Penny Watson's Blog, page 46

The Secret

She reached up to stroke the side of his face with her fingertips.
"What are you doing?" He captured her hand but didn't push her away.
"Touching you," she answered. She tried to sound nonchalant, yet she knew she hadn't managed the feat. The intensity in his expression made her heart take notice. "I was curious to know what your whiskers felt like." She smiled. "And now I know." She pulled her hand away from his and let it drop back into her lap. "They tickle."
She felt like a fool.

(The Secret, Julie Garwood)

There's nothing quite like travelling to the Scottish Highlands via Julie Garwood's romantic tales. Just finished The Secret and now I'm ready to eat the rest of the potato chip bag. 
Hope all of you have a lush, green, Highlandy Tuesday,Penelope

Uhhhh.....

I think I ate too much ham yesterday. (And couscous, focaccia, devilled eggs, cake....never mind).
It's gonna take me a while to get functioning again. My kitchen is filled with dirty dishes and I'm just drinking my coffee.
My only update is that I'm re-reading The Secret by Julie Garwood right now and totally loving it. (Thanks to Julie at Outlandish Dreaming...she just did a review of Honor's Splendour, and we are having a bit of a chat about JG's books. Stop by and join in the fun!).
It's hard to find your coffee cup when your eyes are closed. Cripes.
One more week until Spring Break. Here we go!
Have a nicely caffeinated Monday,Penelope

The Martini Club Special Easter Edition

As I commenced the grueling research on Easter cocktails, one thing became immediately apparent.
Easter cocktails are pastel-colored.
Pink, blue, minty green. Like a bunch of Easter eggs gone bad. 
Anyhoo, I decided that the Blue Cottontail is sort of the quintessential Easter cocktail. Here's the recipe just in case you're in the mood for something fun to go along with the ham, devilled eggs, and gefilte fish. (I know. I'm mixing my holidays. But since we have a multi-cultural, multi-religious family, I'm making an eclectic menu for today).
Blue Cottontail
1 and 1/2 oz vodka1/2 oz triple sec1/4 oz blue CuracaoOrange peel for garnish
Shake, shake, shake! Serve in a festive martini glass and add garnish. Happy Easter!
For more fun pastel-colored drinks, check out this site. 
And if you're really in the mood for a party, check out this fun project....Peep-Stuffed Jello Shots. (These contain yogurt, gelatin and candy cotton vodka....haaaaa!)


Happy Sloshy Sunday, Peeps!Penelope

What's Up Saturday?

Some totally random stuff.....
1. First, check out this cool pic my sis took in Xinghai Square, Dalian, China. She has been sending me crazy photos, including tanks filled with live frogs at the grocery store (tastes like chicken!). I am trying to convince her to do a post for me about her experience in China. Funniest bit this week....my sister looks freakishly similar to Tina Fey. She said folks keep asking to take photos with her, but are ignoring her husband. I'm wondering if TMZ will soon be reporting about Tina Fey's trip to Dalian...hee hee!
2. I started a Tumblr site. I really have no clue what to do with it. Here it is. 
3. I came up with an idea for a children's book that has a super-hero weenie dog named Lucy. :^)
4. An observation from The Walking Dead. If everyone is infected, then why didn't Dale turn into a zombie after he died? Because Daryl shot him in the head? That doesn't make sense to me. Just curious. Ideas?
5. I am going to crush the competition at the tiara contest during the NECRWA Spring Conference. Yes,  perhaps I went a bit overboard with my tiara purchase at Etsy, but once I saw this one, I knew I had to have it....

You can call me Titania, Queen of the Fairies. Big thanks to Josie at Angelyques Trinkets for this gorgeous piece! Can't wait to see it in person.
6. I finished my new website design. It is mod, baby! Turning it over to my web designer, and hopefully it will be up soon. I'll let you know.
7. I watched Cold Case last night. One of the best things about that show is the old music! Love it. They played this song, Plush by Stone Temple Pilots. Enjoy!


