Selena Robins's Blog, page 13

Let them eat cake!

And lots of it.

This sinfully, decadent offering has to be healthy, right? It has carrots, zucchini, olive oil, eggs, cinnamon  and other healthy spices, cream cheese and healthy nuts. All good stuff, right? Right.

Get your bake on, and sweeten your spring and summer months with:

 

Carrot Zucchini Cake

 

Ingredients

3 eggs

4 egg whites

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1-1/3 cups light (not the extra-virgin) olive oil (or you can use vegetable oil)

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups finely shredded carrots

2 cups finely shredded zucchini

1 cup coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts

FROSTING:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

5 cups confectioners’ (in Canada, we call this Icing sugar)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Whole or chopped pecans or walnuts for garnish, optional

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F

In a large bowl beat eggs, egg whites and sugar until frothy.

Gradually beat in oil.

In a separate bowl combine: dry ingredients.

Add all dry ingredients (except the carrots and zucchini and nuts, keep them on the side for now) to the frothy mixture.

Beat for 5 minutes.

Stir in carrots, zucchini and nuts.

Pour into three greased 9-in. round baking pans.

Bake at 350° for about 35 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched.

Cool 5 minutes before removing from pans.

Cool thoroughly on a wire rack.

Directions for Frosting:

Add cream cheese and butter in a large bowl.

Beat until smooth.

Add sugar and vanilla.

Continue beating until sugar is dissolved.

Spread between the layers and over the top and sides of the cake.

Garnish with whole or chopped nuts if desired, or candy in the shape of carrots

 

 

 

For more recipes (over 100 family dishes), PLUS, two stories (children’s book, and a comedy short story for adults) download a sample or purchase WISHES. STITCHES & DISHES: Bundle of Family Fun.

Available on AMAZON for only $0.99

 

 

 

 

 

Filed under: Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged: cake recipe, Carrot Zucchini Cake, cream cheese frosting, recipes

Interview with an Alpha Hero

Please join me in welcoming, Jake Becker, the hero in Emma Chase’s, SUSTAINED (The Legal Briefs #2) and  SIDEBARRED (The Legal Briefs #3.5).

Emma is generously giving away a copy of SIDEBARRED (details below).

If  you haven’t read THE LEGAL BRIEF Series, I highly recommend it.

I have mad love for all of Emma’s books and was thrilled when I heard she had written a new series after TANGLED. Drew Evans makes a guest appearance in OVERRULED (Book #1), and as always he does not disappoint.

However,  there’s a new favorite-of-mine-hero in town, and his name is Jake Becker.[image error]

 

If like me, you can’t get enough of Emma’s hero’s, and enjoy reading their thoughts, then I know you’ll get a kick out of my chat with Jake:

Selena: Jake, if by some miracle you had one free day to yourself with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?

JAKE: I would hang out with my wife – that would be the most enjoyable thing I can think of – no matter what we were doing. Having a beach nearby would be a plus – because then I’d get to look at her in a bikini. And although I’m not really a “lay around” kind of guy, spending the day in bed with Chelsea – with no interruptions, except for when we’d have to come up for air to eat – would be awesome too.

Selena: What impression do you make on people when they first meet you? How about after they’ve known you for a while?

JAKE: People are usually quiet – intimidated – when they first meet me. Unless they’re assholes or stupid. But normal people (read “not my clients”), tend to be naturally intimidated around me because of my size and generally non-friendly demeanor. After they’ve known me for a while, it’s different. They get that I’m not trying to be a dick – I just don’t see the point of inane conversation. And they understand that I would never use my size to hurt anyone – unless they tried to hurt someone I care about first.

Selena: Before meeting Chelsea, what was your idea of a great relationship?

JAKE: My idea of a great relationship was an interaction – usually a hook-up – that required zero thought, commitment, conversation or energy afterward. If a woman was on the same page with that, I’d gladly see her again. But the only relationship I was interested in was with my career – that’s where my focus was – where I invested my time. I was kind of an idiot before Chelsea.



Selena: What three pieces of advice would you give to a man entering a ready-made family? I would imagine with 6 little ones in the house, would you advise the bonus dad not to sleep in the nude?

JAKE: Yeah, sadly, going to bed bare-ass is not an option. Somebody’s bound to have a nightmare, feel sick, need water – there’s a thousand opportunities for awkwardness or scarring someone for life. But the most important advice I could give is this: you have to want it. You have to want to be a part of that family’s life – whether it’s as a father or a friend. You have to be, not just willing, but eager to put them and their well-being before your own. For some guys, that’s hard – maybe even impossible.

But kids know when they’re not wanted, you can’t bullshit it.

And if you don’t want that responsibility, if you can’t handle it – it’s fine – but you have to be honest with yourself and the woman you’re into. If all you’re interested in is the woman – then you have to be man enough to walk away.

