Marie Force's Blog, page 20

Fatal Wedding Big Reveal Day 4: Nick's Suit

In February, I wrote: I think about Nick in a tuxedo, and I just say, "Mmmmm." Whooo... Just took a little mental trip to heaven there for a minute. What can I say? Nick is tall and buff and HOT. Now, do your best to imagine him in one of these fine suits, and then tell me which one you prefer for him.



Nick's Suit 1







Nick's Suit 2







Nick's Suit 3







What did I tell you? H-O-T, right? Mmmmm.... I leave Nick's wedding hotness in your capable hands.



And you chose: NUMBER 2



Whoo hoo! Now, I'm going to have me a little dream about Nick in a tux. In the meantime, because Nick is Mr. Style, I'm offering a $25 gift card to Abercrombie & Fitch today. Just tell me how you think Nick is going to look in the suit we chose for him. Thanks to everyone who has shown up to play so far. Planning a wedding is so much fun, and it's made even more fun by all of you!

Fatal Wedding Reveal, Day 3: Flowers

Ronlyn and Aly came up with some amazing choices for the flowers. They are so beautiful, I wanted to go back and redo my own wedding! Here were the three different collections you had to choose from:



Collection 1



Groom & Groomsmen







Bridesmaids







Bride







Ceremony







Reception Centerpieces







Collection 2



Groom/Groomsmen







Bridesmaids







Bride







Ceremony







Reception Centerpieces







Collection 3



Groom/Groomsmen







Bridesmaids







Bride







Ceremony







Reception Centerpieces







And the winner was.... NUMBER 2! I'll give away a $25 gift certificate to 1-800-FLOWERS today, so make sure you comment by midnight (EDT) tonight. Those who comment today will also be entered into the drawing for two grand prizes: a Nook or Kindle (or a $100 gift card to either B&N or Amazon if you already have a device) for one winner AND advance copies of Fatal Books for the life of the series for a second winner. Everyone who comments during the two weeks of reveals will be entered for the grand prize drawing on Sept. 5, the day FATAL DESTINY is released.

Fatal Wedding Reveal, Day 2: Bridesmaid Dresses

Sam's sisters, Tracy and Angela, will share the duties as her matrons of honor. Her nieces, Brooke and Abby, will be her bridesmaids for the AFTERNOON wedding. The choices for their dresses were:



Bridesmaid No. 1:





Bridesmaid 2:





Bridesmaid 3:





And the winner was: NUMBER 2!



Make sure you come by every day leading up to Sept. 5 and comment to be entered into the drawing for TWO grand prizes: your choice of a Kindle or a Nook for one winner (or a $100 gift card to Amazon or B&N if you already have a device) and advance copies of Fatal Books for the life of the series for a second winner. You'll be entered into the grand prize drawing every time you comment, so come every day and comment often! To be entered for the drawing, please include your first and last names as well as your email address WITH your comment. Today's prize is a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble! Comment by midnight to be entered to win. Include your name and email address with your comment!

Fatal Wedding Reveal, Day 1: TWO WEEKS Until the Big Day, See The Invitations

The two-week countdown to Fatal Destiny is ON. Beginning today, we'll unveil YOUR choices for Sam and Nick's big day, which will be featured in the free novella that is out September 5. Every day we'll reveal another choice so that by the time Sept. 5 rolls around, you'll have a full picture of the wedding in your mind.



I had a great time writing Sam and Nick's wedding, but I never could've done it without the help of my wedding planners Aly Hackett and Ronlyn Howe. They provided all the wonderful choices and (apparently with some significant bickering) narrowed down each item to three options for us to choose from. I have to say that you, my lovely readers, usually chose the one I would've picked in just about every instance.



Over the next two weeks, make sure you come by every day and comment to be entered into the drawing for TWO grand prizes: your choice of a Kindle or a Nook for one winner (or a $100 gift card to Amazon or B&N if you already have a device) and advance copies of Fatal Books for the life of the series for a second winner. You'll be entered into the grand prize drawing every time you comment, so come every day and comment often! To be entered for the drawing, please include your first and last names as well as your email address WITH your comment.



