Archives for December 2018

* Review * A CHRISTMAS PROPOSITION by Jessica Lemmon

* Review * A CHRISTMAS PROPOSITION by Jessica LemmonA Christmas Proposition by Jessica Lemmon
Series: Dallas Billionaires Club #3
Published by Harlequin Desire on December 1, 2018
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-half-stars

“I need to get married…

And the only one who can help me is you.”

Trading one scandal for another, Stefanie Ferguson must marry to save her brother’s political career. Luckily, her brother’s best friend wants to help. But until this moment, Emmett Keaton has been off-limits. Now their convenient vows on Christmas Day unleash a passion too long denied. Will this marriage for scandal become a marriage for real?

 

Fast paced, attention grabbing and decadently yummy! You’ll recognize the heroine as the younger sister of Chase and Zach Ferguson who we’ve met in the earlier books in the Dallas Billionaires Club series, and this book is just as juicy as they were! Lots of steam, witty banter galore, and a whole lot of fun to read!

Stefanie Ferguson is tired of being the problem child. It seems being the youngest in a successful family leaves the door wide open for childish mistakes you never seem to be able to live down. When she sees another about to happen, she’ll stop at nothing to attempt to not let it ruin her brother’s political career … even proposing a marriage of convenience!

Emmett Keaton grew up with Stefanie as her brother’s best friend, so he knows her and her jump before you think nature quite well. He’ll marry her, but if she thinks it’s going to be hands off, she’s got another think coming!

four-half-stars

* Holiday Celebration * Giveaway #4

 

Enter to win a SIGNED copy of SECRET AGENT UNDER FIRE by Geri Krotow and a Vera Bradley Lanyard in the Modern Medley pattern!

Enter on the Rafflecopter below, and as you visit my social media accounts, earn additional entries by liking, sharing & commenting on the posts.

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* Holiday Celebration * Giveaway #3

Enter to win a copy of HOLIDAY SPICE by Samantha Chase and a Vera Bradley Euro Wallet in the Plum Crazy pattern!

Enter on the Rafflecopter below, and as you visit my social media accounts, earn additional entries by liking, sharing & commenting on the posts.

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* Holiday Celebration * Name your favorite Christmas movie!

 

There are so many great Christmas movies out there that it’s often hard to pick just one favorite. For me, the one that my family watches over and over again and never fails to laugh hysterically at time and time again is CHRISTMAS VACATION. We kick off the Christmas season by watching it on Thanksgiving night, and often watch it at least another time or two before the holiday’s are over. Yes, we are some of “those” people who go around quoting lines as they’re happening. We regret nothing! 😀 

 

 

Like Christmas music though, I’m a big fan of movies too, so I watch them quite a bit each year. Here are a few of my other favorites …

 

 

I could go on and on! 🙂 What are some of your favorites?

 

* Holiday Celebration * Giveaway #2

Enter to win a SIGNED copy of RAINY DAY FRIENDS by Jill Shalvis and a Vera Bradley Euro Wallet in the Petal Paisley pattern!

Enter on the Rafflecopter below, and as you visit my social media accounts, earn additional entries by liking, sharing & commenting on the posts.

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* Holiday Celebration * Let’s go caroling!

Who else is a sucker for Christmas music? I can listen to it over and over again this time of year and never get tired of it. I like the classics, the new twists that are always being released even on the classic songs, and some artists put out those original songs that just melt your heart with all the feels, am I right? So let’s share some of our favs!

Classic wise, you have to love Bing Crosby and White Christmas.

 

Newer renditions … here is a really great version of Silent Night by Kelly Clarkson, Trisha Yearwood and Reba McEntire.

 

And my personal weakness … tearjerker holiday songs like It Won’t Seem Like Christmas by Loretta Lynn.

 

What are some of your favorite holiday songs? Have an album you could listen to over and over? An artist you particularly like their version of a song by? Share!

* Holiday Celebration * Giveaway #1

Enter to win a SIGNED copy of A CHRISTMAS TEMPTATION by Karen Booth, a Karen Booth chapstick and a Vera Bradley Grab & Go Wristlet in the Bahama Bay pattern!

Enter on the Rafflecopter below, and as you visit my social media accounts, earn additional entries by liking, sharing & commenting on the posts.

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Christmas cookie exchange!

I’m sure you’ll agree my cookies are delicious! Okay, okay, I know, you can’t really help yourself to one … or a handful, but I’ll share a few of my holiday go to’s when I’m doing my baking, and invite you to do the same. Feel free to comment with a favorite recipe or two of your own!

I lost my Mom a few years ago, but I love to keep some of her holiday traditions going strong by making some of the same cookies and candies that we grew up with. Here are two of the cookies she always made at Christmas as well as her favorite peanut butter fudge and chocolate fudge.

 

PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOMS

INGREDIENTS

  • 48 HERSHEY’S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 3/4 cup REESE’S Creamy Peanut Butter
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup additional granulated sugar for rolling

DIRECTIONS

  • 1. Heat oven to 375°F. Remove wrappers from chocolates.
  • 2. Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.
  • 3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet.
  • 4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Makes 48 cookies.