Selena: Let’s get a bit more personal, create a bumper stick that best describes your sex life?

JAKE: “Get it when you can – but know when you’re getting it. Planned is never fucking boring.”

Selena: Did you get any new tattoos?

JAKE: I did. On my forearm. It’s a C superimposed over an R – making a cool kind of symbol. There are vines entwining the letters together and the vines are made up of each of the kid’s and Chelsea’s names. The day I got it done, Chelsea was so excited – and grateful – she practically made my head explode in bed that night.

Selena: Thank you, Jake, it was so much fun chatting with you. Hope to see you in another book sometime in the future.

***

Hey, Emma, I really liked that you brought Jake with you to this chat. SIDEBARRED was a great ending to this fabulous series, and I look forward to  more. Which brings me to a question for you, can you tell us what you’re working on next?

EMMA CHASE: Thanks for having me, this was a lot of fun! I’m actually going to announce what I have in store next on May 1st – the week after SIDEBARRED comes out.

What I can say now is I’m SO EXCITED about what I’m working on!! There are some projects that you hope readers will enjoy – and some that you absolutely can’t wait to share because you KNOW they’re going to have fun and love it just as much as you do. This project is one of those. Stay tuned… – xoxo

Selena: I am SO looking forward to hearing more!

Emma is giving away one copy of SIDEBARRED. To enter for your chance to win, simply leave a comment on this blog post, and we’ll draw a name on Tuesday, April 2tth.

There was a time when Jake Becker had it all together. He was controlled, driven, ruthless—in and out of the courtroom.

Then, six irresistible orphans and their heartbreakingly beautiful aunt crashed into his perfectly ordered life. They changed everything. They changed him. Now he’s a husband, an upstanding member of society, a father figure—a family man.

And he’s pretty damn good at it.

Sure, he has to referee sibling smackdowns, re-learn algebra, ensure his clients stay of jail, and keep his wife happy—but it finally feels like he’s got it together again….

So, of course something has to screw it all up.

It’s huge. Life-changing. Kind of terrifying.

And it will be the most amazing, perfect thing he’ll ever do.

 

ABOUT EMMA:

Emma Chase lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children and two misbehaving (but really cute) dogs. She has a long-standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

Emma is an avid reader. Before her children were born she was known to consume whole books in a single day. Writing has also always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true.

***

Selena’s Review & Favorite Quotes from SIDEBARRED:

5 STARS!

I had a smile the whole time while reading SIEDBARRED.

Emma Chase is an auto-buy author for me, and I don’t have to read the blurb or see a cover to know I’m going to enjoy the story and the characters Emma creates.

SIDEBARRED is dedicated to the readers, especially those who enjoyed the LEGAL BRIEF SERIES (if you have not read this series, I highly recommend you do) and for those who can’t get enough of the McQuaid kids, and especially Jake and Chelsea. Although short, this story is a great way to end a series. It takes the reader into that place we often go after we finish a book—how is the couple—and in SIDEBARRED case—the whole brood faring after the epilog of the last book?

You will find out once you read SIDEBARRED and keep wanting more, which is why I hope Emma keeps on with this series with a spin-off featuring new characters.

The story is witty, fun, sexy and sweet. Although it’s fiction, the struggles, challenges, triumphs and everyday life of careers, and everyday living are relatable.

With thanks to Emma Chase and the publisher for providing the ARC

SELENA’S FAVORITE QUOTES:

Chelsea’s arms flail out to her sides and she yells, “Who are you?”

“I’m your husband.”

“Really? I don’t remember exchanging rings with a fucking caveman!”

I lean down over her, almost nose to nose. “Then you weren’t paying close enough attention.”

Brent would say this is healthy – getting it all out in the open. That theory can go suck a dick.”

**

“Sometimes I look around and wonder, how the hell did I get here? How is this my life? It all changed so fast. But then I stop wondering. Because how this life became mine doesn’t really fucking matter. I’m just crazy-happy that it is.”

**

“Okay, here’s the deal – your aunt and I have noticed that you and Peter seem…pretty serious. And…we want to make sure you’re being safe.”

The last word hangs heavy in the air. Like one of Cousin It’s rancid dog farts.

Riley’s face turns a startling shade of fire-engine red. “Oh my God. Is this really happening?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I know, I know, it’s fucking awful.”

**

“There’s no way the person who made these lists actually has kids. They should be shot. And at this moment, I would defend the person who shoots them, pro bono. Just saying.”