Don't forget to stop by for The Martini Club tomorrow, where I'll discuss pastel colored Easter cocktails.
And I feel it,Penelope

Beard of the Day: The Sunshine Award

Big thanks to Jamie Brazil for the Sunshine Award! She gave it out to 10 bloggers, and I'm supposed to answer 10 questions about myself and award it to 10 other bloggers, etc. I decided to try and answer 10 questions about beards, and surprisingly, I could! Also, since I just posted a piece about my favorite sites, I think I'll merely mention a few of my favorite author blogs (not reviewer blogs, just authors letting it all hang loose!). My favs right now are....

1. Gail Carriger, who has lots of fascinating tidbits about vintage clothing, steampunk stuff and tea.
2. Carolyn Crane, who has a wicked funny sense of humor and often posts hilarious drawings.
3. RJ Silver, whose self-deprecating humor always makes me laugh out loud.
4. How To Write Badly Well, by Joel Stickley, which is pretty much self-explanatory.
5. For more author blogs and other fun sites, see this post.

And now for 10 questions about beards....I did it!


10 Questions About Beards
1. Stache or no stache? Mustache must be accompanied by a beard. Stache by itself....ugh!

2. Goatee or full-on Paul Bunyan? Paul Bunyan, baby! Wild and woolly!

3. Salt and pepper or dyed black? I love salt and pepper. See exhibit A....



4. Who has the best legendary beard? I'm going with Santa Claus.

5. Who has the best celebrity beard? I'm going with Hugh Jackman.

6. Who has the best scruff? I'm going with Daniel Craig. See Exhibit B.....



7. Who has the best fu manchu stache/beard combo? Chow Yun Fat.

8. Who has the best beard in a romance novel? I'm going with Ian in Virgin River Christmas...it's big and red! Yee haw!

9. Who has the best western beard? Clint Eastwood.

10. How do I feel about accessorizing beards? If it's good enough for Brad Pitt, it's good enough for me. See Exhibit C....



Thanks again to Jamie Brazil for this special edition of Beard of the Day!

Hope you all have a nice weekend. I will be hosting The Martini Club: Easter Cocktails on Sunday. Coz nothing says Easter Sunday quite like a pastel colored alcoholic beverage!

Ciao,
Penny

Penelope's Top Romance Novels Of All Time

How do you like that melodramatic title?

Someone recently asked me for my top recommendations. This is a toughie. There are many books I still have not read, and probably never will. Especially in the contemporary romance category, which is not my favorite.

So, let's rephrase: Here are Penelope's Favorite Romance Novels! This is a mix of mostly historical and paranormal (my favs), as well as a couple of extras (steampunk, contemporary, etc). I am going to add this as an extra page on my website, and will add/detract as my opinion changes.

1. WARRIOR by Zoe Archer

An extraordinary adventure. Packed with beautiful imagery, larger-than-life characters and a mystical storyline that takes you on the journey of a lifetime.

2. SKIN GAME by Ava Gray

I think this might be the only contemporary in this list. It blew me away. Totally unexpected, extremely sexy. Probably the most brilliant contemporary I've read.

3. SOULLESS by Gail Carriger

An incredible mix of historical humor, creative steampunk inventions and paranormal antics. Absolutely one-of-a-kind, quirky and enjoyable read.

4. THE FEVER SERIES by Karen Marie Moning

A departure from her earlier historical romance novels, this series is an epic fantasy. A thrilling first person narrative that combines horror, suspense and romance in an unbelievably riveting tale. Highly recommended.

5. THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN MACKENZIE by Jennifer Ashley

The plotline wasn't perfect, but the hero is the most unique character I've ever seen in an historical romance. Ashley has created a truly fascinating, flawed, intense and sexy character in Ian Mackenzie. This book is amazing.

6. DREAMING OF YOU by Lisa Kleypas

The ultimate historical showcasing how opposites attract. Derek Craven has lived a brutal life, Sara Fielding is a sheltered writer from the country. Their love story is a classic.

7. A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER by Kresley Cole

This paranormal series has its ups and downs, but this first installment is almost flawless in my humble opinion. Cole knows how to punch up her stories with pop culture references, smoky hot sex scenes, and an astronomically cool paranormal world.