 

 

OATMEAL SCOTCHIES

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 Pound(s) (2 sticks) margarine or butter, softened
  • 3/4 Cup(s) granulated sugar
  • 3/4 Cup(s) firmly packed brown sugar
  • 2 Eggs 1 Teaspoon(s) vanilla
  • 1-1/4 Cup(s) all-purpose flour 1 Teaspoon(s) Baking Soda
  • 1/2 Teaspoon(s) salt (optional)
  • 3 Cup(s) Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
  • 1 package(s) (11 oz.) butterscotch flavored chips

DIRECTIONS

Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, beat margarine and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda and salt; mix well. Add oats and butterscotch morsels; mix well. Drop dough by level tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 7 to 8 minutes for a chewy cookie or 9 to 10 minutes for a crisp cookie. Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered. Makes about 4 dozen.

PEANUT BUTTER MARSHMALLOW FUDGE

INGREDIENTS

2 C. Sugar
2/3 C. Milk
1 Tesp. Vanilla
1 C. Marshmallow Fluff (canned)
1 C. Peanut Butter

DIRECTIONS

Cook the sugar and milk to the soft-ball stage (235 degrees) as for fudge.
Add the marshmallow, peanut butter and vanilla.  Mix well.
Pour into a buttered pan 9″ square.
Cool and cut into about 40 pieces.  Makes about 1 1/2 lbs.

FANTASY FUDGE

INGREDIENTS

3 cups Sugar
3/4 cup Margarine
2/3 cup undiluted Evaporated Milk
1 12-oz pkg Semi-sweet Chocolate Pieces
1 7-oz jar Marshmallow Creme
1 cup Chopped Nuts
1 tesp. Vanilla

DIRECTIONS

Combine sugar, margarine and milk in heavy 2 1/2 quart saucepan; bring to full rolling boil, stirring constantly.  Continue boiling 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.  Remove from heat; stir in chocolate pieces until melted.  Add marshmallow creme, nuts and vanilla; beat until well blended.  Pour into greased 13×9-inch pan.  Cool at room temperature; cut into squares.  Makes approx. 3 lbs.

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH ME! — Virtual shenanigans … and GIVEAWAYS are coming!

I might be running late in getting started, but I didn’t want to let the holidays pass without doing a little celebrating here at Thoughts of a Blonde! Join me for a few days filled with fun, laughter and some great giveaways … even after Christmas is over, we’ll be ringing in the New Year well! Thanks for joining me on this journey of the joy of books day in and day out throughout the year. It feeds my soul to be able to share my love of words in a small way that I hope brings some enjoyment to others. Always feel free to jump in and chat with me … have some book suggestions? … have a yummy recipe to share? … watched a good movie last night? … share it all! 🙂

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season and here’s to a great 2019!

Hugs,
Lynn

* Blog Tour / Review / Excerpt * TALL, DARK AND TEMPTING by Erika Wilde

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Blog Tour / Review / Excerpt * TALL, DARK AND TEMPTING by Erika WildeTall, Dark and Tempting by Erika Wilde
Series: Tall, Dark and Sexy #3
on December 11, 2018
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

Dylan Stone and Serena Fields have been best of friends their entire lives. For Dylan, she's the solid, dependable woman in his life. His person. The one who has been there for him through the best and worst of times and doesn't see him for the millions he has in the bank. And even though he's been secretly attracted to her for years, there are some lines that best friends don't cross—even if he does spend most of their time together entertaining dirty thoughts about her that have no business being in his head.

Serena has been in love with Dylan Stone for as long as she can remember, but she's searching for her happily-ever-after and that's not her best friend's thing. Unfortunately, her dating life is one disaster after another, yet Dylan is always there with a pint of her favorite ice cream and a listening ear after each and every disappointing encounter.

It's the perfect arrangement, until one night changes everything.

 

Fast-paced, steamy and delightful! Dylan and Serena are really easy to connect with right from the start in this story. He’s supporting her as she hunts for Mr. Right, all the while enjoying the scenery along the way. She’s tired of all of the frogs she’s having to kiss on the way towards her Prince. The characters were believable and fairly well developed, and the story line in general was pretty spot on. I felt like the ending was a bit rushed though and we could have used a little more development of their unfolding relationship together. Overall a very enjoyable read!

Dylan Stone has adored Serena for as long as he can remember. She’s been his best friend since way back when they were just kids, and she’s been there through thick and thin. He supports her through this journey of life, and wants her to find her happily ever after more than anything, but it doesn’t stop him from secretly lusting after her body on a regular basis!

Serena Fields wants forever. Love, marriage, kids … the whole nine yards. She’s been in love with Dylan for so long she can’t remember not loving him, but he doesn’t want the same things that she does out of life, so she keeps trudging along one rotten date after another searching for “the one”. One unexpected night changes everything between them, and it’s time to get their heads out of the sand once and for all and decide what exactly they are going to be to each other.

 

 

 

 

 

TDT- BT BANNER.jpg

 

TALL, DARK AND TEMPTING, an all-new fun and flirty standalone romance from New York Times bestselling author Erika Wilde is available now!