 

 

 

Filed under: Author Interviews, Uncategorized Tagged: Alpha Hero, Drew Evans, Emma Chase, Jake Becker, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Fiction, The Legal Brief Series

Interview: Selena Robins

The astute among you will recognise the name of the fabulous author I get to host (and interview!) today. Weeks ago, for my debut post, I reviewed the fantastic WHAT A GIRL WANTS by Selena, and I…

CLICK HERE to read the full interview and meet the Dream Cast for the movie version of my book: Interview: Selena Robins
Filed under: Uncategorized

There is nothing more erotic than pouring chocolate on it.

Now’s the time (actually, any time is the time when it comes to erotic pleasures) to indulge yourself with this versatile, sinfully delicious, chocolate sauce recipe.

Drizzle it over fruit, cake, cookies, ice-cream, yogurt—use your imagination, if you like it on its own, then it’s even better with chocolate.

Chocolate Sauce Recipe
Ingredients:

1/2 cup (250 ml) water

½ cup milk (for extra richness and decadence you can use cream)

1/2 cup white sugar

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-processed)

8 ounces of high-quality chocolate for the best flavor and texture–bittersweet or semisweet– finely chopped

Directions:

Turn stove top to medium heat.

In a saucepan, whisk together: water, milk, sugar, and cocoa powder.

Keep whisking until the mixture comes to a boil.

Remove from heat and add chopped chocolate, stirring until chocolate is all melted.

Put aside for 1 ½ to 2 hours, this will allow the sauce to thicken.

To serve warm, heat on low for a few minutes, or can be served at room temperature, just stir before drizzling.

Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days in a tightly covered container, and rewarmed before serving.

ENJOY.[image error]

 

For more recipes (over 100 family dishes), PLUS, two stories (children’s book, and a comedy short story for adults) download a sample or purchase WISHES. STITCHES & DISHES: Bundle of Family Fun.

Available on AMAZON for only $0.99

 

 

 

Filed under: Selena's Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged: Chocolate, Chocolate Lovers, chocolate recipe, chocolate sauce, recipes

Lauren Smith Unplugged

She’s naughty and nice, and a multi-published, best-selling author who is a lawyer by day, and a word warrior of sexy reads at night.

She was interviewed on Playboy Radio to discuss her steamy novels where she revealed a SURPRISING twist.

Lauren discusses this twist in our chat here on my blog. Read on to find out what it is.

 

Please join me in welcoming Lauren Smith to the blog.

 

Selena: What is the most outrageous thing you’ve done in the name of “research” for one of your books?

Lauren: I haven’t done anything really crazy in the name of research. I have however, just done crazy things that are fun enough I hope they end up in a book someday. I once touched a four-hundred-year-old female mummy in a crypt in a church in Dublin Ireland where it was rumored Bram Stoker got his idea for Dracula because the corpses in this crypt didn’t decay.

You can read my review of WICKED DESIGNS on Amazon and Goodreads. A fun, sexy book. ~Selena~

Selena: Tell us something that is not well known about you.

Lauren: I’m a virgin!

Selena: What did I tell you about the twist, folks? Lauren discusses her virginity in an interview (click here to read more). If you could have had the starring role in one film already made, which movie would you pick?

Lauren: Oh my heavens…it would be the girl opposite Scott Eastwood in the movie The Longest Ride…damn he’s heavenly and I’d want a piece of him.

 

Selena: If you could have been told one thing that you weren’t told when you were a teenager, what would you like to have heard?

Lauren: Hmmm that’s a toughie. I’ve been really lucky getting good advice, so I’m not sure, but I know one thing that was told to me that helped when I was younger. “Tough out the things you hate doing. Some day when you’re old enough, you won’t have to do them anymore.”

Selena: Name the most famous person you’ve had a face to face encounter with (“brush with greatness”).

Lauren: Apparently I bumped into that girl who was Willow from Buffy The Vampire Slayer when we were leaving a pizzeria in Los Angeles one time. But I was looking down and didn’t know it and my brother told me 30 seconds later and I was like…what?!

Selena: If you could be one for just 24 hours, what cereal box cartoon character would you be? Why?

Lauren: Count Chocula (but I’d want to be a girl version).

Lauren, thank you for the fun interview!

About Lauren Smith

Amazon best-selling author Lauren Smith is an attorney by day, author by night, who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She’s a native Oklahoman who lives with her three pets—a feisty chinchilla, sophisticated cat and dapper little schnauzer. She’s won multiple awards in several romance subgenres including being an Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist and a Semi-Finalist for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award.

 

 

Connect with Lauren Smith

You can purchase Lauren Smith Gear at her store where she sells items with exclusive designs showing off the fun and sexy League of Rogues series. Get your reader gear now!

Website

Facebook

Twitter

 

 

 

 

Filed under: Author Interviews, Uncategorized Tagged: Author Interview, Historical Romance, Lauren Smith, Playboy, Rogues

Soon-to-be World Famous Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

As I was preparing to upload this blog post, I asked my husband if he had any suggestions for an attention-grabbing blog title for this cookie recipe.

