Peanut Butter Scones
It’s Peanut Butter Scones Time! This is my first go-around being a part of the Book Club Cookbook Blog Party! We are celebrating the paperback release of Diane Chamberlain’s Big Lies in a Small Town. Now, I am a huge fan of Diane’s work. My book hangover after reading The Stolen Marriage lasted months – that book is amazing! Big Lies in a Small Town is another five star read! My friend Rachel read it when it came out & just loves it! Now, I baked up a round of these peanut butter scones to highlight the storyline. As Anna Dale attempts to paint the mural in Edenton, North Carolina, she…
Bridgerton on Netflix
Let’s talk about Bridgerton on Netflix! The Bridgertons by Julia Quinn is a long-beloved historical romance series. Earlier this year, we heard Shonda Rhimes was bringing the long adored series to Netflix & we’ve been chatting about it for months. Laura is a long-time fan of the series & Sarah is new to the series. Here we are chatting about what you can expect from the show & how it compares to the books. Do I Need To Read The Books Before Watching Bridgerton on Netflix? Laura: The series follows mostly The Duke and I. The series sets up the brother’s books about how Anthony is a rake, Benedict an…
Holiday Romance Novellas
It’s my Favorite Time of Year! – it’s time for Holiday Romance Novellas! This year, my good friend Laura (from the What to Read Next Podcast) are sharing some of our favorite Holiday Romance Novellas! We love a great romantic novella any time of the year. Yet, around the holiday season, we want to read as many themed romances as we can! Merry Inkmas by Talia Hibbert Christmas loving hero who owns a tattoo shop hires his crush to be his receptionist She is a tattoo virgin He pops her cherry in a hot steamy scene at the tattoo shop Christmas in July by Enni Amanda This book is set…
Chai Sugar Cookies
These Chai Sugar Cookies are tasty, chewy, simple & a great year-round staple. Almost every night, we have “tea time”. We start the kettle & I have a green tea/lemonade mix with honey & Derek has some other tea that is caffeine & sugar-free. That’s how we roll. As we get into wintertime, I want a little snack to go with tea time & these Chai Sugar Cookies are where it’s at! Chai a Little Tenderness I love being a part of the Book Club Cookbook Blends Bash. I’ve used a lot of different spices & blends over the years. Truly, their products are so good & make great gifts!…
The New Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia
The New Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia by Tom Stevenson It’s 2020. We’re in month 8 of lockdown and observing social distancing. So, let’s get real – call it a hobby or a way to unwind from the mania of the year… We’re all drinking more than we have in the past. Thankfully, for the first time in nearly a decade, the Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia has been updated to reflect the most recent trends in the world of wine. Within this 800-page volume is a wealth of knowledge – gorgeous photos, detailed maps, and colorful illustrations. A WORLD OF WINE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS This is the most comprehensive wine reference book I’ve…
S’mores Cookie Recipe
This S’mores Cookie Recipe is rich, full of dark cocoa & topped with a toasted marshmallow & graham cracker crumbs. This is sure to satisfy any chocolate craving! Every single year, our family looks forward to going camping. We usually camp in the Redwood Forest in Northern California. One of my favorite parts of camping is attending Ranger Talks in the evening. After these talks we always head back to our space, get a fire going & enjoy s’mores late into the night. I love trying different types of chocolates & different types of marshmallows. Since we are not camping this year, I had to bring the s’mores into the…
The Doctor of Aleppo by Dan Mayland
The Doctor of Aleppo by Dan Mayland American aid worker, Hannah works in Aleppo doing community development. But when the Syrian civil war breaks out, she is quickly drawn into defending the city and country she’s grown to love. Will she stay, flee to nearby Turkey, or return home to the United States? Sami Hasan is a respected surgeon, dedicated to his profession and his country. He works days on end, mending bones of anyone who arrives in the M2 hospital. But wartime means everyone has to look over their shoulder – anyone could turn you in for perceived betrayal. In a twist of fate, Sami treats Hannah’s boyfriend early…
Strawberry Cream Cheese Braided Bread
I am over the moon to say this Strawberry Cream Cheese Braided Bread is a winner! The best part is you can make it with fresh strawberries or with jam. You choose! It’s no secret to anyone that I love strawberries. It’s also no secret that I love baking. But baking with strawberries? That’s another deal! Baking with strawberries is a challenge for me. The water content is so high, often they can be soggy & chewy if not baked correctly. I’ve made muffins & other bread recipes & none are winners. A Few Tips We pick so many fresh strawberries so I wanted to try a braided bread with…
Etiquette For Runaways by Liza Nash Taylor
Etiquette For Runaways by Liza Nash Taylor Special thanks to Suzy Approved Book Tours for providing our copy of Etiquette For Runaways by Liza Nash Taylor in exchange for an honest & fair review. Disclaimer: I don’t read for reality okay? I love romance and HEA and this is not that. Yet, I really enjoyed this book! Historical Fiction in Paris, Virginia & NYC Nash Taylor gives us a good chunk of May’s backstory in Virginia. This is a historical fiction novel. I love the different places & times this book takes me. May tries to keep her heart compartmentalized. Throughout the book, May plays it close to the vest.…
Sunshine on Silver Lake by Annie Rains
Sunshine on Silver Lake by Annie Rains Special thanks to Annie Rains & Read Forever for providing our copy of Sunshine on Silver Lake by Annie Rains in exchange for an honest & fair review. It’s no secret that I’m a big Annie Rains fan! Annie’s stories take place in Sweetwater Springs – a town that I would move to tomorrow if I could! Annie writes authentic and heartwarming contemporary romances. I just love her writing & each story feels like a trip home. Fans of Virgin River, you’ve got to take a trip to Sweetwater Springs. Each book is easily read as a standalone, but get ready because you’ll…