M.A. Church's Blog, page 73

Thursday book recommendation

These are books I’ve read and really enjoyed. Most of what I talk about will probably be paranormal/scifi but not always. Although it’s rare, I do read some contemporary.

This week is:  Constant (The Valespian Pact Book 3) by Lexi AnderAmazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0864SVS3D



Blurb: Can a Warlord and a Prince find love when the galaxy is on the brink of war?
Chief Warlord Sohm'lan has a job he loves protecting the family who claims him as one of their own. He has known the loss of a mate and believed he would walk alone for the rest of his life… that is until Prince Mestor demanded more from him than duty. Unable to fathom why Mestor would want a widowed older warrior, Sohm'lan maintains his distance believing Mestor will eventually choose an amor closer in age and experience, even though the thought causes him more pain than it should.
Prince Mestor is tired of pretending and his patience is eroding. He needs Sohm'lan to see past their respective ranks and duties to who Mestor is underneath it all. Worried Sohm'lan will be lost to him if he pushes too hard, Mestor and Sohm'lan are caught in a dance of denied desires and tangled obligations.
Warlord Sohm'lan and Prince Mestor struggle to find a way to their heart's desire against the backdrop of galactic conspiracies, the dangerous mission escorting the Fal'Amoric royals, and discoveries within the Vondorian family that threaten to tear apart everything they hold dear. The two of them stand together to fight the coming battle whatever the consequences.
*Note: Constant is 250,000 words and is the third book in the series that must be read in order.

My thoughts: It’s here! It’s here! Y’all, when I heard this book was coming, I can nottell you how loudly I yelled lol. I’m a huge fan of this series. You want excellent scifi worldbuilding, this is the book for you. The details are so clear, so crisp…. It’ll impress you. It did me. Lexi doesn’t build just one world. No, she builds a whole frigging universe lol. Speaking from experience, that’s not easy!
This book covers Warlord Sohm’lan and Prince Mestor’s relationship, but it’s so much more than that. We get an in-depth look at the younglings of the royal Vondorion family. We see how they feel, how they react to what’s going on with Zeus and other plot points.
You absolutely need to read Alpha Trine and Striker first, or you will be completely lost, in my opinion. This story runs parallel to events in Striker but the overall plot *is* continued. Make sure you have plenty of time when you start this. You won’t want to put it down lol.

Thursday book recommendation

These are books I’ve read and really enjoyed. Most of what I talk about will probably be paranormal/scifi but not always. Although it’s rare, I do read some contemporary.
This week is:  Murder Husbands by E.M. Denning




Blurb:
DARK MM Romance
Pounds of flesh repay debts in Pierce's world.
In a sea of nameless bodies, Henry Prince is sold to Pierce to settle a score and turns out to be the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

Pierce’s empire is crumbling around him and before Henry, he hadn’t cared to salvage it. Henry is full of secrets, and Pierce is desperate to learn them all, even if it means risking both their lives to protect him from the enemies closing in around them.

Together, Henry and Pierce are unstoppable. Their devotion is immeasurable until two men from Pierce’s past threaten their trust in each other when it’s needed most. Drew and Griffin are a painful reminder of how much Pierce will risk protecting the man he loves. Henry's attraction to Griffin might be the key to uniting his past and his future, but Pierce’s animosity and desire for Drew threaten the delicate balance the men have forged.

Good men can be bad and bad men can do good, but life isn't always black and white. Sometimes all you can do is fight to save yourself and those you love. Is there strength in numbers or will Pierce fail when it counts the most?


My thoughts: First off, let me say how jealous of that title I am lol. No kidding, I am such a title slut, and I would’ve killed to have thought up such a cool title! Okay, now that I got that off my chest, lol, once more I seem to be highlighting a dark book. This isn’t the darkest thing I’ve ever read, but it does touch on stuff that might trigger some folks, so be aware of that. The blurb does a good job of telling us what the story is about also. Yes, this is a love story, but it’s not your usual fluffy love story. There is violence. Blood. Pierce was actually my favorite character, although Henry def makes the book.