His answer: “The word cookie grabs my attention.”

As you can see, I didn’t go with his suggestion and asked people on Facebook for their input. Thanks to Nadine Winningham for coming up with the blog title.

 

Selena’s Fantasmic Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

 

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter (unsalted butter), softened (NOT melted, just softened)
1 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy, your choice)
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg, beaten
2 cups milk chocolate chips (of if you prefer dark chocolate, your choice)

Confectioner sugar


Directions:

Preheat oven to 375

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or if you don’t have parchment, use a non-stick baking sheet.

In a bowl add: flour, baking soda, salt, chocolate chips, mix well and put aside.

Using a hand mixture, or a bowl with a big spoon, add these ingredients together: butter, peanut butter, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, beaten egg, and mix until you get a creamy texture.

Gradually add in the flour mixture, stirring to incorporate the flour, but try not to stir too much, as you don’t want cake consistency. Just enough that all the flour is mixed in with the creamy mixture.

Drop the dough by rounding tablespoon onto the cookie sheet. With a fork (if you want some ridges) or with the flat part of the back of a spoon, press down lightly.

Once all your cookies are on the sheet, dust lightly with a sprinkling of confectionary sugar.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges are set but the centers will still be a bit soft.

Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them on to a rack to cool completely.

Enjoy, because cookies make everything better.[image error]

 

***

For more recipes (over 100 family dishes), PLUS, two stories (children’s book, and a comedy short story for adults) download a sample or purchase WISHES. STITCHES & DISHES: Bundle of Family Fun.

 

Available on AMAZON for only $0.99

 

Filed under: Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged: chocolate chip cookies, Chocolate Chips, cookie recipe, cookies, peanut butter chocolate chip cookies recipe, Peanut Butter Cookies

Sassy. Sexy. Saucy.

Yeah! March is national sauce month.

What is a sauce holiday?

I don’t have a clue, so I researched this holiday on the Internet and couldn’t find its origin. There are several articles, stating this holiday does exist, so I’m going to roll with it.

Celebrating any holiday is never a bad thing. Right?

To commemorate this saucy holiday, I’m sharing my authentic, sassy tomato sauce recipe.

I’m also sharing links to some sassy, sexy, and saucy romance novels.

Roll up a chair, check out this easy-to-make sauce, so you can celebrate Sauce Month.

This sauce pairs extremely well with laughter, family and friends, pasta, meatballs, bread—anything that welcomes the delicious sweetness of tomatoes, the nutty savouriness of roasted garlic, aromatic olive oil, and delicate sweet-savory basil.

Three important things to remember when making this sauce, and any Italian fare.

Italian cuisine is simple and rustic, using fresh ingredients.
Every time someone calls jar sauce, Italian tomato sauce, an Italian Angel eats a slice of Devil’s Food cake and goes over to the dark sauce. If that doesn’t worry you, then any time you are tempted to use jar sauce, a hot-alpha-book-hero will lose a quart of testosterone and his washboard abs will disappear.
Always cook with  L O V E .


Selena’s Sassy Sexy Authentic Tomato Sauce

 

INGREDIENTS:

I usually use fresh tomatoes for this recipe, however since it’s not summer in this part of the world, we will use canned tomatoes.

Extra-Virgin Olive Oil (good quality)

4 large (16 oz.) can San Marzano Plum Tomatoes (or any other good quality plum tomatoes)

1 small can of good quality tomato paste

1 head of roasted garlic, mashed until smooth

1 whole carrot, peeled, (leave it whole)

1 cup Fresh Basil, washed, dried and chopped

1/3 cup of beef or vegetable stock (Or you can use dry wine that you would drink. Never ever use cooking wine, it’s just not good.)

Sea salt to taste

A few flakes of chili pepper flakes (more if you like it spicy, you be the judge)

DIRECTIONS:

Put tomatoes into a food processor and whiz them through, this will make a thicker sauce – or – You can use a food mill, which will take the seeds out and make for a smoother, more liquid consistency sauce. Your choice. Set aside.
In a heavy bottom pot, coat the bottom of pot with olive oil and heat on medium-high.
Once the oil is heated add the tomatoes, tomato paste, and roasted garlic.
Turn up heat to high, stir well and rapidly so the bottom doesn’t stick, for about 2 – 3 minutes. Then turn heat down to MEDIUM-HIGH.
Stir in: stock (or wine if you are using wine), baking soda, and the carrot. Then turn the heat on LOW. 
Cook, semi-covered for two hours, stirring every 15 minutes.
After an hour of cooking season with salt and chili peppers. Taste it, so you know whether or not to add more salt. Also at this point, remove the whole carrot. The carrots adds a bit of sweetness to cut down on acidity.
You want the liquid to evaporate. Keep simmering for the two hours (or more), depending on how thick you prefer the sauce.
Remove from heat and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Add the fresh, chopped basil, and 4 TBSP of olive oil and stir.