8. MORE THAN A MISTRESS by Mary Balogh

This is my favorite by Balogh (with Simply Love in close second place). Balogh's voice is so beautiful, balanced, sensual. It's the perfect vehicle for an historical romance, and this story is fraught with emotion. It's a DIK.

9. HALFWAY TO THE GRAVE by Jeaniene Frost

This book blasted me into a fabulous paranormal series when I least expected it. Frost dishes out crazy high octane action, super intense sex, and fantastic characters. I recommend the entire series.

10. RAVISHED by Amanda Quick

I'm a JAK fan of epic proportions. These historicals are like sour cream and onion potato chips. You can't eat just one. You want to read every single freakin' book, in chronological order, and save all the old print copies until they disintegrate in the basement. This book is a fabulous twist on the Beastly hero. It's got Quick's signature quirky heroine, intellectual and grumpy hero, an intriguing storyline, and a lovely romance. Win. (With This Ring gets honorable mention).

11. THE ENDEARMENT by LaVyrle Spencer

A stunning example of LaVyrle's storytelling. This American frontier historical has one of the sweetest, most satisfying endings I've ever read.

12. LORD OF SCOUNDRELS by Loretta Chase

This historical romance is absolute perfection. I love every scene, every twist and turn in the plot, every nuance of the hero and heroine's development.

13. DARK LEGEND by Christine Feehan

I'm one of the die-hard fans of this Carpathian vampire series (although I have skipped a couple that were too violent for me). Dark Legend is my favorite. Feehan knows how to create an immortal bonding that is so romantic and intense, you crave your own tortured soul. Gabriel is the ultimate immortal hero.

14. THE BRIDE by Julie Garwood

Once you read Garwood's Scottish heroes, you'll be addicted. Her romances have been accused of being less than historically accurate, but I couldn't care less. This book showcases her talent with characterization....there is no way you will read this book and not fall madly in love with Alec Kincaid. No. Way.

15. NO TRUE GENTLEMAN by Liz Carlyle

This is part of a series, but No True Gentleman can be read alone. It has absolutely phenomenal chemistry between the heroine and hero, a really lovely formal voice which lends itself so well to the historical genre, and beautiful prose throughout. I adore this book, and Maximilian de Rohan is one of my all-time favorite heroes.

16. A DUKE OF HER OWN by Eloisa James

After I finished reading this the first time (I have re-read it many times since then), I felt giddy with happiness. The same way I felt after finishing Lord of Scoundrels. This book is sublime. Eloisa James does not always hit it out of the park, but when she does, she writes extraordinary books. (I also adored When Beauty Tamed The Beast , another incredible novel by James).

17. JANE EYRE by Charlotte Bronte

This is my favorite "classic" romance. Jane is probably the greatest heroine ever written....I love how she is a mixture of strength, courage, practicality and a loving heart. And the drama and tragedy and redemption in this novel (all through the power of love, of course) is so romantic it's ridiculous.

18. ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE by Steve Kluger

This is a "non-romance" romance. It's funny, quirky, kooky, and bloody brilliant. It's my litmus test book. It's a pot of gold at the end of a gay rainbow. :^)

19. TO BEGUILE A BEAST by Elizabeth Hoyt

This is another one with a beastly hero (obviously one of my favorite themes in romance), and Hoyt has crafted a gorgeous story. This is a very emotional and earthy love story, with one of the most sweet and wonderful final scenes.

20. THE NIGHT OWL by Emma Holly (novella in Hot Blooded anthology)

This is my favorite novella. Emma Holly totally nails this paranormal quickie...it is lush and sexy and a great introduction to her upyr series. The perfect amuse-bouche for paranormal romance fans.

HONORABLE MENTION.....

FAVORITE MYSTERY WITH ROMANTIC ELEMENTS: The Liam Campbell Series by Dana Stabenow

This is not technically a romance, but this mystery series is so fabulous, I wanted to mention it. The relationship between Liam and Wy is integral to this storyline, and these books bring Alaska to life.

OTHER FAVORITE AUTHORS:

Stephanie Laurens, Jacquie D'Alessandro, Karen Hawkins, vintage Julia Quinn

So, at this moment in time, I consider these my favorite romance reads. I would love to hear your opinions (as if I could stop you, hee hee!).