 

TEMPTING_WEB_

 

Dylan Stone and Serena Fields have been best of friends their entire lives. For Dylan, she’s the solid, dependable woman in his life. His person. The one who has been there for him through the best and worst of times and doesn’t see him for the millions he has in the bank. And even though he’s been secretly attracted to her for years, there are some lines that best friends don’t cross—even if he does spend most of their time together entertaining dirty thoughts about her that have no business being in his head.

Serena has been in love with Dylan Stone for as long as she can remember, but she’s searching for her happily-ever-after and that’s not her best friend’s thing. Unfortunately, her dating life is one disaster after another, yet Dylan is always there with a pint of her favorite ice cream and a listening ear after each and every disappointing encounter.

It’s the perfect arrangement, until one night changes everything.

 

TDT - AN

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2TcczJe
AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2DG9ZXA
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Kobo: http://bit.ly/2RQKplw
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2zLLBiI

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2PVVdSe

 

Excerpt:

Standing in the back of the elevator, Serena’s warmth and scent wreaked havoc on Dylan’s senses with every breath he took. He was still on edge from her rubbing up against him on the dance floor, and it didn’t help matters that her backside was inches away from finding out just how hot and bothered she’d managed to make him. He was so excruciatingly hard his dick throbbed for relief, which sadly it wasn’t going to get tonight, and he shifted his stance so his erection didn’t end up prodding Serena’s ass.

It seemed to take forever until they reached their floor, and they quietly walked down the hall toward their separate junior suites, which were located directly across from each other, with him and Eric on one side, and her and Chelsea on the other.

She retrieved her key card from the small purse she’d worn with the strap across her body so she didn’t have to hold the bag. He started to tell her good night as she waved the plastic card in front of the lock mechanism, but the faint sounds he heard coming from inside her room—unmistakable moaning, groaning, sex noises—had him blurting out, “Don’t open the door!” right as she pushed inside.

She sucked in a startled breath and froze as she belatedly realized what she’d just walked in on—their friends getting laid. With each other. Half-dressed, Eric was sitting on the couch in the living room area, with Chelsea straddling his lap, her dress hiked up to the tops of her thighs as they kissed and groped and moaned in pleasure, oblivious to the fact that they had an audience. Jesus, out of courtesy, the least they could have done was hang the do-not-disturb sign on the door.

“Oh, crap,” Dylan heard Serena rasp. Clearly flustered, she spun around, and in her haste to get out of the room, she slammed right into him as the door shut behind her.

The unexpected impact had her wobbling on her heels, and his hands automatically shot out to grab her arms, then hauled her close to keep her steady on her feet.

Big fucking mistake. Not only because her sweet, firm breasts were crushed against his chest and her body plastered to his, but the big, round eyes staring up at him in shock had nothing to do with what they’d just witnessed and everything to do with the stiff length of his erection tenting his pants that was now pressing insistently against her belly.

“Oh my God, are you turned on because you just saw . . .”

Her words trailed off, but he knew what, or whom, she was referring to. The easy answer was to say yes, even if it did make him look like a pervert, but the frustration he’d been dealing with all night was at its tipping point and overrode common sense.

“No, it’s because of you, Serena,” he said through gritted teeth, the filter on his words having gone AWOL. “I’ve been hard as a rock since you wiggled your ass against my dick out on the dance floor. I’m a man, you’re gorgeous and hot as hell, so yeah, I fucking want you.”

Time stood still as the truth spilled out of him, his heart racing in his chest at what he’d just revealed. Serena’s lips parted, her features etched at first with disbelief, then quickly shifting to hope and elation, then on to something more daring and courageous.

“It’s now or never,” he heard her whisper right before she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled his head down to hers, and kissed him . . . not like a friend, but a sinfully sexy lover.

This couldn’t happen. Stop her, his brain shouted as their mouths merged and her tongue touched his bottom lip enticingly . . . but the accumulation of desire he’d harbored for his best friend for so many years finally crashed through every bit of self-discipline he had left, which wasn’t much at this point.

He was helpless to resist her, and he suddenly no longer wanted to.

 

Meet Erika Wilde

Erika Wilde is a New York Times Bestselling author. She is best known for her super sexy Marriage Diaries series and The Players Club series, and has also co-written the Dirty Sexy Series and the Book Boyfriend Series with Carly Phillips, her best friend and writing buddy for the past twenty years. She lives in Oregon with her husband and two daughters, and when she’s not writing you can find her exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest. For more information on her upcoming releases, please visit website at www.erikawilde.com and sign up for her mailing list for updates and news!

Connect with Erika:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2OLvHe9

Twitter: https://twitter.com/erikawilde1

BookBub: http://bit.ly/2Ply3lh

GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2MsZBqj

Friend Erika on Facebook: http://bit.ly/2PkVyKZ

Visit her author page: http://bit.ly/2vVITpY

Join her reader group: http://bit.ly/2OLuIut

Stay up to date with Erika by joining her mailing list:http://bit.ly/2OJIsWE

https://www.erikawilde.com

four-stars