Now, for our first reveal, let's find out which invitation you chose for Sam & Nick:



Invitation 1







Invitation 2







Invitation 3







And the winner is.... NUMBER 3!



To celebrate the invitations going in the mail, I'll be giving away a $25 gift card to Amazon to one lucky commenter today. Comment by midnight tonight and tell me what you think of the invitations (and by the way, this was the hardest element to work into the wedding story, but I think you'll like how I got it in there...)

Up Next On Book Club: Just The Way You Are by Christina Dodd

When Hope Prescott's parents disappeared, her carefree teenage life vanished forever. She and her three siblings were separated and sent to different foster homes around the country. Now, seven years later, Hope is still searching for them. To support herself, she works for an answering service, and cares for her clients as if they were family. When wealthy businessman Zachariah Givens hires Hope's service, Hope initially mistakes Zack for his butler. Tired of being coddled and flattered, Zack is charmed by Hope. As their friendship turns to passion, Zack is determined to have her, even if that means the unthinkable — marriage. But when Hope discovers his deception, Zack knows he must solve the mystery that haunts Hope's past before he can convince her that their futures lie together....



Join us Thursday, August 25, for a chat about this great book.

Book Club: Untraceable by Laura Griffin

By: Kris Gilson

I really need to start off by saying I LOVE Laura Griffin's books! They instantly hook you in and keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. In Untraceable, we meet PI Alex Lovell who helps people drop off the face of the earth. She uses her extensive computer savvy and other PI skills to assist those who need a safe haven. When one of her clients disappears for real, she sets out to uncover what really happened. Alex ends up working with Austin homicide detective Nathan Devereaux and the sparks instantly fly between the two. This story has lots of action and suspense and keeps the reader engaged on every page. There are enough plot twists and turns to keep you guessing all the way through the story. The chemistry between Alex and sexy Nate is the icing on the cake!

Alex is a strong, smart, and independent female lead, and I liked the fact that she knew she needed help and wasn't afraid to get it. I also liked that Nathan was torn between his guilt that makes him really want to help Alex and his loyalty to a fellow police officer. But, I also liked it that he wasn't blinded by that loyalty as the truth starts to unfold. As the danger escalates, so does Nathan's love for Alex. He is such a strong character, pursuing the case and the woman who captured his heart with equal voracity. Not only did I find myself loving the lead characters and cheering for their happy ending, I couldn't wait for good to triumph over evil!!

I read this book some time ago, and since Alison Peterson read it just this past weekend, I asked her to chip in with a few fresh thoughts about the story and some of the things she liked. Thank you Alison!

I think Alex Lovell comes across as very tough, but she's really a softie inside. She really cares about Melanie and even though she's freaked out by baby Grace she's hesitant to give her to CPS and later goes to visit Grace. Alex definitely gets into a lot of trouble…she's nearly blown up when she goes to the cabin Melanie was staying at, she's attacked in the mall when she tries to find out who's following her, she's nearly shot in New Orleans and she's kidnapped by Craig at the end. I loved it when she finally went after Nathan and later offered him half her company....Awww!

Did you wonder about Sophie Barrett at the beginning? It seemed like she was after Alex for putting her old boss in jail, but since she never did anything I let her off the hook.

The Delphi Center is very cool. I want to meet more of the people who work there. I hope Mia gets a story. I'm very curious about the cute, young scientist. I didn't realize how great Alex was with computers until she went into test at Delphi.

Nathan's a homicide cop who met Alex several months ago on a previous case. He was attracted to her then, but didn't do anything about it. Now, Alex wants his help investigating Craig Coghan, a friend and fellow cop. I can't give Nathan any points for "smarts" for continuing to hook up with his ex-wife, Nicole, after their divorce. Why did she still have a key? She's allowed to stop by anytime? Which she does, at the worst possible time….the morning after Nathan finally gets Alex in his bed. He redeems himself when he admits Alex means more to him than the case and when he holds Alex all night and lets her cry it out the night Melanie is shot. It was also pretty hot when he showed her they have more than just sex in New Orleans. Gotta love the house he leases for them!