SEXY, SAUCY, SASSY ROMANCES

(click on image to take you to teasers and excerpt of my romance novels)

 

MORE SEXY, SASSY & SAUCY NOVELS TO CHECK OUT
Donna June Cooper
DB Darlene Kennison
Rosanna Leo
Sophie H. Morgan
Barbara Meyers
Lauren Smith
Melanie Burt Stanford

 

Filed under: Excerpts, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged: Barbara Meyers, DB Darlene Kennison, Donna June Cooper, Italian cooking, Italian Recipes, Lauren Smith, March Sauce Month, Melanie Burt Standford, Romance novels, Rosanna Leo, San Marzano tomatoes, Sexy Romance, Sophie H. Morgan, Tomato Sauce

Humor saves the day.

Please join me in welcoming, the talented and multi-published Rosanna Leo to my blog as she talks about injecting a bit of humor in her writing and in life.

Rosanna also has a new release PREDATOR’S RESCUE and is sharing the blurb and an excerpt.

* * *

 “A Little Humor Saves the Day”

by

Rosanna Leo

Thanks so much to Selena for hosting me on my blog tour for Predator’s Rescue, book 7 of my Gemini Island Shifters series. I’m thrilled to be here.

Selena writes humor so well and I love to use it in my books as well.

Fans of my paranormal romance series will know the series has taken a darker turn with the last couple of books but one thing has remained the same. No matter what sorts of obstacles the characters encounter, there will also be an element of humor to lighten the load.

Why employ humor in a series that features shape-shifters and murder and a nefarious villain or two? Because at some point, we need to laugh.

No one’s life is completely light or dark. We all live in the grey areas from time to time. Sometimes the best way to endure life’s hardships is to crack a joke. No matter how desperate situations become for my characters, it’s important to me to give the reader a breather. A release. We can’t live on the edge all the time.

Throw in a bit of humor here and there and the characters will feel more real. When the dark times come, we will root for the characters even more. And when the evitable resolution comes around, we will rejoice.

Remember when Mary Tyler Moore broke into laughter at the funeral for Chuckles the Clown? That’s exactly what I’m getting at.

Have a laugh today.

 

I hope you enjoy PREDATOR’S RESCUE.

Tiger shifter Jani Fodor should have washed his hands of Fleur Bissette long ago. However, when she disappears from the shape-shifter sanctuary on Gemini Island, he can’t forget her, and launches a fraught two-week search to find her. He thinks she’ll be grateful but the petulant she-wolf resents his intrusion in her life.

Jani recently liberated Fleur from a vicious cult of shape shifters, where she was brainwashed by the sadistic August Crane. The wolf shifter terrorized their friends at the Ursa Fishing Lodge and Resort on Gemini Island. Labeled a “bad girl” all her life, Fleur knows she’ll never fit in with the good guys at the Ursa, no matter how much Jani tries to convince her of their regard. Besides, she can’t stay with Jani. Although he’s the closest thing she’s ever had to a friend, their chemistry is explosive in the worst way.

When a new menace arises, in the form of a vicious drug dealer with a grudge, Jani is adamant Fleur accept his help to rehabilitate her addict mother and remove her from the influence of her dealer. Fleur accepts Jani’s assistance but as they work together, friendship erupts into passion. Neither can deny their lust-struck spirit animals and before long, they realize their connection runs deeper than they ever expected.

Despite the threats posed by the drug dealer, the worst danger of all dwells inside Fleur. Haunted by the spirit of August Crane, Fleur is inundated by visions that torment her. She is consumed by guilt and plagued by old hostilities. Can this bad girl make good? And is Jani’s love enough to save her from her demons?

Enjoy an excerpt from PREDATOR’S RESCUE:

Once again, Jani’s temper flared but he swallowed his simmering rage. He stood and raised his voice so he could be heard over Loretta Lynn’s tinny warbling as it emanated from the jukebox. “Now I’m going to ask everyone in this shithole one more time. I’m looking for Fleur Bissette. Where is she?”

There was a crash and a feminine cry from behind one of the closed doors. Jani didn’t hesitate. He launched himself off his stool and toward the door, already on the verge of shifting. His tiger hairs danced in anticipation under his skin, ready to burst through his pores.

The two men who’d approached him grabbed him by the shoulders and hauled him back.

“Hey, asshole,” the grizzly man shouted. “You’re not allowed back there. Private parties only.”

