Beat The Heat Blog Hop - Giveaway!

One of the all time best things about the fall to me is the leaves changing color. Sadly in Texas I don't get to see that too much. So I have to leave it to my imagination to picture that wonderful season change.

In Houston this year it was a hell of a hot summer. My enjoyment outside was very limited to early mornings because the sun was a scorcher. So what did I do to pass the time with out frying my pretty white skin to death?

I read of course! But what did I read? I have three amazing books I wanted to share with you, kinda like the 'best of the summer' selection.

First my all time fav would be Ms. Tami Hoag's The 9th Girl that came out earlier this year. It was fabulous! Loved love loved it!!! (Check out my review, HERE)

Then there was Ms. Deborah Brown. She actually had two summer hits that I read, part of her Paradise series. God they were such an easy breazy type read. Made me actually feel cool and relaxed as I laid in bed reading and feeling muggy from the Houston heat. (Check out my review, HERE)

And last (but not least!) Torn Wings by A.L. Kessler. Now I know I am bias since she is my friend but oh-my-god how much I loved this book isn't even capable to put into words! (Check out my review, HERE)

So along with these wonderful books I also occupied myself with some hand crafting. I made a baby
blanket for my future nephew. He's due on October 31st and I couldn't resist getting him something from his future Favorite Aunt. Isn't it adorable! It turned out much longer than I planned but that's okay! It is super soft and will help keep him warm.

Then probably what I spent the most time working on is learning how to cook foods from scratch, gluten free and organic. It has become quite a hobby of mine. I'm coming up with new things each week. I've gotten enough material with it that I even started my own Friday segment here on my blog posting one new recipe each week. While that has been A LOT of fun for me it has also been a great stress reliever. I have found that cooking for my husband gives me a lot of pleasure and I think just the calmness of it helps me decompress from the insane days at work. I think my best dish was the roast I made one Sunday for my dad and Step-Mom when they came over. It was super good! Only took five and a half hours to make!

All in all I kept busy this summer but in a good way. It kept me out of trouble from eating bad foods, kept me entertained by reading new books, and it kept me feeling useful by making something for our soon newest family member.

I think this fall is probably starting out better than any of the last ten or so....so hey, that's a plus!

Now for the giveaway portion of the Blog Hop Post! Remember to enter in the Rafflecopter for a chance at the grand prize. And for stopping here today you have a chance to win the complete Ebook series of The Blood Series, this is to celebrate the release of my Box Set.

Make sure you join my blog as a new (or old) follower. Leave a comment saying what your favorite part of summer was and what way you are following. Please include your email address written out ( ex. name at gmail dot com ) I will randomly select two winners at the end of the blog hop.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday Review: Crave the Night by Lara Adrian

Title: Crave the Night
Author: Lara Adrian
Source: Purchased from Amazon
Purchase Links: AMAZON

Blurb
Born and raised to be an emotionless killing machine, Nathan is one of the most lethal Breed vampires in existence. A key member of the Order—an elite group of warriors charged with protecting both mortals and vampires—Nathan executes each mission with flawless precision and a total lack of mercy. Now he must pursue a powerful, hidden enemy. But Nathan’s hard discipline and training are no match for the fierce pull he feels toward a young woman he has no right to desire—a woman of wealth and high social standing who has long been promised to another Breed male, and who may also prove to be the key to rooting out Nathan’s elusive quarry.

Jordana lives a life of glittering privilege as a member of a prominent Breed family in Boston. Surrounded by fine things and fawning admirers, Jordana wants for nothing—until she crosses paths with a dark, intense warrior from the Order and finds herself swept into an impulsive, sizzling kiss that neither of them will forget. As much as she tries to deny her deep feelings for Nathan, Jordana cannot resist the craving to be near him, to break through his forbidding walls and see the man he truly is. But getting close to Nathan will thrust Jordana into a treacherous new world, forcing her to risk all she has and all she knows about herself and her past. And loving this seductive man could be the most dangerous temptation of all.

Review
I have always loved the Midnight Breed series. It was one of the first vampire series that I got hooked on when I purchased my Kindle back in the day. I always enjoy the men and women of this world. What I like most is they are believable. The characters and the story line.

This one was slightly an exception. While I loved the story line I just didn't find Jordana's background as totally believable. And we didn't find out everything about her until the very end. I felt like there was a lot of build up then just not enough after the big reveal.