Nathan doesn't start believing Alex about Craig until bodies killed with baling wire start turning up. Apparently it takes a pretty strong person to kill with baling wire. I love tha he picks a fight and kicks Craig's ass in front of the courthouse to get Craig's DNA! Craig needed his ass kicked! Especially since by then we know Craig is the sicko who is burning the prostitutes and his wife's neck with cigarettes during sex.

I really liked Troy Stockton. It definitely doesn't hurt that he looks like Brad Pitt, but he's a good friend to Alex. He puts her in touch with the Delphi Center to analyze the blood on the ear bud she found. I loved when he kissed her in front of Nathan to just to get a rise out him. LOL! He's the one who goes to New Orleans and calls her out on being a coward for letting Nathan leave. He freaked me out a little when he wouldn't leave the motel and offered Alex $10k for her laptop. I for a second thought he might have lost it or was somehow involved…since at that point I didn't know who all the bad guys were. I'm terrible at guessing who the bad guy is, so now I'm always looking at the person I would least expect!

John Holt's an interesting character; I wonder if he'll be in any of the other books in the series. He seems to be pretty good friends with Mia at the Delphi Center. I don't know how he managed it, but he was always there when the serious action went down…Alex's attack in the mall, when Melanie was shot at the All Saint's Motel, and when Nathan and Hodges went after Coghan when he had Alex.

Laura will be with us today and offering a signed copy of her new release SNAPPED along with a $15 Starbucks gift card. We look forward to welcoming her to book club!

Here's the hard part. Those of you who know me understand that if my husband didn't cook, we'd likely starve at my house (or eat every meal out!). I figured I'd pick something that is Texas-ish, so I have not a clue if this is even remotely good, but it was highly rated!

True Texas Chili

2 ounces dried, whole New Mexico (California), guajillo, or pasilla chiles, or a combination (6 to 8 chiles) 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin seed 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Kosher salt 5 tablespoons lard, vegetable oil, or rendered beef suet 2 1/2 pounds boneless beef chuck, well trimmed and cut into 3/4-inch cubes (to yield 2 pounds after trimming) 1/3 cup finely chopped onion 3 large cloves garlic, minced 2 cups beef stock , or canned low-sodium beef broth, plus more as needed 2 tablespoons corn tortilla flour 1 tablespoon firmly packed dark brown sugar, plus more as needed 1 1/2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar, plus more as needed Sour cream Lime wedges

Place the chiles in a straight-sided large skillet over medium-low heat and gently toast the chiles until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Don't let them burn or they'll turn bitter. Place the chiles in a bowl and cover them with very hot water and soak until soft, 15 to 45 minutes, turning once or twice.

Drain the chiles; split them and remove stems and seeds (a brief rinse helps remove seeds, but don't wash away the flesh). Place the chiles in the bowl of a blender and add the cumin, black pepper, 1 tablespoon salt and 1/4 cup water. Purée the mixture, adding more water as needed (and occasionally scraping down the sides of the blender jar), until a smooth, slightly fluid paste forms (you want to eliminate all but the tiniest bits of skin.) Set the chile paste aside.

Return skillet to medium-high heat and melt 2 tablespoons of the lard. When it begins to smoke, swirl skillet to coat and add half of the beef. Lightly brown on at least two sides, about 3 minutes per side, reducing the heat if the meat threatens to burn. Transfer to a bowl and repeat with 2 more tablespoons of lard and the remaining beef. Reserve.