Jani glanced at the hand on his shoulder and then at the man. “One warning. Take your hands

Jani glanced at the hand on his shoulder and then at the man. “One warning. Take your hands off me.”

The idiot snorted and looked at his pal. “Why waste your time lookin’ for Fleur anyway? That girl’s nothing but trouble. Trouble loves her. In fact, she’s probably spreading her legs to trouble right now.”

Jani reached for the man’s arms and spun him around. “What did you say?”

“It’s all the bitch knows how to do. That’s all women like her are good for anyway.”

Jani reared back and let his fist fly, cracking it against the man’s face. The grizzly shifter flew across the room, hitting the back wall, collapsing to the floor. The grim satisfaction of seeing the man crumple overrode any pain in his knuckles. In fact, it felt so good to hit the jackass he had to hold his hand behind his back so he wouldn’t hit him again.

No one, no one, insulted Fleur. The man was lucky Jani didn’t kill him for the slight. Fleur had been called too many names in her time, and he’d made it his mission to see she was never belittled again.

Jani nodded toward the other men. “Don’t even think of stopping me.”

He tried the closed door, relieved to find it unlocked. He flung the door open and his tiger senses homed in on her immediately.

Fleur had clearly been serving drinks to the small group of shifter bikers inside, but one of them had gotten a little too close to the new waitress. Her tray of drinks lay on the floor, smashed, and one of the men had her over his lap. His large hand caressed her ass as she squirmed in his grip.

As time seemed to freeze for Jani, Fleur turned to glance at him. She mouthed his name.

The silent plea made his heart twist in his chest. Had she actually spoken aloud? He wasn’t sure. He couldn’t hear her voice. His ears were ringing too much as his tiger roared her name.

Her dark eyes seemed to grow darker, black with emotion, but he didn’t take time to analyze the sentiment flitting behind her irises.

With a noise that must have sounded more animal than man, Jani raced toward her and pulled her off the man’s lap. He moved her toward the door, so she wouldn’t be hurt in the melee. He then turned to the shithead who’d grabbed her, a growl emanating from his furious core.

The biker, startled and likely drunk, didn’t react quickly enough to shift. Jani hauled him off his chair and thrust him toward the wall.

“Jani,” Fleur called, her voice loud and clear now. “Don’t. You don’t know what you’re doing.”

“His hand was on your ass. I know enough.”

One of the other men was foolhardy enough to try to stop him. He tried to yank Jani away but Jani snapped his arm back, using his elbow to hammer the man in the face. Cradling his bloody nose, the man retreated.

Jani turned his attention back to the shifter who’d groped Fleur. “That was the last time you ever touch her.” Bracing himself, he head-butted him. A sickening crack sounded in the room. The man moaned, his eyes rolled back, and he dropped to the floor.

Ignoring the pain exploding through his forehead, Jani marched toward Fleur, picked her up, and hauled her over his shoulder.

“Hey. Put me down! You have no right.”

No right. He might have laughed if he wasn’t concerned about getting her out of there in one piece.

Holding out his free arm to warn off any others who might consider having a go at him, Jani carried the writhing Fleur out of the room and out of the bar. His heart thumped against his chest just from holding her. Granted, he hadn’t quite envisioned holding her like this, her ass high in the air near his face, but it pleased him more than he cared to admit out loud. Something about the scenario made his inner caveman very happy.

Purchase Predator’s Rescue:
Liquid Silver Books

Amazon

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iTunes

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Coming soon to ARE and Barnes & Noble.
Add Predator’s Rescue to Goodreads.

About Rosanna Leo

Rosanna Leo is a multi-published, erotic romance author. Several of her books about Greek gods, selkies and shape shifters have been named Top Picks at Night Owl Romance and The Romance Reviews.

From Toronto, Canada, Rosanna occupies a house in the suburbs with her long-suffering husband, their two hungry sons and a tabby cat named Sweetie. When not writing, she can be found haunting dusty library stacks or planning her next star-crossed love affair.

A library employee by day, she is honored to be a member of the league of naughty librarians who also happen to write romance.

Stay in touch with Rosanna:
Blog

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads

Tsu

Pinterest

Facebook

Twitter

 

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Author musings, humor, Paranormal Romance, Rosanna Leo, Shapeshifter romance

Shifter Appeal: Why we love an Alpha

Please join me in welcoming, Sophie H. Morgan, author of the extremely well-written paranormal romance, ASHES.

A book I thoroughly enjoyed. You can read my review here. 

Sophie is here to talk about the appeal of those sexy, shifter alpha heroes.

Shifter Appeal: Why we love an Alpha

by Sophie H. Morgan

There are two words on the blurb of a romance cover that will guarantee to hook my attention: Shifter Male.