But, given that little issue I still really enjoyed the story. It wasn't a true disappointment as there were other parts of the book that make up for it. For instance, Nathan's ability to make Jordana's toes curl right along with the readers!

I really liked his character and I liked his vulnerability with Jordana.

Overall I'd say this is an easy 4 star review. It is enjoyable and a great edition to the series.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation Blog Hop and Giveaways

Summer Vacation ... now that's something I haven't physically experienced in a LONG time. A big thing about being an adult - means working! So this year, my 'summer vacation' wasn't a trip to the Bahamas, or a jaunt down to Corpus Christi. It was a get away inside a novel.

I have done A LOT of reading over the last few months. More than I have done in a very long time. One of my New Years Resolutions this year was to take a little time off of writing and do more reading. And I have really enjoyed it. I have traveled to loads of places. Met hundreds of people. And experienced emotional ups and downs like I never thought I would.

And all from my pajamas!

Reading is the best vacation - the best gift we can give ourselves.

Today (about a week before this post goes live) at work I had a lengthy debate about Americans and their enjoyment of reading. The guy who works with me said Americans have become lazy and don't read anymore. So I did a little bit of Googling and saw that about 76% of Americans read at least one book each year.

And he was right - that is VERY sad! 100% of adults and children should be reading. What an easy way to put ourselves in other people's shoes and experience life.

The argument also made me think of not only my reading audience for my books but for my blog as well. And that got me thinking about my husband. Maybe people aren't reading books as much as they used to but I think people are still reading. Reading news papers and blogs. Even listening to Pod Casts in an attempt to gain knowledge.

So maybe my co-worker was right that there is a decline of reading on the horizon but maybe I am right too. People do still want to read and become educated. Or escape their realities, even if just for a few hours.

Hopefully next summer I will have a more adventurous post to talk about but until then I am going to leave you with this series. It is a must have if you need a quick get away! I've done a few reviews of it and just loved it and when I think about summer, this series screams at me.



Also, don't forget, make sure you enter in the Blog Hop rafflecopter giveaway for $50.00 Amazon gift card and also enter my little giveaway. The gift card is sponsored by Christina Cole Romance. Whose books I also love!

And for a special bonus if you like my page, and a few others I have in here in my rafflecopter one lucky winner will receive a signed free copy of Special Assignment by my alter ego, Niki Becker. (US residents only for print book. Non-US will be an ebook copy)

Christina Cole

Ashley Nemer

Jeanine McAdam

Robyn Echols

Linda Rae Sande

Liza O’Connor

Pippa Jay

Penny Estelle

Kathleen Ann Gallagher

Mia Epsilon

Ju Ephraime

Lynda J Cox

Mika Jolie

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Gluten Free Friday Homemade Recipe #8 Pineapple Chicken

It gets hard coming up with new things to cook. You get stuck in your same ole habits and that makes life slightly boring. So this time I was looking at my fridge at all the fruit I had and got an idea. Chicken and Pineapple! My husband was like um, what the hell Ashley ... but in the end, it was a win!

As always everything is gluten free and/or organic

Ingredients:
Chicken - breast or thighs
Seasoning - I used oregano, parsley, salt, pepper and celery salt
Fresh Chopped Pineapple (not from a can!!)
Potato
Shredded Cheese
Chicken Broth (Homemade)
Stick of Butter


Take the potato and slice three slices into each side of the potato. Cover it in butter (I ran a stick over each one) and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for one hour.

While that is going on .... about 20 minutes later start the Chicken ..

Place the chicken on the skillet after you have fully seasoned them to your liking.

Fill one quarter of the pan with chicken broth

Place tow-three chopped pineapples on-top of each chicken.

Cover and begin to cook.

Once the Chicken broth has evaporated add water until the same amount of the pan has been filled.
Flip each chicken onto the other side and move the pineapple on to that side.


Once the potato and chicken are done arrange on the plate and serve!

While this meal didn't produce 'a lot' of food it did fill us up. Remember the organic meat takes less to fill you up so while it isn't a lot it will do the trick. You could always add a nice green veggie to this, peas or green beans.

Don't forget to share your pics and experiences with all the cooking fun!

I give this a solid 4 star review!

Enjoy and Happy Eating!