Let the skillet cool slightly, and place it over medium-low heat. Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of lard in the skillet; add the onion and garlic and cook gently for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the stock, the remaining 2 cups water and gradually whisk in the masa harina to avoid lumps. Stir in the reserved chile paste, scraping the bottom of the skillet with a spatula to loosen any browned bits. Add the reserved beef (and any juices in the bowl) and bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to maintain the barest possible simmer (just a few bubbles breaking the surface) and cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is tender but still somewhat firm and 1 1/2 to 2 cups of thickened but still liquid sauce surrounds the cubes of meat, about 2 hours.

Stir in the brown sugar and vinegar thoroughly and add more salt to taste; gently simmer 10 minutes more. At this point, it may look like there is excess sauce. Turn off the heat and let the chili stand for at least 30 minutes, during which time the meat will absorb about half of the remaining sauce in the skillet, leaving the meat bathed in a thick, somewhat fluid sauce. Stir in additional broth or water if the mixture seems too dry. If the mixture seems a bit loose and wet, allow it to simmer a bit more (sometimes we like to partially crush the cubes of beef with the back of a spoon to let them absorb more sauce). Adjust the balance of flavors with a bit of additional salt, sugar, or vinegar, if you like.

Reheat gently and serve in individual bowls with a dollop of sour cream on top and a lime wedge on the side.

Up Next on Book Club: Untraceable by Laura Griffin

ALEX LOVELL MAKES PEOPLE DISAPPEAR.TURNS OUT, SHE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE.

Private investigator Alexandra Lovell uses computer skills and cunning to help clients drop off the radar and begin new lives in safety. Melanie Bess, desperate to escape her abusive cop husband, was one of those clients. But when Melanie vanishes for real, Alex fears the worst, and sets out to discover what happened. Using every resource she can get her hands on -- including an elite team of forensic scientists known as the Tracers, and a jaded, sexy Austin PD detective -- Alex embarks on a mission to uncover the truth.

As far as homicide cop Nathan Deveraux is concerned, no body means no case. But as much as he wants to believe that Alex's hunch about Melanie's murder is wrong, his instincts -- and their visceral attraction -- won't let him walk away. As a grim picture of what really happened begins to emerge, Nathan realizes this investigation runs deeper than they could ever have guessed. And each step nearer the truth puts Alex in danger of being the next to disappear....

Join us Thursday, August 18, for a chat about this great book. My friend Laura will be here to join in the fun. Looking forward to it!

Book Club: Fatal Consequences & The Fatal Series

Politics can be murder...

Lieutenant Sam Holland has no sooner accepted Senator Nick Cappuano's proposal than she's back on the job. A woman has been found brutally murdered and evidence points to Henry Lightfeather, a senator and close friend of Nick's. While Sam investigates, Nick stands by his friend—complicating his own bid for reelection, and causing tension between the couple.

As Sam's investigation reveals a scandal that rocks the capital, Nick and Sam discover that the biggest threat to their future might be someone from her past...

I'm so excited to chat about book 3 in the Fatal Series. This book was a lot of fun to write as I was able to tap into some "ripped from the headlines" stories about politicians gone wrong. Remember when Jay Leno so famously asked Hugh Grant, "What were you thinking?" after he was caught with a hooker? You gotta wonder what these guys are thinking the first time they hire a hooker or "sext" inappropriate pictures of themselves to women or minors. So many careers have been toppled by moments that come down to that question: WHAT were they thinking?

With this in mind, I tapped into the arrogant, entitled world of the powerful men who run the government to fuel the mystery in Fatal Consequences. One of my favorite moments in this book is when Sam disdains the "little wives" who stand by their disgraced men in their moment of free fall. She makes it clear that if her future husband ever finds himself in that position, she won't be standing there playing the part of the political wife. I also love Nick's reaction to her tirade: as if. We all know Nick would never be so stupid, because, well, he's NICK!

In this book we gain some more insight into Freddie's relationship with Elin and something from Gonzo's past threatens his burgeoning relationship with Cristina, Nick's chief of staff. We're also along for the ride as Sam and Nick attempt to plan a wedding after she loses an "interesting" bet and he sets a wedding date that's just six short weeks away.