Happy Romance Reading To All!
Penelope

Wednesday Morning Updates

1. My To-Do List is shrinking. But still has enough stuff on it to make my hair stand on end.
2. My schedule looks vaguely like this....
APRIL: NECRWA conference, entertain Julia, Spring Break with the fam, finish website redesignMAY: Revise and edit LUMBERJACK IN LOVEJUNE: Publish LUMBERJACK IN LOVE? JULY: Go to Hawaii and drink a frozen mango margarita while watching the sunsetAUGUST: Take kids to pool and hide under an umbrella with a romance novelSEPT-DEC: Kids back to school. Work on new top-secret work of fiction that will change the history of the world
3. My bulbs are all up....daffodils, squill, Spanish bluebells. It's a crazy spring in Boston! Yesterday I cut fresh chives from my herb garden. Oregano and lemon balm are also sprouting. 
4. My new website will hopefully be launched soon. Yesterday I researched quotes....here are two good ones that might turn up on my new site...
"Come, Watson, come! The game is afoot." Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes
"Penny....Penny....Penny...." Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory
5. Have a great Wednesday!
Penny....Penny.....Penny

I Want A Wedgie!

Salad.
I want a wedgie salad. Which is a wedge of iceberg lettuce, drizzled with blue cheese dressing. And sometimes topped with bacon and tomatoes. Sometimes a bit of red onion.
But basically, it's iceberg, blue cheese and bacon, which all fall under the heading "Not Healthy Salad Items." Let's face it, the wedgie salad is like Good Salad's evil twin brother. It has no redeeming nutritional value. Iceberg lettuce is the equivalent of eating cardboard. Bacon is...bacon. And blue cheese dressing is filled with fat.
Sigh.
Nevertheless, I ate two of these yesterday--one for lunch and one for dinner. (I put avocado and walnuts on one, trying to move it from the "What The Hell Are You Thinking, Cardiac Girl?" category to the "Well, Avocados Are Good For Your Heart" category.)
Although I do love creamy blue cheese dressing, I opted for a vinaigrette dressing with blue cheese crumbles on top to alleviate a small sliver of guilt. And it worked! (I hardly felt guilty at all as I consumed this totally crappy salad.)
Bon appetit!

Wedgie Salad ala Penelope
Iceberg lettuce cut into wedges, otherwise known as "wedgies"Chopped tomatoBlue cheese crumbles(if you are horrified by the lack of nutrition here, you may add avocado, cuke, walnuts, etc)
Dressing:3 t white balsamic vinegar1 small shallot chopped1 t. Dijon mustard1/2 c. good olive oilblue cheese crumblessaltfreshly ground pepper
Whisk together vinegar, oil, shallot, mustard....and then add a tablespoon or so of the blue cheese, and a bit of salt. Whisk until it is a nice creamy dressing.
Put a wedgie on a plate (hee hee!). Then sprinkle with some chopped tomato. (If you are not a heart patient, please feel free to add some crispy bacon bits---Penelope shakes her fist at the sky, "Curse you, Old Man Jenkins!"). Drizzle salad dressing on top with a few extra blue cheese crumbles. Add freshly ground pepper, too, if it makes you feel better.
Eat with a fork and knife.
Happy Wedgie Munching (that sounds bad, doesn't it?),Penelope

A Tale Of Three Heroes

I've read three books recently, and all of them had amazing heroes. One was sexy and sweet. One was moody and sexy. And one had a Southern twang that made me want to smack him over the head with a cast iron skillet and drag him off to my cave. Where he could serve me iced tea and say things like "Here ya go, darlin."