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085459ZZR

Finicky Friday - Classic Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients

Crust:1 box refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
Filling:1/3 cup butter or margarine1/3 cup chopped onion (I use dried onion from a bottle lol)1/3 cup all-purpose flour½ teaspoon salt¼ teaspoon pepper1 ¾ cups chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)½ cup milk2 to 3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed




Directions
Heat oven to 425°F. Prepare pie crusts as directed on box for pie crust using 9-inch glass pie pan.
In 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until well blended. Gradually stir in broth and milk, cooking and stirring until bubbly and thickened.
Stir in chicken and mixed vegetables. Remove from heat. Spoon chicken mixture into crust-lined pan. Top with second crust; seal edge and flute. Cut slits in several places in top crust.Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown. During last 15 to 20 minutes of baking, cover crust edge with strips of foil to prevent excessive browning. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Link: https://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/classic-chicken-pot-pie/1401d418-ac0b-4b50-ad09-c6f1243fb992

Thursday book recommendation

These are books I’ve read and really enjoyed. Most of what I talk about will probably be paranormal/scifi but not always. Although it’s rare, I do read some contemporary.



This week is:  Love of the Egoist: M/M Enemies to Lovers by by Nero Seal

Blurb: “I wanted to play with you… punish you. But now, I want to ruin your world and turn it pitch black. Isolate you so you don’t have anything left except me. And remember, it’s your own fault.”
Isolation. Loneliness. Endless silence stretching into eternity.This is the personal living hell of police detective, Kuon Leiris.His punishment for ruining the Black Duke’s deal.But when nights come, it gets worse…Cruelty. Care. Brutality. Affection.Constant mind games where he can do nothing, but give in.Yugo pours his every corrupt desire into his prey, testing the limits of their twisted relationship.Do you dare enter a dark world where safe-words don’t exist?


My thoughts: I almost didn’t highlight this book because it’s VERY dark. It’s a no-holds-barred, violent, bloody story of one man’s obsession with another. I hesitate to even call this a romance, but if pressed, I’d say it’s a very, very, very twisted romance. It will straight up fuck with your head. The MC doesn’t have any redeeming qualities. He’s bad and completely happy with being bad. Love isn’t going to save the day in this.  
If you have triggers, this may be something you want to skip. Seriously. This isn’t for the faint of heart. There is mind-fucking, on-page rape, and… well, you name it, it’s in there. I don’t trigger at all, and I had to take breaks when reading this. I would say this ranks up there with The Flesh Cartel books. (Which I did read and won’t read again. Once was enough, but holy shit was that book well done.)
Now, having warned the hell out of this, I can honestly say this is one of the best books I have ever read. It’s brilliant. You want to see the mental workings of a depraved person? This is the book for you. Want to see how someone can and will break? Then is reshaped? This is the book for you. Book #2 is now out also, and yes, I did read it! If you like book #1 you need to read book #2!

Take my warnings seriously, y’all.
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CQQJG5H

Pucker Up Monday

Welcome to Pucker Up Monday. It's not what you think, lol. Since Mondays do tend to suck, I though I'd try to start the week off right for y'all.

Thursday book recommendation

These are books I’ve read and really enjoyed. Most of what I talk about will probably be paranormal/scifi but not always. Although it’s rare, I do read some contemporary.



This week is:  Caulky (Four Bears Construction Book 1) by K.M. NeuholdAmazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0848ML729


Blurb: Ren is in desperate need of a rebound fling. Lucky for him, the smoking hot contractor he hired has just the tool for the job.
The last thing I want is another relationship or another broken heart.
All I need are my bees and the occasional hookup to scratch the itch.
Okay, maybe meeting up with my hot contractor weekly is a little more than occasional. And maybe the way I’m starting to feel about the guy I’ve been anonymously chatting with online should concern me.
But CaulkyAF doesn’t want to meet, and Cole doesn’t want anything serious, so what’s the worst that could happen?
**** Caulky is book 1 in the Four Bears Construction Series and can be read as a stand-alone. This is a funny, steamy MM story guaranteed to make you laugh and swoon. Absolutely NO cheating and NO love triangle. This series does NOT contain shifters, it's the OTHER kind of bears.


My thoughts: OMG! This is beyond cute! It’s hot AF too, and whoo boy, the chemistry between these two just sizzles. Low angst, but that’s a point in its favor IMO. But the humor! Wow, this keeps you in stitches. I love the title! There's a reason for it, lol. Honestly? Anything written by this author is pretty much guaranteed to be good.
Unlike most of what I’ve been recommending lately, this one is fairly new. I can’t wait for the rest of the series to come out.