We're now down to less than a month until Fatal Destiny, the wedding novella, will be released. I can't wait until you all can read about the wedding you helped to plan last February. Speaking of that, mark your calendars for Aug. 22 when we will start unveiling your choices for Sam and Nick's wedding, leading up the Sept. 5 release of the novella. We'll have all new prizes and daily giveaways, so make sure you check in every day from August 22–September 4.

Join the conversation today to be privy to a sneak peek at Fatal Destiny as well as the chance to win random prizes offered throughout the day. Let's talk about the political scandal that most resonated with you: was it Clinton or Spitzer or Weiner? Or was it something closer to your home? And, I'll take any questions you might have about what's next for Sam, Nick and the gang. Look forward to chatting about Fatal Consequences and the series today!

You can't visit the DC area without sampling some authentic Maryland crab cakes, so here's a recipe to try:

Yields: 6 Maryland Crab Cakes

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

1 pound backfin Blue crab meat or other lump crab meat 8 saltine crackers 1 egg beaten 2 tbsp mayonnaise 1 tsp mustard 1/4 tsp Worcestershire 1/2 tsp Old Bay seasoning salt to taste 2 tbsp vegetable oil

Preparation:

Carefully check the crab meat for any cartilage. Put meat in a bowl and set it aside.

Crush the saltine crackers very fine and mix with all the other ingredients. Gently fold in the crab. Only mix enough to combine ingredients. You don't want to break up the crab into fine shreds. Shape into 6 crab cakes, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Heat about 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a non-stick frying pan. Sauté until golden brown on each side. This will only take about 3-5 minutes per side.

Garnish with tartar sauce, remoulade, or simply with a squeeze of lemon.

Next Up on Book Club: Fatal Consequences/Fatal Series

Politics can be murder...

Lieutenant Sam Holland has no sooner accepted Senator Nick Cappuano's proposal than she's back on the job. A woman has been found brutally murdered and evidence points to Henry Lightfeather, a senator and close friend of Nick's. While Sam investigates, Nick stands by his friend—complicating his own bid for reelection, and causing tension between the couple.

As Sam's investigation reveals a scandal that rocks the capital, Nick and Sam discover that the biggest threat to their future might be someone from her past...

Join us Thursday, August 11, for a discussion of my new Fatal book as well as a preview of what's ahead for Sam, Nick and the DC gang in Fatal Destiny and Fatal Flaw! I'll be giving away a complete set of the Fatal books, so be sure to comment to be entered to win!

Book Club: Knock Me Off My Feet by Susan Donovan

By: Aly Hackett

About the Book: Autumn Adams never planned to follow in her mother's footsteps as Chicago's answer to Martha Stewart—she can't cook, doesn't clean, and would rather play soccer than discuss the joys of white bathtub grout. Then some lunatic starts sending her threats in the mail and Audie finds herself under the protection of simmering, sexy Detective Stacey Quinn, a man determined to examine her every nook, cranny, and ex-boyfriend in his effort to find the stalker. A disarming combination of macho cop and sweet charmer, Quinn is hard to resist. But with Audie's bad luck at finding and holding on to Mr. Right, she think it's best to keep her distance.

I love Audie and Quinn. More Quinn than Audie but they are both marvelous characters! My love for Quinn stems mostly from his Irish heritage – DUDE! A kilt and the pipes! - but in truth, he is funny, kind, sensitive and of course HOT! LOL! Audie just cracks me up! She is so smart and funny but the fact that she is exactly the opposite of her mother and such a klutz makes me chuckle.

But it isn't just Audie and Quinn that made this book work for me. The supporting cast definitely enriches the story and adds plenty of flavor. Griffin with all his clothes – and his personality – and Stanny-O with his Frango mints create a well-rounded cast of characters. Add to that the Quinn family and this book hits all the great characterization points for me!

Since there are so many LOL moments in this book for me, I thought I would share a few.