*shiver*

And it seems I’m not the only one to fall prey (ha) to this exciting hero. If you do a browse through current romance books, probably two out of five feature a gorgeous, ripped shifter hero. So why do we love the shifter male so much? Here are my picks for why.


First and foremost, it’s got to be the alpha in him. We live in a society where a dominant man is considered a bad thing – but in a world of supernatural sexy times, a man who crowds your space, and holds your stare while he growls your name is hawt. He is masculinity personified, six feet of unshaven, wild gorgeousness. Nobody is going to stand in his way from claiming what he considers his: you.

A shifter’s loyalty cannot be matched. There’s an animal within, sharing its need to protect and possess, and if he decides you’re worth protecting, you’re more likely to find calorie-free chocolate than shake him off your tail. This animal drives him, leaving him partly wild, unabashedly sexy, and – sometimes – obsessively protective. It takes a strong heroine to stand up to him. And that is often where the best romances begin.

My last pick would have to be the hidden – or not so hidden – dark side every shifter hero carries. That animal roughness might make him irresistible, but it can also carry a heavy price. The wildness can often tip over to ruthlessness, sometimes leaving scars our hero has to battle until the right woman can tame both beast and man to help him heal them.

In ASHES, Cade, a jackal shifter, still carries a torch for his old forbidden love, Ana. When he runs into her on the scent of a rebellion leader, the flames of passion explode. Luckily my dark shifter can take a lot of heat. =)

What qualities do you like best in a shifter hero?






 ***

Getting to know Sophie a bit more, here’s a quick interview I did with her:





Selena: Name 3 actors that provided visual aid for your hero, Cade in ASHES.


Sophie: Oh, so many choices. I had a cross between Chris Hemsworth with dark hair, Joe Manganiello, and Jensen Ackles (LOVE HIM). Rugged, witty in the face of danger and dangerously handsome. The perfect man!

Selena: Nice visual there! What do you consider to the most valuable thing you own: when you were a child/teenager/now?

Sophie: When I was a child, the most valuable thing I owned was a china statuette of two white cats. My mum had given it to me, and I considered it a really grown up thing to own. When I was a teenager, the most valuable thing I owned was my first pet which was a rabbit I called ‘Fudge’. She hated me, but I’m stubborn. We grew a tolerance of each other. And now the most valuable thing I own is a toss-up between my old laptop which I’ve written up to 8 books on and doesn’t work anymore OR a large photograph frame with multiple photos of different Christmases with my family.



Selena: Rabbit named Fudge, love it! If you could have had one starring role in one film already made, which movie would you pick?



Sophie: I would have LOVED to have been Baby in Dirty Dancing. Learning to dance with Patrick Swayze. Oh yeah.

Selena:He was an alpha who took ballet, and had some awesome moves. Tell me something about you that is not available if we Google you?

Sophie: I have a strange craving for ice. I love to chew it even though I know it’s bad for my teeth – I’m not allowed to keep any in the freezer in case I fall off the wagon ;)

Selena: What an interesting addiction, and not having it in the freezer. Great character quirk for a book. ;) What article of clothing most closely describes your personality?

Sophie: Is it sad if I say slippers? LOL Comfortable and cosy, warm and nice to snuggle up with and always reliable.

Selena: Not sad at all, it describes you to a T. :) Based on something you’ve already done, how might you make it into the Guinness Book of World Records?

Sophie: I once ate an entire can of whipped cream on one cup of hot chocolate. And wasn’t sick. That’s worthy of a record. :)

Selena: You are my shero for many reasons, but that one nails it. :)

ASHES

Secrets can burn.

The Divided Kingdom, Book 1
BONUS – It’s on sale right now for 99 cents.

Reared from birth to rule the Phoenix territory, Ana fled her future and her past when her parents were murdered. Now she secretly leads a rebellion to stop the human ruler, Edward, from experimenting on supernaturals.

When she finds herself cornered by an assassin, she knows just what to do: Roast him and toast him. Then recognition sends blue-tipped flames licking through her veins. It’s Cade, the royal bodyguard who once rejected her youthful confession of love.




When Cade regains consciousness from the force of Ana’s punch, he’s still reeling from shock—and fury. He’d loved the princess, and for ten years he thought her dead. Though his inner jackal growls with desire for her, she is the key to completing his mission for Edward—hunt down the rebel known as Liberty.



Ana can’t believe Cade doesn’t know the truth about Edward. If she can convince him of it, his blade could turn the tide of the rebellion. But first they must get beyond their past, or the whole kingdom could go up in smoke.



Warning: Contains incendiary sex between a phoenix princess with a secret identity, and a jackal shifter who can take a lot of heat. Boys from the “hood”, a king jacked up on enhanced DNA, and killer heels. Anybody got a match?
 


WHISPERS

He’s no pushover. And she ain’t no fairy princess.