Sage Blog Tours Presents: The Seed & Other Fairy Tales by Joseph Hillenbrand

The Seed & Other Fairy Tales

By Joseph Hillenbrand

Genre: Short Stories, Fiction, Fairy Tales

Book synopsis:
How do you measure yourself? By family, friends, enemies? By what you fight for? Or what you fight against?

Follow the tales of those struggling to find an identity of their own. A little girl with a ghost as a best friend. A woman who hates wishes. A man lost in the secret kingdom of frog people. A girl at war with her god. And a pair of soldiers on a deadly mission of peace.

The seeds have been sown. The storm is coming. Who will grow and who will drown?

Author Bio:
I was born, raised and still live in the outskirts of Chicago. Every few years a move a little further west. Slowly inching my way to California. I love the big sky, the vast plains, the harvest moons of the Midwest.
I grew up reading comic books and playing G.I. Joe. Watching wrestling and listening to Led Zeppelin. I drew, I wrote, I strummed. I learned Stone Temple Pilots and I read Beckett. I grew and I withered.
I have spent the majority of my time in software - from support to development to management. And with my first book out now, I'm trying to get back to my roots: telling stories.

Social Media Links:
Website: www.undertowstories.com
Blog: www.undertowstories.com/wordpress
Twitter: Xtapalapaquetl (twitter.com/xtapalapaquetl)

Purchase:
Amazon
B & N
KOBO

Sunday Review: Power Play by Catherine Coulter

Title: Power Play
Author: Catherine Coulter
Source: Purchase from Amazon
Purchase Link: AMAZON

Blurb
Natalie Black, the U.S. ambassador to the Court of St. James, has returned to Washington, her job in jeopardy. Her fiancé, George McCallum, Viscount Lockenby, has died in a car accident, and mysterious rumors begin that she’s responsible begin to surface: she broke off the engagement and, heartbroken, he killed himself. Then someone tries to force her off the M-2 outside London. Again, rumors claim it was a sympathy ploy. When she returns to the United States, she’s nearly killed when a car tries to mow her down while she’s out for a run. No one believes her except FBI Special Agent Davis Sullivan.

Meanwhile someone is following Sherlock. A stalker? Then someone tries to shoot her from the back of a motorcycle, but the assailant gets away. Sherlock next gets a call from an Atlanta mental hospital warning her that Blessed Backman has escaped. This is not good news. Blessed is a talented psychopath out for revenge against the agents, primarily Sherlock, whom his dying mother begged him to kill since she and Savich brought down her cult.

How to find out who’s trying to kill the ambassador to the U.K.? How can they get their hands on Blessed Backman before he succeeds and kills Sherlock? The clock is ticking and the danger intensifies 


Review
Holy Hell Batman! It is Savich and Sherlock back in action! Have I mentioned before how much I love these two characters? And their son Sean. Uhh my heart melts for this family and I was so freaking happy to have SO MUCH of them in this book. Yeah yeah there was another story going on too but seriously LOVE these characters!

OK onto the story itself. First - the writing was great as always. As a long long long time fan of Ms. Coulter's I have to say she blows me away, constantly. Her FBI series can really knock you off your feet and that is just simply amazing.

What I really liked about this story was the multiple story lines going on and how they all sort of intertwined together. She deff had me guessing on the ending. I SO DID NOT see that happening!!!

If you are a Coulter fan you will agree this is a 5 star book all the way!!!

Gluten Free Friday Homemade Recipe #7 - Meatloaf

I love beef, what true blue American doesn't? Sometimes it takes a minute to figure out what kind of dishes to serve with ground beef. Well here is my own little concoction of what goes into the perfect meat loaf!

As always, all ingredients are Gluten Free and/or Organic.

    1 pound · Ground Beef
    1 clove · Chopped garlic
    2 oz · Chopped celery
    2 oz · Chopped green onions
    2 oz · Chopped tomato
    ¼ cup · Shredded Cheese
    1 large · Egg
    ¼ cup · Flour
    ¼ cup · Baking seasoning


Directions

    1 Mix all the ingredients into one large bowl, except the cheese
    2 Put into a loaf pan and make sure it is distributed evenly
    3 Sprinkle the amount of cheese you want on top of the meat once you place it in the loaf pan
    4 Bake for 45 minutes at 350°F

This was a bit time consuming chopping everything up but the end result was worth all of the time put into this dish. An easy 5 star addition to anyone's meals!

Enjoy and Happy Eating!