This one made me laugh but also made me realize that Stanny-O and Quinn had a great relationship.

Not once in their four years together had Stanny-O altered his routine. He came in the doors to the District 18 police station, got buzzed through, and immediately reached into his top right desk drawer and pulled out a bright green box of Marshall Field's Frango Mints. And every morning he shoved the box under Quinn's nose and offered him one, apparently oblivious to the fact that Quinn had never once taken him up on his offer.

I think this next one made me laugh because it is so me

Audie grinned, then politely pushed past him into the middle of the room. She looked around his house again—charming, organized, clean, and comfortable. Her eyes fell to the gleaming floors.

"Damp mopped with two tea bags per quart of water, Quinn?"

He nodded.

"Wow."

"Yeah, my brothers think I'm a freak."

"Well, you are!" She laughed at him, suddenly spinning around to examine the spice rack over the stove. "A ha! Alphabetized! I knew it!"

He shrugged.

"The CDs, too?"

"Yes."

But there are also many emotional and very moving scenes.

"How can everyone pretend they're not sad?" She whirled on him. "Aren't your hearts broken?"

"Hell, yes, they are."

She shook her head. "I don't get it."

"Audie." Quinn laid his palm gently against the side of her face. "We're not pretending anything, but if there's a choice between laughing and crying, the Quinns pick laughing every time. It's better for the soul."

And this one

"Faith is believing in something when there's no possible way to guarantee it. Like believing that Kiley will get to live a full life. Like believing you and I are together for a reason. Faith is taking a chance, Audie."

All in all Knock Me Off My Feet had everything I look for in a great read - humor, great characters, a fun and interesting story line and love.

Since Quinn is such a lover of Guinness, I figured Guinness Stew would be a fabulous recipe to share!

Ingredients

2 pounds stewing beef

3 tablespoons oil

2 tablespoons flour

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Pinch of cayenne

2 large onions, coarsely chopped

1 garlic clove, crushed

2 tablespoons tomato puree, dissolved in 4 tablespoons water

1 1/4 cups Guinness

2 cups largely diced carrots

Sprig of fresh thyme

Chopped parsley, for garnish

Directions

Trim the meat of any fat or gristle, and cut into 2-inch cubes. Toss beef with 1 tablespoon of the oil. In a small bowl, season the flour with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Toss meat with seasoned flour.

Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over high heat. Brown the meat on all sides. Reduce the heat, add the onions, crushed garlic and tomato puree to the skillet, cover, and cook gently for 5 minutes. Transfer the contents of the skillet to a casserole and pour half of the Guinness into the skillet. Bring Guinness to a boil and stir to dissolve the caramelized meat juices on the pan. Pour over the meat, along with the remaining Guinness. Add the carrots and thyme. Stir and adjust seasonings. Cover the casserole and simmer over low heat, or in a 300 degree oven until the meat is tender, 2 to 3 hours.

And for dessert a nice bundt cake with just a touch of Bailey's :)

Ingredients

1 cup chopped pecans

1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix

1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix

4 eggs

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup Irish cream liqueur

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup water

1 cup white sugar

1/4 cup Irish cream liqueur

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan. Sprinkle chopped nuts evenly over bottom of pan.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix and pudding mix. Mix in eggs, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 cup oil and 3/4 cup Irish cream liqueur. Beat for 5 minutes at high speed. Pour batter over nuts in pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then invert onto the serving dish. Prick top and sides of cake. Spoon glaze over top and brush onto sides of cake. Allow to absorb glaze repeat until all glaze is used up.

To make the glaze: In a saucepan, combine butter, 1/4 cup water and 1 cup sugar. Bring to a boil and continue boiling for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup Irish cream.

I hope everyone enjoyed reading Knock Me Off My Feet. Audie and Quinn are one of my comfort reads that I go back to often! Susan is going to be popping in and out all day - as long as we don't have Blogger issues like last week - so feel free to post a question!