Christmas at Purgatory (Thalia Extra #1) (The Thalia Series Book 4) by Jennifer Bene

This was a hot, steamy holiday read as a follow up to the Thalia series. I do recommend you read the series first so you know the background of the foursome. Unlike Ms. Bene’s normal work this was not dark but cute, funny, heartfelt with a whole lot of kinky hot sex. But as a warning if you are turned off by group sex please don’t read.

Fallen by Nicole Garcia

What do you get when you have a coven of female vampires running an up and coming secret night spot? Secrets and lustful sex as they try to find mates to turn to join them as they may be the last of their kind. This is the second in the series and has another love story thrown in. Gia has always been the strong one in the coven and has always she would never fall in love. But she finds herself drawn to Rhett a human who does business with the club. But faced with the dilemma of turning Rhett she has to decide which sacrifice to make. Then danger comes right to the clubs front door and she has to decide if she wants to get involved. Highly recommend.

Given to the Berserkers by Lee Savino

I didn’t think the author could surprise me but she did with this hot installment in the Berserkers menage set. This time they battle over the middle sister, Muriel. As she accepts her fate to bond with whoever wins her in the game even though she has fallen for the runt of the pack. Will she be lost to him forever or will a surprise savior step in. Will she grow to be the witch she is said to be? Love how the same characters keep reappearing. This is a mature sexy mmf with hot threesome sex scenes, creative punishment, I mean ouch, so if any of that offends you please don’t buy the book. Again I ask where can I find a Berserker? This is a hot steamy 5 star read for sure.

 

The Lupane Legacy (Joshua Denham and Devon Kerr, #1) by Darby G. Holladay

From what I can gather the setting of this story in about 2011-12 but the main focus of it started back in the early 1980’s. Since I am not a fan of books based on political power or schemes I was surprised that I did like this book enough to finish it. The political schemes and scandals, at times confused me or I found them hard to digest. This book is so full of twists and turns you never really knew what was going to happen next. I found the reading pace to be slow but that was because I found the political ideas at times overwhelming the rest of the story. If you enjoy books about powerful political schemes and young people finding second chances then this is the book for you. I would give this book 3 out of 5 stars

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Dangerous Affairs by Diana Miller

Movie story and young daughter return to her hometown after a Hollywood divorce. Then threats start arriving. The small town sexy police chief doesn’t believe her thinking she is making things up to further her new career as a writer. But as things get more intense and things get heated between them will he solve the mystery before the stalker kills her? Just enough sex to keep you interested but contains more mystery. I give this an overall 4 out of 5.

Are You Witchin’ Kidding Me? by Laurell Emily Grey

Wow! What happens when three witches, thinking they are looking into their futures, end up calling demons out to get them? They are forced to flee
the house and try to find safety where they can while they try to work things out.This book deals with Bethany and Wesley. Bethany has a strong dislike for werewolves since one killed her parents and Wesley just happens to be the Alpha of the local pack.The two meet and have some instant attraction but she finds herself drawn away from him. But when her and friends call out the demons and she finds herself chased by one it is Wesley and three of his men who save her. What happens next is some hot and steamy sex scenes. But when the demon tracks her location down will the two be able to send him back to hell or will Wesley lose the woman he knows he is his mate. I loved this story because it had three strong career minded woman on their own and Bethany is a curvy woman and we need more books that show the big is beautiful. The story made it clear that Bethany did not need Wesley to save her completely just act as an equal in my eyes, even when she chose to be submissive to him. I am looking forward to finding out how the other two witches find their alphas and defeat their demons.

 

Homemade Chicken Soup Recipe

Homemade Chicken Soup

Ingredients
4 chicken leg quarters, skin and fat removed
8 cups (2 L) low-sodium chicken broth
4 cups (1 L) water
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, pressed
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup (125 mL) chopped fresh parsley, divided
1/2 cup (125 mL) chopped carrot
1 cup (250 mL) chopped celery
2 tbsp (30 mL) lemon juice

1
Combine chicken, broth, water, onion and garlic in (8-qt./7.6-L) Stockpot over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer; skim fat and foam off top using Skimmer. Stir in bay leaves and half of the parsley. Simmer 45 minutes, skimming occasionally.

2
Remove chicken pieces from Stockpot and set aside until cool enough to handle. Meanwhile, add carrots and celery to soup; simmer 15 minutes. Remove chicken meat from bones; discard bones and return chicken to soup. Stir in lemon juice. Reheat.

Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle with remaining parsley.

Valentines Day Caramel Brownies Recipe

Ingredients

1 (19.8 ounce) package fudge brownie mix, batter prepared as directed on box
1 (14 ounce) package caramels, unwrapped
3 tablespoons whipping cream
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with foil. Pour prepared brownie batter into foil-lined pan, and bake until brownies begin to pull away from the sides, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely.

Lift brownies from pan in one piece. Use a 3 inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut 6 brownie hearts.

Combine caramels and whipping cream in a large bowl. Microwave on High for 1 to 3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until caramels are melted and cream is incorporated. Drizzle caramel sauce decoratively on brownie hearts. Sprinkle with chopped pecans, if desired.

Stained Glass Sugar Cookies Recipe

Awesome for Valentine’s Day!

Ingredients

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

Stain Glass Instructions:

Make Sugar cookie (recipe above) Cut out the cookies with a large cookie cutter. Use a spatula to transfer the shapes to the baking sheet. Remove the centers of the cookies with a smaller cookie cutter. Place 2 Jolly Ranchers (like using 2 different colors) in the center of each heart (or whatever shape you made) and bake according to your recipe’s instructions. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to wire racks to
cool completely. To prevent sticking, place waxed paper between layers of cookies

13: An Anthology Of Horror and Dark Fiction by Savannah Blevins, Marissa Farrar, Thomas S. Flowers, Taylor Henderson, Erin Lee, Carissa Ann Lynch, Bradon Nave, Deborah Roach , Samie Sands, Sara Schoe

This set included some fair campfire stories and other fair stories although none real scary in my opinion. I was turned off by the zombie one (same plague idea) and the one dealing with kidnapping and keeping a woman captive for pleasure had to much hint of the ongoing sexual abuse she suffered to be included in this set and the one with the girl not realizing she was dead was to closely related to a twilight episode. I did love the first story, Michente Reine, (by Savannah Blevns) and hope that their is more coming from that one along with Room 313 (by Thomas Flowes). For me it was a good read and would enjoy reading around a campfire to freak out some kids.