The Divided Kingdom, Book 2

No one would guess that Sapphy, awesome whirlwind of Maze badassness, grew up sheltered in the Fae realm. Witnessing a murder drove her into the humans’ broken cities to hide, but now she’s back, going undercover to keep history from repeating as the tournament to choose a new Fae queen dawns.


The only pebble in her shit-kicking boot is the jaw-gritting interference of Nathe Amergin, a Fae Enforcer whose solemn violet eyes set her skin to sizzle.


After the loss of his beloved sister, Nathe saved his last shred of sanity by clamping a lid on his emotions and forging a path to justice. When this frustrating, blue-eyed, my-go-or-I’ll-blow female informs him of a possible threat to the realm, his offer of support is genuine, if reluctant.

While he’s willing to work with her to protect his people, this sinful smart-ass skates perilously close to unleashing an avalanche of passion that, as the final choosing looms and whispers turn to screams, could bury them both.

Warning: Contains ear-blushing sex between a flighty Fae with a mean air jab and a grounded Elemental who makes her earth move. Add a murderous queen clinging to power, and sabotage that strikes out of thin air. Anyone got ear plugs?







About Sophie H. Morgan

Sophie H. Morgan is a paranormal romance author with a love for hot guys, sassy

heroines, and HEAs that seem impossible.

When not at the keyboard working out ways to drive her characters into each other’s arms, you can find her rambling about the English countryside with her two crazy spaniels, shopping for one more pair of shoes, or devouring yet ANOTHER romance novel with ANOTHER bag of raisin cookies.

Connect with Sophie:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

 

Tell us what qualities you love best about a shifter hero?

 

Filed under: Author Interviews, Uncategorized Tagged: alpha heroes in romance novels, Author Interview, Books on Sale, Chris Hemsworth, Jensen Ackles, Joe Manganiello, Paranormal Romance, Shape-shifters

Italian lovin’ from the oven.

Italian.

Sexy.

Sweet.

Hot.

Fresh.

Dunkable.

Nutty.

All words to describe my never-feel-guilty-pleasure.

I’m talking about homemade biscotti of course.

What? Did you think I was talking about my other never-feel-guilty for watching Antonio Cupo in a movie pleasure?

Pistachio-Almond-Orange Biscotti

Ingredients:

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

3 eggs, at room temperature

1 TBSP vanilla

1 cup sugar

1 large orange, zested

*** Your choice here: 1.5 ounces Orange Brandy – or – 1.5 ounces of the juice from the orange

3 1/4 cup sifted all-purpose flour

1 TBSP sifted baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup slivered almonds

1 cup un-salted, peeled pistachio

1 egg, beaten with 1 TBSP water (for egg wash)

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 375 F.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, beat one egg and add 1 TBSP water, set aside. You’ll use this at the end.
In a bowl, beat the following ingredients with a whisk until they are all well blended: oil, 3 eggs, vanilla, sugar, orange zest, (brandy or the orange juice, whichever you chose to use).
In a separate bowl add all the following ingredients and mix together so that the nuts are evenly coated: flour, baking powder, salt, almonds, pistachios
Add the dry ingredients to the egg/oil bowl mixture, and blend until you get a sticky smooth dough. Be careful not to mix too much, as you don’t want a cake consistency. If you feel the mixture is too dry, add a bit of the juice from the orange, until you get a sticky dough.
Sprinkle flour on your work surface and also on your hands.
Add the dough onto your work surface and divide dough into four equal balls.
Add two of the dough balls on your cookie sheet, using your hands, press down until they are about 1/2 inch in thickness.
Brush the top of each dough with your egg wash. A light coating. This is optional: You can sprinkle some sugar on top of each.
Bake for 20 – 25 minutes, they should be a light golden brown.
Remove from oven and put them on a cooling rack, and let them cool completely. In the meantime, put the other two balls of dough onto your cookie sheet and repeat steps 9 to 12.
Once they are cooled, slice them into 1/2 inch slices, crosswise.
Put the sliced cookies on the cookie sheet and bake an additional 5 – 10 minutes.
The second bake will depend on how crispy you’d like them. If you want them to be real hard, that they need to be dunked into hot coffee/tea, then you’d bake them longer. But if you are looking for a nice crunch, not too soft or not too hard, then 5 – 10 minutes is good.

If you have any questions about this recipe, please feel free to comment here and I’ll get back to you.

 

Buon Appetito!

 

For more recipes (over 100 family dishes), PLUS, two stories (children’s book, and a comedy short story for adults) download a sample or purchase WISHES. STITCHES & DISHES: Bundle of Family Fun.

Available on AMAZON for only $0.99

 

 

 

Filed under: Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged: almonds, biscotti, Italian baking, Italian Cookies, Orange Brandy, Pistachio