Finicky Friday - Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Chicken breasts have a terrible reputation for drying out, but an air fryer keeps that from happening. The quick cook time means they stay nice and tender and the breading still gets extra crispy. All without a drop of oil. It's an actual miracle.

(I haven't tried this yet, but I plan to.)

YIELDS: 2 SERVINGS
PREP TIME: 0 HOURS 10 MINS
TOTAL TIME: 0 HOURS 30 MINS



INGREDIENTS

1 large egg, beaten

1/4 c. all-purpose flour

3/4 c. panko bread crumbs

1/3 c. freshly grated Parmesan

2 tsp. lemon zest

1 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts




DIRECTIONS

Place eggs and flour in two separate shallow bowls. In a third shallow bowl, combine panko, Parmesan, lemon zest, oregano, and cayenne. Season with salt and pepper.

Working one at a time, dip chicken into flour, then eggs, and then panko mixture, pressing to coat.

Place in air fryer basket and cook at 375° for 10 minutes. Flip chicken, and cook for another 5 minutes, until coating is golden and chicken is cooked through.


Link: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a28414230/air-fryer-chicken-breast-recipe/

Thursday book recommendation

These are books I’ve read and really enjoyed. Most of what I talk about will probably be paranormal/scifi but not always. Although it’s rare, I do read some contemporary. 

This week is: Role Play: (Play Series Book 1) by Morticia KnightAmazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GK56XEU


Blurb: 

Hollywood photographer, Terry Patterson, loves his job. But when it comes to romance, there is none – at least not anymore. Ever since producer, Phil Watts, abruptly left for a high-paying job in Toronto, Terry’s been determined to move on with his life. After all, they’d barely begun their relationship when everything got derailed. Just because he’s still in love with Phil after three years, shouldn’t it be time for him to finally let go?

Phil has learned the hard way that work and career is one thing, having someone by your side to love and cherish is another. The producing gig in Toronto left him cold and lonely, but a fateful meeting one night at a bar was a game-changer. Now that’s he’s back in town, Phil is ready to take the knowledge he gained while being trained as a lifestyle Master, and is determined to claim his boy. 
Something about Phil seems different when Terry reluctantly gives into his pleas for them to meet. Terry isn’t sure whether to believe Phil’s promises that this time Terry’s heart will be safe, but he can’t deny the intensity of the chemistry they still share. When Phil reveals all, Terry is shocked, yet curious. As they discuss whether or not Terry is willing to try a relationship as a sub to Phil’s Dom, one thing in particular piques Terry’s curiosity. Phil mentions role play, and there’s a fantasy Terry has always had, but been way too embarrassed to ever confess. 
Will Phil agree to satisfy Terry’s darkest fantasy?

Role Play is Book 1 in the Play Series, however, there is an HEA with no cliffhanger. Phil and Terry’s exploration into their new life together continues in Bondage Play. Watch for the third installment of the Play series in late 2017.
Warning: This story is intended for a mature audience and contains explicit content between consenting adults. There is also rough, fantasy role play that might be upsetting to some readers.
This novella is approximately 31,200 words and 85 pages with no additional content.


My thoughts: This is first in the series and a solid start. It revolves around forgiveness, building trust, and second chances. Or maybe I should say taking a chance at love again. I really liked Terry and Phil, but neither are perfect. It’s actually one of my favorite BDSM books and packs a punch for a novella. Oh, and I LOVE that cover!

Pucker Up Monday

Welcome to Pucker Up Monday. It's not what you think, lol. Since Mondays do tend to suck, I though I'd try to start the week off right for y'all.

Finicky Friday Valentine's Day Style--Raspberry Almond Kiss Cookies

Prep 30 m
Cook 10 m
Ready In 42 m
36 servings


Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup white sugar for decoration
40 milk chocolate candy kisses, unwrapped
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon milk
4 teaspoons raspberry jam
1/4 teaspoon almond extract




Directions

In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, 1/2 cup white sugar and brown sugar until smooth. blend in the egg and 1 teaspoon almond extract. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Cover dough and refrigerate for at least one hour, or until easy to handle.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Roll dough into 1 inch balls, roll the balls in the remaining white sugar and place them 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown. While hot from the oven, immediately press a chocolate kiss into the center of each one. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.

In a small bowl, mix together the confectioners' sugar, milk, raspberry jam and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cookies.

Link: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/26221/raspberry-almond-kiss-cookies/