Players policy?

Dedicated American fashion girl, Caitlyn Taylor, can’t stand players, and has successfully dodged them like enemy fire all her life. And then she meets fun-loving British CEO, John Harrington. Not only is he her boss’s brother, he’s the charismatic kind of womanizer that nightmares are made of. Worse still: he’s exactly Caitlyn’s type. As if his being the Superman of sex appeal isn’t enough, he’s also got that quirky something-something that she adores. Not that she’s even considering falling prey to his methods. No way.

John can’t fathom how Caitlyn can be impervious to his charms, given the extraordinary chemistry between them. The more she resists, the more determined he is to break down the walls she’s built up to keep him out. Forced to get creative, he orchestrates a “surprise” weekend in Paris for the two of them. Game on!

To read an excerpt from Fashioning a Romance, or to purchase the book, please click HERE.

Learn more about Libby Mercer on her blog and stay connected on Facebook.

I'll be back Wednesday with a new menu. Until then...

Happy Reading!

Sloane Taylor