First up..... Weekend Agreement  by Barbara Wallace. (How adorable is that cover?) I have read a few books by this author, and this is by far the best. I love how Wallace always includes a New England setting in her books, how she manages to create an understated heroine with backbone and resolve, who is also sweet and kind, and how her heroes are moody, brooding and sexy. And this book is no exception. The story pairs an academic (historian) with a cynical billionaire for a weekend party, and their love and trust develop beautifully and believably. This story has a wonderful and satisfying HEA. Loved it! Grade: A

Next up.... One Tasty Night  by Amber Skyze. Normally I don't go for cougar stories or BDSM. But this one worked for me. I've read another book by this author, and I really like how she mixes sweet and loving with naughty and sexy. Her erotic stories are always grounded in a loving and affectionate connection. For the record, it's not really that cougarish (there is not a huge age difference here), and also for the record, I would call this BDSM-Very Light. The cover of the book looks pretty wicked, but the story itself is mild. The hero, Shane, has been in love with Taylor for a long time and he is willing to indulge her erotic fantasies and show her how much he cares. This story is sexy and sweet, and the hero is adorable and devoted to the heroine. This is my kind of erotica! Grade: B

Finally.... Suite Assumptions by JW Manus. I read a romantic suspense by this author, and this book was quite different. (Although I thought it was going to turn into a romantic suspense, but she was just fooling me). It still has a lot of deep POV and self-reflection by the characters (a brittle heroine with something to prove and an adorable Southern hero who is sweet and kind and sexy and talks like this..."Darlin'...I keep thinking about that bed.") Yowzah! Anyhoo, this is a short novel, with a suspense plotline-that-actually-wasn't, a grating heroine who finally lightens up, a kooky hotel with a honeymoon suite, and the most delicious Southern hero ev-ah. Sign me up for some of that sweet potato pie! Grade: B

Three great heroes, three fun books. What's up for this week? A paranormal romance by Joseph Mazzenga. Looking forward to it!

(ETA: Evidently my fav word of the day is adorable....hee hee!)

Happy Monday,
Penelope

The Martini Club: Round Pond Cocktails

Welcome to this edition of The Martini Club! Today I am sharing some delicious cocktail recipes from Round Pond Estate in Napa, California. I had an amazing experience at this estate when I was visiting Julia. We had an olive oil tasting....just the two of us! First we had a tour of their facility, which is a small, family run operation. Then we were treated to an olive oil tasting. They set up lovely glasses of their different olive oils--an Italian Varietal, a Spanish Varietal, a Blood Orange olive oil, and a

In addition to the olive oils and wine, they also produce two types of citrus syrups--a Blood Orange Syrup and a Meyer Lemon Syrup. These syrups had very intense, fresh, bright flavors, and as soon as I tasted them, I knew they would be fabulous in a cocktail. So of course I emailed Round Pond and asked them to send me some recipes. And they did! 


Here are four tasty cocktails using these syrups....enjoy!





Round Pond Estate Citrus SyrupsCocktail List
Meyer Lemonade 2 – parts – Charbay Meyer Lemon Vodka 2 – parts – San Pellegrino1 – part – Round Pond Meyer Lemon Syrup6 – Lemon Verbena Leaves( muddle the six leaves at the bottom of a pint glass – add ice – all of the liquid ingredients )( then transfer the entire contents into an empty pint glass, and back again )( garnish with a Meyer lemon wheel )
Blood Orange Manhattan 3 – parts – Makers Mark Bourbon1 – part – Punt a Mes Sweet Vermouth1 – part – Round Pond Blood Orange Syrup2 – dashes – Pechaud Bitters( fill a martini shaker with all liquid ingredients and ice then shake gently for ten seconds )( pour into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a blood orange twist and a brandied cherry )


Meyer Lemon Sidecar 3 – parts – Remy Martin VSOP1 – part – Round Pond Meyer Lemon Syrup1 – part – Fresh Meyer Lemon Juice( fill a martini shaker with all liquid ingredients and ice then shake gently for ten seconds )( pour into a chilled martini glass with Demarara sugar on half the rim )( garnish with a Meyer lemon twist )
Blood Orange Negroni 3 – parts – Charbay Blood Orange Vodka1 – part – Campari1 – part – Round Pond Blood Orange Syrup2 – dashes – Angostura Bitters( fill a martini shaker with all liquid ingredients and ice then shake gently for ten seconds )( pour into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a blood orange twist ) 


Yum! Who's ready for Happy Hour? Huge thanks to Round Pond for providing these luscious recipes.
Happy Sloshy Sunday,Penelope